Image courtesy of the LILY DE MAI Blog

If you consider your skin sensitive, reactive or compromised, LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare is a line you should know.  Why?  Because LILY DE MAI solves one of the biggest problems those of us with sensitive skin face:  finding that just-right intensity level of high-performance skincare that will deliver results without stripping the barrier, inflaming, and/or dehydrating our sensitive skin.  As someone with sensitive skin myself, I always feel like I’m towing the line between using powerful-enough actives for results and going a wee bit too far, leaving my skin an angry mess.  Like many with reactive skin, I often err on the side of overdoing it.  Time and time again, I have overtreated my skin and end up looking decidedly worse for it.  I should know better, but the desire for results is so great that I cannot seem to help but make this mistake repeatedly.  Not anymore! LILY DE MAI is a line that delivers the perfect concentration and combination of both clinical and botanical actives to yield results—without irritating or compromising sensitive skin.

LILY DE MAI first came on my radar on Instagram, where I immediately noticed the line’s focus on sensitive skin, which is unusual and pertinent to me, as well as the line’s sumptuous, appealing aesthetic.  Impressed by the posted content, I started admiring the products and reading the LILY DE MAI blog as well.  Whereas most skincare lines’ blogs exist simply to promote products, the LILY DE MAI blog covers a range of topics pertinent to sensitive skin, and the content is consistently first-rate and highly educational.  Reading it, you realize that LILY DE MAI not only understands skin but truly understands and cares about sensitive skin.  For too long, those of us with sensitive skin have largely had to choose between gentle products that basically sit inert on our skin or products that are “sensitive” in name only–and sting or burn when applied.  LILY DE MAI is sensitive skincare without compromise, offering visible benefits and gentle care simultaneously.

When I reached out to founder and formulator Sara Runser, I discovered that she brings a wealth of expertise to her craft; she is a Formula Botanica graduate, as well as an esthetician and aromatherapist and has spent years studying skin from many angles.  Ms. Runser knows sensitive skin firsthand as well as theoretically.  As Ms. Runser said in a previous interview, “My own struggle with sensitive skin was the inspiration for LILY DE MAI.  . . . . I couldn’t find the type of products I wanted, so I created them myself. Traditional sensitive skincare products have some helpful ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, but they are full of potentially harmful ones like PEG’s, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfates. Green, clean skincare lines have beautiful organic oils, botanical extracts, and essential oils but they’re lacking the clinically proven active ingredients that have an enormous benefit for sensitive skin. I don’t believe people should have to choose between green, clean or clinical skincare. Harmful ingredients should always be avoided, and the most effective ingredients from both nature and science should be used to formulate the best products. That’s what I did with LILY DE MAI.”  Indeed, a large part of LILY DE MAI’s considerable appeal is that the line delivers sensitive skincare without making us choose green versus traditional or gentle versus clinical.  With each LILY DE MAI product, Ms. Runser proves that we need not sacrifice striking results because of sensitivity.

LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare mindfully excludes all harsh and questionable ingredients (e.g., sulfates, parabens, phthalates, PEGs, silicones, ethoxylated compounds, mineral oils, petroleum, drying alcohols, abrasive exfoliants, and synthetic fragrance and dyes); instead, the line embraces biocompatible skin-identical ingredients like ceramides and plant sterols, clinically-proven age-defying actives like vitamins and peptides, and organic botanical extracts and oils, all skillfully combined in high-performance yet gentle formulations designed for soothing, hydrating, brightening, and anti-aging results.  Key to LILY DE MAI’s high-performance products is an understanding of how skin works. With extensive training in the function and structure of the skin, LILY DE MAI founder Ms. Runser understands that a well-supported skin barrier is paramount for beautiful, healthy skin, particularly for those of us prone to sensitivity.  A weakened barrier leaves skin vulnerable to all sorts of troubles, including irritants, bacteria, and moisture loss.  LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare products truly support, replenish, and strengthen the skin barrier to deliver transformative results, promoting calm, hydrated, glowing skin.

I was fortunate to get the chance to try three full-sized LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare treasures, RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser, BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist, and SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum, and I have quickly become very attached to having all of them in my routine.  My skin was red and irritated when the LILY DE MAI products arrived, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to apply them and experience comfort rather than stinging and irritation!  As someone who has sensitive skin plus additional inflammation related to lupus, I can vouch for the fact that LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare is wonderful in terms of both application and the aesthetic experience—beautiful textures and natural fragrances (from the botanical actives) in formulas that feel lovely on application even when skin is uncomfortable, inflamed).  Let me tell you about each product I had the pleasure of using.

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser

Do you want to fall in love with cleansing?  Then you must try LILY DE MAI RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser.   RENEW has changed the way I view cleansers.  For the first time ever, I do not view cleansing as the least exciting step in my routine, and I actually look forward to it.  Until I tried RENEW, I did not realize how much using overly harsh cleansers was harming my skin—stripping the barrier and leaving my skin more vulnerable to dehydration, acne, inflammation, and signs of aging.  RENEW is a rich, gentle cream cleanser that feels hydrating on contact yet cleanses beautifully.  It maintains the skin’s pH and supports the skin barrier while effectively but gently removing debris, dirt, and pollution.  Unlike most cleansers, RENEW is soap- and surfactant-free; as a result, RENEW does not strip skin of its natural oils or harmfully alter the skin’s pH (which leaves skin more vulnerable to bacteria and impairs barrier function).  The result is clean skin that is moisturized, calm, and balanced.

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser is the first cleanser I have ever used that provides actual comfort on application–to the extent that I find myself making excuses to delay washing it off.  I didn’t know that a cleanser could be soothing, but with Aloe, Chamomile, Calendula, and Oat, RENEW feels luscious and calming on contact.  Along with its Ecocert-approved emulsifier for effective cleansing, RENEW nourishes with a blend of organic Sunflower, Argan, and Avocado Oils and rich Shea Butter.  Panthenol and Hyaluronic Acid boost hydration.  Everything about RENEW makes me want it to linger!  So much more than your typical cleanser, this gem is a multitasker; RENEW is frequently used by LILY DE MAI fans (including myself) as a hydrating and soothing mask, and it can even double as a light moisturizer.  It delivers a great clean along with nourishment, hydration, and soothing benefits.  RENEW is the first cleanser I have used that really provides my skin something rather than just depleting it, and I didn’t even know a cleanser could do that!  RENEW provides this luxurious hit of soothing nourishment upon contact that is paradise for my sensitive skin, and even when I leave it on quite a while, it never becomes at all drying.  I think it’s safe to say that RENEW is my favorite cleanser ever.  I adore it!! 

RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser Ingredients: Deionized Water, Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) Oil*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Seed Oil*, Propanediol**, Glycerin*, Cetearyl Olivate**, Sorbitan Olivate**, Capric/ Caprylic Triglycerides, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) Butter*, Argania spinosa (argan) Oil*, Persea gratissima (avocado) Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Leaf Extract*, Calendula officinalis (calendula) Flower Extract*, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) (chamomile) Flower Extract*, Avena sativa (oat) Extract*, Allantoin, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Natural Fragrance, Ascorbic Acid**, Benzyl Alcohol** Salicylic Acid**, Sorbic Acid**

* Certified Organic   **Ecocert Certified Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist is such a high-performer that it may revolutionize what you expect from a mist.  It has for me.  Prior to trying BLISS, most toners/mists struck me as totally optional, falling into two camps:  mildly pleasant, nice-smelling spritzes with watered-down ingredients (i.e., only a half-step above regular water) or harsh and stinging medicinal toners that strip skin of its natural oils and impair the skin barrier, ultimately leading to dehydration.  Not BLISS!  BLISS provides skin with skin-identical (i.e., most like components naturally occurring in skin) Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs) like Sodium PCA and Hyaluronic acid; these NMFs keep skin plump and moist by attracting and retaining hydration.  Niacinamide in BLISS brightens the skin and prevents blemishes, while Yeast Oligopeptide and Soy Amino Acids replenish the skin barrier and boost collagen production.  Finally, a blend of 7 soothing organic botanicals—Licorice, Green Tea, Irish Moss, Aloe, Chamomile, Calendula, and Oat–calms sensitivity and reduces redness.

