Skincare formulation : A Labour of Love

As skincare lovers you will know what you enjoy about the products you choose - the smell, the texture and ultimately what it does to your skin. And you probably know a bit about individual ingredients and what they offer. But have you ever given much thought to the art of skincare formulation and the blending of ingredients for maximum benefit? 

The bio-compatibility of skincare formulas are like a recipe - each ingredient has a role to play in the finished product. For the maximum benefit each ingredient should enhance or complement each other's properties and improve the overall performance of the product when combined. 

Perhaps the art of formulation is most obvious when thinking about some of the ingredients that make up a moisturiser. 

You may have heard of humectants - these ingredients help to draw water vapour from the surrounding air and deeper layers of the skin, attracting it to the skin’s surface. Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Fruit Acids and Polyglumatic Acid (PGA) are humectants. These hydration heroes typically don't work alone - they are often paired with other moisturising ingredients that work synergistically to boost  skin hydration.

Another key ingredient in a moisturiser are emollients. Emollients help to seal in moisture and hold onto the humectants in the formula. They also have a softening and soothing effect on the skin. At organicspa they come in the form of Macadamia Seed, Jojoba, Avocado and Olive Fruit Oils, to name a few. They are incredibly valuable at preventing water from evaporating from the skin, known as TEWL (Trans-Edpidermal Water-Loss) and whilst locking in hydration, they do not clog your pores.

Another example of this skincare alchemy, is considering the role AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids) plays in skin exfoliation and how they work in synergy, for maximum efficacy. AHAs (like Glycolic Acid) exfoliate the surface of the skin, while BHAs (ie Salicylic Acid) penetrate into the pores, making this a powerful combination for smoother and clearer skin. Each ingredient works well on its own but when used synergistically (together) they work magic. This is the alchemy of cosmetic formulating.

At organicspa we are fortunate to have a leading organic skincare lab working closely with skin specialists to achieve the best formulas available. General Manager at organicspa, Katrina Main explains how our formulas are derived:

 

“Every ingredient is in the product for a reason. Each active needs to be supported by extracts, oils and humectants to provide the full benefit for the skin.

A skincare formula must always be viewed as the sum of its parts.

Each ingredient has a role to play, and our products are formulated with purpose, just as nature intended. There is no such thing as filler in our formulations.

At organicspa, we also have the added complexity of organics, which always makes even the simplest of formulas a bit more complicated." 

Formulating skincare is a complex science, and the key to effective skincare lies in selecting ingredients and products that work in harmony. We are lucky to have bio-chemists with decades of experience in working with natural and organic skincare. It truly is a labour of love for us.