Why do the right ingredients really matter?

This topic is so relevant.  Many of you have written in about ingredients and wondering why we use some of them or why they matter to us.  We love that you're curious and the reason we select ingredients carefully is because we know that skin is our largest organ and when you use the best ingredients, you can logically have far more wonderful beauty results.  If a product is not registered as a drug in the United States, the wording that a brand uses to describe it is very important.  We are very transparent that we are not selling drug products.  Therefore, you will not read us stating that products nourish or promote physical changes and so forth.  Therefore, with our line of products, we mainly state that we've noticed visible differences in the look of our skin and/or hair (scalp is part of skincare) & that results can vary.

I met a girl once.  She blew me away and I will keep her name anonymous.  Yet, the visual example she provided stuck with me.  I was amazed she was in her twenties as her skin really looked super dehydrated and the opposite of youthful (basic observation).  She would go out at all hours, often ate all sorts of junk foods, and didn't even own sunscreen.  She seemed to think that hereditary just had her skin looking a certain way and that she needed more sleep, that it would just reboot like a computer or something.  Well, that isn't the case. 

Our skin is our largest organ and most of us take that for granted and totally forget about it.  No matter if you have the best skincare in the world (and by best I mean stuff that is actually made with incredible ingredients, not the cheapest ingredients in a fancy bottle or jar), it does not guarantee that there will be a magical spell cast onto your skin and make you look more youthful. 

To have wonderful looking skin requires an effort.  Our looks are a combination of things, sure.  Yes, our genetics can play a role, according to the internet. But, still, if we take our health for granted and fuel our bodies with all sorts of junk, not protect ourselves from the sun's rays and just rely on 12 layers of makeup to do the trick - you might look good for that selfie.  However, when the fantasy of the online persona ends and you wake up to have a normal day or go about your normal routine - you will realize sooner or later that computer filters and photo editing tools don't follow you around in real life.  Yes honey, that is your skin you are seeing in that mirror, on that given morning.  You've just had an 'oh-my' moment and it most definitely shows when someone has a makeup application over skin that is less than lovely.  We often use the analogy of a canvas because when an artist works on a canvas that has a beautiful surface, everything effortlessly goes on and looks incredible.  It makes creating a world of art, much easier and requires far less products.  It is very different if you want art with texture.  Most of us do not want texturized skin like an abstract oil painting on a rough canvas.  With that said, you can virtually go through a poetic reboot with your skin and start a new routine at any point in time.  But, it does require efforts and for optimal results that give you the look and feel for a new product routine, it is not uncommon to give new products a good month to see if they are meant for you. 

How can you know if ingredients are better?  The basic rule of thumb if you do not have the internet handy, when you are reading the label on a product, is to see what you cannot pronounce or understand.  Products with quality ingredients typically let you know if something is naturally derived, plant-based, Ecocert, Cosmos Certified or similar.  If you are not still unsure, retailers now also try to help by placing products into different sections, such as "Clean Beauty".  If you have skin that tends to breakout, for instance, you might want to select products that aren't made with heavy waxes, oils, butters, silicones and go towards something oil-free.  If you are ultra-sensitive, you may want something totally unscented. 

If you have combination to sensitive skin, you might want to invest in a product that allows you to combine it in different ways to allow you to have a wonderful skin experience.  It does not need to cost 600$ as a cream to mean that it is the best stuff under the rainbow.  Remember that marketing campaigns are incredible.  They can make anything look or sound like it is magical.  Some ask me why our formulator uses her own imagine in our social media, sometimes.  Without sounding vain, what does the formulator of another line look like?  Do they even use the products that they create on their skin or hair?  If you are going to be part of a beauty journey with products that someone offers, it seems logical to know these things.  Our formulator has sensitive to combination skin and  it is why the Black Rose and White Tea Collection was designed without oils and silicones.  We know hair oils are hot right now.  But, to have your scalp potentially looking less beautiful breaking out, did not inspire us, so even our hair and face oils are oil-free.

Many clean beauty brands are making an effort with ingredients - and some, like our brand, go beyond Clean Beauty because we realize (from trying all of these fancy things that are pricey) that ingredients that go into a product really do make a difference.  Get curious.  Read your labels.  It is easy to see who isn't on the Clean Beauty Movement.

Some asked us why skincare or hair care that has cleaner ingredient profiles can cost more.  To answer this question, there are a few reasons which play into pricing skincare, hair care or any cosmetic product, for that matter.  If you are buying something that is micro batched for freshness that is made very fresh and does not sit in a warehouse for months on end or years, then expect to have the price reflect this rare aspect.  If you've ordered something with customization, you may also pay for this personalized change to a given product, made just for you.  If a product has a lot of cosmetic actives in the formula, as well as extracts, or special ingredients, that are novel and not seen in other products, it is not uncommon to see this also reflected in the price point.  We are also experiencing global events that have impacted the start of the supply chain from actual raw materials and/or packaging so it is not uncommon to see that inflation integrated into prices.  The best way that you can be proactive at helping with the inflation is to focus on purchasing products made locally or in the United States. To buffer these unprecedented times, as a brand, we offer bundles online that enable you to save on shipping or individual items when you bundle them.  If you have questions, connect with us and see if customized plans are available for your budget if you are unable to treat yourself to the entire line.  The products for hair, for instance, are concentrated and the shampoo + serum, as a random example is very value oriented, based on the average duration of each bottle by our test groups.  We also have smaller sizes available that allow you to try some products and bring them along for trips/travel.  If you are not certain as to what you might need, just reach out to a team member.