Who
uses I2?
I2is skin care for women and men of all ages. It is also suitable for all skin types and problems.
Products are made with 100% natural ingredients. As much as this expression is in use these days, what it means in this case is that it is truly natural.
This makes them suitable for most sensitive skins, as they don’t contain synthetic ingredients, which are common sensitizing agents. Allergic reactions can be triggered by numerous factors, including natural ingredients, but they are much less likely to occur with completely natural products.
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What
do I start with?
This will depend on a few factors, most importantly your skin type and condition. If you have a problem, be it acne, excessive dryness, dehydration, these will have to be addressed right away, and once you bring the skin into a balanced condition, you will focus on maintenance. Refer to the Natural Skin Care Programs, or contact us with questions or specific concerns.
In general, for a skin in normal condition, as basic primary products you need a cleanser, moisturizer (to use both day and night), eye cream, and a face peel (also called an exfoliant). Other products can be added later.
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How
to care for your skin care?
All products are produced from finest
botanical ingredients and preserved with natural anti-oxidants and
herbs. But what makes them exceptional also makes them vulnerable –
prolonged exposure to light and air will diminish their natural vitality
and effectiveness.
Storing an unopened product:
The date on the label indicates when the product was produced not the
expiry date. Unopened, stored at room temperature and away from
sunlight, it will last for a year if packaged in glass, or 9 months if
in plastic container. When stored in refrigerator, this period increases
dramatically. Our inventory products are always refrigerated. Note:
products must not be frozen.
Storing a product while being used:
Products do not need to be stored in the fridge for
regular use at room temperature, during a period of 3 months.
This period begins from the moment you have opened the product for home
use. Three months is a sufficient time to use up most products with
daily application. With exposure to environment not only will the effect
of the natural preservative diminish but also the effectiveness of
active ingredients.
If after three months you haven’t finished your product it is advisable
to put it in the fridge. Each home environment is different and some of
the products have better longevity than others. Cool temperature will
extend the shelf life considerably as it aids the action of natural
preservative.
Products that usually last well at room temperature even past the
3-month mark are: Aqua Botanica toners, Ancient Grains, Anti-rides, Eye
Cream, Sun Spot, Equilibrium, A+B5 Serum, Citrus A-Peel. You may find
that to be the case with other products too, but that will depend on
environmental factors mostly.
Note: pure aromatherapy products i.e. oils do not need refrigeration.
Always secure lids tightly after use, utilize the little spatulas
supplied, and store products away from sunlight and
source of heat.
The products do not require a change of your habits; use them regularly
for best results, just remember that they are natural and pure.
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What
is in the skin type?
Skin is a living organ, very complex in its physiology as well as its functions. Its health is dependant on internal health, the environment and the levels of stress it is exposed to as well as the care it receives throughout our lives. It is also highly resilient and capable of defending and healing itself.
The simplified physiology of the skin:
Basic Structure
Epidermis
Skin protects itself so effectively due to the constant process of renewal of its epidermis. At the deepest level of the epidermis, there is a layer of living prismatic cells, which are continuously creating new cells, which in turn move outward, toward the surface of the skin. In the process, their cytoplasm goes through changes of losing most of its features, cells degenerate and die. The cell membranes become impregnated with keratin and sebum fills the remaining of the cell. These cells are constantly being shed and replaced by the new ones.
Dermis
This is a thick layer of connective tissue, which gives resistance to the skin. It is made up of layers of collagen and elastine fibres, which give the skin its smooth and youthful appearance.
Hypodermis
An even thicker layer of adipose cells which gives additional protection and resistance and plays an important role in thermo-regulation.
Skin is also permeated with nerve endings and blood vessels (not present in the epidermis), secretion channels for sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and their supporting systems. Skin is alive: it uses energy and nutrients and interacts with the environments inside and outside the body.
Skin Types
The basic categories are normal, oily and dry skin. This is based on the flow of sebum, the oily substance that protects and lubricates stratum corneum (the very surface layer of the skin). Sebum is slightly acidic, which is yet another defence against outside aggressions. Yet, each skin is truly unique as it is affected by lifestyle, environment, genetic potential etc.
Normal
This skin type could also be called a “perfect” skin. It is healthy, well balanced and has a very appealing appearance. It has a normal flow of sebum, it appears smooth, with small or invisible pores and an even tone.
Oily
This is essentially healthy skin with an over-production of sebum. This mostly shows as enlarged pores, the skin has thicker texture and appears shiny.
Dry
Dry skin has invariably thin texture, small or invisible pores and could be rough on touch with visible flaky patches when not cared for properly. Insufficient flow of sebum makes it more vulnerable to dehydration and formation of lines.
Combination
Its name suggests a combination of oily and dry areas. The so-called T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is where the sebaceous glands are more active and this is the oily part. The activity of oily glands can be from moderate to extreme. The cheeks have much less sebum secretion and they can vary from normal to very dry. The pores in this area are small or invisible, while they would be more enlarged around the nose.
This is a skin type of contrasts and it is very common.
