The science

Black Truffle Science

Rare by nature. Refined by fermentation. Made for skin that's changing.

Why Australian black truffle? Why ferment it? And what does it do for your skin? Here's the science behind every jar, and the research behind it.

A black truffle cut open on dark slate, thin slices showing its marbled flesh

Why your skin changes

As oestrogen falls, skin can lose as much as 30% of its collagen in the first five years after menopause.¹ It becomes drier, thinner and slower to renew.

At the same time, everyday life adds pressure. UV, pollution, stress and poor sleep create free radicals, unstable molecules that switch on enzymes that break down collagen.² Skin has its own antioxidant defences, but these everyday stresses can overwhelm them, so topping up antioxidants from outside makes sense, especially as skin makes less of its own.³

Your skin barrier works like bricks and mortar, keeping moisture in and irritants out.⁴ When it weakens, skin feels tight, dry and less comfortable. That's why the creams that once worked can stop being enough.

The black truffle

Tuber melanosporum, the Périgord black truffle, is one of the rarest ingredients on earth. Ours are hand harvested from our own grove inside the Flaxman Crater in South Australia, a 35 million year old meteor crater.

Ingredient spotlight: what scientists have found inside it

01
Antioxidants
Black truffle contains phenolic compounds, including gallic and protocatechuic acids,⁵ antioxidants that help defend skin against the free radicals that break down collagen.
02
Amino acids
Black truffle is notably rich in amino acids compared with other truffles.⁶ Amino acids are the building blocks of collagen, and the main part of skin's own natural moisturising factor.⁷
03
Ergosterol
A natural sterol found in truffle,⁵ the precursor to vitamin D2.
04
Polysaccharides
Natural sugars found in truffle,⁶ valued in skincare for helping skin hold moisture.
05
Fatty acids
Black truffle contains linoleic acid,¹² a fatty acid skin uses to build its barrier, the mortar that keeps moisture in.
06
Anandamide
Black truffle naturally contains anandamide,¹³ known as the bliss molecule, the same compound our own skin makes to help keep itself in balance.

Black truffle in the lab

In laboratory tests on human skin cells, a black truffle extract was shown to help defend against oxidative stress, the free radical damage that breaks down collagen.¹¹

66%less oxidative stress in skin cells
64%less oxidative stress triggered by UVB

Laboratory study of a black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) extract on human skin cells.¹¹

Bio-fermentation

Fermentation is one of the oldest processes on earth, the same one that turns milk into yoghurt. Research shows it breaks large compounds down into smaller ones and can increase an ingredient's biological activity.⁸

Truffle has a tough outer structure that locks much of its goodness away. Fermenting breaks down those cell walls and turns the truffle's proteins into smaller peptides, releasing more of its antioxidants and amino acids.

There are other ways to extract truffle, including chemical solvents and high pressure carbon dioxide. We chose fermentation, and developed our own process over years of research and a six figure investment. The result is the world's first bio-fermented black truffle skincare, naturally rich in peptides and amino acids.

A golden drop falling from a glass dropper against black

The truffle family in skincare research

White truffle, black truffle's rare Italian cousin, has also been studied in skincare. In testing by Italian ingredient specialists, a white truffle extract showed:

+35%skin elasticity
+45%hydration after 15 days
12.8%fewer wrinkles

White truffle extract test data from its supplier.¹⁰

It's why our next formula, a white truffle serum, is already in development.

An open glass jar of The Peptide Crème seen from above

Made to a standard

Formulated in Melbourne with cosmetic chemist Raniya
Reviewed by a qualified dermatologist
Made with non clogging ingredients
Stability tested
No PFAS, parabens, mineral oils or known endocrine disruptors
Made in Australia
Never tested on animals

How we tested it

We're a small Australian brand, so we tell you exactly how every result was measured.

20 women, 90 days.

100%said their skin looked plumper and felt more hydrated
94%noticed smoother, better textured skin
88%would recommend it to a friend

Consumer perception study of 20 women using The Peptide Crème and The Eye Crème daily for 90 days.

Marguerite, 72. Two weeks with The Peptide Crème.

Marguerite's skin magnified, before The Peptide Crème — Real skin, magnified and unretouched.

The same area of Marguerite's skin after two weeks with The Peptide Crème — Real skin, magnified and unretouched.

Sabina, 8 months.

Sabina's eye area before she started using Truff'elle — Her own eye area, no filter.

What the judges said

“An exceptionally sophisticated skincare formulation that combines premium natural ingredients with advanced cosmetic science and innovative bio-fermented Australian black truffle extract.”

UK Nourish Awards judges, 2026

Truff'elle's Face and Eye Creams leave my skin beautifully hydrated, plump and luminous. Smoother, softer and glowing. Organic Beauty Awards judge, 2026. — Organic Beauty Awards judge, 2026

Gold, Signature Ingredient Excellence, Organic Beauty Awards 2026, plus 6 more awards in 2026.

Your skin has changed. Your skincare should too.

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References

1. Calleja-Agius J, Muscat-Baron Y, Brincat MP. Skin ageing. Menopause International, 2007.
2. Fisher GJ, et al. Mechanisms of photoaging and chronological skin aging. Archives of Dermatology, 2002.
3. Poljšak B, Dahmane R. Free radicals and extrinsic skin aging. Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012.
4. Elias PM. Stratum corneum defensive functions: an integrated view. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2005.
5. Villares A, et al. Identification and quantification of ergosterol and phenolic compounds occurring in Tuber spp. truffles. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2012.
6. Baldelli S, et al. Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Truffles: A Comprehensive Review. Antioxidants, 2025.
7. Understanding the Role of Natural Moisturizing Factor in Skin Hydration. Practical Dermatology, 2012.
8. Majchrzak W, Motyl I, Śmigielski K. Biological and Cosmetical Importance of Fermented Raw Materials: An Overview. Molecules, 2022.
9. Blanes-Mira C, et al. A synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) with antiwrinkle activity. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002.
10. Phenbiox. W TR-ACTIVE (Tuber magnatum extract) in vivo test data. Phenbiox Cosmetic Ingredients Catalogue.
11. ISP Investments LLC / ELC Management LLC. Aqueous extract of truffle and cosmetic composition thereof. Patent WO2016007461, 2016.
12. Fatty acid composition of Tuber truffles. Flora Mediterranea 25, 2015.
13. Pacioni G, et al. Truffles contain endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes and anandamide. Phytochemistry, 2015.