123 BLOCK MYSELF with SPF 20 sunscreen

DISCOVER (our phillosophy):
We believe we need to strenghten the skin in order to protect itself better. We believe you need sunshine and UV rays- to form vit D and that the sun is not all bad. We should not avoid it by all costs. We believe that the moment the skin gets damaged it should have the necesary ingredients to help soothe and protect it and start healing even before there is damage done. We believe if you make something more practical, people will use it.

123 BLOCK MYSELF: -1-2-3-
1. PREPARE: the skin before sun exposure with added anti-oxidants, vitamins, and essential oils to boost melanin synthesis and strengthen the skin's immunity.
FUN FACT: 123 block myself can be applied before sending kids out the door and works immediately upon application.

2. PROTECT: against free radicals, oxidation, photo-aging, pigmentation, sunspots, dehydration, sun damage, skin cancer, sensitivity, and breakouts.
FUN FACT: Regular use of 123 block myself can result in softer, clearer, and less red skin.

3. CARE: for your skin with every use, promoting recovery, aftercare, soothing of sunburns, hydration, and firming.
FUN FACT: 123 block myself can also be used as an after-sun treatment for faster recovery.

NON NANO ZINC OXIDE
b. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2017 Mar; 7(3): 56.
Published online 2017 Mar 4. doi: 0.3390/nano7030056; PMCID: PMC5388158
PMID: 28336890; In Vitro Comparative Skin Irritation Induced by Nano and Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Maria Pilar Vinardell,* Hector Llanas, Laura Marics, and Montserrat Mitjans

c.Dermatol Res Pract. 2014; 2014: 709152.
Published online 2014 Jul 10. doi: 0.1155/2014/709152; PMCID: PMC4120804
PMID: 25120566; Zinc Therapy in Dermatology: A Review; Mrinal Gupta, Vikram K. Mahajan,* Karaninder S. Mehta, and Pushpinder S. Chauhan

FIGS
1. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2014 Nov-Dec;76(6):560-4.
Effects of Cream Containing Ficus carica L. Fruit Extract on Skin Parameters: In vivo Evaluation. Khan H(1), Akhtar N(1), Ali A(2). Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. (2)Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.

2. Int J Dermatol. 2007 May;46(5):524-6.
Comparative study of fig tree efficacy in the treatment of common warts (Verruca vulgaris) vs. cryotherapy. Bohlooli S(1), Mohebipoor A, Mohammadi S, Kouhnavard M, Pashapoor S. Author information: (1)Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. shahab.bohlooli@arums.ac.ir

3. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2014 Nov-Dec; 76(6): 560–564.
PMCID: PMC4293691PMID: 25593393 Effects of Cream Containing Ficus carica L. Fruit Extract on Skin Parameters: In vivo Evaluation. H. Khan, N. Akhtar, and A. Ali1,*

4. Antitumoral activity of Ficus carica L. on colorectal cancer cell lines
Hala Soltana 1, Aline Pinon 2, Youness Limami 3, Younes Zaid 3, Loubna Khalki 4, Nabil Zaid 5, Driss Salah 5, Uteuliyev Yerzhan Sabitaliyevich 6, Alain Simon 2, Bertrand Liagre 2, Mohamed Hammami 1

5. Complement Ther Med . 2017 Dec:35:85-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.10.003. Epub 2017 Oct 13. A new topical treatment of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients based on Ficus carica L. (Fig): A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial Shirin Abbasi 1, Mohammad Kamalinejad 2, Delara Babaie 3, eyedMohammad Shams 4, Zahra Sadr 5, Mehdi Gheysari 6, Vahid Reza Askari 7, Hassan Rakhshandeh 8

6. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol . 2015 Jul 16:8:389-96. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S80906. eCollection 2015. In vitro antioxidant, collagenase inhibition, and in vivo anti-wrinkle effects of combined formulation containing Punica granatum, Ginkgo biloba, Ficus carica, and Morus alba fruits extract
Amal Kumar Ghimeray 1, Un Sun Jung 2, Ha Youn Lee 1, Young Hoon Kim 1, Eun Kyung Ryu 1, Moon Sik Chang 1

