Our Blog
The Intricate Dance Between Hormones and Skin Health
The dance between our skin and hormones is a lifelong tango, each influencing the other's rhythm. This intricate relationship dictates skin health and appearance, making it essential to understand and navigate. From the throes of puberty to the changes of menopause, hormones have a significant role to play. In this article, we’ll explore the interplay between different life stages, the hormonal shifts they bring, and how the right ingredients can make all the difference. Understanding the dance between hormones and our skin isn’t just about recognizing challenges—it’s about finding solutions. By knowing what ingredients to incorporate during specific life stages, we can better cater to our skin’s needs and maintain its health and beauty throughout the years. 1. Puberty & Acne The Challenge: Puberty is synonymous with growing pains, both emotionally and dermatologically. The surge in androgens often stimulates sebaceous glands, leading to excessive sebum production, clogged pores, and a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Tips: Committing to a regular skincare routine during puberty is vital. Cleanse twice daily, exfoliate weekly, and never underestimate the power of a balanced diet. Reducing sugary and greasy foods can diminish the likelihood of breakouts. Maintain a clean pillowcase and refrain from touching the face often, as these can minimize bacterial buildup that can cause acne. The Ingredients to Look For: Niacinamide: Known for its ability to soothe and reduce inflammation, this vitamin aids in reducing sebum production, minimizing pores, and improving the skin's texture. Panthenol (Provitamin B5): Not only does it hydrate, but it also promotes skin healing, making it perfect for those pesky acne marks. 2. Monthly Cycle & Breakouts The Challenge:While the menstrual cycle is a hallmark of reproductive health, the hormonal rollercoaster it induces can mean unpredictable skin. The days leading up to menstruation see a rise in progesterone and testosterone. This can cause the skin to become oilier, leading to potential breakouts, particularly along the jawline. Tips:Tracking one's cycle and tailoring skincare can be beneficial. Stress-relieving practices like yoga, staying well-hydrated, and reducing caffeine and salt intake a week before menstruation can be helpful in managing these skin challenges. The Ingredients to Look For: Papaya Enzyme: An excellent natural exfoliant, it helps to clear out clogged pores and rejuvenate the skin. Vitamin C: An antioxidant powerhouse, it safeguards the skin from environmental stressors and can help in reducing hyperpigmentation from past blemishes. 3. Pregnancy Glow & Challenges The Challenge:Pregnancy brings about a myriad of changes. While some enjoy the renowned 'pregnancy glow' due to increased blood circulation, others grapple with pigmentation (melasma), heightened skin sensitivity, and even breakouts due to hormonal fluctuations. Tips:Gentle skincare is the mantra during pregnancy. Emphasize sun protection to prevent or lessen pigmentation issues, ensure consistent hydration, and prioritize rest. Elevating feet when resting can reduce swelling, and opting for gentle, non-irritating skincare products will soothe sensitive skin. The Ingredients to Look For: Rosehip Oil: Rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins, rosehip oil moisturizes, promotes skin regeneration, and can help even out skin tone. Licorice Root Extract: Known for its skin-lightening properties, it can address pigmentation and redness, making skin look more even and calm. 4. Menopause & Skin Aging The Challenge:Menopause marks the cessation of monthly cycles and brings with it a decline in estrogen levels. This reduction can affect the skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to pronounced dryness, a loss of elasticity, and an increase in the appearance of wrinkles. As we age, collagen production slows down, environmental factors, like prolonged sun exposure and pollutants, can also expedite this process. Tips:Diet plays a pivotal role in skin's health as we age. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods like berries, nuts, and green leafy vegetables can combat oxidative stress. Incorporating facial exercises can also improve skin tone and elasticity. Boosting one's water intake during menopause can internally help combat dryness. Also, using a humidifier in the bedroom during drier months and avoiding long hot showers that strip the skin of its natural oils can aid in retaining skin moisture. Prioritize bone health with weight-bearing exercises to support overall physical health, reflecting positively on your skin. The Ingredients to Look For: Peptides: These short chains of amino acids signal the skin to produce collagen, helping to restore its elasticity. Ceramides: Essential for maintaining the skin barrier, they prevent moisture loss and protect against environmental damage. Hyaluronic Acid: A hydration powerhouse, it can retain over 1000 times its weight in water, providing the skin with a plumping and hydrating effect Squalane: A hydrating and soothing ingredient, it mimics the skin's natural oils, ensuring suppleness without greasiness. 5. Stress Hormones & Skin The Challenge: Stress can wreak havoc on the hormonal balance increasing cortisol production, which can result in inflammation, breakouts, and an impaired skin barrier. Tips:Prioritizing self-care and relaxation can reduce stress levels. Incorporate relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation into your daily routine to help manage stress. Whether it's through meditation, regular exercise, or indulging in hobbies, finding ways to destress can have a significant impact on skin health. Adopt a digital detox before bedtime. Reduced screen time can improve sleep quality, benefiting overall skin health. The Ingredients to Look For: Probiotics and Prebiotics: Balancing the skin's microbiome can be crucial during stress-induced breakouts. These ingredients can restore and maintain a healthy skin barrier. Pomegranate Seed Extract: Packed with antioxidants, it helps combat oxidative stress and promotes skin repair.
