Uses of Mulberry Fruit for Skin Care

Using fruit on your skin may be therapeutic, suggests celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas, on Refinery29. One popular fruit used for skincare is the mulberry fruit. The mulberry fruit grows on mulberry trees and can be found in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Red and white mulberries ripen in the spring and early summer, whereas black mulberries are ripe at the end of summer. Known for their rich antioxidants, mulberries may be used to promote a youthful, blemish-free complexion.

Mulberries contain anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals. Because mulberry fruit is chock full of antioxidants, it's been touted as a fruit for anti-aging, which is why some use it in an attempt to achieve youthful, wrinkle-free skin. Mulberries also contain properties that may promote melanin synthesis, which may result in a clear, rejuvenated complexion.

When purchasing mulberries from the store, make sure they are full in size and in color. Only use ripe mulberries. If you're opting for red or black mulberries, do not purchase any that look pale, as this signifies they aren't ripe. Once you've bought your mulberries, you can store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up three days and in the freezer for three months.

To get the full effects of the mulberry fruits' antioxidant properties, you should eat it or cook it in food, suggests Ping Zhang, DOM, in "Facial Rejuvenation With Traditional Chinese Healing Foods," published in Acupuncture Today. For a daily dose of mulberry, drink one glass of mulberry juice a day.

Mulberry leaves also contain antioxidant properties, so you can also use mulberry leaves to make tea. Soak mulberry leaves in boiling water for a couple minutes and then drink it as tea. The antioxidants from the mulberry leaves may help promote fresh, youthful-looking skin.

Mulberry fruit's antityrosinase and anti-inflammatory activity may help improve skin tone and act as a natural skin lightener. Many pharmacy-sold skin whiteners contain mulberry. As the acidic properties in mulberry may act to lighten skin, you can also try mulberry on scars.

To use mulberry fruit topically to treat skin problems, steep mulberry leaves in coconut oil or olive oil for three days. Apply the infused oil directly to your skin.