Skin Absorption and Natural Skin Care Products

The skin, or epidermis, is the largest organ in the human body. Designed to be on the front line when it comes to protecting our internal body systems, it’s easy to forget that our skin is not the impenetrable fortress we sometimes believe it to be. While our skin does have protective mechanisms in place, it requires regular TLC in order to remain healthy and functional! What we put on our skin doesn’t just sit on the surface; it travels through an elaborate absorption process, directly into our bodies.

The epidermis contains a built-in lipid barrier for preventing trans dermal water loss, making it able to retain water in order to keep itself healthy. On the flip side, this same barrier can prevent too much water from entering the body, and serves as the only thing stopping us from becoming giant sponges each time our skin gets wet! This very same skin absorption process doesn’t stop with water; we’ll tell you why using natural skin care products is skin’s safest bet.

There are certain skin care ingredients which DO infiltrate the skin, either through cellular absorption or penetration. Penetration means that the ingredient goes further into the layers of the skin, while absorption means that the ingredients make it all the way into your bloodstream. While there are natural and organic ingredients in our natural skin care products that your body can easily break down, there are toxic ingredients in conventional skin care and cosmetics products. When your body is absorbing things it doesn’t recognize (like synthetic chemicals or toxic ingredients), it can have a tendency to store them in fat cells (eek!) and other parts of the body.

The Bad Ingredients Getting Absorbed by Skin

One of the reasons we highly recommend using natural skin care products (especially deeply penetrating serums) is to prevent bad ingredients from being absorbed by skin, and potentially infiltrating your bloodstream. Check out these sneaky toxins that are riding the Trojan Horse of serums right into your skin and, potentially, bloodstream:

Found in conventional foaming products such as shampoo, face cleanser, body wash, and even toothpaste (yikes!). SLS and ALS can cause severe skin irritation, and both can be easily absorbed into the body. These sulfates can build up in your internal organs, increasing the potential for related long term health problems.

These are preservatives found in foods, beverages, packaging, and more. According to the American Chemical Society, parabens are also in 85% of personal care products -- that’s the majority of your product options! The EPA has concluded that parabens can artificially mimic estrogens in the body, leading to a host of problems -- including various disorders and cancers. If you’re worried about these chemicals in your personal care products, we’ll tell give the down low on why parabens are dangerous and how to avoid them.

Causes severe skin irritation and sensitization. May cause allergic contact dermatitis, and has been linked to causing damage to the kidneys and liver. Propylene Glycol is commonly found in many facial creams and other personal care products.

Alcohol is a common solvent used in many skin care products. While it does have potent disinfecting properties, it can easily strip your skin of its protective barrier (the natural acid mantle), making your skin more prone to bacteria, infections, and dryness. No thanks! Choose natural skin care products made with witch hazel instead, or vinegar if you’re shopping for household products.

A chemical group of amino acids found in cosmetics and household cleaning products. DEA (Diethanolamine) is used as an emulsifier (helps to harmoniously blend oil and water) in shampoos and cleaners, and TEA is used as fragrance and pH adjuster. In 2012, cocamide DEA, which is a chemically modified form of coconut oil, was added to California’s list of harmful chemicals after the International Agency for Research on Cancer published its review of the chemical’s safety.

This is a neurotoxin that is said to be worse than mercury, as it is a “known human nervous system toxicant”. Another worrisome side effect of aluminum powder is that cumulative exposure can hinder the body’s ability to eliminate mercury: a naturally present element found in certain fish consumed by humans, which can be poisonous if allowed to accumulate within the body. Aluminum has even been linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Artificial colorants believed to be toxic and carcinogenic; labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and number, i.e. FD&C Red 40. Many are made with heavy metals and aluminum, which are toxic to the body when accumulated.

PEG is used as a thickener in skin care products and cosmetics. PEGs interfere with the skin's natural moisture balance, leading to increased signs of aging and leaving the skin vulnerable to bacteria.

