Grapefruit, also known as the forbidden fruit, is a versatile citrus fruit that is both healthy and refreshing. It is rich in several nutrients (1). While this hybrid fruit is a nutritious breakfast or snack option, its health benefits are not the only thing it has to offer. Are you curious about the benefits of grapefruit for your skin? Continue reading to learn more. Like most citrus fruits, grapefruit is a rich source of vitamin C. Half a medium grapefruit can offer you about 50% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C (2). This vitamin acts as a powerful antioxidant in the human body. Antioxidants play a big role in neutralizing the impact of free radicals in the body and fight inflammation. Vitamin C also helps in collagen synthesis. Collagen is an essential protein that works to maintain your skin health (3). To further understand how good grapefruit can be for your skin, read the following section.
Benefits Of Grapefruit For Skin
Incorporating grapefruit into your daily skincare routine can provide several benefits for your skin. Here is how.
1. May Limit The Impact Of UV Rays
Grapefruit is loaded with Vitamin C that can help protect your skin against the damage caused by the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. The free radicals in your body are responsible for skin damage. The antioxidant activity of vitamin C acts against these free radicals and limits their impact on skin cells. Vitamin C also helps increase the chances of cell survival after they are exposed to UV rays (4), (5).
2. May Decrease Photodamage Or Wrinkle Formation
Photodamage and natural aging are two processes that bring several changes to your skin. Photodamage occurs when your skin is damaged due to the absorption of UV light. Your skin may suffer from a loss of elasticity, resulting in wrinkles and dryness. The vitamin C in grapefruits can enhance collagen protein synthesis and may help repair any skin damage. The collagen can help keep your skin looking wrinkle-free and youthful (5).
3. Keeps Skin Hydrated
Almost 90% of a raw grapefruit is water. This high water content can be good for your skin. Dehydrated skin can look dry, dull, and flaky. Dry skin loses its suppleness and is predisposed to develop wrinkles. Hydrated skin has a better appearance and texture.
4. May Help Heal Wounds
The vitamin C in grapefruit may promote wound healing. This happens due to the collagen synthesis that vitamin C supports (5).
5. May Help Reduce Pigmentation
Grapefruit can be effective in reducing skin pigmentation. Its vitamin C may act as a depigmentation agent. The nutrient works to decrease the formation of melanin, the natural skin pigment that can make skin, hair, and eyes appear darker (6).
6. Reduces Inflammation
The vitamin C in grapefruit helps control the activities of NFkB, a protein complex known to activate pro-inflammatory cytokines. In other words, this vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It can help reduce inflammation in several skin conditions, including rosacea and acne. Vitamin C also helps limit post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (6). Now that you know the importance of grapefruit for skin health, it is time to understand how to use it correctly to reap all of the benefits.
How To Use Grapefruit For Skin?
There are several ways you can experience the benefits of grapefruit for your skin. You can use this fruit externally or internally.
1. Include In Your Diet
You can enjoy grapefruits as part of your diet. The fruit is juicy and flavorful and is an ideal snack when you feel hungry. You can even have this fruit in a juiced form. Add lime juice or mint leaves to make your drink more appealing.
2. Use As A Mask: Easy DIY Masks
Here are a few simple DIY grapefruit masks for your skin:
DIY Mask 1: Grapefruit And Yogurt Anti-Acne Mask
Ingredients
½ grapefruit, medium ½ cup of Greek Yogurt
Equipment
1 small bowl Spoon Face mask brush
Procedure
Take the grapefruit and the yogurt in a small bowl and mix them using the spoon. Cleanse your face and apply a thin layer of this mixture using the face mask brush. Allow the mask to remain on your face for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and apply your regular moisturizer. You can use this mask once every week.
DIY Mask 2: Grapefruit, Sugar, And Grapeseed Oil Body Scrub
Ingredients
Juice from half a grapefruit 3 tablespoons of grapeseed oil 1 cup of sugar
Equipment
1 small bowl Spoon
Procedure
Combine the grapefruit juice, grapeseed oil, and sugar in a small bowl using a spoon. Clean your face and apply the mask using your fingers. Scrub your dry skin gently. Use this scrub in a single sitting as it contains fresh juice.
DIY Mask 3: Grapefruit, Honey, And Cornmeal Mask For Acne
Ingredients
Juice from half a grapefruit ½ cup of cornmeal 1 tablespoon of honey
Equipment
1 small bowl Spoon Face mask brush (optional)
Procedure
Take a bowl and mix the cornmeal, honey, and grapefruit juice using the spoon. Apply the mask to your skin using your fingers or a face mask brush. Let it stay for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. You can use this mask on your face or anywhere else where you have acne breakouts.
DIY Mask 4: Grapefruit, Egg White, And Sour Cream Face Mask For Oily Skin
Ingredients
Juice from a small grapefruit 1 egg white 1 teaspoon of sour cream
Equipment
2 small bowls Hand whisk Small airtight container Face mask brush (optional)
Procedure
Take a bowl and beat the egg white until it becomes fluffy. Cut the grapefruit and give it a squeeze to collect about 2 teaspoons of juice in a bowl. Mix the sour cream, grapefruit juice, and egg white. Whisk the ingredients till they attain a creamy consistency. Apply the mask to cleansed face and neck area using your fingers or a face mask brush. Avoid applying to the eye area. Let it stay on for 15 to 20 minutes before washing with lukewarm water. Pat dry your face and apply your regular moisturizer. You can store any excess mask in an airtight container inside the fridge for 2 days. You can use this mask twice a week.
Does grapefruit have salicylic acid? Yes, grapefruit is a natural source of salicylic acid that helps cleanse pores and clear breakouts. Which fruit is good for acne-prone skin? Apart from grapefruit, oranges, and citrus fruits, pomegranate, papaya, and strawberries are a few other fruits that are good for acne-prone skin.
Sources
Consumption of grapefruit is associated with higher nutrient intakes and diet quality among adults, and more favorable anthropometrics in women, NHANES 2003, 2008https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4016745/ Grapefruit, raw, pink and red, all areashttps://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174673/nutrients Vitamin Chttps://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-c/ Skin photoprotective and antiageing effects of a combination of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) polyphenolshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4931025/ The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Healthhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/ Text,Vitamin C in dermatology
