Pomegranate and Skin: The Science

Pomegranates have been a culinary delight in the Middle East since ancient times. This amazing plant has many benefits both for the skin and overall health, and in addition to that it is delicious, which contributed to its popularity all over the world. Now, every November and December I look forward to the new harvest of these unique-looking fruits both for my kitchen and skin care products.

Pomegranate can be made into three things: the solvent extracted pulp plus juice, extracts from the rind, and oil pressed from the seeds. The two extracts and the oil are all different and have a variety of good-for-you ingredients.

First, let’s talk about the amazing oil. Pomegranate Seed Oil is a very light and dry oil, cosmetically speaking. This means that it penetrates readily into the skin without leaving a greasy sheen. This fact makes it excellent to use as a face oil by itself, or in combination with other premium light oils. It is rated 1 (low) on comedogenicity scale, which means that it most likely will not clog pores.

It is a well known fact that pomegranates are high in antioxidants, and it is no different for pomegranate seed oil. Antioxidants reduce premature aging by fighting the harmful free radicals that may come from environmental pollution, poor diet, stress, and sun’s radiation. Free radicals are even known to cause cancer, and part of the pomegranate’s merits is its anti-cancer effect (which is still under scientific investigation).

In addition to inside-and-out cancer protection, pomegranate seed oil has been shown to reduce blood insulin levels, improve blood lipid composition, reduce cholesterol, even lower the accumulation of body fat, and reduce overall inflammation, which are all parts of the metabolic syndrome. On the skin, pomegranate seed oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect, soothing irritation and improving skin moisture, tone, and texture.

Because of this impressive array of benefits, pomegranate seed oil is excellent for mature skin. It’s anti-aging effects are apparent once you start using it regularly. I like to combine the premium antioxidant oils such as rose hip oil, passionfruit seed oil and borage oil with pomegranate seed oil for a well-rounded face oil routine for mature and combination skin.

But wait! There’s more! Pomegranate seed oil was shown to enhance the penetration of resveratrol. Resveratrol is one of the best antioxidants that is notoriously difficult to incorporate into skin care because it does not absorb very well. Pomegranate seed oil increased skin permeability of resveratrol by up to three times! For this reason, we incorporated Pomegranate seed oil into our Resveratrol Antioxidant Cream, check it out!

Pomegranate seed oil is great for all skin types, it’s got a unique lipid profile, and it boasts tremendous health and skin benefits! What’s not to love? Add this versatile oil to your skin routine, and see if your skin care products contain it at a good concentration.