Emmlene Gregory
3 July 2026
Bilberry leaf
Vaccinium myrtillus L/ Folium Myrtilli
Why is bilberry leaf extract in skincare?
Bilberry leaf extract is a powerful botanical antioxidant. Naturally rich in polyphenols, anthocyanins and resveratrol, it helps defend against environmental stress while supporting a calmer, clearer and more even-looking complexion.
Bilberry in skincare helps protect the skin from environmental stress while soothing the skin and promoting a more even-looking complexion.
Because it is naturally rich in polyphenols, bilberry leaf extract is utilised in products designed to defend against environmental stress and premature skin ageing. Antioxidant compounds such as resveratrol and anthocyanins help protect the skin from the visible effects of pollution and UV damage.
At the same time, its soothing properties make it particularly useful for sensitive or easily irritated skin, and its anti-inflammatory activity means that it can be beneficial for blemish-prone skin, where it can help to minimise active breakouts and also help to prevent future acne from occurring.
Where you'll find it
In serums and daily moisturisers to calming treatments and barrier-support formulations, bilberry is often paired with other potent botanicals, such as bilberry seed oil or other botanical antioxidants to provide broader skin-supporting benefits.
Academic References
- Tadić VM, Nešić I, Martinović M, Rój E, Brašanac-Vukanović S, Maksimović S, Žugić A. Old Plant, New Possibilities: Wild Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae) in Topical Skin Preparation. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Mar 16;10(3):465. doi: 10.3390/antiox10030465. PMID: 33809607; PMCID: PMC8002374. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33809607/
- Elferjane MR, Milutinović V, Jovanović Krivokuća M, Taherzadeh MJ, Pietrzak W, Marinković A, Jovanović AA. Vaccinium myrtillus L. Leaf Waste as a Source of Biologically Potent Compounds: Optimization of Polyphenol Extractions, Chemical Profile, and Biological Properties of the Extracts. Pharmaceutics. 2024 May 30;16(6):740. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060740. PMID: 38931863; PMCID: PMC11206553. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38931863/
- Ștefănescu R, Laczkó-Zöld E, Ősz BE, Vari CE. An Updated Systematic Review of Vaccinium myrtillus Leaves: Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Dec 21;15(1):16. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010016. PMID: 36678645; PMCID: PMC9861616. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9861616/
- Nobile V, Dudonné S, Kern C, Roveda G, Garcia C. Antiaging, Brightening, and Antioxidant Efficacy of Fermented Bilberry Extract (Vaccinium myrtillus): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2024 Jul 10;16(14):2203. doi: 10.3390/nu16142203. PMID: 39064646; PMCID: PMC11280171. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11280171/
