Rambutan

Nephelium lappaceum, commonly known as rambutan, is a tropical hairy fruit native to Southeast Asia. In recent years, rambutan has gained attention as a promising skin care ingredient due to its rich content of antioxidants, including ellagic acid and quercetin, which can deliver anti-ageing and soothing benefits for skin. Rambutan extracts also show potential for supporting skin’s natural supply of collagen and inhibiting discolouration before it becomes visible.

In particular, the peel portion of rambutan is especially rich in antioxidants, with reports showing rambutan peel extract (a.k.a. Nephelium lappaceum peel extract) offers significant protection to help offset the visible signs of photoageing/sun damage. Furthermore, studies suggest incorporating rambutan peel extract into sunscreen formulations can help enhance the SPF.

Some skin care brands tout rambutan as a natural alternative to retinol. While both ingredients offer anti-ageing benefits, they work through different mechanisms. Retinol binds to specific receptors in skin cells, while rambutan does not. This difference in action means that retinol can produce more dramatic results than rambutan. Think of rambutan as a complementary partner to retinol/retinoids rather than a direct replacement.

The safety of Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) extract has not yet been officially assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. However, a 2017 study published in the Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences found that Nephelium lappaceum peel extract was safe when tested on human skin fibroblasts.

Worth noting, rambutan extracts have great potential for sustainable usage within the cosmetics industry. When rambutan is processed for food products, such as jams, juices, and canned fruit, large quantities of peel and seed by-products are generated. These by-products can be “upcycled” and used to produce rambutan extract for skin care and other personal care products.