What came first, the chicken or the egg? Or in this case, what came first, Mānuka Gold Extract or MN8? The former is still up for debate, but the latter is an easy question to answer: Manuka Gold Extract.
Our family didn’t get into the manuka business to start a premium skincare brand. Our goal was simply to create the highest quality manuka extract in the most environmentally beneficial way possible—something we could be proud of. Heres a few of the risks we took to get to where we are today.
Risk #1: Purchase a 700-acre old dairy farm in the foothills of Waipū with a vision of regenerating the land by planting paddocks with manuka and somehow figuring out how to create a market-leading manuka extract.
Risk #2: Plant 40 acres of East Cape Manuka—the most triketone-rich variety on the planet—on our farm (9 hours northwest of where it naturally grows).
Risk #3: Ship in a state-of-the-art Supercritical CO2 Extraction machine from Europe and hope that it can extract a higher quality manuka oil.
The result?
The East Cape Manuka we planted grew like a weed, and the Supercritical CO2 Extraction machine pumped out a beautiful, pure manuka oil. But it also produced something nobody had ever seen before: a golden manuka plant extract. At first, we thought this must be some sort of by-product, but it rubbed into the skin and absorbed beautifully leaving it feeling soft and supple.
We immediately sent it to a lab to be tested, and the results blew us away. Our CO2 Manuka Gold Extract consistently showed between 35-45% triketone potency. For reference, the industry standard for steam-distilled manuka essential oil at the time was 15%, with 20% being the upper echelon. It also contained a fourth triketone, only found in trace amounts in manuka essential oils.
So, what does this mean for your skin?
Skin Benefits of Manuka Gold Extract
Antimicrobial Properties:
Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Action: Effective against a wide range of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains such as MRSA, as well as fungi like those causing athlete's foot and yeast infections. This makes it highly effective in treating skin infections, acne, and other microbial skin conditions.
Antiviral Properties: Demonstrates significant effectiveness against herpes simplex viruses (HSV1 and HSV2), reducing infectivity, including drug-resistant strains.
Anti-inflammatory Action:
Reduces Skin Inflammation: Calms irritated skin by reducing redness, swelling, and pain associated with conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and allergic reactions.
Prevents Premature Skin Aging: By reducing inflammation, it helps prevent the degradation of collagen and elastin, which can lead to wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.
Anti-aging and Antioxidant Effects:
Protection Against UV Damage: Protects skin from UV-induced damage, such as sunburn and photoaging, by acting as a natural antioxidant. This helps in maintaining skin's youthfulness and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Promotes Collagen Production: Enhances the production of collagen III in human skin fibroblasts, more effectively than vitamin C, supporting skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and scars.
Wound Healing:
Accelerates Healing: Promotes faster healing of cuts, wounds, and abrasions by stimulating fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis, which helps in reducing scarring and improving skin repair.
Soothes and Calms the Skin: The presence of sesquiterpenes like calamenene in the extract provides additional soothing and analgesic effects, making it beneficial for sensitive or irritated skin.
Anti-Acne and Sebum Regulation:
Reduces Acne Formation: By inhibiting the growth of acne-causing bacteria such as Cutibacterium acnes, it helps in preventing and reducing acne breakouts.
Balances Oily Skin: Helps in regulating sebum production, keeping the skin clear and balanced, which is particularly beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin.
Dandruff and Scalp Care:
Effective Against Dandruff: Targets dandruff-causing fungi such as *Malassezia furfur*, promoting a healthy scalp and reducing flakiness and irritation.
Scalp Sensitivity Relief: Provides soothing relief for sensitive scalps, reducing itchiness and inflammation.
Deodorizing and Odor Control:
Natural Deodorant: Effectively combats odor-causing bacteria, making it suitable for use in natural deodorants and other personal care products.
