Natural products are becoming more and more important in today’s personal care industry, and producers like Desert King are focusing heavily on sustainability.  Desert King has been in business for over four decades and is the world’s leader in the production of quillaia, derived from a tree native to the warm temperate regions of central Chile. These special extracts contain high level of saponins – substances used widely as active ingredients in formulations such as shampoos, body washes, toothpastes, wipes, sunscreens, baby products, color cosmetics and so much more.

Sustainable harvesting

To harvest Quillaja saponaria, a special government permit is required – and since Desert King also places great emphasis on responsible forestry management, the company conducts regular audits of its supply chain in connection with the International FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). The company obtains its Quillaja biomass by pruning trees in native forests (and more recently from plantations), utilizing their branches, bark, and limbs. Once the branches are harvested, new branches grow. Desert King waits eight years before it harvests from the same tree again. This systematic and sustainable approach to harvesting has drastically reduced deforestation. In addition, Desert King is actively planting quillaja to create an even more sustainable supply of the raw material for many years to come.

Versatile active ingredients

Desert King offers customers a variety of options to choose from: Quillaja extract in powder and in liquid form, as well as conventional and organic grades. These options include a granulated organic powder (Andean QDP Ultra Organic), an organic liquid (Andean Q Ultra Organic) and a conventional liquid (Andean Q Ultra NP). The organic varieties are COSMOS-certified and all of them are preservative-free and vegan. The INCI name is Quillaja saponaria Wood Extract. In vitro studies and clinical trials have shown that these extracts can protect the skin before sun exposure and soothe the skin after. Other literature has highlighted the antimicrobial properties of Quillaja, indicating that it reduces skin irritation and redness, regulates sebum and rebalances the skin. At the next in-cosmetics^® global, Nordmann will be representing Desert King so visitors can find out more about this wonderful product. The latest research findings on Quillaja will also be presented at the upcoming IFSCC in London.