A Guide To Native Australian Skincare Ingredients

Aboriginal communities in Australia have used the country’s native plants to take care of their skin for centuries. The country’s rich soil and rainforests produce some of the world’s most unique and diverse plants, many of which have powerful bioactive qualities.

Today, many of these plants become ingredients in skincare products which are sold to consumers, or people can buy them as raw materials and make their own products. Whichever interests you, it is good to know about the benefits of each ingredient.

Here are some of the most common native Australian ingredients:

1. Riberry: This brightly coloured berry grows in tropical areas around Queensland and New South Wales. Like many berries, it contains antioxidants and various vitamins and minerals which can help improve your skin by reducing dark spots and preventing UV damage.
2. Pepperberry: Another antioxidant-rich berry, this grows in more temperate areas such as Victoria and Tasmania. Known as “mourao” among indigenous communities, it can be taken orally as a traditional treatment for arthritis symptoms.

As a skincare ingredient, it can reduce irritation and promote collagen production.

1. Quandong: This is a nutritious fruit which grows in central and southern Australia. Over thousands of years, it has adapted to survive in tough conditions under intense sunlight, and it passes some of these protective benefits onto people who apply it to their skin.
2. Lemon myrtle: This is a flower with an appealing citrus scent that results from its high levels of citral, the compound that gives lemons their smell. In fact, it contains more citral than lemons do.

Lemon myrtle is good for controlling the level of sebum on the skin, and it also has protective, antibacterial qualities.

1.  Caviar lime: Also known as a finger lime, this fruit grows in subtropical rainforests and contains natural acids called AHAs which work as a gentle exfoliant, unblocking pores and cleaning away stubborn dirt.

Although AHAs are acids, they are extremely mild, and caviar limes actually soothe irritated skin rather than exacerbate it.

1. Illawarra plum: Also known by the wonderfully Australian alternative name “gidneywallum,” these contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins and have been used medicinally by aboriginal communities for hundreds of years.

Illawarra plum is said to enhance skin tone, reduce inflammation and hydrate your skin.

Many skincare companies down-under now offer international shipping, so it is easier than ever to shop Australian oil cleanser and more, no matter where in the world you are.