Skincare shouldn’t be a guessing game, so it’s time to make sure you know exactly what’s in your products, and why. The best results come from using ingredients that are not only scientifically supported, but also kind to both your skin and the planet. 

Kiwi fruit extract is an ingredient that hits all of those marks. It combines vitamins, antioxidants, and skin-conditioning properties in a way that supports healthy skin without irritating it.

In this post, we’ll explore why kiwi fruit extract belongs in your routine and how it works to support your skin and make it feel and look its best.

What is kiwi fruit extract?

Kiwi fruit extract is obtained from the flesh of the kiwi by processing using methods like cold-pressing. The botanical name of the kiwi fruit is Actinidia deliciosa, and they can still be found growing in the wild in China, where they are native.

This extract is a great source of essential antioxidant vitamin C, which helps prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution and smoke. By fighting free radicals, kiwi fruit extract works to smooth wrinkles and improve skin texture. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, which works to help your skin retain its structure and improve skin elasticity, keeping your skin supple and firm. 

It’s also a source of vitamin E, which moisturises and nourishes the skin for a healthy glow and a strengthened skin barrier. If you’re prone to breakouts, vitamin E can also reduce the oxidation of sebum in pores and prevent blackheads.

Unlike eating a kiwi fruit, topical application through kiwi-infused formulations delivers these nutrients directly to the skin. As it’s plant-derived and gentle, this extract works well in products designed for daily use, such as hand wash and lotion.

Effective extracts: benefits of kiwi fruit for skin

The hard-working nature of kiwi fruit extract is due to its diverse nutrient profile:

• Vitamin C, which is known for brightening your skin and evening your skin tone.
• Vitamin E to support the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• Polyphenols and flavonoids are antioxidants that help to defend your skin against free radicals and environmental stress.
• Enzymatic compounds, which gently support texture renewal.

This blend of vitamins and nutrients in kiwi promotes healthier, smoother, and more resilient skin.

1. Brighten dull skin

The vitamin C in kiwi fruit extract is an antioxidant that helps to boost your skin’s radiance by protecting against oxidative stress, a main contributor to dull, uneven-looking skin. Rather than offering an instant, surface-level glow, kiwi fruit extract works gradually to support a brighter-looking complexion over time.

2. Supports elasticity and firmness

Skin elasticity naturally declines as we age. Collagen and elastin fibres are exposed to and gradually broken down by environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution. 

Over time, your skin’s natural renewal process also slows, meaning damage accumulates more easily and skin becomes thinner. You’ll notice this most in areas like hands and arms, where skin is regularly exposed to environmental stressors and needs strength and hydration.

Kiwi fruit extract helps support skin’s firmness as a result of its antioxidant profile, which plays a role in protecting these structural proteins from free radical damage. When included in nourishing body care formulas, kiwi fruit extract helps support skin that looks smoother and feels more supple.

3. Provides antioxidant protection against stressors

Antioxidants are essential in a modern skincare routine. 

Environmental exposure is unavoidable, and over time, it can accelerate visible signs of skin ageing. That’s why antioxidants matter: they help neutralise free radicals, which are created by everyday factors like UV exposure, pollution, and normal metabolic processes in the body. Free radicals are missing an electron, so they react with and damage healthy skin cells.

Incorporating antioxidant-rich ingredients into your everyday skincare helps support your skin’s natural defence systems. Rather than acting as a corrective solution after lots of damage has been done, kiwi fruit extract can play a preventative role, helping skin better cope with daily exposure. This is why it’s an ideal ingredient for daily body care products, supporting long-term skin health.

4. Gently smooths and refines texture

The natural enzymes in kiwi fruit extract help to loosen and lift away dead skin cells. This gentle exfoliation supports a smoother, softer surface without over-stripping the skin of its natural oils.

5. Supports the skin’s moisture barrier

Vitamin E and other nourishing compounds in kiwi help to support your skin’s natural defence barrier – the outermost layer that holds in moisture and keeps irritants out. It helps to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is especially noticeable in areas that experience dryness or seasonal stress.

6. Helps hydrate and revitalise tired skin

In addition to its antioxidant and barrier-supporting benefits, kiwi fruit extract offers skin-conditioning properties that help your skin feel smooth and comfortable. It supports hydration by helping skin maintain moisture levels, leaving it feeling softer and more comfortable after cleansing.

This makes it a great fit in daily moisturisers and washes that you reach for again and again. Over time, the kiwi extract in these products can help revitalise tired-looking skin.

Using kiwi fruit extract in your routine

Kiwi fruit extract works well in a variety of products, but here’s how to make the most of it in your everyday bodycare:

Natural Hand + Body Wash with Lemongrass

This fruity Hand + Body Wash leaves your hands feeling soothed and protected. Formulated with an invigorating blend of lemongrass and mandarin oils, it’s suitable for dry skin.

Infused with the anti-inflammatory residual water of kiwi fruit, a by-product of the juicing industry, it soothes skin as it cleanses. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants to brighten skin and support skin elasticity, this hand wash is ideal for regular use. 

Hand + Body Lotion with Bergamot Water

Our citrus-scented Hand + Body Lotion leaves skin feeling nourished, moisturised and lightly fragranced. It combines bergamot water with lemongrass oil to invigorate your senses whilst protecting and repairing your skin.

For best results, use after cleansing with our Hand + Body Wash. Our lotion is a combination of skin-loving ingredients to soothe and protect the skin, with fatty acids to nourish and hydrate.

How we upcycle kiwi water

Our upcycled kiwi water bears all the intrinsic richness of the fruit itself. 

Water is often the first ingredient in skincare products, meaning it plays an important role in the sustainability of the overall formulation process. Thus, water is a great target ingredient to replace with a more sustainable alternative to heavily processed filtered water. The bonus is that it smells beautiful!

Process: The kiwis are squeezed, and the juice is collected. The water is then evaporated off to produce juice concentrates, hence the evaporated water is a by-product. The residual waters are purified, maintaining all the nutrients and elements essential for biological activity.

Sourced from: The fruit is used to produce juice concentrates in Italy. The bioactive water is recovered from the juice production chain. The fruit is grown organically and harvested seasonally.

Benefit from other upcycled ingredients in our full range of skincare, bodycare, and haircare.