The True Powers of Camu Camu

August 7, 2020

Written by Jene Roestorf

August 7, 2020

Written by Jene Roestorf

Along the vast Amazon River, home to an untold number of wildlife species such as pink river dolphins, monkeys and jaguars, the camu camu bush grows. The world’s second-largest river gives rise to ecosystems still being understood by humans. The land surrounding the river teems with life, among them a superfruit that boasts the highest vitamin C content in the world. [1]

The camu camu plant is a small tree and prefers to be in fertile soil in the Amazon river basin. The fruits are plum-like, appearing almost as a mix between a cherry and a grape, and have 40 times the vitamin C content of oranges. [2]

The bush produces ripe fruits that locals often need to pick by canoe due to their proximity to the water. In this mystic, captivating land in Brazil, we sustainably harvest this fruit to bring you the true powers of camu for dull and damaged skin.

What is Camu Camu?

Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is a plant species from the Myrtaceae family, which also includes clove, myrtle, allspice and eucalyptus. It’s a smaller, bushy, tree-like plant, growing at about 3-5 meters (9.8-16.4 feet) in height, that loves the rich soil surrounding the Amazon.

While camu camu can adapt to other locations, it’s indigenous here. Its environment determines how often it produces fruit, with well-nourished plants yielding fruit twice a year. [3]

On account of camu camu’s extraordinary high vitamin C content, it has a bitter taste and isn’t frequently eaten by the local people. However, the fruit is known for its medicinal properties, and native tribes often use it as a remedy for colds, viruses and even periodontal (gum) health. [4]

When eaten, locals typically mix it into dishes to improve its taste, or make jams out of it by adding sugar.

The fruit is small, about 2-4 centimeters (0.7-2.75 inches) in diameter. The berry is rich in antioxidants, which help fight oxidative stress in the body. [5] Oxidative stress, which happens due to an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, is just one of the many factors that influence skin aging. [6]

Camu is considered a superfruit and has the highest vitamin C content of any food in the world, more than both oranges and acai. [7] The fruit has a deep, dramatic color that ranges from red to almost black when ripe.

Its high vitamin C content makes the fruit an excellent remedy for many health conditions, as vitamin C supports immunity, wound healing and regenerates antioxidants in the body, to name just a few of its benefits. [8]

Camu’s impressive amount of vitamin C is higher than other fruits and vegetables known for their vitamin C content. Camu contains anywhere from 1,882 to 2,280 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams of fresh fruit. [9] Compare this to:

Acerola—a cherry-like fruit native to South America—which has 1,678 mg per 100g
Acai: 84 mg per 100g
Orange juice: 50 mg per 100g
Blackcurrant: 181 mg per 100g
Guava: 228 mg per 100g
Chili peppers: 143.7 mg per 100g
Rosehips: 426 mg per 100g

Camu also contains bioactive compounds including polyphenols, which are helpful micronutrients found in plants including flavonoids. [10] Flavonoids can have photoprotective effects on the skin, meaning they can help protect your skin from sun damage. Flavonoids also have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. [11]

Other beneficial compounds in camu include anthocyanins, another type of flavonoids, and ellagitannin, a type of tannin, both of which exhibit protective effects from UV damage on the skin and inhibit free radical generation. [12] [13]

That’s not all. Camu contains phenolic acid, a polyphenol that shows “significant antioxidant potential in scavenging free radicals”, and quercetin, another polyphenol that can protect skin from sun damage and inflammation. [14] Camu has 400mg of quercetin per 100 grams! [15]

The Origins of LUXE Botanics Camu Camu

The Brazilian Amazon, where we harvest our camu camu, has a wet season (from January to June) and dry season (from July to December). Like many plants and animals in this region, camu has adapted to accommodate both heavy flooding and the drier months of the year.

The temperature averages 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). Camu will flower as the dry season ends and bear fruit at the height of the rainy season. As the demand for camu camu grows, the plant is becoming threatened, which is why at LUXE, we sustainably farm our camu, which is then hand-picked by the local community in a cooperative. [16]

When grown outside of its native region, research has shown that the fruits contain less vitamin C. [17] Although researchers aren’t sure why this is, what we do know is that camu camu appears to produce superior fruit in its natural habitat. That’s why we harvest camu camu in its native environment to ensure its vitamin C content remains naturally potent and to verify the organic, hand-picked integrity of our products.

Our Ingredient Integrity

Since our camu camu is exclusively hand-picked and USDA certified organic to retain its most vital properties, we ensure our ingredient integrity to deliver extraordinary benefits to your skin.

We cold-press camu to produce a highly stable camu camu berry oil. This results in a vitamin C molecule that doesn’t oxidise easily, as it’s surrounded and protected by all of its natural fatty acids, phenols and amino acids as it was in nature. We don’t alter the camu at all, which allows your skin to enjoy the benefits of camu as nature intended.

