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A member of the sunflower family, burdock root has most traditionally been used medicinally to help purify. It's typically eaten as a root vegetable, and can often be found in Korean and Japanese cuisines, but it has its beauty value too.

An anti-inflammatory, burdock root can help clear skin problems like acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. It also improves shine and body in hair and deters scalp problems and conditions

Try Lush Flying Fox Shower Gel (from $10.95), KEVIN.MURPHY BALANCING.RINSE ($32.95), Trilogy Botanical Body Wash ($27) and Sukin Facial Moisturiser ($9.95).

Stockists: KEVIN.MURPHY (1800 104 204), Trilogy (03 9533 1336), Sukin (1300 858 898)

Chances are you'll have heard of coffeeberry and may even own beauty products with the buzz ingredient in, but do you know what it actually does? Coffeeberry is a six- to eight-foot high California shrub whose large berries resemble coffee beans in colour in the summertime.

The berry on the plant has potent antioxidant properties (believed to be up to three times more powerful than green tea) and helps prevent cell damage, rejuvenate dry skin, even out skin tone, soften skin and reduce wrinkles.

Two ranges to check out if you're interested in this super-ingredient are the PRIORI® CoffeeBerry® range (prices start from $120) and Revaléskin.

Stockists: PRIORI® (1800 808 993)

Grapeseed oil is a polyunsaturated oil that is extracted chemically from the seeds of grapes. It is commonly made from wine grapes, since the seeds are usually discarded when wine is made. Typically, grapeseed oil is used in cosmetics because of its strong antioxidant properties that help skin cells to fight off free radicals.

It can also be combined with other oils to make massage oil because it's moisturising and it emulsifies very easily—therefore it glides onto the skin with ease. In addition, grapeseed oil contains a mild astringent that keeps skin taut and clean.

Try Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser ($49.95), Ren Grapeseed and Jojoba Hand and Body Cream ($52), Laura Mercier Night Nutrition Renewal Eye Crème ($94) and Burt's Bees Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Crème ($24.95).

Burt's Bees is available at David Jones.

Jojoba oil is referred to as a vegetable oil, but it's actually a liquid wax that comes from the seed of the Jojoba, a shrub found in the Southwest. The oil is usually refined to be odourless and colourless.

When it became illegal in the US to use sperm whale oil in the mid-'70s, funding was provided to investigate where Jojoba oil could take its place. Native Americans used the oil to heal wounds, protect the skin, condition the skin and soften the scalp. The ingredient proved to have a wide variety of uses, from dissolving excess sebum from the scalp to protecting crops from white flies.

Try Endota Spa Aloe & Jojoba Face Scrub ($45), Dr. Hauschka Jojoba and Marsh Mallow Conditioner ($37), Ella Baché Crème Jojoba ($83) and Aveda All-Sensitive Body Formula ($54.95).

Stockists: Aveda (1300 300 054), Ella Baché (1300 136 661), Endota Spa (1300 363 682).

Rooibos is a naturally-decaffeinated and full-bodied tea that comes from a bright-green needled shrub in South Africa. When the needles are processed they turn red, and in Afrikaans, rooibos actually means red bush.

Not only is rooibos low in tannins, but it has a strong aroma and is one of the most popular drinks in South Africa. In addition to tasting delicious and being an excellent source of antioxidants (it contains higher concentrations than other teas), it can also be used as a toner to reduce puffiness and redness, especially around your eyes.

Try Yes To Tomatoes Truly Terrific Body Butter ($22.95), Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer™ ($118), California Tan Extender ($28.99) and Sunsilk Longer & Stronger Shampoo & Conditioner ($4.49 each).

Stockists: California Tan (1300 867 826), Dermalogica (1800 659 118), Sunsilk (02 8303 6464), Yes To Tomatoes (02 9905 7300).

Contrary to what you might think, horsetail does not in fact come from a horse's tail – need I remind you of Jessica Simpson's Buffalo wings gaff? Horsetail is actually a plant that is fernlike in quality that's been used since ancient Greek and Roman times for medicinal purposes, such as healing cuts and treating tuberculosis.

As far as beauty is concerned, horsetail extract helps to stimulate collagen and elastin production, as well as protect the skin from oxidation. Hence you'll often find this ingredient in anti-ageing products like Burt's Bees Radiance Night Crème ($39.95) and Ilcsi Organic Skincare Anti-ageing Lifting Moisturiser ($90). Also try Pevonia Botanica Mattifying Oily Skin Mask ($66.95).

Stockists: Burt's Bees, Ilcsi Organic Skincare (1800 808 993), Pevonia Botanica (1800 069 116).

Neem oil, derived from an evergreen tree in India has long been known for its healing and soothing properties, but only recently came to be used as an ingredient in Western beauty products.

Neem contains heaps of fatty acids – making it an excellent hair oil – and Ayurvedic texts also recommend it for treating acne and skin inflammation.

If you'd like to try a little neem for yourself, pick up Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Neem Hair Oil ($52) which offers intensive conditioning for dry and damaged hair. Avon Anew Alternative Intensive Age Treatment ($59.99) and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Neem Nail Oil ($61) are also worth a look.

Stockists: Avon (1800 646 000), Dr. Hauschka Skin Care (02 8765 1100).

Native to Southeast Asia, Calophyllum inophyllum, an evergreen-type tree, yields a large nut from which tamanu oil is obtained. The benefits of this oil (which is called sacred by native Tahitians) are plenty and the ingredient is often used in skincare products to ease inflammation, soothe sunburn and improve the skin's elasticity.

Due to its silky texture, tamanu oil soothes and softens, all while providing antioxidant, restorative and antibacterial properties, and that's exactly why this ingredient is included in blemish, acne, and wound-healing products. Bonus? With a rich nutty aroma, it smells great, too.

For products with tamanu oil, try REN Tamanu High Glide Shaving Oil ($49) or Hei Poa Kemeri Tamanu Monoú Beauty Oil SPF 3 ($30).

We can all see split ends when they happen but do you actually know what they are and what causes them? Split ends (or trichoptilosis, to get fancy and scientific) occur when the cuticle, the protective outer layer of each hair strand, gets stripped away and the dry, vulnerable hair underneath splits. Although there are lots of "split-end mending" products out there, fixing them actually isn't possible, so once you've got 'em, you've got to cut them off.

The only way to avoid split ends is to prevent them. This means deep conditioning, not over-colouring your hair and easing up on the use of heated styling tools. If this isn't possible, you can still help safeguard your hair by using a treatment that structurally reinforces it, like Surya Restorative Serum for Split Ends ($17.60), and by getting your hair trimmed regularly.