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by Team Henné <3 / 6.22.23

The Super Ingredient That Diminishes Wrinkles and Revitalizes Skin

Do pesky fine lines, dark spots and dull skin have you down? We get it. Along with the wisdom that comes with each year, so do the the uninvited signs of our age, and with so many skincare products claiming to be anti-aging, how do we know what works? Looking through each product’s lengthy ingredient list may seem like a start, but then you’re left trying to decipher unfamiliar names that are often hard to pronounce and don’t offer insight into how the product actually works. What exactly is going onto your skin?

Here at Henné, we prioritize transparency when it comes to the natural ingredients we use, which is why we’re doing a deep dive into one of our favorite ingredients and all its benefits in skincare.

What is this favorite ingredient of ours? Drumroll please…it’s bearberry extract! We’ll explore where bearberry extract comes from, how it’s used and the science behind how this powerful ingredient works overtime to bring you brighter, more luminous skin.


What Is It Really?

bearberry bush

Bearberry extract is a powerhouse ingredient found in many skincare regimens. It comes from the bearberry plant, a circumpolar shrub native to North America, Europe and Asia. This evergreen shrub features green foliage and red clusters of berries that hold a multitude of uses and is especially favored in holistic medicine and skincare.


The Remarkable Uses of the Bearberry Plant in History

Now that we know where bearberry extract comes from, let’s rewind for a moment and take a closer look at how the bearberry plant has been benefiting humanity since the second century. Yes, the second century!

In medicine, the bearberry plant is commonly known for treating bladder and urinary tract infections while also supporting gastrointestinal health. Among indigenous people, they alleviated headaches with the bearberry plant and used it to play a role in religious ceremonies.

But the bearberry plant isn’t just great for holistic medicine. This multi-use plant is found in many skincare products due to being well-documented in tackling common skincare ailments such as treating fine lines, reducing redness and diminishing dark spots.


But Wait…Is Bearberry Extract Natural?

With so many products being manufactured with potentially toxic chemicals, it can be difficult finding natural and organic products to implement into your skincare routine. If you’re looking for a potent yet natural ingredient, look no further than bearberry extract. While bearberry extract works hard to revitalize your skin, it’s also pure and gentle enough for all skin types.


The Benefits of Bearberry Extract in Skincare

Bearberry extract has many skincare benefits, making it an excellent addition to your skincare regimen. Here are the ways bearberry extract rejuvenates your skin:

Minimizes Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Fine lines and wrinkles begin appearing as we age through two primary ways. One is through free radicals (which, contrary to the name, are not a good thing), and the other is due to a lack of collagen production. Free radicals damage skin cells, mainly breaking down collagen in our skin. Since collagen production is necessary for retaining youthful, plump, and radiant skin, free radicals are something to avoid. But with free radicals existing all around us, found in pollution to cigarette smoke to the sun itself, it’s a good idea to rotate a product into your skincare regimen that aims to remove them from your skin.

Bearberry extract is great for eliminating free radicals because it is chock full of antioxidants. These antioxidants seek out free radicals and remove them from your skin, preventing further damage and diminishing any damage already occurred. By using products with bearberry extract, you’re giving your skin a powerful tool to fight whatever your everyday environment brings at you.

Reduces Dark Spots
We all love the sun, but excess sunshine without UV protection brings dark spots and other unwanted blemishes on our skin. Bearberry extract can tackle these issues thanks to its anti-inflammatory elements. The skin brightening element of bearberry extract occurs due to arbutin, a property of the bearberry plant that is responsible for reducing melanin in the skin. By suppressing melanin, bearberry extract helps reduce pigmentation and blemishes caused by UV exposure.

You may have heard of a common ingredient called hydroquinone which is used to achieve the same skin lightening results. However, hydroquinone is often manufactured with other harsh chemicals and can irritate the skin. Bearberry extract is a safer and gentler alternative.

Evens Out and Brightens Skin Tone
Again, thanks to arbutin, bearberry extract is great for evening out any redness or unwanted pigmentation in the skin. By adding a product that uses bearberry extract, it's much easier to unveil your skin’s natural glow.


Finding the Right Bearberry Extract for You

Bearberry extract is a dynamic tool in any skincare regimen. With its anti-aging benefits, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, this extract is a must-have. So how do you find the right bearberry extract for you?

You can purchase bearberry extract in its pure form and apply it directly to your skin. Just make sure you’re purchasing an extract intended to be used topically.

You can also look for bearberry extract in the ingredients list by the shrub's Latin name, arctostaphylos uva ursi, on your next beauty shopping trip. When paired with other beneficial ingredients, your skin can receive the ultimate treatment in improving its texture and glow.

Our luxurious Illumine face oil is a treatment oil that uses bearberry extract along with other active ingredients that are packed with vitamins, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients. What remains is gorgeous and radiant skin without worrying about skin reactions or your health.

Illumine face oil bottle on top of acrylic cylinder
DISCOVER ILLUMINE

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