LAS VEGAS—“Green ” is the biggest trend in cosmeceuticals, according to Jeanette Jacknin, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and author of “Smart Medicine for Your Skin” who presented ten hot natural ingredients at a SupplySide West seminar.

Yerba Maté, with its history of medicinal use in South America, is the “new green tea,” said Jacknin. Yerba Maté has more antioxidants than green tea and offers great anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. It also contains saponins; phytochemicals; vitamins A, E, B1, B2, and B complex and vitamin C complex; and 15 different amino acids, minerals, chlorophyll, choline and inositol.

The Peruvian rainforest shrub camu camu is also making inroads in the cosmeceutical market. This superfruit has a high vitamin C content, enzymes, bioflavonoids and other components collectively referred to as the P factor. It has been shown to promote skin elasticity, boost collagen, neutralize pollutants, reduce the size of pores and speed the healing of scars.

Also from South American with high vitamin C content, acerola contains antioxidant carotenoids, bioflavonoids and anthocyanin. If applied topically, Acerola extract will lighten human skin.

Other hot natural ingredients Jacknin mentioned are: buriti oil (rich in beta-carotene), cupuacu (good moisturizer), tamanu oil (useful for acne and wrinkles), murumuru butter (high in vitamin A), urucumoil (high levels of carotenoids) , probiotics and probiotics (help balance the micro-flora and Ph of skin) and stem cells (help repair wrinkles and restore firmness and elasticity).