Talk about a cherry on top! Just like an ice cream sundae, cherries are becoming everyone’s favorite ingredient—in skincare. While we might think of cherries as a throwback, thanks to flavored lip balms back in the day, the fruit actually has much deeper roots in the beauty realm. “Before scientific research showed that pure cherry blossom extract had proven benefits for skin, women in ancient Japan had already incorporated the flowers into their skincare routines,” says Phoebe Song, founder of Snow Fox Skin Care. “They steeped petals in water to make a light distillate, then soaked cotton sheets in the liquid before placing onto the face to ‘sit’ for a while. It was believed to hydrate and condition the skin for visually optimal texture as most women did not wear cosmetics. This practice was also recorded in Korea and China, marking the original practice of the sheet masking. While cherry blossoms have a long history in Asia, they are now becoming more popular in the West for their skincare benefits.”
Cherries are popping up in a range of beauty products and it’s no wonder. “Studies show that cherry blossom extract can help soothe inflammation, reduce irritations and help rebuild the skin’s natural barriers for a smoother, brighter complexion,” Song says. “Cherry blossom is suitable for all skin types, but particularly helpful for sensitive skin as it is both potent yet gentle.”
Give your skin a sweet treat by trying one of these beauty products that spotlights cherry as an ingredient.
Snow Fox Skin Care Japanese Cherry Blossom & White Tea Smoothing Mask
This sheet mask delivers the glass skin, now so trendy, by plumping, smoothing and brightening your complexion with regular use. It contains Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) extract, which delivers antioxidants, caffeic acid and essential fatty acids to boost the natural skin barrier and ease inflammation. There’s also white tea extract to restore damaged skin cells and aid skin immunity, as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate, firm and tone. snowfoxskincare.com
Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Polishing Lip Scrub
Pucker up for luscious lips! This lip polish rubs away dry skin with exfoliating cherry seed powder, then nourishes with sweet cherry puree that’s chock full of antioxidants. Lips are left super smooth and soft. naturopathica.com
Savor Beauty Cherry Collagen Peel
Dead skin cells can leave you with a dull complexion, but this peel will gently get rid of them. Papaya and pineapple enzymes safely exfoliate even the most sensitive skin, cherry juice strengthens skin elasticity, and pea peptides repair cell damage and increase collagen production to plump skin. savorbeauty.com
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser
Wash away breakouts with this clarifying cleanser that removes all impurities. It contains organic lemon, cherry and aloe juices to clear while moisturizing. Bonus: Up to 25 percent of the bottle is made from recycled plastics and the label is made with plant ink. juicebeauty.com
Farmacy Brightening Vitamin C Eye Cream with Acerola Cherry
Acerola cherry takes center stage in this eye cream that brightens your peepers. Packed with vitamin C, it also minimizes fine lines and dark circles, while hyaluronic acid delivers mega moisture. sephora.com