Backyard Beauty: Homegrown Skincare Ingredients to Have On Your Radar
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
Call me biased, but I think Australia is one of the best places in the world.
The water, the weather (most of the time), the fact that I can get in the car and be by the beach or the countryside in less than an hour. This is living, Barry.
Do you know what else is cool about Australia? The plethora of native skincare ingredients right on our doorstep.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been utilising native Australian plants, fruits, and seeds for medicinal and therapeutic purposes for tens of thousands of years. Yet, they only began appearing in beauty products around the 1990s.
Hence, native ingredients have remained, well… native to Australia, flying under the radar for most but loved by those in the know.
As you can probably imagine, I’ve dug through many an ingredient list during my first year as Beauty Editor. Enough to know that increasingly, alongside the usual lineup of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are Australian natives.
I can’t help but feel a little smug every time I spot Lemon Myrtle, Wattleseed, Davidson Plum, or Quandong; as if I had anything to do with it other than freeloading off its earthy, skin-loving goodness.
So, in an effort to pay forward what we’re so fortunate to have, below you’ll find three native Australian skincare ingredients to look out for, plus skincare products that include them.
Kakadu Plum.
Great for: Glow.
It took me joining Adore to learn that our land is home to the highest known concentration of vitamin C of any plant in the world. And this same native helps fight free radical damage and premature ageing from another over-achiever: our UV levels.
That's right, I'm talking about Kakadu Plum.
Also known as gubinge, billygoat plum, or murunga, the small, deciduous tree native to the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
This tiny, egg-shaped fruit contains more than 100 times the vitamin C of an orange (!!) and is packed full of antioxidants that offer a host of benefits, whether used in food, medicine or cosmetics.
Beauty benefits of Kakadu Plum:
- Helps fight free radical damage and premature ageing from UV exposure.
- Supports collagen production, improving skin elasticity and firmness while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
- Anti-inflammatory properties help reduce redness, irritation, and sensitivity; beneficial for eczema, rosacea, and acne.
- Helps inhibit melanin production to fade dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone for brighter, more radiant skin.
Standout skincare products that contain Kakadu Plum:
Ever wondered how long skincare ingredients take to work? Tune into the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast below to hear from Dermal Therapist Brooke Holmes.
Macadamia Oil.
Great for: Hydration.
My dry skin and I have loved macadamia oil for years, but only just discovered its Australian roots.
Native to rainforests in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, Macadamia Oil is commonly used in beauty thanks to its unique composition of fatty acids, antioxidants and emollient properties.
Translation: it’s ultra-hydrating, soothing, repairing and protecting.
Beauty benefits of Macadamia Oil:
- Instantly nourishes while helping to restore the skin’s lipid barrier and lock in moisture.
- Helps prevent trans-epidermal water loss for supple, hydrated, more youthful-looking skin.
- Its low comedogenic rating of 2-3 means it’s unlikely to clog pores and is suitable for acne-prone skin.
- Rich in antioxidants to help shield skin from environmental stressors and premature ageing, and encourage skin rejuvenation.
- Helps calm inflammation, redness, itchiness and irritation, and promotes skin healing for sensitive skin conditions like eczema.
Standout skincare products that contain Macadamia Oil:
Kangaroo Paw Flower.
Great for: Youthfulness.
Despite what its name may suggest, this native ingredient is not, in fact, found in the paws of kangaroos… (note to self).
It’s actually a vibrant flowering plant native to Western Australia, known for its unique, fuzzy flowers that resemble the shape of a kangaroo’s paw.
Kangaroo Paw Flower is probably one of Australia’s lesser-known natives but is quickly gaining popularity in beauty for its hydrating and healing properties.
It also makes for a striking addition to a native floral bouquet.
Beauty benefits of Kangaroo Paw Flower:
- Rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids which protect the skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors.
- Contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm irritated, red, and inflamed skin; helpful for sensitive skin types.
- Features linoleic acid to strengthen the skin's barrier function and lock in moisture, for hydrated, plump skin.
- Believed to support collagen and elastin synthesis to improve skin firmness, smoothness, and elasticity.
Standout skincare products that contain Kangaroo Paw Flower:
We love using Australian natives in the formulas of AB LAB – get to know our in-house brand better in the video below.
Final Thoughts.
We’re just dipping our toes into the ocean of powerhouse native ingredients that Australia has to offer.
Beyond the standouts I've included is an entire treasure trove waiting to be discovered, from Tea Tree to Wattleseed, Australian Saltbush, White Australian Clay, Davidson Plum, Desert Lime, and the list goes on.
These three natives are just my Aussie trifecta and some of the most beloved in the beauty world.
Catch up on the latest skincare stories and products we're loving here:
