Signature Ingredients:Spotlight Ingredient:Refreshing lemon, protective plant lipids and the rich, oat nutrition of beta glucan for cellular rejuvenation deliver sumptuous skin hydration.
SunflowerHelianthus annuus oilDerived from the seeds; contains large amounts of vitamin E, softens and protects.
Lemon
Citrus limonum peel extractDerived from the rind of the lemon; clarifies and cleanses.
CalendulaCalendula officinalis (calendula) extractDerived from the flower; soothes, softens and heals.
ChamomileChamomile (chamomilla recutita) extractDerived from the German chamomile flower; soothing, anti-infammatory, regenerating and adds shine to hair.
Cocoa butterTheobroma cacaoDerived from roasted cocoa seeds; nutrient-rich emollient and skin moisturizer.
Flaxseed oilLinum usitatissimumDerived from the flax seed; rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory, emollient, moisturizes.
Coconut oilCocos nuciferaDerived from the fruit; rich in essential fatty acids; a nourishing and moisturizing anti-microbial that also provides natural fragrance.
OatBeta GlucanActive ingredient in oats; promotes healing, stimulates collagen synthesis, promotes cellular turnover, protects and moisturizes the skin.
Arginineamino acidDerived from nuts and soybeans; a skin and hair conditioner.
Essential OilProprietary combination of a variety of volatile, aromatic compounds produced by various plants. They provide scent and a variety of beneficial properties.
Prevent Free Radical Damage to Your Skin
Free radicals are a part of life. They are a natural byproduct of metabolization, and they exist all around us in the form of environmental toxins and even sunlight. Simply put, a free radical is a molecule (commonly oxygen) that can exist with one electron instead of two. Because electrons like to be in pairs, free radicals leave a path of instability in their wake as they seek to replace this missing electron by stealing it from another. When they do, they create instability in the violated molecule which continues this destructive cycle.
So what does this have to do with our skin? Free radicals have been found to be a prime culprit in the premature aging of skin, causing collagen cells to bond inappropriately (called 'collagen cross-linking') and therefore break down over time. As collagen and elastin in the dermis break down, the dermis becomes thinner, leaving the epidermis above it with less padding and causing wrinkles to form.
Since there's really no getting away from free radicals, we need to develop effective techniques for managing their effects inside our body as well as in our skin. This is where antioxidants come in. These heroic little molecules (vitamins E, C, carotenes and flavonoids chief among them) trap free radicals by bonding with them without becoming unstable themselves. This renders the free radical molecule harmless.
The best way to protect your skin -- and the rest of your body -- against the detrimental effects of free radicals is to take a multifaceted approach. Take care of your insides by eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants. This means eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants!
Next, protect your skin against the damaging effects of the sun. Wearing adequate sunscreen and ensuring that you moisturize your skin will help defend you against potentially dangerous ultraviolet rays.
Lastly, use skin care products that contain powerful antioxidants like Vitamin C and CoQ10. We can't escape free radicals, but by making wise choices in our lives, we can go a long way towards minimizing their impact.
Sun & Your SkinTo many of us, tan skin indicates a healthy, out-doorsy lifestyle. However, it doesn't necessarily indicate healthy skin. In fact, there is probably no other single factor as destructive to the long-term strength and youthfulness of skin than the sun.
Although the most immediate effects of sun-damage are endured by the surface epidermal layer of our skin in the form of sunburns and drying, over time, exposure to UV radiation can penetrate deep into the underlying dermis and negatively effect the collagen structures within (a process called photoaging). This results in an eventual reduction in skin elasticity and the development of wrinkles. In addition, the alteration of these collagen structures can weaken the tiny blood vessels that are supported within them, making the vessels more likely to rupture and lead to discoloration as well as decreased circulation.
The truth is that as much as 90 percent of the wrinkles, brown spots, and sagging skin that we usually think of as signs of aging can be attributed to sun damage, this according to the the American Skin Association, a national organization for education on skin health.
While these dangers are real and should be taken seriously, diligent use of sunscreen as well as a daily moisturizer -- especially one enhanced with antioxidants -- capable of replenishing essential oils lost to the sun, can go a long way towards helping skin withstand many of the external causes of aging.
Reduce Signs of Aging
Aging is unavoidable. And for as long as we've watched the stories of our lives unfold through time, we've grumbled about how the effects of that unfolding are written on our bodies. If the gift of time is wisdom, it's our bodies that are eventually stuck paying the bill.
Nowhere do we witness the physiological impact of aging more than in its effects on our skin and hair. As we age, the outermost layer of our skin (the epidermis) thins as its cellular concentration decreases. Beneath this, collagen and elastin in the skin layer known as the dermis begin to degrade, reducing our skin's flexibility and contributing to the thinning of the epidermis. Also in the dermis, the sebaceous glands responsible for the creation of sebum -- the protective oil that moisturizes and guards our skin -- become less active. This results in skin that is less thoroughly lubricated and therefore more prone to dryness and wrinkling over time.
Besides the natural aspects of aging, there are also many environmental factors that we tend to lump into this process and consider inevitable, even though they can be effectively managed and their impact minimized. Chief among these is certainly the damaging effects of the sun. Over time, exposure to UV radiation can penetrate deep into the dermis and damage the collagen structures within (a process called photoaging). This results in an eventual reduction in skin elasticity and the development of wrinkles. In addition, the alteration of these collagen structures can weaken the tiny blood vessels that are supported within them, making the vessels more likely to rupture and lead to discoloration as well as decreased circulation.
However, diligent use of sunscreen as well as a daily moisturizer capable of replenishing essential oils lost to the sun, can go a long way towards helping skin withstand many of the external causes of aging. Additionally, topical applications of CoQ10 or Vitamin C can actively help defend against environmental causes of premature skin aging, as well as to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or age spots.
Consciousness in Cosmetics
The skin is the largest organ of the body -- a delicate shield of protection covering us from head to toe. Much of what we put on our skin is absorbed directly into our body. For this reason, the products we apply to our skin must be truly clean and pure, natural and organic, made from ingredients that are effective and safe.
Consciousness in Cosmetics is the guiding principle behind everything we do at Avalon Organics. It reflects our commitment to creating an extraordinary, unprecedented range of new and reformulated products that are inherently pure and safe, while expanding the efficacy and vibrantly healthy benefits of natural body care. It is our mission and our passion.
There are five elements to Consciousness in Cosmetics:
- PURITY & SAFETY - "Consciousness of Ingredient Purity"
- SUSTAINABILITY - "Consciousness of Organics"
- PRODUCTS THAT WORK -- "Consciousness of Wellness, Vitality and Looking Great"
- SENSUALITY - "Consciousness of the Sensuality of Body Care"
- PERSONAL CHOICE - "Consciousness of Personal Choice and Sensitivity"
Avalon Organics is Pure and Safe
- Made with Consciousness in Cosmetics -- no parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other harsh preservatives or chemicals
- No synthetic fragrances or colors
- pH balanced
- 100% vegetarian ingredients and no animal testing
Liquid
