Research Shows Blood Orange Extract Can Reduce Wrinkles, Dark Spots & Improve Hydration

While “superfoods” aren’t a regulated term, we’ve come to understand these ingredients as the best-in-class botanicals to help nurture our bodies. They are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that help supercharge our health, from the gut to the skin. 

A few buzzy ones you probably recognize? Avocados, blueberries, kale, and strawberries have all held the moniker of “superfood” at some point in the last few years. They’re used as ingredients in meals and their extracts show up in skin care products and supplements.

The extract is known for its robust antioxidant profile: It contains powerful antioxidants1 such as flavonoids (anthocyanins and flavanones), non-flavonoid phenols (hydroxycinnamic acids), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). 

Together, these boost the skin’s ability to fight off free radicals. In fact, According to a randomized, double-blind, controlled study, supplementing with the extract led to a statistically significant increase in antioxidant capacity1 of the skin. Study participants experienced an increase of 8.6% in 14 days and 22.3% in 56 days. 

When folks think of skin aging, they tend to think of wrinkles. Well, blood orange extract can help smooth wrinkles from the inside out. 

One study found the extract was able to help with wrinkle depth severity—after measuring the participants' mean deepest wrinkle before, during, and after supplementation, they found that the wrinkle depth decreased by 6.9% by the end of the study.

That study also looked at skin elasticity, or the skin's ability to bounce back. They found that participants saw an increase in elasticity by 5.9% in 14 days and 13.9% in 56 days. 

If you want to improve hydration from the inside out, you need to address transepidermal water loss (TEWL). TEWL is what happens when water in the skin evaporates into the atmosphere around you. This leads to dry, dehydrated skin. 

To address it, you need to find ingredients that are going to support the skin barrier function, which will help keep water sealed in the skin throughout the day and night. 

One study on blood orange extract found it was able to reduce the changes in transepidermal water loss2 from occurring. In 14 days, TEWL decreased by 2.7%, and in 56 days, it decreased by 14.5%.  

One of blood orange's most exciting benefits is that it increases the skin's ability to fight UV damage. In a study that examined the photoprotective qualities of the antioxidant, the researchers found it had the ability to absorb UV rays and hel neutralize UV-induced free radical damage3.

What does this mean in practice? Well it means your skin is better protected against the effects of UV rays. But it also means reduced signs of sun damage, like sun spots. The study found that participants' dark spots decreased from 27% to 7%4.