Ingredient Library
Agave Extract
Agave tequilana
Agave extract is a plant sugar that draws in and holds moisture for softer, smoother skin. Hydrating and gentle, it suits dry and dehydrated skin.
A natural history
The agave, or maguey, is a dramatic desert succulent of Mexico, its bold rosette of thick, spine tipped leaves rising from the arid earth. It is the storied source of tequila, of agave syrup, and of aguamiel, the sweet sap that wells up in the heart of the plant, whose name means honey water. For centuries that sap has been gathered fresh and treasured.
To the peoples of ancient Mexico the maguey was sacred. Its sweet aguamiel was likened to the life giving essence of the goddess Mayahuel, guardian of the maguey and a symbol of abundance and nourishment. From a plant woven into myth and daily life comes a gentle, water loving extract for the skin.
What it does for your skin
Agave is rich in fructans, water loving sugar polymers that act as humectants and gentle prebiotics. Analysis confirms agave is built largely of these fructan polysaccharides, the chemistry behind its ability to attract and hold moisture.[1] In laboratory testing, agave fructans nourished beneficial microbes, a prebiotic quality of interest for balanced skin.[2] In a formula agave extract helps skin look hydrated, soft, and balanced. Its prebiotic evidence so far is laboratory based.
References
[1] Lopez MG, et al. Molecular structures of fructans from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(27):7835-7840. doi:10.1021/jf030383v
[2] Gomez E, et al. In vitro evaluation of the fermentation properties and potential prebiotic activity of agave fructans. J Appl Microbiol. 2010;108(6):2114-2121. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04617.x
Found in these formulas
Questions, answered
It is rich in water-loving fructans that act as a humectant, helping skin look hydrated and balanced, with gentle prebiotic qualities.
It is the sweet sap of the agave, called honey water, gathered for centuries in Mexico and tied to the plant's sacred place in old Mexican culture.