By Amy Williams, Licensed Massage Therapist and Esthetician at Vitality Unlimited Spa
With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, we would like to take the opportunity to rave about an unlikely skincare hero: the cranberry! In addition to being a staple dish on a standard Thanksgiving table, cranberries also have stellar skincare benefits that will noticeably improve your complexion. Known as a gentle exfoliant and an antioxidant powerhouse, cranberries are a uniquely effective anti-aging and skin reparative agent.
These beautiful deep red berries are found in skin care in either extract, oil, or seed form – all of which are extremely effective in delivering the fruit’s many benefits. Cranberries are antioxidant-rich and loaded with polyphenols. The topical use of cranberries enables the antioxidants to help combat free radicals and the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and the breakdown of collagen. Cranberries also contain natural acids, such as salicylic acid, that help prevent the clogging of pores. They are also naturally anti-bacterial.
In addition to its impressive content of antioxidants, cranberries are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and essential fatty acids.
- Vitamin A: This vitamin is known for its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and skin-regenerating properties – making cranberries suitable for those with acne and blemish-prone skin.
- Vitamin E: The presence of Vitamin E in cranberries helps fight free radicals, protect skin from UV damage, and helps lock in moisture by strengthening the skin’s barrier system.
- Vitamin C: Cranberries’ Vitamin C content makes it an effective treatment to help fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation and acne scars and marks when incorporated into skin care products.
- Essential Fatty Acids: Essential fatty acids including Omega 3 and Omega 6 are necessary for radiant and elastic skin, and have also been shown to lessen the symptoms associated with eczema. What’s unique about the fatty acids found in cranberry seed oil is that there is a natural balance between the Omega 3s and Omega 6s – a perfect one-to-one ratio. This balance makes the oil more easily absorbent into the skin, maximizing its benefits.
Try a Cranberry Cosmo Facial at Vitality Unlimited Spa! This facial comes with a creamy cranberry cleanse, a cranberry enzyme peel, and a hydrating cranberry clay mask. The Cranberry Enzyme Peel uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and a potent base of natural papain enzymes to remove dead skin cells and renew the skin, which helps create a brighter and more luminescent complexion.
Give us a call at 314.968.1808 or visit us at vitalityunlimitedspa.com to schedule an appointment.