RED RASPBERRY
7. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019; 2019: 9529676. Published online 2019 Jan 6. doi: 10.1155/2019/9529676
PMCID: PMC6339709PMID: 30723535
Red Raspberry Extract Protects the Skin against UVB-Induced Damage with Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Properties Pei-Wen Wang, 1 Yu-Chen Cheng, 2 Yu-Chiang Hung, 2 Chih-Hung Lee, 3 Jia-You Fang, 4 Wen-Tai Li, 5 Yun-Ru Wu, 6 and Tai-Long

JASMINE
8. PHARMACOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL VALUE OF JASMINE
January 2022 In book: Medicinal Plants and its Benefits in Our Day to Day Life (Volume - 5)Publisher: Integrated Publications Authors: Mrudula Sanjay Shah, Divya Raj, VIT University, Deoraj Sharma (Research Gate)

9. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021; 2021: 7657628. Published online 2021 Aug 12. doi: 10.1155/2021/7657628
PMCID: PMC8378956PMID: 34422079
Development from Jasminum sambac Flower Extracts of Products with Floral Fragrance and Multiple Physiological Activities
Li-Chun Wu, 1 Chieh-Li Lin, 2 Chia-Chen Peng, 2 Tzu-Ling Huang, 2 Teh-Hua Tsai, 3 Yun-Erh Kuan, 2 and Ying-Chien Chung 2

CHAMOMILE
10. Mol Med Report. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 Feb 1.Published in final edited form as:Mol Med Report. 2010 Nov 1; 3(6): 895–901. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377 PMCID: PMC2995283NIHMSID: IHMS250193PMID: 21132119 Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future
Janmejai K Srivastava,1,2,* Eswar Shankar,1,2 and Sanjay Gupta1,2,3

VIT E
11. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jul-Aug; 7(4): 311–315. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.185494 PMCID: PMC4976416PMID: 27559512 Vitamin E in dermatology
Mohammad Abid Keen and Iffat Hassan

12. Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on August 27, 2024

ALOE VERA
13. The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Davood Hekmatpou, PhD,1 Fatemeh Mehrabi,2 Kobra Rahzani, PhD,1 and Atefeh Aminiyan, PhD3
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer

14. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Kathleen Davis, FNP on June 17, 2020

15. Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on June 13, 2024Written by R. Morgan

GERANIUM
16. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Corey Whelan on May 9, 2019

17. Age-Defying and Photoprotective Potential of Geranium/Calendula Essential Oil Encapsulated Vesicular Cream on Biochemical Parameters against UVB Radiation Induced Skin Aging in Rat by Alka Lohani 1,*ORCID andPierfrancesco Morganti 2
1 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad 244001, India 2 Academy of History of Healthcare Art, 00186 Rome, Italy
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cosmetics 2022, 9(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics9020043 Submission received: 24 March 2022 / Revised: 10 April 2022 / Accepted: 16 April 2022 / Published: 18 April 2022

CARROT SEED OIL
18. Effectiveness Of Cream Formulation Of Carrot Seed Oil As Anti-Aging
December 2022International Journal of Health and Pharmaceutical (IJHP) 3(3):331-340; 3(3):331-340; DOI:10.51601/ijhp.v3i3.170; LicenseCC BY-NC 4.0; Authors: Musnaini Musnaini,
Silvia Fransisca, William Leslie

19. Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on February 27, 2024Written by WebMD Editorial

20. J Cosmet Laser Ther . 2019;21(2):99-107. doi: 10.1080/14764172.2018.1469769. Epub 2018 May 8. Formulation and evaluation of carrot seed oil-based cosmetic emulsions Shalini Singh 1, Alka Lohani 1, Arun Kumar Mishra 1, Anurag Verma 1

ROSE OIL
21. Therapeutic efficacy of rose oil: A comprehensive review of clinical evidence
Safieh Mohebitabar,1 Mahboobeh Shirazi,2 Sodabeh Bioos,1 Roja Rahimi,3 Farhad Malekshahi,4 and Fatemeh Nejatbakhsh1,*

