By Bess Hochstein
Spring: the season of rejuvenation. At this time of year, days lengthen, cold weather recedes, and plants spring back to life. In the Northeastern United States and Canada, this seasonal cycle is celebrated with festivals marking the end of winter dormancy in maple trees and the renewed flow of sap; the raw material for maple syrup.
About thirty years ago, Montreal-based pharmaceutical and dermatological chemist Ben Kaminsky was ice fishing in northern Canada when he began to ponder Canadian maple trees, the only plant life to survive and thrive over centuries despite the region’s harsh winters. He also considered the predicament of his wife, who was going through menopause and facing changes in her skin due to the loss of estrogen. Back in his lab, inspired to analyze the chemical makeup of maple sap, Kaminsky found a host of beneficial elements, including polysaccharides, antioxidants, minerals, natural preservatives, and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). He also discovered that maple’s base was aqueous and non-greasy, making it ideal for use in skincare products.
Kaminsky developed Nutrient Replacement Cream for his wife, and then answered a request from his daughter, who needed a fast-acting remedy for acne, with Acne Medicated Gel. From these family roots grew the foundations of the B. Kamins, Chemist product line: treatments formulated to address specific skincare needs and the signature ingredient of each product, Bio-Maple compound.
The company claims that Bio-Maple rehydrates skin, helps repair it from environmental damage, accelerates the shedding of dead skin cells through the exfoliating properties of AHAs, and combats the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Bio-Maple’s humectant properties and its pH balance, similar to that of skin itself, also help protect skin.
B. Kamins now has solution-based lines for all types of skin, including menopausal and acne- and rosacea-afflicted, plus SPF 30 sunscreens, targeted scrubs, and treatment creams. The company recently released a steroid-free treatment for eczema, its Bio-Maple rich Anti-Puritic Cream. B. Kamins also has a male line and U.S. spokesman Dane Whitlock admits, “We have a female fan base of the men’s eye gel, but don’t tell the guys that”
Maybe there’s something about maple that appeals to men. Anthony’s Logistics for Men taps maple sugar extracts for its sweet-smelling, fast-absorbing facial moisturizers for men, which additionally include extracts of sugar cane, bilberry, orange, and lemon. “Maple has naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acids” states director of product education John Gallo. “It gently exfoliates and evens skin tone. It’s really good to erase fine lines” Plus there are karma points: a portion of each sale goes to non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting prostate cancer. Arbonne International also taps maple’s masculine appeal for its anti-aging NutriMen RE9 REality Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 8. It’s also in Arbonne Clear Advantage Refining Toner, part of the company’s anti-acne line. “We use maple sugar extract, an alpha-hydroxy acid, as an exfoliant” says Arbonne product coordinator Rebecca Chu. “Our alpha-hydroxy acids reactivate healthy cell turnover, increasing translucence and glow while gently diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Manhattan dermatologist Amy B. Lewis confirms the exfoliating properties of maple sugar: “You have a natural AHA there. As an exfoliant, it’s rejuvenating, and it clears pores. The question is how much AHA are you getting, and that’s a matter of product formulation”
- Simpler Hair Color - April 20, 2026
- AlimajEssentials LLC - April 20, 2026
- Innersense - April 20, 2026