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Here’s why pineapple skincare is a major beauty trend

This tropical fruit is the latest hero skincare ingredient to hit our shelves.

The humble pineapple is the latest buzz-worthy, IT ingredient in skincare products ranging from masks, serums, moisturisers, to scrubs, and a whole lot more. Sure we’ve been adding it to our salads and drinks, but very few of us knew about its amazing skincare abilities. Well the secret is out, and the tropical fruit is the surprising new ingredient in a slew of beauty products aimed at transforming dull skin.

One of the reasons for its popularity is that people are now looking for natural alternatives to harsh exfoliating products and the natural enzymes in pineapple make it a great fit. Pineapple is one of the few skincare ingredients that has a potent combination of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) and a beta-hydroxy-acid (BHA) called bromelain. AHAs are good for surface smoothing and decongesting pores, while BHAs are suitable for a deeper exfoliation, sloughing off dead skin cells and reducing blackheads. A natural enzyme, bromelain is also well known for its wound-healing properties, which translates to fewer breakouts. This combined AHA-BHA action makes pineapple a star natural exfoliant as you’re getting a combo of radiance and skin smoothing.

The fruit is also packed with vitamins C and E, which are known to brighten skin, reduce pigmentation (thereby evening out skin tone), calm inflammation, and reduce puffiness. The vitamins also have antioxidant properties, which boost the skin’s natural regeneration process, repair damaged skin cells, and help prevent damage from pollution, UV rays, and other environmental aggressors. All of this means bye, bye dull, lacklustre and fatigued skin, hello soft, smoother, brighter skin.

Thanks to its highly acidic nature, vitamin C triggers the accelerated production of elastin and collagen in the skin. Elastin and collagen are the natural protein fibres that bind together the surface layer of the skin, helping it look firm and plump. As people age, the collagen starts to break down, which causes the appearance of wrinkles. So by boosting collagen production, vitamin C can help prevent premature ageing of the skin.

A word of caution
The combination of AHAs, vitamin C, and exfoliating enzymes in pineapple can pack quite a punch. Those with highly reactive or dehydrated skin should be cautious of including pineapple and its potent fruit enzymes in their skin care regimen as they could cause irritation and dryness. The same goes for people prone to eczema and dermatitis. And as always, a patch test is mandatory before trying out any new skin care product.

DIY skincare
Here are a few ways you can use pineapple in your DIY skincare remedies. To make a mask for glowing skin, blend together coconut milk and some pineapple chunks. Apply the mask on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash off. You can also use this concoction as a hair mask. If you’re struggling with an oily complexion, make a paste of oatmeal, gram flour and mashed pineapple. Apply the paste on your face and leave on for 10 – 15 minutes. The gram flour absorbs the excess oil, while the pineapple works as an exfoliant. What brighter skin? Harness the benefits of papaya and pineapple in one mask. Papain and bromelain are both natural enzymes that break the bond between cells, helping remove dead surface skin, making skin brighter and smoother. Create a smooth paste using pineapple, papaya, and honey (to moisturise and soothe the skin). Apply on your face for 10 – 15 minutes and then wash off.

Photograph: freepik.com