A study finds Pycnogenol® is effective in improving visible signs of skin aging in women, aged 55-68 years. Published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, the study found that after 12 weeks of supplementing with Pycnogenol®, women experienced improved skin hydration and increased skin elasticity by 25 percent. Pycnogenol® significantly elevated collagen and increased hyaluronic acid production in skin by 44 percent.
This study confirms previous findings that Pycnogenol® effectively improves skin conditions, including promoting glowing skin and reducing the appearance of over-pigmentation and skin inflammation.

from www.cosmetics design.com

With so many products claiming to be “organic” we thought it high time to clarify our reasons for choosing Ilike Organic Skin Care in our store.

Ilike Organic Skin Care is the original Hungarian skin care, named after its creator, “Aunt Ilike” (pronounced eeleka)

In their own words, this is how the Ilike company describes their products:

“Our fruit and herbal ingredients are formulated and processed in a unique way under specially controlled conditions that maintains the vitality of the natural active ingredients while eliminating bacteria. Because of this secret process you can immediately experience the rich, deep penetrating effects of our products, as well as their magnificent aromas and colours. The products of ilike organic skin care contain no artificial colours; therefore the colour and even texture of the products can change slightly over time and may even vary by season. Our skin care line does not contain animal by-products and is not tested on animals.

Due to the uniquely rich Hungarian soil and the climate perfectly suited for agriculture, our herbs, vegetables and fruits are very rich in active ingredients and aromatic agents. They are organically grown, hand harvested, hand selected and made in very small batches.

Some ilike organic skin care products are blended with a unique water source – that of Lake Hajduszoboszlo. Searching for oil in 1925, this subterranean thermal spring was discovered by a group of scientists. Research revealed that a combination of salt and fresh water contained in this remnant of an ancient sea submerged by an earthquake contained plant and animal life. The result is water that includes minerals and trace elements and a pH level of 9.5, which is beneficial for dry skin. The water also filtered through layers of mineral rich earth with the ingredients being fermented and heated at approximately 73 degrees Celsius (163 degrees Fahrenheit) and preserved for centuries. Some ilike organic skin careproducts also use the mud and algae from this unique and rich source.”

Recipient of numerous awards, certified organic by European standards and featured in prestigious magazines and TV shows, like The Doctors, ilike organic skin care brings you unparalleled quality  created with old world experience and knowledge.

by Nadia Danay

I recently read an interesting article on the different meanings the same words have for science and marketing. It was very illuminating in the context of skin care products and their marketing.

Let’s start with the ubiquitous term “natural”. To a scientist it means a group of molecules that are part of living nature, typically plants. These substances can be either isolated from  plants or synthesized.

“Naturally sourced” implies direct extraction from a plant or animal.

Biased marketing has conditioned a positive response to “naturally sourced” ingredients. Marketing people conveniently forget, however, that these sources may not be so appealing.

A good example is hyaluronic acid, used for anti-wrinkle purposes. The “natural source” for this molecule is roosters’ comb. The hyaluronic acid molecule synthesized in the lab is identical and does not imply using animals for its source.

Another problem with sourcing from nature is that in order to obtain a reasonable amount of any given ingredient, one needs to harvest massive amounts of plants. Not a very wise solution environmentally nor very economical from a business perspective.

Additionally, sourcing from plants runs the risk of inclusion of unwanted traces of toxins, pesticides and pollutants.

Synthetic molecules have exactly the identical qualities as their “natural” counterparts, without any of the above drawbacks.

Synthetic molecules are consistent in all their aspects, while “natural” derived molecules are subject to wild variations, depending on climate and harvest conditions, Their qualities are fluctuating and the quality of the end product is fluctuating as well.

Misinformation due to biased marketing is not new. Before deciding for or against an ingredient based just on its being “natural” or synthetic, please remember that some of the best,safe, efficient, consistent and advanced ingredients in today’s skin care are synthetic.

Les Nouvelles Esthetiques March 2013