Vitamin A in a Natural Way

How can we benefit from a gentler form of Vitamin A in our skincare regimen?

Vitamin A is essential for normal skin cell development and differentiation. It inhibits collagen breakdown, increases collagen synthesis, increases elasticity, improves water barrier function, is anti-inflammatory, regulates sebum production, and can reverse the effects of environmental damage.

While it has become increasingly popular to use retinol and retinoids (synthetic chemical derivatives of Vitamin A) for anti-aging, many natural practitioners question the safety of retinol in these strong forms, and whether or not it can increase the risk of skin cancer, in particular increases the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. Others are dismayed and put off by the dermatitis, erythema (redness), scaling/dryness, peeling, burning or stinging, and irritation of the skin which are common adverse reactions reported with retinol use.

“Stronger for longer” is not always necessary–or even a great idea! These gentle, botanical offerings provide the nourishing qualities of these important nutrients without acting like a drug.

If you have been using high potency, medical-grade retinoids in your skin care, you may have to wean off slowly and as per your prescriber’s direction. These harsh compounds impact the skin’s normal function, and most certainly, your skin will need a period of recovery to start regulating itself properly again.

Enter the A+ Brilliancy Oil Serum and A + Brightening Clay Mask

We use TWO products together to boost Vitamin A absorption and efficacy: First the oil serum, then the call on top. For each step, we encourage TAPPING the product into the face. There are several reasons for this which we will go into below. But first let’s examine the actual products and why we chose to formulate them this way.

A+ Brilliancy Oil Serum: This nature-based source of Vitamins A, C, E, & high antioxidants beautifully replace damaging synthetic retinoids to gently encourage brightness & radiance. Enjoy a brilliant glow thanks to the protection of wild carrot seeds, anti-inflammatory evening primroses and the brightening essence of lemon. This combination of nutrients stimulate skin’s natural healing abilities, boosting collagen and elastin production, helping effectively strengthen skin’s extracellular matrix and repairing visible signs of environmental damage.

A+ Brightening Clay Mask: This nature-based source of the powerhouse anti-inflammatory Turmeric, Vitamins A, C, E, Sea Moss minerals, and purifying Kaolin Clay beautifully replaces damaging synthetic retinoids to gently encourage brilliancy & radiance. Especially effective for hyper-pigmentation and environmental damage protection.

Synthetic versions of what nature provides can push our bodies to the tipping point of chronic inflammation. Even naturally occurring vitamins and elements must be used properly or they can cause disharmony in the body’s system of balance.

A+ Brilliancy Oil Serum

Vitamin A Wonder Ingredients: Organic Golden Jojoba Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Apricot Kernel Seed Oil, Organic Cold-pressed Carrot Seed Oil, Organic Raspberry Seed Oil, Organic Cranberry Seed Oil, Organic Lemon Oil, <1/100 % amazing essential oils of Lemon, Sandalwood, & Wild Carrot Seed

ALL OILS ARE COLD-PRESSED & ORGANIC

How does it work: This nature-based, high antioxidant source of Vitamins A, C, E replace damaging synthetic retinoids to gently encourage brightness & radiance.

Protective
Anti-inflammatory
Brightening glow
Stimulate skin’s natural healing abilities
Boosting collagen and elastin production
Strengthens skin’s extracellular matrix
Repairing environmental damage

Directions: Use in the evening: Apply 1-2 droppers Oil Serum to the face, massaging around with the fingertips, taking care around the eye area. Tap the face lightly all around with fingertips for a few minutes while repeating your mantra. Cover with A+ Brightening Mask and continue tapping until the mask stops feeling tacky. Remove with a cloth & warm water before it dries. Mist your face liberally with one of our Mineral Mists.

A + Brightening Clay Mask

Wonder Ingredients: Kaolin Clay, Organic Irish Sea Moss, Organic Turmeric Root, Organic Raspberry, Organic Cranberry, Organic Neem, Zinc, Diatomaceous Earth

How does it work: The powerhouse of anti-inflammatory Turmeric, Vitamins A, C, E, & minerals.

