Day Cream

Labels can be very confusing so you must be wondering what exactly is in your moisturiser and what it does for your skin. This month I have decided to tell you exactly what is in
deeply nurturing anti ageing day cream.

Pure Ingredients: purified water, oils of *macadamia, avocado, *rose hip, camellia, carrot, calendula, wheatgerm, *shea nut and *cocoa butter, vegetable emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerine, *spirulina marine extract, *green tea, *ginseng, *gotu kola extracts, *aloe vera juice, essential oils of frankincense, rose, *palmarosa, *rosewood, patchouli, *lavender, *neroli, sandalwood, *lemon, tuberose, vitamins E, B5, C & A, almond, vanilla, grapefruit seed and rosemary leaf extracts. *certified organic *

The major cause of the ageing skin
The barrier function of our skin decreases with age and sun damage allowing water to escape and irritants to penetrate the skin easier causing inflammation and free radical damage. Antioxidants are used to prevent free radical damage. Free radicals have been associated with disease and ageing. Applied topically antioxidants prevent excessive ageing of the skin and sun damage.
Ingredients in the day cream will address few causes of ageing skin that include stress, inflammation and free radical damage.

Natural oils in moisturisers provide a seal over the skin which prevents water evaporation from the surface of the skin and allow lower layers of the skin to rehydrate the upper layers to maintain water. In so doing skin’s suppleness is maintained, delaying the ageing process and formation of fine line and wrinkles.
Macadamia oil is moisturising for ageing skin, it penetrates and hydrates the skin quickly, soothes the irritation of dry skin and it is effective anti-oxidants.
Avocado oil is an emollient with superior skin penetration and restorative properties due to vitamins A,C,D,E and proteins. It revitalises the appearance of the skin as well as being softening and protective. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant with high levels of chlorophyll, vitamin E and omegas 3 and 9 to improve the health and vitality of the skin.
Rose hip oil has been scientifically proven to help repair damaged skin. It has cell regenerative properties and reduces wrinkles and sun damage. It slows the ageing process of the skin when used daily.
Camellia oil is rich in vitamins A,B,E and minerals, also high in oleic oil. Promotes the elasticity of the skin and helps to delay lines and wrinkles.
Carrot, the carotene rich emollient has cleansing, depurative and rejuvenating properties. Rich in nutrients, waxes, proteins, minerals a high concentration of vitamin A,D&E, also B1 & B12 and lecithin.
Calendula with high caretenoid content enhances skin’s regeneration. Used for centuries to treat inflammatory skin conditions because of healing and skin-soothing properties.
Wheatgerm is a rich source of vitamin E. It is a superb antioxidant and promotes elasticity. It improves appearance of the complexion.

Vegetable emulsifying is natural plant wax used to combine water and oil components.
Shea butter protects from harsh weather conditions, soothing, anti-inflammatory, stimulates circulation, repairs and re-oxygenates the skin.
Glycerine - is a non-toxic and non-irritating plant based humectants. It comes from natural plant oil and is not petroleum-based. It has good water binding and moisture retaining properties.

Herbal extracts contain vitamins, minerals and trace elements which makes them important addition to any cream.
Spirulina marine extract is amicro algae with high content of trace elements and provides hydration, softness and elasticity. It aids skin’s firmness and cell renewal.
Green tea is powerful anti oxidant, reduces redness and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, decreases inflammation and aids healing.
Ginseng rejuvenates skin; revitalises epidermal cells, diminishes appearance of wrinkles.
Gotu kola studies have shown that main constituent of gotu kola increase collagen syntheses as well as promote circulation.
Aloe vera juice is soothing, hydrating, stimulates the growth of new cells and tissue.