I love that this is a highly functional, reparative powerhouse that provides significant, lasting hydration and repairs the skin barrier, all in a deceptively light spritz.  When it comes to making a lasting impact, BLISS is a big step up from other mists I have used.  It smells heavenly and feels cooling and refreshing even on irritated skin, and its hydrating powers are above and beyond any other mist I have tried.  I find that if I spritz it on after cleansing, I can even get by without moisturizer without feeling tight or dry, which is not something I have experienced with any other mist/toner to date.

BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist Ingredients : Deionized Water, Rosa damascena (rose) Flower Hydrosol*, Niacinamide, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract*** (and) Soy Amino*** Acids, Glycerin*, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) Root Extract*, Cameilla sinensis (green tea) Leaf Extract*, Aloe barbadensis (aloe) Extract*, Calendula officinalis (calendula) Flower Extract*, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) (chamomile) Flower Extract*, Avena sativa (oat) Extract*, Chondrus crispus (Irish moss) Extract, Montmorillonite, Illite, Kaolin, Mentha piperita (peppermint) Leaf Oil*, Natural Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol**, Salicylic Acid**, Sorbic Acid**, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer**

* Certified Organic   **Ecocert Certified  *** Non-GMO Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum is a lovely antioxidant serum with so much to recommend it.  Let’s start with its dynamic Super Fruit Complex that features skin-protecting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Pomegranate, emollient and UVB-protective Red Raspberry, hydrating and wound-healing Rosehip, nourishing and fatty-acid-rich Cranberry, and healing and hydrating Sea Buckthorn Oils.  Together, SANCTUARY’s Super Fruit Complex provides an exceptional blend of protective antioxidants, nourishing phytosterols, skin-protective polyphenols, anti-inflammatory tocopherols, anti-inflammatory carotenoids, protective bioflavonoids, detoxifying chlorophylls, skin-enhancing vitamins (e.g., A, C, E), and nourishing fatty acids (including linoleic, a-linoleic, oleic, punicic, and omegas 3, 6, 7, and 9).  Not only doe this powerful blend nourish skin and improve tone and elasticity, it also but helps to protect skin against negative exposures from our environment, including pollution and UV rays.

In addition to the incredible Super Fruit complex, SANCTUARY also features an amazing form of Vitamin C that is both highly active and perfect for sensitive skin: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.  This stable and non-irritating Vitamin C Ester is proven to provide incredible anti-aging benefits by providing antioxidant protection, boosting collagen production, fading hyperpigmentation, and minimizing inflammation.  Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (TA) has special advantages over other forms of Vitamin C in that TA: is powerful yet non-irritating to sensitive skin, penetrates all the way to the dermis (where it can exert maximum benefits) and is highly stable in formulations and in the air.  Despite being less irritating than L-Ascorbic Acid, Hema Sundaram, MD., a Board-Certified Dermatologists states that TA provides five times greater collagen production and twice the suppression of matrix metalloproteinases (enzymes that degrade important structural proteins) [than l-ascorbic acid].  Thus, with TA, SANCTUARY provides the ideal form of vitamin C in terms of potency, stability, and lack of side effects.

As if the blend of TA plus the Super Fruit Complex were not already impressive enough, SANCTUARY also provides potent antioxidant, collagen-boosting CoQ10 as well as precious oils and botanicals like Watermelon and Shiso Oils and Rhatany CO2.  The result is an incredible blend of valuable ingredients that combine synergistically to provide a wealth of skin benefits–from calming to rejuvenating to protecting to hydrating and strengthening.  The potent formula is nonetheless gentle on contact, with a light oil texture that sinks right into skin.  SANCTUARY is a beautiful daily investment in overall skin vitality and health.

SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum Ingredients:  Perilla ocymoides (shiso) Oil*, Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) Oil, Rosa rubiginosa (rose hip) Oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) Oil*, Rubus idaeus (red raspberry) Oil*, Punica granatum (pomegranate) Oil*, Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) Oil*, Argania spinosa (argan) Oil*, Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu) Oil, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C ester), Hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) CO2*, Krameria triandra (rhatany) Root CO2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) Leaf CO2 Extract*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)*, Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa)*, Thymus vulgaris (thyme ct. linalool)*, Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Commiphora myrrha (myrrh)

* Certified Organic            Cruelty Free, Vegan, Gluten Free

CONCLUSION

LILY DE MAI’s tagline “The Purity of Nature + The Power of Science” is an apt description of what you can expect from the line’s formulations: the best of natural and clinical actives expertly blended to visibly benefit sensitive skin.  With LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare, you are not forced to choose between clean and green versus innovative science, because the line incorporates both.  Moreover,  you are not forced to choose between gentle versus high-performance, because LILY DE MAI is carefully crafted to deliver dramatic benefits and visible results without irritation, with careful attention paid to issues of sensitivity.  Every ingredient in LILY DE MAI RENEW Restorative Calming Cream Cleanser, BLISS-NMF Transformative Moisture Mist, and SANCTUARY Vita 3 Anti-Ox Defense Serum has been meticulously researched and selected for its gentleness and clinically-proven ability to soothe, hydrate, minimize signs of aging, and promote skin’s vitality.  All three LILY DE MAI products feature gorgeous, highly-effective blends of scientifically-proven clinical actives and luscious botanicals that deliver benefits without drawbacks.

• RENEW is my favorite cleanser ever, nourishing skin as it effectively cleans.
• BLISS is the first mist I have used that is as high-performance, indispensable, and hydrating as a great serum.
• SANCTUARY is the ultimate high-performance antioxidant serum to protect, fortify, and bolster skin against the elements.

LILY DE MAI Sensitive Skincare offers transformative results, gently and healthily, such that even highly temperamental skin visibly benefits—without irritation or side effects. 

As a special treat for my readers, use the code SENSITIVE15 for 15% off any LILY DE MAI purchases!

The post LILY DE MAI: All the Benefits, None of the Compromises appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Iremia in Iremia Skincare translates to mean tranquil or serene, and this is an apt description of what you can expect from this gorgeous, clean, ultra-soothing line. Elaine Li, the founder and formulator of Iremia Skincare, knows the challenges of sensitive skin firsthand, having struggled with eczema, hypersensitivities, and redness as long as she can remember.  She knows how frustrating it is: to purchase a product specifically designed to be “sensitive” only to have it sting and burn on contact, to discover after making a purchase that harmful ingredients are deceptively hidden in proprietary blends rather than declared, or to finally find a sufficiently gentle formula only to discover that it has little impact on skin, or worse, is merely causing more problems (e.g., breakouts).  Iremia Skincare was born out of frustration with these limited options for sensitive skin.  When Elaine found no workable solutions for her skin on the market, she created her own.  Iremia Skincare offers what has been largely missing from the industry:  gentle yet effective, healing skincare for sensitive skin.  Based on my experience using this line, Iremia Skincare is proof that gentle and effective do not have to be antonyms in skincare.

