Certain beauty looks never go out of style. Take a bold red lip, for example. Or a classic cat eye. And of course, radiant skin. But achieving the latter isn’t as easy as swiping on a lipstick—it takes a bit of work. Luckily, we have exfoliators to do the heavy lifting, and the latest option with staying power is with fruit enzymes.
“Fruit enzyme-based exfoliators are great because they’re naturally effective without being harsh on the skin, making them ideal for everyone, including someone with more sensitive skin,” says Rochelle Jacobs, cofounder of Naturally Serious. “Fruit enzymes are found in a veritable cornucopia of fruits and berries and they create a skin brightening effect by breaking down the keratin proteins attached to dead skin, and lifting those cells away to reveal a healthy glow.”
Another bonus is that fruit enzymes are much gentler on the skin than traditional scrubs because they don’t require any scrubbing. “A traditional scrub may be abrasive and therefore strip the skin, causing more damage,” Jacobs says. “Exfoliants formulated with a blend of natural exfoliants will leave your skin polished to perfection with no hint of friction and no toxicity to the skin. The uppermost layer of skin is primarily made up of a protein called keratin. Enzyme peels break up the keratin layer, removing dull, dry, damaged surface cells and impurities, leaving you with softer, smoother skin.”
Those aren’t the only perks of using a fruit enzyme peel. They lead to a more even skin tone and less irritation thanks to the anti- inflammatory properties; also, reduction in pore size, smoother skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles, a healthy glow, hydrated skin and a plumper, more youthful complexion.
When shopping for a fruit-based peel, Jacobs recommends looking for ingredients that are derived from fruits and plants that will naturally brighten, resurface and improve skin’s appearance for rejuvenated results. Popular and effective fruit enzyme ingredients include cherries, pumpkin, papaya, pineapple, apple and more.
The application varies based on the type of exfoliator. “For all skin types, even sensitive skin, the key is to use very light pressure,” Jacobs says. “Let the ingredients gently glide over the skin while performing gentle circular motions. People often make the mistake of pushing too hard and nearly scrubbing a layer of skin off, which can result in irritation, inflammation and stripping the skin.”
After you’re done exfoliating is the ideal time to add a serum and moisturizer. “Your skin will be more receptive to other products being layered and they will work much more effectively,” Jacobs says. “Always highly moisturize to restore hydration and, most importantly, use SPF during daytime hours.”
GENTLE SCRUBS
Scrub your way to smooth skin with these fruit enzyme exfoliators.
Naturally Serious Fruit-Tox Resurfacing Facial Remedy, naturallyseriousskin.com
Savor Beauty Yuzu Lemonade Peel, savorbeauty.com
Elemis Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator, elemis.com
Trilogy Age Proof Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream, trilogyproducts.com
MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser, mychelle.com
Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator, credobeauty.com