Protects the hive and your skin! Honeybees produce propolis by mixing saliva and beeswax with different tree, flower, and botanical based substances. Propolis is also called bee glue, because the bees use it as a sealant for unwanted small open spaces in their hive and because it is very sticky at room temperature. Propolis is rich in organic compounds, like caffeic acid and long chain wax esters. It contains minerals including magnesium, calcium, nickel and zinc. With the help of those ingredients, it provides nourished and soft skin. But one of the most important benefits is the antioxidant effect. Antioxidants are chemical compounds, which slow down or even prevent the oxidation of other substances. The oxidation leads to skin aging but Propolis naturally restores and maintains the skin structure and can even rejuvenates the skin.

It's all about hydration! Honeybees actually produce natural wax, that we call beeswax. They secrete it from glands on the sides of their bodies, chew it up and build those perfect hexagonal shapes we all know. In those cells, baby bees grow and honey is stored. There are different benefits beeswax has when applied on our skin. It serves as a barrier that helps to protect the skin from environmental assaults, while also holding in moisture and reducing dryness. Unlike ingredients made from mineral oils, beeswax does not “suffocate” the skin, and will not clog pores. Some ingredients “attract” water, and beeswax is one of them. When you put it on, you attract water molecules, helping to keep the skin hydrated over time. And last but not least: do not forget the awesome smell beeswax naturally has!

Honey is the only non-dried food that does not perish. The secret behind it is its unique chemical composition. High in sugar and low in water is it not liked by bacteria. The honey production starts when bees pollinate flowers. There they collect nectar and store it in their honey stomach (which is different from their food stomach). Back in the hive, they pass it onto other worker bees who chew it for approximate half an hour. It is passed from bee to bee until it gradually turns into honey and then is stored in the hive’s honeycomb cells. At this stage honey still has a high content of water, thus bees fan it with their wings to take out excess moisture. When the honey is ready, the bees seal the honeycomb with a wax lid to keep it clean. Honey is clarifying because it opens up pores thereby making it easier to unclog. Honey can be used as part of a dry skin regimen because its composition is described as a humectant. A humectant is an item or substance that attracts moisture and keeps it locked inside. Using honey in our Body Scrub has been beneficial to areas of skin that tend to become dry or itchy because it lends moisture to these areas.

A sweet treat for your body! Sugar may not be good for you in sweets, but it is an excellent ingredient in skincare. First, sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment into the skin. Thus, when you apply products with sugar, they will actually help hydrate your skin and keep moisture within. Second, sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that penetrates the skin and breaks down the “glue” that bonds skin cells, encouraging cell turnover and generating fresher, younger-looking skin. Last, the small sugar particles make an excellent exfoliant. Because of these benefits, we use it in our Body scrubs to get rid of dead surface skin cells and reveal the glowing, healthy-looking skin underneath. Sugar scrubs also have a few benefits over salt scrubs. For one, small sugar granules are generally gentler than salt; two, because of sugar’s natural humectants properties, these scrubs are more hydrating than salt scrubs.

For your sensitive side! The oil of the apricot is produced from the kernel contained in the center of the fruit. The kernel is usually covered by a hard outer casing and a shell. The apricot kernel oil we use in our products is cold pressed from the kernel – which basically means that they are subjected to extreme pressures (in an industrial press). This pressure removes the oil that is contained in the fiber of the pit (kernel). The lightly fragrant oil is packed with fatty acids, vitamin A, C, and E, and a ton of antioxidants to keep your skin looking young. It is a very mild oil, which is good for sensitive skin and absorbs well into (but not very deep) into the horn layer of the dermis. By penetrating beneath the surface skin layer, the oil nourishes and replenishes moisture as well as vitamins that are lost over the course of the day. This restores the skin’s natural luster and keeps it looking healthy.

A boost for your cell regeneration! Avocado oil is high in palmitoleic acid which is very good for sensitive skin. The phytosterols in the oil help to protect the skin because they are structurally similar to the body's cholesterol and can help stimulate cell production. The beta-carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E found in avocado oil help moisturize and protect your skin from damaging UV rays and also increases collagen metabolism. Cold pressed avocado oil is one of the richest sources of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids that can have an immediate effect on the texture and appearance of your skin. Not only is avocado oil extremely good for hydrating and softening your skin but also can diminish age spots and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Of course, it is important to remember that individual results vary greatly depending on your skin type and other contributing factors like diet, sleep and exercise.

