TEA COSTS 30 TIMES ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD - EXCELLENT FOR BEAUTYFUL SKIN

It was interesting to read the richness of tea in BBC article by Theodora Sutcliffe yesterday.  In 2002, a wealthy purchaser paid 180,000 yuan – almost $28,000 – for just 20g of China's legendary Da Hong Pao tea. The original Da Hong Pao doesn't just cost its weight in gold – it costs more than 30 times its weight in gold: almost $1,400 for a single gram, or well over $10,000 for a pot. It’s one of the most expensive teas in the world.

In another very informative piece in Huffington Post by Beauty Editor, Dana Oliver, benefits from tea for skin through natural cosmetics and skin care formulations have been well described.

Tea contains several of the most potent and protective antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals and tea extracts have been used for centuries to improve the health and appearance of skin and hair. Modern scientific studies continue to highlight their anti-aging and health-promoting effects, and show antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits of tea. When combined with other ingredients beauty formulations, tea helps to enhance their effects, a synergy that helps improve skin’s appearance, texture, and function. Frequent exfoliation allows active tea constituents to better penetrate the skin with most beneficial exfoliating agents alpha-hydroxy.

Carotenoids in tea are potent fat-soluble antioxidants that help quench free radicals generated by ultraviolet rays. In addition to vitamin antioxidants and carotenoids, tea also contains 25-30% flavonoids, which include water-soluble plant pigments known as polyphenols. The major polyphenol in tea is epigallocatechin-3 gallate, or EGCG. Oral and topical use of tea and EGCG helps to inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress, and may help to prevent photoaging and cancers of the skin. The combination of these natural antioxidants improves skin health, giving it a smoother, brighter and healthier look.

It has also been found that tea is a potent inducer of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that quenches excess superoxide radicals and other reactive oxygen species. Among elderly persons, the amount of SOD in normal skin diminishes and is incapable of adequately neutralizing large amounts of reactive oxygen species. Because of environmental and other pollutants (sunlight, smoking diet) contributing to the generation of reactive oxygen species, it is most critical to optimize SOD levels through the use of tea and other flavonoids.

In combination with topical tea, natural fruit acids called alpha-hydroxy acids rejuvenate the skin by encouraging the shedding of old, sun-damaged cells on the skin’s surface.32-35 Alpha-hydroxy acids loosen the glue-like substances that bind skin surface cells to each other, allowing the dead skin to peel off and the skin underneath to emerge. This underlying skin has a fresher, healthier look, with a more even color and texture. Exfoliation with alpha-hydroxy acids allows topical antioxidant agents, such as tea, to affect the newly exposed cells to greatest benefit.

For optimal effects, frequent use of topical products containing tea in combination with exfoliating agents is recommended. Eating a diet rich in flavonoids such as those found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables helps promote and preserve skin’s health and beauty.

The extracts of buds and leaves of tea make very effective ingredient in natural organic beauty products. Green teas have the highest concentration of antioxidant properties (polyphenol and flavonoid) and have anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties which provide excellent skin nourishment.

After testing with different ingredients, Herbally Radiant found excellent anti-aging properties of green tea extracts. Its most popular top of the range products: Rejuvenating and Radiant,  also contain a combination of essential oils that work in tandem with tea extracts to create an amazing rejuvenated and radiant facial skin. These formulations have been very popular with customers who have experienced reduction in appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Rejuvenating and Radiant Cleansers have been specially launched by Herbally Radiant to help eliminate gently all impurities, including make-up marks, without stripping skin of its natural oils. This helps skin to absorb rich nutrients from specially prepared serums and moisturizers.  The net result is a fine rejuvenated bright skin with youthful appearance. 

BEAUTY QUEEN CLEMENCE VON MUEFFLING BATS FOR ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Kari Molvar, Beauty Editor of New York Times wrote interesting column last week after interviewing Clemence von Mueffling, a third generation beauty expert. Born in Paris, von Mueffling, her mother and grandmother edited Vogue Paris from late 50’s through early 90’s.

What is most interesting to learn from von Mueffling is that she has deep appreciation for all things non-toxic and natural, holistic views on fitness and motherhood. Her website Beauty and Well Being launched in 2014 has huge following.

Talking of natural and organic ingredients both in food and skin care formulations, she prefers more plant-based cuisine, “reducing the amount of animal protein we eat is not a fad, or something only for vegetarian restaurants. Changing the proportion of how much meat to vegetables we put on our plates is good for our bodies and the planet”.

Most important advice : Ease into a greener beauty regime. “I’m not for drastic, 200 percent changes to your routine, unless it’s because of a health condition. Instead, I think it’s about balancing and making smart choices. Maybe you’re not into organic makeup but you can buy a natural body moisturizer. I want people to feel good about any change they make, no matter how small. It’s good to do things little by little. If you just make one or two changes, and you feel great, then you want to add more.”

She gives high priority to regular physical and mental work out: “I do cardio dance with Katherine Greiner. She doesn’t only know about cardio dance, she knows about sleep, diet, yoga, stretching.”  And among other tips, she asks women to leave their eyebrows alone as they will never grow back the same way. She has also started using natural deodorant.

We at Herbally Radiant are delighted at the supporting remarks by renowned beautician Clemence von Mueffling for herbal organic skin care formulations. Countless studies have concluded that plant-based ingredients in beauty products have immense benefits for the skin. Not only these are most skin-friendly and safe, but these are more effective in repairing any damage to skin, and in rejuvenating it.

