Facial Skincare & Greenwashing - is it time to re-visit your routine?

In this day and age where branding is valued higher than the actual ingredients that are generally used in skincare products, we wanted to take the time to highlight some of the main ingredients we love to use at Love to b in our facial skincare range. 

Whenever using a new product, we always suggest turning the bottle around and thoroughly reading the ingredients. With natural products, greenwashing on packaging, using words such as ‘simple’, ‘pure’, ‘organic’ and ‘green’ can be covers for some less than ideal ingredients.  We are lulled into a sense of safety that we can use anything on our skin, but we need to be careful.  Being the largest organ of our body, our skin can absorb up to 60% of anything that’s applied to the skin, straight into our blood stream.

Love to b’s facial skincare (especially the moisturiser and serum oil combo) is extremely nurturing for sensitive skin. We’ve formulated our facial skincare to repair and strengthen your skin barrier by using natural, plant-based ingredients that work. Both our cleanser and moisturiser use an oat kernel extract as a base, and this ingredient is a rising star in the natural skincare world because of its prebiotic properties. The extract feeds the microorganisms that live in the skin’s microbiome whilst also moisturising and replenishing the moisture barrier and keeping toxins and irritants out.

Some of the other hero ingredients that we use in our facial skincare: 

Borage Oil

Borage is loaded with salicylic acid, calcium and magnesium and has a high content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids making it an excellent skin revitaliser. It helps restore elasticity, suppleness and tone of tired, dry skin.

(In our Serum) 

Evening primrose oil

A great source of linoleic and gamma linoleic acids and part of the omega-6 fatty acid family. It helps make the skin soft, supplying it with essential nutrients and healthy fats. It is anti-inflammatory and is also known to lighten the skin and reduce dark spots by limiting melanin production. (Serum)

Sunflower Oil

A light oil, naturally RICH in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that is essential for supporting skin. As a humectant, it is brilliant at limiting moisture loss and boosting the skin’s natural barrier.

(Our moisturiser)

Argan Oil

High levels of Vitamin E, fatty acids and plant squalene, helping to seal in moisture. Often used to soothe and protect against environmental aggressors, acting as an anti-inflammatory.

(Moisturiser and serum and cleanser)

Shea Butter

Derived from the nuts of the Shea Tree, native to Africa. Proven to have massive antioxidant benefits, and may help to reduce redness and swelling in facial tissue. It is renowned as a moisturiser, sinking easily into the skin and creating a smooth, soft barrier for our skin. (Moisturiser)

Sea buckthorn oil 

Wow does this stuff heal skin effectively. Very rich in essential fatty acid omega-7. Nourishing to the skin and can also help with treating burns and speedy wound recovery. Anecdotally, some of our customers have used our serum on surgical and accidental scars and report that they heal beautifully with very little sign of them after a few months. Sea Buckthorn oil naturally has one of the highest amounts of vitamins C and E, two nutrient powerhouses that can help prevent wrinkles. This is one of our Superhero ingredients. (Serum)

Rosehip Oil

FULL of Vitamins C and A which makes it a great antioxidant, fighting all those pesky free radicals that damage the skin. It is good for repairing skin after sun damage too and credited with reversing the signs of aging caused by too much sun!

(Moisturiser, cleanser and serum)

Aloe Vera

A gel-like extract from the Aloe Vera plant, is fantastic at soothing sunburn and repairing damaged skin. It helps boost collagen and fight the bad bacteria on your skin. It can be used on oily skin as it is easily absorbed, but also treats dry skin as it is a great moisturiser. Anecdotally it is good as an anti-inflammatory and may therefore help with acne.

(Moisturiser)

Jojoba Oil

Comes from the fruit of the jojoba shrub and is full of natural waxes, sterols and vitamins with a few esters thrown in too, all of which cause the outer cells of the skin to swell and create a moisture barrier, much akin to our own natural sebum. It helps with collagen production as well as having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help prevent the skin from making excess sebum, keeping pores clean and helping prevent acne. This oil is a true Superhero ingredient!

(Cleanser and serum)

All of the above ingredients have true value in keeping your skin supple and healthy. Take care when choosing a new product and make sure that it is worthy of using on your skin!

All our love Julie + Bea