Strawberry: tangy radiance

Juicy and tart, the strawberry is much more than a garden treat. Its mild acids refine skin texture, while its vitamin C and antioxidants make it a fresh and fruity radiance active, chosen by NOPAL LIFE for dull complexions seeking clarity. Here's its botanical identity card, documented composition, and cosmetic use.

Before becoming a radiance active, it is the red berry of the strawberry plant, a perennial plant of the Rosaceae family. Botanically, it is not actually a true berry but an accessory fruit. Two species are important in cosmetics. The wild species, Fragaria vesca, small and very fragrant, grows spontaneously in woodlands and gives its name to the most common INCI extract. Its cousin found in our markets descends from Fragaria × ananassa: a hybrid born in the 18th century from the cross-breeding of a plant from Chile and a North American plant.

The taste and aroma depend on the variety, maturity, and the balance between sugar and acidity. A vibrant Gariguette does not have the same aromatic profile as a Mara des bois, which inherits the scent of wild strawberries. Their red color comes from polyphenols — anthocyanins. It is all this richness, including aromas and pigments, that the extract seeks to preserve for skincare.

France has a long-standing connection with this small berry. The Breton port of Plougastel-Daoulas made it an emblem as early as the 19th century and still celebrates its harvest there every spring. National production, monitored by the CTIFL (Interprofessional Technical Centre for Fruit and Vegetables), amounts to tens of thousands of tonnes per year, placing it among the most produced red fruits on the European market.

Several productions benefit from a Label Rouge (Red Label) or a recognized geographical origin, guarantees of terroir. Early varieties like Gariguette start the harvest in March; everbearing varieties extend it until autumn. This short and fragile cultivation highlights the value of the extract: it preserves the richness of strawberries far beyond their brief window of freshness, ensuring constant availability in cosmetics.

From a nutritional standpoint, it is a light berry rich in water. Analyses from the Ciqual (ANSES) database show an average energy intake of around 30 kcal per 100g, a significant amount of vitamin C, and a good portion of fiber. In addition, there are minerals and trace elements — potassium, manganese — and smaller amounts of B vitamins.

These data come from standardized analysis methods; similar orders of magnitude are found in other open nutritional databases like Open Food Facts. The average varies depending on the variety and ripeness: a mid-summer harvest is often richer than early strawberries. The strawberry's polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, which give it its red color, are frequently cited for their antioxidant profile.

In summary, behind this small berry lies a well-documented profile: low in energy, a source of vitamins, fiber, and minerals. It is this favorable average, cross-referenced between the Ciqual table and independent nutritional databases, that guides our choice of ingredient.