Iremia Skincare embraces a less-is-more philosophy in which each ingredient is carefully chosen, and each of the line’s products is designed to deliver multiple benefits.  Rather than suggesting dozens of products for an elaborate routine (that may end up overtreating sensitive skin), Iremia Skincare keeps things clean and streamlined, with just three multitasking products: a Soothing Lotion, a Protective Cream, and a Restorative Facial Oil.  In crafting Iremia’s exceptional formulations, Elaine relied on clinical and scientific studies as well as ingredient notes she had meticulously taken over years of trial and error while searching for a workable solution for her skin.  As a devoted working mom of two children, it was imperative to Elaine that Iremia products be pure enough for children’s delicate skin and also multifunctional enough to streamline the routine of a busy working mom like herself.  As a result, Iremia Skincare is unique in the fact that it is extremely gentle and pure, yet still high-performance, delivering many benefits in each product.

I had the chance to try two of the three products in the Iremia Skincare line:  Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil.  Both have been matches made in heaven for my dry, inflammation-prone, sensitive skin.  Below, I will tell you about each one.

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion has a luscious texture that is rich and creamy but sinks into skin easily, leaving just light hydration behind.  Soothing Lotion has a faint-yet-delicious natural scent from its beautiful botanical ingredients, and it feels amazing on contact—even on skin that is compromised due to sensitivity, dryness, or both.  In addition to providing nourishing hydration, Soothing Lotion is also truly calming and efficiently eases inflammation and irritation.  I saw a lovely turnaround in my skin after using Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion for four days; redness/irritation and flakiness from dryness steadily healed, until my skin was as serene as ever.  In just a few days of use, my complexion felt dramatically soothed, more comfortable, and nourished.

In the short time I have been using this luxurious gem, I have come to count on it to calm and hydrate my skin when it’s at its fussiest with redness or flare-ups of inflammation.  Soothing Lotion quickly, gently, and effectively calms, heals, and hydrates my sensitive skin at it’s most challenging.  On occasions when my skin is being well-behaved, Soothing Lotion is a beautifully nourishing moisturizer that glides on and sinks in for lasting hydration.  I find it to be pure, effective, and versatile.  Having studied Soothing Lotion’s ingredients, I know that the benefits do not end with soothing and hydration; with regular use, several actives deliver anti-aging benefits in addition to hydration and soothing.  What is the secret to this luscious healer?  I have to credit Elaine and her meticulous approach to ingredient selection and formulation.  This is a truly multipurpose lotion appropriate for sensitive skin!

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion’s beautiful blend of carefully-selected ingredients includes:

• Shea Butter—derived from the nutrient-rich nuts of the African Karite tree, this active is highly emollient, healing, hydrating, anti-inflammatory, contains natural vitamins A, C, and E, and even delivers skin-strengthening and anti-aging benefits by boosting collagen production
• Aloe Leaf Extract—used topically since ancient times for its healing and soothing capacities, Aloe is anti-inflammatory, hydrating, soothing on contact
• Grape Seed Oil—rich in flavonoids, including those called proanthocyanidins (PCOs), excellent free radical scavenger
• Calendula Flower Extract—with active components including flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpenes, carotenes, and more, Calendula Flower Extract is proven to be soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and hydrating
• Lavender Flower Oil—improves circulation and thus facilitates the healing process
• Manuka Honey—naturally rich in a variety of B vitamins, reinforces skin’s ability to regenerate, offsets free radical activity, improves healing, and increases fibroblast ability
• African Mahogany Tree Bark Extract— clinically proven to strengthen the skin and significantly reduce wrinkles after 56 days of use

Soothing Lotion Full Ingredient List: WATER/AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, COCO-CAPRYLATE CAPRATE, DICAPRYLYL ETHER, SODIUM OLIVOYL GLUTAMATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, STEARYL ALCOHOL, CERA ALBA, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, KHAYA SENEGALENSIS BARK EXTRACT (AND) MALTODEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, TOCOPHEROL, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) FLOWER OIL, CITRUS MEDICA LIMONUM (LEMON) PEEL OIL, CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT, HONEY( MANUKA), SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil is an antioxidant-rich multivitamin for the skin that strengthens, soothes, and balances.  The luxurious blend of 11 beneficial oils leaves skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, hydrated, and plump.  As with the Soothing Lotion, there is no added fragrance, and yet Restorative Facial Oil naturally has a subtle, delicious scent from its blend of fresh natural actives.  The vibrant orange hue of the blend hints at the nourishing antioxidant goodness delivered to skin with every drop.  The texture is light, and it sinks into skin quickly rather than leaving a greasy residue.

Each of the 11 oils adds value to the overall formulation of Restorative Facial Oil, but some highlights include:

• Avocado Oil—nourishes dry skin and provides a rich source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E
• Camellia Oil—highly antioxidant, emollient, and anti-inflammatory
• Jojoba Seed Oil—soothing and anti-inflammatory and excellent for eczema-prone skin
• Rosehip Fruit Oil—rich in essential fatty acids that help regenerate and repair damage to skin
• Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil—rich in antioxidants, provides vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, and plant sterols, as well as healing Omega 7

Restorative Facial Oil is a wonderful hydrating oil blend with a full range of soothing, antioxidant, strengthening, and skin-plumping benefits.  Both the aesthetics and the performance of Restorative Facial Oil are magnificent.  This product is elegant and enjoyable to use and has left my skin calmer and better hydrated than before I started using it.

Restorative Facial Oil Full Ingredients: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL , PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, CAMELLIA OLEIFERA (CAMELLIA) SEED OIL , SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL, ARGANIA SPINOSA (ARGAN) OIL, ROSA CANINA(ROSEHIP) FRUIT OIL, HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES (SEA BUCKTHORN) FRUIT OIL ,TOCOPHEROL, CYMBOPOGON MARTINI( PALMAROSA) OIL, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER OIL, PELARGONIUM ROSEUM LEAF OIL

CONCLUSION

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil

With pure, clean formulas and carefully selected ingredients, Iremia Skincare offers gentle-yet-effective healing solutions for reactive, sensitive, or inflamed skin.  Soothing Lotion offers calming hydration that quickly resolves flakiness, redness, and/or inflammation, while also delivering antioxidant protection and a proven anti-aging active.  Restorative Facial Oil, in turn, provides well-rounded topical nutrition and skin-plumping hydration in an elegant, quickly-absorbed blend of 11 beneficial oils.  Together, this duo serves as a high-performance, streamlined skincare routine that dramatically improves the condition of sensitive skin.   Both products are available at Natural Avenue.  Highly recommended!

The post Iremia Skincare: Tranquility for Sensitive, Reactive Skin? appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Iremia Skincare Founder Elaine Li

After having the pleasure of trying and enjoying Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil (see full review here), I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Iremia Skincare Founder Elaine Li about her journey and mission.  Ms. Li struggled with sensitive skin for years and was unable to find anything on the market that gently, effectively healed her skin, so she set out to create the ultimate skin-soothing line in Iremia Skincare.  Learn more about her process and inspiration below!

Can you briefly describe your own skin difficulties and the frustrations you encountered trying to find sufficiently high-quality and soothing products in other lines?

