Polyphenols In Skin Care Products

Polyphenols in skin care products have many benefits such as anti-inflammatory, skin lightening and antiaging and are found in organic, clean, and natural skin care products.

Phenols is the name of a large group of compounds. You will not see “polyphenol” on skin care product labels, but you will see the ingredient that is a member of the polyphenol compound family as seen in the list below.

List of Types of Polyphenols in Skin Care Products

You will not find polyphenols on skincare product labels because they are a component found in skincare ingredients.

See the table below for a list of classes and categories of polyphenols and which skin care ingredients contain polyphenols.

Polyphenols are a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds found in plants. They can be divided into several classes based on their structural features and the number of phenol rings they contain:

Flavonoids: This is the largest and most studied group of polyphenols. They can be further divided into several subclasses:

Flavonols (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol)

Flavones (e.g., apigenin, luteolin)

Flavanones (e.g., hesperidin, naringenin)

Flavan-3-ols (also known as flavanols; e.g., catechins like those found in green tea, epicatechin)

Anthocyanins (e.g., cyanidin, delphinidin; responsible for the red, blue, and purple colors in many fruits and vegetables)

Isoflavones (e.g., genistein, daidzein; commonly found in soy products)

Phenolic acids: These are divided into two main types:

Hydroxybenzoic acids (e.g., gallic acid, vanillic acid)

Hydroxycinnamic acids (e.g., caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid)

Polyphenolic amides:

Examples include capsaicinoids in chili peppers and avenanthramides in oats.

Lignans: They are found in seeds, particularly flaxseeds, as well as in grains and vegetables.

Examples: secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol

Stilbenes: Resveratrol, found in grapes and red wine, is the most well-known compound in this class.

Other polyphenols: There are other polyphenolic compounds that don’t fit neatly into the above categories, like ellagitannins and ellagic acid, often found in berries.

Polyphenol Classification Table

To find skincare products or supplements that contain polyphenols, look for the ingredients in the Polyphenol Table above.

Polyphenol Benefits for Health

Polyphenols are found in supplements, skin care products, drinks, and foods. They are good for your health for many reasons. They are one of the reasons that a plant-based diet is so healthy.

Polyphenols offer a plethora of additional benefits for both skin and overall health:

For the Skin:

Photo-protection: Some polyphenols can protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, reducing the risk of sunburn and premature skin aging.

Anti-aging: Polyphenols can prevent the degradation of elastin and collagen, proteins essential for maintaining skin’s elasticity and firmness.

Skin Hydration: They can enhance skin hydration, contributing to a healthier skin appearance.

Wound Healing: Certain polyphenols can promote wound healing through various mechanisms, including antimicrobial action and support of the skin’s natural regeneration process.

Skin Brightening: They can inhibit melanogenesis, thereby reducing the appearance of dark spots and improving overall skin tone.

For Overall Health:

Cardiovascular Health: Polyphenols, especially those found in green tea and red wine, can improve blood vessel function, reduce blood pressure, and decrease LDL cholesterol oxidation.

Anti-cancer Properties: Some polyphenols may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer by inhibiting cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Brain Health: They can protect neurons, potentially reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Gut Health: Polyphenols can influence the gut microbiota composition, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Blood Sugar Regulation: Certain polyphenols can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Bone Health: Some studies suggest that polyphenols may promote bone health by stimulating the growth of bone-forming cells and inhibiting the growth of cells that break down bone.

Anti-microbial Properties: They can inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Weight Management: Some polyphenols, like those in green tea, can boost metabolism and fat oxidation, aiding in weight management.

Trans-resveratrol and Cis-resveratrol

Polyphenols in Skin Care Creams and Serums

What are polyphenols good for?

They are used to neutralize free radicals and calm and soothe skin.

Polyphenols are considered protective skin care ingredients so are best to use in your morning skin care routine.

They have antiaging and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Polyphenol Antioxidant Benefits for Skin

Polyphenols neutralize free radicals and are considered antioxidants. This is why they are found in antiaging skin care products.

