All posts by Gail Smith

Clean Beauty Topics, Ingredient Spotlight

Australian Native Extracts: What they can do for your skin and why we use them.

Leave a comment

In recent years, the beauty and skincare industry has undergone a significant transformation, with an increasing focus on natural and sustainable ingredients. Among these, Australian native extracts have emerged as powerful allies in skincare regimens worldwide. These bioavailable skin extracts are great for skin health, offering a range of benefits that go beyond the superficial. In this blog post, we delve into the wonders of Australian native extracts, exploring their unique properties, how they work synergistically, and their environmental benefits.

1. The Rise of Bioavailable Skin Extracts

Bioavailability refers to the extent and rate at which the active ingredients in a substance are absorbed into the skin and utilized effectively. The greater the bioavailability, the more potent the benefits of the extract. Australian native extracts are celebrated for their high bioavailability, meaning they deliver results efficiently and effectively. This is due to the unique growing conditions and climate of Australia, which imbue these plants with robust and resilient properties.

Relevant Statistics

  • A recent study found that products with native extracts reported a 30% increase in customer satisfaction due to improved skin texture and appearance.
  • The global skincare market, driven by natural ingredients, is projected to reach AUD 280 billion by 2025, underlining the growing demand for bioavailable skin extracts.

2. Kakadu Plum: A Vitamin C Powerhouse

The Kakadu Plum is often hailed as a superfood for the skin. It contains the highest recorded levels of Vitamin C of any fruit in the world, making it a potent antioxidant. This native extract helps combat free radicals, reduce inflammation, and boost collagen production, leading to brighter, firmer skin.

Two Examples Where We Use It

Storm Botanicals has incorporated Kakadu Plum in their Cream Moisturiser and toning, Native Antioxidant Mist, reporting a noticeable improvement in skin softness and luminosity among users.

3. Tasmanian Mountain Pepper Berry: A Soothing Agent

Tasmanian Mountain Pepper Berry is not only a culinary delight but also a skincare gem. Rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, this extract helps soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for sensitive skin types and makes it a wonderful addition to anti-aging skincare.

Synergistic Use

Storm Botanicals has incorporated this mountain berry as part of a synergistic blend in their Cream Cleanser for its soothing benefit to the skin and their Native Antioxidant Mist which is great for both its calming and antioxidant benefits.

4. Emu Apple: The Brightening and Hydrating Hero

Emu Apple is packed with essential phytonutrients and antioxidants. Known for its hydrating and brightening properties, it helps retain moisture in the skin, making it look plump and youthful while brightening skin tone. This extract also aids in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Synergistic Benefits

When combined with other native extracts like Kakadu Plum, Davidson Plum, Emu Apple enhances the skin’s ability to absorb nutrients, maximizing the overall benefits. Check out Storm Botanicals divine duo for smooth, toned, bright skin with their Pine & Coconut Scrub and White Clay Mask.

5. Blue Wattle: The Skin Revitalizer

Blue Wattle, often used in traditional medicine, has found its way into modern skincare for its revitalizing properties. It is known to improve skin elasticity and reduce signs of aging. The extract works by stimulating skin cells and promoting regeneration. This makes it a great addition to your skin care products.

Environmental Impact

Blue Wattle is sustainably harvested, supporting local ecosystems and reducing carbon footprints by minimizing the need for imported ingredients.

6. Davidson Plum: The Skin Powerhouse

Davidson Plum offers so many benefits for the skin due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, boosts vitamin C when combined with Kakadu Plum and offers brightening benefits and environmental protection. A real powerhouse you want in your skin care products.

7. The Synergy of Australian Native Extracts

What makes Australian native extracts exceptional is their ability to work synergistically. When combined, these extracts enhance each other’s properties, providing comprehensive skin benefits. This synergy is not only effective but also aligns with eco-friendly practices, as these ingredients are sourced locally.

Example of Synergy

A skincare line utilising Kakadu Plum, Emu Apple, and Tasmanian Mountain Pepper Berry together reported a 50% improvement in skin hydration and texture among users. Check out our Cream Cleanser and Radiant Skin Kit for full affect.

8. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Practices

The use of locally sourced Australian native extracts supports sustainable practices. It reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and promotes biodiversity. By supporting local growers, the skincare industry contributes to the economic growth of Australian communities.

Support for Local Businesses

Purchasing products made with native extracts helps sustain local businesses, ensuring that traditional knowledge and practices are preserved and respected.

9. The Climate Factor: Why They Suit Australian Skin

The harsh, sun-drenched climate of Australia requires resilient ingredients that can withstand extreme conditions. Native extracts are naturally equipped to thrive in such environments, making them particularly well-suited for Australian skin. Their ability to protect and repair skin from sun damage is unmatched.

