Health Matters—Get Your Fruit on

By Einav Keet

Those nutrient-rich foods we should eat often wind up as active ingredients in face creams, cleansers, and masks. In the tradition of oatmeal facial scrubs and full-body seaweed wraps, exotic fruits such as goji berry, açai, and mangosteen have begun popping up on the labels of skincare products recently. To understand why companies now tout the benefits of these lesser-known “superfruits,” consider their traditional uses:

Goji Berry. Tibetans have munched on goji berries for centuries to promote longevity and ward off disease. New research finds that the fruit fights cancer cells, supports immunity, and lowers blood pressure. Rich in carotenoids, vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B6, and E, it’s no wonder goji berries are fighting the signs of aging in Pangea Organics’ Japanese Matcha Tea With Açai & Goji Berry Facial Mask, 2 ounces, www.pangeaorganics.com.

Açai. The fruit of the açai palm tree, found in Central and South America, looks like a grape but packs 10 times as many antioxidants and eight of the nine essential amino acids. With its high concentration of omega-6 and -9 fatty acids—keys to maintaining healthy cell membranes—açai oil is great to slather on with Nature’s Gate’s Rainwater Organics Lotion in Lemongrass Spice, Bergamot Patchouli, Citrus Ginger, and Orange Zest Mint, 8 ounces, www.natures-gate.com.

Mangosteen. The white pulp of the mangosteen tree, native to Southeast Asia, may taste sweet, but the bulk of the plant’s xanthones, a class of phytonutrients, are found in the tough outer shell that surrounds the fruit. Get the antioxidant power of these compounds in MyChelle’s Tropical Face Lift, www.mychelleusa.com