In our daily practice of entering new products into our SKINSKOOL database, we came across a product we wanted to delve into more closely. Adipeau caught our eye referring uniquely to their product as a "Volume Cream". In exploring what gives Adipeau Volume Cream its unique position in the plumping skincare space, one ingredient stood out: Kaempferia Parviflora Rhizome Extract. Also known as black ginger, this lesser-known botanical isn’t just a supporting player, it's featured prominently in the brand’s positioning as a skin volumizing treatment.
So what does it do?
Understanding Kaempferia Parviflora in Skincare
Kaempferia Parviflora is a member of the ginger family, traditionally used in Thai medicine and increasingly studied for its biological activity in skin and fat cells. Most notably, it's associated with adipogenesis, the process through which pre-adipocytes develop into mature adipocytes, or fat cells.
This matters because as we age, facial volume loss due to decreased subcutaneous fat is a key contributor to the visible signs of aging. Ingredients that support fat cell activity or renewal can play a role in non-invasive “lipofilling” or volume-restoring cosmetic approaches. In this context, Kaempferia Parviflora stands out for its reported ability to help increase adipocyte numbers, which may translate to a plumper, more youthful skin appearance over time.
However, despite its interesting function, we found very few widely available skincare products using Kaempferia Parviflora in a similar way to Adipeau. That led us to expand our research: could there be other ingredients with comparable mechanisms or outcomes?
Ingredients with Similar Functional Claims
While not identical, several other ingredients fall into a related category — those used in cosmetic science to support adipocyte activity, volume restoration, or filler-like effects.
Peptides and Amino Acid Derivatives
- Voluform™ (Palmitoyl Isoleucine): A lipopeptide often used in topical “volumizers” claiming to enhance lipid storage within adipocytes.
- Adipofill’in™ (INCI: Isononyl Isononanoate, Lecithin, and Aminovector of L-Ornithine): A blend featuring an amino acid complex (L-Ornithine) and lecithin, marketed as a dermal filler alternative by supporting fatty tissue density.
Botanicals with Lipogenic or Plumping Claims
- Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract (Guggul): Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, this extract is sometimes incorporated into skincare for its potential to mimic lipofilling effects.
- Zizyphus Jujuba Extract: Some studies suggest this fruit-derived ingredient may influence lipid accumulation in skin cells, although more research is needed.
Hydration-Driven Volume Enhancers
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-38 (Adifyline™): A peptide claimed to help stimulate adipocyte lipid storage, resulting in a plumper look over time.
- Tremella Fuciformis (Snow Mushroom): A polysaccharide-rich extract with high water retention capacity, sometimes compared to hyaluronic acid for its plumping effect through hydration.
The Bottom Line
Kaempferia Parviflora Rhizome Extract appears to be one of the few botanicals directly linked to adipocyte stimulation in topical skincare, which makes its use in Adipeau Volume Cream particularly notable. While it isn’t yet widely used, a handful of other ingredients and technologies, primarily peptides and plant extracts, operate in adjacent ways by targeting volume loss through adipogenesis support or moisture-driven plumping.
As the cosmetic science of skin volume restoration evolves, it’s likely we’ll see more products exploring this pathway, whether through black ginger or other functional alternatives.
