Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry Seed Oil) Extract in Skin Care

Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry Seed Oil) Extract in Skin Care

Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry Seed Oil) Extract is a plant derived cosmeceutical ingredient that has components that give it antiaging, soothing and skin whitening abilities. Bilberry extract also known as European blueberry or whortleberry, is a shrub that contains beneficial compounds for skin health.

Bilberry Seed Oil is an exciting ingredient in wrinkle creams to treat aged skin with dark spots.

Benefits of Bilberry Seed Oil on Skin

Its natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities make V. myrtillus ideal for soothing sensitive and allergic skin.

V. myrtillus is used to treat:

Acne

Burns and Radiation injuries

Eczema

Melasma and Hyperpigmentation

Psoriasis

Rosacea

Skin Aging

Skin Allergy

Studies have shown that Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract has these activities:

Anti-inflammatory

Antimicrobial

Antioxidant

Moisturizing

Skin Lightening

Skin Care Products with Bilberry Seed Oil

How Bilberry Oil Extract Works on Skin

The oil from bilberry seeds is rich in linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, which are unsaturated fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties.(2) These fatty acids can help lighten skin hyperpigmentation caused by UV exposure by inhibiting melanin production and promoting the shedding of pigmented skin cells.(3)

Bilberry fruit contains anthocyanins, which give the berries their blue/black color. Cyanidin is one of the active anthocyanidins in bilberry.(4) Anthocyanins from bilberry exhibit antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, with bilberry fruit skin showing especially potent antiradical activity.(5) The anthocyanins are thought to protect against age-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.(4) Although anthocyanins have relatively low bioavailability, they act as intracellular antioxidants which may explain their beneficial effects.(6)

Other phenolic compounds found abundantly in bilberry include chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, resveratrol, isoquercetin, quercetin, and hyperoside. These compounds demonstrate significant antioxidant capabilities.(6)

resveratrol

Active Chemical Components

The unsaturated fatty acids and anthocyanins in bilberry provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-lightening effects that can benefit skin health. The phenolic compounds also contribute antioxidant activity. Vaccinium Myrtillus has these natural chemical components that give it the ability to protect the skin.

Unsaturated fatty acids: linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid

Anthocyanins- antioxidants and anti-inflammatory

Phenolic components such as chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, resveratrol, isoquercetin, quercetin, and hyperoside. (1)

bilberry for acne

Acne

Bilberry oil is noncomedogenic, but it cannot treat acne alone. It should be combined with other acne medications such as retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.

Dark Spots

Bilberry seed oil contains unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, which inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase that is required to make the skin pigment melanin. (2)

Sensitive Skin or Allergic Irritated Skin

This extract has been shown to reduce the itch and rash seen in allergic contact dermatitis. (3)

Sun Protection

Bilberry extract has been shown to help skin maintain its natural antioxidant glutathione after sun exposure. It also decreased free radical formation due to UVA exposure. The anthocyanins in bilberry extract are believed to be responsible for the strong antioxidant abilities of this natural plant extract. (4)

is bilberry safe?

Safety of Bilberry Extract

The Environmental Working Group has rated V. myrtillus (bilberry seed) oil as very safe and gave it a score of 1 on the risk scale. (no danger).

The CIR reported that plant-derived fatty acid oils are safe. (18)

Natural Plant-derived Ingredient

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a member of the Ericaceae plant family. It is native to northern Europe and North America. The bilberry fruit is known to contain many different polyphenols with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Also known as European blueberry or whortleberry, this perennial deciduous shrub is also one of the richest sources of the polyphenolic pigments anthocyanins.

To find out if bilberry oil containing skin care products are right for you, take the skin care routine quiz and get a list of products to use in a custom skin care routine.