Honeybush and heritage: What ABS compliance means for your skincare

Honeybush (Cyclopia spp.)

This heritage month

September is Heritage Month in South Africa—a time to celebrate our culture, our natural resources, and the traditions that connect them. At Upenya, heritage is also about protecting the biodiversity that makes our ingredients unique and ensuring that the communities who have stewarded this knowledge for generations share in its benefits.

One of those heritage ingredients is honeybush.

A sweet honeybush heritage

Honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) is one of South Africa’s most treasured fynbos plants. For generations, local communities have brewed its leaves into a naturally sweet, soothing tea valued for comfort and wellbeing.

With its warm aroma and gentle character, honeybush has long been more than a beverage - it is part of our cultural heritage. Modern research now supports traditional use, showing that honeybush is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols that help reduce oxidative stress, calm inflammation, and support the skin’s natural resilience.

For Upenya, using honeybush is about honouring this heritage while applying sound cosmetic science.

Why ABS matters for honeybush

Honeybush is endemic to the Cape fynbos biome—a globally significant yet fragile ecosystem found only in South Africa. Without responsible sourcing, growing commercial demand could place pressure on both the plant and the biodiversity it supports.

This is why Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) compliance is essential. ABS, under the Nagoya Protocol and South Africa’s biodiversity legislation, ensures that biological resources and traditional knowledge are accessed ethically and that benefits are shared fairly with the communities of origin.

What ABS-compliant sourcing means

Biodiversity protection

Honeybush is harvested responsibly and in line with ecological limits, helping safeguard the fynbos biome for future generations.

Community recognition

The people and traditions behind honeybush are formally acknowledged. Local knowledge is respected, and benefits are shared with those who have cultivated and protected this resource.

Fair innovation

Skincare brands can use this powerful botanical in ways that support both environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

ABS ensures that heritage ingredients are not extracted at the expense of ecosystems or communities.

What honeybush means for your skin

In skincare, honeybush offers more than antioxidant activity. Its naturally occurring compounds can help:

• Calm redness and irritation

• Defend the skin barrier against environmental stress

• Support healthier, more balanced skin

When you choose products made with ABS-compliant honeybush, you are choosing skincare that:

• Respects local heritage

• Supports South African communities

• Protects biodiversity for generations to come

You will find honeybush leaf extract in our Upenya Moisturising Gel, where it helps maintain a calm, resilient skin barrier, especially important for teen skin.

Where to learn more about ABS

If you’d like to explore the bigger picture of ABS and biodiversity, here are some excellent resources:

• Convention on Biological Diversity – ABS Information Kit

• Business Guide to ABS (BioInnovation Africa)

• South Africa’s Biodiversity Act & ABS Regulations

• Community Perspectives on ABS in the Honeybush Value Chain

This Heritage Month, let Honeybush remind us that beauty is shared - between skin, community, and the land we call home.