INCI: Emblica Officinalis (Amla) Fruit Extract - Also known as: Indian Gooseberry Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica Extract, Amalaki

QUICK FACTS

What is Amla Extract (Emblica Officinalis)?

Amla (Emblica officinalis), also known as Indian gooseberry or amalaki, is one of the most revered botanical medicines in Ayurvedic practice and one of the most extensively studied fruit extracts in contemporary cosmetic science. The fresh amla fruit contains one of the highest concentrations of naturally occurring vitamin C of any food source - estimates range from 600 to 700mg per 100g of fresh fruit, compared to approximately 50mg per 100g in orange. What makes this particularly relevant in skincare is that amla's vitamin C content is present not as free ascorbic acid alone but in complex with tannins, flavonoids, and gallic acid derivatives that are studied in connection with stabilizing the vitamin C against oxidation - addressing one of the primary limitations of conventional botanical vitamin C sources.

Beyond its vitamin C content, amla fruit extract is rich in emblicanin A and emblicanin B (two unique ellagitannin-derived compounds studied in connection with strong antioxidant activity), gallic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, and rutin. This polyphenol profile makes it one of the more compositionally diverse antioxidant botanicals available for topical use - contributing multiple classes of antioxidant compound in a single extract.

At Sweet Chemistry, amla is the only botanical that appears in all four formulas - as a fruit extract above 1% in all three water-based products, and as an organic extract at greater than 5% in the Oil-Serum where it is the highest-concentration non-oil botanical in the formula. This universal presence across every product architecture in the system reflects amla's broad spectrum of studied antioxidant activity and its compatibility across both aqueous and anhydrous formulation environments.

What does it do for skin?

Amla extract's studied contributions to skin center on its multi-class antioxidant character and its association with a more even-looking complexion. Its emblicanin A and B content represents a unique antioxidant compound class found almost exclusively in Emblica officinalis, studied in connection with strong free radical scavenging activity that complements the more familiar polyphenol mechanisms of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids in the other botanical extracts in the same formulas.

Amla's vitamin C content and its associated gallic and ellagic acid derivatives have been researched in connection with the appearance of hyperpigmentation and a more even skin tone - a studied association that places amla alongside niacinamide, THD ascorbate, and bisabolol as part of the multi-active brightening-associated approach of the Sweet Chemistry water-based formulas. These are research associations rather than clinical outcome claims, and individual results will vary.

The gallic acid and tannin content of amla extract also contribute an astringent and skin-conditioning dimension that is studied in connection with a more refined, comfortable skin surface - a character distinct from the soothing associations of bisabolol or the film-forming comfort of beta-glucan, adding another dimension to the formula's approach to skin surface comfort and resilience.

In the Oil-Serum at greater than 5%, amla fruit extract is exceptional in its category - the only non-oil botanical ingredient in an otherwise entirely lipid-based formula. Its presence at this concentration reflects the Oil-Serum's commitment to active botanical antioxidant coverage even within a waterless anhydrous environment.

FOUND IN

In All 4 Formulas

Amla is the only botanical extract present in all four Sweet Chemistry formulas - above 1% in each water-based product and at greater than 5% in the Oil-Serum, making it the most universally present antioxidant botanical in the Max Repair System.

Nourishment - All Skin Types

Barrier Repairing Hydra-Serum Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract (Organic, above 1%) - 1.0 oz / 30 ml

In the Hydra-Serum, organic amla extract is one of eight organic botanicals above 1% in the antioxidant superfood complex - contributing emblicanins, gallic acid, and vitamin C-associated polyphenols alongside 3% Matrikynes® peptides, 5% niacinamide, and 3% ceramides.

Hydration - Dry to Normal

Elasticity Reinforcing Hydra-Cream Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract (Organic, above 1%) - 1.7 oz / 50 ml

The Hydra-Cream delivers organic amla alongside 2% THD ascorbate and 3% Matrikynes® peptides - botanical vitamin C-associated antioxidants and the stable oil-soluble vitamin C working within the same 40%-active formula.

Hydration - Dry to Dehydrated

Elasticity Reinforcing Lipid-Cream Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract (above 1%) - 1.7 oz / 50 ml

In the Lipid-Cream, amla extract contributes its multi-class antioxidant system within the richest formula in the lineup, alongside shea butter, the botanical seed oil complex, and 3% Matrikynes® peptides.

Nourishment - Dry to Combination

Barrier Repairing Oil-Serum Emblica Officinalis Fruit Extract (Organic, >5%) - 1.0 oz / 30 ml

In the Oil-Serum, organic amla extract appears at greater than 5% - the only non-oil botanical in the formula and the highest-concentration botanical extract in the anhydrous system. Its presence alongside 7% THD ascorbate creates a botanical and vitamin C antioxidant approach within a 100%-active, waterless formula.

WORKS TOGETHER WITH

Stable Vitamin C THD Ascorbate

INCI: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.

At 7% in the Oil-Serum and 2% in both creams. Synergy Note: Amla is one of the richest botanical sources of naturally complexed vitamin C, with tannins studied in connection with stabilizing its ascorbic acid content against oxidation. THD ascorbate is a synthetic, oil-soluble, highly stable vitamin C derivative. Together they provide a botanical-and-synthetic approach to vitamin C-associated antioxidant and tone-related benefits from two distinct chemical traditions. 

Polyphenol Antioxidant Resveratrol

INCI: Resveratrol.

Present in all three water-based formulas as part of the enzymatic antioxidant trio. Synergy Note: Amla's emblicanins and ellagic acid derivatives and resveratrol's stilbene structure represent two distinct polyphenol antioxidant classes - their combined presence creates a broader multi-class polyphenol antioxidant approach across the water-based formulas. 

Vitamin B3 Niacinamide

INCI: Niacinamide.

At 5% in the Barrier Repairing Hydra-Serum. Synergy Note: Amla's vitamin C-associated compounds and gallic acid derivatives have been researched in connection with the appearance of a more even skin tone; niacinamide is studied in connection with pigment distribution. Their co-presence in the Hydra-Serum creates a multi-botanical and vitamin approach to the tone dimension of the formula.

ECM Peptide Complex Matrikynes® Bone Peptides

INCI: Hydrolyzed Cow Bone Extract.

At 3% in all four formulas. Synergy Note: Amla's multi-class antioxidant system helps protect the formula environment against oxidative degradation - directly supporting the stability of the Matrikynes® peptide complex and the other sensitive actives in every formula it is co-formulated with.