New Zealand is known for clean air, untouched forests, and exotic plant ingredients that punch far above their weight. That’s why natural NZ  skincare has become a global standout — the botanicals here aren’t just gentle, they’re genuinely effective.

At Forbidden Beauty, two powerhouse ingredients — Kakadu Plum Extract and Manuka Extract — are used across all our skincare products. And one very special native, Mamaku Leaf Extract, is reserved exclusively for our Age Perfection Night Cream because of its advanced restorative properties.

Here’s what each extract does and why it matters for your skin.

Mamaku Leaf Extract

Found only in our Age Perfection Night Cream

Mamaku, the New Zealand black fern, is famous for its ability to regenerate rapidly in the wild. In skincare, that same regenerative behaviour translates into visible repair and deep hydration.

What Mamaku does for your skin:

• Encourages cell renewal overnight

• Boosts hydration by strengthening the moisture barrier

• Improves firmness and elasticity

• Softens the look of fine lines

Mamaku’s polysaccharides form a breathable, hydrating layer on the skin, helping it stay plump and moisturised through the night. This is why it features only in our most advanced formula — the Age Perfection Night Cream — where repair and renewal are the priority.

Manuka Extract

Found in: Age Perfection Night Cream, Hydrating Glow Face Cream, Ultra Nourishing Body Cream, Men’s All-Over Body Moisturiser

Manuka is one of New Zealand’s most famous natural ingredients, and for good reason. In skincare, it delivers calm, clarity, and resilience.

What Manuka does:

• Helps soothe redness and sensitivity

• Supports clearer, more balanced skin

• Strengthens the microbiome and skin barrier

• Protects against environmental stress

If your skin reacts easily, Manuka brings gentle but effective support. It’s a core ingredient across our range because healthier skin starts with less inflammation and better barrier protection — two things Manuka excels at.

Kakadu Plum Extract (Vitamin C)

Found in: Age Perfection Night Cream, Hydrating Glow Face Cream, Ultra Nourishing Body Cream, Men’s All-Over Body Moisturiser

Although Australian, Kakadu Plum earns its place in any high-performing natural NZ skincare routine due to it being the world’s richest natural source of Vitamin C. It is important to note that, unlike synthetic Vitamin C powders (like ascorbic acid) that are included as Vitamin C in most skincare products, Kakadu Plum Extract is naturally stabilised within its plant matrix. That means it’s less prone to oxidation, gentler on sensitive skin, and stays effective longer once applied. Additionally, Vitamin C powders can degrade quickly, become irritating, or lose potency unless wrapped in complex stabilising systems. Kakadu Plum doesn’t require this — it delivers Vitamin C in a bioavailable, antioxidant-rich form your skin can actually use, without the sting, dryness, or short shelf life that many powder-based formulas struggle with. So please be aware that not all Vitamin C ingredients are equal.

How Kakadu Plum benefits your skin:

• Brightens dull or uneven skin tone

• Helps fade dark spots

• Supports collagen production

• Provides strong antioxidant protection

Vitamin C is one of the most researched, effective anti-ageing nutrients. Kakadu Plum delivers it in a stable, plant-based form that works beautifully with New Zealand botanicals like Manuka and Mamaku.

The Synergy: Repair + Soothe + Brighten

Each ingredient plays a different role:

Mamaku → deep overnight repair and hydration
Manuka → daily calm, clarity, and protection
Kakadu Plum → brightening, firmness, and antioxidant defence

Used together — especially in the Age Perfection Night Cream, which contains all three — they create a powerful routine that supports:

• A stronger skin barrier

• A brighter, more even complexion

• Improved elasticity

• Calmer, less reactive skin

This is the heart of effective natural NZ skincare : simple formulas boosted by high-performance botanical extracts.

Where You’ll Find These Ingredients

All ingredients in the Forbidden Beauty range of skincare products are proudly displayed in the ‘Our Ingredients‘ page of our website. This page details all the 27 goodies in our skincare products and the reasons they have been included.

We take serious pride in our powerful formulations – hence why we also wrote and article for our website to teach people the importance of understanding what is in the skincare products they may be currently using. Please read our ‘Read Your Skincare Labels‘ article so you can understand what to avoid.

Listed below are where these superpower natural NZ skincare ingredients are included :

Age Perfection Night Cream
✔ Mamaku
✔ Manuka
✔ Kakadu Plum

Hydrating Glow Face Cream
✔ Manuka
✔ Kakadu Plum

Ultra Nourishing Body Cream
✔ Manuka
✔ Kakadu Plum

Men’s All-Over Body Moisturiser
✔ Manuka
✔ Kakadu Plum