22. ACS Omega. 2023 Sep 19; 8(37): 33943–33954. Published online 2023 Sep 7. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04756; PMCID: PMC10515598; PMID: 37744837; Taif Rose Oil Ameliorates UVB-Induced Oxidative Damage and Skin Photoaging in Rats via Modulation of MAPK and MMP Signaling Pathways; Hossam M. Abdallah,corresponding author*† Abdulrahman E. Koshak,† Mohamed A. Farag,‡ Nesrine S. El Sayed,§ Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin,∥ Osama A. A. Ahmed,∥ Mardi M. Algandaby,⊥ Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim,# Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim,∇○ Gamal A. Mohamed,† Peter Proksch,◆ and Haidy Abbas

JOJOBA
23. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan; 19(1): 70. Published online 2017 Dec 27. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010070
PMCID: PMC5796020; PMID: 29280987
Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils; Tzu-Kai Lin,1 Lily Zhong,2,* and Juan Luis Santiago3,*

24. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Kathryn Watson — Updated on March 30, 2023

SHEA BUTTER
25. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — Written by Kathryn Watson — Updated on March 8, 2019

SUNFLOWER SEED OIL
26. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N. — Written by Corey Whelan on August 7, 2019

MAGNESIUM SULFATE
27. Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD, Nutrition — Written by Brianna Elliott, RD — Updated on February 21, 2023

BULBINE
28. Bulbine Natalensis and Bulbine Frutescens promote cutaneous wound healing
Author links open overlay panel
Nalini Pather 1, Beverley Kramer

NON NANO ZINC OXIDE
a. Researchers have found that zinc has natural sun-protection benefits. When your skin is filled with a rich layer of zinc oxide, it reflects and absorbs the UVA and UVB rays. This way it blocks the harmful rays from entering your skin. However, the efficacy of this ingredient completely depends on its concentration.
b. Nano-sized ZnO does not irritate skin, in a similar manner to non-nano ZnO.
Scientists recommend it as a safe alternative to chemical UV filters. By filtering harmful UV rays, zinc oxide helps protect cells from damage, halt the aging process, and prevent skin dryness. It is effective after application since it forms a natural barrier between your skin and sunlight.
c. Prevention of Photodamage and Skin Cancers: Zinc oxide is widely used as a broad spectrum physical sunscreen. Its advantage lies in its low cost and an excellent safety profile.
Antiaging: After 8 weeks of therapy, significant elastic fiber regeneration was seen in the papillary dermis leading to effacement of wrinkles.
Scars & Keoloids: The beneficial effect of topical zinc in the treatment of keloids in few studies has been attributed to its ability to inhibit lysyl oxidase and stimulate collagenase that leads to decreased production and increased degradation of collagen.
Pigmentary Disorders: Topical zinc has been used for both vitiligo and melasma.
Premalignant and Malignant Dermatoses
Zinc in high concentration has been found to possess a direct cytotoxic effect and is well known to induce apoptosis of malignant cells and tissue necrosis. This property of zinc has been utilized for its use in premalignant and malignant conditions of skin like xeroderma pigmentosa, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma. Topical therapy with zinc sulfate solution has been found to have both therapeutic and prophylactic role in patients with xeroderma pigmentosa.
Zinc is a proven treatment modality for seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Ulcers & Wounds: Zinc, both oral and topical, for its healing properties has been used for a long time for the management of ulcers and wounds of varied etiology.
Eczemas, Psoriasis, Rosacea: Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and increases reepithelialization supporting its use for treating eczemas. Zinc oxide paste has been used for the treatment of diaper dermatitis since long.
Acne: topical zinc alone as well as in combination with other agents is effective perhaps because of its anti-inflammatory activity and ability to reduce P. acnes counts by inhibition of P. acnes lipases and free fatty acid levels. Another proposed mechanism for the benefit of zinc in acne is suppression of sebum production by its antiandrogenic activity.

