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Top 10 Super-Natural Ingredients
By Amina K
January 17, 2009

Just as your body benefits from adequate nutrients to maintain optimal health, so does your skin. Whilst you sleep the body works to repair it's self, making night-time ideal to treat your skin for maximum results. Wake up to soft skin with the help of luxurious and hydrating washes, creams and oils that are packed full of "super-natural" nutrients.

Top 10 Natural Anti-ageing Ingredients

Vitamin B-5
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Jojoba Oil
Zinc Oxide
Salicylic Acid
Avocado Oil
Organic Clays
Essential Oils

Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid)

Topical application of Vitamin B-5 has been shown to help in regulating sebaceous secretions as well as improving the overall appearance of hair, skin & nails. Results have been seen by acne sufferers as topical Vitamin B-5 works fast to eliminate acne by enhancing the circulation of cells involved in healing. Furthermore, vitamin B5 also has a powerful effect in tightening your pores, transforming oily skin into smooth, healthy skin, and evening your skin tone.

Benefits:

    * Oily, combination or blemished skin
    * Skin with enlarged pores or dull complexion
    * Oily scalp and seborrhoeic conditions
    * Seborrhoeic conditions
    * Skin which is starving for vitality and nutrients

 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) is an anti-oxidant that assists in maintaining cell integrity.  The vitamin E family is well known for its antioxidant capabilities. Antioxidants protect vital cell structures by neutralizing molecules called “free radicals”. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced from sources like air pollution, radiation, and peroxides. It is easily obtained from sunflower, safflower, canola, and olive oils; also from many grains, nuts, fruits as well as fatty parts of meats. Natural vitamin E may also contain other types of tocopherols, such as beta-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol, aplied topically Vitamin is highly-beneficial for the skin.

Benefits:

    * Rich in antioxidants
    * Especially good for anti-aging
    * Excellent properties for repair, healing old scars
    * Provides long-lasting hydration
    * Protects against free-radicals
    * Excellent wrinkle repair and protection

Hyaluronic Acid

Also known as Sodium Hyaluronate - considered a break through for preventing, maybe even reversing wrinkles! Hyaluronic Acid is a mucopolysacharide that exists naturally in all living organisms. In humans it is found in larger concentrations in the articular joints, eye fluid and, most abundantly, in the skin. As the protein can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water it is known to play a vital part in the ageing process once levels are depleted in the skin (after 30 years of age). Maintaining levels of Hyaluronic Acid, is said to reduce wrinkles caused by dehydration and general ageing.

As reported by ABC News anchorwoman Connie Chung on Primetime, an amazing substance may contribute to longer-lasting youth. In the village of Yuzuri Hara, Japan, the people there routinely live into their 90ís and longer! More than 10% of the population of the village is aged 85 or older - 10 times the American average. Not only are the residents of Yuzuri Hara living longer, but they are also quite healthy - they are rarely sick and diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's are relatively unheard of. In addition, many of them have also managed to keep their skin from showing signs of aging! This is especially amazing when you consider that residents of the village typically work outdoors (farming) in the sun for years, never once using sun block or skin cream; yet their skin remains remarkably soft, smooth and relatively wrinkle-free. Dr. Toyosuke Komori, the town doctor believes that the key may be locally grown starches, which may help to stimulate the body's natural creation of a substance called hyaluronic acid (HA), which aging bodies typically lose. HA is a key component of collagen and may help to fight the inevitable aging process by improving cellular hydration. HA also functions as a free radical scavenger and as an antioxidant. These properties may offer protection against skin damage caused by the sun. In fact, Dr. Komori was quoted by ABC Primetime as saying; "I have seen a woman in her 90's with spotless skin."

