What if your skin care really delivers what it promises? Not only did large brands but also uncountable media hold women to impossible physical standards. Just think of all the airbrushed, flawless images of perfect faces that can feel so far away for you and me. But, sometimes, some formulations do deliver – some with outlandish ingredients (think snail mucin or propolis) and some with things that you’d normally consider as food.
Throughout our history, we have used numerous fruits to protect, moisturise, and to refine our skin. And now, goals like glass or mochi skin are not so unattainable anymore. Because ultimately, it boils down to keeping your skin happy and healthy. This entails taking care of your body overall – eating and drinking well as well as making sure you use products with nutrient-rich ingredients.
Ingredients that Korean beauty brands love to add into their formulations. Some ingredients such as snail mucin or propolis may sound outlandish and others are just flying under the radar: the overachieving peach.
The peach
When the local grocers start selling peaches, it’s a sure sign summer is coming. This juice, fuzzy fruit is a favourite summer fruit for many.
Although its scientific name is Prunus persica, the peach originated in China. But because it reached Europe via Persia, it got its name. The name “peach” itself is derived from Persia. The Romans called the fruit malum persicum (Persian apple) which became pêche in French and the English wrote it as peach.
The peach belongs to the rose (Rosaceae) family, meaning it’s related to almonds, apricot, cherry, plum, and of course the rose.
The peach tree bears edible fruits that we mostly call peaches or nectarines. They’re the same even though you can buy peaches and nectarines in the shops. Peaches are the fruits with a “fur”. Its skin is fuzzy. Nectarines are the glossy, “shaved”, non-fuzzy versions.
The fruit of the peach tree has a distinct aroma. It has yellow or whitish flesh that’s easily bruised. It surrounds a single large seed – the fruit is known as stone fruit or drupe.
Culture and symbolism
Following its country of origin, China’s the world’s leading producer of peaches and nectarines. It continues its long history of cultivation. The earliest archaeological peach stones were discovered near Hangzhou showing its domestication occurred already in 6000 BC.
No wonder the peach plant has legendary if not mythical powers and was used as a motive in many cultural traditions such as art, paintings, and folk tales.
The peach blossoms were revered because the ancient Chinese believed it was full of vitality – more than other plants. The reason was because peach blossoms would appear before the tree sprouts leaves.
Peach wood was important because it was considered a protective device against all kinds of evil spirits. So much so it wasn’t only used to hang above doors and entries to ward off evil. It was used to carve guard figurines and arrows that were shot in every direction to expel evil spirits.
The fruit itself symbolises long life and health. There’s even the folk story Journey to the West where the fruit grants immortality.
Peach kernels are a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. The kernels have a sweet, bitter flavour and are categorised as invigorating qi.
The peach plant along with its many symbolism and medicinal uses spread to Korea and Japan in the East. In Korea, the fruit was believed to bring happiness, riches, honours, and longevity. For a long time, in Japan, peach trees were better known and beloved for their exquisite blossoms. Countless wake poems bear witness to this reverence.
In the West, it made a “stopover” in Persia where it was widely cultivated and then reached Europe.
In Europe too, many famous paintings feature peaches and peach trees in various settings.
Peach is a powerhouse
It’s not only the fruit that is brimming with all kinds of goodness for your skin. The kernel and the leaves too can do wonders.
Rich in phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, peaches and nectarines provide you with all you need to get the coveted glow.
The fruit
Peaches and nectarines are a cocktail of
- vitamin A and its precursors carotenoids
- vitamin B complex including thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), and vitamin B6
- vitamin C
- vitamin E
- vitamin K
- magnesium
- manganese
- phosphorus
- potassium
If you find red-fleshed peaches and nectarines, you also get anthocyanins thrown in the mix. Phew, it would have been to just say what the fruit doesn’t have.
Rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, natural sugars, phenolic compounds, peaches boost your skin’s renewal processes in many ways. Let’s go over a few, shall we?
Starting with vitamin A, peaches provide your skin with the ability to protect itself from harmful UV radiation, as well as regenerate and repair itself. It helps even out complexion and skin tone. Together with vitamin C, it stimulates collagen production in your skin. Collagen is one of the main building blocks of your skin. It’s responsible for giving your skin structure, making it firm and plump.
Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound and so helps your skin ward off oxidative damage. In other words, the fruit scavenges and neutralises free radicals and reduce inflammation. Vitamin C is also the go-to ingredient when you want to fade dark spots, resulting in an even complexion and glowing skin.
Not to forget the vitamin Bs: They are great allies for skin health. Since they’re water-soluble, your body can’t store it and you have to rely on your diet or skin care to get enough. Some have anti-inflammatory properties, others strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, still others are essential in the cell renewal process. As you see, they’re great allies in skin regeneration and also lifting dark spots.
The leaves
When you read peach or Prunus persica on the ingredients label, most likely, the leaves were used. That’s because – just like the fruits – they’re loaded with phenolic compounds, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
Beauty brands add peach leaf extract in products that reduce hyperpigmentation and discolouration, offer antioxidant activities to protect against from harmful effects of free radicals and have anti-inflammatory properties to calm irritation.
The leaves are great to repair and regenerate skin tissue. It can help your skin recover after being exposed to the sun. And, they’re suitable for all skin types.
The kernel
Just like almond oil, peach kernel oil is extracted from the pits of the fruits. The kernel even tastes remarkably similar to an almond. Crammed with fatty acids omega 3 and 6, vitamin Bs and E, what’s not to like?
The fatty acids are great to enhance and replenish your skin barrier, helping it to function well. They moisturise while strengthening the skin and giving it suppleness.
We already touched on the vitamin B complex, so let’s jump directly to vitamin E. Peach kernel oil is a wonderful source of vitamin E, helping to smooth lines, calm your skin and increase elasticity. It’s also an antioxidant and so helps protect from oxidative damage.
Peach kernel oil has a low comedogenic rating of 2. Hence, it’s unlikely to jam up your pores and trigger pesky spots, so it works well also for oily skin. It’s perfect to moisturise dry skin and gets rid of rough or flaky patches.
Yet, it’s also great for oily skin, since it has a low comedogenic rating. It has a light texture that absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky film. In a nutshell, it’s a great oil for all skin types, since it also has anti-inflammatory activities and so can protect sensitive, dry and mature skin.