Elaine Li (EL): I have suffered from skin problems for as long as I can remember. Looking back, it really was because of diet and stress but I didn’t connect the dots. Eczema, hypersensitivities, and redness are my main culprits. Every time I feel anxiety or stress or if I eat certain foods, my face turns hot and red. My eczema flairs up and itches like crazy. I remember trying different creams that were catered “for sensitive skin”, but as I put them on they would burn my skin and I had to quickly wash them off. Some other high-end creams that I have tried made me feel like it was doing something, but it really wasn’t. I would break out, or the product just wouldn’t be effective after a while. It was really frustrating not being able to find something that would help manage my skin.

Another frustration that came about was around transparency. Just two years ago, a natural, steroid-free cream came out just for eczema. It was a dream come true for myself and my son based on all of the before and after photos I saw of people using it on their babies. I naturally purchased it and it did work wonders. However, it turns out that it really wasn’t steroid-free! I felt betrayed. I’m all for transparency and integrity when it comes to what goes in and on your body. I never want this to happy to anyone, ever.  So now I use my own Protective Cream and Facial Oil on my son and newborn!

How do you think your own history of skin challenges have influenced you as a formulator and enhanced your formulations?

EL:  I want to create products with intent. If I don’t have a clear vision as to what it needs to do or how it can help someone, I won’t make it. There needs to be some sort of multi-purpose element to it as I’m a believer in simplifying your routine so that there is less clutter. Less clutter = less stress and less waste! My skin challenges are ongoing. Elements of your life (Diet, home life, work) are always changing so it was important to create something that can be used according to your situation. The products can be layered however you want. On some days, I use the Facial Oil on my face and hair. On others, I layer all three of them for extra hydration. I wanted my formulas to also be safe for my babies, and my husband! It was frustrating finding something that the whole family could use. My children use the Protective Cream and Facial Oil and my husband uses the Soothing Lotion.

Iremia Skincare Soothing Lotion

What care and effort have you put into ingredient sourcing?

EL: All ingredients were thoroughly researched and need to obviously be completely natural. I look for purity as well if it can directly help calm the skin. My second priority (besides hydration of course) is to look for other benefits, such as anti-aging properties. For example,  I decided to include a natural anti-aging active ingredient in the Soothing Lotion for it to truly be multipurpose (i.e., African Mahogany Tree Bark Extract). It’s something I use every day on my skin and I have seen huge improvements in redness, pore and wrinkle reduction.

Can you describe some of the time, study, effort, and experimentation that went into creating your beautiful Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil?

EL: I have been struggling with my skin since my early 20’s, so it’s taken me a long, long time to get to this point. Years of trying different products, writing down what I like, what I don’t like, what worked, what didn’t really helped me decide what ingredients to put into the formula. A lot of reading was done around active ingredients as well as digging into research papers and clinical studies. I decided to formulate starting in late 2016. It took a few months, but finally, I created the recipe that worked in the Spring/Summer of 2017.

You describe a less-is-more philosophy to skincare regimens.  Can you elaborate on the importance and value of quality over quantity and explain how you embrace this philosophy with Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil?

EL:  This philosophy resonates with me in so many ways. It really started at home and with being more conscious about what and how we buy everyday items. I don’t want to purchase something that is inexpensive but will fall apart in 2 years. You end up buying more, which has a bigger impact on the environment. Buying and using products consciously is important to me. Same with time. I have a 6-year-old son and a 4-month-old daughter, plus 2 dogs! So I don’t have a lot of time to fuss around in the mornings and evenings. Creating products that would help me without using 7+ items was as important as the environmental impact. The Soothing Lotion has everything I need in it – it calms, soothes, hydrates and decreases fine lines and wrinkles. The Restorative Facial Oil also has all of the superhero oils I wanted in one bottle. The best part is that it can also be used in your hair. I also use it on my baby and keep it on me all the time.

Which 3-4 active ingredients in each product do you consider highlights and/or particularly vital and beneficial when it comes to Soothing Lotion and Restorative Facial Oil, and why?

EL: The Soothing Lotion has a blend of Shea Butter, Aloe, Calendula, Lavender and Manuka Honey. It’s so hard to choose, as they are all vital and beneficial for the skin. Each one has soothing, anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, which is why I wanted them all in the Soothing Lotion. The best part is the African Mahogany Tree Bark extract, which is clinically proven to strengthen the skin and reduce wrinkles after 56 days of use.

With the Restorative Facial Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Rosehip Oil, Argan Oil and Seabuckthorn Oil are all vital within the blend. There are 11 oils in total to make up this multivitamin, all of which provide the skin strength. It soothes and balances while increasing elasticity and helps diminish scarring.

Iremia Skincare Restorative Facial Oil

What experience do you hope people will have with Soothing Lotion?  With Restorative Facial Oil?

EL:  The Soothing Lotion was made to calm the skin whenever there is redness or flare-ups or inflammation and heat on the face. It can also be used on eczema patches as well. Even if you don’t have flare-ups, it glides on as a beautiful daily moisturizer. With a powerful blend of luxurious ingredients, the Restorative Facial Oil will leave your skin feeling soft, plump and hydrated. With no added fragrance, you are experiencing the natural properties of the ingredients. Since the whole line is around calmness, I truly hope people will find that in my products.

What current trends or pressures in the beauty industry frustrate you and which ones excite you, and why?

EL: I do feel that there is pressure for people to have “perfect”, flawless skin. I believe that we have been conditioned to think that skin is supposed to look a certain way. Everyone is so different, with variety when it comes to lifestyle, diet, stress inducers. No one is perfect as we are only human! Things change, especially with age. I believe in healthy skin, and that starts from within. Treat your body with love, and you can embrace your skin as is at whatever moment you are in. Another frustration is the pressure to have immediate results with products. I also had very high expectations of the different creams I have tried in the past and expected my skin to take to it and to be amazing right away. We again have developed a sense of immediate gratification (I blame this on technology!). I don’t believe there is a “miracle” product. Products take time to work, and your body takes time to adjust. There are just too many factors at play.

What is exciting is that there has been a shift in mindset to embrace what you were born with. For myself, it has taken years to get here. To really love me for the way I am. It’s also exciting that people are open to smaller brands and more Indie brands are moving into the spotlight. They come from a place of passion, and I find it really refreshing!

What do you see as the greatest success of your line so far and what are your hopes for the future?

EL:  As a small Indie brand, I thrive and focus on small successes. However, I’m proud of the product and what it has done for the people who have tried it. I take each review seriously and every purchase with such a grateful heart. There are plans for the future with expanding the product line, with intention of course, as well as looking into different distribution channels. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. For now, I’m just so grateful for my supporters.

The post Interview with Iremia Skincare Founder Elaine Li appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

I am delighted, humbled, and incredibly honored to be able to share my May Lindstrom interview!  Known as the skin chef, May Lindstrom has been creating her fresh, natural, and decadent skincare delights since 2011, though her informal experimentation as a formulator began as a young girl in the outdoors.  She is a beauty alchemist who uses pure, potent ingredients to create skin treats that offer both high-performance results and an incredible experience for the senses.

May Lindstrom is a true green beauty pioneer who has and continues to elevate the industry in terms of purity and luxury, to inspire countless individuals to examine their choices, and to set the bar for skincare rituals as self-care.  Anyone who thinks that natural skincare means giving up a degree of indulgence and pleasure has not tried May Lindstrom Skin.  Her skin treats are addictive, and they have a cult-like following for a reason!  May Lindstrom’s treasures restore natural balance to the skin and offer a decadent, sensual experience that invites the user to slow down, to notice, and to take self-care to new levels of tenderness and self-compassion.  Her line is truly one of a kind.  Moreover, May Lindstrom herself is a person who embodies the term “natural beauty,” inside and out.  Her graciousness is remarkable.  In fact, I can hardly think of May without “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron popping into my head.  See for yourself.

