
What Is Kangaroo Paw Flower And What Are Its Skincare Benefits?
There are so many hidden secrets tucked away in the outback of Australia, we have previously shared with you the superfood Kakadu plum, the olive-sized vitamin C enriched skincare ingredient. Well, now we have another supercharged powerhouse for you to learn more about. The kangaroo paw flower is the latest botanical ingredient to be gathering quite the following in the beauty world and we are here to tell you all about it.
What is Kangaroo Paw flower?
As the name suggests, the kangaroo paw flower, which blooms in a range of vibrant, yellows, reds and greens grows in the shape similar to those of a kangaroo’s paw. For thousands of years, the Indigenous Australians have used the plant in traditional recipes to help with wounds, cuts and burns due to its powerful healing properties. It is these benefits that have made the kangaroo paw flower a must-have ingredient in skincare products with its unique healing and soothing abilities being able to become formulated in various skincare products.
What does the kangaroo paw flower do for the skin?
The kangaroo paw flower is full of fatty acids that are essential to keeping your skin looking youthful and healthy by encouraging cell growth offering an impressive restorative and anti-ageing results to the complexion.
Extracts of the kangaroo paw flower can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Due to the regenerating properties of the kangaroo paw flower provides can combat fine lines and wrinkles. The skin will appear smoother and feel firmer, as the flower extract is fast working and potent ingredient to use on the areas that tend to show signs of ageing first, such as the neck, areas around the mouth and eyes. Clinically proven results have found the kangaroo paw flower to tighten and give a firmer appearance around the delicate eye area in rapid time.
Kangaroo paw flower is able to hydrate and brighten the complexion
Kangaroo paw flower is rich in linoleic acid which has the ability to help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, that encounters a daily dose of environmental aggressors, such as free radicals, UV rays and pollution. Linoleic acid can also help the skin lock in moisture keeping it hydrated and comfortable which is impressive, especially considering the skin cannot naturally produce the acid and relies on it being topically applied onto the skin.
Kangaroo paw flower also contains ferulic acid, an anti-oxidant praised for its remarkable brightening and anti-ageing effects to the skin. Both acids are able to deeply penetrate the skin and revive lacklustre skin bringing a healthy, plumped glow back to the face with fine lines and wrinkles ironed out.
Kangaroo paw flower can help restore firmness to the skin
This powerhouse ingredient can provide many benefits for the skin, including the ability to turn back the clock, by this we mean it can help firm and tighten skin that naturally begins to lose elasticity as we age. The kangaroo paw flower can reach the deeper layers of the skin and kickstart the metabolism allowing the skin to firm and any signs of sagging are significantly reduced.
Kangaroo paw flower helps speed up the skin’s renewal
Our skin has a 30-day cycle allowing the dead skin cells to shed away and reveal new cells that are more vibrant. This monthly process can be interrupted or slowed down by a number of reasons, like which skin type you have (dry skin’s take a little longer than 30 days) and how the skin ages over time. This then leads to a build-up of dead skin cells that can make the skin appear dull, grey and sallow, this build-up can also cause a number of concerns like spots and blemishes for more oily skin types.
You will also find that other concerns on the skin, such as pigmentation, scarring, uneven texture and congestion occur with the build-up of cells. Luckily for all of us, kangaroo paw flower can help restore balance to the skin and help heal and strengthen any damage to the skin barrier making it appear glowing and youthful.
How to add kangaroo paw flower into your skincare routine
The kangaroo paw is certainly making waves in the beauty industry but still remains a little unknown meaning there are not a huge amount of brands and products that contain this superfood. You will find extracts of the flower in serums and moisturisers, which are the ideal products due to them staying on the skin for a significantly longer amount of time, in comparison to a cleanser or toner. Serums are formulated to work their way deep into the skin therefore allowing this potent anti-oxidant to reach the areas of the face to help regenerate the skin cells, boost collagen production and rev up the elastin production.
How will the kangaroo paw flower work with other skincare ingredients?
The kangaroo paw flower is a botanical plant extract and can be mixed into a formula of other skincare ingredients, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and other AHAs and BHA. There should be no reactions or irritation caused from the flower being added into the blend of active ingredients, although it is always advisable to perform a patch test when introducing a new product or ingredient in your skincare routine.
To perform a patch test you firstly start by applying a 10p size amount of the product to your forearm and leave for over 24 hours, if there is no sign of irritation, skin reaction or itching you are able to apply it onto your skin. If, however, you are still unsure contact your doctor or dermatologist for a consultation.
There you have a little insight into Australia’s best-kept skincare secret! There is still much more to learn about the kangaroo paw flower and its full potential of skin benefits it is able to deliver. Much like any skincare high performing ingredient that storms the beauty world, pretty soon you will see it appear in every product out there. For the time being, you can feel quite smug about the fact you knew about this skin rejuvenating ingredient before everybody else.
Don’t miss out on more skincare tips and expert advice over on our YouTube channel! Come and find us on The Green Sofa by hitting the subscribe button, you won’t regret it!
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.