Benefits
Skin color after UV exposure in a trial of another apple extract
In a 12 week double blind trial in 65 healthy women aged 20 to 39, 300 or 600 mg a day of a procyanidin rich apple extract reduced the rise in redness and melanin after UV exposure versus placebo, measured as change from baseline. Raw readings did not differ, and skin moisture did not improve. The extract tested was Applephenon, not this ingredient.
Antioxidant activity in lab tests
Apple polyphenols, including procyanidins and quercetin, scavenge free radicals in lab assays. No human study has measured antioxidant activity or tissue protection in people taking this ingredient, so this is a lab finding rather than a demonstrated effect in the body.
Mechanism of action
Polyphenol antioxidants
In lab studies apple polyphenols neutralize free radicals. This is a proposed explanation for the reduced UV related skin darkening seen in one trial of a different apple extract, not something that trial measured in the skin.
Hydration and skin barrier
Skin water content and water loss through the skin were measured in the one trial and did not differ from placebo, so hydration and barrier claims are not supported.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled 12 week trial of 300 or 600 mg a day of Applephenon, a procyanidin rich apple extract from Asahi Breweries, not this ingredient. Asahi funded the study; all five authors were listed at Asahi research laboratories and two declared they worked for the company. (Shoji et al. 2020, Nutrients)
65 healthy Japanese women aged 20 to 39; 59 analysed.
The change from baseline in UV induced redness, melanin and lightness was significantly smaller with apple polyphenols than placebo, but the raw readings did not differ between groups at any point and there was no clear dose response. Facial water content and water loss did not differ from placebo. No supplement related adverse events.