Without further ado, the May Lindstrom interview!

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

May Lindstrom Interview:

A Candid Conversation on Sensitivity & Healing with Green Beauty’s Most Beloved Pioneer + Alchemist

The Beauty Librarian (BL): I read an interview in which you said, “My skin was a battleground from birth.”  This is very humanizing to hear, especially in light of your renowned physical beauty and successful modeling career.  How have skin challenges helped shape your approach to beauty?

May Lindstrom: It’s important to remember that we usually only see the highlight reel of people’s lives. In this time of highly filtered, sparkly social media accounts, it can be easy to lose perspective or forget that we are all human. While my skin has finally found its balance at thirty-four, it took me a lifetime to get here.

I have the kind of complexion that is so sensitive and reactive, that one application of the wrong product will leave me covered in blisters and rashes or a terrible breakout. My skin physically hurts when I do not treat it well. And the emotional toll of self-consciousness and shame that rears up far too easily – that’s no joke either.

Finding my voice and the strength to stand up and use it was quite the feat. I’m an introvert and a pleaser and that has a cost. Not having a voice to say No to the products used on me as a model was one of the big reasons I ultimately happily closed that career door. At the end of the day, I believe in making choices that resonate to my very core – and that certainly includes supporting the health and integrity of my skin and my whole self.

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

BL:  What are the most important lessons you learned – as a formulator and human being– due to or through your experience with sensitive, reactive skin?

May Lindstrom: I believe in simplicity and know that this is what works for me on pretty much every level. While I have given an incredible amount of attention to designing products for this collection that create a feeling of decadence and celebration, my very core is as basic and grounded as it gets. Beauty truly does come from within and I know that without a healthy body and spirit, our skin suffers.

I also learned pretty early on that using even the simplest of common products (even basic soap or lotion) just wasn’t an option for my own personal body. In order to not have constant pain in my skin, I had to learn an entirely new language of care. Ultimately, this is what led to my becoming a formulator.

I believe our skin has the ability to heal itself if we let it. Sometimes our role is to get out of the way! It is our responsibility to provide abundant nutrition and hydration and to be gentle in our care. By limiting our exposure to harsh chemicals and extreme treatments, we open up to gentler methods. I build each of my products on the same philosophy and ingredients that have been treasured and shared by women all over the world since the beginning of time. I trust in earth’s bounty and the wisdom of those who came before me.

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

BL: Which of your delicious products — in addition to heavenly Blue Cocoon– are particularly helpful for redness and inflammation and how so?   

May Lindstrom: The entire collection is formulated to work in synergy to restore balance, ultimately reviving the skin’s integrity and natural rhythm. This leads to lessened redness and inflammation no matter where your starting point was.

The Blue Cocoon is the obvious hero to address inflammatory conditions specifically, but since you prompted, I’ll share details on one more.

The Honey Mud is incredibly gentle and nourishing and helps bring relief to stressed skin. It is formulated to be true skin food.  On days you are using The Honey Mud as a cleanser, massage a plump pea-sized dollop into wet skin to emulsify into a gorgeous and silky cleansing milk. Rinse thoroughly, while massaging with the pads of your fingertips. Your skin will feel plump, hydrated and thoroughly fed.  As a deeply beneficial alternative, The Honey Mud makes the most nourishing raw enzyme treatment masque. Smooth thickly over clean and dry skin to give it a warm hug. The Honey Mud will maintain its pudding-like texture, rather than turning to a milky emulsion with the addition of water. Allow to penetrate and feed your skin for 10-60 minutes, as desired.  In periods of heightened dehydration or sensitivity, wear The Honey Mud into the shower to protect the delicate natural oils of your skin from evaporation in the heat and water, rinsing as your last step.

While I’m here, you should know about The Jasmine Garden as well – this is our gorgeously ethereal botanical mist. This formula adds just a touch of light moisture, and also provides refreshing cleansing action throughout the day with the powerfully soothing combination of witch hazel and colloidal silver. This is particularly wonderful to bring calm and relief to acne and irritation prone skin, as well as to work as a penetration enhancer for The Youth Dew and The Blue Cocoon. The Jasmine Garden infuses skin with antioxidant protection, restoring elasticity and freeing delicate complexions of redness and inflammation.

The romantic aromatic experience of The Jasmine Garden is truly a dream. Soft, sweet, fresh – like a garden of lush flowers in the tropics, somewhere near a field of cocoa beans drenched in rain. This is beautiful after cleansing and before oils, again after oils, to set makeup, and to spritz throughout the day to refresh, cool, calm and heal. I even love to mist lightly on my pillow before sleep, grounding me for perfect rest.

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

BL:  How would you advise someone who is in a bout of self-criticism over “skin issues” to get in touch with and celebrate her/his individual beauty?

May Lindstrom:  With my collection, I make a very conscious effort to always draw attention to how amazing we already are, and how deserving we are of self-love and truly beautiful care that feeds both our skin and soul. I cringe at mainstream marketing and the stories it tells us, and mourn for the women who hear and believe these falsities about themselves.

You are not broken. You are whole, heard, and treasured. And you deserve care and touch, your own primarily.

We’ve been taught that self-care Is self-ish, and that is one of the most unfortunate messages we could be proliferating. I want every woman to know that she matters, that this time is hers, and that love that starts from the romance within and ripples out into the world, offering transformation far beyond ourselves.

My brand is an invitation for you to create the time and space for the personal connection you deserve with yourself. This action alone will transform you. What I want to is to get this message out there, to start a shift in how we care for ourselves, starting with the most basic and intimate of rituals  – how we cleanse.

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

BL:  You have two adorable children and a lovely family. How has your conception of beauty been informed by motherhood?  How has motherhood informed your work as a beauty alchemist?

May Lindstrom:  The birth of my children reaffirmed a lot of my core beliefs, philosophies and dreams – alongside my enhanced desire to bring ritual and connection to our skin back to the lives of women (and equally deserving men!). It also resurged my hope for a cleaner, happier planet for us all to live on together. This has always been a concern for me, but bringing new life onto this Earth shines a very acute personal spotlight on the urgency of this matter. I will always operate both my business and my personal life in a way that honors and celebrates our earth mama.

Photography Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin, www.maylindstrom.com

The post May Lindstrom Interview Spectacular! appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

Apoterra Skincare is a small, holistic apothecary that is dedicated to providing cruelty-free skin care that is sustainable and handcrafted in a transparent way.  Founder Dominique Caron is a certified herbalist and aromatherapist, and she was inspired to start Apoterra Skincare after hopelessly struggling to find natural, affordable skin care that was effective for her sensitive and acne-prone skin. Ms. Caron brings a unique perspective to this underserved skin type, and she shares some of her impressive expertise in a series of informative articles on Naturally Healing Acne on the Apoterra Blog (very much worth reading!). Apoterra Skincare is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, 90% of ingredients are certified organic or sustainably wildcrafted, and all Apoterra Skincare ingredients are rated extremely safe (1 or less) on the EWG Database. Moreover, each Apoterra Skincare product has a hand-stamped batch # that can be used to find the product’s date of production and ingredients’ certification and countries of origin.  Apoterra Skincare is a special line, and I was delighted when Ms. Caron agreed to an interview.

What is the story behind how you became a formulator?

