How Holistic Skincare Can Cultivate a Healthy Microbiome

The foundation of a holistic skincare routine is a simple regimen of topical products that nurtures your skin back to a sustainable state of health, clarity and suppleness, without intoxicating your body.

I formulated clariSEA products to achieve this by prioritizing 4 main ingredient pillars that work together to continuously and gently exfoliate the top layer of skin without causing irritation or extreme purging, while immersing skin in essential plant nutrients and vegan bio-compatible actives that create an optimal environment for a healthy microbiome to thrive so a clear and glowing complexion can emerge.

1) Nutrient rich, organically grown plants at the top of the ingredient list:

Immersing your skin in the polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals of organically grown plants gives your epidermis and microbiome the strength, resilience and vitality it needs to flourish on a daily basis.

Organically grown plants are not routinely treated with synthetic pesticides which means they are more nutrient rich and free of the many chemicals that can disrupt your skin's health. Depending on the crop, organically grown plants can contain higher percentages of antioxidants because without synthetic pesticides they must fend for themselves, as nature intended, amidst the challenges of their environment by deploying their own protective mechanisms.

The resulting antioxidants then help keep your skin protected from your individual oxidative stressors by donating electrons to unstable free radicals to help neutralize the damage they can cause to skin. Organic plant ingredients in the top half of the ingredient list (meaning they comprise a substantial percentage of the formula and therefore effect on your skin) in clariSEA formulas include:

• Organic Rose Hydrosol (Rosewater), Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Rosehip Seed Oil, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Organic Baobab Seed Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Lavendin (Lavender) Hydrosol, Organic Rosehip Hydrosol, Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Rosehip CO2, Organic Lavender Flower Powder, Organic Turmeric Root Powder, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Grape Alcohol

2) Biocompatible actives for targeted support & restoration:

Niacinamide, PHA, Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides:

• Niacinamide, aka Vitamin B3, is essential for repairing acne prone skin. This biocompatible lab-made Vitamin has many important functions. It helps support and enhance the lipid barrier by stimulating ceramide production. The resulting stronger barrier then helps skin retain moisture, resist irritation and reduce the appearance of surface redness. Antioxidants enhance these effects even further to help reduce the appearance of large pores, fine lines and wrinkles.
• PHA – Gluconolactone is probably my favorite active overall. It’s responsible for that smooth, silky feeling many of the products impart. Of all the Hydroxy Acids, PHA is the most gentle and non-irritating which is why I love it so much for acne prone skin. It’s gentle so skin can heal and repair yet extremely effective, helping to continuously slough off the top layer of skin without causing irritation or major purging. It also supports the skin barrier by acting as a humectant and locking in just the right amount of moisture to help promote a smooth and healthy glow while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can find it in many of the products including the Ocean Saltwater Clarifying Cleanser, Pretty Skin Moisturizer, Pretty Plump Hyaluronic+ Peptide 5 Lotion, Daily Glow Purifying Rose Cleanser, Deep Pore Detox Charcoal Cleanser, and Charcoal Salt Crush Clarifying Scrub.
• Peptides – In the Pretty Plump Hyaluronic+ Peptide 5 Lotion, we use a tri-peptide blend, produced synthetically from amino acids, with a unique sequence that mimics the human body’s own collagen producing mechanisms.
• Also in the Pretty Plump Hyaluronic+ Peptide 5 Lotion, Hyaluronic Acid works as a powerful humectant, attracting and binding water molecules to the skin’s surface, keeping skin hydrated, supple and plump.

3) Dual purpose plant powered preservatives:

Aspen Bark Extract – aka Botanical BHA, Honeysuckle Extract, Leuconostoc (Radish Root) Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate

Instead of taking a short cut by using potentially harmful preservatives like Phenoxyethanol and Parabens, I built dual purpose plant powered preservatives into each formula to help improve your skin through the natural powers of their prebiotic and antioxidant functions and most importantly to protect your health. In addition to preserving the formula, these mighty ingredients also help boost the effectiveness of the organic ingredients and skin compatible actives by supporting a healthy microbiome that is prepared to thrive.

4) Naturally clarifying minerals, elements & plant powders:

Pacific Ocean Sea Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, Kaolin Clay, Bentonite, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Activated Bamboo Charcoal Powder, Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder, Rose Petal Powder, Orange Peel Powder, Licorice Root Powder, Ginger Root Powder, Oat Powder, Bamboo Powder, Mica (ethically sourced), Zinc Oxide (non-micronized), Ground Coffee

• The sodium chloride in our Pacific Ocean & Himalayan Pink Sea Salt blend deeply cleanses and exfoliates clogged pores. Existing blemishes are clarified more quickly, and emerging blemishes are brought to the surface to be naturally clarified as well. Essential sea minerals including potassium, magnesium and calcium work to tone, soften and smooth out skin while balancing moisture and minimizing the appearance of surface redness. With regular use this cycle repeats and skin is returned to its most natural state.
• Kaolin Clay and Bentonite naturally absorb impurities in pores, helping to maintain a clarified complexion without irritation while conditioning skin with restorative minerals.
• Activated Bamboo Charcoal Powder & Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder also help unclog pores and keep skin clarified without the harsh, irritating effects of OTC acne treatments like Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid.
• The polyphenols and antioxidants naturally occurring in flower powders can help protect skin against oxidative damage that can result from other topical products as well as UV rays and the daily pollutants we face in our home, work and community environments.
• Bamboo Powder gently resurfaces without irritating skin while simultaneously helping to restore a natural plump and tautness to your complexion. It’s my exfoliator of choice in the Skin Like New MicroDermabrasion Gentle Resurfacing Paste, Daily Glow Purifying Rose Cleanser and Deep Pore Detox Charcoal Cleanser