At From This Island, we’ve always believed that the heart of every great skincare formula lies in its ingredients — not in what’s trending, but in what’s proven, safe, and effective. And in a country as beautifully biodiverse as Indonesia, with over 17,000 islands, we’re surrounded by plants and botanicals with rich histories and extraordinary skin benefits waiting to be rediscovered.
Our vision has always been to explore these local ingredients — especially from smaller, often overlooked islands like Papua and Borneo — and honor the people and wisdom behind them. But how do we decide which plants are worthy of becoming a Hero Extract at From This Island?
Here’s a look behind the scenes at how tradition, science, and community come together in every bottle
What is a Hero Extract?
A Hero Extract is more than just a star ingredient. For us, it’s a plant-based extract that embodies our brand values of sustainability, innovation, and respect for Indonesia’s natural heritage, while delivering proven benefits for the skin. It’s thoughtfully selected for its performance, cultural relevance, eco-friendliness, and ability to complement the tropical skin climate we formulate for.
These are the ingredients we champion — whether it’s Papua Red Fruit or Borneo Illipe Butter — because they do more than work well; they tell a story of Indonesia’s botanical richness and clean beauty potential.
How Do We Choose a Hero Extract?
Our ingredient selection isn’t driven by trends — it begins with a concept, is backed by research, refined through rigorous testing, and only then developed for production. Each plant candidate must meet four non-negotiable criteria:
1. Safe and beneficial for skin, proven through efficacy testing
Before anything else, an extract must demonstrate real skin benefits, whether it's antioxidant-rich, barrier-supporting, or inflammation-soothing. Every candidate undergoes a thorough safety and efficacy review, combining local ethnobotanical wisdom with modern dermatological science. We also collaborate closely with researchers at Institute Technology Bandung (ITB) on the development and research of several of our Hero Extracts, ensuring our most cherished ingredients are backed by meaningful, credible science.
Take Papua Red Fruit for example. Known locally as buah merah, it’s long been valued by Papuan communities for its wellness benefits. Packed with antioxidants, carotenoids, Vitamin E, and essential fatty acids, modern science now supports what tradition has always known — it promotes skin health and helps combat signs of aging.
And because we believed in its potential, we partnered with a German researcher who spent over 10 years studying this extraordinary ingredient. That collaboration led to the creation of our patented Lumera extraction technology, preserving the highest concentration of active compounds while minimizing irritation and scent, making it perfect for skincare.
For us, this isn’t just another plant extract. It’s the epitome of what From This Island stands for — where ancestral knowledge meets modern science to create skincare that’s safe, effective, and stands through the test of time and trends..
2. Unique and innovative
We seek ingredients that offer something distinctive — a fresh, relevant solution to modern skincare needs, particularly for tropical, sensitive skin. It's not about chasing trends, but about finding botanicals that can elevate your daily beauty rituals with thoughtful, dual benefits.
For example, our Mangosteen Peel Extract is rich in xanthones, powerful antioxidants that help combat free radicals, and promote collagen production. Its inclusion in our formulations offers a natural solution for improving skin texture and radiance.
3. Eco-friendly and processed without hazardous chemicals
The way an ingredient is extracted matters as much as the plant itself. We favor green extraction techniques like cold pressing, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and natural solvents — no harsh chemicals, no unnecessary waste. This way, the extracts retain their purity and potency, while minimizing environmental impact.
4. Able to be sourced ethically, without harming local ecosystems
We prioritize plants that can be responsibly sourced within Indonesia without threatening local ecosystems or disrupting communities. This means avoiding endangered species and focusing, where possible, on parts of the plant (like leaves or fruit) that can be sustainably harvested. We actively collaborate with local farmers, middlemen with strong community ties, and cooperatives to ensure fair trade practices and traceability across our sourcing network.
Beyond environmental concerns, our sourcing practices are built to create positive, lasting cycles of community impact. By partnering directly with smallholder farmers and forest-based communities, we help support livelihoods, preserve biodiversity, and build climate resilience — turning supply chains into systems of empowerment, not exploitation.
The Future of Our Hero Extracts
Our work doesn’t stop here. As part of our commitment to clean, conscious beauty, we're continuously exploring Indonesia's rich biodiversity to discover new, sustainable ingredients to champion. From upcycled agro-waste ingredients to underused native botanicals, our Research & Development team is always working on what's next.
Because at From This Island, it’s not just about what’s inside our bottles — it’s about where it comes from, how it’s made, and the stories it tells about the people and places we call home for future generations to come.
