Spotlight on buddleja
Buddleja leaves are one of the most soft powerful ingredients in nature, no wonder I made them into one of the twelve ingredients I use accross the range.
21 Apr
07 Apr
What To Do With Oily Skin
This week I wanted to talk to you about oily skin, which seems a subject that we tend to avoid or to shelter under the phrase “combination skin” as it does not sound as bad as “oily”.
16 Mar
Twelve facts about Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is widely used in skincare but despite being so well known, there are some interesting facts about it that I would like to share with you.
10 Mar
A Natural Formulation Issue
I know today’s post sounds a bit more science geek than usual but I wanted to share with you, a common issue we natural formulators face with plant based ingredients.
22 Feb
Ingredient Spotlight: Squalene
Squalene, to me, represents the perfect natural alternative to the most common ingredient in skincare, “paraffinun liquidum”which is from a chemical point of view a hydrocarbon, same as the squalene, which comes in liquid form due to its unique structure. I use the stable version which is called squalane.
17 Feb
And which ones to avoid when pregnant…
After last week’s post, it is the time to focus on what not to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the studies on ingredients I have found are not complete enough to establish a proper negative list. In my opinion, while some conclusive data arrives, it is better to avoid them completely.
10 Feb
Which ingredients to look out for during pregnancy
I have received many emails lately regarding which products are suitable to treat some skin issues during pregnancy, especially, which ingredients to look out for. For this reason, I decided to dedicate today’s post to share all the information I know about this subject.
How to deal with stretch marks:
To prevent them I recommend the following oils, wheat germ, avocado, St John Wort and sweet almond. These oils, increase the softness and elasticity of the skin. They are also very soothing and are able to stimulate the production of fibroblasts (connective tissue cells). Other key ingredients include, ginseng, ivy, horsetail, horse chestnut, centella and echinacea. Also the massage is as important as the actual product or the oil we use.
Once the stretch marks are formed are more difficult to get rid off, but not impossible.
How to deal with hyperpigmentation:
The most common hyperpigmentation case is called melasma, known also as “pregnancy mask” due to the aspect of the dark patches across the face or “moustache” if it appears above the upper lip. It usually fades away, right after giving birth. To prevent, but also to treat, the following ingredients work wonders: mallow, Yarrow, Peppermint, Heath speedwell, Lemon balm, Cucumber, Primula, Buddleja, Lady’s mantle, niacinamide (at least 5%)
Sometimes a vertical line across your abdomen, called “linia nigra” appears, however it fades post-partum.
How to deal with acne:
In an ideal world, it would help to keep your acne under control before pregnancy as it could get worse later on. So if you are thinking of getting pregnant the following ingredients should be part of your routine: panthenol (decreases sebum), vitamin E (avoids the oils secreted from the sebaceous glands to go rancid, linoleic acid (keeps a healthy balanced skin). Also, I always recommend to use a toner, which have usually lowers the pH of the skin, by using this, it avoids bacteria proliferation as they prefer to live in more alkaline (higher pH) environments.
Once you are pregnant and acne appears, I personally like a combination of clay masks together with soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile and sebum-like jojoba oil. The use of exfoliating acids is strictly discouraged.
How to deal with itchy skin:
It is a very common symptom linked to high levels of oestrogens. It usually appears without a rash.
Incorporating ingredients such as bisabolol, allantoin, calendula oil, squalane, oat, chamazulene, rice oil or ruscus aculeatus extract will bring temporary relief.
03 Feb
Let’s talk about TEWL
Today I do not want to talk about the threat to the skin of heated indoor enviroments while it’s cold outside (at least in most of the north hemisphere), instead, I want to highlight the importance of the skin’s main function, which we tend to forget.
23 Dec
The art of misting
Toners were originally created for cleansing and the general care of the skin. They were also marketed as a “skin refresher” due to the cooling abilities of these formulations.
08 Apr
Do you really need to exfoliate?
Ever wondered why I do not have a face scrub or peeling in the collection?. Here are few reasons why I believe exfoliation is not necessary.
11 Nov
The origin of your ingredients
At Twelve Beauty, we live and breathe healthy skin. The idea is to make products that have a noticeable and positive impact from the first day of application.
07 Nov
¿Why skin cleansing is the most important step in our routine?
In my opinion, skin cleansing is the most important step of the beauty routine. The cleanser has to be highly compatible with the skin composition to avoid the harsh effect of the process but at the same time it has to be effective.
29 Jul
Why less is more has become an important approach in skincare?
Green beauty has become such a cool subject and currently there are thousands of self-proclaimed beauty experts together with new green hand blended skincare brands launching everyday.
19 May
Tips on rosacea, how to achieve radiant skin
Acne rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, characterised by facial flushing and abnormal dilation of the capillaries.
03 Sep
How pollution affects skin
According to the World Health Organisation the urban population in 2016 accounts for almost 58% of the total global population, up from 34% in 1960. Little wonder that pollution seems to be the word that appears in every beauty chat across the globe. Despite the hype, it is not a new marketing strategy; pollution, unfortunately, affects the skin.
02 Sep
The Ultimate Clean Beauty Dictionary
Here is my ultimate clean dictionary, each letter is a reminder to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.
11 Jul
The new natural enemies
Most of us are switching to natural beauty but we must be aware that not everything natural is beneficial.
22 Jun
Palm oil´s big issue
Palm oil continues to be one of the most popular ingredients used in the beauty industry. It has formed the basis of soaps for years, with the first brands to use it being Lever Brothers (now known as Unilever), Sunlight Soap and Palmolive.
20 Jun
The alcohol debate
Alcohol, is a commonly used ingredient in the cosmetic industry. It’s mainly used in fragrances for its ability to blend and disperse the scent and evaporates quickly once it contacts the skin.
26 Aug
Creams vs oils: How to hidrate your skin
Skincare expert Pedro Catalá opens up the debate on creams and oils and examines how we can hidrate our skin in the best possible way.
01 Jul
Natural SPF: The top 10 ingredients to boost sun protection
With temperatures soaring an UV levels at an all time high, Pedro Catalá of Twelve Beauty counts down the 10 natural ingredients with SPF benefits you need to stock up on.
17 Sep
Ingredient spotlight: Naturally derived hyaluronic acid
Discovered in the 70’s, Hyaluronic Acid was initially found in chicken’s crests and until recently, was still extracted from animal sources. Luckily, in the last few years scientists have developed several methods to obtain Hyaluronic Acid from some species of friendly bacteria.
03 Aug
Ingredient spotlight: Aloe Vera for healthy skin
“As a formulator, I always get excited when I find out about new and exotic ingredients. However, I always keep in mind how great and beneficial some of the more traditional ingredients are. Today, we will focus on Aloe Vera, known as the prodigy of nature”.
28 May
Top ten vital natural skincare ingredients to look for this summer
Our skin changes season to season and so too should our skincare. Long winters, fluctuating temperatures in the Spring and overexposure to Sun in the Summer can play havoc on our skin if we don’t take the right measures to ensure it remains as healthy as possible.
19 Dec
Christmas countdown: how to achieve radiant glowing in time for Christmas
The run up to the festive season can be chaotic with braving the crowds for shopping, Christmas parties and work deadlines. The lack of sleep, increased tension and fluctuations of temperature (normal during the cold season) can lead to a dull complexion.
25 Aug
Summer skin tips
Reflective in Twelve Beauty, and his philosophy towards health and beauty. Below, Pedro shares his favourite tips on Summer care, both inside and out…