100% PURE Natural Skin Care Ingredients Are Safe for Skin Absorption

100% PURE natural skin care products are made with naturally derived, plant based ingredients which serve many beneficial purposes for your skin. To allow your skin to absorb all of these nutritious ingredients, we use a spinning method during formulation. This is our version of nanotechnology, and an alternative to using synthetic polymers: often times capsules made out of plastic type materials. This makes it so that the molecules are small enough to penetrate the skin, and deliver those nutrients deep enough into the skin to get where they need to go.

We’re super excited about our brand new Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum, and you’ll see why! This nutrient dense p.m. serum delivers high potency ingredients deep into skin while you sleep, and contains a mighty blend of vitamins and antioxidants to help promote elasticity and firmness. Multi-Vitamin Antioxidants Potent PM Serum can help to lighten age spots and scars, while the high concentrations of both vitamin C and retinol help to brighten and even skin tone.

Our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum also contains:

• Spinach, Broccoli, and Tomato: 3 naturally occurring, vegan sources of ALA, which is an ultra potent antioxidant
• Vitamins C and E, Retinol, and Niacinamide: highly concentrated doses for maximum firming, brightening, anti-aging, and nourishing benefits for skin
• Hyaluronic Acid and Nopal Cactus: for intensive, skin plumping hydration

The perfect partner for our new Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum is the pre existing Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidant Ultra Riche PM Treatment, our most luxurious natural moisturizer formula for making skin more plump, smooth, and supple. Due to its comprehensive mix of vitamins and antioxidants, this formula works to both brighten and lighten skin, as well as diminish signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. This multi-vitamin duo of natural skin care products is a match made in heaven for combating signs of aging and enhancing skin’s suppleness and glow!

Our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidant Ultra Riche PM Treatment contains:

• Vitamin E: protects skin from free radicals and moisturizes skin, and repairs and improves the appearance of damaged skin
• Vitamin A: increases cell turnover to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps smooth skin
• Vitamin B3: helps balance skin tone and increases softness and brightness
• Vitamin B5: a natural humectant which locks in moisture and helps plump skin, soothe skin, and help with elasticity
• Vitamin C: helps brighten skin and assists in collagen production
• Vitamin D: strengthens and protects skin, and locks in moisture
• Vitamin K: helps with dark circles and spider veins

Our beloved Vitamin C Serum is a fan favorite for enhancing skin’s youthful radiance and glow, and for good reason! This serum helps to boost collagen production, which is important to fortify and nurture starting in your late 20’s, since this natural skin-firming process only slows down as we age. Our Vitamin C Serum also increases elasticity, brightens, and evens pigmentation. Potent antioxidants neutralize free radicals to block and reverse sun damage, and greatly reduce the appearance sunspots (aka ‘age’ spots) and discoloration.

Vital ingredients in our Vitamin C Serum:

• Vitamin C: powerful antioxidant shown to reduce quantities of sunburned cells, as well as age-related damage to skin
• Vitamin E: protects skin from free radicals, moisturizes skin, and repairs and improves the appearance of damaged skin
• Aloe: offers potent soothing, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory properties

Our classic Dark Spot Remover was created to visibly reduce dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and age spots in skin caused by overexposure or years of environmental damage. It evens skin tone with a safe, highly effective, and totally natural formula that’s free of harsh chemical lighteners or bleaching agents.

Active, plant-based ingredients in our Dark Spot Remover:

• Matsutake Mushroom: aids in reversal of sun damage and dark spots
• Sake: acts as a natural skin lightener, hydrator, and moisturizer
• Licorice: provides natural brightening and anti-inflammatory properties

Want to make sure you’re putting the best products on your body? Start by regularly reading labels, avoid toxic ingredients in personal care products, and follow our blog to stay informed. We’ll tell you how to avoid synthetic shimmer in cosmetics, how to shop for the best natural mascara, and dive into natural skin care ingredients. We guarantee that our products will always leave out toxins, synthetic ingredients, and anything tested on animals. Always natural, always cruelty-free, and always 100% PURE.