There are so many great ingredients out there, but two things were very important to us:

1. That there is credible scientific evidence behind a core natural ingredient to prove it works

2. That by purchasing this natural ingredient from local communities we are helping to improve their lives

Marula oil contains a very high level of oleic acid (omega 9 monounstaurated fatty acid), which is naturally found in your sebum. It’s this high oleic acid content that makes it slightly heavier than other oils, while still being easily absorbed to effectively hydrate your skin. It also helps to protect your skin by reducing inflammation, improving skin smoothness, promoting wound healing, and it even offers a little natural sun protection.

Marula oil also contains high levels of sterols (a type of lipid) which help to detoxify your pores and protect your skin by strengthening the natural lipid barrier; linoleic acid (omega 6 monounsaturated fatty acid); vitamin E; and vitamin C; all of which help to scavenge free radicals in your skin helping to make your skin look more youthful.

Marula oil has been traditionally used by women in Africa as a beauty oil rubbed onto their faces, hands, feet and on their stomachs when pregnant to reduce stretch marks. It has also been used to soothe chapped skin, burns, and soften scars. The marula tree symbolizes a women’s fertility, softness and tenderness.

Check out our blogs on Marula oil and facial oils.

Camu camu berry has been shown to contain one of the highest natural levels of vitamin C in nature (comparable to 30 times that of an orange and higher than Açai!). This potent level of vitamin C makes it an excellent free radical scavenger, effectively helping to repair DNA damage and helping to prevent the signs of ageing.

The Camu camu berry is also a natural source of many bioactive compounds such as: amino acids (valine, leucine, and serine); minerals (sodium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and copper); fatty acids (steric, linoleic, and oleic); organic acids; and polyphenols. These remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make Camu camu Berry Extract an excellent anti-ageing ingredient, which helps to keep skin looking and feeling younger.

Check out our Camu blog here.

Kigelia africana is known as the sausage tree in Southern Africa due to the large sausage shaped fruit that hangs from it. Traditional African healers have used its bark, roots, leaves and fruit to treat many ailments over the centuries. In particular, the sausage fruit extract has been used to treat skin conditions such as blemishes, redness, blisters, sores, ulcers, eczema, and even for firming the skin of the breasts. These uses have also been scientifically proven and there is ongoing research into its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-tumour activity. One of the compounds found in the extract, noviburtinal, has been shown to have a cytotoxic effect on tumours and is being trailled as a potential treatment for skin conditions such as melanoma.

These wonderful natural qualities of the Kigelia africana fruit extract make it an excellent anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, firming, and anti-ageing skin care product.

Check out our Kigelia blog here.

Marula Oil

Our Marula oil is extracted from the nut of the organic, wild grown Marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) in Kenya. The fallen marula fruit is collected by local Kenyan women, dried, cold-pressed and filtered to capture the natural nutrients. There are no chemicals or heat used in this process. Through supporting these women, and providing them with an independent source of income, we are enabling them to feed, clothe and educate their families and even start a small business of their own.

Kigelia africana Fruit Extract

Our Kigelia africana Fruit Extract is harvested by the local community in Malawi and sent into the town where the fruit pulp is separated, dried and processed. The proceeds are paid to the local community association which either invests in social projects or back into the forest in the form of tree planting activities. Our Kigelia africana Fruit Extract is certified organic by the UK Soil Association.

Camu Camu Berry Extract

Our Camu camu berry extract is harvested from the berry of the Camu camu bush (Myrciaria Dubia) which fruits every year November to March in the Amazonian region of Brazil.

All Luxe Botanics products are free from undesirable ingredients, such as ​parabens​, phthalates​, sulphates​, DEA​, petrochemicals, mineral oils, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde​, triclosan, or cosmetic fragrances.

Yes! We do not test our products on animals and all the ingredients we source are cruelty free.

Yes. We do not use any animal - or animal by products in our formulations.

Yes. Please read the ingredients prior to use. If you are concerned we encourage all customers to consult a health care professional prior to using any new products.

Note that some nut oils may cause an initial breakout to occur. Usually this will resolve within 1 week. If you continue to have any irritation please discontinue use and consult your health care professional.

In order to meet the needs of our Luxe Tribe we aim to use certified organic ingredients where possible and practical.

Luxe Botanics Kigelia africana fruit extract is our only certified organic core botanical (for now!). It’s extracted from the sausage-shaped fruit of the Kigelia africana tree by the local community in Malawi and is Certified Organic by the Soil Association (UK). The Kigelia africana trees are grown on wild stands and the community uses the proceeds to plant more trees on wild stands to increase production, profits to ultimately benefit the local community.

Our Camu camu berry extract and Marula kernel oil are wild grown. The Camu camu bush grows along river banks deep within the Amazon basin and the Marula tree grows on wild stands in Kenya. Both are hand-picked and processed by the local community. Neither can easily be certified organic as they are grown on sites that are completely natural and not cultivated. In addition, a certified organic certification is costly for these small communities to achieve and maintain. We are delighted to support small communities like these and to help them maintain the natural environment that surrounds and provides for them.

Check out our blog to learn more about skin care labeling and greenwashing.

Luxe Botanics formulations contain between 24 - 78% certified organic ingredients (USDA and EcoCert) and 8 - 66% wild harvested botanicals depending on the elixir. We source our remaining natural ingredients from farms that exercise organic practices and are free from pesticides. However, due to costly organic certifications, some of these farms are organic in every way but name.

