The bright colors, bold flavors and light, sweet scents of fresh fruit are pleasing to nearly every person’s palate. It’s no wonder these natural treats often make their way into an array of cosmetics, from perfume to conditioner.
The goodness of fruit, however, goes beyond its scent and flavor. Science has discovered that most fruits also provide health benefits, whether eaten whole or processed and absorbed in a different way.
In addition, it’s not just the flesh of fruit that boasts benefits, but the seeds, kernels and other components as well. In fact, in the world of bodywork, you may find fruit-based ingredients in many popular massage creams. In some cases, you may be able to smell the essence of this fruit in the cream. In other cases, you and your client can simply reap the health benefits of the fruit, with no associated scent.
For instance, a quick scan of the components in your massage cream might reveal apricot oil. This lubricant, pressed from the kernels of apricots, closely resembles almond oil and contains a high level of olein, as well as the glyceride of linolic acid. These elements give apricot oil its ability to soften the skin, which explains why this ingredient likely appears in massage creams.
On a similar note, grapeseed oil is another common fruit-based component of massage creams. A vegetable oil pressed from the seeds of various types of grapes, grapeseed oil is quite fine and light in texture. It also is almost odorless, easily absorbed by the skin and noncomedogenic, which means it does not block the pores of the skin.
With mildly astringent properties, grapeseed oil itself may help tighten and tone skin, producing satisfying, anti-aging effects. This oil also serves as an excellent emollient, thoroughly moisturizing the skin. In addition, grapeseed oil contains potent antioxidants that may help decrease sun damage, as well as damage from free radicals.
On top of these benefits, grapeseed oil also has been reported to soothe skin irritations and minor wounds. Its mildly astringent quality makes it safe for use on clients with acne or aggravated skin.
You may find that a few citrus fruits, lemons especially, have been tapped to produce your favorite massage cream. The bioflavonoids found in citrus fruits have been studied extensively to reveal big health benefits.
Lemons specifically contain a bioflavonoid known as hesperidin, as well as proanthocyandins. These nutrients have been shown to strengthen capillaries, help maintain elastin and stabilize collagen. Such results earn lemons and other citrus fruits a spot in several high-quality massage creams.
If you’d like to take the benefits of fruit beyond the plate, check out massage creams that contain ingredients derived from these natural treats. Whether you pick a lubricant that carries the scent of one or more fruits, or one that is totally unscented, you can still get the benefits of applying the extract to your skin, as well as the skin of your clients.
—Brandi Schlossberg