Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder: What Is It, Cosmetic Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining exactly what it is and why it's used within cosmetic formulations.
Updated on: June 27, 2025
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We verify all information on this page using publicly available nomenclature standards from The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), the European Commission's CosIng database and documentation provided directly by ingredient manufacturers. Our analysis is based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder?

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder comes from the fruit of the persimmon tree, Diospyros kaki. Once the ripe fruit is harvested it is washed, sliced, gently dried then finely ground to form a soft orange-brown powder. The powder keeps many of the fruit’s natural sugars, tannins, vitamins and flavonoids, which give it mild antioxidant and soothing properties on skin.

Persimmons have been eaten for centuries across East Asia, where the dried fruit was also placed in linen drawers to control odor. This folk use caught the attention of cosmetic chemists in the late 20th century, who noticed that the fruit’s tannins can bind to odor-causing compounds and soften skin at the same time. By the early 2000s the powdered fruit began appearing in Japanese and Korean body washes, deodorant soaps and face masks, and it has since found a place in global skin care formulas that aim for a more natural label.

Today manufacturers source persimmons from orchards, often using fruits that are cosmetically imperfect for the food market but still rich in active matter. After low-heat drying the fruit is milled under controlled conditions to avoid burning the sugars, sieved for uniform size then tested for microbes before shipment to cosmetic labs.

You will most often spot Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder in rinse-off products like body scrubs, bar soaps and foot powders, but it also features in deodorant creams, clay masks, creamy cleansers and some lightweight moisturizers where a touch of natural deodorizing or skin-softening action is desired.

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses

When added to a formula this fruit powder offers several helpful actions:

  • Deodorant: The tannins in persimmon fruit bind to and neutralize odor molecules, helping products like body washes, bar soaps and foot powders keep skin smelling fresh without heavy synthetic fragrance.
  • Skin Conditioning: Natural sugars and flavonoids draw light moisture to the surface of the skin and calm minor irritation, leaving skin feeling smoother and more comfortable after use.
  • Emollient: Finely ground fruit particles create a soft film that reduces water loss and improves slip, so the formula spreads more easily and leaves skin feeling supple rather than tight.

Who Can Use Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder is generally well tolerated by all skin types. Its light emollient film and sugar content suit normal, combination and oily skin while the soothing flavonoids make it gentle enough for sensitive complexions. Very dry or moisture-compromised skin may want to pair it with a richer moisturizer because the fruit’s natural tannins can feel slightly astringent when left on the skin for long periods.

The powder is 100 percent plant derived so it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians provided the finished product has not been blended with animal-based additives such as beeswax or milk proteins.

No data suggest any risk to pregnant or breastfeeding women from topical use of persimmon fruit powder at cosmetic levels, yet this is not medical advice. Anyone who is expecting or nursing should run the ingredient list of any new product past a qualified healthcare provider to be safe.

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder does not increase photosensitivity and can be used day or night without special sun precautions beyond everyday SPF use.

Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

Responses to topical Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder vary from person to person. The points below list possible reactions but most users will not encounter them when the ingredient is included at standard cosmetic levels.

  • Mild dryness or tightness – tannins can bind to surface oils, leaving skin feeling slightly parched in people who already have low sebum levels
  • Temporary redness or stinging – rare and usually short lived if the skin barrier is already compromised
  • Allergic contact dermatitis – very uncommon but possible in individuals with a persimmon fruit allergy or tree fruit sensitivities
  • Eye irritation – the fine powder can be abrasive if it accidentally gets into the eyes before it is fully dispersed in a formula
  • Slight color transfer on fabrics – the natural orange pigments may leave faint stains on light towels or clothing if the product is not completely rinsed off

If any of these reactions occur stop use immediately and consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist.

Comedogenic Rating

Rating: 1/5 – Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder contains very little oil and its particles are water-dispersible, so they do not tend to lodge in pores or feed acne-causing bacteria. Most formulas also rinse off, which further reduces any clogging risk. The slight astringency of its tannins may even cut surface oil a bit.

Because of this low score the ingredient is generally considered suitable for people who are prone to breakouts. If the powder is blended into a rich cream the overall product could still be pore-clogging, so always look at the full ingredient list.

Summary

Diospyros Kaki Fruit Powder works as a mild natural deodorant by letting its tannins bind odor molecules, as a skin conditioner by supplying sugars and flavonoids that soothe and lightly hydrate, and as a soft emollient film that helps skin feel supple after washing off.

It is a niche ingredient but has a loyal following in Japanese and Korean body care and is slowly appearing in global clean beauty lines that want fruit-based actives.

Safety data show it is low risk with only rare allergy reports. Still, everyone’s skin is unique so it is wise to patch test any new product that features the powder before full use.

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