Your first 5 australian extracts for Healthy Skin

Have you heard of the KAKADU PLUM? THE RICHEST NATURAL SOURCE OF VITAMIN C IN THE WORLD!

Kakadu plum, also called gurumal, gubinge, billygoat plum, or marunga, has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine and food.

It is the richest natural source of vitamin C and comes from the northern part of Australia. Due to its rich and bioavailable vitamin C content, it is one of the most studied superfoods. Studies show that the concentration of vitamin C in kakadu plums is from 3100-5000 mg per 100 g (compared to 50 mg per 100 g for orange or 1677 mg per 100 g for acerola), so it is an excellent ingredient for skincare products.

Vitamin C from kakadu plum acts as a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from external stressors and promotes the formation and renewal of two of the main proteins that keep our skin youthful, collagen and elastin. It helps to reduce wrinkles, improves skin texture, reduces skin damage caused by free radicals, and protects the skin from UV damage. It works synergistically with the Davidson plum extract and Mountain Pepper Leaf Extract described below. Together they restore the skin and return its radiance.

From a rare tree found in the rainforests in southeastern Queensland, New South Wales, this fruit has been a valuable food and medicine source for the Indigenous communities of Australia for millenia.

A caviar lime is a citrus fruit that contains small, caviar-like pearls filled with juice. It is best known as a source of ferulic acid, which is considered to be one of the most powerful natural antioxidants derived from plants. The bioactive compounds of the caviar lime improve skin hydration and aid in collagen formation. It is also known for its antimicrobial properties. It works synergistically with the Mountain Pepper Leaf Extract and Quandong Extract described below.

The leaf of the mountain pepper (also known as Tasmannia lanceolata) comes from a shrub found in the cold temperate rainforests of southeastern Australia. As the Latin name suggests, it originates from the forests of Tasmania. The leaves have been used by Indigenous communities for centuries as a traditional medicine, while the fruits of the plant have been used as a substitute for pepper.

Besides vitamin C, vitamin E is certainly the most well-known antioxidant ingredient for skin care, one that is found in abundance in the leaves of the mountain pepper; studies have shown the concentration of vitamin E to be more than 3200 mg per 100 g! The leaf of the mountain pepper also contains two flavonoid glycosides (powerful antioxidants) called isovitexin and rutin, which protect the skin from aging and work in tandem with vitamin C from Kakadu Plum Extract to increase its antioxidant activity. It also strengthens capillaries and reduces the appearance of dark bags under the eyes.

Though there are three sorts of Davidson plum, the one I use in my products is known as Davidsonia jerseyana. This medium-sized tree grows in New South Wales and bears distinctly dark purple fruits with red flesh; this is among the most nutritious home-grown fruits in the Australian rainforest, boasting a high content of vitamin E.

It is rich in gallic acid. It also contains anthocyanin, a flavonoid that also has anti-inflammatory properties. The combined effects of these compounds helps to prevent wrinkles, reduces UV damage, improves the skin’s appearance, promotes its elasticity, and stimulates collagen production. 

Quandong, the native peach, is a tree with a unique fruit that has been used by Indigenous communities in Australia for thousands of years, though it remains largely unknown in our country. It has traditionally been an important source of nutrients for and was considered to be a substitute for meat. It is found throughout the Outback, the largest and most empty part of Australia.

Quandong is a red-yellow fruit that contains phenolic acids, which have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and behaves like an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) on the skin. It also contains rutin, another strong antioxidant. Rutin strengthens capillaries and reduces the appearance of bags under the eyes.

Further Reading:

• The Power of Australian Native Extracts in Skincare
• Kakadu plum extract – the new best friend of your skin