Curiosity!  I first became interested in botanical medicine, meaning making my own tinctures, syrups, and teas for digestive health, colds, and other minor ailments.  I read as much as I could get my hands on about the subject and ultimately started taking courses about herbalism, aromatherapy, botany, and human biology.  I became a certified aromatherapist after really falling in love with working with essential oils. There is a chemistry aspect to blending with essential oils which I love because it gives you the ability to blend based on scientific data.  But there is also an intuitive part when it comes to creating scents and effective emotion which I also love.   Once I started incorporating my knowledge of aromatherapy, herbalism, and skin care into formulating my own skincare products, that is when I really found my calling!

How would you describe your beauty and skin care philosophies?

I like to think of beauty and skin care as part of our health and self-care practices.  To me, beauty is about more than just what you put on your skin, but also about the health of your mind and body.  I formulate with this idea in mind – I look at skin care in a holistic way and formulate using ingredients that work with the body to bring it back to a healthy balance.  This means considering the reason behind why your skin might be breaking out or dealing with inflammation, and addressing these issues by helping your skin heal itself, versus just dealing with the symptoms.

What are your biggest goals as a formulator/maker?

I love creating products that not only solve someone’s skin care issues (such as acne), but that also help one feel good about themselves by elevating their personal care ritual.  A product that works, but also smells and feels amazing is what I always strive for.  Sometimes it can be difficult when working with natural ingredients, as some ingredients that are great for the skin don’t always look or smell amazing!  Finding a way to achieve both is part of the challenge.

What is your process for creating a new Apoterra Skincare product?

I start with an idea.  Whether it be a specific type of product, an ingredient I want to use, a problem that needs to be solved, or a scent that I love. . . I start from there for inspiration.  Once I have a starting point, I actually spend a good amount of time doing research before ever going into the lab.  I look up research papers on ingredients, the chemical composition of new oils I want to work with, try to find evidence about the effectiveness of certain ingredients, etc.   Based on my concept and research, I create a recipe for the product I want to make and then head to the lab to create it.  I then test it and adjust the recipe over several versions to make the effectiveness, texture, color, scent, and experience are just what I want it to be.

If you had to pick a favorite product or two from your line of which you are most proud, what would it (they) be, and why?

I really love our Neroli Clarifying Toner.  The aroma is really calming to me, and it works so well for me as far as preventing breakouts and keeping my complexion clear.  It hydrates but also delivers acne-fighting and free radical-fighting ingredients such as green tea, vitamin C, and vitamin B3.  I also really love our Night Regenerative Balm.  This is my go-to whenever my skin needs a little extra repair due to sun exposure, dehydration or cold exposure.  Of all our products, the balm is the one I get the most people reaching out to me telling me it was a “game changer” for them!  I combined a really amazing butter, cupuacu (can hold up to 400% of its weight in water!), with nutrient-dense oils and collagen boosting actives like vitamin C and coQ10 – so this balm is a performer!

How would you describe the experience you want people to have with your products?

I want people really to look forward to using my products.  I hope that when they use them, it helps them find a moment of peace in the day that lets them they feel pampered and beautiful.  I also want my products to keep my customer’s skin healthy so that they can experience a natural glow that makes them feel good about themselves!

What do you see as the greatest success of your line so far and what are your hopes for the future?

My greatest success for me is all the positive feedback I get from customers.  Every week we get customers writing new reviews on our website, and so many of them are success stories of people being really happy with their results.  These stories are the reason I do what I do!

I’ve read that you have extremely sensitive skin that is dry and breaks out easily.  This describes my skin type as well, and this cluster of challenges is not often addressed simultaneously. What are the most important things you’ve learned about caring for your skin type?

For the longest time, I had dry, flaky skin and breakouts on my chin ALL THE TIME.  It was so frustrating!  Every product I tried seemed to make me break out or become red.  What I have discovered is that there is a lot of misinformation out there about acne and dry skin, and I realized over time that the reason my skin was the way it was, was in fact because of the products I was using.  You often see acne being associated with oily skin.  The truth is that acne can be caused by both oily or dry skin.

Without going too in-depth here – Acne is caused by clogged pores and bad bacteria.  If you have dry skin, your sebaceous glands can try to compensate by overproducing sebum which can clog pores and create an environment that P. Acnes, the acne causing bacteria, will thrive in.  When you have dry skin, you also deal with excessive dead skin cells, which can also clog pores.  For this reason, the traditional advice of vigorous cleansing and using “drying” products on the skin to clear acne don’t work and actually make things worse.  Drying the skin and over cleansing doesn’t keep pores clear, but it does dry the skin and cause barrier damage.  What your skin needs is nourishment, hydration, and gentle exfoliation.  You don’t get acne because you aren’t cleansing enough.  You are getting acne because either you glands are producing too much oil, your pores are clogged because you’re not exfoliating enough, you have skin barrier damage, and/or your skin’s microbiome has been compromised, and the healthy bacteria on your skin is not there to fight off the acne-causing bacteria.  I have a 5-part series on acne on our blog that goes into this more in depth, but the takeaway is:

• don’t over cleanse.  Skip a foaming cleanser in the morning and use a gentle toner or hydrosol blend instead (or an oil cleanser)
• make sure you are properly hydrating the skin with a water-based product
• make sure you are moisturizing with the right oils
• Exfoliate a few times a week. Exfoliation should be gentle and non-abrasive
• Don’t use strong antibacterial topical treatments that can disrupt your microbiome
• Don’t use any products that make your skin feel tight and dry.

Can you explain your understanding the importance of finding a balance with exfoliation and not overdoing it, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin and acne?  In general, what would you advise in terms of the best approach(es) and frequency for exfoliation?

Exfoliation is important to keep pores clear, but over-exfoliation can cause damage to your skin barrier.  To be effective, exfoliation can be very gentle and doesn’t have to be abrasive at all! It shouldn’t leave your skin looking too red or feeling raw.  I would say stay away from abrasive physical exfoliants and stick to gentle chemical exfoliants.  This can be something like what I use in our Hibiscus Exfoliating Mud with is a blend of fruit, sugar, and yogurt which exfoliates with natural sources of fruit acids and lactic acid.

How can an impaired skin barrier worsen inflammation, and what tips do you have for maintaining optimal barrier function without worsening acne?

An impaired skin barrier means that your skin cannot defend itself properly, but is also means it will have difficulty retaining water.  This means that your skin will be dehydrated, but also be more prone to infections such as acne.  Without proper hydration, it makes it more difficult for your skin to protect and repair itself.  Ideally, topically applying plant oils and butters that are effective emollients and provide a breathable occlusive layer, combined with plant extracts and essential oils that have strong anti-inflammatory properties will be effective in helping your skin repair itself.  Sometimes people worry about using plant butters and oils because they have acne, but they shouldn’t!  The key is to use the right kind of oil for acne prone skin that are also effective emollients and help repair the skin.

A note about essential oils – I have been getting a lot of questions about the safety and effectiveness of essential oils.  The importance when using essential oils is that you need to use the proper % – too much can aggravate the skin.  I like to compare EOs to salt.  A little bit on your food is good for you and makes your food taste good, but add too much, and the salt might have a negative effect on your health.  Try to eat a few tablespoons at once, and you might die!  Saying a blanket statement that all essential oils are bad for the skin is like saying that salt is dangerous because it can kill you.  It is not a black and white issue; there is a lot of nuance to the way you use essential oils. When used properly, essential oils can be very beneficial to your skin and health.

Can you tell us about any upcoming launches?

I have some new product launches that I hope to release this fall!  I have been working on new PH balanced and microbiome friendly cleansers and also some new mood enhancing scents for some body care products.

