Retinol vs. Rambutan Peel Extract. One causes inflammation as part of its efficacy.
The other, according to new clinical studies, mitigates it and repairs the skin barrier.
Can they work together?
A team of scientists believes so, and the initial results are more than promising.
The future of Retinol could depend on a fruit peel. And the data is in this article.
How can they work together? How promising are those results?
Discover the alliance that can change cosmetics.
Rambutan peel extract and its main active component, geraniin, can effectively mitigate inflammation and restore skin barrier function after exposure to environmental stressors.
Retinol, also known as vitamin A1, is a member of the lipid-soluble retinoid group, which includes retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters. It stimulates collagen synthesis, inhibits MMP activity, reduces oxidative stress, and regulates gene expression.
Furthermore, it improves intrinsic and extrinsic signs of aging. However, topical application of retinoids often causes severe local irritation, resulting in burning, itching, erythema, scaling, or dryness.
Other external irritants such as UV radiation and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) may also induce skin inflammation. Skin exposure to UVB radiation leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).
Rambutan against skin damage and inflammation
Prolonged exposure to a variety of physical and chemical irritants, such as masks, UV radiation, particulate matter, and surfactants, can lead to persistent skin inflammation. This not only causes cosmetic stress but can also worsen and develop into chronic inflammation.
Therefore, cosmetics that can relieve skin irritation through the use of natural compounds such as madecassoside are recently on the rise.
Nephelium lappaceum, also known as rambutan, is a tropical fruit with a hairy, rigid outer peel containing white, translucent pulp. Rambutan peel extract, rich in polyphenolic compounds such as ellagitannins, has been shown to possess strong antioxidant, antipyretic, and antidiabetic activities.
Geraniin, an important dehydroellagitanin found in rambutan peel, exhibits significant immunomodulatory effects, suppressing TNF and NF-β activation in various in vitro and in vivo models. Although rambutan peel is often discarded, it is rich in ellagitannins, including geraniin. Therefore, it could be a cost-effective ingredient for cosmetic formulations.
A study from the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Korea National University, aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of rambutan peel extract and geraniin through in vitro experiments and clinical trials.
In vitro, inflammatory responses were induced using UV, IR, SDS, LPS, and RA, followed by treatment with Nephelium lappaceum peel extract and geraniin. The results demonstrated significant reductions in inflammatory cytokines, indicating potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Based on these promising results, clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of Nephelium lappaceum peel extract on skin barrier function using various irritants, including IR, UV, SDS, retinol, and tape slough.
Transepidermal water loss and erythema measurements were performed to evaluate the extract’s protective effects. The results indicated that rambutan peel extract effectively mitigated damage to the skin barrier and reduced erythema.
This confirms its potential as a soothing and anti-inflammatory agent. It can be used in the development of cosmetic products aimed at reducing skin inflammation and protecting skin from environmental irritants.
12 Suppliers offering rambutan peel extract for cosmetics:
- Laboratorios KEM (México)
- BASF – Programa Rambutan Sostenible
- Alibaba – Proveedores de Vietnam y China
- QuimiNet – Laboratorios Phitother (Colombia)
- Laboratorio Medicinal Fitoterápico Basel (Argentina)
- Industrial de Vaselinas S.A. de C.V. (México)
- AUROQUIM (México)
- 3Química (México)
- Químicos Orbe (Colombia)
- Laboratorio Éclat (México)
- Jel Insumos (México)
- Taali (México)
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