BOTANICAL EXTRACT
Paprika Fruit Extract
Capsicum Annuum (Paprika) Fruit Extract
An antioxidant-rich extract of sweet red paprika peppers, valued for its natural carotenoids, including capsanthin, used to help skin look bright and radiant.
Source
Red paprika pepper fruit
Used for
Antioxidant-rich skin and hair conditioning
How it works
Red-pepper carotenoids, without the heat.
Paprika fruit extract comes from the sweet red pepper Capsicum annuum, the same fruit that is dried and ground for the kitchen spice. Its deep red colour comes from carotenoids, the pigment family that also includes beta-carotene, and two of them, capsanthin and capsorubin, are found almost only in red peppers.
In laboratory research on human skin cells exposed to UVB light, capsanthin and capsorubin showed antioxidant activity comparable to lutein, a well-known carotenoid, which is why the extract is valued as an antioxidant-rich ingredient.
Sweet paprika is a different material from the hot chilli extracts used for a warming effect, and this extract is not there for heat. It suits daily use in cleansers, serums and creams, morning or night.
In laboratory research on human skin cells exposed to UVB light, capsanthin and capsorubin showed antioxidant activity comparable to lutein, a well-known carotenoid, which is why the extract is valued as an antioxidant-rich ingredient.
Sweet paprika is a different material from the hot chilli extracts used for a warming effect, and this extract is not there for heat. It suits daily use in cleansers, serums and creams, morning or night.
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Extracted from sweet red paprika peppers, not hot chillies
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Naturally rich in red-pepper carotenoids, including capsanthin
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An antioxidant-rich ingredient that helps skin look bright and radiant
Questions
What is paprika fruit extract?
It is an extract of the fruit pulp of Capsicum annuum, the pepper species whose common names include paprika, sweet pepper, bell pepper and chilli pepper. In cosmetics it is listed with several functions, including antioxidant, skin protecting and hair conditioning. (COSMILE Europe; USDA GRIN)
What gives paprika its red colour?
Carotenoids, the pigment family that also includes beta-carotene. Paprika's include capsanthin and capsorubin, which are made only by red peppers, and their levels rise as the fruit ripens, peaking when it is fully mature. Paprika is also a natural source of polyphenols. (Ponder et al., 2021; Fernández-García et al., 2016; Kolašinac et al., 2025)
Is there research on paprika and skin?
Yes. In laboratory research on human skin cells, capsanthin and capsorubin, the carotenoids made only by red peppers, showed antioxidant activity against UVB-related stress, behaving much like the well-known carotenoid lutein. It is part of why paprika extract is valued as an antioxidant-rich ingredient. (Fernández-García et al., 2016)
About the plant
Capsicum annuum belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), and it takes in the peppers sold as paprika, sweet pepper, bell pepper and cayenne. (USDA GRIN)
The red spice paprika is made by drying and grinding red pepper fruits. For the cosmetic extract, it is the fruit pulp that is used. (Ponder et al., 2021; COSMILE Europe)
The red spice paprika is made by drying and grinding red pepper fruits. For the cosmetic extract, it is the fruit pulp that is used. (Ponder et al., 2021; COSMILE Europe)
The research
- Fernández-García E, Carvajal-Lérida I, Pérez-Gálvez A. Carotenoids exclusively synthesized in red pepper (capsanthin and capsorubin) protect human dermal fibroblasts against UVB induced DNA damage. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 2016;15(9):1204-1211. PMID: 27537377. (opens in a new tab)
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe) cosmetic ingredient database: Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract (plant part: fruit pulp; functions include antioxidant, skin protecting, hair conditioning) (opens in a new tab)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Global). Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum, taxonomy, common names and uses (opens in a new tab)
- Ponder A, Kulik K, Hallmann E. Occurrence and Determination of Carotenoids and Polyphenols in Different Paprika Powders from Organic and Conventional Production. Molecules, 2021. PMID: 34067891 (opens in a new tab)
- Kolašinac S, Pećinar I, Cvetković M, Gođevac D, Stanisavljević N, Veljović M, et al. Carotenoids in Paprika Fruits and Ajvar: Chemical Characterization and Biological Activity. Foods, 2025. PMID: 40231912 (opens in a new tab)
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