Last week there was a vicious heat wave that made the east coast feel more like a tropical island (minus the palm trees) than the far from tropical, 4 seasons a year climate we are used to. During that bout of extreme heat and high humidity, I frequently felt as if I was actually in the tropics and all I needed to do was close my eyes to envision myself there. Let’s be honest, it took a lot more than just closing my eyes, but you get the point. This led me to create a tropical island themed facial that I think you’ll enjoy. My Tropical Island Facial includes purees and extracts of pineapple, coconut, papaya, wakame seaweed, and lychee fruit.
Each component has skin healing benefits and the best part is that it’s all natural! As always, my facials are customized to your needs and concerns, so I may make small adjustments as needed for your particular skin.
Some of the active ingredients in the enzymes and masks in the Tropical Island Facial are:
Coconut Papaya Enzyme:
1. Coconut
2. Papaya
3. Witch Hazel
4. Yogurt Extract
Lychee Mask:
1. Glycerin
2. Lychee Fruit Extract
3. Ascorbyl Glucoside
4. Bisabolol
Pineapple Enzyme:
1. Pineapple Fruit
2. Glycerin
3. Bromelain
Seaweed Mask:
1. Chamomile
2. Comfrey Leaf Extract
3. Wakame (Seaweed) Extract
4. Aloe Leaf Juice
5. Allantoin
6. Tea Tree Oil
Let’s take a look at the benefits and properties of these ingredients. First, let’s start with the coconut papaya enzyme.
What are some of the benefits of coconut? Well, to start coconut has moisturizing properties and promotes healthy cell growth while also supporting blood circulation which gives the skin a soft, smooth texture. Coconuts are stone fruits of the coconut tree which a type of palm tree that grows in the tropics. Coconut has many uses in cosmetics but is also a versatile cooking ingredient as well. Papaya is a natural enzyme that digests and dissolves dead skin cells. It is also an antioxidant that is high in Vitamin C and beta carotene. Papaya plants grow in tropic and subtropic regions throughout the world.
Witch Hazel is a flowering plant that is a strong antioxidant and astringent that is often used as a natural remedy for psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions. The leaves and bark of Hamamelis Virginiana (the North American Witch Hazel) are extracted to produce an astringent which is used in cosmetics, traditional medicine, and herbal medicine. Yogurt extract moisturizes, smoothes, and stimulates cellular regeneration. Yogurt extract moisturizes, smoothes, and stimulates cellular regeneration. Yogurt naturally contains lactic acid, which, when used on the skin, works as an exfoliant and removes dead skin cells.
The pineapple enzyme contains pineapple fruit, which is a Vitamin C antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative stress. Pineapple naturally contains the enzyme Bromelain which is a proteolytic enzyme that digests keratinocytes and softens the skin. Bromelain is also an anti-inflammatory for the skin. Like the coconut and papaya I talked about previously, pineapple is also a tropical plant, that grows in places like Costa Rica, Brazil, Thailand, and Hawaii. Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and like many fruits and vegetables, it an be just as nourishing on the body as in the body. The pineapple enzyme also contains Glycerin, which acts as an emollient and lubricant as well as a humectant to draw moisture from the air to the skin. Glycerin is an organic compound known more formally as glycerol. Its common sources are animal fat and vegetable oil.
The seaweed mask is a clear, jelly like mask that contains Chamomile, Comfrey Leaf Extract, Wakame (Seaweed) Extract, Aloe Leaf Juice, Allantoin, and Tea Tree Oil. Chamomile is ideal for replenishing and enriching dry or sensitive skin while it’s anti-itching and antiseptic properties also help to refresh the skin and reduce inflammation. Chamomile is a daisy-like plant whose flowers can be used in skin care preparations, herbal tea, oil infusions, and extracted to get Chamomile essential oil. Comfrey Leaf Extract is derived from the herb Comfrey and is used to heal blemishes, but is also commonly used as an herbal tea.
Wakame (seaweed) extract is used to normalize, nourish, and hydrate the skin. It also regenerates cells, detoxifies, and provides suppleness. Wakame seaweed is commonly used in Japanese cuisine, but has shown to have many nutrients beneficial to outside of the body (the skin) as well as the inside of the body. Aloe Leaf Juice soothes and calms redness and inflammation, and also provides gentle hydration while protecting the skin from external aggression. Aloe leaf juice is a gooey, thick liquid made from the flesh of the aloe vera plant leaf and is commonly known to treat sunburns. The Aloe Vera plant is a succulent plant species that is native to the south-west Arabian Peninsula, though is grown in temperate and tropical regions of Australia, South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and many southeastern US states.
Allantoin, in its organic form, is is found in several plants, including: comfrey, chamomile, wheat sprouts, tobacco seed, and sugar beets. Most often nowadays, allantoin is synthesized in a lab, but is chemically identical to its naturally occurring counterpart. It soothes and calms the skin, and also relieves itching and irritation. Lastly, the seaweed mask contains Tea Tree Oil, an essential oil, extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, which is a species of tree or small shrub in the myrtle family. Tea tree oil provides antiseptic properties to reduce the spread of infectious material that can encourage acne. It naturally reduces oil production without stripping the skin of protective barriers that prevent future breakouts.
The Lychee Fruit Mask is a creamy, nourishing mask that reduces heat rash, addresses dark spots, and manages breakouts. First and foremost, the lychee mask contains Lychee fruit extract, which brightens and rejuvenates skin by protecting against oxidative stress. The lychee tree is a tropical tree, native to parts of China. Glycerin, which we talked about a few paragraphs up, is a common ingredient in cosmetics. Ascorbyl Glucoside is simply a stable form of Vitamin C. Bisabolol is a colorless, viscous oil that acts as an anti-inflammatory that promotes wound healing, reduces sensitivity, and alleviates heat while soothing skin irritation. It is a naturally occurring monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol derived from either German Chamomile or the Candeia Tree. The Candeia Tree, which is native to Brazil is the primary global source of Bisabolol.
Call or email today to schedule your Tropical Island Facial! Available while supplies last!
