Did you know that birch leaf extract and infusion make excellent hair rinses?

excellent post and a summary of all we try to explain consumers and lay-people day-in and day-out:
https://www.newbeauty.com/blog/dailybeauty/9930-skin-care-myths-busted/

Symbiosolv clear is arrived and we've 20% introductory discount just for this weekend: https://shop.skinchakra.eu/en/Cosmetic-Lab/Cosmetic-ingredients-A-Z/Symbio-solv-clear.html

Celebrating our very first customer in Brazil

humectant classes and their mechanism of action- This is a dermatological point of view and they don't necessarily focus on natural ingredients but the information is very interesting anyway

some of the most common humectants

check our instagram feed :cosmeceuticals on Tuesday. It's about squalene and squalane today:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLas3F1Afic/?taken-by=skinchakra

not skincare related, an interesting article however that once more proves why Germans love a good beer:
http://phys.org/news/2016-10-scientists-outline-biochemistry-xanthohumolan-avenue.html?utm_content=buffera4671&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

classes of occlusve ingredients

Occlusive ingredients build a protective film over skin and reduce TEWL by holding moisture (even though they are don't bind moisture). The king of occlusives are paraffins and hydrocarbon which are a no-go in "natural cosmetics", correct?
Well, there are indeed "natural", "plant based" , "sustainable" and "ecocert" certified hydrocarbons available. Have a look at the photo for some examples of occlusive ingredients

just stumbled upon this link that compacts almost all requirements for labelling in the EU:
https://www.cosmeticseurope.eu/using-cosmetics-colipa-the-european-cosmetic-cosmetics-association/labelling-.html

we have had some questions whether our pentylene glycol and the propylene glycol of Zemea are the same. They belong to the same class of ingredients but are not exactly the same ingredients.

time to announce this weeks special deal: lexfeel natural, the natural silicone oil substitute: https://shop.skinchakra.eu/en/Cosmetic-Lab/Cosmetic-ingredients-A-Z/LexFeel-Natural.html

a compact introductory to adaptogenic herbs:
http://www.goorganiccanada.com/every-single-adaptogenic-herb-out-there-try-all-13/

we've tested a few gums for you in a simple scrub formulation just to show you that a higher viscosity and a higher gum concentration doesn't necessarily lead to a more stable scrub. Read the post here:
http://skinchakra.eu/blog/archives/467-How-to-improve-the-stability-of-your-gel-scrubs.html#extended

this is a very nice article, quite extraordinary for daily mail niveau which is worth reading and sharing
www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3800918/How-big-beauty-brands-fool-forking-Copycat-packaging-Beguiling-ingredients-Outlandish-boasts-lashings-cod-science.html

sharing an amazing info about lavender oil and hydrosol from the most knowledgeable expert alive:
https://www.facebook.com/RobertTisserandEssentialTraining/photos/a.230965720267970.62331.166263113404898/1279911365373395/?type=3&theater

Today's cosmeceutical chat is about Proviatmin D3
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLsh8HcgwCV/?taken-by=skinchakra

some more links about the role of vit D in skincare:
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4939-0437-2_1

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ics.12036/full

Vit D and its role in psychiatric health:
http://www.mdedge.com/currentpsychiatry/article/66349/depression/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-psychiatric-illness

no special this for this weekend since we're on a short break. Sending all of you warm, oriental greetings instead

we've had some questions about application of dermofeel PA3 as a preservative booster and chelating agent to products when a great part of the formulation (50-80% hydrosol) is already preserved