How do barrier function and the acid mantle play into dry skin with breakouts, and how do your products address this?

If your barrier is impaired, or acid mantle is disturbed by products that are too acidic or too alkaline, your skin will have to work to repair and rebalance itself.  Remember – acne is a bacterial infection.  If your skin barrier or acid mantle is impaired, it will be more difficult for your skin to fight off the bad bacteria.  By using products that provide your skin with hydration and moisturization in a way that does not disrupt your acid mantle and promotes a healthy skin barrier, you are helping your skin return to and maintain a healthy balance.  A healthy balance means clear, hydrated skin.    All our facial oils, toners and masks help your skin do exactly that, without disrupting the acid mantle.

How can those of us prone to breakouts use oils intelligently?

The thing about oils is they are not all created equal.  Oils high in oleic acid, like olive oil, can aggravate acne.  Oils rich in linoleic acid, however, are really great for acne-prone skin.  You can incorporate oils into your routine as much as any other skin type, but the key is the use the right oils.  My blue (clarify) line is designed for breakout prone skin with oils that are rich in linoleic acid and nourish the skin in a way that is ideal for acne-prone skin.

The Apoterra blog is amazing, and I highly recommend everyone take a look at it.  I love that the information and advice you share is truly evidence-based (for examples, see the amazing links in the first article of an amazing series on treating acne naturally).  How do you find your citations, and what do you do to stay abreast of the literature?

Thank you!  I really appreciate that.  Honestly, I do a lot of online research.  I find articles that address what I want to learn more about and look through their citations. From there I just keep digging deeper and deeper until I find the evidence-based data I am looking for.  I never take information from a blog or magazine as fact – but instead always search for peer-reviewed articles relating to what I am researching.  There is so much misinformation out there; you really can’t believe a lot of what you read.  For instance, if you google “rosehip vitamin C,” you will find page after page of articles claiming rosehip oil is rich in vitamin C, which just isn’t true!  I wrote a post on my blog about the vitamin C myth regarding rosehip oil.   This is why I go and find peer-reviewed papers, when they are available, as a reliable source of information.  But even those you have to be careful and look at the way the study was conducted before accepting their conclusion as accurate.  When working with natural ingredients, sometimes part of the challenge when formulating is that there just aren’t many studies related to skin care about them.  So what I will do in that instance is look up the chemical composition of said ingredient, and look into research involving those components instead.

Do you have any favorite resources (whether books, online databases, etc.) for enriching understanding of ingredients and/or skin-related topics that you would recommend to an interested audience?

If you are interested in working with essential oils, I highly recommend www.aromahead.com as a source of information.  For an annual fee, you can get access to their component database, which gives you access to research papers organized by each chemical component found in essential oils.  They also offer excellent aromatherapy courses.

This is a great database to find research papers: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

As far as books, here is a list of my favorite books for someone that is looking to start delving into aromatherapy or herbalism.

Medical Herbalism (Hoffman)

The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook (Green)

The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oil (E. Joy Bowles)

What do you see as the most important things that set Apoterra Skincare apart from other lines on the marketplace?

I am a firm believer that science helps shine a light on what is true, but I am also a firm believer in the knowledge that traditional methods such as herbalism have to offer.   I combine both of these beliefs to offer a unique skincare line that marries the best of both worlds by combining herbal infusions, plant oils, raw botanicals and essential oil, with cutting-edge, naturally-derived technology like liposome encapsulated vitamin C and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid.  We offer natural, safe and effective products that approach skin care holistically to bring and maintain balance to the skin.

Our products also offer you an opportunity to connect with yourself and nature by elevating your personal care ritual through natural scents and textures.  I really believe these little moments in our day are essential for our well-being, and through the experience of using them, our products are meant to help you tune into yourself and take care of both your skin and mind.

We also offer guidance and education through our blog, skin care guide, and one-on-one guidance through email (info@apoterraskincare.com).  We believe that knowledge is power, and we want to offer you helpful and eye-opening information so you so that you can be empowered to take the best possible care of your skin.

I also believe in being kind to our planet and in being honest, which is why we strive to be environmentally friendly and transparent in our practices.  We are Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free certified and a Green America Certified Business.  We also hand stamp each of our products with a batch # which can be looked up on our website to find out more about the date of production and ingredient sourcing.

The post Apoterra Skincare’s Dominique Caron Solves Your Trickiest Skin Issues appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.

CV Skinlabs

As someone with sensitive skin often plagued by inflammation, I was beyond excited when I had the opportunity to try CV Skinlabs. Why? The entire line is explicitly designed to offer luxurious, soothing solutions for sensitive skin. I wanted to know if it could deliver on all these claims. Typical “sensitive skin care” generally falls into one of two camps:  highly irritating despite the sensitive label or gentle yet totally ineffective  (e.g., no results). For once, I wanted to find gentle and effective in the same place. With CV Skinlabs, I finally did.

For anyone with skin sensitivity, CV Skinlabs formulations are the stuff of dreams. Every single CV Skinlabs product contains Tri-Rescue Complex, a proprietary blend of turmeric, alpha bisabolol, and reishi mushroom (for detailed benefits of each ingredient, click here). Generally, a product with even one of those ingredients would pique my interest, so you can imagine how excited I was upon discovering CV Skinlabs delivers all three in a synergistic blend for ultimate healing, calming, skin-restorative, and hydrating benefits.

How does CV Skinlabs feel on inflamed skin?

When I received CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture and Rescue + Relief Spray to test, my skin was in a bad spot: inflamed an angry red, highly (and painfully) irritated, and extremely dry.  Despite CV Skinlabs’ focus on sensitive skin, I was nervous to apply much of anything, never mind anything new, to my skin. Why?  Because I knew from prior experience that any product I applied—no matter how “gentle” or “sensitive” it claimed to be—was going to burn, sting, and redden my face even more. Even plain water felt bad. On the other hand, there was no better time to put CV Skinlabs to the ultimate sensitivity test than when my skin was this angry. I got out the Rescue + Relief Spray, braced myself, pulled the trigger, and . . . almost instantly felt a cooling, soothing mist dance across my skin. Much to my surprise, the raw discomfort of my skin, my pain level, significantly diminished almost immediately. Rescue + Relief Spray felt amazing on my inflamed, painful skin.

I got out Calming Moisture next, hopeful, but unsure if it could match the gentle soothing power of Rescue + Relief Spray.  It did. Applying Calming Moisture to my raw and angry skin gave my skin another huge wave of pain relief, plus skin-quenching hydration.  Amazed, I decided to go to my skin care collection and gather up all my “soothing” products to see if any of them were either soothing or painless when applied to my compromised skin.  Out of dozens of “soothing” products, three-fourths of them burned on contact and left my skin beet red, and the others offered only slight relief. Only CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray and Calming Moisture actually felt good on inflamed skin. Color me impressed.

To tell you more about these soothing little miracle workers, Rescue + Relief Spray offers instant cooling and soothing for inflamed or irritated skin.  I literally breathe a sigh of relief when I apply it, especially when my skin is in bad shape. Unlike a lot of other mists I have tried, the spray bottle works easily and projects a nice mist rather than one narrow trickle. You can store it in the refrigerator, and then applying it feels even more amazing.  It is 99.4% natural, 84% organic, and free of any irritants or potentially harmful ingredients.  Along with CV SkinLabs’ healing Tri-Rescue Complex, Rescue + Relief Spray also combines Aloe and Cucumber for cooling and calming, Water Lily to reduce the heat of compromised skin, and Valerian and Comfrey to further soothe and support healing.

