Peptides, hyaluronic acid, collagen, retinol... the list of anti-aging skincare buzz words goes on. I have spent the past 7 years chasing these ingredients, looking for the next best product that would be my miraculous fountain of youth. I know what you're thinking- the past 7 years and you're not even 30? Why? The key to anti-aging is prevention and I was and still am trying to beat the clock by feeding my body and skin what it needs to stay healthy and looking good in the years to come.
The "staying healthy" part was not part of the equation when I began this wild goose chase. My wellness journey was only first beginning around then, and I still did not realize that what I put on my body was just as important as what I put in it. I probably would have never even considered flipping a prescribed ointment around and checking out the ingredients. Little did I know that while I was keeping my skin blemish free and guarded against crows feet, I was simultaneously putting poison (okay dramatic, but hear me out) on my body's largest organ.
Making these clean product swaps has been one of the most important parts of my wellness journey.
What I wish I knew then...
I knew from my dermatologist and everything I was reading that retinol was the most important way to prevent acne and keep the wrinkles away. I used prescriptions for versions of Tretinoin (basically a stronger version of retinol) until this year. While I was putting a cream that consisted of a tiny percentage of what I wanted on my face, I was also consuming these ingredients: benzyl alcohol, butyl paraben, butylated hydroxytoluene, carbomer 940, ethyl paraben, fish collagen hydrolyzates, glycerin, iso-butyl paraben, methylparaben, octoxynol 9, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, purified water, sodium hyaluronate, and trolamine. Parabens like the ones listed have been studied as endocrine disruptors and are known to be linked to cancer.
I also was using a paraben packed retinol eye cream. I had fallen for the marketing and packaging without understanding what I was buying and continued to buy blindly for years. The ingredients of this product are: Water, Glycerin, Lactose, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-8, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Isopropyl Myristate, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Propylparaben, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Zinc Gluconate.
While these were my two staple products for years, the same story holds true for any masks, cleansers, moisturizers and other skincare products I would chase after. As long as I heard those buzz words and the promise of an even skin-tone, I was sold. Even once I became aware of the harm of parabens and other harmful additives in the products I was using, I still couldn't cut the cord with that dirty prescription. To be honest, even as I was blogging about all of my clean skincare products back in 2015/2016, that Tretinoin prescription was still hiding in my makeup bag.
Tambra skin care's latest products with ocean based retinol, botanical hyaluronic acid and Vitamin A
The Best of Both Worlds
At the beginning of this year I decided to just literally throw it in the trash so that I wouldn't be tempted by it anymore. I spent the first few months of the year feeling good about my decision to completely convert over to clean beauty once and for all but had a slightly regretful feeling about kissing acne free skin and (what I thought was) effective wrinkle prevention goodbye.
I realized that this was ridiculous and this day and age with all of the research and demand for clean products, there had to be something safe and effective out there. Luckily I was right and was happy to make two amazing discoveries. One of my trusted wellness experts who I had featured early on as a Wellpreneur had created Tambra: Sea + Botanicals, a clean skincare line with incredibly effective, clean products. I was thrilled to discover that she had both an eye cream and serum with retinol and hyaluronic acid- the two effective ingredients I had parted with when I finally ditched my previously coveted paraben packed products. Unlike the mysterious and scary ingredients in the ones I had finally ditched, she uses an ocean based retinol and botanical hyaluronic acid along with a variety of other recognizable, clean ingredients.
The Alitura Naturals Gold Serum sold at clean skincare mecca CAP Beauty is nothing short of the gold standard
The next discovery I made seemed almost too good to be true.... an organic, plant derived form of retinol sourced from French alfalfa extract? Was this a joke? The other ingredients in Alitura's Gold Serum proved to be just as incredible. Marine collagen and Co Q10, along with many other clean ingredients that would help prevent wrinkles and improve my skin's elasticity. I trusted that anything in the clean skincare mecca CAP Beauty had to be the real deal, so I anxiously gave it a try. I have now spent the last month using this product and am still in awe of the glow I get as soon as I put it on. I have also been waking up to a plumper and more hydrated looking forehead (where I usually notice fine lines the most) and even complexion (especially around my cheek area).
Now It's Your Turn!
I am excited to partner with both Tambra: Sea + Botanicals and Alitura so that you can try these effective and clean products and let go of any of the dirty ones you may still be hiding in your makeup bag like I still was just a few months ago. I have just posted a giveaway on my instagram page you can enter to win the Gold Serum. Just follow the directions in the caption and don't forget to tune into my live video to see my evening routine using these amazing products. Look out for an announcement on my instagram page for a chance to win the Tambra: Sea + Botanicals products I mentioned here as well coming up soon. Can't wait to try them out or didn't get a chance to snag them from the giveaways? Use code 'alltheverdure' for 15% Alitura Naturals and 'VIP20' for 20% off Tambra!