Camu’s vitamin C content makes it an excellent choice for sun-damaged or dull skin. Vitamin C for skin can both defend against damage and help heal previous damage. [18]

Picked fresh at peak ripeness at the source by local communities, we ensure our camu camu retains its powerful nutrients throughout the entire harvesting process, from the bush it’s picked from to your skin.

We also formulate our camu line of products with the proper concentration of vitamin C for skin to ensure maximum benefits. Vitamin C is the most bioavailable in its natural form, meaning your body can absorb and utilize it better than synthetic forms so you see genuine results. [19]

Transformational Skin Benefits of Camu for Dull, Sun-Damaged and Lackluster Skin

Camu isn’t just rich in vitamin C—the fruit contains nutrients such as carotenoids, which are compounds that give the fruit its color. Carotenoids are “vital components of the antioxidative protective system of the human skin”, meaning they help protect your skin against oxidative stress. [20]

This Amazon super berry also contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, manganese and zinc. [21] How does camu transform sun-damaged, dull or lackluster skin?

May help prevent and treat sun damage. According to research, vitamin C for skin is “vital” and may help prevent and treat photodamage. [22]

Improves visible skin aging. Since camu camu is full of antioxidants, more so than many other fruits, it could be an instrumental addition to your skincare routine to help support healthy skin aging. [23]

Boasts antimicrobial properties. Camu camu is known in its indigenous lands for possessing antimicrobial properties. This means it may help reduce the bacteria on skin that can lead to breakouts, making it a consideration for acne-prone skin. [24]

Improves the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is when skin darkens in certain areas. These may be sun spots or age spots. Hyperpigmentation can happen for many reasons, even skin injuries. Any changes in your skin should always be evaluated by your doc for potential cancer risk!
If you’re considering using vitamin C for hyperpigmentation, you’re in luck—camu’s high vitamin C content can help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, encouraging a more even complexion. [25]

Supports healthy aging. As an essential supporter of healthy collagen production, which naturally slows down with aging, vitamin C can help you retain a more youthful appearance. Adequate collagen production is essential for supple, healthy skin! [26]

Camu camu is known for being antigenotoxic, which means it won’t damage genes, as some sources of antioxidants can do. Its antigenotoxic properties may help preserve skin cell structure to support healthy aging. [27]

Powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This Amazon superfruit is also renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can help soothe irritated or damaged skin. [28]

Cutting-Edge Formulations Powered by Leading Green Technology

Since our camu camu is hand-picked at its source in the lands it’s native to, it naturally retains its powerful vitamin C content.

We combine our organic camu with meadowfoam oil in a nourishing and potent serum. Meadowfoam oil is an excellent source of vitamin E. Vitamin E and vitamin C work together to protect skin against damage from oxidative stress, which can accelerate aging and fine lines. [29]

Our Camu Brightening Serum also combines different tea extracts such as green tea, which supports the antioxidant function of vitamin C and may help reduce genotoxic agents that can damage skin. [30]

For our Camu Brightening Cleanser, we blend camu with cucumber extract to support bright, healthy skin. Cucumber extract has been shown to have anti-acne and soothing effects on skin. [31] Combined with camu, it makes a soothing yet brightening face wash.

Our Camu Brightening Moisturizer takes vitamin C for skin one step further and combines healing and nourishing vitamin C with jojoba oil. Jojoba oil mimics skin’s natural moisturizer to enhance your skin’s natural protective barrier. [32] Combined with vitamin C for skin health, jojoba provides a moisturizing, brightening boost to protect against damage.

Skincare With Deep Roots in Sustainability and Empowering Rural Communities

Sustainable harvesting of ingredients is an integral part of our mission at LUXE. Maintaining ingredient integrity is just as important to us as the global communities we support through our botanical harvesting of plants such as camu camu.

That’s why we’re proud to partner with organizations such as Fitovida, which support sustainable plant harvesting practices in Amazon regions and help local communities through employment and income. Through Fitovida, we’re proud to honor biodiversity and the life of local cultures in regions where we source our ingredients.

Our sustainable harvesting methods support both the natural lifecycle of camu in its ideal environment and the local communities that depend on camu for their way of life, all to deliver superior skincare that you feel good about using—both inside and out.

Naturally yours,

The LUXE Botanics Team

[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280256450_Antioxidants_Chemical_Composition_and_Minerals_in_Freeze-Dried_Camu-Camu_Myrciaria_dubia_HBK_Mc_Vaugh_Pulp

[2] https://www.healwithfood.org/comparison/camu-camu-vs-acerola-powder-vitamin-c.php

[3] https://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbf/v33n2/en_a01v33n2.pdf

[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/amazon-rainforest

[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030881461300157X?via%3Dihub

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4496685/

[7] https://www.versta.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Brazil_Fruits.pdf

[8] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

[9] https://www.healwithfood.org/nutrition-facts/camu-camu-vitamin-c.php

[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296744/