The specially formulated anti-aging formulations launched by Herbally Radiant , popular with women since its launch in 2011 (Radiantand Rejuvenating range) contain powerful exotic natural extracts. The cleanser, a luxurious blend of plants, flowers and seeds, leaves skin clean, wonderfully moisturized and fragrant, lifting impurities gently, without disturbing the normal oil-moisture balance. The special moisturizer is a combination of exotic herbal extracts based on ancient formula, helping to maintain the elasticity of the skin, and preserve its youthful appearance.  The wonderful serum, finely mixed powerful plant extracts in concentrated form, is enriched with selected essential oils to create amazing effect.

INCREASING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

With increasing awareness of the potential health risks due to chemicals and petroleum ingredients in the beauty care products, more and more consumers are turning to natural cosmetics and skin care products. Recognizing the shifting trend in beauty industry, a newly launched company, Ardra Bio, is now focusing on creating petroleum-free chemicals by using artificial pathways and metabolic engineering.

The company founder revealed in an interview that their alternative ingredient makes use of sugar as a raw material, and the product can be used as a natural humectant and a solvent for fragrances. Ardra Bio is partnering with Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory to scale up its technology. Dr. Gawand, one founder, highlighted the fact that in the cosmetic industry, there is increasing consumer demand for natural products. Being a consumer driven industry, cosmetic companies are trying to incorporate natural ingredients into their products. Hence, they prefer to not use products derived from petroleum. The demand for natural products is high, and hence companies want to make the product as naturally derived as possible.

Petroleum jellies – by-product of the oil industry – that are being used in beauty products extensively, can suffocate pores, aggravate acne and even cause a rare form of pneumonia, if inhaled. Take, for example, Vaselin, a finely refined version of petroleum jelly that could be doing more bad than good, despite the fact that this is considered to be safer petroleum jelly in cosmetics.

Experts have warned that there are probably plenty of other petroleum jelly imitators being used in chemical-based cosmetics. However, most of the celebrities and make-up experts (like Kately Denno) strongly recommend that only those products should be put on skin which can be absorbed into it. They are not fan of petroleum jelly, whatever the brand.

If used too often, the petroleum gel can irritate the skin because of its thick texture that merely 'seals in the dirt.' Cosmetologists  recommend always washing and cleansing the skin before applying any form of moisturizer to avoid breakouts.

Remember that some of these products are absorbed into the skin, so it's nice to use something that you wouldn't mind putting into your body. It is with a view to offer safe and effective beauty formulations, Herbally Radiant started manufacturing amazingly effective new range of skin care products, with USDA certified natural ingredients since 2010.  Herbally Radiant products display the ingredients in the formulation to help consumers make the right choice.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF SKIN WHITENING CREAMS

Recent reports suggest Clarins of US is going to focus on Asian consumers for its skin whitening cream. This might perhaps be due to lack of awareness among consumers in Asia of the potentially serious harm whitening creams can cause to their skin.

Most skin whitening creams contain hydroquinone that reduces melanin production in skin. In some mainstream products it is used to help reduce the appearance of various types of hyperpigmentation problems like sun spots, age spots and acne markings.

With its increasing marketing campaigns, questions are being raised about its safety; several countries have banned hydroquinone and products containing it from being sold over the counter.

Many studies on skin whitening creams have shown that consistent and widespread use of hydroquinone can result in some pretty serious skin problems, as well as more serious health problems. One researcher found that whilst hydroquinone will initially lighten the skin as it is meant to, over time and with prolonged use an oxidation process can start to take place – due to a reaction between the chemicals and sunlight. This can actually result in the skin then becoming darker; leading a person to use even more hydroquinone based products to counter the side effects.

Another serious aspect emerged over time the skin began to appear weaker and thus, the hydroquinone was able to go into the bloodstream more readily, thereby reaching the organs (such as the liver and kidneys) easily.

One study by TJ Kooyers and W. Westerhof on “Toxicology and health risks of hydroquinone in skin lightening” stated “that possible long-term effects like carcinogenesis may be expected.”

US FDA considers hydroquinone a potentially dangerous substance, though many dermatologists feel that the ingredient is safe in small amounts when not used for the purpose of bleaching the skin all over the face, neck and body. EU has banned hydroquinone for over the counter sales.

Due to the health risks, many companies have turned to other ingredients, like arbutin with kojic acid, in place of hydroquinone. There are no reliable studies so far on the safety of these, especially arbutin that is a derivative of hydroquinone. In the aisles of ethnic beauty supply stores on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, dozens of skin lighteners are for sale, most manufactured abroad. Prescription creams with clobetasol propionate were available recently for as little as $3.99.

Echoing health concerns, New York Times article had also highlighted the fact that dermatologists nationwide were noticing side effects from the frequent use of skin whitening creams like Fair & White and other stuff sold by beauty shops and online sites.

Due to attractive profit margins on such products, many unscrupulous suppliers, especially through online sites, have started selling counterfeit versions with undisclosed ingredients – such counterfeit versions have also turned up in stores.

According to Dr. Erin Gilbert, chief dermatology resident at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, she or her colleagues saw a case of severe side effects from skin-lightening creams at least once a week.

Evelyn Nakano Glenn, a professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said it was wrong to assume that skin-lightening was a cultural anachronism or an effort to negate one’s racial heritage. “In fact, it’s a growing practice and one that has been stimulated by the companies that produce these products,” she said. “Their advertisements connect happiness and success and romance with being lighter skinned.”

Dr. Glenn, former president of the American Sociological Association emphasized that “sociological studies have shown among African-Americans and also Latinos, there’s a clear connection between skin color and socioeconomic status. It’s not some fantasy. There is prejudice against dark-skinned people, especially women in the so-called marriage market.”