Pycnogenol
Also known as: Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Maritime Pine Bark Extract, OPC Complex, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, Procyanidins, Procyanidin B2
What It Is
A standardized proprietary extract from the bark of French maritime pine trees (Pinus pinaster) containing a complex of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) — a class of polyphenol antioxidants with well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and collagen-protective properties.
What It Does
Pycnogenol neutralizes free radicals through its OPC antioxidant complex, inhibits enzymes that degrade collagen and elastin (matrix metalloproteinases), stimulates collagen synthesis, has anti-inflammatory action through NF-κB pathway inhibition, and has been shown in clinical studies to improve skin hydration, elasticity, and the appearance of photoaged skin.
Best For
Benefits
- Potent OPC antioxidant — neutralizes free radicals across multiple pathways
- Collagen-protective — inhibits MMPs (enzymes that break down collagen)
- Collagen-stimulating — supports fibroblast collagen synthesis
- Anti-inflammatory — reduces NF-κB activity, calms visible redness
- Clinical evidence for skin hydration, elasticity, and photoageing improvement
When to Be Careful
- Niche — less well-known and less easily compared to vitamin C or resveratrol
- A preventive and corrective antioxidant rather than a fast-visible-result active
- Expensive to produce at meaningful concentrations — most products use trace amounts
Pycnogenol has a meaningful body of clinical research — including controlled human trials — that most antioxidant ingredients lack. The combination of antioxidant breadth, collagen protection and stimulation, and anti-inflammatory activity in a single extract makes it a compelling multi-function active for informed skincare users.
People sometimes conflate pycnogenol with "generic pine bark extract." Pycnogenol is a specific standardized extract (proprietary OPC complex) with its own published research — not just any pine bark ingredient. The research studies specifically use the Pycnogenol trademark extract, which matters for data interpretation.
After water-based serums and before moisturizer. Morning under SPF for maximum antioxidant benefit; also effective in the evening as a repair support step.
Advanced routine users wanting comprehensive antioxidant coverage, people with redness-prone skin dealing with dullness, and experienced skincare users interested in OPC antioxidant stacking.
No known concerns at skincare concentrations.
Not applicable.