Every skincare brand has its antioxidant darling.
Caudalie has resveratrol (from grapes). Nivea has co-enzyme Q10. Korres has quercetin.
Literally no one had heard of quercetin before Korres proudly showed off its name on all its skincare products. Now, it’s on everyone’s lips.
Rumour has it, it can reduce wrinkles and make your skin firmer and more elastic. Can it deliver? Here’s what science says:
- What Is Quercetin?
- How Does Quercetin Benefit Your Skin?
- Can Quercetin Really Make You Look Younger?
- Can Quercetin Fade Away Dark Spots?
- What Else Does Quercetin Do In Skincare Products?
- What Are The Best Skincare Products With Quercetin?
- Does Quercetin Have Any Side Effects?
- Should You Add Quercetin To Your Skincare Routine?
- The Bottom Line
What Is Quercetin?
Quercetin is a member of the flavonoid family, a group of antioxidants with soothing properties.
Flavonoids are the pigments that give fruits and vegs their beautiful rich colours. You’ll find quercetin in apples, tea, olive oil, leafy vegs like cabbage and spinach, citrus fruits, red wine and grapes – to name just a few!
It’s one of the most common antioxidants in our diets. If you eat apples, berries, onions, or even sip on a glass of red wine, you’re getting a dose of quercetin. It’s pretty much everywhere – and that’s a good thing because it’s a powerhouse when it comes to fighting off those pesky free radicals that age your skin.
But it’s not just in food. Skincare brands are jumping on the quercetin bandwagon because of its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. And who doesn’t want that?
How Does Quercetin Benefit Your Skin?
Quercetin is a flavonoid, so it has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Like all antioxidants, it patrols your body looking for free radicals (the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles and dark spots). When it spots one, it goes on the attack and neutralises it before it can wreak its aging damage.
Plus, it soothes inflammation, another of the main causes of premature aging. But it soothing properties do more than keeping wrinkles at bay for longer. Quercetin also helps with eczema.
But, let’s be clear: fighting free radicals and soothing inflammation help PREVENT, not treat, wrinkles and dark spots. Don’t believe brands that tell you otherwise.
One more thing: Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant, but it’s not the best. There is no best. Just like your body needs more than just kale, your skin needs more than one antioxidant to stay healthy and strong.
By all means, add it to your skincare routine. Just don’t rely only on it. The more antioxidants you use, the better.
Related: The Most Common Antioxidants In Skincare
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Can Quercetin Really Make You Look Younger?
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. There’s some solid science suggesting that quercetin can help your skin stay firm and elastic – basically, keeping that bouncy, youthful look we all want.
Here’s how it works: Your skin’s firmness and elasticity come from collagen and elastin – the stuff that keeps your skin plump and stretchy. But as you get older (and thanks to sun exposure and pollution), these proteins start breaking down, leading to wrinkles and sagging.
The good news? Quercetin may help slow down this process. Studies show that it can block certain enzymes called MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases – yeah, it’s a mouthful). These enzymes are basically little collagen and elastin eaters. By blocking them, quercetin helps your skin hold onto its bounce for longer.
Even better, quercetin belongs to a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been shown to help the skin produce more collagen and elastin. It’s like giving your skin the tools it needs to keep itself looking plump and firm.
But let’s keep it real – it’s not a miracle worker. It’s not going to reverse deep wrinkles or magically lift sagging skin. What it can do is help slow down the aging process and keep your skin looking firmer for longer.
Think of it as giving your skin a little extra support to stay youthful. Not bad, right?
Can Quercetin Fade Away Dark Spots?
Scientists are always looking for innovative ways to treat dark spots. Because the treatment available now either don’t work for everyone or are harsh and irritating. Some may even make your skin blue (I’m talking to you, Hydroquinone).
Polyphenols have powerful anti-aging properties, so researchers are wondering if quercertin can go the extra mile and fade away dark spots, too.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. A 2016 study concluded that “quercetin itself is shown to be ineffective for hypopigmentation of human skin”. Bummer!
But wait, there’s a twist. Some research suggests that when combined with other brightening ingredients (like Vitamin C or niacinamide), quercetin could help even out your skin tone. It’s not a hero on its own, but it’s a solid sidekick.
If you’re dealing with dark spots, you’re better off looking for products with proven brighteners like Vitamin C, licorice extract, or even azelaic acid. Quercetin can help as part of a team, but it’s not the main player here.
Related: Battle Of The Skin-Lightener: Which Is The Best Alternative To Hydroquinone?
What Else Does Quercetin Do In Skincare Products?
This is not as exciting as preventing wrinkles (unless you’re a skincare nerd), but it’s worth mentioning, too.
A 2010 study show that Quercetin can slow down the degradation of unstable UV filters Avobenzone and Octinoxate – and it does it better than common stabilizers Octocrylene and vitamin E!
Why this matters? The faster these UV filters degrade, the sooner the sun protection of your sunscreen expires. Used alone, Avobenzone is effective for less than 2 hours!
You don’t want to reapply sunscreen every 30 minutes. Adding stabilisers like Quercetin helps your sun protection last a little bit longer.
