NEEMAVERA®: What the Neem Extract Does for Your Skin
In India, neem is also called the “village pharmacy”. The evergreen tree has been used there in traditional medicine for centuries, and its leaves are especially valuable. These are exactly what we use to make NEEMAVERA®, the neem extract found in every natüür product. Here you can find out what NEEMAVERA® is, how it is made, what studies show about its properties and what experiences people with sensitive skin have had with it.
In short: what is NEEMAVERA®?
NEEMAVERA® is a patented extract from neem leaves, not neem oil. The leaves come from our own neem plantation in Paraguay, and the extract is obtained in Germany using supercritical CO2 and is around 50 times concentrated. In an in vitro study by Dermatest, NEEMAVERA® showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and proved to be particularly well tolerated by the skin.
The key facts at a glance:
- Leaves only: NEEMAVERA® is obtained exclusively from neem leaves, not from seeds and not as an oil.
- Confirmed in the lab: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and particularly well tolerated by the skin (in vitro study, Dermatest).
- Tested in everyday life: In a six-week in-use study with our Cream, 95 % of participants rated its tolerability as good.
- In every natüür product: in different concentrations depending on the product, for example 1 % in the Cream and 2.5 % in the Cream forte.
What is NEEMAVERA®?
NEEMAVERA® is our own highly concentrated neem active complex, developed by us as a Munich family business: an extract from the leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). The raw material consists of 100 % neem leaves, with no other plant parts. On the ingredient list you will find it as “Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract”. What matters is the difference from the well-known neem oil, which is pressed from the seeds: NEEMAVERA® contains no oil and no seed components, but concentrates the active compounds of the leaves. We explain in detail how neem oil and leaf extract differ in our article Neem oil vs. neem leaf extract.
Neem leaves: packed with plant compounds
Neem leaves contain a wide variety of plant compounds. One of the best known is nimbolide, which laboratory studies have credited with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, among others. Neem has been valued in the Ayurvedic tradition for centuries. We combine this knowledge with modern research and turn it into a standardised cosmetic active ingredient for sensitive skin. You can read more about the tree, its components and its history in our article Neem extract for the skin.
From leaf to extract: how NEEMAVERA® is made
NEEMAVERA® begins on our own sustainably managed farm in Paraguay. This lets us keep an eye on quality from the very first seedling to the finished product – we call this “Farm-to-Formula”.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Propagation | We grow the seedlings from seeds of our own trees. |
| Cultivation | Our own controlled cultivation in Paraguay, without buying in leaves from elsewhere. |
| Harvest & drying | Only the leaves are used. They are gently dried within two days of harvesting. |
| Extraction | In Germany, we extract the plant compounds using our patented supercritical CO2 process: solvent-free and at low temperatures. |
| Concentrate | The process concentrates the active compounds of the leaves by a factor of around 50, with high purity and consistent quality. |
| Skincare | The formulas are developed in Munich, and production takes place in Germany. |
By the way: the natural, herbaceous scent of freshly cut neem leaves is preserved in this process. That is why our fragrance-free products smell subtly of neem, without any added fragrance.
What skin is NEEMAVERA® intended for?
Our skincare with NEEMAVERA® has been developed specifically for very dry, flaky and sensitive skin, including the scalp. It is suitable as accompanying, soothing care for skin prone to psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, rosacea or eczema, and supports the natural skin barrier. Our products are cosmetic skincare and do not replace medical treatment.
What studies show about NEEMAVERA®
Together with the testing institute Dermatest, we had NEEMAVERA® examined in the laboratory. It was tested on reconstructed human 3D skin models and on human skin cells, in other words “in vitro”, in the test tube. Such results cannot be transferred one to one to the skin, but they do show what potential an active ingredient has.
Antioxidant: less oxidative stress in the cell
Antioxidants capture free radicals and so protect the skin from oxidative stress, for example from environmental influences. In the test, skin cells were first deliberately exposed to oxidative stress and then treated with NEEMAVERA®. At just 0.5 %, oxidative stress fell by 89.6 %, and at 2.5 % by as much as 97 %. For comparison: vitamin C at the same concentration (2.5 %) reduced it by 61 %. So in the test, NEEMAVERA® showed a higher antioxidant potential than vitamin C.
