Tag Archive for: natural skincare

Over the next few months, we will share Dr. G’s thought process and choices for ingredients and formulating. This week we sat down with him to learn about the ‘Power of the Flower’, and why something as ordinary as a floral arrangement on your table, could save your skin.

“The integrity and purity in plant and botanically derived ingredients is one of the forefronts of our brand. We use high levels of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, plant stem cells and floral extracts to provide a vital spectrum of benefits for the skin without being compromised by fillers and inactive ingredients.” Dr. Goldfaden

Every product in our collection has a reason for being and represents a solution to a skin problem. On the heels of our two newest launches, Detox Hydrating Gel, and Skin Balancing Mask, you may have noticed a plethora of floral extracts and plant/floral stem cells as ingredients. Here is Dr. G’s dictionary on ‘The Power of the Flower’.

Found in our proprietary DETOX ComplexTM (Detox Gel + Detox Cleanser)

*Cowslip Primrose which helps bruising, may help eliminates toxins

*Veronica Officinalis: anti-inflammatory benefits, astringent properties, soothing and rich in tannins

*Mallow: soothing and anti-inflammatory properties

Found in The Skin Balancing Mask

*Elderflower: promotes blood flow, loaded with vitamins A, B, C, E

*Calendula/Marigold: good for moisturizing, soothing, pain relief, anti-inflammatory properties

*Geranium Extract: calming, anti-bacterial, astringent

Found in Bright Eyes

*Arnica- helps with bruising and the darkness involved and contains flavonoids, polysaccharides, and sesquiterpene lactones. Also contains the beneficial oil, thymol, clinically shown to cause the smooth muscles in your blood vessel walls to contract, thereby dilating them and increasing blood flow and circulation. Bye-bye bruising and swelling!

Found in Fleuressence Botanical Oil

*Milk thistle: Fatty acids, including linoleic acid, Vitamin E (antioxidant/environmental stressors, Silymarin, which is actually a group of three flavonoids (anti-aging, antioxidant purposes from environmental stressors).

*Rosehip seed oil: Brightening properties due to Vitamins A + C, hydrating and antioxidant benefits.

*Chickweed: A super food, good for inflammation, referred to as ‘skin healer’, full of fatty acids.

Found in Facial Detox Mask

*Japonica flower: one of the most important medicinal herbs in history, may provide extraordinary levels of calming properties. Loaded with key benefits to improve the appearance of flaws.

*Comfrey leaf extract: wound healing

*Camellia leaf extract: moisturizing, the transdermal carrier of cell rebuilding nutrients, helps restore the bounce to skin.

Found in The Plant Profusion Collection

*Japonica Flower extract: One of the most important medicinal herbs in history, it may provide extraordinary levels of calming properties. Loaded with key benefits it works to improve the appearance of flaws.

*Comfrey Stem Cell: Used since ancient times for its extensive properties, these stem cells to make skin feel firmer and appear smoother, resulting in a smoother and plumper complexion.

*Birds of Paradise: Derived from White Bird of Paradise, this multi-functional ingredient works to restore skin’s youthful glow by improving the appearance of skin color and tone.

So the next time you’re applying your serum or mask you can feel like you’re actually putting a bouquet of flowers on your face.  Stay tuned for next time when we will discuss the use and importance of plant stem cells.

 

 

 

We enlisted our dear friend Ada Polla, CEO of Alchimie Forever, to shed light into how important and impactful women friendships can be.

My friendship with Lisa Goldfaden started a couple of years ago – and after finally meeting her, I couldn’t believe we hadn’t met much earlier, as in may ways we are work twins.

Ada Polla

When Lisa asked me to write a guest blog post for her, how could I say no? She told me it didn’t have to be on skin care – and so instead, I want to write a few lines on women’s friendships, and asking for help.

Many could say that Lisa and I are competitors. After all, we both have skin care brands that are positioned at the intersection of dermatology and nature (hers), aka clean and clinical (mine). We sell to many of the same boutiques and spas. We could hate each other, bad mouth each other, and refuse to help each other. But instead, we do the opposite.

I use her products (my favorite is her Fleuressence face oil). When I hear of an account looking for an innovative brand, I recommend hers. She does the same – actually it is thanks to her that you will find Alchimie Forever at Fusion Apothecary in Manhattan. We share industry stories. We tell each other how awesome we are. We lift each other up. There is enough skin in the world for brands to be friend (side note: I feel the same about Sarah Kugelman of Skyn Iceland).

I am a strong believer that women helping women is good for the soul, for the industry, for the world. I love helping, and I love being helped. But I didn’t used to – in particular the latter. When I started in the industry, I knew less but thought I knew more, and I saw asking for help as a sign of weakness. I would do this on my own, by myself. Sometimes I didn’t even want the help that my family provided. I am now older, and wiser, and clearer on a few things:

  • I can’t do it alone.
  • I can’t know everything about everything.
  • Asking for help is a sign of strength.
  • Being helped is as important as helping others.
  • Strong women lift up other women.
  • And Alchimie Forever products and Goldfaden MD products layer beautifully!

In today’s world people are becoming more aware of pollution and the harmful side effects and aging capability. The natural skincare movement has begun to shed light on what pollution can do to the skin and how to reverse the signs. Anti-pollution products and healthy lifestyle choices can fight against aging and environmental damage of the skin.

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Pollution + skin + aging

Pollution releases microscopic particles or free radicals that can go deep into the skin and cause damage to otherwise healthy cells. The outcome is loss of elasticity (wrinkles and sagging) and Hyperpigmentation (dark spots). Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, dehydration, dryness, dark spots, expedited aging, wrinkles, sagging and a deterioration of collagen.

Protect + Shield with lifestyle choices

First and foremost always wear an SPF! Look for Anti-oxidant ingredients as they fight free radicals. A few of the most studied and effective anti-oxidants are Red Tea, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Japonica flowers, Water Cress Sprouts, Retinol and Resveratrol. We have a serum launching very soon that incorporates Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin B- specifically for polluted skin protection! Lucky for us Dr. G just introduced Brightening Elixir– an anti-pollution serum that contains Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin B and Vitamin E!

The Sun is the number one environmental damage for skin. Both UVA/UVB rays are harmful. Protect yourself by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Shielding your skin, head and eyes can help with sun damage and pollution-based aging. Always wash you face to remove the residue and makeup from the day. Remember all the pollution from car exhaust, factories and the weak ozone layer sits on the skin!

Eating healthy can also reduce pollution effects on the skin and the body. Eat a diet high in anti-oxidant rich foods such as leafy greens and berries and foods high in essential fatty acids (salmon and almonds). Stay away form foods that can encourage and cause Glycation. The Glycation process, which is basically, sugars (from food and alcohol) breaking down the collagen fibers in the skin and therefore speeding up the aging process. Foods that feed Glycation and cause inflammation in the body and the skin are carbohydrates, fried foods, sugar, fatty meats and alcohol.

Repair the damage

The best way to repair environmentally damaged skin is to introduce an anti-pollution based skin care regimen- Exfoliate (remove the dead and polluted skin cells), Cleanse, Treat (serum), Seal (moisturizer) and Protect (SPF).

Exfoliation is the best method for ridding pores of pollutants. Scrubs can get into the pores and clean them while also removing dead skin cells, bacteria and prior damage. Chemical peels are also a terrific way to exfoliate and remove damaged skin cells.

The most potent and highest regarded pollution fighting ingredients are: Red Tea, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Retinol and Resveratrol. Look for these in serums and moisturizers.

Healthy choices lead to healthy skin!