Last week we looked at three of the ingredients in the Intensive Night Cream, today's blog take a peak at the other 9 plant super powers in some detail and how when combined they work incredibly well to nourish peri-menopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal skin and bring comfort to the senses.
So what are some the hall marks of peri-menopausal and menopausal skin? We know hormonal changes can impact skin texture, skin can start to lose its elasticity, we can be met with out of the blue blemishes, dark spots, redness, dry parched, thinning and not to mention flushed hot to the touch skin.
The Intensive Night Cream organic formulation is designed to give even the most sensitive of skin skin a boost of nutrients that overnight soothe, calm, plump, nourish and hydrate, bolster collagen production, soften texture, lightly tighten, lighten and even skin tone and diminish fine lines and wrinkles over time.
Rich in antioxidants Sandalwood boosts skins luminosity and helps fight hyperpigmentation. It also helps to reduce dryness by replenishing skin's moisturise and increasing elasticity working to maintain the buoyancy and structure of the skin cells. It has a calming and cooling effect on the skin. Research has also shown it works to reduce anxiety and stress, improve sleep quality, mood and attentiveness. It is grounding and quieting.
Roman Chamomile soothes the complexion and helps reduce redness. It contains the compound azulene which calms and helps to even out skin tone, fighting oxidative stress with its high levels of antioxidants it helps ageing skin to look more radiant and youthful. Of interest, low morning levels of hormone cortisol have been linked with anxiety disorders, a small
Lavender has the ability to calm a restless mind, promoting feelings of relaxation - essential in times of changes in hormone levels that can cause sleep problems and lead to feelings of depression - whilst the beta-caryophyllene in the oil acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
Helichrysum /Immortelle lives up to its namesake 'everlasting' as it works hard to prevent premature ageing, addressing this through the promotion of new healthy skin cell growth, reducing the appearance of scars, fine line and wrinkles. It is great for lack lustre and tired skin and has a myriad of functions from minimising hot flashes to firming skin and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergenic antimicrobial make it a gentle yet powerhouse yet gently transformative oil.
Clary Sage great for balancing hormonal skin it is calming and is especially good for clearing redness, acne and blotchiness and can help symptoms of rosacea whilst cooling hot flashes. It's anti depressive and a mood lifter great for nerves and stress. In a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2013, the researchers sought to determine if inhalation of clary sage oil made blood pressure drop to normal. The Linalyl Acetate helps relieve skin redness.
Shea butter is magnificent at healing dry and chapped skin and known for its natural anti-inflammatory properties, (with Cinnamic acid and, in particular Lupeol cinnamate), has been found to reduce skin inflammation - making it beneficial for acne sufferers. Helping the skin’s natural collagen production, it contains Stearic, Oleic, Palmitic & Linolenic acids which smooth and protect to prevent drying. Long term use can soften and strengthen skin as well as reduce wrinkles.
Bakuchiol boosts skin's collagen production reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. "Bakuchiol, a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti aging effects." (Source:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). It addresses photodamage, fading sun spots and evening skin tone and can be tolerated by those with most sensitive skin including psoriasis and eczema.
Black Seed Oil a key active component of which is Thymoquinone , this powerful antioxidant helps to fight off free radicals - which damage skin cells through oxidation. Free radicals destroy the skins cellular degradation by stealing oxygen from healthy skin causing them to wither which in time leads to the formation of lines and sagging skin. Black Seed Oil works to fight these ageing processes.
Full of vitamin C and E, Rosehip Oil Prized for centuries for its valuable healing benefits, loaded with skin-nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids, it also contains phenols (a family of organic compounds) which have been shown to have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Rosehip is rich in both polyphenols and anthocyanin, which may help reduce inflammation and it contains vitamin E, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects. Essential for soft supple skin is is hydration. Lack of hydration can be a problem during extreme weather, or as skin ages and when too pressured or pressed for time to focus on extravagant routines in self care. Rosehip oil contains a wealth of essential fatty acids, including linoleic and linolenic acid. Fatty acids help to keep cell walls strong so that they don’t lose water. The many fatty acids in rosehip oil make it an excellent option for hydrating dry, itchy skin. The skin also easily absorbs the oil, which allows ts antioxidants to travel deep into the skin’s layers working to help heal skin and is reported to work well on conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. Rosehips are a great source of Lycopene an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from skin-damaging free radicals and a great source of vitamin C. Rosehip has also been shown to inhibit the creation of MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks down collagen in the body.
The Intensive Night Oil launches 25.2.22 I hope you'll love it as much as I love making and wearing it. Like all my products it is designed to nourish the skin you're in - mindful skincare that doesn't cost the earth - brings bliss to all your senses with minimum fuss and faff - think an investment of 2 minutes a day to your best skin yet - and maximum performance with 100% natural formulations.
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