Exotic sustainable ingredients gain acceptance by mass market consumers

For thousands of years native plants have been used as local remedies for all kinds of ailments and now many of these ingredients are available for cosmetic applications as well.

Australian Sustainable Ingredients​

Go Wild’s Australian diemen pepper has a sharp heating action to increase micro-circulation. It is a good source of lutein. This sustainable ingredient is harvested from the Austrailan wild. It is a multi-functional ingredient which works well in self-heating mask and body products. This active diemen pepper is used in efficacious skin care and hair care application as it is a powerful stimulant for the skin loaded with anti-oxidants to maintain functionality.

The Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation state that the “Diemen Pepper contains phytochemicals that provide antioxidant activity in both the hydrophilic and lipophilic environment. This suggests more comprehensive protection from oxidative stress in comparison to commonly consumed fruits that are comprised predominantly hydrophilic antioxidants.“

ECO-CERT Ingredients​

European Sweet Blue Lupin Peptides, an ECO-CERT ingredient developed by Ceapro, is adapted specifically for Western Canadian development. This adaptation provides optimum isolation and high purification of the protein together with sustainability, enhanced traceability and safety.

Sweet Blue Lupin Peptides help prevent skin damage from UV light, enhances skin repair and helps with wrinkle reduction. This ingredient is works well in sun creams and day care products. For hair care products Sweet Blue Lupin Peptides provide an effective thin film to protect and add shine to the hair.

South American Indigenous Ingredients ​

Native to South America and Brazil's Amazonian Basin, Copaiba Balsam is an antibacterial and antiseptic ingredient used for natural salves and/or serums. Local cultures and tribes have used the balsam for generations to treat wounds, prevent tetanus and infection, and to heal psoriasis and other skin conditions and can be found in Sonya Dakar’s Acai Clarifying Wash.

Beraca has a buriti oil, known also as the moriche palm. This is a large palm tree that grows in the swamp regions of South America. The buriti tree bears a sweet fruit with a brown, scaly exterior and yellow pulp.

This Buriti pulp is extremely rich in essential fatty acids and carotenoids, including beta-carotene. Buriti seed oil in fact, is considered to be one of the richest sources of beta-carotene, with levels exceeding that of carrot seed oil. A natural source of retinol it is used in sunscreens, pre and post UV exposure, hair color protection and anti aging applications. Buriti Baby from the Body Shoppe is a full range of baby products inspired by the benefits of buriti.

Traditional Chinese Ingredients​

The Sea-buckthorn (Hippophae) berry has long been used in Chinese and Tibetan traditional medicine for treating a wide variety of bodily conditions. Modern science has determined that it works due to the high concentrations of of the rare Omega 7 fats.

Besides Omega 7, it is also high in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fats, anti-oxidants and many other beneficial ingredients and is known as nature’s most balanced fruit. This ingredient improves the look and feel of the skin and can be used in soaps, moisturizers and skin protecting serums.

The oil from this exotic fruit has been increasingly used in the beauty industry for its anti-aging properties, as well as the treatment of specific skin conditions like rosacea and dry skin. This can be found in Sea Buckthorn Body Oil by Weleda.

It seems the ancients knew more than we care to give them credit for. Super fruits and plant based ingredients continue to drive new formulations that consumers are clamoring for.