Here is a list of skin care ingredients that contain polyphenols that are antioxidants. To find skin care products that contain these polyphenols, click on the individual ingredients.

Green Tea Extract (Camellia sinensis): Especially rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a potent flavonoid.

Grape Seed Extract (Vitis vinifera): Contains proanthocyanidins, which offer strong antioxidant benefits.

Resveratrol: Found in grapes, red wine, and certain berries, this is a powerful antioxidant with anti-aging benefits.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Contains tannins, which exhibit antioxidant properties.

Pomegranate Extract (Punica granatum): Rich in ellagic acid and other antioxidant compounds.

Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus officinalis): Contains rosmarinic acid and other antioxidant compounds.

Ferulic Acid: Often found in seeds of fruits like oranges and apples, and in some vegetables, nuts, and grains.

Silymarin: Extracted from milk thistle, it’s renowned for its antioxidant and skin-calming properties.

Soy Extract: Contains isoflavones, which have antioxidant and skin-soothing effects.

Cocoa Extract (Theobroma cacao): Contains flavanols that offer antioxidant benefits.

Rooibos Tea Extract (Aspalathus linearis): Rich in flavonoids and beneficial for skin soothing and antioxidant effects.

Licorice Root Extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Contains flavonoids with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Contains curcumin, which has pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

White Tea Extract: Similar to green tea but processed differently; it contains potent polyphenols.

Coffee Berry Extract: A significant source of polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid, with potent antioxidant properties.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamaemelum nobile): Known for its skin-soothing and antioxidant-rich flavonoids.

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Polyphenol Antiaging Benefits for Skin

One of the primary ways polyphenols combat skin aging is by neutralizing free radicals. These unstable molecules, which arise from factors like UV radiation, pollution, and internal metabolic processes, can cause oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage. Over time, such damage manifests as wrinkles, fine lines, and discoloration, hallmarks of aged skin.

The antioxidant polyphenols used most often in antiaging skin care are green tea, genistein, pycnogenol, and phloretin.

Anti-inflammatory Benefits of Polyphenols

Polyphenols are anti-inflammatory ingredients and are soothing so they are used in the best creams for rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and other creams to soothe dermatitis and treat skin inflammation.

Polyphenols found in skincare that soothe inflamed skin include the cosmetic ingredients oatmeal, caffeic acid, chamomile, and witch hazel.

Inflammation does more than just cause sensitive skin, it also contributes to skin aging. Polyphenols play a crucial role in reducing inflammation. Chronic skin inflammation can accelerate the aging process by breaking down collagen, a protein essential for skin elasticity and firmness, leading to sagging and wrinkling.

By calming inflammation, polyphenols help preserve the skin’s structural integrity, promoting a youthful appearance.

Skin Lightening Benefits of polyphenols

The skin lightening polyphenols found in skincare include pycnogenol, and ferulic acid.

They prevent the production of the skin pigment melanin by calming the inflammation that leads to an increase of the skin pigment melanin.

Best Polyphenols in Skin Care Products

Polyphenols are a family of thousands of chemical substances found in plants and many are good in skin care products. The polyphenol with the most evidence-based research and most compelling data that shows benefits is green tea and the four polyphenolic catechins in green tea:

ECG [(-)EpiCatechin-3-O-Gallate]

GCG [(-)GalloCatechin-3-O-Gallate]

EGCG [(-)EpiG-alloCatechin-3-O-Gallate]- This is the strongest of these green tea derived polyphenols.

EGC [(-)EpiGalloCatechin]

Skin Creams and Serums with Polyphenols

When evaluating skincare creams and serums with polyphenols, you need to know which polyphenols are in the product and what percent of polyphenols are in the product. Unfortunately, this information is not on the product label.

Let us help you find the best skin creams and serums for your skin type. There are 16 skin types!

16 Bauman Skin Types

All you have to do is take the skin care routine quiz, and we will give you a custom skin care routine and skin care products from many different medical grade skincare brands for you to choose from.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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