Brightening Set for Oily/Combination Skin

Renewing Serum

Aqua, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract, Bakuchiol, Bisabolol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum , Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Phytic Acid

Light Face Cream

Aqua, Canola Oil, Polyglyseryl-6 Distearate, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum , Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sodium Levulinate, Silica, Honokiol, Magnolol

Aqua

Solvent. Water. The main vehicle for our water based products

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient and skin conditioning. Argan oil. A staple for us. It is obtained from the non-roasted organic kernels of Moroccan Argania Spinosa, i.e. argan nuts. We love it in almost everything, and especially like its repairing qualities. It is slightly higher in oleic acid, but is usually suitable for clog prone skin, as it contains a fair amount of lupeol, a triterpenoid with anti-inflammatory benefits.

Glycerin

Humectant and skin protecting. Technically a sugar alcohol, glycerin is one of the oldest, most common and most versatile humectants used in cosmetics. It moisturises and protects the skin, accelerates skin barrier recovery and has antimicrobial properties, among other things. For our Cream we use vegetable, rapeseed-derived glycerin.

Glycine Soja Seed Extract

Emulsifier and skin conditioning. An emulsifier, put simply, enables the mixing of water and oil into an emulsion. This particular one is extremely mild, non-allergenic, and non-irritating, suitable for delicate and sensitive skin. It's a natural, plant-based and highly stable lysophospholipid extracted from a non-GMO soybean source, which is also able to reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), maintaining moisture in the skin and strengthening the integrity of the skin barrier. Bonus: it also enhances collagen and elastin production.

Bakuchiol

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and skinconditioning. Bakuchiol, derived from the psoralea corylifolia seed, is a true sensitive and problem skin multitasker. It works wonders on pigmentation but is also takes care of fine lines, congested skin and breakouts. Bakuchiol is often compared to retinol in terms of efficacy, and research shows it to be as efficient as retinol in treating e.g. acne, but without irritation. There has been abundant discussion on whether bakuchiol is sustainably harvested, and to make sure, we took one year off for the Renewing Serum to ensure this: we commissioned a bachelor's thesis on the subject. Conclusion: yes, bakuchiol is sustainably harvested.

Bisabolol

Soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agent. Bisabolol. A colorless viscous oil that is the main constituent of German chamomile essential oil. The bisabolol we use is organic, and produced not from chamomille but from the South American Candeia tree, and contains no farnesol, a potential fragrance allergen. Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower seed oil. Emollient. Sunflower oil is widely used in skincare and in this particular case it forms the base for the tocopherol (vitamin E) we use in the product. Sunflower seed oil on its own has a high concentration of natural vitamin E, and is especially well suited for dry and dehydrated skin, due to a high linoleic acid content (at around 60%), which aids in strengthening the skin barrier.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax

Emollient and thickener. Sunflower wax. A hard vegetable wax made through the winterisation of sunflower seed oil. We use it for solidity and a light feel. Sunflower oil on its own is a basic, widely used and well tolerated oil for skincare. The kind we favour is high in linoleic acid, and the wax we use is made from high linoleic sunflower oil.

Tocopherol

Antioxidant. Vitamin E. A common antioxidant for fats and oils used in skincare. We use the vegetable kind, derived from soybean and rapeseed to prevent rancidity in our balm.

Xanthan Gum

Thickening, gel forming and emulsion stabilising. A natural and commonly used mainly thickener and gelling agent in cosmetics, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide produced through Bacterial fermentation of pure culture Xanthomonas Campestris with protein and carbohydrate sources, in this case from soy or corn. In our Cream, it is combined with sclerotium gum, lecithin, pullulan and silica to lend that lovely gel meets cream feel.

Acacia Senegal Gum

Film forming. Also known as gum arabic, acacia gum is a natural gum consisting of the hardened sap of two species of the acacia tree. In cosmetics, acacia gum is used for it's ability to create less stringy, or slimy and sticky, gels. The acacia gum we use is ethically and sustainably handpicked in Africa, and is a 100% renewable raw material.

Sodium Levulinate

Skin conditioning and preservative. Sodium levulinate is the sodium salt of levulinic acid, which is an organic acid derived from in this case sugarcane.

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative. Potassium sorbate is widely used in a variety of foods and personal care products. It works by inhibiting the growth of molds, yeasts and bacteria to preserve the freshness and quality of foods, beverages, or cosmetic products. Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, which is naturally occurring in some berries, although virtually all of the world's production of sorbic acid, as well as potassium sorbate, is manufactured synthetically. Together with sodium levulinate, dehydroacetic acid and p-anisic acid it makes up the preservative system in our toner.

Citric Acid

Buffering agent. Citric acid is a commonly used buffering, i.e. pH adjusting, agent in cosmetics. It is made through bacterial fermentation and shifts the pH of the product into the acidic range. This is closer to the natural pH of the skin, which may range from 4 to 7, but is usually thought to be between 5 and 6, with recent studies, however, indicating it to be below 5.

Phytic Acid

Chelating. A chelating agent improves product stability. This one is a natural alternative to the widely used EDTA.

Aqua

Solvent. Water. The main vehicle for our water based products

Canola Oil

Emollient and skin conditioning. Sustainably produced, deodorized and purified Swedish canola oil (from rapeseed oil) gently dissolves makeup and dirt. Canola oil is commonly used in cosmetics and is well-tolerated, skin wise. It is slightly higher in oleic acid (at around 60%), with linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids at a total of just over 30%, making it a good all-around oil for most, and especially for drier and eczema prone skins.

Polyglyseryl-6 Distearate

Emulsifying. An emulsifier, put simply, enables the mixing of water and oil into an emulsion. This one is gentle on the skin and skin barrier, as it is of the non-ionic variety. It is derived from RSPO certified palm oil.

Avena Sativa Kernel Oil

Skin conditioning. Oat kernel oil. This dark golden oil has a nearly 50/50 balance of oleic and linoleic acids. From a skincare point of view, it's an excellent skin softener and has some calming properties too. We source our oat oil from Fazer, a Finnish family-owned, 126-year-old food and food service company, who produce their oil in Finland, using Finnish oats. The Finnish-ness matters because a) the soil in Finland produces outstanding quality oats and b) it is quite rare for an oil producer to have a 100% local supply chain. Markku, who is head of R&D at the oat mill in Lahtis, tells us he has personally eaten all oat products that Fazer makes – including the oil.

Glycerin

Humectant and skin protecting. Technically a sugar alcohol, glycerin is one of the oldest, most common and most versatile humectants used in cosmetics. It moisturises and protects the skin, accelerates skin barrier recovery and has antimicrobial properties, among other things. For our Cream we use vegetable, rapeseed-derived glycerin.

Papaver Somniferum Seed Oil

Emollient. Poppy seed oil. A sustainably sourced virgin oil containing sterols and Vitamin E, and with a high linoleic acid content. It is a 100% UK product, fully traceable and with a sustainable supply chain: the oil is a pharmaceutical byproduct. Our chemist Jaana has actually met the guy living next to the field of poppies from which the oil is harvested by a 5th generation family farm. Poppy seed oil has excellent skin barrier recovery properties, and is especially suitable for sensitive skin. The oil is obtained by lightly pressing the seeds of the White Poppy.

Avena Sativa Kernel Flour

Skin protecting. Colloidal oatmeal. The whole oat grain, including the bran layer, is milled and sieved. This results in a light cream coloured, fine powder. The bran layer of the oat contains a high proportion of natural actives, including oat beta-glucan, avenanthramides, oil and protein, all of which are beneficial for cosmetic use on the skin. A 'colloid' or colloidal suspension is defined as a substance with dispersed insoluble particles suspended throughout. Colloidal oatmeal soothes and relieves redness, itching and minor skin irritations caused by eczema or skin rashes and is monographed by the FDA as a skin protectant. It reduces TEWL (transepidermal waterloss) and effectively forms a physical barrier on the skin surface. The oatmeal we use is made from Finnish oats.

Sodium Dehydroacetate

Preservative. Sodium dehydroacetate is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid. It is chemically synthesized through a multi-step reaction, starting with acetylene. Although it is not plant derived, it is approved by natural certification institutes such as COSMOS and the Soil Association, thanks to its mildness on the skin and body as well as the absence of any alternative registered (approved) natural preservatives under the EU’s cosmetic regulation. Together with sodium levulinate and boosted by antioxidants honokiol and magnolol it makes up the preservative system for our Cream.

Sodium PCA

Humectant and skin conditioning. Sodium PCA is a widely used humectant in skincare. Chemically speaking an amino acid derivative, it is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid, which in turn is naturally present in human skin, and a part of the so-called NMF (natural moisturizing factor) of the skin. It has excellent moisture-binding capacity. The one we use made by the cyclization of beetroot derived L-glutamic acid. The sodium hydroxide used in the process is synthetic.

Xanthan Gum

Thickening, gel forming and emulsion stabilising. A natural and commonly used mainly thickener and gelling agent in cosmetics, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide produced through Bacterial fermentation of pure culture Xanthomonas Campestris with protein and carbohydrate sources, in this case from soy or corn. In our Cream, it is combined with sclerotium gum, lecithin, pullulan and silica to lend that lovely gel meets cream feel.

Sclerotium Gum

Thickening, skin conditioning and emulsion stabilising. A natural and commonly used thickener in cosmetics, sclerotium gum too is a polysaccharide produced from sugars through fermentation. This one gets its name from the Sclerotium rolfsii bacteria species. In our Cream, it is combined with xanthan gum, lecithin, pullulan and silica to lend that lovely gel meets cream feel. Origin: glucose syrup from wheat/corn.

Lecithin

Skin conditioning, emollient and emulsifying. Lecitihin is a widely used natural emulsifier in skincare – by now you are probably sick of hearing that an emulsifier’s purpose in skincare is to enable the mixing of water and oil into an emulsion, but we’re just going to go ahead and write it again anyway. Bonus: Lecitihin leaves a lovely light powdery feel to skin when used in e.g. creams. This one is soy-derived.

Pullulan

Film forming. A natural and commonly used filmformer in cosmetics, pullulan is our Cream’s third polysaccharide, and produced by fermenting corn, potato and tapioca starch syrup with the yeast Aureobasidium Pullulans. In the Cream, it is combined with xanthan gum, sclerotium gum, lecithin and silica to lend that lovely gel meets cream feel.

Sodium Levulinate

Skin conditioning and preservative. Sodium levulinate is the sodium salt of levulinic acid, which is an organic acid derived from in this case sugarcane.

Silica

Thickening. Silica is a mineral found abundantly in sandstone, clay, and granite, as well as in parts of plants and animals. It’s often used as an absorbent powder, i.e. a mattifying agent, in cosmetics. It is derived from sodium silicate which is acidified, then filtered, washed and dried.

Honokiol

Antioxidant and skin conditioning. Magnolia bark contains two potent anti-inflammatory substances, magnolol and honokiol, which synergistically inhibit the activation of NF-KB, a key inflammatory mediator. These two compunds can protect skin against chronic inflammation, and reduce skin redness. Honokiol boosts the effect of our Cream’s preservative system.

Magnolol

Antioxidant. Magnolia bark contains two potent anti-inflammatory substances, magnolol and honokiol, which synergistically inhibit the activation of NF-KB, a key inflammatory mediator. These two compounds can protect skin against chronic inflammation, and reduce skin redness. Like honokiol, magnolol boosts the effect of our Cream’s preservative system.

1. Apply 1-3 pumps of Serum to clean, dry skin.

2. With sweeping motions (don't rub - this may make the product pill), apply a pea-sized amount of Light Face Cream to face while still moist from Serum. Can be used around the eyes.

Tip 1: Add our Milk Cleanser for an easy three-step daily routine.

Tip 2: Dehydrated, impure and oily skin? Add our Purifying Serum to this set.

Tip 3: Very dry skin? Try our intensively moisturising Hydrating Face Mask & Cream.