What makes this plant different is not in its physical appearance, you might not even notice it if you were to come across it in its natural habitat. For most of its life it looks dead. In its harsh environment it has the ability to almost completely desiccate without dying for up to three years. Most plants die if they lose 20% to 30% of their water content but Myrothamnus is able to completely air dry yet remain alive. It remains in this state until water is available and then, within a matter of hours, it springs to life.

DNA Protection

The chemical toolkit that the plant uses to protect its DNA through years of complete desiccation is very interesting for anti-ageing skin care.

The key polyphenol that allows oxidative protection during dormancy is 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid and is the compound that dominates the polyphenol profile of the Namibian varieties of Myrothamnus, accounting for up to 40% of the dry mass of the dormant plant.

Esse uses Namibian plants to maximise efficacy. Through a process of extraction and vacuum spray drying, we preserve the polyphenols that confer the potent anti-oxidant protection the plant utilises to preserve its DNA for years.

Rapid moisturisation

Esse has conducted independent testing in Germany that shows that this new ingredient is also a rapid skin moisturiser. A neutral gel containing the extract was shown to boost skin hydration for 24 hours after just a single application.

Below you can see the % improvement in skin hydration over a 24-hour period.

Community value

The Namib desert in Namibia is very arid and the people living in the area are nomadic pastoralists dependent on subsistence livestock farming. With the Resurrection Plant being indigenous to the area, its harvest and sale provides communities with an important source of alternative income. A reduction in livestock dependence also results in decreased pressure on the biodiversity of the area by reducing grazing pressure in this diverse but sensitive ecology.

Esse has engaged in a joint venture with the Kunene Conservancies Indigenous Natural Products Trust in a Nagoya-compliant agreement that allows the twelve tribes of the Kunene to share in profits from the sale of Esse products that utilise Myrothamnus extract. Extensive studies have been conducted to show the sustainability of the wild-harvest of Resurrection Plants in the Kunene region of Namibia and continued monitoring ensures a healthy and sustainable plant population in the wild.

It’s important to remember that sensitivity often correlates directly to a disruption in barrier function due to a microbial imbalance. This disruption results in an immune response that puts your skin on high alert and prone to flare ups, even when exposed to seemingly harmless ingredients.

As an Esse user, you will know that our primary goal is to remediate any microbiome imbalances and reverse sensitivity. An overactive immune response results in inflammation which is a primary contributor to skin ageing. Reducing inflammation is a major step in the right direction.

Anti-ageing products tend to carry active ingredients at levels that tip sensitive skins toward an inflammatory state and leave sufferers in a position of managing a concern rather than actively addressing ageing.

Esse focuses on getting to the root of sensitivity so that clients with sensitive skin can take steps toward an active anti-ageing skincare routine.

Enter the Resurrect Serum

Formulated by biochemist and founder of Esse Skincare, Trevor Steyn, the Resurrect Serum delivers actives that both calm and fight the signs of ageing. There is a trio of hero ingredients in this formulation, apart from the signature Esse probiotic technology:

Myrothamnus flabellifolia or the Resurrection plant for which the serum is named, offers exceptional hydration and anti-oxidant properties to the final product. The plant is able to exist for years in the Namib Desert without a drop of water. It dries out completely and appears to be dead, only to spring to life in 3 hours after the rains arrive. The compounds that protect it and allow for rehydration during the harshest of droughts is what Esse extracts and includes in the new Resurrect Serum. This extract is further supported in its hydration and anti-inflammatory action with the inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid.

Bakuchiol is a non-toxic replacement for retinol and shows similar or better results without the downsides of skin irritation and phototoxicity, making it the perfect sensitive skin ingredient for overall skin improvement. As an aside, bakuchiol is an effective acne treatment, showing, on average, 70% reduction in 12 weeks.
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), in combination with Bakuchiol offers outstanding skin firming and wrinkle reduction outcomes. On its own, it has the ability to relax facial muscles over time to reduce wrinkle depth. It also boosts skin firmness and improves the texture of rough skin.

For best results, the Resurrect Serum is a long-term solution to sensitive skin ageing concerns with all trials having been carried out over a 12-week period. The generous 30ml pack size ensures that clients see results from their purchase.