10. Incorporating Native Extracts into Your Routine

Integrating these powerful extracts into your skincare routine is simple. Look for products that list them as primary ingredients and combine them with your existing regimen for enhanced results.

Product Recommendations

  • Storm Botanicals ‘Daily Essentials Skin Kit’: Contains all the wonderful benefits of five Australian native extracts and comes in two sizes for convenience and value.
  • Storm Botanicals ‘Skin Reset Kit’: Features Emu Apple, Blue Wattle Leaf, Kakadu Plum, Mountain Berry and Davidson Plum extracts within three products offering a great way to reset your routine or start your skin journey.

11. The Future of Skincare: Local and Natural

As consumers become more conscious about the ingredients in their skincare, the demand for natural and locally sourced products is set to rise. Australian native extracts are at the forefront of this movement, offering a sustainable and effective solution for skincare needs.

Thought-Provoking Questions

  • How can you incorporate more locally sourced ingredients into your daily routine?
  • What role do you think traditional knowledge plays in modern skincare innovations?

Conclusion

Australian native extracts are more than just a trend; they are a testament to the power of nature and the importance of sustainability. By choosing products with bioavailable skin extracts, we not only enhance our skin health but also support local communities and the environment. As we look to the future, embracing these natural treasures will undoubtedly lead to a more conscious and connected world. Let’s cherish and celebrate the unique biodiversity of Australia’s landscape and let it guide us towards healthier skincare practices.

Cleansers, Combination Skin

The Importance Of Gentle Cleansers With Acne

Leave a comment

So you have some acne – maybe a lot, but your story doesn’t have to end there!  There is so much we can do to help heal our skin, and while we all have certain knowledge that changing your diet does help, information on what to use on your skin is a bit murkier.  

Could your face wash be making your acne worse? Yes. Yes. Yes, it can! Firstly, most people look at what else they are using on their skin thinking this is what must be irritating. Well, news for you – it may not be. Often the reason you react to serums or treatment products is that you have left your skin without protection with your foamy, BHA, AHA, face wash!

Facts! Using a Salicylic (or similar) wash on your face – for approximately 10 seconds – is not going to do anything for your acne/congestion.  It just won’t.  What it will do is strip your lipid (yes, beautiful, natural oils) barrier that protects your skin and guess what?  Your skin will just work overtime to produce more oil to compensate making your skin feel oilier than ever.

Not I’m not saying some people haven’t had a good result in using BHA or AHA washes, good on you if that’s you, but for the majority, you won’t get the same results and your skin either gets worse or just doesn’t improve.  If you have acne, your skin is already compromised and more than likely, although you may not recognise it, it is also probably quite dry under all that oil.

So please treat your skin kindly and use a gentle cleanser, you can always get good quality gel cleansers or if you prefer a fabulous, nourishing cream cleanser.  Give your skin a break and time to heal.

When you do change to a different cleanser, yes your skin can react!  It takes about 6 weeks for your skin to begin to regulate itself again so while this can be tough – stick to it – your skin will thank you and over time you will see a noticeable difference.

For those with continuing congestion or acne, you should look at using a natural toner with regulating properties and definitely a clay mask, they are wonderful for spot treatments as well as for drawing and healing.

Clean Beauty Topics

What Is Clean Beauty

What is clean beauty?  It is definitely a word that is used everywhere in the cosmetics industry and a lot of major brands are using it to their advantage. I find I use it myself because I can’t find a better word.   But is it a ‘buzz’ word with no meaning or is there a set of criteria you can look for when deciding to support a particular Brand?

While there is no official definition of what constitutes ‘clean’ beauty you can begin by deciding what is important to you as a consumer.  Does it matter to you if your products are housed in plastic or glass, or use petrolatum-based ingredients?  Do you perhaps look for products that contain ingredients that care for both the land and the people whose lives are impacted by their use of them?  Do you shop local to support your economy or reduce the environmental footprint that comes with the transport or excess water and energy use?  Maybe you worry about what happens after use.  Recycling or reuse, land impact, are they biodegradable, toxicity in our soil and water if they aren’t.  Maybe your concerns are around the use of animal by-products and cruelty to animals.  Only you can decide what is important to you as a consumer and act on it.

When I first started Storm Botanicals, I knew that I wanted to cover as many areas of concern as possible in the sustainability field and as the Brand grew I was determined to get better in all areas.  While it is not always easy as a small business to make demands on suppliers or manufacturers, I do have choices in the ingredients I use and what type of packaging I use so this was the first area I worked on.

