Breakthrough ingredients and new formulations are the secret to ageless—and beautiful—skin.
An array of exotic face oils, some with a boost of lavender and rose. Photograph by Robin Jolin
Choosing sides is never easy. It used to be that we had to pick between clean natural products or chemical-laden but effective ones. Now, thanks to the meteoric rise of green cosmeceuticals, there are plenty of options that incorporate potent natural ingredients to deliver powerful results. Here are a few to try.
1 Super Serums
“My favorite trend is the new crop of ‘super serums’ and ‘booster concentrates,’” says Spirit Demerson, founder and owner, Spiritbeautylounge.com. “Natural skincare lines are really ramping up their game with much more potent, concentrated elixirs than we’ve ever seen before.” These super serums tend to be pricier than regular serums, according to Demerson, but also deliver more impressive, measurable, targeted results. “We get a lot of clients who ask, ‘If I can only invest in one product, what will make the most difference in correcting my pigmentation/firming/fine lines…,’ and these are the answer.”
Try: Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Serum, $185, spiritbeautylounge.com; Bakel THIO-C Revitalizing Glowing Face Serum, $195, spacenk.com
2 Exotic Face Oils
Exotic plant oils are the latest insider beauty favorite, and for good reason. “They do a great job of hydrating your skin without any oily residue,” says Marla Malcolm Beck, CEO and co-founder, Bluemercury.com. “The top layer of your skin is held together by lipids, which form a protective barrier against the environment. As you age, this deteriorates, so the essential fatty acids in these oils help to keep this barrier in place.”
Lighter than most face creams, they’re loaded with skin-repairing amino acids and antioxidants. Because they’re highly concentrated, you just need a few drops, so a bottle can last months. Look for argan, tamanu, marula, baobab, avocado, borage seed, pomegranate seed oils.
Try: Darphin 8 Flower Nectar, $150, bluemercury.com; Olie Biologique Calming Oil, $68, oliebiologique.com; Aura Cacia Nighttime Baobab Facial Oil Serum, $19.99, auracacia.com
3 Mushrooms
“One of the best benefits of mushrooms is that they contain beta-glucans, complex polysaccharides that stimulate the body’s immune system,” says Julie Longyear, founder and herbal chemist for Blissoma. “They are anti-cancer, anti-wrinkle, soothing, hydrating and contribute to collagen construction. And, they are capable of penetrating deep into the skin so they offer real healing in layers that other ingredients may have trouble reaching.”
Packed with vitamin D, selenium and antioxidants, mushrooms safeguard skin from discoloration and their anti-inflammatory properties help with rosacea, acne and eczema.
Try: Blissoma Lavish Loving Recovery Beta-Glucan Mask, $33.99, blissoma.com; Prana Spaceuticals Revital Eyes, $52, pranaspaceuticals.com
4 Powdered Masks
“These powders are self-preserved and come to life when a mask is prepared by adding water, delivering the full potency of the plants when applied to the skin,” says Dr. Saulius Alkaitis of Dr. Alkaitis Organic Skin Care.
Freshly harvested raw crops—including fruits, vegetables, berries and grasses—are dried in such a way that the power of the ingredients is preserved, delivering maximum therapeutic properties and nutrition. Just mix the powder with water in a small bowl. Yogurt and honey can be added for a hydrating boost.
Try: Dr. Alkaitis Organic Beautifying Mask, $65, alkaitis.com; Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Lava & Rose Hips Blemish Relief Facial Masque, $28, sheaterraorganics.com