Our complete Luxe Botanics formulations are currently being reviewed and certified by the Environmental World Group and Leaping Bunny organisations.

It is important to define the term chemical. Many people have an immediate visceral reaction when confronted with the term, as "chemicals" are almost always considered toxic or poisonous. However, everything in nature is made of chemicals, even something as beneficial and crucial to humans as water. We just rarely think of water in terms of its chemical name, dihydrogen monoxide. Plus, plenty of natural ingredients have scientific names that are long, hard to spell, hard to pronounce and, therefore, quite intimidating. Yet they are no more harmful because of it.  

Luxe Botanics products contain a combination of pure botanical ingredients in their natural state in combination with ingredients synthesized in a laboratory setting from entirely natural, high grade ingredient bases. These ingredients actively accentuate the most potent properties of core botanicals to achieve the best results and are technically known as new "chemical" compounds. However, they still perform the same purpose as in nature and there is nothing unnatural about them.

We believe it is very important to know the origins of the ingredients in skin care. Ingredient transparency is key to consumer loyalty. At Luxe Botanics we use both INCI scientific names as well as trade names in our ingredients list. Although all of our ingredients are naturally derived, for some ingredients that may be confusing to the consumer, we specifically indicate that they are natural and/or plant derived to avoid any confusion.

We sincerely believe that we should only be using ingredients that are scientifically proven and formulated with other natural ingredients that help them to perform. To use anything else is wasteful and also potentially environmentally harmful. We need to elevate our thinking beyond just the natural and organic to not only the scientific but also the environmental impact we have on our earth and our communities.

Nature is funny that way – and that’s exactly why we love her. Each plant grows differently depending on rainfall, the quality of the soil, when it was harvested and other environmental effects. This results in subtle changes in its natural aroma (and sometimes texture too!) which, when formulated can be further accentuated or masked. We love that there are subtle changes in each formulation – it means nature is working exactly as she should be. And you can be certain that we will never use a synthetic fragrance in our products!

We are strongly against the use of palm oil, and where possible, try to avoid its use. If it is needed to balance a formulation we use only sustainably sourced ingredients certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Citrus oils have many amazing skin benefits. They are extraordinary antioxidants, are anti-inflammatory, can help treat acne and can enhance mental well-being through aromatherapy, so it makes sense to use them wisely as part of a healthy skincare regimen. 

Some types of citrus essential oils can cause phototoxic reactions when they’re applied the skin without dilution. However, phototoxicity doesn’t occur when safe concentrations of citrus oils are used.

An analysis done by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review determined that citrus oils are safe in the small amounts found in cosmetic products. The International Fragrance Association recommends using citrus oils in concentrations of no more than 4% in products meant for use on your face. Luxe Botanics uses essential oil concentrations of less than 0.4% in all our skincare products. This is well below the amount known to cause a phototoxic reaction — and more importantly, the astounding skincare benefits outweigh the costs.

Check out our citrus oil blog here.

A good place to start is the Environmental Working Group site’s consumer guides.

These are comprehensive and will show you the research for each ingredient as well as a rating based on safety and toxicity. You can also search for your favourite products to see how they rate.

We encourage all pregnant or breast feeding customers to consult a health care professional prior to using any new products.

All products have a shelf life of 1-2 years due to the botanic and natural ingredients used. Please refer to the expiry date label on your product. Due to the shelf life and the nature of the antioxidant ingredients in our products, they must be stored in a dark room, sheltered from direct light, and between 10 – 25 ̊C (50 – 77 ̊F). Luxe Botanics will not be held responsible for product degradation due to inadequate storage conditions.

Luxe Botanics products are manufactured in the USA and comply with the most stringent international standards.

Everyone has their own skin type – no two are alike and your skin has different needs every day. We encourage all customers to take the time to truly understand your skin's needs and tailor your routine accordingly.

Here’s a suggested ritual to get you started, just remember to adjust to your individual skin's needs:

Morning:

1. Cleanse: Single cleanse with Camu Brightening Cleanser.
2. Treat: Kigelia Clarifying Serum for problem skin days or Camu Brightening Serum for dull skin days. Follow with 2 drops of Marula Hydrating Serum for dry skin.
3. Moisturise: Kigelia Clarifying Moisturiser for combination skin or Camu Brightening Moisturiser for dull skin.

Night:

1. Pre Cleanse: Gently massage around eyes, face and neck. Rinse with warm water and a muslin cloth.
2. Cleanse: Single cleanse with Camu Brightening Cleanser.
3. Treat: Kigelia Clarifying Serum for problem skin days or Camu Brightening Serum for dull skin days. Follow with 2 drops of Marula Hydrating Serum for dry skin.
4. Moisturise: Camu Brightening Moisturiser or extra Marula Hydrating Serum used as an overnight treatment.

Luxe tip: Our serums can be layered and combined as needed to suit your skin.

Every product at Luxe Botanics strives to capture the essence of our core botanicals, which have been chosen for their proven therapeutic skin benefits. We only use our core botanicals in formulations that will highlight natural properties and will never make a product if we do not believe it is in line with our ethos. We would rather expand our product range to include more core botanicals than create more products per line which do not match the full benefits of a botanical.

At Luxe Botanics we only choose botanicals with individual scientific merit which are then enhanced in harmony with the other ingredients in carefully curated formulations.

We plan to roll out some (top secret) new products in 2018.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us anytime hello@luxebotanics.com