Gentle natural alternatives to skincare actives that actually work

Many of us have experienced rushing out to try harsh active ingredients that promise to regenerate and boost the skin, only to be left with irritated, sensitive skin or breakouts.

The beauty of natural and nutrient-dense ingredients is that they work just as effectively as conventional and harsh actives to provide brighter, clearer and smoother skin.  When used properly, these natural alternatives provide effective wrinkle-fighting, clearing and brightening action without the side effects.

Bakuchiol – your natural alternative to retinol

Whilst retinol can be incredibly effective at slowing down the ageing process, it can also be highly irritating, exacerbate dry and flaky skin and even cause pigmentation. Bakuchiol is a plant extract that has actually been scientifically proven to behave the same way as retinol, stimulating the production of collagen in your skin to smooth the wrinkles you have and protect you from the ones you don’t. But unlike retinol, bakuchiol does it all without causing irriation, dryness and sensitivity. You will find Bakuchiol in our Beauty Reset Drops.

Turmeric – your acne-fighting weapon

Blemish-fighting treatments such as Salicylic Acid and Benzyl Peroxide can be notoriously harsh on the skin. If you are already prone to sensitive skin, managing and preventing breakouts can be tricky! If you’re after a spot treatment for acne, look no further than your spice cabinet! Clinical studies on curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, indicate that is has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits which can help to banish acne-causing bacteria[1]. Our Turmeric Beauty Latte works as an effective spot treatment against acne! Apply it to areas prone to breakouts or cystic acne to naturally manage breakouts, without any skin irritation.

Vegan collagen – your plumping and hydrating alternative to marine collagen

Collagen is a wonder ingredient in skincare.  It is an ingredient that naturally occurs in our skin and works to firm the skin providing that juicy plump look that we are all after. Options to include collagen in our skincare includes using animal collagen (marine is common) or using synthetic peptides which are highly processed and can contribute to our synthetic overload.

We love using Humacoll, a vegan collagen as our natural alternative. Studies show that it stacks up so well in comparison to non-vegan alternatives.  It contains plant-based collagen derived from a microbial fermentation process. This GMO and cruelty-free collagen mimics baby collagen and contains no nasties.

Clinical trials conducted using this form of collagen, show that it delivers 20x greater improvement in skin moisturisation as compared to marine collagen and increases skin elasticity by 26% after two weeks with 100% of subjects experiencing a significant improvement in skin elasticity in four weeks.

93% of subjects in this study also experienced a significant reduction in the size of wrinkles in four weeks, with further improvement demonstrated at eight weeks.

Try it in our Deep Sea Collagen Elixir. 

Fruit enzymes – your brightening alternative to glycolics and lactic acid

If you have sensitive skin, you may be avoiding harsh exfoliants containing AHA’s and BHA’s. Whilst they may be fantastic at sloughing away dead skin cells and refining pores and resurfacing the skin, they can often leave sensitive skin red and irritated and prone to pigmentation. This does not mean you should avoid exfoliating. Fruits such as Strawberry, Apple and Lime are naturally rich in AHA’s that can gently exfoliate dead skin cells while helping to stimulate collagen production and skin cell turnover. They are also gentle enough for inflamed and sensitive skin. Our & Desert Lime Flawless Micro-Exfoliant is our gentle radiance boosting exfoliant. Containing small beads of rice and natural fruit AHA’s it sloughs away dead skin and leaves the skin feeling bright and smooth, without any irritation.

Zinc oxide – your physical sun protectant

Chemical sunscreens containing ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone can be problematic for people with sensitive skin with burning, stinging and red itchy bumps linked to their use.

Zinc oxide is a physical sun protectant which blocks UV-A and UV-B rays and provides a more gentle and safe alternative to chemical sunscreens. Not only is Zinc oxide skin friendly, it is marine friendly too! Try it in our Basking Beauty SPF50 Sunscreen or our No.4+ Tinted Vanilla Silk Lotion (SPF15).

_________________________________________________

References

[1] Beneficial role of curcumin in skin diseases - PubMed (nih.gov)