The UpCircle Night Cream, eagerly anticipated and soon-to-be released, is made with antioxidant-rich blueberry extract. This wonderful ingredient is bursting with goodness; it’s why we are strong advocates of using blueberry extract for skin. Here, we shine a light on why we have included blueberry extract in our skincare – specifically our new Night Cream – and why our particular blueberry extract is worth shouting about!
Blueberry extract benefits for skin
There are lots of blueberry extract benefits, and many of us are probably at least slightly familiar with the concept of blueberries as a superfood. However, it’s probably not so well known that blueberries are exceptionally good for our skin’s health and appearance. Let’s share with you the main blueberry extract skin benefits:
1. Rich in vitamin A
Retinoids, found in vitamin A, help your skin in numerous ways, from preventing breakouts and promoting healing to natural moisturising and bolstering the skin’s immune system. Research has revealed that vitamin A also helps to reduce and prevent sun damage. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, even helping to protect the skin against sunburn (although your SPF is always still needed!). Vitamin A actually helps to shield the skin from blue light exposure.
2. Source of pro-retinol
Blueberry extract is a source of pro-retinol which helps to reduce the appearance of the tell-tale signs of ageing: fine lines and wrinkles. Combined with the linoleic content which strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, blueberry extract hydrates and plumps the skin, making it look youthful and radiant. Pro-retinol also helps to protect the skin from UV damage and, even better, it doesn’t have the same peeling and redness side effects that retinol often brings.
3. Source of Omega 9, topically
Blueberry extract is rich in Omega 9. Omega 9 is an excellent carrier. Its presence enables other active ingredients to penetrate the top layer of the skin and get to work.
4. Protects against oxidative stress
Blueberries, when ingested, protect against oxidative stress. It is believed that the same is true when their extract is used topically. Free radicals are neutralised and the external pollutants that we expose ourselves to just by going about everyday life are minimised. Indeed, blueberries are very rich in antioxidants, which are known to fight premature ageing. As you get older, your skin finds it naturally harder to combat the free radicals which reduce collagen and elastin production. A bit of help from nature’s goodness is excellent.
5. Collagen boosting
In fact, blueberries are notably high in anthocyanin. This compound helps aid collagen production in the skin. Evidence shows that applying anthocyanin to the skin lowers the breakdown of collagen, whilst also increasing collagen production too. Alongside this, blueberries are notoriously high in vitamin C which also aids collagen production.
6. Calms and soothes acne
At UpCircle, we take acne concerns seriously and offer a range of natural products to help. Our Night Cream, whilst suitable for all, is a reliable and calming option for those with acne or who experience outbreaks. One of the main reasons for this is that blueberries have been linked to decreased acne-related inflammation. By using them topically, rather than eating them and absorbing the carbs, you may maximise the benefits you receive.
Similarly, the same antioxidant anti-inflammatory process can help to reduce oxidative stress related eczema and psoriasis flares.
7. Improved healing
Blueberries are bursting with lots of goodies, including vitamins C and K which are essential for skin healing. So, whether you’re tackling a blemish, a small tear or cut, or simply have a sore patch from tending to your eyebrows without due care, then blueberry extract in your skincare delivers healing goodness exactly where it needs to go. In addition, when your skin is damaged, it becomes more inflamed and experiences oxidative stress. Again, blueberry extract is perfect to help protect against oxidative stress.
8. Improved circulation
Eating blueberries is linked to better heart health largely because they help with circulation and your overall wellness. Healthy skin needs exceptional circulation as this is how it receives the oxygen needed to repair itself. There’s no evidence yet to say that applying blueberry extract topically does the same trick as ingesting it, but given how vibrant and rejuvenated skin seems after using our night cream, we believe that skin circulation is bolstered this way too.
Why choose to use our night cream containing blueberry extract?
We recently shared with you the many benefits of Night Cream. Night cream brings you exceptional moisturising, much needed after a day exposed to sunlight and pollution. It soothes and calms the skin, allowing overnight healing, and preparing it for the next day. Simply by applying night cream, you boost your circulation and collagen, helping to reduce skin ageing.
However, the benefits of our night cream go further and that’s precisely due to the fact that we have based our formula on using blueberry extract.
But more than that, we aren’t just using any old blueberry extract. As with all of our skincare range, it is essential to us that we’re promoting a circular economy and making sustainable choices.
When you use our night cream, the blueberry extract comes from repurposed blueberries which would otherwise be discarded, simply as a waste product of the juicing industry. We press the leftover skin and seeds, extracting the fabulous oil which is exactly what we need. It’s 100% natural and jam-packed with goodness. We use low carbon transport to deliver the blueberry extract to us, from different source countries, depending on the season. In fact, 1kg of our blueberry extract contains the oil from 800,000 blueberries which would otherwise go to waste. How fantastic is that?!
When you choose to use UpCircle’s Night Cream with Blueberry Extract, you can be sure that not only are you getting all the wonderful skincare benefits of this remarkable little berry, but you’re also making a sensible sustainability choice.