The superfood for your skin! Jojoba oil actually is a liquid wax extracted from the nut of an indigenous American shrub. Because jojoba is an emollient, it soothes the skin and unclogs hair follicles. Our sebaceous glands are microscopic glands in our skin that secrete an oily or waxy matter called sebum. The texture of sebum is very similar to jojoba oil, so as we age our sebaceous glands produce less sebum, which is why we get dry skin. A jojoba oil benefit is that it plays the role of sebum and moisturizes our skin when our body stops doing so naturally. On the other hand, too much sebum can result in oily skin and acne. Jojoba oil also removes sticky buildup or excess oil and keeps oil levels balanced. Jojoba oil is noncomedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores. Although it is an oil — and we usually think that oil that sits on our skin is what causes breakouts — jojoba oil works as a protectant and cleanser, which makes it perfect for our Body Scrub.

We all know about mangos in our fruit salad or smoothie - but mango butter is not commonly known. Mango butter is extracted from the de-shelled fruit kernel of the mango tree. Once extracted the butter is boiled to get the right consistency. The resulting butter has a slightly sweet scent. It is semi-solid at room temperature and melts on contact with the skin. It has a similar consistency to shea butter and moisturizes without being greasy. Because it is rich in vitamin C, mango butter encourages a more plump and tighter look. It also promotes a firmer skin appearance. Because mango butter is a natural source of vitamin A, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases the skin’s overall youthful glowing look. Dry patches, flakiness, and even sensitive skin can benefit from daily application of mango butter, which goes to work by deeply moisturizing. Mango butter is rich in oleic acid and stearic acid. These fatty acids act as emollients that soften and soothe the skin. A sweet treat for your body!

It is common knowledge that vitamin E is good for your skin, but not many people can tell you exactly what this nutrient does. Vitamin E is both a nutrient and antioxidant. The oil in its purest form is extremely versatile and protects and repairs your skin. As indicated by its vitamin classification, vitamin E is a nutrient to the skin. Vitamin E oil works to block free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the aging process. Vitamin E oil is a heavy emollient which makes it a great tool to rid the skin of dirt, grime, and other impurities while simultaneously maintaining your skin’s oil balance. It slightly penetrates the horny layer of the skin, which produces a smoothing effect on the skin. Vitamin E works best when combined with Vitamin C. Generally Vitamin E is an oil which is very skin-friendly thus, why it is so perfect for everyday use in our Body Scrub.

Vitamin C is not only good when consumed in food and drinks but also is a highly effective skin care ingredient that helps beautify most skin types. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals. Is your skin looking dull? Vitamin C can help make it look brighter. It does this by encouraging surface skin cell turnover which helps reveal a more radiant layer of skin while shedding older and dead skin cells. It will help reveal a new dimension of skin and your skin will look more energized and feel softer. Vitamin C can help your skin appear tighter and more youthful. It has natural exfoliating qualities which help with skin issues such as dark spots. Most companies use cheap ascorbic acid, which dissolves in water, even though their product is made of an oil basis. We decided to go with ascorbyl palmitate, which is fat-soluble thus, the Vitamin C in our products can really have a lasting effect on your skin.

The not oily oil! This oil, which occurs naturally in the body, is also found in olive oil and in the livers of certain sharks. The squalane we use in our products comes from vegetable sources. That is right NONE come from animal sources! Although squalane is produced naturally by the body, the production of this chemical slows drastically after age 30, thereby contributing to dry skin. Using a moisturizer with squalane may help restore the proper balance of the skin’s oils. A great benefit of squalane is that although it is technically an oil, it does not have an oily feel. It also has no odor and is noncomedonal, which means that it will not clog pores. Products that contain squalane also tend to absorb slowly into the skin and may be more effective for sensitive skin, as the oil generally is non-irritating. Much like Vitamin E, squalane creates a barrier between the skin and the environment so the skin can better retain moisture as it protects the external layer of the epidermis at the same time.