Notable Skin Care

products and brands to try if you're a skincare junkie like me

[notableskincare]

Brand Spotlight: Naturopathica

In our last post, we mentioned the effectiveness of blending scientific practices with natural skincare for the most effective results. One notable skincare brand that seamlessly combines these two practices is Naturopathica. 

“Naturopathica was founded on the belief that herbalism, naturopathic medicine, and holistic wellness should be coupled with cutting edge science to offer deeper beauty to all.”

-Naturopathica.com

Today we are going to talk about two products that I have personally used for the past year that are both best sellers at this brand. But first, if you would like to read more about Naturopathica’s mission and philosophy click here. 

The two products we are going to be talking about today are the Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm  and the Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream.

The Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm is ideally used before a gel or foaming cleanser as it breaks down makeup and sunscreen without pulling and irritating the skin. After placing a pea-sized amount of product in your hands, you rub your hands together and the balm melts into a warm oil which is then massaged into the face. Watch as the balm melts away your makeup, even pesky mascara, and eye makeup. The ingredient that allows for moisturizing and cleansing is the manuka honey from New Zealand. For a double cleanse, which is recommended for makeup wearers, you can use the Oat Cleansing Facial Polish after the balm. 

To finish off your skincare routine, especially your nighttime routine, you should use a rich moisturizer to prevent transepidermal water loss which is when water leaves the skin overnight.  My favorite cream for this is the Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream. I love this cream because it is soothing on my dry areas and absorbs well into my oily areas. The cream smells like lavender but the main ingredient is calendula which is an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is a primary cause of acne and redness. 

The last thing I’ll say about this brand is that most of their products come in mini sizes, so if you want to just try a product out without committing that is totally an option, however, we are confident you will come back for the full size. Cheers!

[notableskincare]

Nature vs Science

There is an ongoing controversy between what is more effective, natural or green/clean skincare, or skincare that uses scientific compounds.

Green skincare emerged saying they don't use chemical additives that may or may not be good for your skin. Green skincare tends to use more natural ingredients which may or may not be effective, sometimes these products contain fragrance and essential oil which can irritate some skin types which is interesting because, for some, the fragrance is a big contender on a consumers decision. Here is a video of a discussion on fragrance in skincare.

Science-backed skincare however doesn't contain fragrance but in return offers active ingredients like Vitamin C and Niacinamide. They stick to performing a task whether it be to cleanse. exfoliate, or moisturize. For the strength they have in actually getting your skin balanced, they lack experience with the product.

But what if I told you there is a brand that combines the world of natural skincare with scientifically backed ingredients.

Aesop is a brand that prides itself on being effective because of scientifically backed ingredients. On the other side of the scientific compounds are natural elements to help support and boost the other ingredients.

For example, Aesop has a product called Lucent Facial Concentrate which has Niacinamide, known for oil control and pore smoothing, and in the same formulation has rose petal, a natural ingredient that is known to soothe.

This alchemy and tradition caries on throughout the Aesop line and brings up the question, is totally avoiding one process of cosmetic formulation a good thing? Or do nature and science belong on the same team? Comments below...