Learn more
Do you choose between natural products or products with active ingredients?
Your skin's health is as important, if not more than other organs in your body. There's no doubt that natural, safe, non-toxic ingredients are important to keep your skin in a good condition. However, as customers, you shouldn't have to choose between natural products or products with active ingredients that make a visible difference. Here are a few naturally active ingredients that can help you achieve happy healthy skin all year long. 1. Sunscreen It's possibly no marvel that sunscreen is number one on this list. If there's one product you can use, it ought to be sunscreen. By using sunscreen that has wide spectrum safety—which means it protects against both UV rays—and at least SPF 30, you could keep your skin healthy.The damage caused by the sun can lead to severe skin problems, from enlarged pores and skin cancer to cosmetic problems, like breaking down the collagen and elastin that keeps your skin firm and plump. Over the years, the collagen breakdown can lead to premature ageing, like sagging skin, wrinkles, age spots and melasma.On its own, sunscreen won't lessen the wrinkles or dark spots you already have, however, it will save you from forming more and defend your skin from issues like dehydration, acne etc. 2. Vitamin C Vitamin C is called the holy grail of skincare ingredients and rightly so. This incredible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory nutrient protects us against free radicals and environmental stressors that cause our skin to age prematurely. Vitamin C serum improves skin tone and texture, hydrate the skin, and reduce signs of ageing.A well-formulated Vitamin C provides so many benefits for healthy skin. There are a few things, however, that you should take care of while selecting a Vitamin C serum. a) The Form: 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘝𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘊 𝘪𝘴 𝘓-𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. If you see any other name of Vitamin C in your serum, know that it's a derivative of Vitamin C. Studies have shown that the derivatives do not significantly increase levels of vitamin C in the skin and are not even recognized as vitamin C by our bodies. b) Concentration: In order for vitamin C to be truly effective in repairing signs of aging or give us other benefits, it must be able to penetrate and be absorbed by the body. Studies have shown that L-ascorbic acid should be at least 15 % to benefit the skin, and 20 % is optimal for absorption c) Packaging : Yes, the packaging is crucial to keep your vitamin C serum from going bad or ineffective! Exposure to air, light, and heat degrades your serum. Look for opaque, non-pipette packaging.Our superCerum is a pure form of 20% L-ascorbic acid, its unique design keeps the Vitamin C isolated from the potent emulsion. superCerum is activated FRESH only when you are ready to use it! Combining superCerum with your sunscreen can reduce damage caused by UVB rays and pollutants by 55%. d) Lactic acid Lactic acid is another, often gentle ingredient. It works similar to different chemical exfoliants to get rid of dust and dead skin cells—however, it tends to be easier on sensitive skin.Some products include a mixture of lactic acid alongside salicylic acid and/or glycolic acid so that you can nevertheless get the advantages of those ingredients with less of a chance for inflammation. e) Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful anti-ageing active ingredient, that protects the skin at the molecular level and reduces photo-ageing effects and reduces wrinkle depth.Q10 is a coenzyme naturally present in all body cells. CoQ10 produces energy in the cells to absorb nutrients and excrete waste from the skin cells helping in the regeneration and repair of skin cells. As we age, the levels of natural Coenzyme Q10 in our skin decrease. As a result, skin becomes prone to increased stress and damage, making it more susceptible to fine lines and wrinkles. That's why we have integrated Q10 in superRenew, it penetrates deep in your skin while you are asleep and helps your skin cells to get rid of impurities at their maximum efficiency, helping your skin cells to stay healthy. f) Ceramides Your skin is made from a few key compounds, together with skin cells and special types of lipids that surround them. These fatty acids or lipids makeup about 50 percent of the outer layer of skin and protect the skin. It's no surprise then that ceramides play a vital role in determining how your skin looks.With age and sun damage, skin's natural ceramides are depleted and your skin's barrier is compromised. A well-formulated skincare product like superSupple, is enriched with nourishing ingredients like ceramide NP to help reinforce your skin's barrier and increase hydration. As well, Saccharide Isomerate stimulates the synthesis of your skin's natural ceramides, giving you a lifted, sculpted look, and refined pore appearance for smoother, softer skin.
Learn more