BOTANICAL EXTRACT
Blackcurrant Fruit Extract
Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Fruit Extract
An extract of blackcurrants, the small, deep purple berries of Ribes nigrum, rich in anthocyanins, used in skincare for antioxidant support and to keep skin soft and in good condition.
Source
The fruit of the blackcurrant bush (Ribes nigrum)
Used for
Antioxidant support, soft, conditioned skin
How it works
A deep purple berry, full of anthocyanins.
Blackcurrant fruit extract is made from the berries of Ribes nigrum, the blackcurrant bush, and appears on ingredient lists as Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Fruit Extract.
The berries owe their almost black colour to anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with strong antioxidant activity. Research developing blackcurrant extract as a cosmetic ingredient found very high antioxidant activity, and showed that its anthocyanins stay at the skin's surface, so they work where they are applied. The berries are also known for their vitamin C, alongside natural fruit sugars and fruit acids.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, keeping skin in good condition, emollient, softening and smoothing the skin, and a light astringent, toning effect. It suits creams, serums and gels, morning or night.
The berries owe their almost black colour to anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with strong antioxidant activity. Research developing blackcurrant extract as a cosmetic ingredient found very high antioxidant activity, and showed that its anthocyanins stay at the skin's surface, so they work where they are applied. The berries are also known for their vitamin C, alongside natural fruit sugars and fruit acids.
In cosmetics its listed functions are skin conditioning, keeping skin in good condition, emollient, softening and smoothing the skin, and a light astringent, toning effect. It suits creams, serums and gels, morning or night.
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Extracted from the berries of the blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum
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Rich in anthocyanins, the antioxidant pigments behind the berry's colour
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Keeps skin soft, smooth and in good condition
Questions
What gives blackcurrants their deep colour?
Anthocyanins. These natural pigments are what make the berries so dark, and the main ones in blackcurrant are delphinidin and cyanidin compounds. (Petrov Ivanković et al., 2024)
Is blackcurrant extract a good antioxidant?
Yes. A blackcurrant extract made for cosmetic use showed very high antioxidant activity in laboratory testing. (Petrov Ivanković et al., 2024)
Do blackcurrants contain vitamin C?
Yes. Blackcurrants carry vitamin C alongside natural fruit sugars and fruit acids such as citric and malic acid, with the variety and the growing conditions both shaping how much the berries contain. (Zheng et al., 2009)
Where does blackcurrant extract work?
At the surface. Research found that blackcurrant anthocyanins in creams and gels stay on and in the skin's surface layer rather than passing through, which suits ingredients meant to work where they are applied. (Petrov Ivanković et al., 2024)
About the plant
Blackcurrant, Ribes nigrum, is a shrub of the gooseberry and currant family, Grossulariaceae. (GBIF) The composition of its berries depends on both the variety and the conditions where they grow: in one study, berries grown further north in Finland carried more vitamin C. (Zheng et al., 2009)
In cosmetics, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract is an extract of the fruit pulp, of plant origin. (COSMILE Europe)
In cosmetics, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract is an extract of the fruit pulp, of plant origin. (COSMILE Europe)
The research
- Petrov Ivanković A, Ćorović M, Milivojević A, Blagojević S, Radulović A, Pjanović R, Bezbradica D. Assessment of Enzymatically Derived Blackcurrant Extract as Cosmetic Ingredient: Antioxidant Properties Determination and In Vitro Diffusion Study. Pharmaceutics. 2024;16(9):1209. PMID: 39339245. (opens in a new tab)
- Zheng J, Yang B, Tuomasjukka S, Ou S, Kallio H. Effects of latitude and weather conditions on contents of sugars, fruit acids, and ascorbic acid in black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) juice. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2009;57(7):2977-2987. PMID: 19265382. (opens in a new tab)
- Rose PM, Cantrill V, Benohoud M, Tidder A, Rayner CM, Blackburn RS. Application of Anthocyanins from Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Fruit Waste as Renewable Hair Dyes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2018;66(26):6790-6798. PMID: 29808681. (opens in a new tab)
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe) cosmetic ingredient database: Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract (black currant; fruit pulp; solvent extract; functions: astringent, fragrance, skin conditioning, skin conditioning - emollient; origin: plant) (opens in a new tab)
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Backbone Taxonomy: Ribes nigrum L., accepted species, family Grossulariaceae (the gooseberry and currant family) (opens in a new tab)
