The Power of Rambutan

In 2023, there’s no shortage of innovative, plant-based ingredients vying for high honors in the skincare industry. Many of their names might already sound familiar. Think: skin barrier-reinforcing soy proteins (a marvellous example of how upcycling food by-products can circumvent waste and benefit our collective beauty), inflammation-soothing aloe vera (an oft overlooked skin hero that’s deserving of more fanfare, frankly), and antioxidant-rich black tea (which now boasts robust scientific data to back up anecdotal evidence of its impressive youth-promoting-slash preserving properties). Competing for its moment in the spotlight is a lesser-known name too, and it couldn’t be more deserving of fame and annointment. World, meet rambutan:

What is Rambutan?

A tropical, flowering fruit tree with evergreen leaves that originally hails from southeast Asia, rambutan is the cousin of lychee and in the Sapindaceae, or soapberry family. Its fruits grow in small clusters like grapes and take around three months to ripen.

What part of Rambutan is used for skincare?

In skincare, predominantly the peel, pulp, pit, and leaves. All are chock-full of antioxidants and have a slew of powerful anti-aging benefits. The flesh of the fruit can be eaten raw and its leaves can also be brewed to make tea. Fresh exclusively combines rambutan and black tea leaves in its proprietary BT Matrix™.

What are the benefits of Rambutan?

Rambutan acts like retinol, but is gentler, more nourishing, requires no downtime, can be used both AM and PM, and is suitable for most skin types. Along with smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, its inclusion in the BT Matrix™ is also clinically-proven to promote collagen synthesis and help support skin structure to keep skin looking bouncy, dewy, and firm.

What skin type is Rambutan good for?

Literally anyone, and especially those who may have sensitive skin or don’t find the side effects of retinol-containing products appealing. Younger skincare buffs can use rambutan as a preventative tool, while more mature skin types and everyone inbetween will enjoy its protective and age-correcting benefits.

Is Rambutan better than retinol?

In short, yes. Speaking specifically to Fresh’s rigorous testing, rambutan leaf extract in the BT Matrix™ is proven to be as or more effective than retinol, without any of the unwanted side effects, like redness, irritation, inflammation, and peeling. It’s also proven to be gentle enough to use every day, twice a day. Oh, and it doesn’t require a prescription.

Where to find Rambutan skincare

In Fresh’s new high-perfoming Black Tea Anti-Aging Ceramide Moisturizer, a quick-absorbing and lightweight formula that is guaranteed to deliver smooth, firm, and radiant skin with no downtime or adjustment period. Applied twice daily for four weeks users reported +64% firmer skin and +61% increase in overall radiance. In eight weeks, those same users reported 7x smoother wrinkles and 5x visibly firmer skin. Need we say more?