You’ve heard of the Acai berry by now, right? It’s incredibly hard to ignore the Amazonian fruit that has become the centre of attraction in superfoods. Acai is the fruit that can do it all. It may help to improve cancer, heart disease, joint pain, and even brain function! Acai doesn’t only work wonders inside of your body; it’s also great for the outside – your skin. There are many Acai berry skin complexion benefits. This article will show you how Acai berry may be the key to the fantastic skin complexion you’ve always wanted.
Photo credit: JWlez
What Is Acai Berry?
Just in case you missed the news about the Acai berry, I’ll give you a little information in this section – the origins of the fruit, what it looks like, what it tastes like, and its uses.
Acai is only common in the sense that people worldwide have at least heard of it. In terms of production, it’s not so common. The fruit is native to some parts of the Amazon basin. Usually, people think of Brazil when they visualize the Amazon. While Acai is very prominent in Brazil, the truth is that it grows in other swampy areas in both Southern and Central America.
The word ‘acai’ comes from the Brazilian Portuguese language. In English, it means ‘the fruit that cries.’ It’s not precisely what that means, but some natives say that it’s just a poetic way of saying that the fruit expels water.
For several years, Acai has been a staple food for Brazil’s people in the rainforest regions. There’s no surprise there, considering the vast number of benefits that Acai has. People outside Brazil are only now starting to recognise the Acai fruit’s powers, but it looks like the Amazonian’s were far ahead of us on this one.
Additionally, Acai is not a typical berry, as many people think. But who can blame them when the fruit is called an Acai berry? In reality, the Acai fruit is not a berry, other berries grow on bushes, that’s why they’re so easy to pick. Acai, on the other hand, requires a little more harvesting effort. It grows at the top of the Acai palm tree, so picking isn’t an option. Locals scale the palm trees, cut down bunches of berries, and then slide back down the trees.
Acai Berry: Look and Taste
Photo credit: Ella Olson
I promised to tell you what Acai tastes and looks like, so here goes. Acai is a small fruit that has a dark purplish colour. Some say that it looks like a cross between a grape and a blueberry. Acai has a large seed in the middle, with not much flesh around it.
Your first bite of Acai will give your taste buds a great shock. It’s hard to say what exactly Acai tastes like; it’s pleasant nevertheless, but the best description is that it tastes like a mixture of dark chocolate and fresh blueberries. You can eat Acai in different ways; make it into a smoothie, a refreshing juice, or simply use it as a topping over yogurt, or your favourite smoothie.
Altogether, Acai has a short shelf life, so it’s nearly impossible to find any actual Acai fruit outside the Amazon. The only way to export Acai is to process it somewhat. You’ll discover Acai available in puree form, freeze-dried powder, or completely processed into a tablet or capsule supplements. In some countries, you may even have access to Acai seed oil for beauty purposes.
5 Acai Berry Skin Complexion Benefits
Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio
As mention, Acai is a superfood. This means that it has a high number of nutrients and other useful components for human health – all within one fruit. The main thing about Acai is that it contains an overwhelming number of antioxidants. Studies suggest that Acai may have up to 30 times more antioxidants than other berries. Amazing right?
The benefits of Acai go beyond just internal health. Acai offers a complete package for internal health and great looking skin. What’s the point of being healthy on the inside if it doesn’t show on the outside?
There’s a reason why many of us spend so much time working on our appearances. It’s because we all love to look good. We love it even more when others notice how good we look. These days, many of us are starting to realise that looking great isn’t so much about piling on makeup. Instead, all it takes is a few simple steps to amplify your natural looks, and it all starts with good skincare!
That’s where our beloved Acai fruit comes into the picture. This miracle fruit is just what you need to improve your skins complexion. In fancier terms, Acai is a premium skincare ingredient.
But how exactly does Acai help your skin?