In the delivery of products, we all have a part to play in being responsible for the carbon and other resources used and while there is no way to avoid the carbon issue you can do your bit by offsetting the carbon used and committing to regenerative practices that have a positive impact on the planet.  We did this by choosing a ‘carbon neutral’ transport company to deliver up to 90% of our parcels and going forward will look for other initiatives that also have a positive impact.

We source local ingredients where possible to reduce transport and support local businesses and use as few ingredients as possible in a formula while still delivering quality premium products.

The next area we are committed to is education for consumers that use beauty products.  I strongly believe most people use too many products in skincare in particular and over-consumption is a worldwide problem as it creates a lot of waste.  Helping people understand their skin and what it needs to thrive is at the core of our Brand and this not only puts more dollars back in your pocket but reduces the number of raw materials used across the board in manufacturing.

So while we don’t have a clear cut definition of ‘clean beauty’ as much as some brands would like you to believe, there are some things you should definitely look for in a Brand you are considering supporting.

Below are some of the things you can look for and while not exhaustive it is a start.

  1. Do they have a good sustainability policy?
  2. Do they use manufacturers with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification?
  3. Is above 90% of their ingredients naturally derived?
  4. Are they transparent in their operation and willing to be open to any questions?
  5. Do they tell you where their ingredients come from and what they should do?

Most Brands that are passionate about their sustainability goals will tell you about it and while none of us is perfect (an impossible task in most industries) a Brand serious about improving is one worth supporting.

Hopefully, this has clarified some of the issues faced when it comes to supporting a clean beauty brand.

Herbal Tea Benefits, Skincare Advice Topics

The Truth About Herbal Teas – Great For You & Your Skin

Medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments from insect bites, grazes, acne, skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis to name a few and there are many thousands of stories if you search hard enough that claim many of the herbs have almost miracle properties.

My hard and fast rule for any claim is to do your own research and make up your own mind.  What we forget is that everyone is unique and what works for one may not work for another.  While there are many people on all forms of social media spreading so-called ‘science’ on why these teas don’t work there are just as many, or more spreading the ‘science’ on why they do work.  So what are you to do?

Use a reputable source for your research, like PubMed or advice from nutritional and functional doctors, nutritionists or herbalists.  They, after all, are the ones that have studied the herbs, their benefits and their uses.

Unfortunately, many mainstream big pharma companies are never going to give a green light or thumb up to anything natural – they can’t patent it and so can’t make any money from it.  But let’s put some of these wonderful herbs into perspective – a good number of modern pharmaceuticals have been synthetically created from….you guessed it – plants!

There is evidence that herbal teas have a really good benefit to our health, especially when it comes to supporting our body with detoxing, gut health and our immune system, but they work best when we also consume a healthier diet and do some exercise.  They offer a boost in energy, can calm the body and mind and get things moving in the digestive system.

A lot of the negative vibes around come from the fact that a lot of tea companies use laxatives and sedatives to give a greater effect.  They are usually companies with poor reputations but not always.  I believe you can get a great benefit from well grown, organic ingredients without adding these dubious ingredients.

With the teas we use here at Storm Botanicals, we worked with natural health practitioners that have many years of experience to ensure we brought you teas that work, are good for your health and are yummy!

Some benefits you will enjoy

  • detox booster
  • digestive booster
  • clearer skin
  • more energy
  • blood purifying booster
  • better nights sleep
  • less inflammation
  • less irritability
  • less water retention
  • less bloating
  • weightloss
  • plus more

Enjoy!

Anti-Aging, Cleansers, Combination Skin, Dry Skin, Sensitive Skin, Skincare Advice Topics

The Most Important 5 Minutes Of Your Day

I rarely hear the comment “I just love my skin”, yet I know there are a lot of women with beautiful skin.  It’s not so much that we are never happy with what we have (well it’s a little of that!) but that a lot of us don’t think we can change our skin without a massive effort and a lot of expense.

So not true!  Real skin improvement can be achieved with a consistent skin routine that you don’t miss…ever!  And all it takes is 5 minutes twice a day.  Most of the ladies I have treated over the years were on really long…expensive and complicated skincare routines.  You know the ones I mean, and it isn’t that I don’t believe layering works, it’s just that sometimes I think you need to take a step back and go back to basics.

The start of any good routine is always the all-important cleanse and many don’t really understand how important this step is.  And you should always use a gentle, nourishing cleanser to allow your skin to heal from many of the harsh products we put on it, all disguised as miracle lotions and potions.

So gentle, healing, the nourishing – first step in great skin.  Then you can think about layering with some serums or face oils, which can also be amazing if you get the right one.

