This guest post is by Althea Giscombe, Founder of Thea Skincare.
You will have heard about organic and there is certainly lots of discussion about ‘organic’ skincare in the industry. It is one of those words people have come across and have heard but what does it mean and why is there so much talk about it?
It’s really quite simple, anything that is organic is produced without any synthetic chemicals and does not involve the use of any type of chemical, such as pesticides, artificial fertilisers or synthetic chemicals. A good quality organic skincare product will have at least 70% of its ingredients being organic, with the rest of the ingredients coming from natural sources.
Our skin, like our other organs, needs to be fed daily with highly nutritious ingredients so that it looks and feels healthy.
And these days both men and women are striving for better glowing complexions and skincare products with a high percentage of organic ingredients do just that.
Organic products are great at feeding the skin, adding nutrients and keeping the skin hydrated and moist.
Excessive dryness of the skin can cause pre-mature ageing and initiate skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis and even acne. Skincare moisturisers act as emollients, in other words ‘natural skin softeners’ and moisturisers.
Moisturisers have three main functions:
1. They keep the skin moist, nourish the skin and prevent the skin from losing moisture.
2. They allow the skin to breath, release toxins and take in and release moisture.
3. They protect the skin from day to day elements and harmful bacteria, helping the skin to heal when it needs to.
The best skincare moisturisers are those derived from ancient old ingredients, that is, from traditional edible plants.
These ingredients offer high skincare nutrition, are easily absorbed by the skin and allow the skin to breath while moisturising and nourishing the skin.
Here are 10 of the best organic skincare moisturisers that should be found in organic skincare products:
1. Organic Aloe Vera
Organic Aloe Vera is highly moisturising, soothing, and has skin calming properties and is excellent for dry and sensitive skin and just about any type of skin related problem that you can imagine.
2. Organic Avocado Oil
Avocado Oil is an excellent emollient and is used to nourish, smooth and invigorate the skin while helping to transport active nutrients and vitamins to the skin. It has excellent bactericidal and soothing properties and is particularly good for sensitive skin.
3. Organic Carrot Oil
Carrot Oil is obtained used for its content of beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Carrot Oil also contains Vitamins B, C, D and E. It is primarily used for rejuvenating and re-hydrating damaged, dry and ageing skin.
4. Organic Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is one of nature’s richest moisturisers and can do wonders for your skin. Cocoa Butter, like Shea Butter, has the ability to improve the skins moisture, retention and elasticity and is effective at relieving skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.
5. Organic Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin. It is also an effective moisturiser for all skin types, but particularly for dry skin as it prevents dryness and flaking of the skin. Coconut Oil also delays wrinkles and sagging of skin, which normally become prominent with age.
6.Organic Jojoba Oil
Jojoba Oil is referred to as the ‘miracle skin care ingredient’. It is particularly effective in adjusting skin imbalances due to excess dryness or oiliness. Natural Jojoba moisturises and softens by forming a breathable lipid layer, diffusing into the skin leaving behind a silky feel. Healing also takes place because of the high proportion of naturally occurring vitamin E within it and its naturally occurring anti –inflammatory properties.
7.Organic Meadowfoam Oil
I refer to Meadowfoam oil as one of the ‘new generation’ of natural skincare moisturisers. It is widely used in skincare products because it is moisturising, extremely stable, and capable of adhering and staying on the skin. It forms a moisture barrier and will assist the skin with preventing moisture loss and on top of that offers natural ultra violet protection and reduces wrinkles and the signs of ageing.
8. Organic Mango Butter
This exotic, tropical butter is relatively rare in the west, but it is being used more and more in natural skincare products due to its healing, moisturising and rejuvenating properties. Mango butter rejuvenates skin due to presence of antioxidants. It helps to neutralize toxins, to generate skin cell renewal and prevents wrinkle formation.
Mango Butter also contains natural skin acids, which are excellent natural exoliators and gently remove dead skin from the surface of the body. It also contains nutritious skin vitamins such as vitamin A and high amounts of vitamins E, C, D, group B vitamins, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium. And this wonder butter also protects skin from sun damage.
9. Organic Palm Oil
Palm Oil is one of the best natural anti-ageing moisturisers as it contains the hard to find toctrienols, which are members of the vitamin E family. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that helps the skin to fight free radicals, which damage the skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles. It is added to skin care products not only for its anti-ageing properties, but also because it provides deep moisturising benefits making the skin soft and supple.
10. Organic Shea Butter
Shea Butter is unique because of its high content of fats, which act as a natural skin moisturiser.It is extremely high in Vitamins A, E & F and enhances cell regeneration and capillary circulation. Shea butter also moisturise the skin with all the essential elements it needs for balance, elasticity and tone.
About the Author
Althea Giscombe, BSc (Hons), MSc, Founder of Thea Skincare
Althea was born in Leeds and attended Nottingham Trent University at the age of 18, where she gained an honours degree in Combined Sciences and a year later was awarded a grant from the Science and Engineering Research Council to do a masters degree in Manufacturing and Polymer Technology at Loughborough University. Althea has worked in a number of corporate companies including Avon Cosmetics where she learnt about cosmetic skincare formulations and brand marketing.
In 2008, Althea went to Malawi in Africa for the first time which changed her life and perception of nature and Africa itself. It was there that Althea learnt about life that was simple, pure and natural. She lived in a mud hut within a traditional African village for a month and experienced life as a local Malawian, learning about living with nature and their way of life and how they used their natural environment to survive and to look after their skin.
Althea enjoyed the natural environment and one of her African experiences was when see was sitting by the lake one day just thinking how breathtaking it was and how lucky she was to be there, when all the women from the village arrived at the lake and began to take off their clothes. They then started to rub sand all over their bodies. Unsure of what was happening, Althea soon realised that they were using sand to exfoliate and condition their bodies. These experiences were the inspiration for her natural and organic skincare range,Thea Skincare http://www.theaskincare.com/.
