Kakadu Plum Skincare Benefits – Why is Kakadu Plum Good for Skin?
The popularity of superfoods has reached such a point that we are no longer just eating them, but incorporating them into our skincare routines! As it happens, a powerful fruit called the Kakadu Plum, also known as the Billy Goat Plum, grows deep in the north of Australia.
It grows without human intervention and is harvested in an extremely environmentally friendly way, which not only protects the habitat of this ancient plum. For thousands of years, Aboriginal Australians have used it for medicinal purposes, as it has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great remedy for headaches, colds and flu. It also has antiseptic properties, which means that the plum has been added to balms that help with wounds.
For a fruit no bigger than a large olive, the Kakadu Plum contains more Vitamin C than you might think. With 3,000 mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, it has 50% more than the concentrate of 100 oranges. Pretty powerful for such a small fruit, right? Our skin benefits greatly from Vitamin C, but that’s not the only benefit this powerful fruit has for your skin!
In the next section of this article, I want to go into detail about all the benefits of this miracle fruit to help you better understand how this unknown ingredient can be the miracle your skin has been missing.
Anti-Aging Benefits of Kakadu Plum
As mentioned earlier, Kakadu Plum is rich in Vitamin C. This ingredient is known to stimulate collagen production in the skin, making your face look plumper, firmer, and more youthful. Collagen production also means that fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable.
Skin tone also brightens, scars and hyperpigmentation from sun damage or leftover acne scars become less noticeable, and pigmentation is brighter.
Is Kakadu Plum Rich in Antioxidants?
Kakadu Plum is rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin C! One of the most powerful ingredients is Ellagic acid, which is a powerful antioxidant that you can also find in strawberries, walnuts, and almonds. It also has excellent antioxidant properties, five times more potent than blueberries.
Incorporating antioxidants into your skin care routine is very effective because antioxidants can neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals. When your skin has an excess of free radicals, it damages the skin barrier and causes oxidative stress. Antioxidants can bind to free radicals and protect skin cells from the toxic effects that lead to damage. This damage is caused by environmental factors, and by that I mean pollution and overexposure to the sun’s UV rays.
Kakadu Plum is Naturally Antimicrobial
Plums are naturally antimicrobial, which is one of the main reasons why they are widely used by the indigenous people of northern Australia. This fruit contains two components that make it such an effective product. The phytochemicals gallic acid and ellagic acid are both sought after for their antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Gallic acid – kills bacteria and restores the skin’s natural barrier
Ellagic acid – promotes the production of skin elasticity and suppleness
Therefore, Kakadu Plum Extract is ideal for all skin care products designed for blemish-prone skin, fighting blemish-causing bacteria and restoring balance to overall skin health and complexion.
Kakadu Plum Helps Reduce Redness
Kakadu Plum Oil Extract deeply soothes the skin and can reduce irritation and sensitivity that the skin may be experiencing.
Because the fruit contains the aforementioned gallic acid, it is a natural anti-inflammatory that can soothe inflammation as well as painful, irritated, and sensitive skin. Because it is a natural, plant-based ingredient, it is gentle and effective for many skin types. However, there are some risks to consider when using such a powerful extract.
If you have an extremely sensitive skin type, it is best to perform a small patch test before using a product containing kakadu plum. This will help you determine if your skin can tolerate the strength of the extract. If your skin is dry and sensitive and your patch test shows no reaction, the most effective way to reap the benefits is to apply hyaluronic acid over kakadu products to avoid potential stinging.
Kakadu Plum Helps Fight Skin Infections
Not only does the fruit itself have a positive effect on the skin, the inner bark of the kakadu plum tree can also be extracted and used to treat a number of skin conditions and infections.
Due to its antifungal and antiseptic properties, the bark extract is an excellent wound healer! The healing cream can be used to treat wounds, ulcers, boils, and more. This includes treating skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Kakadu Plum Hair Care
It seems this super fruit does more than you think. Kakadu Plum moisturizes the hair and always maintains collagen levels, which is very important for hair to stay healthy and grow.
By moisturizing your hair, you will find that your hair looks shiny, healthy and bouncy. Frizzy, dry curls become smooth and tangle-free, reducing breakage and ensuring hair stays thick and strong.
It’s amazing that this incredible plum, smaller than a kiwi fruit and grown on the other side of the world, could be the answer to our skin’s prayers. With so many benefits and such a high concentration of skin-loving ingredients, it’s a wonder we didn’t discover them sooner. If you think about it, the harvesting and cultivation of this fruit is somehow very sustainable, which makes it even more valuable in a place with such a rich history and culture! The popularity of A-Beauty (which means Australian Beauty, did you know?) is always increasing. The ethos and attitude behind A-Beauty is a simple and effortless approach to beauty and skincare, which is the exact opposite of the more popular K-Beauty, which includes a complicated 10-step skincare routine.
Natural, potent ingredients are a big factor in Kakadu Plum’s popularity in products, as it is most potent and active when in its purest, most natural state.
So here’s a little more information on this wonder, harvested from the bush without the Wichita larvae!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.