FIGS
1. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of cream containing Ficus carica L. fruit (Fig) extract on various skin parameters such as skin melanin, erythema, moisture content, trans-epidermal water loss and sebum.
Formulation used decreased the skin melanin, trans-epidermal water loss and skin sebum significantly. Formulation increased the skin hydration significantly and insignificant effects on skin erythema. We concluded that a stable topical cream (w/o emulsion) containing F. carica fruit extract have effects on skin melanin, trans-epidermal loss, hydration values and sebum content and possibly could be used against for hyper pigmentation, acne, freckles and wrinkle.
2.BACKGROUND: A traditional method for the treatment of warts in some rural areas of Iran comprises the use of fig tree (ficus carica) latex as a local treatment; however, there is no scientific evaluation of its efficacy.
CONCLUSION: Fig tree latex therapy of warts offers several beneficial effects
including short-duration therapy, no reports of any side-effects, ease-of-use, patient compliance, and a low recurrence rate.
3. There was continuous decrease in skin melanin content throughout the study period. The reason is that F. carica contains tyrosinase inhibitors, which have skin depigmenting effects. It was found that there was increase in skin hydration values continuously to 8th week. Vitamin C is known to stimulate and enhance the rate of collagen biosynthesis in the dermis and because of increase in collagen synthesis, hydration level of the dermis recover. Fig fruit is an excellent source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). F. carica L. contains a high level of antioxidant compounds, for example vitamin C, phenolic compounds (allergic acid) anthocyanins and carotenoids (carotene and lycopene). Inhibitory activity of 5-α-reductase of these compounds lead to reduced sebum content when applied.
4. Many promising test-tube studies have been conducted on the effects of fig leaves on cancer cells. Fig leaves and natural latex from fig plants have been shown to exhibit antitumor activity against human colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and liver cancer cells.
5. Study in 45 children with dermatitis found that a cream made from dried fig fruit extract applied twice daily for 2 weeks was more effective at treating the symptoms of dermatitis than hydrocortisone cream, the standard treatment
6. a combination of fruit extracts — including fig extract — was shown to exhibit antioxidant effects on skin cells, decrease collagen breakdown, and improve the appearance of wrinkles in a test-tube and animal study

RED RASPBERRY EXTRACT
7. The protein profiles and immunohistological study on a nude mouse skin indicated that red raspberry extract could prevent UVB-caused cell death and protect the skin against UVB-exposed injury manifested by wrinkling, scaling, tanning, and water loss as well as epidermal thickening.

JASMINE
8. Jasminum has many medicinal properties like anti-depressant, antiseptic, cicatrisant, aphrodisiac, expectorant, anti-spasmodic, galactogogue, sedative, parturient, uterine etc., with minimal to no side effects.
9. According to research, jasmine oil lightens and moisturizes skin, removes freckles, prevents skin laxity, delays skin aging, and diminishes inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiaging, and skin lightening properties.

CHAMOMILE
10. Chamomile can help in improving cardiovascular conditions, stimulate immune system and provide some protection against cancer.

VIT E
11. Topical vitamin E can reduce UV-induced skin swelling, skin thickness, erythema, and edema — all signs of skin inflammation
12.Possible benefits of vitamin E oil include moisturizing the skin, treating conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, reducing the appearance of scars and wrinkles, and more.

ALOE VERA
13. Aloe vera could reduce the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared with conventional medication. It also helped prevent redness, itching, and infections.
14. Using aloe vera on the face can help moisturize skin and help manage skin conditions, such as acne.
15. This plant-based remedy contains chemicals that reduce swelling in the skin, relieve redness and scaling, soothe itchy skin, and promote the growth of new skin cells. These properties make aloe vera useful for treating skin conditions such as:
Acne, Cold sores (herpes), Cuts and scrapes, Insect bites and stings, Minor burns and sunburn, Psoriasis.

GERANIUM
16. Researchers have examined the benefits of geranium essential oil in several human and animal studies. There’s also anecdotal evidence about its benefits. It’s thought to have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and astringent properties
17. Cutaneous aging symptoms such as dull and rough skin, wrinkles, and dark spots are associated with prolonged sun exposure. The greater knowledge of the negative consequences of prolonged sun exposure has resulted in increased demand for sunscreen and antiaging cosmetics. In the present research, the photoprotective potential of GEO/CEO-encapsulated vesicular cream on biochemical parameters against UVB radiation induced damage in rat skin was studied.

