What Can Mountain Pepper Leaf Do for Your Skin That Vitamin E Can't?

The world's best known antioxidant skincare ingredient is probably vitamin E. Its anti-aging, healing and regenerating powers are legendary and have been proven by science. But a new breed of antioxidant skincare ingredients are emerging that are outshining the standard vitamin E and C and they're so potent, they're being called 'super-antioxidants'.

One of the super-antioxidants we use in our products is mountain pepper leaf, an Australian native plant from Tasmania.

Its ORAC score is over 3200 compared to 585 for vitamin E.

WHAT'S AN ORAC SCORE IN RELATION TO ANTIOXIDANT SKINCARE?

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It's an international standard method of measuring antioxidant capacities in biological samples in vitro (laboratory). ORAC results are a tool for manufacturers/formulators to make informed choices on their antioxidant ingredients.

Advances in extraction methods and discoveries of new botanical sources rich in antioxidants have significantly changed what is considered as a high ORAC result, introducing the new super-antioxidants.

To put things in perspective, synthetic vitamin C's ORAC score is 128 - 133, which is interesting because most of us think of vitamin C as being a strong antioxidant for skin care and general nutrition.

So mountain pepper leaf ORAC value of 3223.5 is really mind-blowing. Plus, it actually works with vitamin C to boost ITS antioxidant capacity. 

WHAT'S MOUNTAIN PEPPER LEAF AND WHY IS IT GOOD FOR MY SKIN?

It's a hardy shrub native to the woodlands and cool temperate rainforest of southeast Australia. We derive the mountain pepper leaf we use in our products from the forests of Tasmania and it's certified organic.

Just out of interest, mountain pepper leaf was used by First Nations peoples for traditional medicine for centuries and mountain pepper berries were used as a colonial pepper substitute. More recently, it has become popularised as bushfood condiment and can be added to curries, cheeses, and alcoholic drinks and it's even exported to Japan to flavour wasabi.

We use the leaves rather than the berries, for their extremely potent antioxidant content. Mountain pepper leaf has been scientifically proven to strengthen capillaries and reduce free radical damage, which protects the skin from breakdown and ageing.

It’s also super anti-inflammatory.

Mountain pepper leaf contains two flavone glycosides (potent antioxidants) called isovitexin and rutin, which protect the skin from breaking down and ageing and work synergistically with vitamin C to intensify its antioxidant activity. They also strengthen capillaries and reduce dark circles under the eyes.

It also contains a polyphenol called chlorogenic acid, again a strong antioxidant for skin care.

We're so impressed by the data and chemical profile of mountain pepper leaf, we decided to add it to five of our best selling products listed below.

Click each one to read a full list of ingredients, the benefits to your skin every time you use them, and reviews from our loyal clients.

Balancing Cleansing Gel Age Defiance Day Serum 

Blemish Control Hydrating Cleansing Lotion