Chandra DavisI’m all about that hydration baby and since the moisturizer is the one product that spends the most time on your skin, I made sure the ingredients chosen keeps your skin hydrated, nourished and loved! This matte peptide formula is meant to aid the healing and repair process of the skin by stimulating collagen and elastin activity. The SKIN EDIT Moisturizer is perfect for those looking to correct past damage, even skin tone, and smooth texture.
Why It’s Good:
This combination of hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, and vitamin E gives your skin the hydration it needs to make it throughout the day. The peptide formula works undercover to stimulate collagen activity to firm the skin, reducing the appearance of scars while the botanical actives act to neutralize free radicals that may enter the pores and cause damage.
How To Use:
After cleansing or exfoliation, apply a generous amount to face and neck area. Follow up with my sunscreen for daily sun protection. Can be used daily morning or night.
Ingredients:
(full list below)
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Organic Aloe)
One of nature’s many natural hydrators, the aloe plant is suitable for all skin types, especially those who are dry, irritated and sensitive. The aloe plant is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and provides antioxidant protection and anti-itch relief. I chose this ingredient for its hydrating and wound healing properties.
Aqua (Deionized Water)
Good ol’ fashion water is good for quenching your skin’s thirst too, but here it doubles as a solvent. Deionized water is similar to distilled water in that all the impurities, such as toxins, microbes, and pollutants have been removed, but it also removed any mineral salts as well. This makes the water’s properties highly pure. Since water in this formula acts to dissolve the ingredients into the skin, having it deionized ensures the mineral salts don’t interfere negatively with other ingredients active or inactive.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (Organic Sunflower)
Rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A, B C and E, sunflower oil is perfect for neutralizing free radicals that may enter the pores and cause damage. It also reduces excessive sebum (oil) production which is excellent to prevent acne and breakouts. This oil is light enough to be absorbed in the skin but not heavy enough to block pores.
Isopropyl Palmitate
With all that water and oil, how do you expect our SKIN EDIT formula to get a thick, creamy texture? Isopropyl Palmitate is a palm oil derived from coconut oil and we use it here as a thickening agent. It can cause acne and clog pores when not diluted, but of course, it’s dilute here. You’ll find this ingredient in most moisturizers and sunscreens on the market.
Glyceryl Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate comes from glycerin and stearic acid and acts as an emulsifier to keep ingredients like water and oil dispersed or mixed together. This is ingredient doubles as a lubricant for the skin and prevents water loss. Triple thumbs up for this substance since it can be found naturally in the human body.
Cetyl Alcohol
With a name like cetyl alcohol, you’d think this ingredient is drying to the skin, but it’s actually not. Cetyl Alcohol is another emulsifying agent meant to keep the ingredients in the product from separating while it sits in your medicine cabinet. Look out for this ingredient in your favorite lipstick, it helps the color adhere to the skin. Fun Fact: The word cetyl comes from whale oil from which it was first produced.
Glycerin (Kosher, Vegetable)
Another hydrator makes an appearance and it stars my favorite humectant, glycerin. Since this is a moisturizer I’m talking about here, glycerin is an obvious choice to keep skin hydrated by attracting water from the air and directly into the skin.
Stearic Acid
Stearic acid is a natural acid derived from animal and mostly vegetable fats (primarily palm oil), and it’s used in the SKIN EDIT formula as an emollient. An emollient prevents water loss from the skin allowing the skin to stay hydrated longer.
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Organic Jojoba)
This is one of those ingredients that needs no introduction in the melanated skincare world, but for those unaware, allow me to fill you in. Hailing from the seeds of the desert shrub Simmondsia Chinensis (found in Arizona, California, and Mexico), jojoba oil is an emollient and helps to keep skin moisturized by preventing water loss. It’s chemical and physical makeup is similar to sebum (the oil produced on your face) and is excellent at soothing extreme dryness and eczema. The vitamins in jojoba oil also help repair and heal damaged skin all while keep free radical damage at bay. In my eyes, jojoba oil can do no wrong!
Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum (Tara) and Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum (Tara):
Derived from tara seeds, hydrolyzed caesalpinia spinose gum and aesalpinia spinose gum (whew that’s a lot to say), is used here as a thickening agent and helps keep the other emulsifiers in the formula stable. The hydrolyzed portion of this ingredient just means that it has been broken down to their amino acids.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter)
Another popular ingredient in the melanated skincare world, you can find shea butter in everything from hair care to makeup. Produced by the vitellaria tree, found primarily in the motherland (that’s Africa if you don’t know), shea butter acts as a barrier on the skin to prevent water loss and relieves dry and rough patches on the skin. Did y’all know that shea butter naturally absorbs harmful UVB rays and protects the skin from the sun? Ah yes, one of the many unanswered secrets as to why black doesn’t crack! Come through shea, come through…
Panthenol (Vitamin B5)
Another humectant for the win! Can you see a pattern here? I love hydrated skin. Panthenol is provitamin B5 that when applied to the skin turns into pantothenic acid which gets absorbed into the skin. This supports the skin’s natural barrier, keeps it hydrated and speeds the wound healing process to noticeably reduce the appearance of scars.
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
A chemical compound of acetic acid and tocopheryl, tocopheryl acetate is antioxidant and is meant to help free radical damage and help aid the wound healing process of the skin. I have to mention that in high doses and in prolonged use, tocopheryl acetate can be highly irritating to the skin. But don’t worry, it’s in small doses in this formula and shouldn’t cause you any problems.
Sodium Pca
The salt of pyrrolidone carbonic acid is a natural humectant found in the human skin derived from amino acids. You usually see this ingredient as an emollient or humectant in other skin and hair care products but here I selected it as a humectant.
