Kakadu plum

Antioxidant0.5–3%

A northern Australian bush fruit naturally rich in vitamin C, used for brighter, more even-looking skin.

What it is

Kakadu plum is a small green fruit from the Top End and the Kimberley, long eaten and used by Aboriginal people. The fruit is very high in vitamin C and in plant antioxidants such as ellagic and gallic acids. Extracts are used in serums, creams and body care for a brighter, more radiant look.

Good for

Dull skinUneven toneAntioxidant care

How it works

Its vitamin C, reported at about 2,300–3,150 mg per 100 g of fresh fruit, and its polyphenols are antioxidants that help protect skin from everyday oxidative stress. Levels vary with harvest site, ripeness and processing.

Ratings

Evidence

2/5

Strong composition data, but skin benefits rest mainly on lab work.

Gentleness

4/5

Generally well tolerated, though acidic extracts may tingle.

Formulation difficulty

3/5

Vitamin C and polyphenols oxidise and darken without protection.

Cost

3/5

Mid-priced, with wild harvest and benefit-sharing adding cost.

Popularity

4/5

A well-known Australian native active in local and export brands.

Pairs and cautions

Pairs well with

In a routine. Pairing in one formula depends on matching pH windows.

Take care with

High-pH basesSpeed vitamin C loss

Formulations it suits

Serum Cream Lotion Toner, essence and face mist Cream or sleeping mask

Packaging

Regional considerations

Australia	Not on the EPBC exempt list, so exporting the fruit or extract needs a wildlife trade permit from an approved harvest source. Aboriginal-harvest or benefit-sharing claims must be provable under consumer law.
China	Listed in China's IECIC as Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, but whitening or spot-fading claims make the product a special cosmetic needing NMPA registration with human efficacy testing.
European Union	Listed in CosIng with no EU restriction. Australia has signed but not ratified the Nagoya Protocol, so EU access-and-benefit-sharing due diligence does not apply to Australian supply.
Climate	Its vitamin C breaks down faster in heat, so for hot or tropical markets use airless packs, avoid hot transit and expect earlier browning.

In the lab

Specifications

Typical use level

0.5–3%0525%

pH window

pH 3.5–5.52 acid7 neutral10 alkaline

Solubility

Water-soluble

Sensitive to

OxygenLightHigh pHMetal ions

Serums and creams use 0.5–3%; vitamin C content varies widely between extracts, so dose by the supplier's analysed level.

INCI	Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Also known as	Gubinge, Billygoat plum, Terminalia ferdinandiana
Origin	plant-derived

Lab notes

Solubility and phase

Water phase, as a glycerin–water extract. Kakadu plum seed oil is a separate oil-phase ingredient.

Stability

Add below 40 °C, protect from air and light, and add a chelator against iron and copper traces. Expect some colour drift as polyphenols oxidise.

Regulatory, Australia

Cosmetic ingredient in Australia, so confirm the extract's AICIS Inventory status with the supplier. Exporting some wild-harvested native plant material needs an EPBC wildlife trade approval.

Claims to take care with

Cosmetic claims include 'brightens the look of skin' and 'antioxidant-rich', but vitamin C comparisons with oranges describe the fruit, not the product, and content claims need finished-product testing. Use Indigenous knowledge in storytelling only with consent.