The native Australian ingredient that can reduce the signs of ageing

Posted by Stem Organics on Jul 19, 2017

Did you know that Australia has a fabulous super food that is taking the health and beauty world by storm?

Known as the Kakadu Plum, this small fruit packs a powerful punch due to its incredible array of vitamins, nutrients, minerals and antioxidants. It can help dramatically increase the production of collagen, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and is naturally plumping.

Stem Organics has long recognised and respected the advantages of the Kakadu Plum and have included it in our Gentle Cleansing Milk, Antioxidant Toning Infusion, Smooth Skin Exfoliant, Intensive Eye Serum and all four of our Moisturisers.

Check out our skin type guide at the end of this post to see which products are suited to you.

What is a Kakadu Plum?

Native to Northern Australia, the Kakadu Plum (Gurumal) is a small green fruit, just 1-2 cm in size. Although it is called a plum, it is actually more closely related to the almond.

This fruit has been used for thousands of years by Indigenous Australians across Arnhem Land as a natural medicine to treat a variety of skin conditions and for its incredible health benefits.

The beauty industry has started to take notice of this special fruit due it being identified as the world's richest source of Vitamin C. Kakadu Plums can contain 3000mg of Vitamin C per 100g of fruit, more than fifty times the amount found in oranges!

Stem Organics natural skincare products that include Kakadu Plum

Why is Vitamin C important for your skin?

There are two structural proteins that help to keep our skin plump and prevent sagging. These are known as collagen and elastin. As we age, our collagen and elastin levels naturally decrease, which can lead to the first signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C helps to promote the formation of these two proteins, helping to keep your skin plump and youthful. The skin benefits best from topically applied Vitamin C, rather than consuming it in tablet or powder form, which is primarily used for health benefits.

Vitamin C is also a very powerful antioxidant that protects the skin against free radicals, which are the enemy when it comes to ageing the skin. Free radicals may come in the form of environmental pollution, cigarette smoke and even the food we eat. Another powerful group of antioxidants called phenols work together with Vitamin C to provide extra antioxidant protection!

More reasons to love the Kakadu Plum

Apart from the powerful antioxidant activity Vitamin C provides, the Kakadu Plum is also a rich source of:

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another vitamin that helps to repair and heal the skin, whilst protecting against free radicals.

Phytochemicals

Kakadu Plums contain a phytochemical called gallic acid that fights against inflammation. Inflammation can contribute to skin conditions such as acne and can accelerate the signs of ageing over time.

Minerals

We often overlook the importance of minerals for a healthy complexion. Kakadu Plums contain the minerals zinc, iron, lutein and folate, all of which are essential for a healthy, clear complexion.