Here's Why You Should Add Yuzu To Your Skincare Routine

Get beauty from within

Dryness, dullness, and wrinkles are just a few of the most common skin issues women face every day. If you've searched far and wide for skincare products to help you battle these, but haven't found yet the right one for you, perhaps it's time to overhaul your daily routine. Consider incorporating yuzu, a citrus fruit originating in East Asia.

Yuzu skincare benefits

Yuzu is like a small grapefruit appearing in varying shades of green and yellow depending on its ripeness

Yuzu, also known as the Japanese citron, isn't really a new ingredient. The citrus fruit that looks like the lovechild of lemon and orange has long been prized in countries such as Japan for its pleasing fragrance and health benefits. It's a popular culinary ingredient for local recipes, with it appearing in a variety of dishes — from savoury meals to delectable desserts. Aside from being a kitchen favourite, it's also a common winter practise in Japan to enrich warm baths with the fruit. It's such a popular activity during the cold season that visitors would find hot spring resorts filled with the floating yellow fruits. Often done during the winter solstice, soaking in the citron-steeped bath called yuzuyu, warms the mind and body, and is believed to ward off illnesses.

Yuzu-infused drinks also make for a refreshing treat

But in recent decades, the super-ingredient has gained popularity in skincare. According to Mintel Beauty Innovation, it saw its first boom in 2008, where its use in cosmetics jumped to almost 100%. But what makes it really worth adding to your current skincare routine? Ahead, we delve into the skincare benefits of Yuzu.

Antioxidant

Like many other fruits in the citrus family, both flesh and peel of yuzu are found to be high in vitamin C, therefore making it a powerful antioxidant. According to a study led by Kyung Mi Yoo of Seoul National University, the antioxidant properties of Yuzu is even increased further upon ripening of the citrus. The presence of this clears up free radicals that may form and damage your skin. With ingredients like yuzu, you're protected from harsh environmental aggressions like UV rays and pollution. When you begin and end your day, make sure to cleanse your face with skincare products like Kenzoki Amazing Cleansing Water. Combining the essences of ginger with yuzu, the fresh micellar water purifies your skin for a bright and healthy complexion.

Anti-ageing

One of the factors that contribute to our skin ageing is the molecular process called glycation. "What's that," you might ask. Well, according to another study led by researchers from Doshisha University in Kyoto, this happens when the excess sugars that float in our bloodstream bind to proteins. This, in turn, creates advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that ruin the structure and function of these fibres in our body. Sadly, these processes also affect collagen and elastin, proteins responsible for our plump complexion. Simply put: excess sugar weakens our skin cell's structure, making it more prone to wrinkles and deeper smile lines.

Thankfully, in the same research, they've found out that extracts of yuzu, along with other citrus fruits like lime and lemon, exhibited high anti-glycation activity. Yuzu helps inhibit the formation of AGEs, making it an effective natural anti-ageing ingredient. Experience the tightening and nourishing effect of the fruit with Saborino's Premium Yuzu Morning Mask. With it, you can protect the skin's integrity and quality, leaving you with a youthful-looking skin

Rejuvenating

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But Yuzu does more than stopping the damage to your skin's cells. In the book Nutritional Cosmetics: Beauty from Within, the regenerative effects of Yuzu was also highlighted. According to Hiroshi Shimoda's research published in the book, its seed extract is also discovered to enhance thickening of the outer layers of the skin. You can opt to include yuzu in your diet, to help your skin's regeneration. Other than that, you can also experience its rejuvenating benefits through Shiseido Waso Beauty Sleeping Mask. Harnessing the nourishing power of the fruit, it will help regenerate your skin overnight so you wake up to skin that's plump and soft.

Now isn't yuzu quite the all-around ingredient perfect for addressing most of your skin concerns? Next time you shop for products to fill your vanity kit, make sure to keep an eye out for this beloved ingredient from the Land of the Rising Sun. If not, then perhaps, for your weekend pampering, you can indulge in a warm bath filled with these juicy fruits.

Next, other Japanese skincare ingredients that will nourish your skin.