• • WHAT IT DOES:
    -Algae isn’t considered a conventional beauty ingredient, but it has been used in skin care for thousands of years. It’s been dubbed a “miracle ingredient” and the “ocean’s most potent secret,” and there are even entire skin care lines and brands dedicated to using algae and other marine extracts (you’ve heard about Phytomer, Algenist, and La Mer, right?).
    
    
  • -Known for its ability to instantly hydrate and condition the skin. Upon using products containing this ingredient, you’ll notice a more supple, moisturized complexion that’s soft to the touch.
    
    
  • -Algae is also an antioxidant, meaning it protects your skin from free radicals that cause premature aging. In that sense, it’s an excellent ingredient for those who are worried about aging skin.
    

  -Is high in essential amino acids, proteins, and a variety of vitamins—including vitamins A, B, C, and E.
  

  -Skin types that benefit most from algae-infused products are dry skin, sensitive skin, and those who want to combat and prevent signs of aging.

  WORKS BEST IN: Serums, creams & lotions, cleansers, after-sun care, face & hair masks
  
  NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
  VEGAN: Yes

•  

WHAT IT DOES:
-Healing Skin: Products that incorporate licorice extract have effectively treated skin disorders such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis as it is highly anti-inflammatory.

-Fading Dark Spots/Lightening Skin: Consistent use of licorice extract over time has been known to fade dark spots and blemishes, and lighten skin. It can also reverse darkening of scars, which are fibrous skin tissues that remain when an injury hasn't completely healed. Licorice extract is also a good natural substitute for hydroquinone, which causes adverse reactions in some users. An ingredient called glabridin helps reduce uneven skin darkening -- also known as hyper pigmentation -- caused by exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Glabridin is an active ingredient containing five flavonoids that act to depigment, or lighten, skin while blocking an enzyme that causes damaged skin to darken.

-Anti-acne: Potent antioxidants in licorice extract fight skin-damaging free radicals. Licochalcone, another ingredient in licorice, helps to regulate the skin's oil production, making it useful in anti-acne skin-care regimens, as some zit outbreaks are the result of pores being clogged by overly active oil glands.

-Contains glycyrrhetic acid and flavinoids that have antioxidant and regenerative properties

WORKS BEST IN: Creams, lotions, and skin-lightening products

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
VEGAN: Yes

WHAT IT DOES:
-Green Tea Extract offers numerous benefits when it comes to skin care products. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent and helps protect against UV radiation.

-The primary benefit of Green Tea Extract is as an antioxidant—and it is one of the more powerful antioxidants, helping protect your skin against environmental pollutants.

-Contains flavonoids which appear to boost immune responses in skin cells, making skin better able to protect itself against external toxins.

-Research also shows that the catechins in Green Tea Extract act as a sunblock and as a way to reduce signs of aging in sun-damaged skin.

-Often used in anti-aging formulas to reinforce anti-aging effects of other ingredients

-Useful for irritated skin

WORKS BEST IN: Anti-aging formulas, sun care and after-sun care products, anti-cellulite treatments and hair care products

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Spain
NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
VEGAN: Yes

WHAT IT DOES:
-Aloe is rich in vitamins. It has polysaccharides that give hydrating, anti-inflammatory benefits and allow for aloe to give a protective barrier on the skin. Aloe also has phytosterols which help to soothe itchiness and irritation while also giving protection to prevent TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss.) Aloe vera gel has bioactive compounds in the plant that are rich in vitamins A, B , C, D and E as well as minerals like magnesium, potassium and zinc. These are all thought to aid in the 'healing' benefits of aloe.

-Potent moisturizer, invigorating and soothing agent, can be used to reduce skin irritation and inflammations such as acne and eczema

-Has been shown to improve the appearance of aging and dry skin

WORKS BEST IN: All skin care products for dry skin, soothing creams & lotions, sun care and after-sun products

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
VEGAN: Yes

• • WHAT IT DOES:
    -Most powerful moisturizer, able to hold 1,000 times its weight in water. It’s also something that your body makes naturally, so its chemical composition absorbs easily into your skin. That makes hyaluronic acid serums particularly amazing for dry and mature complexions or anyone who wants to plump away fine lines and wrinkles.
    
    
  • -Excellent anti-wrinkle effects and suitable for all skin types, even acne prone skin.
  •  
  • WORKS BEST IN: Hydrating, moisturizing creams & lotions, anti-aging & anti-wrinkle products, after sun lotions, protecting / nourishing skin care products, products for sensitive or dry skin, hydrating cleansers

  NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
  VEGAN: Yes

WHAT IT DOES:
-Shea butter has high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make shea butter an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.

-Anti inflammatory and healing: shea butter has been proven to have extensive anti-inflammatory properties. Redness and swelling on your face may be calmed by applying shea butter products. Shea butter’s fatty acid and vitamin K concentration also helps your body to heal faster when your skin barrier has been compromised.

-Highly moisturizing: Shea butter’s consistency help your skin to absorb it when it melts at room temperature. The rich tree nut oils in shea butter can soak into your skin, creating a smooth and soft barrier that seals in moisture. This moisturizing effect can last several hours, unlike some other moisturizers that wear off after one hour or less.

-Anti aging: Shea butter has high levels of oleic, linoleic, and stearic acids. These acids are an effective ingredient to combating oxidative stress, which is the effect the environmental toxins have on your skin cells. This helps your skin to have a healthy turnover of new cells, and also supports the structure and tightness of your skin. The vitamin E in shea butter also helps protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun, although you can’t skip sunscreen just because you use shea butter on your face.

WORKS BEST IN: Lotions, creams, sun care & after sun products, facial moisturizers, body butter, ointments

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: West Africa
NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
VEGAN: Yes

• • WHAT IT DOES:
    -Natural oil cold-pressed from the seeds of the sweet almond tree
    
    -Contains 62-86% oleic acid, 20-30% linoleic acid & other valuable fatty acids, rich in beta-sitosterol, squalene & vitamin E
    
    
  • -Effective moisturizer that leaves the skin soft, smooth and conditioned and has good nourishing and revitalizing effect
    
    
  • -Ideal for irritated skin
  • 
    WORKS BEST IN: Creams, lotions, protecting creams, ointments, bath oils, baby care products

  COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy, Spain, US
  NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
  VEGAN: Yes

WORKS BEST IN: Cleansing products, soaps, shampoos, scrubs, body wash, creams, face masks, color cosmetics

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
NATURAL INGREDIENT: Yes
VEGAN: Yes