How to Know If Your Beauty Product is Organic Botanics

When you hear the word "natural", images of blue skies, birds chirping and picturesque scenery pop into your mind. However when it comes to cosmetics natural is often misused. Many companies declare their products to be "natural", even when they contain processed ingredients. So how do you tell if your product is truly organic?

Bluh Alchemy

Bluh Alchemy, an innovative clean skincare line, has a small treatment-focused range of synergistic blends that feature rare botanical extracts. Founder Becky Bluh studied cosmetic chemistry and discovered how to harness the potency of plant-based substances that have transformative physiological effects on skin. She scoured a broad spectrum of rare plant extracts to create a bluhprint for optimal skin health and guard against premature aging as well as free radical damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and the overgrowth of bacterial.

Bluh's research and experimentation with rare botanicals led her to discover the groundbreaking Cellular Extraction process, which permits the extraction of the plant's full phytoactive profile in its most potent and stable state. Her formulas make use of this revolutionary technology to deliver Advanced Bioactive Solutions to the skin.

For February's Beauty Heroes Discovery we selected two full-size products from Bluh Alchemy: the Botanic Retinol Cell Renewal Concentrate (hero but it's super) and the Eye Oil Serum (sidekick every hero requires). Bakuchiol is an ingredient of retinol reproduces the corrective properties of retinol in this concentrate to effectively correct fine wrinkles, larger pores and breakouts. This is coupled with a variety of antioxidants, including Kakadu plum to stimulate cell renewal and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and finger lime caviar that helps firm and tone the skin and mountain pepper extract cellular with an unbeatable ORAC to guard against premature aging.

African Botanics

In a corner of Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Johannesburg, South Africa grows a yellow-tinged strelitzia (known as Mandela's Gold) which is an endemic species that is also one of the nation's botanical emblems. It's a tribute to the moral leader and founder of the Rainbow Nation and a reminder that South Africa has a deep connection with nature.

The launch of the line of ultra-luxe, green cosmetics African Botanics was more than simply a creative venture for Craig and Julia Noik. It was an opportunity to share a little bit of their culture with other people, to provide them with the same feeling of connection to this extraordinary country and its ancient traditions that has always been a part of their lives.

The resulting skincare line pays homage to the traditional African beauty rituals using traditional African phytochemistry and modern botanical pharmacology. The most effective South African plants are sustainably procured from the country's remote, unexplored regions, and then infused with powerful actives selected with the help of biochemists and botanists both in South Africa and across the globe. They are then encapsulated with advanced extraction and encapsulation methods to produce the ultimate in high-performance, eco-luxe green beauty.

Fifty7 Kind

Fifty7 Kind is an online first brand that offers products based on plants that are packaged in eco sustainable packaging. The sleek line of skincare and body care includes ingredients sourced from Southern Africa. These include oil extracts from plants and seeds and unique minerals from the desert, the sea and the land. Gabrielle (founder Fifty7 Kind) was raised in the English countryside as an cbd organic child. She claims that her mother taught her to cook using raw materials and collect wild herbs to enhance beauty.

Slow-fusion artisanal process utilizing sustainably sourced botanicals guarantees concentrated extracts that promote skin health with nutrients, vitamins, trace elements as well as fatty acids and non-polar amino acids. The brand sources rare wildcrafted, wild-crafted, and beneath the radar botanicals such as Ugandan Vanilla, a subspecies of shea, also known as Vitellaria Nilotica, that provides high levels of Vitamin A E, K, and, and non-polar antioxidants.

YINA is a natural skincare line created by two female doctors from Chinese Medicine; millenia old traditional herbal remedies from the East meet the natural beauty of botanicals in this California based brand. YINA products contain traditional medicinal herbs and plants such as Ashwagandha and Hawthorne Berry in addition to more common organic cbd vape ingredients that are used in many other skincare lines.

Live Botanical

Botanical skincare that bridges the gap between traditional and modern methods, bringing balance and harmony in order to enhance your beauty. Made in Portland, OR.

