Category: Ingredient Benefits

Price vs Value

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Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia) an ingredient chosen for the Tranquility range for the multiple benefits it adds to a formula is a victim of adulteration.

English Lavender has a relative high cost and it is being adulterated with lower cost Lavendula or other undeclared cheaper essential oils or oil fractions. Some even go as far as adding synthetic components to this oil. This relates to a cheaper product being pushed into the market and the public think they get the real thing. No one likes to be fooled like that. When it comes to natural ingredients, in most instances, the higher the price the better the value. When you get a bargain, you need to worry.

Purity of raw materials are the backbone of an effective skin care product, especially natural and organic skincare products. You simply do not get the benefits of the pure unadulterated ingredient, which can leave you thinking this stuff doesn’t work or it can cause unwanted side effects.

Therefore chemotying is an important tool as the chemical constituents for an oil that comes from plants grown in a particular area can be identified. Below is a definition I found to describe chemotyping:

“A chemotype occurs when a plant of a specific genus and species produces a particular chemical in a higher than normal amount because of geographic location — weather, altitude, insect and environmental interactions, and the like. A chemotype is not a different species or genus, nor is it a type of chemical; it is merely a chemical anomaly within the plant that occurs naturally.”

–Suzanne Catty

In simple terms it means that through chemotype testing it can be seen whether a specific essential oil has been adulterated.

This also adds to the price, however at Fontis Organic Skinfood the real and pure ingredient is important so you can get the results you need.

Price is what you pay, value is what you get!

Luxurious and Exotic Oils Used

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Exotic and luxurious African Seed Oils are found in various formulations.

Kalahari Melon Seed Oil:

Found in the depths of South African desert, Kalahari Melon seed oil is highly nutritious, light and is great for troubled skin. It helps to dissolve excess sebum in pores plus repairs cell damage. It offers effective hydration for beard hair too plus the end of beard dandruff. Just in case you wanted to know, experts agree that this fruit, first harvested 5000 years ago, can save your life as you can live of the fruit alone for six weeks. 

Marula Seed Oil:

Prized for centuries by Africa women for it’s remarkable skin properties, this oil is dubbed a miracle oil and one of Africa’s treasures. It belongs to the same family as the mango tree. The other name it is known by is the elephant tree as these huge four footed animals loves the fruit.

Great moisturiser as it helps the skin to hold its moisture in the deeper layers whilst nourishing cell walls. This silky oil is high in anti-oxidants, vitamin C and E. Being rich in minerals, including iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper can help promote healthy beard hair.

Baobab Oil:

The Baobab tree is indigenous to amongst others Southern and Eastern Africa. This huge tree can live up to 3000 years (and more) and is known as theTree of Life. It can hold up to 4 500 litres of water in it’s trunk. Basically it acts like a giant succulent since the trunk consists of 80% water. When the riverbeds are dry and rain is scarce the San Bushmen used to turn to the Baobab Tree as a valuable source of water.   One hollow tree found in Zimbabwe is so big that 40 people can fit into it’s trunk . 

Baobab Oil enriching oil nourishes and improves skin elasticity and soothes skin. Baobab oil contains moisturising vitamins A, D, E and F, which help to rejuvenate damaged skin cells.

Natural oils are beneficial for beards too. Since it assists with dry skin it means that beard dandruff is a thing of the past. It also strengthens hair and does not weigh the beard down. Leaving your beard healthy looking without being glossy.

Moringa Oleifera Oil:

The Moringa tree is highly valued from time immemorial for its medicinal values. Every part of this pharmacy tree can be used.  

“Moringa Oleifera Oil has been used in the preparation of folk medicines in many civilizations since pre-historic time. The therapeutic perspectives of Moringa Oleifera Oil has been documented in literature and it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, anti-rash characteristics, cures insect bites, burns and cuts, fights black heads, acne, counterfeiting the bad effects of pollution of skin, maintain natural glow of the skin, scalp moisture, improves the strength of hairs, act as antidandruff and prevent split ends, unlike other vegetable oils. It is great source of vitamin C, which prevent scurvy and possesses many other health benefits and it has the capability of lowering hypertension and persuade good sleep, guards bones and calms the nervous system. Moringa Oleifera Oil has been the part of skin ointments, skin moisturizing agent and other skin cosmetics since the Egyptian times.”

