A new year has arrived, and you may be making a list of resolutions. If you're not quite finished with that list, let me encourage you to make an unusual resolution that can boost your health. Switching to natural, toxin-free skincare products in general can improve the health of your skin and support better overall health. And when you opt for Verefina in particular, you can rest assured that the products are not only natural, but also safe and effective.

Effective Ingredients Make Effective Products

The goal at Verefina is to make effective skincare products using carefully selected natural ingredients. These products are formulated to moisturize, nourish, and protect your skin. The ingredients in Verefina products deliver nutrients and antioxidants that support skin health. For example, sunflower oil (found in the Aloe and Calendula Cream, Kid’s Lotion, Baby Lotion, and some Immunity Products) is a good source of vitamin E, an important antioxidant. Olive oil (used in our Olive Oil Lotion, Sugar Scrubs, and Sea Buckthorn Facial Cream) provides vitamins A and E. These two nutrients can help repair damage to the skin caused by environmental pollutants and exposure to the sun (source). And aloe vera (found in the Aloe and Calendula Cream, Kid’s Lotion, Baby Lotion, After-Sun Mist, Ultra Hydrating Rosewater Mist, and Sea Buckthorn Facial Cream) contains numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes, some of which help the skin to maintain its elasticity and firmness (source). Such ingredients are natural sources of nutrients that promote healthy skin.

Products That Heal

The First Aid Line

Some of Verefina’s products are designed to support the skin’s natural healing processes. The products in the First Aid Line contain ingredients that speed recovery from minor injuries to the skin. The After-Sun Mist, for instance, is formulated with aloe leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, peppermint and lavender essential oils, and lavender flower water. In addition to the benefits listed above, aloe vera juice has a high water content, so it provides cooling relief and moisture for sunburned skin. While aloe vera is available in most grocery stores, it often contains unnecessary and even toxic additives, such as parabens. Verefina’s After-Sun Mist is free of such ingredients. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body. It attracts moisture to the skin and holds it in. Hyaluronic acid can also help neutralize damaging free radicals. Since overexposure to the sun may lead to the formation of free radicals in the skin, hyaluronic acid can help with the critical process of repairing the damage caused by UV rays. Peppermint oil cools, soothes, and rehydrates sunburned skin. Lavender oil helps to heal skin and prevent peeling. Lavender flower water is much less concentrated than pure lavender essential oil, but, because lavender water contains lavender essential oil, it can still aid in healing sunburned skin. Sunburns can cause serious long-term damage, so it is important to heal them quickly. The natural ingredients in the After-Sun Mist help speed recovery from sunburns.

The First Aid Ointment and First Aid Stick are formulated with plant and essential oils that help heal minor cuts, scrapes, burns, and insect bites and stings. Calendula oil is excellent for severely chapped or dry skin (source). Lavender, tea tree, and lemon essential oils have antimicrobial properties and can help rid wounds of infection-causing bacteria. Tamanu oil is harvested from the nuts of tamanu trees, which are native to the Pacific Islands. This oil promotes the formation of new skin and accelerates healing of tissues (source). It is therefore an important ingredient in the First Aid Ointment and Stick.

Aloe and Calendula Cream

Verefina’s Aloe and Calendula Cream is especially useful for severely dry, chapped, or irritated skin. It is also ideal for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. As noted above, calendula oil helps heal dry skin, while aloe vera provides moisture, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. To treat extremely irritated skin or eczema and psoriasis with Aloe and Calendula Cream, wash the affected area with a small amount of Lavender or Unscented Shea Butter Soap and gently pat dry. Immediately apply Lavender or Unscented Aloe and Calendula Cream. Use once or twice a day.

Products That Provide Antioxidant Protection

Antioxidants are critical for protecting cells and tissues from free radical damage. Free radicals develop as a result of exposure to ultraviolet rays and to environmental toxins and pollutants. The skin is particularly susceptible to free radicals, which are thought to age the skin and can even damage DNA over time. Antioxidants have the very important job of neutralizing these molecules and preventing them from causing harm to our tissues. Natural ingredients abound with protective antioxidants; they are found, for example, in olive, grape seed, and sea buckthorn oils as well as in some essential oils, like rosemary and grapefruit. Such ingredients are found in many Verefina items, including Olive Oil Lotion, Kids Lotion, Baby Lotion, Sea Buckthorn Facial Cream, Lip Butter and Lip Balm, Foaming Hand Soap.

The Important Role of Skin

Because the skin plays a number of crucial roles, it’s important to keep it healthy. It protects the body from external factors, such as sunlight and cold, helps regulate body temperature, and produces vitamin D. It is also vital in keeping unwanted microorganisms out of the body. These functions make skin critical for good overall health, and underline the importance of caring for your skin. Verefina's natural, toxin-free skin care products support optimal skin health, boosting overall health from the outside in. 

Sources:

“How Does the Skin Work?” PubMed. 7 February 2013. Web. 29 December 2015.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072439/

Kilham, Chris. “Oil of Tamanu.” Medicine Hunter. Web. 29 December 2015.

http://www.medicinehunter.com/tamanu

Mercola, Joseph. “Calendula Oil: Amazing Marigold.” Mercola.com. Web. 28 December 2015.

http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/calendula-oil.aspx

Rocchino, Elizabeth. “The Benefits of Using Aloe Vera for Skin Care and More.” Mind, Body, Green. Web. 28 December 2015.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7654/the-benefits-of-using-aloe-vera-for-skin-care-and-more.html

Van Wyden, Genevieve. “Benefits of Using Extra Virgin Olive Oil on the Face.” Live Strong. 28 January 2014. Web. 29 December 2015.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/122517-benefits-using-extra-virgin-olive/

Photo courtesy of Verefina

About the Author

Katie Zapotoczny is a Verefina Affiliate and the creator of An Ever Green Life, a blog that seeks to empower readers to make changes that will improve their health and help protect our environment.