A botanical is a plant or component of it that is valued for its therapeutic qualities and flavor or scent. Botanicals are used since ancient times to maintain and improve health, including in skin care.

Botanicals can be bought in fresh or dried forms and in a variety preparations. They can be found in the produce aisle in a supermarket, or in the dietary supplement section in capsules, tablets, tea bags, or liquid preparations. A single chemical may also be isolated from a plant and sold as a dietary supplement in tablet or capsule form.

The safety of a particular plant is determined by its chemical composition, how it works within the body and how it is prepared. The quantity of botanicals that are used in a product could be a factor in the safety of the product. A cup of tea contains a small amount of a plant, whereas extracts or tinctures are much more concentrated.

A tincture can be made by soaking a plant in a liquid, such as alcohol or water to extract the desired constituents. A tincture can then be diminished to different strengths. The strength of a tincture can be expressed in terms of a ratio between the botanical and extract.

YINA

Angela Chau Gray, Ervina Wu and Angela Chau Gray are both experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their brand pays homage to the ancient philosophies of TCM with professional TCM practitioners at the helm. The result is advanced high-end, refined, and artisanal formulas that are specifically designed for modern-day health and wellness practices like Acupressure, acupuncture, jade rolling and full-body gua sha.

YINA products are produced sustainably in California and are brimming with powerful bio-adaptive herbal extracts. Their most popular products are NOURISH botanical oil serum and the anti-pollution cream. Both are high in the nutrient-rich camellia seed oil, safflower oil, and licorice root. They also contain antiaging botanicals such as rhodiola and Asian knotweed. The mask also contains coconut, pear powder carbon, and cleansing moringa.

Felicia is part of the highly efficient operations team at YINA and loves testing new products for care and implementing the self-care routines that were formulated by the founders of the company. She especially loves the YINA anti-pollution mask, which contains cleansing ingredients like skullcap root, pearl powder, moringa and tea seeds.

Malaya Organics

Malaya Organics, a Brooklyn-based 100% natural, high-performance brand, was founded by Katya Slepak. She is an expert formulator and designer, as well as a certified aromatherapist. The brand's nourishing and effective products are designed to help support the skin as it gets older and are suitable for all skin types. The balancing elixirs they offer contain the therapeutic benefits of a blend of phytonutrients-rich whole-plant extracts, infused in-house for peak potency, rich in anti-aging and nourishing essences and plant oils that are known for their anti-inflammatory and elasticity building properties.

The ingredients are sourced from the taigas of Siberia as well as the forests of India, the Amazon and the deserts of Morocco. They've been designed to help you connect to your own inner landscape, which is one of balance, peace, and healing. The name "Malaya" comes from a sandalwood forest in Shambhala tradition, and signifies a sacred garland made of flowers worn during ceremonies. These were the inspirations for the thoughtfully collected collection.

Fran Miller

Long before natural hair was trendy Toronto-based Fran Miller launched her own beauty line with the premise that "less is better." Now, with the summer heat on the rise Miller's pared-down selection of oil-based skincare essentials is taking the wellness world by storm. The lineup includes everything, from a goji berry and shea butter body buff to hair smoothing spray and multi-tasking face oil.

Prioritizing organically-sourced, ethically sourced ingredients and working with mindful manufacturers both locally and globally, F. Miller has been committed to preserving the environment since its inception. All of F. Miller's high-performance essentials are free of harmful preservatives or synthetic fragrances. They are also free of mineral oils, GMOs, aluminum and SLS.

To ensure freshness To ensure freshness, all products are mixed by hand and bottled in small quantities. The brand works with cosmetic chemists, who develop rich in nutrients, botanical blends that nourish and promote radiant skin. The brand is also environmentally conscious and this extends to packaging and practices. They are committed to environmentally friendly packaging and Organic Botanics make use of biodegradable and recyclable glass. They also offer a refill and subscription program to further reduce the amount of waste.