What did Joni Rogers-Kante discover in Vanuatu?
Quick answer
In the summer of 2000, SeneGence founder Joni Rogers-Kante took scientists and botanists to Mount Yasur, the active volcano on Vanuatu’s Tanna Island, and came back with three discoveries: an ash that clears, an orchid that inspired SenePlex+® renewal and a seed oil that protects. Those three discoveries became the foundation of SeneGence anti-aging and longevity beauty.
By SeneGence · 
Alan Kante, publisher · Updated
- 4 min read
How do the three Vanuatu discoveries work together?
| The discovery | What it does for skin | Where you find it | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear: volcanic ash | Fine, near-spherical grains polish away dull surface buildup for smoother-, more radiant-looking skin. | Facial Resurfacer, beside walnut shell powder | Why Facial Resurfacer uses this ash |
| Renew: the orchid that inspired SenePlex+® | SenePlex+®’s yeast-and-kelp bioferments and two orchids bring a gently renewed, resilient-looking complexion. In a 20-day independent clinical study of 33 women ages 19–65, measured by expert clinical grading against baseline, Evening Moisturizer – Normal to Dry with SenePlex+® and orchid stem cells accelerated skin renewal in as little as 18 days. | SenePlex+® formulas such as SeneCell™ SenePlex+® StemCell Concentrate, NeoTight™ Eye Serum and EyeCrème, which carry both orchids, and Evening Moisturizer – Normal to Dry, which carries Calanthe Discolor (Ebine) Extract | What SenePlex+ does · Beauty Book 2026 |
| Protect: Nangai Oil | Canarium Indicum (Nangai) Seed Oil leads a lipid-rich blend that seals in moisture for softer, more comfortable skin. | Nangai Oil, after treatments and before moisturizer | What Nangai Oil does |
In the summer of 2000, Joni Rogers-Kante went looking at the caldera of the Volcano, Mt. Yasur, on Tanna in Vanuatu, for what survives harsh conditions so she could bring it into the product line; what she found inspired SenePlex+®, first launched in 2001. Four of our ingredients carry the Mount Yasur story: Volcanic Ash, selected about 1.5 km downwind of Mount Yasur’s active vent, which polishes in Facial Resurfacer; Calanthe Discolor (Ebine) Extract, our orchid stem cells, at work in 48 SeneGence products; Orchis Mascula (Orchid) Flower Extract, SenePlex+®'s second orchid; and Canarium Indicum (Nangai) Seed Oil, from the Nangai tree that evolved an oil to seal and protect against volcanic heat, which leads Nangai Oil.
Read the full Vanuatu orchid legend.
Clear: why volcanic ash?
SeneGence selects Vanuatu volcanic ash about 1.5 km downwind of Mount Yasur's active vent for its fine, near-spherical profile. In Facial Resurfacer, those fine grains and walnut shell powder polish away dull surface buildup for smoother-, more radiant-looking skin. See how the ash is selected.
Renew: what did the orchid inspire?
The caldera’s lesson in renewal became SenePlex+®. SenePlex+® is SeneGence’s foundational proprietary anti-aging complex, at work in most of our products. Our extremophile technology is made with extracts and cells that survive in extreme environments. Its ingredient family combines Calanthe Discolor (Ebine) Extract orchid stem cells and Orchis Mascula (Orchid) Flower Extract; biofermented Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Yeast) Extract and Laminaria Digitata (Kelp) Extract; Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Flower Extract; Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid; Glucosamine HCl; Urea; Panthenol (vitamin B5); and vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate or Tocopherol). The bioferments bring a gently renewed look, the two orchids resilient-looking skin, and prickly pear with humectants moisture and comfort. SenePlex+® promotes collagen, protects against stressors, brightens the complexion and accelerates skin renewal, while deeply moisturizing skin. On Joni Rogers-Kante’s search for extremophile organisms in Vanuatu, the orchid of the Mount Yasur caldera inspired SenePlex+®. See the SenePlex+® ingredients. In a 20-day independent clinical study of 33 women ages 19–65, measured by expert clinical grading compared with baseline, Evening Moisturizer – Normal to Dry with SenePlex+® and orchid stem cells accelerated skin cell renewal by 35.7%. Beauty Book 2026 (p. 6).
Protect: what does Nangai Oil add?
From the Nangai tree, Canarium Indicum (Nangai) Seed Oil leads Nangai Oil, a lipid-rich facial oil that helps seal in moisture after your treatments. Nangai oil’s 94–97% natural triglycerides help enhance moisture retention. Beauty Book 2026 (p. 20). See the Nangai Oil formula.
Together, the three work as one routine: clear with Facial Resurfacer, renew with your SenePlex+® treatments, protect with three to five drops of Nangai Oil when skin feels dry, tight or depleted, then finish with your moisturizer. Follow Joni’s Vanuatu story.
Beyond the caldera, SeneGence’s search continues in the world’s hardest places, with six true extremophiles and ingredients shaped by snow, lava and drought. See every extremophile ingredient SeneGence uses and the products that carry it.