What Makes Australian Natives So Special?

Australian Native Extracts: Hits Different

You might have noticed that MV prides itself as being Australian owned and made (we even include it on our bottles and labelling), but we want to tell you a little bit more about what that means to us.

Here at MV, we consider it a privilege to be able to use native Australian extracts in our products - especially as many Aussie native plants are unique with 80% of the flora and fauna of Australia found nowhere else on Earth. Not only that, but Australian plants have undergone incredibly unique adaptions as a result of our climate, producing powerful chemical components and diversity. These have been harnessed to be uniquely protective against the elements, particularly with regard to UV damage and repair.

But of course, plant powered medicine is not new.

The therapeutic use of native plants is traditional knowledge and medicine practiced for centuries by Australian First Nations people, passed on for generations. All of our Australian Native Extracts have been wild harvested and ethically sourced in partnership with local indigenous communities, and we are honoured and privileged to bring these native plants and ingredients to you within our products.

We use a large dose of cellular plant extract from the Kakadu plum in our Native Power Serum and Oxygen Moisturiser to provide protection against free radicals, pollution and a host of modern-day external aggressors. Unlike other brands on the market, we don't add synthetic Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to our products and prefer to use natural Vitamin C like the Kakadu plum, because when Vitamin C is synthesised in a lab, the stability and absorption is prone to many variables.

By using the entire cellular plant extract from the Kakadu plum, we can protect the fragile Vitamin C compound from oxidisation and deterioration. This way, we feel much more confident that the Vitamin C will be protected and abundant in the final product.

That said, we still don't call our Native Power Serum a Vitamin C serum.

Why...? Because it is so much more than that!
Yes, it contains the world's highest concentration of naturally occurring Vitamin C with powerful complementary bioactives, far more powerful than just Vitamin C. But, our Native Power Serum is exactly that - a powerful serum that utilises the therapeutic properties of a host of native Australian plants, together with the thirstiest ingredient around, Hyaluronic Acid.

Simply calling it a Vitamin C serum would be selling it short!

Davidson Plum and Quandong

Speaking of other native plants, the Davidson plum is another hero of our Native Power Serum and Oxygen Moisturiser. Found in grape-like clusters in the Australian rainforest, Davidson plum is known to be anti-inflammatory, skin strengthening and pore cleansing. Behaving like a natural AHA, this extract works to delicately exfoliate the skin and promote cell regeneration.

Another ingredient in the Native Power Serum, as well as in our Rose Hydrating Mist, is Quandong (sometimes called the 'Desert Peach'), a powerful natural regenerator that beautifully heals and repairs the skin. A native Australian fruit used for centuries in Indigenous medicine, this fruit is supercharged with antioxidants, phenolic compounds (compounds that are beneficial to human health due to their antioxidants and ability to avert the damage of cells), essential fatty acids and Vitamins C and E - ingredients that work in synergy to stimulate collagen and cell renewal while soothing inflammation.

West Australian Sandalwood Hydrosol and Tasmanian Ocean Kelp

There are two other key Australian native extracts that we use in our products, the first being West Australian Sandalwood Hydrosol. Used in our Native Power Serum as well as in our newest product and one that was years in the making, the Active Marine Mist, West Australian Sandalwood Hydrosol is supremely hydrating and naturally rich in water-loving compounds to soothe complexions of all ages. This ingredient is used as a skin tonic to promote healing and regeneration for both barrier-impaired and mature skins.

And finally, there's Tasmanian Ocean Kelp used in our Active Marine Mist. Rich in naturally occuring marine collagen and containing peptides that stimulate collagen and elastin production, we like to think of Tasmanian ocean kelp as a naturally healing bodyguard for the face.

It’s no surprise that Sharon & Dotti – the one-named makeup artist widely known for her organic ethos and vegan sensibilities - hit it off when first connecting in 2003 at Sharon’s first holistic skin clinic in Double Bay. Dotti would send young models who had problematic skin to Sharon as she knew her treatment approach and MV products were nurturing and non-aggressive.

Dotti quickly fell in love with MV, so much so that when relocating to New York, asked if Sharon would send MV to the US so she could have a constant supply for her professional make up kit for her clients and herself. Her favourites in the kit being the Instant Revival Booster, 9 Oil Radiance Tonic, 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic, Aromatic Body Oil and Rose Hydrating Mist. Sharon did, and not long after, was sending MV to the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emma Watson.

Tasmanian Ocean Kelp

Contains bioactive marine compounds fucoidan with phlorotannins, uniquely protective and restorative compounds with proven therapeutic benefits that help protect the skin from UVA (Ultraviolet A - a type of UV light) damage and pollution, prevent the breakdown of collagen, and stimulate healing and the formation of new skin matrix.