What is Kakadu Plum? And how does it benefit our family's skin?

When Lovekins Founder, Amanda Essery’s, second child Heidi was born with a dry skin condition, the skin medications prescribed by doctors were unable to solve her problem. Born and raised in Darwin, Australia, Amanda grew up with incredible organic produce from the land and witnessed how bush extracts were used by Indigenous Australians as food and medicine for over 65,000 years. This inspired Amanda to create her own skincare, based on pure, natural, and Indigenous ingredients from Australia, and by doing this she was able to manage her daughter’s skin condition.  

That’s how Lovekins was born. ”Choosing Kakadu Plum as a main ingredient in the Lovekins range was deeply meaningful to me. Kakadu Plum comes from the Northern Territory, my birthplace, and a core part of my identity. It’s a part of me, and part of our land. I felt it connected me and my baby to each other and to our land.”

Why is Kakadu Plum important for my family’s skin?

Kakadu plum has exceptionally high ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content and is rich in antioxidants. This superfruit detoxifies the skin and fights off free radical damage caused by environmental factors such as pollution or sun exposure. Found in some of the most remote areas of Australia, Kakadu Plums have an extremely rare antioxidant profile. These harsh growing conditions mean each plum develops a highly efficient defense mechanism made up of diverse antioxidants.

Naturally antibacterial

The fruit is an excellent source of the phenolic compounds, containing the phytochemicals gallic and ellagic acids. Kakadu Plums have long been sought after for their antifungal and antibacterial properties. While gallic acid works to restore the skin’s natural barrier due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties, ellagic acid encourages skin elasticity and suppleness whilst supporting a healthy skin barrier.

The skin is the largest organ in our body

Research on the properties and health benefits of Kakadu plums validates traditional medical practices recommending the fruit as powerful antimicrobial and antifungal agents. Indigenous Australians used preparations from Terminalia ferdinandiana to treat skin problems, infections, wounds or sores and possess strong antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

The skin is the largest organ in our body, once a baby is born and is no longer protected by the mother’s womb and is shed by its vernix layer; babies are exposed to the elements. This includes pollution, weather and germs. It’s important that babies are protected against free radical damage to cells and DNA, reduce oxidative stress and restore the antioxidant functions of compounds such as vitamin E and efficiently reduce inflammation.

Kakadu Plum also contains mineral elements such as Vitamin E, Folic Acid (B vitamin), Zinc and Magnesium – important to support skin barrier function. ​

“My mission is to provide a pure, natural, Australian skincare range that women and babies can trust.”

– Amanda Essery (Lovekins Founder + CEO)

Shop our baby range, each product is lovingly infused with Kakadu Plum.