Putting Banana Peels Under Your Eyes Has An Unforeseen Benefit

The magic compounds found in the peel of a banana are tannins, which can leave the skin looking brighter and firmer. “Tannins are like natural astringents that are used in skin care to help firm and tone the skin,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adeline Kikam told TODAY. According to a 2018 study published in the IOP: Materials Science and Engineering conference series, the tannin content of a ripe Awak banana peel (a type of banana found in a province of Indonesia) is 4.69%. The tannin content is, however, higher in unripened skin, standing at 6.48%.

In addition to combating sagging and brightening the skin under the eyes, banana peel can also help reduce inflammation. In a 2023 study on rats published in the Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, researchers found that banana peel extract resolved tissue inflammation in addition to preventing bacterial growth. Researchers believed that banana peel extract may offer protective properties against acne vulgaris (AV), characterized by the appearance of pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, etc. However, banana peel has not been shown to be as effective as the antibiotic drug clindamycin.