Purifying
Sea Moss minerals
Anti-inflammatory
Brilliancy & radiance
Hyper-pigmentation
Environmental damage protection & repair

Directions: Mix 2 parts mask with 1 part warm water in a small bowl. Apply generously over a layer of A+ Brilliancy Oil Serum, with the fingertips, taking care around the eye area. Tap the face lightly all around with wet fingertips until the mask stops feeling tacky. Remove with a cloth & warm water before mask dries. Mist face with one of our Mineral Mists.

Get ready for deep relaxation from this simple technique that is always available at your fingertips. Face Tapping is a practice that spans thousands of years of recorded human experience, and likely predates even that time period. It is fundamental to our connectedness to the self.

Why the Face Tapping Ritual?

1. Product penetration into the tissues to stimulate collagen production.

Tapping your combination of A+ Serum and A+ Mask deepens the synergistic effect of this combination to a more profound level of influence inside the skin. We don’t need any of the “penetration enhancers’ ‘ of conventional skincare, which can break down the skin’s barrier and weaken your protective layer. Tapping brings additional blow flow to our tissues, which increases lymphatic flow and drainage, meaning cellular waste is moved towards leaving the body rather than stagnating. We have seen enhanced collagen production, skin smoothing and the evening out of pigmentation with the inclusion of this tactile technique.

2. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system for calming.

Humans have explored the healing potential of meridian points on the body for well over 5,000 years. Treatment of these points is part of the ancient medical approach of many cultures, particularly Traditional Chinese Medicine. Today, tapping using the Emotional Freedom Technique is an established system for tapping both sides of the body to release emotional and physical distress, build resilience, aid in healing, and calm the body on a deep physiological level. We can harness this healing potential in lightly tapping each side of our face with this harmonized herbal pair. Just as breath can be used to activate the parasympathetic (at rest) nervous system by deeply inhaling and exhaling through the nostrils, gentle tapping can align us to this same ever ready potential state of our body.

3. Formation of new neural pathways (so please add your own affirmation, like “I trust my skin”).

Tapping has an added benefit of potentially forming new neural pathways, taking us out of the same old thought patterns which can trap us in a cycle of dis-ease. Try any affirmation while tapping the skin: our herbal crafters chose their own including “I am a perfect being,” “I deserve to be loved,” “My life is meaningful.” In a calm and confident state, we have access to choices we simply do not have when we’re stressed. New neural pathways open up. In this state, we find that repeating a positive, affirming mantra can flow through us and become a part of our belief system about ourselves and the world. In this, we create our own story and manifest the potential of our life. We can choose love rather than fear. Everything around us is made of energy. This living energy has patterns (colors, sounds, and textures) that vibrate as a dynamically evolving creation of our consciousness.

The ingredient story of A+ Brilliancy Serum Oil

Golden Jojoba Seed Oil: Simmondsia chinensis
This unique cold-pressed extraction of jojoba mimics the skin’s own natural moisture factor, sebum, and has excellent moisturizing and protective effects.

Apricot Kernel Seed Oil: Prunus armeniaca
Helps to improve skin tone, maintain softness and radiance of the skin. It also nourishes the skin and lowers the appearance of face wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes, a case of Vitamin C and E working in partnership.

Wild Carrot Seed Essential Oil: Daucus carota
Carrot essential oil is often derived from the steam distillation of carrot seeds, it is packed with nutrients and in a very concentrated form. This essential oil contains umbelliferone and beta carotene, both of which protect skin from sun damage by absorbing UV rays. Rich in vitamin E and known for its ability to rejuvenate. Carrot seed oil contains the following constituents: a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, y-terpinene, limonene, b-bisabolene, geranyl acetate and carotol.These unique components support glowing skin, brightening a dull complexion.

