Our Top Five Active Ingredients are here. Yes, we have our favourites and we’re letting you in on the secret…
Hyaluronic acid
Active Ingredient Number One has to be Hyaluronic Acid. We’re sure you’ve heard of it before so what’s the fuss? The body naturally contains hyaluronic acid and it works as a lubricant in the joints, nerves and eyes to name a few places. It supports hydration by absorbing water from the air and the lower layers of the skin to deliver to the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. Hyaluronic acid can hold 1000 times its weight in water, that is serious hydration! The natural production of hyaluronic acid starts to decrease around thirty years of age and due to its ability to hydrate and plump the skin, making it a wonderful addition to anti-aging formulas. Until the 1990s all hyaluronic acid was derived from rooster combs, yes you read that right, however plant based products were thankfully created with a recipe from utilising yeasts, glucose and inorganic salts. Daily application of hyaluronic acid has shown to reduce wrinkle appearance, improve elasticity and skin hydration, so we think that sounds pretty great and of course we’ve tried it and yes it works!
Hemp Seed Oil and Jojoba Oil
We couldn’t decide which was our favourite so we chose to include both. Jojoba oil is a liquid plant oil that works as an effective moisturiser whilst being non comedogenic, meaning it will not clog pores which can lead to breakouts. It contains vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, copper and chromium – that is a superfood for the skin! It has shown to be helpful in skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, reducing appearance of wrinkles and encouraging hair growth. Yes, we’re talking about the 90s kids out there that waxed those eyebrows that now would welcome some added thickness.
And then there’s hemp. Hemp is a beautiful oil that contains omega-3, an essential fatty acid with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It is non greasy, fast penetrating into the skin and protective for dry and ageing skin due to its antioxidant properties.
Quandong
Known also as Wild Peach or Desert Peach, Quandong is an Australian indigenous fruit and contains high levels of vitamin C, almost twice the amount of an orange! Quandongs are 25% protein and the fruit was consumed as a source of energy whilst the kernels were traditionally used as a paste to treat inflammation and bacterial conditions. The fruit in addition to containing high levels of vitamin C, also contains vitamin E and rutin which both pair up well with vitamin C to provide a powerful antioxidant effect. We love this fruit for its antioxidant, hydration, anti-aging properties and the ability to minimise the formation of pigmentation. One of our client favourites is a Quandong based serum we utilise in selected facials.
Kakadu Plum
This powerhouse is also known as Gubinge and Billygoat Plum. Containing the highest known source of vitamin C in a food no wonder it’s up high on our favourite list. Vitamin C is receiving quite the accolades in recent years and rightly so, its antioxidant properties and ability to support collagen production, increasing skin firmness whilst reducing bacteria such as P.acnes bacteria and pigmentation, guarantees it a place in effective skincare formulas. The extraction method of vitamin C is important to retain the active components and we are a proud stockist of brands that use a kakadu plum extract that contains 3700mg of vitamin C per 100g. Compare that 53mg in an orange, we were suitably impressed and you and your skin will be too.
Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide – first entered the beauty industry as early as the 1940s, however there are reports showing the combination of zinc and oxide were used many centuries ago. Zinc oxide is derived from the mineral zinc and is a white powder that is used in many skincare formulas, predominantly in natural sunscreens. Zinc oxide has a role in sunscreens as a barrier, it sits on the skin and deflects the UV rays from the skin, it is effective against UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide has also shown to be effective at reducing the occurrence and symptoms of acne and hyperpigmentation by reducing inflammation and due to its antimicrobial properties. It is a powerful mineral for skin protection and we proudly utilise this ingredient in our very own sun protection cream.
Want to know more about active ingredients? Head to our blog for the ins and outs on active ingredients and why organics are the best option…
Earth and Skin is a Gold Coast organic day spa with a difference. We offer beauty treatments and products that are vegan, organic, chemical-free and free from animal cruelty. We have done the research into the safety and toxicity of common beauty rituals and have developed our menu based on the safest, most effective treatments available. If you’d love to experience beauty that cares for you and the Earth, we’d love to see you. Call now on 07 5530 7959 to book an appointment or book online.
