As I explored the fresh food markets of Tasmania’s towns I spotted local botanical ingredients including Tasmanian native pepper. This special tree naturally grows in mountainous rainforests of Tasmania. The glossy little plum-coloured berries are crushed, dried and ready for peppering home-cooking. This wild fruit’s wonders don’t stop there. In recent years, more and more beauty brands are using Tasmanian pepper’s potency for skincare.
You may have heard of the benefits of other berries in skincare like blueberry. Tasmanian pepperberry is also high in antioxidants that prepare your skin for daily air pollution and radiation, which over time causes ageing. This native Australian botanical also has anti-inflammatory activity. The several active ingredients in the berries are especially useful in skin creams that contain mild exfoliating acids, that may redden your skin as they lift dead skin cells. The overall goal is regular skin renewal with no downtime AKA youthful, glowing skin.
Here are my three top moisturiser picks with Tasmanian native pepper berry.
LUX
Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum 30ml $144
Tata the founder, couldn't find 100% natural and premium skincare products and so was born ‘farm to face skincare’ in Vermont USA ten years ago. Each product has as many organically-grown ingredients as possible and certified ECOCERT. Tata Harper is so committed to freshness that you can see products ‘batching now’ online, and trace your bottle’s batch number for yourself. All these features have made Tata Harper a cult brand. Also, being so naturally produced, the luxury skincare often sells out.
This award-winning resurfacing serum is gentle enough for daily use with its combination of AHAs and BHAs (hydroxy acids) to keep dead skin cells away and skin glowing. The Tasmanian native pepper assists in controlling redness, calming skin and is one of six other natural fruit extracts all full of dull-fighting antioxidants. Native Australian kakadu plum also gets an honourable mention. There is a huge number of natural ingredients in this formula, and 67% is pure organically farmed goodness.
MID-RANGE
Dr Roebuck’s Stoked Weightless Face Moisturizer 50ml $60
Born out of Bondi Beach 40 years ago when the two daughters of doctor parents had serious skin conditions. Dr Roebuck’s ethos is minimal ingredients, maximum results.
This moisturiser performs like a serum. It hydrates, nourishes and improves radiance with three active ingredients. The main active ingredient is a patented sugar-based gel for super-hydration. The actives in the ‘wild berry harvest’ include Tasmanian native pepper, Riberry and Muntari Berry, all native Australian fruit extracts, brilliant! Tasmania’s natural bounty features again with marine botanicals for radiant skin. This moisturiser is gleaming example of home-grown Aussie goodness.
BUDGET
Alya Australian Native Berries Moisturiser 100g $24.99
Alya is a relatively new rising Aussie beauty brand that launched only a few years ago by two young guys out of Melbourne. Alya’s first product, an Australian pink clay mask, went viral and became a cult product. Since then their range has received a bevy of awards making this an extremely good value natural moisturiser.
This moisturiser also features the amazing Australian native berry trio of Tasmanian native pepper, Riberry and Muntari berry (also called emu apple), winning! Added red pomegranate fruit gives for even more antioxidant Vitamin C. The cream base is made with natural ingredients like sweet almond oil, macadamia nut oil, shea butter and cacao seed butter making it a delectably nourishing moisturiser that you almost want to eat.
Is it time for you to get some native Australian berries on your face? Your skin will thank you for it and so will Tasmania's wild rainforest inhabitants and (maybe a little wild) pepperberry farmers too. (This article was voluntarily written and the author has no financial partnerships with the above-mentioned brands.)