 

Source: https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-016-0379-0

 

Do Seed Oils Offer Sun Protection?

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Did you know that tropical trees contain natural compounds that protect the skin from the sun’s damaging rays? Oils extracted from tropical fruits like Coconut and Shea Butter are effective in shielding the skin from harmful UV rays while allowing Vitamin D to form in the lower layers of the skin. This natural process ensures that the skin is adequately protected from the sun’s harmful effects while also enabling the beneficial effects of sunlight to penetrate the skin.

While Coconut oil and Shea Butter are excellent natural ingredients for protecting the skin from the sun, oils extracted from exotic African plants like Marula, Moringa, Baobab, and Kalahari Melon also offer similar benefits. These oils are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients that can help nourish and protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays.

Marula oil, for example, contains high levels of antioxidants and fatty acids that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while Moringa oil is rich in Vitamin E, which can help protect the skin from environmental stressors like UV rays. Baobab oil is also rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it an effective ingredient for soothing and nourishing sun-damaged skin. Kalahari Melon oil, on the other hand, is rich in essential fatty acids that can help repair and protect the skin’s natural barrier.

By incorporating these exotic African oils into our formulations, we offer you a skincare routine that can help protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. While commercial sunscreens and mineral oils contain harmful chemicals that can cause damage to the skin when exposed to solar radiation, natural ingredients like these oils offer a safe and effective alternative.

It’s important to remember that sunlight offers numerous benefits for our bodies, and we need regular exposure to it.

However, we must avoid sunburn, which can cause radioactive damage that is toxic to the skin (1). Sun-protective foods, natural supplements like our Resveratrol rich Vitality Skin Supplement, and a proper skincare routine can help shield the skin from sunburn while still allowing beneficial sunlight to penetrate the skin.

In conclusion, natural compounds found in tropical fruits and trees, as well as exotic African oils, can offer effective sun protection without the use of harmful chemicals. By incorporating Fontis Organic Skinfood into your skincare routine and adopting a sun-protective diet and supplement regimen, you can enjoy the benefits of sunlight while safeguarding our skin from harmful UV rays.

And Why is Vitamin D Important to Me?

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in our overall health. One of its most important functions is regulating and shaping the immune system. In fact, Vitamin D acts as a parent to the immune system, guiding and controlling its responses to keep us healthy. Regular sun exposure triggers our skin to produce Vitamin D, which activates a powerful immune army (2) within our body to protect us against infections, diseases, and other harmful pathogens. Furthermore, a 10-year study found that regular sun exposure (without burning) can reduce cancer risk by up to 75%. (3)

Vitamin D also plays a crucial role in the body’s absorption and use of calcium, which is necessary for strong bones and teeth. Without sufficient Vitamin D, our bodies cannot absorb the calcium we need to build and maintain healthy bones, leading to conditions such as rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. To ensure optimal levels of Vitamin D, it is recommended to get regular, moderate sun exposure (without burning), consume foods rich in Vitamin D, such as fatty fish and fortified dairy products, and consider taking Vitamin D supplements if necessary.

Despite its importance, many people are deficient in Vitamin D due to a lack of sunlight exposure or insufficient dietary intake, especially those living in areas with limited sunlight or who spend most of their time indoors. However, Vitamin D has been linked to a variety of other health benefits, including the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

To sum up, Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that plays a vital role in our immune system, bone health, and overall well-being. It is important to monitor our Vitamin D levels and take steps to ensure we are getting enough of this vital nutrient. This may include spending time in the sun (without getting burned), consuming Vitamin D-fortified foods, or taking supplements as recommended by a healthcare professional.

Vitamin D Deficiency & Illness

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses, including preeclampsia, childhood dental caries, periodontitis, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, deadly cancers, type 2 diabetes, and neurological disorders (4). In addition, a lack of Vitamin D can also lead to other health issues such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, depression, insomnia, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, autism, and weight gain.

Sun rays are absorbed by a skin without sunblock...

Yes, that is right. Sunblock does just that, it prevents the rays from coming through. Our skin produces the vitamin D needed when exposed to sunlight and natural oils aids in Vitamin D production and absorption, whilst protecting the skin from that oxidative damaged caused by the sun rays.