1. Acai Promotes Cell Turnover
All the cells in the body, including skin cells are living tissues. This means that they are alive for a while, then die. It’s just like how the human body works. Think of it as the base level of the circle of life; in the same way, new cells also have to be ‘born’ to replace dead cells.
Acai contains a good dose of vitamin A which can help to speed up the turnover rate of skin cells. It triggers the skin to shed old, dead cells to make way for newer and younger cells. Vitamin A further helps to shed off rough, damaged, and hyperpigmented skin cells.
It also helps to get rid of dead cells that may clog the skin’s pores and eventually cause acne. When you apply Acai to your skin, the vitamin A absorbs and is converted to become retinoic acid. It is this retinoic acid that does the work of speeding up cell turnover.
You might have noticed that retinoids are popular in skin care because they are derived from vitamin A and have the same effect of speeding up cell turnover. However, the problem with both prescription and OTC retinoids is that they can cause a lot of irritation to the skin. Even people who are not known to have sensitive skin have complained while using retinoids. Hence why using Acai is a safe way to experience the skin-renewing benefits of Vitamin A, without the added irritation.
2. Acai Contains Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Acai is popular because of how rich it is in antioxidants. One of the essential antioxidants in Acai is anthocyanin. It protects the body against free radicals, which can damage your body and eventually lead to certain diseases.
Free radicals are unstable atoms in the body. The body naturally produces them to attack bacteria, viruses, and other harmful organisms. Apart from the body’s natural production of free radicals, certain external factors can also influence free radicals’ existence. Some include environmental pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke. What’s more, the skin is the most accessible place for free radicals to attack. They accelerate aging, forming wrinkles, and fine lines.
This effect of free radicals in the body is known as oxidative stress, which happens when there is an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals in the body. More so, a low antioxidant level means free radicals are at liberty to do maximum damage to the body’s cells.
By applying Acai to your skin, you’re increasing your skin’s antioxidant level. The antioxidants can, in turn, fight against free radicals and slow down the ageing process.
Antioxidants in Acai can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protect your skin against UV damage. Within a short period of using Acai, you’ll notice that your skin looks younger and fresher. Some scientists even suspect that antioxidants in Acai can help to prevent skin cancer.
That’s not all. Acai is also great anti-inflammatory food. For years, South and Central American natives have used Acai for healing because of its anti-inflammatory properties. This makes Acai a good choice for treating various skin conditions, which can affect your complexion. For instance, eczema and rosacea can both cause your skin to have patches of discoloration. The anti-inflammatory components of Acai can help to clear these conditions and restore your skin’s complexion.
Photo credit: Alexander Mills
3. Acai Is Rich in Fatty Acids and Amino Acids
Things are about to get a bit more scientific here. If you studied science in school, then you remember what amino acids are, right? They are like small blocks that make up a protein. The essential amino acids are necessary for almost all body functions- growth, healing, repair of tissues and muscles, digestion, and releasing energy.
But did you know that these same amino acids are suitable for skincare as well? That’s right. Amino acids work to keep our skin hydrated. They do this by pushing moisture through to the deeper layers of the skin. Dry skin can cause acne and roughness, both of which are not great for skin complexion.
Another way that amino acids help to hydrate the skin is by increasing the amount of water retained in the skin. The skin is continually losing water through diffusion, evaporation, and sweating. When combined with other products, amino acids help to maintain moisture in the skin.
Also, Amino acids contain a few antioxidants. Add them to the antioxidants in Acai itself and you’ll have a superb skin-protection formula. They are also helpful for regenerating and repairing skin cells so that your skin looks younger.
Amino acids are equally known to speed up collagen production, which helps to tighten loose skin and make it firmer. Besides being a rich source of amino acids, Acai also contains fatty acids that are good for skin complexion. If you’re going to have great skin, you need a good dose of essential fatty acids like omega 3, 6, and 9. Thankfully, you can get all of these from one source – the Acai berry.
