The Fruit Your Abuela Knew About: What Is Chontaduro?

In Colombia, there's a fruit you'll find at street stands, in family kitchens, passed down through generations. It's called Chontaduro and your abuela probably already knew what science is just catching up to, honestly :)

Chontaduro comes from the Amazon. It's dense with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. For generations, communities in Colombia and Central America have used it for skin health long before anyone called it "skincare."

Now researchers are paying attention.

Chontaduro works similarly to retinol it supports cell turnover and helps inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme that triggers melanin production. But unlike retinol, it doesn't come with the irritation, peeling, or sensitivity to sunlight. It is as potent as retinol but gentle for sensitive skin. 

For reactive skin, that's everything.

Our founder grew up didn't know this fruit. When she started BEJOU and was searching for an ingredient that could deliver results without destroying sensitive skin, she didn't start in a lab. She stumble upon the fruit on a random trip to see the pink dolphins with the Huitito tribes in the middle of the Amazonian Rainforest. Honestly, she didn't even know she was going to be a founder either.. until it happened. 

That conversation became the foundation for every product we make including our Clear + Calm Duo, which uses chontaduro to protect and brighten without the tradeoffs.

Sometimes the best innovation is not something you would imagine or know about!