With small, creamy white flowers in long spikes clustered towards the tips of the branches, the Kakadu Plum is an extraordinary botanical and superfruit originating from the wilds of Australia. Aboriginal people have valued this sacred plant for thousands of years for its nutrient-rich and medicinal properties, even using the red bark of the tree to heal skin conditions.

It wasn’t until the 1980’s that western scientists discovered just how extraordinary this fruit really is. They found phenomenally high Vitamin C concentrations in Kakadu plums. Traditional fruits like oranges and lemons are well known for being natural sources of Vitamin C, but the Kakadu Plum has the highest recorded concentration of Vitamin C in the world, measuring at 100 times that of an orange.

Natural contents in the plum are also rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Research has even shown its extract has excellent preservative qualities. With these powerful benefits, this superfruit ingredient is a dream for infusing into your clean beauty routine.

When we were developing The C-Drops, infusing Kakadu Plum as one of our sustainably sourced, hero ingredients was the answer to harnessing the power of this superfruit to benefit the skin. Grown free from human intervention, this beautiful, wildcrafted ingredient thrives in its harsh growing conditions, developing a highly efficient defense mechanism made up of diverse antioxidants. These antioxidants help to detoxify the skin and fight off free radical damage caused by environmental factors.

Kakadu Plum works to restore the skin’s natural barrier and encourages skin elasticity and suppleness which is ideal for balancing the complexion. Perfect for acne prone or oily skin, while its deeply soothing qualities can calm sensitive skin. 

Image courtesy of Celeste Thomas, IG: @celestethomas

Our favorite way to incorporate Kakadu Plum into your skincare routine is through a targeted serum like The C-Drops. Rich in Kakadu Plum, citrus botanicals like lemon, lime and mandarin work to visibly smooth skin textures, brighten dullness and leave a radiance you only get with high concentrations of Vitamin C. 

Get the full benefits of this rich ingredient in your morning skincare routine, and be sure to follow with a good sunscreen to add another layer of protection for your skin.

I’ve always been inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit. I must get it from my great grandmother, an extraordinary woman (and personal inspiration) who came to California as a mail-order bride from Italy where she became a mother of 7 and made a living growing grapes with my great-grandfather. She believed in achieving more, so she went to the bank, took out a $10,000 loan and started our family heritage in the wine business. She became one of our country's first female entrepreneurs seeding well-known wine brands Franzia and Gallo.

Growing up with such a deep family history in winemaking ignited my passion for botanicals and cultivation. I joined the industry myself (I developed Cupcake Vineyards and many others), and it was that journey that eventually led me to start Saint Jane. Infusing all of this knowledge of botanical ingredients and the power they hold, and channeling female empowerment from my great grandmother’s story. 

So where does beauty come into the mix? I’d always had a passion for cosmetics and had my eyes set on Sephora, the leader of innovation. I interviewed in 2007 and became Sephora’s 1st unpaid MBA intern. (I was paid in makeup, which was fine with me!) I learned the business, I soaked up every moment, I dove in head first. This eventually led to my role in Creative Marketing for Kendo. It was an incredible opportunity to build Sephora exclusives like Marc Jacobs, Disney, and Elizabeth and James. 

When I created Saint Jane, I wanted it to feel like a beautiful marriage between my two biggest passions, beauty and botanicals. The journey has led me here, to building Saint Jane and crafting botanical and nutrient-rich formulas that transform the skin. 

Seeing this brand in Sephora stores and on sephora.com is a dream come true. I got my start there 13 years ago and it's surreal to see my own brand on it’s shelves. They took a chance on me then, and now they are taking a chance on Saint Jane. I couldn’t be more grateful. 

Every day I go to work and channel the fierce courage of my great grandmother. I think about all she accomplished when it wasn’t normal as a woman to pursue entrepreneurship. She had the guts to take the risk. I’d like to think that some of that spirit is in Saint Jane, inspiring women to be powerful, transformative, and to change the world.