The skincare saviour hidden in nature's fynbos pharmacy

It's easy to overlook the humble Bulbinella. Drought resistant and hardy, this evergreen little plant may even grow in your garden. But scratch below the surface of its leaves, like we have, and you will discover a powerhouse of ingredients that work wonders on our skin.

Bulbinella aka Bulbine frutescens is an indigenous South African plant that’s known for its medicinal properties. It belongs to the fynbos family and has been used for its healing properties for centuries.

Bulbinella is an important part in a natural first-aid kit… the sap stored in its fleshy leaves has potent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. It makes sense, since it belongs to the same succulent plant family as aloe vera.

The gel-like sap has been used for generations to treat and soothe everything from insect bites, burns, rashes, eczema, acne, chapped lips, fever blisters (cold sores) and mouth ulcers to skin irritation. Used as a tea, bulbine is also an immune booster. 

More recently, skincare scientists have tapped into bulbine’s collagen-boosting benefits and anti-inflammatory properties.

We at Afari believe that, like our homegrown aloe ferox and marula berries before it, bulbine will become a byword for great skin.

Sustainable Skincare At Its Best

• For Afari it is not only vitally important that our hero natural ingredient delivers results but that it is sustainable, which – of course – bulbine is. It can propagate itself from a snapped-off leaf.
• It is also farmed in an environmentally friendly manner. Our bulbine grower's farm in Limpopo is certified organic by Ecocert, COSMOS and NaTrue. 
• It also gives back. AFARI is committed to empowering the women who harvest our bulbine.