🌿 Mamaku: New Zealand’s Ancient Fern with Modern Skincare Power
If you’re looking for a natural, New Zealand-born ingredient that supports skin hydration and elasticity, Mamaku might become your new skincare essential.
50% increase in skin moisture
34% decrease in wrinkle volume in just 15 minutes
These are just some of the proven skincare benefits of this amazing native plant. The Mamaku fern (Cyathea medullaris) has been valued by Māori for generations for its powerful healing properties. Today, its extract is becoming more popular in skincare for the same reasons — it really works.
Traditional Māori use
Mamaku isn’t something new. In rongoā Māori (traditional Māori medicine), it was used both internally and externally.
The reddish-brown gum from the stem and fronds — with a naturally slimy texture — was used to treat things like swelling, bruises, and wounds.
The gum was also taken for diarrhoea, and the bruised inner pith was used as a poultice for sore eyes and swollen feet.
What the science says
Modern studies have found that Mamaku is rich in a unique polysaccharide gel derived from the meristem, the growing part of the fern. When applied to the skin, this natural gel forms a 3D structure that gives an instant lifting and tightening effect.
A pilot study showed that pure Cyathea medullaris leaf extract reduced wrinkle volume by 34% within 15 minutes, and by 30% after 2 hours.
Research also confirms that Mamaku extract:
- Soothes and hydrates the skin
- Locks in moisture (works as a humectant)
- Helps strengthen the skin barrier
- Supports cell renewal and collagen production
- Improves elasticity and smoothness
💡 Did you know?
The Mamaku fern can grow up to 20 meters tall and its sap was once used by Māori to soothe wounds and hydrate skin naturally.
Quick summary & why we love it
Mamaku extract is packed with natural polysaccharides that work like a gel on the skin, helping to:
Hydrate deeply — boosts skin moisture levels
Protect and repair — strengthens the skin barrier and shields from daily stressors
Calm irritation — great for sensitive or eczema-prone skin
Promote youthful skin — supports collagen and reduces fine lines
Mamaku extract will soon be part of our O’Black skincare line. Follow us to be the first to experience New Zealand’s own forest-powered ingredient — proven to hydrate, smooth, and revive your skin naturally.
Information provided for educational purposes only, based on scientific and traditional sources.
Source:
1. PlantæDerMX | Mamaku Black Fern Meristem Extract — Organic Bioactives
2. Cyathea medullaris. Mamaku. - Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga