Orange Fruit Extract
Water-based extract from sweet orange flesh or juice. Provides vitamin C, hesperidin, and citrus flavonoids as a botanical antioxidant. Distinct from orange peel oil.
What it does
Orange fruit extract is derived from the flesh and/or juice of Citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange), not the peel. It contains ascorbic acid, hesperidin, naringenin, and other citrus flavonoids with antioxidant activity. Unlike orange peel oil, it lacks the volatile terpenes (limonene, linalool) that can cause photosensitivity and irritation, making it much gentler and suitable for leave-on products. As a formulated ingredient, the ascorbic acid is rarely at concentrations effective for the brightening clinical outcomes of a dedicated vitamin C serum, but the polyphenol mix contributes antioxidant support to the formula. Most commonly found in moisturizers, toners, and brightening serums marketed around citrus or 'glow' themes. Not a substitute for a dedicated L-ascorbic acid treatment if stable vitamin C delivery is the goal.
Also known as
sweet orange fruit extract, citrus aurantium dulcis extract, orange extract
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