Ingredient Spotlight: Watermelon

Beneficial? Or do we love that it’s millennial pink?

I had a bit of an idea for a series recently where I feature of the moment ingredients in beauty products. We’re seeing watermelon extract is numerous new summer launches, and it reminds me of the pumpkin products we see in fall. Then, when thinking about it, we see season-friendly ingredients in any given season. I thought it could be fun. We’re welcoming the series and July with an ingredient spotlight showcasing watermelon.

Watermelon is an ultra-buzzy ingredient in the beauty industry right now. It makes a lot of sense, considering watermelon is typically a summer fruit. But is it actually a beneficial ingredient, or are beauty companies just trying to suck in millennials with a pink-hued product?

The pink, BBQ staple has been popping up in an abundance of skincare products from Glow Recipe’s beloved line of watermelon-based products to Milk Makeup’s Insta-friendly brightening serum stick. Pretty, yes. But does it actually do for our skin?

While skincare experts generally agree more research needs to be done, there are notable benefits that we know hold true. The pulp in watermelon is made up of more than 90% water, which is extremely hydrating for dehydrated or dry skin. And like eating watermelon on a hot, summer day, in skincare, it’s also cooling and quenching for your skin.

But aside from water, watermelon is also chalk full of antioxidants. Vitamins A + C are great for healthy skin cell production and collagen production, respectively. And lycopene, another antioxidant found in watermelon, is also an anti-inflammatory agent that helps protect skin from environmental agents that can clog pores and cause breakouts. It may be a useful ingredient is fighting free radical damage from UV light and other environmental exposures as well as brightening and evening out skin tone.

Watermelon is also rich in citrulline, an amino acid that binds with water to act as a natural exfoliator, as well as glow inducing essential fatty acids. Yet another reason watermelon may be a beneficial ingredient in skincare.

Another reason we may be seeing an abundance of watermelon and watermelon seed extract is that is pairs well with other topical ingredients and doesn’t interfere with the effectiveness of them. That means you can work these watermelon-based products seamlessly into your existing skincare routine.

The bottom line on watermelon skincare:

Is watermelon as a skin-care ingredient just another marketing tactic to entice the millennial generation? Perhaps. The subject, especially surrounding the claims of prevention against free radical damage, needs more research. But with the knowledge we know about the antioxidants and amino acids present, the bottom line is it’s not going to hurt.

On that note, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite watermelon skincare products with the beauty buzz ingredient that I do like and have found helpful in my skincare routine.