How Cherry Clears Acne (Inside + Out)
What's not to love about cherries?
Besides being super tasty and summer's unofficial fruit, cherries are awesome for your skin. Whether you eat them or apply them, the secret to clear skin may very well be hanging from a tree.
Money might not grow on trees, but cherries do and they are gold for clearing your complexion. Take a look at how cherry clears acne inside out.
WHAT'S SO SWEET ABOUT CHERRIES?
Hmm...where do we even begin!? There's just so much to say.
All those Antioxidants
Cherry is loaded with 17 power antioxidants that help fight free radicals caused by environmental aggressors like UV rays and pollution. The sweetest antioxidant of the bunch is vitamin C, a skincare powerhouse for driving out hyperpigmentation (like acne scars and dark spots) and boosting collagen production.
You can use it as a topical treatment or eat it as part of your healthy diet (think tougher immune system!). And you know what they say about healthy diets...they work miracles for acne prone skin. What's more, cherries also act as an anti-aging elixir.
"An anti-inflammatory diet is ideal for skin health," says Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. "The major source of antioxidants is from anthocyanins, but cherries also contain vitamins A, C, E, and potassium. Inflammation can cause degradation of elastin and collagen fibers, aging skin over time. An anti-inflammatory diet will preserve youthful skin and shield it from environmental stressors, such as pollution."
Those Antibacterial Properties
Cherries are packed with antibacterial properties that remove and fight acne vulgaris bacteria. They also help decongest clogged pores for an overall clarified complexion. Using this ingredient in your skincare products helps soothe breakouts.
Those Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Cherries are also brimming with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which deliver essential nutrients to the skin. These fatty acids strengthen the skin barrier and help seal in moisture. What's more, they can help treat acne like whiteheads and pimples by acting as an anti-inflammatory and keeping the skin hydrated to prevent excess oil production which can clog the pores and lead to blemishes.
Apply it or eat it. Either way, this sweet summer fruit will improve the appearance of your skin and ward off dryness.
Those Happy Chemicals
Stress can have a major impact on your health and on your skin. It can can definitely contribute to acne, and various other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
That's because when you're stressed, your body sends a stress signal known as cortisol which tells the skin to increase oil production. The problem with too much oil (or sebum) is that it can cause acne.
Unfortunately, nobody is immune to stress. Luckily though, sweet cherries are high in serotonin, the well-known happy chemical that is proven to support your mood and feelings of wellness. Now doesn't that sound sweet?
That Position on the Glycemic Index Chart
Bananas are great and all, but they come way too high up on the glycemic index chart (62) -- not what you want when you're looking for blemish-free skin. A better option? Cherries.
If you like to add bananas to your oatmeal for sweetness, try swapping with a fruit that's a bit lower on the chart, like cherries (which come in at 20 on the scale).
Eating low glycemic foods is an effective way to lower your blood sugar and treat adult acne, so you can keep zits under control.
Great for All Skin Types
According to Aesthetic and Dermatology Nurse, Emma Coleman, cherry is suitable for all skin types. Provided that you choose the right formulation, using cherry as an acne treatment can be highly effective.
It's especially useful at treating those pesky hormonal acne spots.
"For sensitive skin, the extract will help to reduce redness and breakouts by sealing in moisture and reversing inflammation," says Coleman. "Acne-prone and combination skins will benefit due to cherry’s ability to help fight free radicals and also its anti microbial properties."
Unfortunately, it may not treat cystic acne. If you're suffering from cysts, book an appointment with your dermatologist for guidance.
HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE CHERRY FACE MASK
Try this easy DIY cherry face mask recipe to clear your whiteheads and blackheads.
- 6 mashed cherries
- 1 teaspoon honey
- One tablespoon probioticyogurt
Mix these ingredients together and apply to clean, dry skin. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
The cherries mixed with antibacterial-fighting honey and microbiome-balancing yogurt will instantly relive inflamed skin and help tackle pimples.
A SKINCARE ROUTINE WITH CHERRY
Here are some simple steps for clearing your breakouts with our favorite Truly cherry-formulated cleanser and other acne-fighting products.
- Wash with Cherry Jelly
The first step to clearing acne is keeping skin clean and treating it with active ingredients that address acne.
Truly's Cherry Jelly Cleanser is designed to end bacne (or any acne) for good. With a blend of bacteria-zapping BHAs, soothing cherry, and hydrating allantoin, these ingredients work to treat blemishes in a flash.
- Treat with Hemp Oil Serum
Another key step to keeping skin blemish-free is by tackling dry skin and unclogging pores. Truly's Hemp Oil Facial Serum combines hemp with retinol (vitamin a) and amino acids to diminish dry skin, reduce redness, and banish breakouts.
- Moisturize with Dragon Milk
Heavy lotions aren't the best for acne-prone skin, but lightweight ones are. Truly's Dragon Milk Moisturizer contains dragon fruit, lactic acid, glycolic acid, and blackberry which join forces to dissolve dead skin cells, unclog pores, refine skin texture, and lock in lasting moisture for smooth, clarified skin. This smoothing, hydrating, and brightening formula's only side effect is gorgeous skin!
- Always Wear Sunscreen
Stay smart in the sun, and always wear sunscreen. It'll keep your skin young, clear, and free of hyperpigmentation. Opt for an over-the-counter broad-spectrum, oil-free sunscreen. Reapply throughout the day when exposed to UV rays for optimum protection. Remember to clean it off properly at night before going to bed.
