The Benefits of Peach Resin, Explained

Have you ever heard of peach resin? Also known as peach gum, this amber-hued gem-lookalike has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, moving into kitchens around the world as an ingredient for soups, desserts, and beverages and, lately, into skincare for its collagen-boosting properties. But what exactly is peach resin, what does traditional medicine use it for, how does it taste, and are its benefits for the skin scientifically proven?  

What is Peach Resin aka Peach Gum?

Prunus Persica (or peach) resin extract is the natural resin secreted from the stems or branches of the peach gum tree as amber-like crystals. It works as a self-defense mechanism of the tree, helping it heal ‘wounds’ or damage caused by external factors. This natural resin is a traditional ingredient deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, initially used for its ability to solve urinal infections and thirst-quenching and relieve stress. Moving forward, peach resin became a popular ingredient in the culinary and beauty world thanks to its richness in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is also used in the food industry as a preservative thanks to its antioxidant and antibacterial activities.  

How Can You Use It in the Kitchen?

Peach resin can add a unique, jelly-like texture to various dishes but is most commonly used for soups and desserts. Classic Chinese recipes using peach resin are braised pork belly from Zhejiang province and peach gum soup dessert topped with papaya or pear. When preparing peach resin, it's necessary to soften it by soaking it in water and then double-boiling. And how does peach gum taste? It tastes faintly sweet, much like peach gummies or jelly, with a hint of the wood from the bark. Studies have shown that taking peach gum polysaccharide as a dietary supplement had encouraging results in protection against oxidative stress and reducing the expression of certain enzymes associated with skin aging. (These findings suggest that peach gum polysaccharide could be valuable in addressing skin aging concerns, but more on that in the next chapter). Resins also help with stomach health, which makes them a great new ingredient you could add to your next soup.  

Peach Resin Health Benefits

The polysaccharide component of peach resin is one of the primary active ingredients that helps with the anti-aging, immune system, regulating blood glucose and blood lipids, while it has also been connected with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and potential anti-tumor properties. No wonder Chinese medicine discovered it 1500 years ago! 

A recent study has shown that peach gum polysaccharide can also protect the skin against UVB-induced photoaging and that dietary supplements with peach gum polysaccharide can prevent photoaging damage and UVB-induced oxidative stress. This is good news - since skin photoaging causes loss of elasticity, pigmentation, and deep wrinkles. The same study mentions other benefits, such as anti-inflammatory effects, wound healing, and improved moisture content in the skin. These properties are particularly advantageous for sensitive or acne-prone skin, as they can help reduce redness, irritation, and inflammation. In traditional Chinese medicine it has been used to treat minor cuts, burns, and abrasions, as a natural and effective remedy for skin ailments.  

Peach Resin and Collagen Production

It has been said that in the same way, peach resin helps tighten the cracked tree bark; it is also used in Chinese medicine to help tighten and firm the skin. That has to do with peach resin's capability of reducing collagen degradation and loss by restoring collagen fibers, thus increasing and repairing collagen levels.  

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and a major component of the skin, bones, and muscles. When it comes to skin, it gives our skin strength and elasticity, plays a role in replacing dead skin cells, and helps the new cells grow. As we age, collagen levels continuously drop, but there are other factors: prolonged exposure to sunlight, smoking, alcohol, lack of sleep, and overeating sugar all contribute to collagen loss. By increasing collagen levels, peach resin can inhibit the formation of common signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging. This ultimately leads to a rejuvenated and more youthful skin.   

Peach Resin in Skincare

Because of its ability to boost collagen levels and combat UVB-induced oxidative stress, peach resin is slowly but steadily entering the skincare realm - FOREO made it a star ingredient of its SUPERCHARGED™ Firming Body Serum to help tighten, firm and heal the skin. The serum uses high-quality peach resin harvested from the wild peach trees that grow on the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the Yunnan province of China, which is known for its pure alpine snow and mineral-rich soil. The patented process used to extract the resin is designed to keep the ingredient's integrity for its maximum firming benefits.  

This silky serum, made with 93% natural ingredients, relies on the power of firming peach resin to increase collagen levels. The result is visibly firmer, tighter, and more youthful skin. In clinical trials, the serum was proven to lock in moisture for 24 hours, with a remarkable 100% of users reporting firmer, softer, and more nourished skin and 97% noting visible improvements in cellulite, scarring, stretch marks, and more toned overall body appearance in just 28 days.  

Peach resin combines with other powerhouse ingredients in SUPERCHARGED™ Firming Body Serum to tone and firm skin, break down fat cells, deeply hydrate the skin, and reinforce its natural barrier: Toning caffeine promotes blood circulation to boost collagen production and skin repair, as well as accelerates lipolysis (how fats are broken down in our body) - and thus improves the look of cellulite. 

Elasticity-enhancing squalane forms a protective barrier to prevent moisture loss, resulting in plumper and more elastic skin. 

Moisturizing allantoin attracts and retains moisture and helps shed dead skin cells - leaving the skin fresh and soft. 

Strengthening panthenol reinforces the skin's natural barrier, improving the appearance of damaged or compromised skin. 

8 kinds of repairing Hyaluronic acids that deeply hydrate the skin, supporting the skin's microbiome while enhancing the skin's ability to repair itself. As the perception of beauty as looking healthy and feeling good in one's skin drives interest in natural, organic, or clean products, so are the skincare companies increasingly turning to natural ingredients. Peach resin, with its collagen-boosting, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing properties, as well as the ability to protect the skin against UVB-induced photoaging, looks like the next big thing in natural cosmetics. We look forward to seeing more of it in our skincare (and an occasional soup).  

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