Far more than just a tasty snack, did you know that dates can be used in your skincare formulations too? With a whole host of skincare benefits including being antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, date seeds are incorporated into various skincare products.

We’ve covered the benefits of various skincare ingredients, from sunflower seed oil and oats to passion fruit oil and apricot seed oil. But now, we’re turning our attention to date seeds. 

What you need to know about date fruits and seeds

Dates are the deliciously sweet fruit of the date palm – phoenix dactylifera – a flowering plant species belonging to the palm family, Arecaceae, that is widely cultivated in northern Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. 

When eaten as a fruit, dry or soft dates are eaten out-of-hand, and the stones discarded. Pitted or stoned dates have the seeds removed, and are sometimes filled with other foodstuff for added flavour. 

With pitted dates, the seeds are discarded by growers and don’t even make it to the shelves. However, all is not lost – these stones can be ground up and used in various skincare formulations. Both date seed powder and date seed oil can be used in cosmetics.

5 skincare benefits of date seeds

1. High in antioxidants

Antioxidants are essential to help your skin fight off damage caused by free radicals. These are molecules naturally released by the body with one or more unpaired electrons in its outer shell. Free radicals ‘steal’ an electron from a healthy molecule to form their missing pairing, which subsequently damages the healthy cell. 

When produced in excess – and where the cells cannot adequately destroy the excess – free radicals and oxidants can bring the body into a state of oxidative stress, which can alter the cell’s structure. 

Antioxidants work to destroy free radicals to prevent skin damage, but during this process, the antioxidant itself becomes oxidised. This means that it’s really important to constantly replenish the antioxidants in the body – and through your skincare is a great way to do so.

2. A great anti-inflammatory

Inflammation is a strong skincare worry for many people, and can often be uncomfortable to deal with. From redness and swelling to pain and itching, inflammation looks different on everyone, but can bring about the same types of uneasy feelings.

Research has found that date seeds possess anti-inflammatory properties, helping to calm redness and even out skin tone. 

3. Helps to protect the skin

A healthy skin barrier is the name of the game when it comes to fresh, moisturised and glowing skin. The skin barrier protects the skin by keeping pollutants and toxins out, and essential hydration in. 

According to research, date fruit and its seed waste contain bioactive constituents including flavonoids, phenolics, and phenolic acids. These play a significant role in helping to prevent the generation of free radicals in the skin, which we know can cause damage to your skin on a cellular level.

4. Protects against UV damage

People are becoming increasingly aware of the damage that UV radiation can cause to the skin. Known as a ‘complete carcinogen’, UV is a major contributing factor to cases of skin cancer. 

That’s not all, UV can also cause your skin’s appearance to change – think excessive wrinkles, leathery skin, actinic keratosis (rough, scaly patches of skin), and solar elastosis (yellow and thickened skin from chronic sun damage). 

Owing to its highly versatile antioxidant activities, date seeds have been found to be able to protect human skin against UVA and UVB radiation. While absolutely not a substitute for wearing daily SPF, a little bit of added protection from your skincare doesn’t hurt! 

5. Helps to improve skin elasticity

If you’re looking for plump and rejuvenated skin, considering your skin elasticity is important. Research has found that the phytohormones (chemicals produced by plants that regulate their growth, development, and among other things, longevity) in date seed oil possess anti-aging properties, reducing wrinkles and improving skin elasticity

We always say the same thing, that ageing is a privilege and a few extra wrinkles or lines show the life you’ve lived. We never want anyone to feel insecure about their skin. If you want to see real skin and real texture, head to our Instagram. 

How we upcycle date seeds

At UpCircle, we’re proud to use upcycled date seeds in our Body Cream formulation. 

We take the leftover seeds that have been discarded by growers and use a green process (water extraction) with no preservatives. The extraction of the liquid from the seeds is done without harsh solvent and any waste created is completely biodegradable. 

Our body cream is made with the anti-inflammatory extract of leftover date seeds, a by-product of date farming, to provide deep moisturisation and leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and supple. 

We have chosen to use upcycled date seeds in our formula because they are composed of polyphenols and other antioxidants, and are considered a “super seed”. When used in our skincare, date seeds help to calm redness, even out skin tone, minimise the appearance of thin blood vessels (induces vasoconstriction), and are especially great for mature and sensitive skin.

The date seed extract in our Body Cream has been proven in clinical trials to improve skin tone by up to +45% and reduce redness down to -31%.

The rich, lightweight formula leaves a non-greasy finish, while soothing even the most sensitive skin. Award-winning, our nourishing body cream is formulated with aloe vera and cocoa butter, helping to reduce inflammation and redness.

How to apply: Apply morning or evening to clean, dry skin. Massage gently into the skin using circular motions. Watch co-founder Anna explain how to use the product in this YouTube video.

Each product in our range sources and rescues by-products from other industries – the food and drink industry in particular. Discover our full range of upcycled ingredients and shop the full collection at UpCircle.