Sodium Lactate
Who would have thought that you’d get liquid salt from the fermentation of sugar? Well, that’s exactly what sodium lactate is, liquid salt. Weirdly it has moisturizing properties when used in moisturizers and lotions but it also acts as a buffering agent, exfoliant and natural preservative.
I took the liberty to break down the amino acid ingredients found in this moisturizer into the standard essential and non-essential categories. Essential amino acids mean that your body cannot produce these acids on its own and must be derived from supplements or food sources. Essential amino acids are the opposite, in which your body can produce them on its own without the need for dietary sources or supplements. I choose the following amino acids because they work well with peptides.
Essential Amino Acids
Valine and Isoleucine
If we are talking about repairing skin and healing wounds, valine and isoleucine are must have amino acids for the job. Their sole purpose is to strengthen muscle and body tissues. These amino acids are necessary to in the SKIN EDIT Cream to ensure damaged skin gets the support it needs during the healing process.
Threonine
Threonine is an important amino acid in the anti-aging skincare world. Thought to be responsible for forming collagen and elastin in the dermal layer, which gives skin its bounce and firmness, threonine is needed to stimulate the skin’s natural repair process.
Histidine
An antioxidant against free radical damage (i.e. the sun), histidine doubles its support by offering some UV protection and soothes skin.
Phenylalanine
The foundation for proteins, phenylalanine acts as the base for amino acids and proteins to form.
Non- Essential Amino Acids
Arginine
Arginine helps to protect keratin, collagen and elastin proteins from photoaging. You’ll see this ingredient in a lot of anti-aging treatments as its hailed as the miracle ingredient in keeping living cells healthy. I chose it here because of its wound and repair healing properties.
Aspartic Acid
Made up of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) naturally found in dietary protein, aspartic acid is used in most hair and skin care products as a conditioning agent. Depending on their makeup structure and usage, they can be used similarly to a humectant or an emollient. Here these amino acids act as a secondary conditioning agent for the purpose of keeping skin lubricated, an emollient.
Alanine
A small non-essential acid found in humans sourced from dietary foods such as eggs, nuts and fish. Alanine is a building block protein and is beneficial when it comes to skin health. In skin care products, it’s used primarily as a conditioning agent, anti-static agent and masking ingredient. It can bond with skin cells to fill in creases giving the user a smoother and even texture.
Serine
Another amino acid, used as a skin conditioning agent. Serine is great for restoring moisture, and supporting collagen productivity. It’s derived from silk proteins and mainly helps the body produce the necessary activity for cell membranes to form.
Proline and Glycine
Proline and glycine are amino acids that work well with peptides in helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Peptides are chains of amino acids that are able to penetrate deep in to the dermal layer of the skin to stimulate collagen, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars and firm and moisturize skin. These peptides help to communicate with the skin cells to keep the dermal layer in smooth operation. Think of these peptides as cheerleaders for your collagen and elastin to stay plump and stimulated. Word of warning these peptides are pretty strong and may cause irritation. Consult a doctor or dermatologist right away should you develop redness, irritation, stinging or a rash at application site.
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Organic Green Tea)
Green tea holds many benefits when ingested or applied topically to the skin. Here it’s perfect for reducing free radical damage and calming irritated skin. The leaves also hold another hidden benefit as it contains tannins which are biomolecules that bond to amino acids in the body. It is known for its astringent properties and its ability to shrink pores and control acne by regulating the skin’s sebum (oil) production.
Centella Asiatica Extract (Organic Gotu Kola)
Another collagen stimulant and wound healing agent, gotu kola is necessary to target inflammation, discoloration and scars. I added it to the cream to give scarring, old and new, one final blow of effectiveness.
Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail)
No, this is extract is not from an actual horse nor was it derived from any animal by-product. This is a plant based extract meant to aid in wound healing and scar reduction. I’ve added this ingredient to the cream to help boost the effectiveness of the other scar and discoloration reducing agents is ensure maximum results.
Geranium Maculatum Extract (Wild Geranium)
Nature’s natural astringent, if you are looking for that toned and youthful look, wild geranium is excellent ingredient for anti-aging products. It also encourages cell turnover which is essential to shed dead skin cells to produce a smoother look and feel. This ingredient isn’t used as an exfoliant per se but it does help get of the old skin cells, making step 2 of the skincare routine even more effective.
Taraxacum Officinale Extract (Organic Dandelion)
Nature’s natural defense against free radical damage, organic dandelion extract is also anti-inflammatory and is known to calm irritation. As this moisturizer strives to hydrate and repair the skin, it’s important to protect your outer layer from any foreign matter that would comprise its healing process.
Xanthan Gum
A sugar polymer produced by bacteria, isn’t something you’d want to read in your ingredient list but before I turn you off, you should know it has a small purpose. Xanthan gum is simply a thickening agent to increase a product’s viscosity. I choose this ingredient because this moisturizer is meant to be a bit heavy so that it can absorb into the skin and create a barrier to hold in the moisture. It’s important that your skin have all day hydration to keep the reparation process going without interruption.
Ethylhexylglycerin (Preservative), Phenoxyethanol
With all these active and inactive ingredients, preservatives like ethylhexylglycerin and phenoxyethanol help keep bacteria and fungus from sprouting up and wreaking havoc in your moisturizer. But don’t worry, neither preservative is high risk for causing skin irritation or discomfort.
So there’s the scoop on the NWÄR Skin SKIN EDIT Cream. The ingredients list is was rather lengthy but each one is just as important as the next for healing and repairing skin.
Have you recently used the SKIN EDIT Cream? Tell me what you think in the comments below!
Looking to add this new product to your skincare routine. Buy it here!
