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Meet our Ingredients: Turmeric

Skin Bleaching  We've all heard of skin bleaching and we've all heard about its nasty side effects.  What we haven't all heard of is the actual product that is used in hyperpigmentation treatments. Meet hydroquinone.  Hydroquinone, which is extensively used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation is associated with unfortunate side effects including intense dryness, pruritus, erythema, and so much more.  The team at Gaia's Lab moves away from chemical agents like hydroquinone and toward natural ingredients like turmeric for these common skin ailments.  Turmeric is loaded with something called tyrosinase inhibitors. These are agents that interfere in the melanin production pathway, making it the perfect natural alternative for skin lightening treatments and creams. Turmeric has been revered in India for decades...

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Essential Oils and allergens

What are essential oils? Essential oils are highly concentrated oils from the plants, flowers, stems, roots, leaves or bark.  Even rinds are used to extract the oils from the fruit.  The oils are typically steam distilled or through cold pressing of the organic material. These oils are highly aromatic and do not have a fatty acid profile unlike the traditional plant or fruit oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, grape seed oil etc. The essential oils are organic compounds with characteristic and pleasant odor profiles. They are used in aromatherapy, cosmetics, deodorants, detergents, fabric softeners and other products used in households.  Allergens information There are 26 allergens identified and they are present in most essential oils or fragrance components. ...

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Is your sunscreen reef safe? What's in your sunscreen?

Background: When you take a dip in the sea after slathering in sunscreen think about this. There are thousands of chemicals from personal care products that are in the world's oceans and sunscreen is a major contributor.  Sunscreen ingredients end up in the oceans and cause irreparable damage to coral reefs. Sunscreen ingredients: Sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate are the main culprits. They absorb the harmful UV rays and therefore are widely used in sunscreen products.   Marine Safe in its report on measurements taken around Hawaii found levels of oxybenzone at concentrations 12 times higher and it has started impacted coral reefs in the oceans. Summary of the science: The effects of sunscreen UV filter oxybenzone on coral reefs is detailed...

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