Lifestyle & Wellness, Skin Care
Even if lilikoi is new to you, the name is fun to say: lil-i-koi. Also called passion fruit, this tropical superfruit comes from South America and earned its pretty name in Hawaii. Known for its vitamin-rich pulp and sweet-tart taste, lilikoi has long been a favorite food — and it’s now gaining attention in skin care as an ingredient that not only tastes great but helps protect skin from the environment.
Packed with vitamins A and C, riboflavin, and niacin, lilikoi offers benefits for your body and your skin. Here’s what you should know about this ingredient and why it’s good for both health and complexion.
What Is Lilikoi?
Spanish explorers first encountered the passion fruit in South America in the 1500s. Catholic missionaries named the vine after the Passion of Christ, and seeds carried by travelers spread the fruit around the world. Different places gave it different names — maracujá in Brazil, granadilla in Mexico, and lilikoi in Hawaii. The fruit is easy to eat: just cut it in half and scoop out the pulp and seeds. Half a cup of lilikoi provides about half of your daily vitamin C and a quarter of your vitamin A.
Health Benefits Of Lilikoi
Lilikoi is a nutrient-dense superfruit and a rich source of antioxidants, especially vitamins C and A. Vitamin C supports the immune system and helps slow visible signs of aging, while vitamin A is important for eye health. The fruit also contains soluble fiber, which helps digestion and steadies blood sugar levels.
These nutrients help the skin, too. Antioxidants combat the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. Essential fatty acids, riboflavin, and niacin round out lilikoi’s profile, helping protect skin from environmental stress. Below is a quick look at how these nutrients support healthy skin.
Vitamin C
Free radicals are unstable particles that damage skin by breaking down collagen, a process called oxidation. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and helps protect collagen, keeping skin firmer and more youthful. It also helps reduce the production of melanin, the pigment that causes dark spots, so vitamin C can fade hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone.
Vitamin A
Like vitamin C, vitamin A fights free radicals and helps protect collagen. It supports skin strength and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin A also helps repair DNA and boosts cell turnover, which can improve skin texture and clarity.
Essential Fatty Acids
Aging and environmental stress can weaken the skin’s protective barrier, letting moisture escape and pollutants in. Lilikoi contains essential fatty acids like linoleic and oleic acids, which help rebuild that barrier. These lipids hydrate and plump the skin, smoothing fine lines and restoring a healthy look.
Riboflavin & Niacin
Lilikoi also provides B vitamins—riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3). Riboflavin supports cell health, reduces inflammation, and can help with dark spots. Niacin helps fade hyperpigmentation, reduces blotchiness, and minimizes the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Lilikoi Mineral Defense Collection
We’ve combined passion fruit’s benefits with mineral formulas in our Lilikoi Mineral Defense Collection. Made with passion fruit grown in South America and cold-pressed seed oil, the line includes Lilikoi Mineral Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 and Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30. These lightweight, all-mineral products protect skin from drying environmental stressors and are easy to layer.
The Lilikoi Mineral Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 is ultra-light and shields skin from sun and environmental drying. It creates a physical barrier while feeling weightless, leaving skin looking fresh and natural. It works for all skin types.
For extended protection, use the Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen. It protects face and body and stays effective for up to 40 minutes in the water. Made for outdoor activities and sports, it’s non-greasy, easy to apply, and ideal when sweat or water could reduce sunscreen performance. To learn more about our mineral SPFs, our Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar discusses them in detail in the latest In The Mix video.
Together, the products in the Lilikoi Mineral Defense Collection help protect against pollution, blue light, and the sun. With lilikoi as a key ingredient and a mineral-based formula, the collection shields your skin so it looks healthy and youthful.
Which would you like to try first — the moisturizer or the sunscreen? Visit your nearest Eminence Organics Spa Partner to explore the line, and tell us in the comments below or on social media.