Benefits:

    * Retains hydration levels in the skin
    * May contribute to longer-lasting youth
    * Well known moisturiser
    * High anti-aging properties
    * Repairs, protects and prevents skin damage

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

Naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acids work mainly as exfoliants causing the cells of the epidermis to become "unglued" allowing dead skin cells to slough off revealing new, healthier skin cells for a more youthful glowing complexion. AHA's also work to moisturise the skin and may even stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, reported to improve wrinkling, roughness, and mottled pigmentation of photodamaged skin. Alpha hydroxy acids found in skin-care products work best in a concentration of 5% to 8% and at a pH of 3 to 4. Beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, is a topical exfoliant that can reverse some of the effects of photoaging such as fine wrinkles and discolored skin. Currently, salicylic acid is the only beta hydroxy acid used as an exfoliant.

Benefits:

    * Immediate benefits can be seen
    * Benefits increase after months of use
    * Safe use is less than 10% in cosmetic application
    * Increases skin brightness, tone and condition
    * Instant 'pick me up' for dull, lacklustre skin

Jojoba Oil

It is rich in vitamin E and is a unique liquid wax used as an oil. Deeply penetrates the skin, long-lasting, protective nature. Jojoba has a very close chemical composition to the skins own sebum.

Benefits

    * Excellent treatment serum
    * Works to balance the skin
    * Excellent for acne prone skin
    * Is a wax not an oil
    * Scientifically Jojoba is almost identical to our own sebum
    * Works to balance sebum
    * Nourishes, protects and repairs the skin

 

Zinc Oxide

Zinc Oxide provides great soothing effects for use in many skin preparations. It physically works to provide 28 times the skin’s natural protections against harmful UVA & UVB rays. Topical application of zinc has shown to reduce sebum production and acne. Also some people suffering from acne have been found to have zinc deficiencies in their skin, in spite of the fact that they may have normal levels within their bloodstream.

Benefits

    * Acne prone skin
    * Smooths and softens the skin
    * Provides natural UVA and UVB protection
    * Shown to reduce sebum production
    * Beneficial for acne sufferers


Salicylic Acid

Used in skin-care products for treating acne and pimple-prone skin, as well as various skin problems, such as warts, corns, calluses and psoriasis. It is also commonly used in dandruff shampoos. This is because of the acid's ability to cause skin cells to slough off, facilitating new skin cell growth, unclogging pores and removing overgrown skin cells.

Benefits

    * Acne prone skin
    * Refines pores, unclogging pores
    * Removes over-grown skin cells
    * Improves skin texture and health
    * Works to restore skin balance

Avocado Oil

Avocado contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, D, E, and Beta carotene. Best suited for dry skin conditions in topical applications.

Benefits

    * Dry, damaged and mature skin
    * Excellent barrier
    * High in Vitamins, skin nutrients
    * Anti-inflammatory properties

 

Organic Clays

There are a wide variety of natural clays with an array of slightly different benefits, depending on the origin. Rich in naturally occurring minerals and trace elements, natural clays draw toxins and impurities to the skin’s surface absorbing them thereby leaving the skin purified, rebalanced and softened.

Benefits

    * Acne prone skin
    * Refines pores, unclogging pores
    * Removes over-grown skin cells
    * Improves skin texture and health
    * Works to restore skin balance



Essential Oils

Essential Oils work to restore balance and are proven to stimulate, relax or soothe the mind, body and spirit. They are highly therapeutic and beneficial for topical application to the skin. Next month we will look at Essential Oils in greater depth, to discover more about the use of pure Essential Oils click here

Beneficial for topical application:

    * Rose Oil - skin repair, anti-wrinkle
    * Lavender Oil - increases circulation, capillaries, antiseptic properties good for acne and irritated skin
    * Lemon Oil - gentle bleaching action, antiseptic, excellent for acne
    * Rosemary - aching, cramping m,uscles
    * Peppermint - asthma, headache, nausea
    * Benzoin - respiratory aid
    * Patchouli - dermatitis, eczema
    * Cardamon - atiseptic, aphrodisiac
    * Artemesia - anti-bacterial
    * Geranium Bourban - balances skin, relieves stress
    * Chamomillie - calms and soothes
    * Jasmine - relieves redness, itching, dry, hot skin conditions
    * Neroli - anti-bacterial, menstrual cramps