Quandong

Santalum acuminatum is a hemiparasitic shrub that grows in Australia's desert interior, producing small red stone fruits that First Nations people harvested for thousands of years. The fruit contains high levels of phenolic acids (twice the antioxidant capacity of blueberries, per some assays), vitamin C, and rutin. Because the plant evolved to survive extreme UV, drought, and heat, its extract has become a poster-ingredient for Australian indie brands pitching 'desert-adapted' skincare. It's still a small-volume ingredient worldwide — expect it to show up in boutique Aussie formulations rather than global drugstore lines.