Bearberry

Categories:
Fruit Extracts

Bearberry Skin Care Benefits:
Uneven skin tone

Named after being the favored fruit of bears, the bearberry represents the fruit of three species of dwarf shrubs found in the genus Arctostaphylos. In skin care, bearberry is renowned for its natural skin-brightening effect. Current staples of skin-brightening include hydroquinone and corticosteroids, which can cause discomfort or prove to be ineffective, respectively. ¹ By infusing bearberry into cosmetic formulations, skin-brightening products can achieve desirable results with less risk of adverse side effects.

Studies show bearberry’s skin-brightening effect is due to its high concentration of arbutin. Arbutin (C₁₂H₁₆O₇), is a naturally occurring glucopyranoside, consisting of a hydroquinone molecule bound to glucose. It works to reversibly inhibit melanosomal tyrosinase activity, which has a hindering effect on skin pigmentation by diminishing melanin content in melanocytes. Common bearberry uses include skin brighteners, eye creams, moisturizers, and facial cleansers. ²