Plus, it’s a bit of a multitasker. Quercetin has been shown to help with wound healing and reducing redness, which makes it great for sensitive or reactive skin. It’s like having a little first-aid kit in your moisturizer.
Related: Do You Really Need To Reapply Sunscreen Every Two Hours?
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Quercetin?
Korres may have made quercetin famous, but my fave skincare products with this antioxidant come from other brands (sorry, Korres!):
- Elta MD UV Physical SPF 41 ($30.00): A physical sunscreen that even oily skin can use. It offers great protection without the greasiness and irritation. Available at Dermstore and Walmart
- Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($33.00): A tinted mineral sunscreens packed with antioxidants with soothing properties. It has a lightweight texture that doesn’t leave a white cast behind. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, and Sephora.
Does Quercetin Have Any Side Effects?
Quercetin is safe for skin. Everyone can use it (unless you’re allergic to it, obvs). But, it shows minor cytotoxicity (the quality of being toxic to a cell).
Translation: it’s safe in the small concentrations used in skincare. But you probably wouldn’t want to use a serum with 20% Quercetin (not that I’ve ever seen one). More isn’t always better in skincare.
The good news? It’s generally well-tolerated, even by sensitive skin types. But, like anything new, patch test first – especially if your skin likes to throw tantrums.
Should You Add Quercetin To Your Skincare Routine?
So, is quercetin worth the hype? Yes – but with a dose of reality.
It’s a solid antioxidant that fights free radicals, soothes inflammation, and even helps your sunscreen work better. But it’s not going to erase wrinkles overnight or magically brighten dark spots.
Think of it as a supporting player, not the lead role. It’s a great addition to a well-rounded skincare routine, but don’t expect it to do all the heavy lifting on its own.
By all means, add it to your skincare routine. Just don’t rely only on it. It’s about building a well-rounded routine that keeps your skin healthy and glowing.
The Bottom Line
Quercetin isn’t the miracle worker Korres claims it is (surprise, surprise!) but it can help you keep wrinkles at bay. Its ability to neutralize free radicals, reduce inflammation, and enhance sunscreen effectiveness makes it a valuable addition to your skincare arsenal.
If you’re already using a product with quercetin, great! If not, consider giving it a shot, especially in sunscreen or anti-aging serums. Just don’t expect it to fade dark spots or perform miracles overnight.
In the end, great skin is about consistency, a balanced diet, and a solid skincare routine. And quercetin can be a valuable part of that equation.
I used the Korres quercetin primer before and it was very nice. Once in a while, people would promote a new ingredient that would do more or less of the same with the ones we already knew just to sell products. I hope quercetin works on skin, although taking orally is not a bad option, either.
Dao, I’m glad to hear the Korres primer is good. That’s so true and it really bugs me. I got nothing against Quercetin but it really annoys that it’s touted as the next best antioxidant ingredient when we don’t even know how it works topically just to sell more. There’s nothing wrong with using skincare products with Quercetin but for now, I prefer taking it orally. 🙂
I’ve used the Quercetin primer and liked it too! I did notice that the active ingredient was toward the end of the list, which leads to believe there isn’t much in there and could possibly just be marketing mumbo jumbo. Taking supplements orally does seem to be more effective than applying things topically – I think that goes for any type of ingredients.
Tammy, I’m glad you like it but what a shame Quercetin is so low in the list. Doesn’t really matter whether it works topically or not then as the amount will be too small to be effective anyway. And I agree with you that taking any ingredient orally is definitely more beneficial than applying them on the skin. But with antioxidants like Vitamins A and C (provided there is enough of them in the product and in stable form too) you know they are effective topically so I like to apply them on the skin as well as eating foods rich in them to get the most possible benefits. But with Quercetin, I’d rather just eat it for now. 🙂
Thanks for this post 🙂 I’ll definitely keep that in mind next time I hear about this ingredient.
Makeup Morsels, you’re welcome. 😉
I was wondering about it when I heard the Korres quercetin line, thanks for posting this! 😉 x
Stavroula, you’re welcome. I’m glad you found it useful. 🙂
Thanks for this post, gio!
I am still waiting to get my hands on the Korres Quercetin primer, etc. I tried a sample of its day cream with SPF12, but the sample lasted me only about 5 application, so can’t tell if it works or not.
Vonvon, you’re welcome. I have to say I am very tempted to try the primer too afte reading all your comments. I’m sure it works well but I highly doubt that’s because of Quercetin.
I actually use the Korres night cream. I’d read reviews on it and it was equal in cost to my previous cream so I though I would give it a go
It does soften the skin nicely – it does not reduce wrinkles, but my skin does look great. The only thing I dislike about it is that it smells like playdoh. As to whether I’ll keep using it…well, it’s effects aren’t so fantastic that I’m bowled over. I may try something new to see if there’s a better product. I read great things about l’occitane.
Anita, thanks for your comment and sharing your experience with the Korres cream. Sounds just like a basic moisturizer then.
Quercetin is yellow so putting it in a skin cream at concentration larger than several % would be problematic.
Sammy, that’s true. But there’s no point in putting too little of it either.