Carrot Cold Pressed Oil: Daucus Carota Sativa
Our Carrot oil is made by cold pressing the roots and seed. Rich in vitamin A and carotenoids, carrot oil helps give your skin a natural radiant complexion. Carrot oil is extremely rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, C, D, and E as well as essential fatty acids. Research shows that beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, can help with cell regeneration. When it’s applied topically, it speeds up the skin’s cell turnover rate, bringing the younger, healthier skin cells to the surface. It can also repair dead cells on the skin surface, and this makes the skin shine brighter. Carrot oil can be a planted-based retinol alternative: Reference from PubMed.

Evening primrose oil: Oenothera
Saponified evening primrose oil has been found to prevent melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase, and to lighten hyperpigmentation resulting from UV exposure. Abundant in gamma-linolenic acid (GLAs) and recognized for its hydrating and soothing properties

Lemon essential oil: Citrus limonum
High in vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals that contribute to melanin formation. Limonene, found in lemons and lemon essential oil, and vitamin C reduce the synthesis of melanocytes, the skin cells that produce pigment, which makes this botanical very useful in cases of hyper-pigmentation.

Sandalwood essential oil: Santalum spicatum
Sandalwood essential oil inhibits tyrosinase production and therefore may be effective at lightening hyperpigmentation.

The ingredient story of A + Brightening Clay Mask

Kaolin Clay:

Kaolin promotes detoxification by purging pores of toxins, absorbing excess oil, reduces inflammation and regulates sebum production. Kaolin clay has been traditionally used in caring, nourishing, and soothing different skin types. The clay contains a high content of silica that helps in removing the dead skin and providing regeneration.

Turmeric Root: Curcuma longa

A marvelous anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-microbial plant, for 1000s of years, turmeric root has been used by many for a variety of health benefits, primarily because of curcumin, its bioactive component. Turmeric blocks the enzyme elastase, which attacks your skin’s ability to produce elastin — a substance which gives skin structure. Turmeric’s antioxidant compounds significantly improve sun and environmental damage. Turmeric speeds up the skin’s ability to form new, healthy tissue. It boosts collagen production, leading to better healing of damaged tissues.

Neem: Azadirachta indica

Widely recognized as an antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-parasitic agent in skin care for centuries, in particular in India. The antioxidants in neem helps reduce the production of melanin in skin which reduces dark spots, scars and blemishes to give an even skin tone. Neem is also a great source of fatty acids and vitamin E, both of which are known to tighten the skin and give it a youthful glow

Irish Sea Moss: Chondrus crispus

High levels of Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, iron, magnesium, and calcium make this plant truly a wonder to behold. Sea moss can help skin produce collagen and keratin, strengthening skin and giving extra elasticity.

Raspberry: Rubus idaeus

Raspberries are packed with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), antioxidants for fighting free radicals caused from sun exposure. The anthocyanin content in raspberries can help the skin look brighter and restore the youthful look.

Cranberry: Vaccinium macrocarpon

Cranberries’ high antioxidant content is essential for protecting skin against damaging environmental stressors. Cranberries are incredibly high in polyphenols and Vitamins C and E, which effectively fight free radicals to minimize the visible signs of aging.

Zinc:

An essential mineral that works as an anti-inflammatory, and is necessary for the skin to produce elastin and collagen as well as produce new cells.

Diatomaceous Earth:

Supportive of structural integrity of skin, composed of silica and other minerals.

A Note on Brightening verses Lightening Skin:

Brightening refers to increasing the glow of the skin, no matter your natural skin color. Every color, tone, and shade is beautiful and there is no need to whiten your skin to look gorgeous. These products will not bleach the natural pigments in your skin, but instead trigger the clean-up and turnover mechanisms of skin that is hyperpigmented due to stress and damage.

Dull skin can be a result of improper skin care, not drinking enough water, too much alcohol, not getting enough sleep, poor nutrition or build up of impurities on your skin. Please remember this when you approach skincare – it’s a manifestation of your overall vitality and health. Taking a holistic view of supporting yourself internally will always give the best external results.