Essential oils and herbal extracts chosen are: cell regenerative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, tissue and skin strengthening, stress reducting.
Frankincense- promotes cell regeneration and wrinkle and fine line reduction, helps prevent signs of ageing.
Rose- is moisturising and firming, revitalises skin’s appearances, reduces signs of ageing and it is hormonally balancing, cell regenerative and skin strengthening, reduces lines and wrinkles.
Palmarosa – promotes cellular regeneration and hydration.
Rosewood - is cellular stimulant and tissue regenerator.
patchouli - helps to stimulate regrowth of healthy skin cells, assists in healing dry skin.
Lavender is soothing and assists cell rejuvenation.
Neroli – revitalises appearance of skin, promotes elasticity, reduces signs of ageing.
Sandalwood- moisturises ageing skin and dimishes appearance of wrinkles, promotes elasticity, nourishes and softens.
Essential oils were blended together to create a therapeutic synergy as well as a fragrance synergy and work synergeticaly to rejuvenate, renew skin cells, and to diminish lines and wrinkles.

Vitamins E clinically proven to improve skin’s moisture content. Helps to reduce the effects of free radicals formed from sun damage and smoothes wrinkles.
Vitamin B5, deeply penetrating moisturiser.
Vitamin C clinically proven to increase collagen production helps to reduce lines and wrinkles, smoothes wrinkles.
Vitamin A is anti–oxidant with rejuvenating effects on the skin. Reduces appearance of lines and wrinkles and promotes elasticity.
Almond, vanilla, grapefruit seed and rosemary leaf extracts are natural presaervatives.s grapefruit seed and rosemary leaf extracts.

There are endless scientific studies to support the efficacy of plants in skin care. There is a lot of goodness in one jar of cream.

Sunscreen in BNG products?

I often get asked about sunscreen in my day moisturisers.

Sunscreens are divided into two types – natural and chemical. Natural sunscreens use a physical barrier such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide to block UV rays. Chemical sunscreens actually absorb UV rays and neutralise them in the skin tissues.
Natural sunscreen agents that use zinc and titanium minerals are generally less irritating and less allergenic than chemical agents as they are often irritating to the skin and toxic to the body. Titanium, when used for sunscreen purposes, is coated so that it does not penetrate the skin but rather performs as a shield.
Recently, some concerns have been raised about safety of use of nano technology in sunscreens. Consumers have no way of knowing if the brand of sunscreen they use contains engineered material suspected of causing damage to human cells and DNA.

When CHOICE tested sunscreen products in Australia lot of products failed to meet the sun protection claims. The only two ingredients that can be used for sun protection in natural skincare are titanium dioxide and zink oxide. Sunscreens with an SPF rating of 4 and above must be listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to insure that the chemicals used in sunscreen have been tested and approved as being safe and effective. Unfortunately it is very difficult and costly for small manufacturers to register the products with TGA.

The European Union has introduced mandatory labelling for all products containing nanoparticles due to mounting health concerns, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, in Australia does not even require manufacturers to disclose whether their products have nanoparticles.

So you see sunscreen is a very complex issue.

I do not add sunscreen ingredients to my products for two reasons:

Low percentage of sunscreen (zinc oxide and titanium oxide), which I am able to add to my moisturisers by law is not sufficient to adequately protect my clients.

Many people are also allergic to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Tips:
· When you are looking for effective sunscreen always make sure it is TGA approved, that it is stated on the label that no nano technology has been used andthat it is a broad-spectrum sunscreen that filters both UVA and UVB radiation.
· Keep your skin hydrated from the inside and the outside too. Drink plenty of water, stay out of the sun and use a nourishing night cream to plump up thirsty skin overnight.
· Throughout the day, sprits your face with a refreshing face mist (keep it in the fridge for an extra blast).
· Mineral makeup can acts as a sun block, during the day.
· You can apply sunscreen over the moisturizer.
· Always apply sunscreen 20minutes prior to exposure to allow skin to fully absorb the sunscreen.
· If you're in the sun for an extended period, wear loose long sleeved clothing, sunglasses with UV protection and a hat.

Reference:
Position Statement – use of SPF30+sunscreens Te Australian College of Dermatologists
The Cancer Council Australia
CHOICE