Omega 3 and 6 ensure that your skin cell membranes are healthy. They also contribute to form the skin’s natural oils, which are vital for keeping the skin moisturised and hydrated. More so, they work together to soothe irritated skin and smoothen out lines and wrinkles on the skin.
4. Acai Contains Vitamin C
There’s no way to talk about skincare and complexion without mentioning vitamin C. It has so many benefits that promote overall skin health and improve your skin complexion. The primary way Vitamin C helps the skin is by boosting collagen production. Collagen is a protein fibre that occurs naturally in the body. It keeps the skin looking plump and firm.
A close relative of collagen is elastin, another protein fibre. Elastin is the ingredient that makes the skin stretchy, firm, and tight. Without enough elastin, your skin will look crumpled and wrinkled. Vitamin C in Acai also plays a vital role in the production of elastin for the skin.
Additionally, Vitamin C can help to increase water retention in the skin. It reduces transepidermal water loss, which is simply how water from the skin is diffused and evaporated into the atmosphere. By reducing water retention, Vitamin C helps your skin to stay hydrated and plump.
It’s no news that Vitamin C contains properties which have a lightening effect on the skin. This lightening or fading effect is what makes Vitamin C a significant player in the skincare industry. Most people will experience some kind of skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation at least once in their lives.
Age, exposure to the sun, and acne scars can all contribute to hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C fades out these dark spots by limiting the production of melanin in the body.
Melanin is the chemical that causes pigmentation of the skin; a concentration of melanin in certain areas of the skin is what causes dark spots. Vitamin C can lighten these dark spots and give you an even skin complexion over time. After clearing hyperpigmentation, vitamin C in Acai goes a step further by brightening things to provide you with radiantly glowing skin.
Read About the Benefits of Carrot Juice for Radiant Skin
5. Acai Berry Has Long-lasting Effects, and It’s Suitable for Most Skin Types
A lot of skincare oils are only valid up to a point, after a while of using them, you hit a plateau and they become less potent. What happens is that most products eventually get to the point where they’ve done all they can to help you. No matter how much of the product you apply, you’re not going to see any further progress.
This is the point at which a lot of people give up on a particular skin product and begin the search for another one. I’m sure this story sounds familiar to you. If you’re tired of changing products, then Acai oil is what you need. Unlike other oils, Acai oil doesn’t lose its potency when exposed to sunlight or oxygen; it can retain a high level of antioxidants for years.
Acai is excellent for most skin types, including sensitive skin. For people who have sensitive skin, it can be a real challenge to find a product that is both effective and gentle. Acai provides the perfect combination of both.
How to Activate Acai Berry Skin Complexion Benefits
Photo credit: Chie Carrol
Now that you know how some of the Acai berry skin complexion benefits, you’re probably wondering how to use it. Acai is imported from South America in different forms – freeze-dried powder, puree, and seed oil. You can incorporate any of these into your skincare routine for remarkable results.
Make your facial scrub by mixing acai powder with sugar and honey. For a face and body oil, mix acai seed oil with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil or some aloe vera. The benefits of applying aloe vera on face overnight are immense and can help soothe inflammation.
However, make sure that you do not use acai seed oil directly on your skin; it’s highly concentrated and should always be mixed with a carrier oil. Finally, you can make a simple face mask by mixing some acai puree with a little water.
It’s possible to have the skin you’ve always dreamed of, – smooth, radiant, and with a great complexion. What’s more, you don’t have to use harsh chemical products to achieve this. Acai is an all-natural premium skincare ingredient that has remarkable effects on your skin complexion. Just give it a try and watch the ‘magic’ that happens.
Read More On How To Use Tea Tree Oil And Aloe Vera Gel For Pimples
Acai Berry Skin Complexion Benefits: To Summarise
At this point, it should be evident that there’s more than a handful of Acai berry skin complexion benefits. So, it’s not a bad choice for any blemishes or conditions you have. Acai can also be combined Manuka honey for additional benefits.
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