RESCUE + RELIEF SPRAY INGREDIENT LIST: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Glycerin, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract (Water Lily), Valeriana Officinalis Rhizome/Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Water (Aqua), Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey), Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Maltodextrin *Organic

 Calming Moisture is an antioxidant-rich light lotion that glides and spreads easily on skin, leaving skin soft and supple without the heaviness of traditional creams. The contents are 99.4% natural, 57% organic, and completely free of any irritating or potentially harmful ingredients. In addition to the Tri-Rescue Complex, Calming Moisture also contains Beta Glucan (to promote collagen production, minimize lines and wrinkles, and promote healing), Aloe Vera for soothing and calming, and Oat Extract to minimize redness and itch. Although Calming Moisture is lightweight, it is incredibly healing even for truly dry skin. I have never before found a moisturizer that actually delivers instant relief to painful, compromised skin the way that Calming Moisture does.

CALMING MOISTURE INGREDIENT LIST: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triolein, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Laurate, Squalane, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidium (Mushroom) Extract, Beta-Glucan, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil , Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract*, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Cera), Silicon Dioxide, Water (Aqua), Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin *Organic

Does CV Skinlabs deliver visible results?

The first night of my trial, I applied more of both CV Skinlabs products before I went to bed. I woke up the very next morning to visibly calmer, better-hydrated skin. I am not used to seeing skin-calming results this significant so quickly, so I was impressed. I used both Rescue + Relief Spray and Calming Moisture exclusively over the next week, and my skin was completely restored within a handful of days, much more quickly than is typical for me. With the anti-inflammatory power of the Tri-Rescue Complex, Rescue + Relief Spray and Calming Moisture healed both the pain and unsightliness of my inflammation. After a week, my skin looked like it had never been angry. My skin was hydrated with a noticeable boost in radiance.

Conclusion

Rescue + Relief and Calming Moisture are soothing wonders with beautifying benefits.  Even when I was sure that anything that touched my skin was going to hurt and burn, both products offered instant soothing and relief.  I have experimented with enough “sensitive” skin care products over the years to tell you that I have never experienced anything else that feels so good to apply on inflamed skin. For me, this is huge, because when you are already in pain with compromised skin, the last thing you want to do is to apply a product that will instantly trigger more pain and irritation. Plus, Rescue + Relief and Calming Moisture do much more than just soothing on contact, they are also incredibly healing, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating; with regular use, they transform irritated and inflamed skin, bringing skin back to health. Generally, green skincare this well-formulated and high-quality would be priced far beyond the reach the typical consumer (including myself), but fortunately for us, CV Skinlabs believes in honest margins and aims to keep prices moderate in order to be accessible to as many people as possible.  With CV Skinlabs, luxury skin care is finally attainable. The ingredients are amazingly safe, and I trust CV Skinlabs formulas enough that I use these products on my children whenever their skin needs soothing.  These are among the best-in-industry options for sensitive skin, and I give them my most enthusiastic recommendation.

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As someone with lupus and “problem dry skin,” I have tried countless moisturizers.  I have found sweet but fleeting relief for my skin, but found that my underlying issues were left unaddressed–until I tried CherylLeeMD Sensitive Skin Care: a line developed by Cheryl Lee Eberting, M.D., a board certified dermatologist and member of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, to address all the issues involved in a disrupted skin barrier.

Why is the skin barrier important? When the immune system goes awry as it does in lupus, the epidermal barrier no longer functions correctly in its protective and hydrating functions, which results in more cellular damage, in turn leading to premature aging and other problematic dermatological conditions. Most moisturizers and anti-aging products do not address the fundamental issues of the skin barrier and, thus, may exacerbate inflammation and skin aging. With patent-pending technology, TrueLipids represents the first skin care line designed to correct all the issues of an abnormal skin barrier: specific lipid deficiencies, compromised lipid production, abnormal pH, infection, inflammation, chemical sensitivities and allergies, photosensitivity, and abnormal cellular turnover.

• Hydrate, Correct, & Perfect Lotion–light moisture for normal to oily skin–face and body
• TrueTherapy Ceramide + Cream–deep moisture for dry to very dry skin–face and body
•  Relieve & Protect Ointment–extra deep moisture for hands, feet, and body
•  Eczema Expert 1% Hydrocortisone Barrier Cream–deep moisture for relief of itching, irritation, and inflammation of face and body
• Double Action Boo-Boo & Bum Balm--relief and protection for for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and diaper rash; and
• TrueLips Lip Balm–extra deep moisture for dry, chapped, cracked and peeling lips.

TrueLipids success stories include a wide array of skin issues and conditions: dry skin, cracked skin, eczema, rosacea, scrapes, cuts, burns, diaper rash, dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, post-procedure healing, and both subcutaneous lupus in SLE and discoid lupus. You can see some example success stories with Before and After pictures here.  For those of us with specific concerns, CherylLeeMD skin care experts offer specific regimens tailored to the issue or condition.  For example. . .

For eczema, psoriasis, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus: they recommend that, when skin is inflammed/actively irritated, we first apply Eczema Expert 1% Hydrocortisone Barrier Cream, followed by TrueTherapy Ceramide + Cream, followed by Relieve & Protect Ointment until the presenting skin issue is resolved. After the skin has normalized, any single product is generally a good solution for maintenance, although you may want to combine your favorites.

Since I was not in the middle of an acute flare, my presenting concerns were dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.  I had the wonderful opportunity to try: TrueLipids Hydrate, Correct, and Perfect Lotion and TrueLipids TrueTherapy Ceramide + Cream, and TrueLipids Relieve and Protect Ointment. These products are fantastic on their own, but as someone with parched, sensitive skin, slightly inflamed by lupus, I benefited hugely from layering them initially until my skin was fully hydrated.  With my skin challenges, I have tried countless moisturizers that I would characterize as lovely-but-superficial; they feel nice, but they wear off in a few hours without providing lasting benefit, leaving me pretty much as dry/red/inflamed as I started. TrueLipids is different.  These are products that are steps ahead in terms of healing inflamed and/sensitive skin by addressing inflammation and the many other issues related to a disrupted skin barrier. TrueLipids Hydrate, Correct, and Perfect Lotion, TrueTherapy Ceramide + Cream, and TrueLipids Relieve & Protect Ointment are the most deeply soothing, rapidly healing, and skin-nourishing moisturizers I have found. Each one has its special uses: Hydrate, Correct, & Protect Lotion provides the most anti-inflammatory molecules, Ceramide + Cream is my favorite to apply with its buttery texture that provides instant comfort and deep hydration for the face, and Relieve & Protect Ointment helps protect and heal cracked or chapped skin.   They are suitable for sensitive skin (very gentle and free of 88 top allergens), and as a mom, I have had great success using them on my baby twins (both of whom are prone to irritation and rashes).

True Lipids Hydrate, Correct, and Perfect Lotion is a lightweight barrier repair lotion with a lipid replacement system that includes Ceramide-3 and phytopshingosine, niacinamide and licorice root extract as anti-inflammatories, and gluconolactone as an antioxidant. It is skin calming and has a very gentle application even on irritated skin (e.g., no stinging or burning even when my sensitive skin was inflamed). The lotion provides light moisture that is soothing, anti-inflammatory, skin brightening, and helps restore the skin barrier. This lotion is great for any skin type, and goes flawlessly under makeup.

The post Healing Hydration: Cheryl Lee M.D. TrueLipids appeared first on The Beauty Librarian.