Three Bioactives for the Ages

May 22, 2023 | Written by Michelle Auerbach

Today we are going to focus on three bioactives you can find in Pangea products that your grandmother would recognize and approve of. This means you get the best of research and amazing formulation combined with the wisdom of generations.

Cucumber Seed Oil

Cucumber seed oil, derived from the seeds of the Cucumis sativus plant, is a little-known but highly beneficial oil with numerous applications in skincare and haircare. Rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, this versatile oil offers a wide range of benefits for maintaining healthy skin and hair. This article will explore the many advantages of incorporating cucumber seed oil into your daily beauty routine.

Moisturizes and Nourishes Skin: Cucumber seed oil is a great moisturizer thanks to its high linoleic acid content, an essential fatty acid that helps maintain the skin's natural barrier. This lightweight, non-greasy oil absorbs quickly, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated.

Anti-Aging Properties: Rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamin E and phytosterols, cucumber seed oil helps neutralize free radicals, which can cause premature aging. The oil also promotes collagen production and improves skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Soothes Sensitive and Irritated Skin: Cucumber seed oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent choice for calming and soothing sensitive or irritated skin. It is particularly beneficial for those with eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea conditions.

Reduces Dark Circles and Puffiness: Thanks to its high content of tocopherols and phytosterols, cucumber seed oil can help alleviate dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. Massaging the oil into the delicate under-eye area can improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation, giving you a more refreshed and youthful appearance.

Cucumber seed oil is a true gem in the world of natural skincare. Explore it in Pangea’s Gentle Hydrating Cleansing Cream.

Nori

Nori is a kind of seaweed that grows in the ocean and is used for skincare, as an emulsion for fertilizing plants, and for cooking (you’ve eaten it wrapped around sushi). Nori contains Vitamins A, B, and C and Iron. And Nori holds moisture - you can see this as it slowly absorbs the moisture from rice and becomes pliant and, well, moist, just as we want our skin to be. When you include Nori in your skincare routine the benefits are numerous.

Hydrates and volumizes the skin: Nori is a powerful humectant. This means it holds moisture because of the polysaccharides in the plant. Including Nori in skincare products provides natural moisture, long-lasting hydration, and leaves your skin feeling dewy. This also means seaweed volumizes the skin as it feeds thirsty skin cells and plumps them up.

Anti-Aging Properties: This thirst quenching Nori also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This gives the skin a smoother appearance. The moisture your skin needs to be elastic and plump brings with it radiance and smooth skin.

Detoxification: Seaweed needs to get rid of toxic chemicals when it grows in oceans that are no longer pristine. That survival skill is passed on to your skin when Nori is in your products.

Protects your skin and helps heal environmental damage: The vitamins and minerals in Nori can help your skin fight off free radicals and damage from the sun. Free radicals can lead to premature aging and wrinkles. UV damage is known for causing pigmentation and also skin cancer. So including the free radical clean up crew is always a good thing.

Explore this ocean multi-tasker in our Balancing Prebiotic Lightweight Moisturizer.

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is seriously old school when it comes to skincare. Old school in that way that wise women in my family taught me to use it and it worked. Now we know more about why it works, and we can add it into our skincare routine with other potent bioactives. Witch Hazel is an astringent derived from a shrub. These hardy perennials with fragrant, wispy yellow to orange flowers are from the family Hamamelidaceae. The uses of witch hazel are many:

Astringent Properties: Witch hazel is known for its astringent properties and was used as an astringent before such a thing really existed in skin care. It contracts and tightens the pores and reduces swelling.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: It can reduce swelling and redness caused by inflammation. This is because of the gallic acid and the tannins in witch hazel. So it may help soothe and reduce swelling in your skin.

Anti-Acne Properties: The astringent properties of witch hazel means it helps minimize swelling, oil, and it shrinks pores. This makes it harder for gunk to back up in your pores and create the clogs that let bacteria breed.

Anti-Irritant: My grandmother knew that putting witch hazel on your skin helps it relax and be less red. We now know that is because it is bringing down the inflammation. This includes a mild sunburn. While we all want to avoid sunburn, if it happens go for the witch hazel.

Gets the Puff Out: Because witch hazel is an astringent it both tightens pores and reduces puffiness. The tannins in witch hazel tightens the skin. And this constricts skin and reduces those puffy eyes.

Anti-Aging Properties: The polyphenols in witch hazel help with premature aging. The antioxidants work on those free radicals and their damage. And, because the puff and the fine lines respond to witch hazel, you not only feel better but look better too.

You can try out the properties of witch hazel in our De-Stress Foaming Cleanser, Pore Purifying Peptide Toner, and Superfood Smoothie Mask.

The take away from all this amazingness is that you can use really state of the art skincare and still lean into bioactives that your grandmother would recognize as really good for your skin. It’s nice to know that when you use Pangea Organics you are using the best of both worlds: real ingredients made from things you know work combined with research and 21st Century science.