It seems that blocking out the sun is not the best plan, but protecting your skin is, whilst allowing some rays through.

Vitamin D & Your Skin

When it comes to Vitamin D, our skin plays a crucial role in its production and absorption. Sunlight is the most effective way for our bodies to produce Vitamin D, and when our skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, it naturally produces this essential nutrient. However, many people are concerned about the damaging effects of the sun on their skin and use sunblock to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

It is important to note that while sunblock does prevent the harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin, it also blocks the beneficial UVB rays that stimulate Vitamin D production. This is why it is recommended to expose your skin to sunlight without sunblock for short periods of time to allow for Vitamin D synthesis. Natural oils in the skin can also aid in the absorption of Vitamin D, while protecting the skin from oxidative damage caused by the sun’s rays.

It’s clear that blocking out the sun completely is not the best plan when it comes to Vitamin D production, but protecting your skin is essential. The key is to strike a balance between sun exposure and skin protection, allowing some rays to penetrate the skin to produce Vitamin D, while using appropriate measures such as sunblock, protective clothing, and seeking shade when necessary to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk of skin damage and cancer.

See What Felicity Experienced!

Sources:

1. Vital tools to correct immune systems – Dr Peter Osborn

2. Mike Adams – Naturalnews.com

3. Ty Bollinger from thetruthaboutcancer.com

4. The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: Approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Holick MF., Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2017 Jun;18(2):153-165. doi: 10.1007/s11154-017-9424-1. Review. PMID:28516265

WebMD: Vitamin D Food

Information supplied is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.

High Performance Botanical Ingredients

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Sophisticated ingredients are more effective on your skin and there is nothing more sophisticated than nature!

What you put in or onto your body matters. So when it comes to ingredients that nature produces value is more valuable than price. Why? The better the quality the better will the results be for your skin and body.

Sometimes high value is not very expensive, however price is your criteria.

Natural ingredients must come from the area where they have been known to grow for centuries. Cheap ingredients in products may come from plants that where not mature when they were made and then you sit with an inferior quality ingredient.

Water plays a huge role. Today in the USA, for example, 75% of rainwater has toxins in that is not good for your wellbeing (1). Because of agricultural chemicals that is water soluble there are areas on the planet where you will not be able to get botanical ingredients without them. One of the best places ingredients can be sourced is wild natured and comes from native villages. This can be way better than natural ingredients from commercial farms.

Since 99% of the actives we use are organic (natural plant) materials we want to share the secret of their skin glowing effects on your skin.

The Secrets of Nature

The rainfall, soil conditions, wind and sun affects the final product.  This means that active natural ingredients offer adaptability and resiliency which is great news for your skin. At Fontis Skinfood we believe the secret to lively skin lies in the 100’s of different compounds found in plant based materials. Your skin cannot become bored! Nature provides us with what we need to balance body and skin and it is seasonal by design.

Example

Let us use anti-biotics as an example. They are developed to inhibit specific activity, so a virus simply finds a way around the anti-biotic. That is why you hear about drug resistant viruses.

The way natural active ingredients defend your skin today is the result of the 100’s of different compounds in them. Let us look at Limonene (a compound found in Orange and Frankincense essential oil): it inhibits pathological cell growth, it interacts with the detox process; it is strongly anti-viral as it disrupts the membrane of the virus.

Botanical actives have life in them and it contributes to vitality and glowing skin!

 

Sources:

  1. Quoted from an interview with Dr Zach Bush – Triple board certified Physician and Endocrinologist
  2. Quoted Ron Teeguarden who has been involved with Herbology since 1971

Information supplied is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.

Seven Reasons Your Skin Loves Omega 9

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Skinfood Science Time

 

Seed oils contain many chemical compounds that are great for your skin. Did you know that 30% of your skin sebum is made up of Oleic Acid which is an Omega 9 fatty acid?

Below are seven ways Oleic Acid helps your skin.

 

Fontis Skinfood Tranquility Nectar and Exuberance Nectar are stuffed with Omega 9 goodness! Your skin will love you for adding it to your skincare routine!

Why wait any longer? Your skin needs the nourishment!

 

Information supplied is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.