Anti-inflammatory: inflammation markers decline faster
For the second test, skin cells were irritated with SLS, a harsh surfactant found in many cleansing products. The development of the inflammation marker interleukin-6 was then measured. With NEEMAVERA®, it fell significantly: after just three days at 2.5 %, and after four days at 1 %.
Particularly well tolerated by the skin
Tolerability was also tested in the skin model: NEEMAVERA® proved to be particularly well tolerated by the skin. You can find all the details, figures and measurements in our article on the in vitro study by Dermatest.
| Property | Result in the lab test |
|---|---|
| Antioxidant | oxidative stress −89.6 % (0.5 %) to −97 % (2.5 %); vitamin C (2.5 %): −61 % |
| Anti-inflammatory | decline in the inflammation marker IL-6 after 3 days (2.5 %) or 4 days (1 %) |
| Skin tolerability | particularly well tolerated by the skin in the 3D skin model |
NEEMAVERA® experiences: what users report
Lab results are one thing, everyday life is another. That is why we also tested our skincare on people living with sensitive skin prone to psoriasis.
Dermatest in-use study with the Cream
20 people with psoriasis applied our Cream with 1 % NEEMAVERA® to the affected areas once a day for six weeks, alongside their treatment. At the end, 95 % rated its tolerability as good, 90 % felt their skin was well moisturised, 80 % noticed a reduction in scaling and 70 % reported less itching. Measured skin moisture rose by around 40 %. Find out more in our article on the Dermatest in-use test.
Product test with the Psoriasis-Netz
Members of the German Psoriasis-Netz community also tested our care cream for four weeks. You can read how the test went and what we did with the feedback in our article Psoriasis cream put to the test.
The results relate to the respective study design and cannot be generalised to all skin types. Our skincare accompanies medical treatment, but does not replace it.
Quality and safety
NEEMAVERA® and our products are tested regularly. In addition to the studies by Dermatest, this includes allergen analyses, the legally required safety assessments, and preservative challenge and stability tests by independent testing laboratories. Our formulas are deliberately minimalist: free from parabens, silicones, colourants, PEGs and microplastics.
Which natüür products contain NEEMAVERA®?
NEEMAVERA® is contained in all natüür products. How much of it a product contains depends on what it is intended for:
| Product | NEEMAVERA® | Intended for |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | 1 % | light care, including for the face |
| Cream forte | 2.5 % | rich care for stressed skin |
| Skin Balm | 2.5 % | very dry, cracked areas |
| Solid Soap | 1 % | gentle cleansing for face and body |
| Body Wash | 0.5 % | mild daily cleansing |
Our scalp and nail care also contains NEEMAVERA®, for example the Scalp Tonic, the Scalp Oil and the Nail Balm.
Which skincare suits you?
All natüür products are vegan, made in Germany and developed specifically for sensitive skin and skin prone to psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or eczema. You can find out more about our active ingredient on our NEEMAVERA® page. Our product advisor shows you which product suits your skin in two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is NEEMAVERA® the same as neem oil?
No. Neem oil is pressed from the seeds of the neem tree. NEEMAVERA® is an extract obtained exclusively from neem leaves and contains no oil.
Where does NEEMAVERA® come from?
The neem leaves come from our own plantation in Paraguay. The extract is made in Germany using a patented process based on supercritical CO2.
How does NEEMAVERA® work on the skin?
In an in vitro study by Dermatest, NEEMAVERA® showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and proved to be particularly well tolerated by the skin. However, lab results cannot be transferred directly to the skin.
What experiences have people had with NEEMAVERA®?
In a six-week Dermatest in-use study with 20 people with psoriasis, 95 % rated the tolerability of our Cream with 1 % NEEMAVERA® as good, and 80 % noticed a reduction in scaling.
Is NEEMAVERA® vegan?
Yes. NEEMAVERA® is purely plant-based, and all natüür products are vegan.