TRUE BOTANICALS

The skin care industry is inundated with labels: nontoxic, natural, organic, hypoallergenic, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, as well as a host of industry labels confirming purity or sourcing. The reality is that very few of these claims are regulated or verified by a reputable authoritative body. The cosmetic industry is a buyer-beware market, but the following distinctions can shed light on what’s in a skin care label. Organic The cosmetic industry falls under the purview of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and is regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labelling Act. However, the term “organic” is controlled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program, in accordance with the Organic Food Production Act. The USDA organic label means that the agency has verified that a product’s ingredients were produced in accordance with federal standards and verified by an accrediting agent

For some, a good workout is as much a part of a daily routine as morning coffee or the evening news. For others, the gym isn’t quite as routine, but you do what you can. Regardless of the frequency or intensity of your workouts, an exercise routine should leave you with that perfect feeling of exhaustion and satisfaction, and of course a little sweaty. Toned muscles and a healthy disposition are great byproducts of physical exercise, but sweat-clogged pores definitely are not. Follow this workout-specific skin care routine to ramp up your fitness while avoiding unwanted breakouts. Step One: Remove Your Makeup It may seem like an old wives’ tale but sweating with a full face of makeup is a great way to introduce bacteria, dirt, and oil into your pores. The real damage comes not from the actual workout, but from mixing makeup with sweat, bacteria, dirt, and letting it sit on your face afterwards. Although it might be a hassle to remove and then reapply makeu

Antioxidants seem to be everywhere from infused teas to energy drinks to chocolate to skin care. It’s tempting to dismiss this trend as a well-crafted marketing campaign, but the truth is, antioxidants are some of the most effective and natural treatments for combating cellular damage and signs of aging. What Are Antioxidants? Antioxidants are molecules that help repair and protect cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause damage to cell membranes and DNA. Although the formation of free radicals is a normal part of the metabolic and aging process, exposure to UVA rays, air pollutants, industrial chemicals, and carcinogens can accelerate the formation of free radicals at the cellular level. When cells become oxidized, they lose the molecular components that make them stable. Damaged cells can interact with and break down other molecules in our body, like our DNA, lipids, and proteins. Antioxi

Many of us ritualistically protect our face with a separate moisturizing serum or cream for daytime and nighttime. This widely adopted grooming habit replenishes much-needed moisture and helps keep our delicate facial skin looking healthy, hydrated, and nourished. In addition to these moisturizing properties, a high-quality skin serum applied nightly can also combat various signs of aging, such as that slight sag of the cheeks, a few wrinkles around the eyes, or the parenthesis that form around our mouth. These signs of aging (or wisdom, depending on your perspective) tend to appear as our skin loses structural resiliency, often due to excessive sun exposure, environmental toxins, and natural cellular changes. However, in our efforts to moisturize and protect our face, we might be forgetting the other delicate areas that are exposed to the same harmful elements such as UV rays, extreme heat or cold, and free radicals, and can show signs of aging just like our face.

There are a host of acne skin care options on the market today, ranging from oral antibiotics to over-the-counter treatments to prescription medications to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The latter is an emerging, almost counter-culture approach to acne management that treats skin with herbal medicine, acupuncture, or dietary modifications instead of conventional medication. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of CAM therapies, making it hard to know whether it’s a viable treatment option. A 2015 meta-analysis of 35 studies and 3,227 participants tried to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of six CAM therapies, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, diet, purified bee venom (PBV), and tea tree oil. Their primary objective focused on evaluating the “improvement of clinical signs assessed through skin lesion counts,” which included inflammatory lesions, change in skin lesions,

Acne is the most common skin condition the United States, according to the American Dermatology Association, affecting nearly 50 million Americans each year. While acne is most prevalent in adolescents and young adults, an estimated 15% of women report struggling to treat acne well into their adult years. People are willing to spend serious money to treat adverse skin conditions, giving rise to a topical acne skin care market worth over $3 billion globally. With countless cleansers, toners, and products on the market today, consumers have more choices than ever before to treat acne-prone skin. The sheer number and diversity of products might be overwhelming for many people, but Informed Health Online, a publication from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, outlines a few strategies that can help acne-prone skin, as well as some surprising things you might be doing that make your acne worse. Using a Soap with a High pH Many soaps have a pH between 8

As the wellness and beauty industry starts to lean toward cleaner formulas, natural and nontoxic ingredients are distinctly favored among consumers for their skincare and self-care routines. If you’re looking to revamp your self-care products with nontoxic alternatives, here are a handful of high-performance natural ingredients to look for. Aloe Vera Leaf This moisture-preserving humectant is a natural skin care staple for a reason. Not only does it prevent moisture loss, but it also helps improve the skin’s natural firmness with antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Aloe vera is often used in natural shampoo and conditioner formulas to balance and soothe a dry or irritated scalp. This ingredient doesn’t interfere with cleansing, making it one of the more attractive hydrating humectants for nontoxic self-care products and formulas. Look for this in a hydrating shampoo , face cleansers, and other skincare for sensitive skin types. Meado

Beyond your favorite pair of leggings and trusty running shoes, keeping your gym bag stocked with post-workout essentials keeps you ready for wherever you’re going to next. Take care of your skin and hair by using shower essentials with natural and nontoxic ingredients that nourish while they cleanse and hydrate. When you’re breaking a sweat and pushing yourself to the limits, caring for your body afterward keeps you healthy and feeling your best.  If you use gym time as part of your self-care routine, why not continue that to your cool down and shower, too? Here’s a list of shower essentials with natural ingredients to keep in your gym bag. Note: Don’t forget to have a waterproof toiletry bag to keep your shower products from leaking onto your gym clothes and bag. No one wants to find body wash on their sports bra. Shampoo + Conditioner Start by washing your hair with an antioxidant-packed shampoo and conditioner. The best, high-performance formulas are

If you’re still following the same skincare routine that you started in your teenage years, it’s time to re-evaluate. Your skin needs (and the products available) have changed in the last decade or two. Streamline your products and reinvigorate your skin with these skincare essentials that can nourish and strengthen every skin type. Daily: Toner A high-performance toner is a primer for the rest of your skincare routine. If you struggle with acne, choose an antibacterial toner that balances oil production while leaving skin nourished and hydrated. Toner ingredients like kombucha balance and restore pH while healing and detoxifying the skin. If your skin struggles with inflammation or sensitivity, a nutrient mist acts as a calming and soothing toner to hydrate, repair, and nourish. Natural skin care ingredients like blue chamomile flower extract are packed with anti-inflammatory properties and soothing phytochemicals. Apply your toner after you cleanse and pat you