2008 | Natural Actives

Bakula – an Indian plant with interesting properties

Bakula Extract – INCI Name (proposed): Mimusops elengi

There is growing demand in the cosmetics Industry for exotic plants and fruits which have interesting beneficial properties for skin and hair care.

The latest of these is an Indian tree known as Bakula.

Bakula is one of the herbs mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures and has been used for centuries in India for medicinal purpose. In “Meghaduta”, one of the highly esteemed ancient poems by the great poet Kalidasa, there is a mention of Bakula trees. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Botanicals Tagged With: ayurvedic, hair care, skin care

Natural beauty with healing powers

Famed for its skin saving anti wrinkle properties and beautiful in its natural form, Echinacea is a superb natural active in any skin care range.

Echinacea also has a lovely marketing story to tell with many centuries of use in herbalistic remedies and medicinal potions.

The consumer is familiar with Echinacea in its alternative medicine guise as an antioxidant booster and guard against the common cold. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Botanicals Tagged With: acne, anti ageing, anti wrinkle, antiseptic, echinacea, oily skin

Pumice – complex geology in a familiar form

Pumice stone is the end product of an amazing natural force – the volcano.

As a natural ingredient it has some unique properties including low density, lightness and abrasiveness which make it ideal in exfoliating and polishing products.

From a marketing view point, pumice manages to combine scientific complexity with familiarity. Most people recognise a pumice stone as a humble household object – yet delving deeper into the scientific origins of pumice open up a much more complex picture requiring at least a superficial understanding of geology. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pumice Tagged With: exfoliating, Minerals, natural skin care, Pumice

Why Moroccan women love rhassoul clay

Moisturizing and full of minerals Rhassoul clay has been the beauty treatment of choice for generations of women in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Not all clays are created equal and rhassoul clay differs from others in its unique composition. Whilst it is extremely absorbent and great for cleansing skin it is moisturizing as well.

Many clays are known to strip oil from the skin but treatment with rhassoul clay leaves skin buttery soft. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clays Tagged With: hair care, Minerals, moisturiser, natural ingredient, natural skin care, rhassoul clay

How seaweeds benefit us all

Seaweed is a commonly used term for a vast and complex genus of plants covering some 6000 species. The term refers to the large marine algae that grow in the shallow waters at the edge of the world’s oceans.

Seaweeds provide a natural habitat and a source of food for a huge range of marine animals and enhance the natural beauty of the shore and underwater landscape. They are hugely valuable to humankind as a food, an industrial raw material and increasingly as a highly active cosmeceutical ingredient. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Seaweeds Tagged With: active ingredients, antioxidant, kelp, natural ingredients, Seaweeds

Micro algae fights skin ageing

Spirulina platensis – the most commonly found micro algae in Cuba – has been shown to offer high protection against free radicals according to a research study at the University of Havana.

The study which was carried out in November 2007 discovered that the high vitamin E and carotene content of the algae can stimulate the immune system and help in the prevention of cancer and premature skin ageing.

The research group has produced a line of cosmetic products based on their findings using hydroalcoholic extracts of Spirulina platensis which is being marketed throughout South America and parts of Europe. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Spirulina Platensis Tagged With: anti ageing, carotene, skin ageing, spirulina

The anti ageing secret of the oyster pearl

Used for over 2000 years in China in both traditional medicine and topical applications – pearl powder is an exciting and effective natural active for skin care.

Particularly effective in anti ageing products, pearl powder smoothes, softens and nourishes skin and maintains skin tone.

Perhaps the two most important strands of skin care research currently – in reaction to consumer demand – are the search for anti ageing skin care and naturally active skin care. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pearl Powder Tagged With: anti ageing skin care, anti wrinkle, natural ingredients, natural skin care

Mulberries the latest ‘superfruit’

Mulberries are the latest in a fairly long line of fruit berries to be given ‘superfood’ status.

The famous subject of a children’s nursery rhyme and the favoured diet of the silkworm – mulberries are not very well known as a domestic fruit.

In appearance they most resemble loganberries or raspberries but mulberry fruit rival and even outperform cranberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries when it comes to phytoactive ingredients. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Berries Tagged With: antioxidants, mulberry, natural anti ageing, resveratrol, sirtuin, superfood, superfruit

The hard nut that creates naturally soft skin

There is nothing unfamiliar or startling about the walnut. But – despite their familiarity – walnuts can be used as an attractive exfoliating ingredient in any natural skin care range.

Walnuts are well known and loved as a food. They have associations for the Western consumer of treats – cakes, Christmas holidays, luscious puddings, chocolate fillings, rich toffee sauces, salad oils.

Walnut wood has associations of luxury and style with its deep richly coloured patina and quality finish. The nut itself is visually intricate and appealing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Walnut shells Tagged With: exfoliating, natural scrubs, natural skin care, Walnut shells

Rainforest fruit is a natural moisturiser

Cupuaçu fruit has long been a primary food source in the Amazonian rainforest for both indigenous tribes and animals alike but for dermatologists and cosmetic scientists it offers a highly effective ingredient for natural skin care and hair care.

The Cupuaçu tree is native to the Amazon, most notably to the northern region of Brazil. It is a small to medium sized tree – at least by rainforest standards.

A fully grown tree can reach up to 20 metres in height putting it at the lower levels of the rainforest canopy. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cupuacu butter Tagged With: anti-inflammatory, Cupuacu butter, moisturiser, natural hair care, natural skin care, sun damage, sun protection