Start your journey with the routine below.

Morning and Night

  • Cleanse – once is enough unless you are very oily.
  • Tone or mist – you can do this all day if you need it!
  • Moisturiser – protects and plumps.

Weekly to 2-3 Times a Week

  • Scrubs – this depends on what is happening with your skin, but in general twice per week is great.
  • Masks – this also depends on the type of mask.  I love white clay masks as they are gentle, nourishing and toning.  You would use this up to 3 times per week, especially if you had slightly oily or congested skin.  Twice if the skin is normal.  If you have really dry skin you can add a half teaspoon of moisturiser to your clay masks, they feel wonderful.
Ingredient Dictionary, Ingredient Spotlight

The Benefits Of Jasmin In Skincare

Gallery

Essential oils have been used throughout history for healing just about everything.  There is no doubt they are amazing for so many ailments both physical, mental and emotional.

JASMIN – Jasminium Sambac Flower Extract

The name is derived from the Persian word ‘Yasmin’, which means ‘fragrance flower,’ Jasmin has a sweet, romantic fragrance from flowers that bloom at night.  It is a very popular plant, used to make tea, flavouring syrup, perfumes, incense and of course, essential oil.  

Jasmin has long been found to nourish skin, help even skin tone and protect skin from environmental toxins.  It has a variety of active chemical components that are beneficial to the skin.

  • Anti-aging
  • Helps even out skin tone
  • Non-irritating variety
  • Moisturising
  • Smells great
  • Helps reduce age spots
  • Good for dry, greasy or sensitive skin

This oil is very effective in the evening of skin tone of the skin and also helps reduce the appearance of age spots.  It also helps treat dry skin and provides natural moisture that won’t clog pores.  It is a great oil to help normalize skin function.

Ingredient Dictionary, Ingredient Spotlight

The Benefits Of Rose Geranium In Skincare

Rose Geranium Oil

Key Benefits:

  • Anti-aging
  • Brightens & tightens skin
  • Good for bacterial skin conditions
  • Environmental protection
  • Anti-oxidant – great to reduce free-radicals 

The beautiful smell of the Rose Geranium is one that lingers in the air and for this as much as for its health benefits makes it a very popular essential oil in many bathrooms.  People will use the essential oil for various medicinal and home remedies and this sweet-scented flower with its velvety. plush leaves are certainly one of my favourites.

While people just love overloading you with home remedies, at Storm Botanicals we look more to the science behind why something works and explore the properties of every ingredient we use.  There have been some significant studies done that showed rose geranium oil has some great properties when it comes to skincare, and that its antioxidant properties may well help reduce the signs of aging.  

Anti-oxidants are well known to improve your skin’s ability to heal from environmental toxins and exposure and with our world becoming more congested and chemical use on the rise, we will need all the help we can get.  The anti-inflammatory properties of this oil have been well documented and it is also great for its anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties making it great for healing and protecting the skin.

We use rose geranium in our range but also in our ‘Native Antioxidant Mist’ as it is good to help remove dead skin cells, tighten and brighten skin.  Makes it great also for bacterial acne.

Sensitive Skin, Skincare Advice Topics, Skincare Myths

3-Step Daily Skin Routine

Is the new trend in skincare routines doing you more harm than good?  We look at a simple routine suitable for anyone experiencing problems with their routine or unhappy with how their skin looks and reacts.  When I say ‘simple’ that’s just what I mean.  3 Step routine reset.  Why?  Well…

Most women get carried away with their skincare routine and hey, I get it.  It’s like having a little demon on your shoulders, pushing you forward… Whispering to you, convincing you the new product just hitting the market is EXACTLY what you need… Until your skin just can’t take any more.  Redness and irritation become the norm until finally…your skin just stops responding.

When this happens, most women go in search of more skincare to add to their routine in the hope it 

will make it better, but when your skincare routine is BROKEN you can’t shop your way out of this mess.

Attempting to is sheer madness.

The only way out is to STOP what you are doing and hit the RESET button…

Get rid of the demon on your shoulders…

And take the PROPER action your skin needs to reset and become super nourished, healthy and glowing!

Get off the products merry-go-round and give your skin EXACTLY what it needs to reset back to health. 

Check out our 3-step ‘Skin Reset Kit’, it’s 3 simple steps to freedom for your skin that is affordable.

  • 3 Simple steps that are effortless.
  • 3 simple steps that are liberating.
  • 3 simple steps that will help your skin recover.     

If you are struggling with your skin or are after a change in routine or products, we can help.  Check out our Skin Consultation form or you can DM us on Facebook or Instagram and we will always get back to you.