Dehydrated
All skins can become dehydrated. It means that a loss of water through the skin versus the quantity that it receives is off balance. Water is vital for all organs and tissues, including skin. Dehydration is always a combination of internal and external deficiencies and aggressions and it is very common. Chlorinated water, soaps and other drying cleansers, inappropriate skin care products, dry air in the work and living space, overexposure to the sun, imbalanced diet, insufficient intake of water, side-effect of many medications, etc. The usual signs are flaky patches and tightness and pulling of the skin. If not looked after, dehydrated skin can become more sensitive and susceptible to its environment.
Aging skin
Common features associated with this process are:
¨ Reduction in sebum production and general “drying” of the skin occurs, even with once very oily skins;
¨ Capability to retain water is smaller;
¨ All metabolic processes in the different cells of the skin are slowing down or stopping.
The usual signs of aging are loss of elasticity (sagging) and appearance of lines and wrinkles (collagen fibres do not regenerate as rapidly and other structural changes occur).
It is commonly said that the skin begins to age from 25 on. There are great variations in this, as one can see just looking around. Genetics play a big role in this process, but equally important are lifestyle (smoking, drinking, outdoor activities, sunbathing, stress, etc) and the skin care regimen.
The old rule applies amply to skin care as well, prevention gives much better results than correction.
Sensitive & Allergic
Sensitivities and allergies are becoming a most dominant concern in skin care. The unpredictable occurrence and the possible severity of reactions make this an extremely difficult problem to deal with. As a general guide: an allergic reaction will appear immediately or shortly after a first application: sensitivity may take a week or two to develop. In addition, sensitivity can be temporary, while allergies are permanent.
Acne & Problem
This condition appears in skins that are always more or less oily. Pores are enlarged and filled with blackheads and cysts. The skin has rough texture. Pimples are present as well as inflammation (redness) and it often scars. Acne condition is caused by hormones, but it can be exaggerated by diet, smoking, inappropriate products and make-up, etc.
Men
As far as skin types are concerned, there are no differences between women and men. That implies that skin care rules are the same as well.
One of the obvious differences in skin care for men is the facial hair and the need for everyday grooming. This can not only sensitise and dehydrate the skin through use of drying shaving foams, but the common after-shave lotions have a high percentage of alcohol, which can be irritating as well as drying. In addition, men with coarse, curly facial hair often have problems with ingrown hairs, which can sometimes turn into inflamed cysts. For this problem, please refer to
Alchemia. Also, exfoliation with Ancient Grains peeling will further reduce or prevent the problem of bumps and ingrown hairs.
For skin care suggestions, refer to an appropriate Natural Skin Care Program.
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How
long to wait before applying the next cream base?
Normally, when applying a toner or serum, you will follow with a moisturizer while the skin is still wet. It is not necessary, but common and easy. If you are combining two different creams, you will massage in the first until it has disappeared and then follow with the second one.
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Do
I need a toner?
This is not an age-old question perhaps, but still very common one. No, you don’t need a toner as much as you would need a cleanser or a moisturizer, but it suffices to say that once you start using
Aqua Botanica, you will not be without it again. A toner is an intermediate step. You spray it on before applying the face cream, and what it does is remoisten the skin, being so rich in plant extracts it is like a serum, and it eases the absorption of the cream.
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I
use cleanser at night to wash the skin and remove make-up, but don't in
the morning
Everybody creates their own regimen in skin care, everybody knows their skin best. Not using a cleanser in the morning is all right if you have a dry skin, however, just as with oily type, the skin breathes and rests through the night. Skin is also an organ of elimination, metabolic processes continue and washing the face with cleanser helps with removing their by-products.
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Does
I2 offer sun protection?
Many of the ingredients in
I2 creams have natural sun-screening properties, such as Vitamin E, Beeswax, Shea butter. This protection is low but nevertheless present. For now,
I2 does not have designated sunscreens.
A few words on sun protection:
For healthy skin, bones and body overall Vitamin D is necessary. It is mostly produced and supplied through exposure to the Sunlight. Too much Sun will age the skin, it can also increase some individual’s risks for skin cancer. However, common sense, as well as the newest research show that the general fear of the Sun that had resulted in popularity of sun blocks can have adverse effects on health. Moderation is the key word. For a short walk outside not you nor your skin need a sun-block, but you could get your daily supply of Vitamin D. For prolonged exposure and prevention of sun burns, sun protection is necessary.
In addition, sun blockers can’t prevent hyper-pigmentation i.e. brown spots from appearing. The over-production of melanin is internally controlled and unless you have a physical barrier between your face and the Sunrays, the moment your skin ‘sees’ the Sun, it can become susceptible. Wear hats and stay away from long sessions in the Sun.
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I
was recomended to use only 'oil-free' products.
‘Oil-free’ is a marketing gimmick. You could create a gel that is oil-free, but never a cream. If there is no ‘oil’ in a cream, there will be other oily substances in order to create an emulsion, such as fatty alcohols, esters, acids etc. Although gels have an application in skin care, it is limited, creams are by far the best mediums. They feel the best on the skin, they allow the application of both water-soluble and water-insoluble ingredients (like many vitamins and other highly active ingredients), the absorption can achieve very high levels (this greatly depends on formulation) and it can give complete care.
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