Raspberry extract comes from the fruit of Rubus idaeus and is a source of ellagic acid, an antioxidant plant compound also found in pomegranates and strawberries.
Laboratory research on red raspberry extract found that it protected skin cells from UVB related damage, with both antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity measured in treated cells.
Separate research on ellagic acid and raspberry extracts has also found supportive effects on wound healing, with treated tissue showing improved healing markers compared to untreated tissue. Most of this research has been conducted in cell cultures or animal models rather than in human clinical trials.
Raspberry Extract References
Red Raspberry Extract Protects the Skin against UVB Induced Damage with Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Properties, 2018
Effect of Raspberry Extract on Wound Healing, Food Quality and Safety, 2021
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
