The aloe plant is a skin care superstar!  It contains over 200 nutritional substances, including 20 minerals, 20 amino acids, 12 vitamins, and active enzymes.  Because aloe is so rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, E, choline, and folic acid, it’s great at protecting skin from dangerous free radicals.  It soothes skin, acts as an anti-inflammatory, and also protects the skin against UV damage.  What’s not to love!?

Coconut oil, or cocos nucifera, is a natural oil extracted from the meat of the coconut fruit.  It’s recently gotten a bit of a reputation as a wonder substance and with good reason!  It has the distinction of being rich in a crystalline fatty acid called lauric acid which research suggests has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.  It is a natural moisturizer and also has anti-inflammatory benefits that may be helpful for blemishes.

Olive oil is a natural emollient, or skin softener, that contains several essential fatty acids our skin needs including oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids.  It’s also an antioxidant powerhouse being rich in vitamin E as well as polyphenols and phytosterols.  These antioxidants help restore skin to keep it smooth & supple, calm irritation, and provide anti-aging benefits.  A few studies have even shown olive oil provides some protection against UVB damage.

Cetyl palmitate helps smooth and condition dry skin while preventing moisture loss.  It is a primary ingredient in the wax of sperm whale oil, but ours is 100% plant-derived, so even whales love it!

Sorbitan palmitate acts as a stabilizer, helping the various oils and water-based ingredients to remain soluble in one another.  Without this our products would separate over time, just like oil and water do.  And of course, ours is 100% plant-derived so nothing scary here!

As the name implies, sorbitan olivate is derived from olive oil.  It penetrates quickly and exhibits a very high moisturizing effect causing skin to feel smooth.  It also acts as an emulsifier, helping the various ingredients in our products to stay together rather than separating over time.

Glyceryl stearate acts as a lubricant on the skin’s surface, giving it a soft and smooth appearance. It easily penetrates the skin and slows the loss of water from the skin by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface. It has also been shown to protect skin from free-radical damage as well.  In addition, glyceryl stearate acts as an emulsifier, helping to maintain the consistency of our products by preventing the separation of ingredients.  While glyceryl stearate is naturally found in the human body, ours is plant-derived, typically from palm kernel or soybean.

Shea butter is found in the nuts that grow on Shea-Karite tree, which exclusively grows in the tropics of Africa.  It is a fantastic skin conditioner and moisturizer, as well as offering some protection against UV sun damage.  In addition, it’s rich in vitamins A, E, and F, as well as antioxidants, giving it anti-inflammatory properties.

Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts water to skin and helps it to feel smoother and softer.  However, studies have found that it not only attracts water to the skin, but also helps skin cells mature properly.  While glycerin is naturally found in the skin, ours is plant-derived.

Phenethyl alcohol prevents or retards bacterial growth, and thus protects cosmetics and personal care products from spoilage.  It is found in various essential oils, food, spices, etc. although ours is a “nature identical” version meaning it’s synthetic but chemically and biologically identical to the molecule found in nature.

Caprylyl glycol is a humectant (water attractor) and skin conditioning agent that draws in moisture and softens skin. It also function as a stabilizer and has been shown to increase the antimicrobial activity of other preservatives, such as phenethyl alcohol.  While it is naturally occurring, ours is a “nature identical” version meaning it’s synthetic but chemically and biologically identical to the molecule found in nature.

Ethylhexylglycerin is a skin-conditioning agent and also enhances the function of preservatives by affecting the cell walls of bacteria, promoting their destruction by the preservative.  While it is naturally occurring, ours is a “nature identical” version meaning it’s synthetic but chemically and biologically identical to the molecule found in nature.

Xanthan gum is a natural ingredient that adds viscosity and texture to our products, giving them more substantial texture and “feel.”  It also stabilizing them so that the oil- and water-based ingredients don’t separate.  And, of course, it’s 100% plant-derived and gentle!

Hydroxyethylcellulose is a plant-derived polysaccharide, or carbohydrate, with a variety of purposes.  It’s a thickener that gives our products texture, as well as an emulsifier that keeps the various components from separating like oil and water.  It even has skin-hydrating properties. Win-win-win!

Calendula comes from the pot marigold, also known as the English marigold.  It has perhaps the longest history of use in skin care of any herb, having been used by the Greeks, Romans, Indians, and Arabs.  Not only is it a skin conditioning agent, it also has anti-inflammatory properties, helping to promote skin healing and repair.

Ah, the wonderful grape – so many uses!  Of course we all know it makes fantastic wine and jelly, but it’s also an excellent skin conditioner.  It is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, and has been shown to have some antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

California’s favorite fruit, the avocado!  Avocado oil is an excellent emollient, or skin softener.  It is bactericidal (kills bacteria), has antioxidant properties, is a good source skin-repairing fatty acids, and is especially soothing to sensitive skin.  Even more reasons to love this green wonder!

Sunflower seed oil is an outstanding skin-conditioning agent that softens and smooths the skin.  It’s also rich in phenolic acids, giving it the ability to provide some protection from sun and environmental stresses.  Sun protection from the sunflower?  Who knew!?

This wonder extract comes from a giant brown seaweed found in the Antarctic Ocean.  It helps to soften skin while also helping to retain moisture.  Kelp’s crazy ability to hydrate is believed to not only smooth skin but help prevent wrinkles.  It is also rich in iodine, minerals, and vitamins, giving it antioxidant and natural anti-inflammatory properties that can heal sun-damaged skin while also nourishing it.

Marshmallow (or marsh mallow) is used for its soothing, moistening, and calming properties on the skin.  Its anti-irritant properties help calm and protect hypersensitive skin, relieving itching and promoting healthy skin development.

Dog rose fruit contains linoleic, oleic and linolenic acids, antioxidants, vitamins, lycopene and beta-carotene C that offer incredible benefits to the skin.  It keeps the skin hydrated and supple, while also repairing and protecting it from free radical damage caused by the sun and other environmental toxins.

Rosemary leaf extract is rich in a bevy of minerals and vitamins including calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and vitamin B1, vitamin B3 and vitamin C.  These and others give it fantastic antioxidant, anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial, as well as making it a great moisturizer while also supporting healthy collagen development and fighting off skin-damaging free radicals.

Purple passionflower, or maypops, is a superior emollient, or skin softener, being rich in vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus.  It’s also rich in lycopene, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, and helps to repair and protect against sun damage, while also soothing irritated skin.

Chamomile is well-known as a skin care superstar and its reputation is well-deserved!  It has both anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties making it a fantastic skin healer, helping accelerate the healing of conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Jojoba – funny name but its skin benefits are no joke!  It moisturizes, softens, and improves the elasticity and suppleness of skin.  It’s been shown to aid skin’s ability to heal from damage, stimulate collagen production, and help skin better defend itself against UV light damage.  If that wasn’t enough, it also provides topical anti-inflammatory benefit making it great for dry, sensitive skin.