The Oasis of Discovery and Hope
From Plant, Through Lab, To Bottle
We revere nature. We help people. We preserve what's precious.
We are scientists for skin and humanity
26 Years of Innovation & Transformation
The journey to The Oasis began with over two decades of intense scientific discovery. It's a story that spans from the arid lands of West Africa to the absolute cutting edge of longevity science and biotechnology.
The journey to The Oasis began with a decade of patience and persistence. Supported by USAID, Prof. James Simon launched the first systematic scientific research into Combretum micranthum (Kinkéliba), the legendary "long-life tea" of West Africa. This resilient species thrives across sub-Saharan Africa—from Senegal and Mali to Sudan and Congo—surviving in some of the world's most challenging climates.
- Scaled pilot into massive, women-led community network.
- Linked local enterprises directly with village groups.
- Empowered 100+ collectors across 5 local village groups.
- Screened 400 species to find most resilient source.
- Analyzed 30+ populations to map peak biological potency for longevity via deep-dive profiling.
After 11 years of research, Prof. Simon identified the core components of Kinkéliba, proving its extraordinary glucose-lowering and anti-inflammatory power. These findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Bioactive polyphenols in kinkéliba tea (Combretum micranthum) and their glucose-lowering activities
The Industrial Barrier
For a decade, Kinkéliba's potential remained trapped in research papers. While the science was proven, the path to the global market was blocked by three "impossible" gaps that the industry deemed too complex to solve.
Despite the proven potential of Kinkéliba, no large corporation was willing to bridge the distance between West African tradition and the global market. The mission demanded a massive investment of capital and technology to solve immense supply chain and engineering challenges—a risk the industry simply refused to take.
The Decisive Moment
As the first female scientist of color on the team, Dr. Shuting Hu realized a hard truth:
A breakthrough is only a theory until it is proven in practice.
When the industry retreated, she stepped forward. Alongside three fellow female scientists, she took the lead to transform Prof. James Simon's foundational research into a global mission for skin longevity.
Refusing to let the research stagnate, Dr. Hu successfully isolated SeH-Haw EX®—the potent anti-inflammaging active from Kinkéliba. By identifying the specific molecular fraction that performs best on skin, the Acaderma team introduced this extraordinary ingredient to the beauty world for the first time.
Selected for the Sephora Accelerate program, the founding team began a pivotal technological and business evolution. It was here that Acaderma was officially born—a name representing the synergy between Academia and Dermatology. This year allowed the team to establish a complete, traceable supply chain and scale laboratory innovations into a global brand.
After two years of refining purification technology, the Acaderma team achieved a high-yield process with zero negative impact on the skin or the earth. In lieu of toxic solvents, the team utilizes a cutting-edge extraction process—incorporating TLC profiling, column chromatography, and supercritical fluid extraction—to minimize waste and maximize purity.
The Acaderma team published a comprehensive, peer-reviewed study detailing the biological mechanisms and clinical efficacy of Kinkéliba. This marked the world's first scientific validation of the plant's skin benefits, providing the rigorous data needed to support its long-term economic impact in West Africa.
The Acaderma team was officially granted a patent for its proprietary SeH-Haw EX® extraction and purification technology. This is not a patent on a plant, but on a breakthrough bio-engineering process. Using precision column chromatography, the team isolates and concentrates the most potent anti-inflammatory fractions, amplifying efficacy up to ten-fold compared to conventional extracts.
The Acaderma founding team continues to explore the frontiers of life science—including epigenetics and cellular senescence. The team remains dedicated to discovering novel bioactives that empower the skin with a continuous source of vitality and resilience.
Women Helping Women
In Sub-Saharan Africa, women represent the highest share of the workforce globally, yet over 60% remain in labor-intensive agriculture, often unpaid or poorly remunerated.
The Acaderma team works closely with our NGO partner, ASNAPP, to organize local women farmers to grow, harvest, and semi-process Kinkéliba. To ensure sustainability and maximum potency, the harvest occurs only once per year—during the anti-inflammatory fraction peak season.
Through this partnership, the Acaderma team provides a stable sales income via fair trade and offers specialized farming skills education, empowering local women with a new set of professional skills and a direct path to economic independence.
We thank Babou Diouf, Diatta Malainy, and Ms. Awa Badji of ASNAPP-Senegal for their work to commercialize Kinkéliba, an indigenous Senegalese plant, as an herbal tea—an income-generating activity created with and for the Senegalese communities. And we thank the Senegalese women farmer communities, whose land, labor, and trust enabled the Acaderma team to pursue new healthcare applications and bring greater global recognition to this indigenous plant.
"For us as scientists and women of color, the grand mission is to turn millions of dollars of publicly funded research on longevity science into effective skincare, and real, tangible social benefits."
This is what Acaderma does. This is our Oasis.
Acknowledgements
We extend our deepest gratitude to the organizations and individuals who have supported the Acaderma team and our technology transformation projects:
Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Products
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
The University of Hong Kong
Sephora Accelerate
Join Our Journey
Have questions about our brand philosophy, research process, or commitment to sustainability? Our team is passionate about sharing our story and answering your questions.