CARROT SEED OIL
18. Carrot seed oil cream showed the best anti-aging effectiveness by increasing water content, reducing skin hardness, shrinking pores, reducing blemishes and reducing wrinkles.
19. Because of the compounds in carrot seed essential oil, it can help:‌ Remove fungus. Carrot seed oil is effective against some types of fungus. Research shows that it can stop fungus that grows in plants and some types that grow on the skin.‌
Fight bacteria. Carrot seed oil can fight some bacteria strains like Staphylococcus aureus, a common skin bacteria, and Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes food poisoning.
Block sunlight. A compound called umbelliferone, or 7-hydroxycoumarin, is found in carrot seed essential oil. This compound absorbs UVB light and is commonly used in sunscreens.
While carrot compounds are found in sunscreen, there’s no evidence that carrot seed oil is safe to use alone as a sunscreen. While it might block UVB light, no evidence shows that it can stop sunburns or sun damage, or protect against skin cancer, so you will still need to wear sunscreen.‌
Even skin tone. Because carrot seed oil absorbs UVB light, it might also help with hyperpigmentation.

ROSE OIL
21. Rose oil has anti-inflammatory properties that nip redness in the bud, thereby soothing your skin. Rose oil's ability to quell irritation also makes it a go-to product for those with inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. Thirteen clinical trials (772 participants) were included in this review. It was observed that rose oil had physiological and psychological relaxation, analgesic and anti-anxiety effects.
22. Exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays accelerates the appearance of aging signs. Exposure to UV radiation resulted in severe oxidative stress due to the production of ROS. These signs appear because ultraviolet radiation causes a deficiency of antioxidants and a reduction in anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkling markers. Therefore, topical application of antioxidants protects skin from photoaging. In this regard, the use of natural skin care products is one of the safest alternatives to synthetic ones due to their lack of side effects. Moreover, a nanoformulation of natural products will increase the solubility of the active compound, improve skin penetration, and provide photoprotection.

JOJOBA
23. When applied topically, constituents of plant oils (triglycerides, phospholipids, FFAs, phenolic compounds and antioxidants) may act synergistically by several mechanisms: (i) promoting skin barrier homeostasis; (ii) antioxidative activities; (iii) anti-inflammatory properties; (iv) direct and indirect (upregulation of antimicrobial peptides) anti-microbial properties; (v) promoting wound healing; and (vi) anti-carcinogenic properties.
24. It’s moisturizing. Jojoba oil is a humectant ingredient. This means that it works to attract water to the top layer of the skin, helping to keep the skin hydrated. This may help prevent bacterial infections, acne, and dandruff from forming.
Jojoba oil contains antimicrobial and antifungal properties. While lab testsfound that jojoba oil doesn’t kill all bacterial or fungal species, it does kill certain bacteria and fungi that can cause salmonella, an E. coli infection, and candida.
Jojoba oil is an antioxidant: can help your skin fight oxidative stress caused by everyday exposure to pollutants and other toxins.
It’s noncomedogenic: Although jojoba oil is a botanical substance, its makeup is so similar to the oil (sebum) your body naturally produces that your skin can’t tell the difference. This makes it less likely to build up on your skin and clog your pores, leading to fewer breakouts and less severe acne.
It’s hypoallergenic: On a molecular level, jojoba oil is a wax. Although it can be absorbed into your skin, its waxy nature allows it to create a soothing seal on the surface.
Unlike other botanical essential oils, jojoba oil is typically nonirritating. Allergic reaction is rare.
It helps control sebum production. Jojoba oil regulates sebum production because it’s so similar to the sebum that your body produces naturally.
When you put jojoba oil on your skin, your skin is soothed and moisturized. This sends a signal to your hair and sweat follicles that your skin doesn’t need additional sebum for hydration. This keeps skin from looking oily and helps prevent acne caused by clogged pores.
It may help promote collagen synthesis: The antioxidants in jojoba oil may help your body produce collagen. Collagen is a protein that’s in your skin and joints as well as the parts of your body made of cartilage. Collagen levels decrease as you get older. This is part of the reason your facial structure changes as you age. At least one study links antioxidants applied to the skin to improved collagen synthesis.
It may help speed up wound healing: Jojoba oil is a promising ingredient in stimulating wound healing. Preliminary research shows that jojoba oil encourages your skin cells to bind together after they’ve been separated by a scratch or cut. This may also be the reason for its ability to treat acne and acne scarring. These wound-healing properties could be connected to jojoba oil’s concentration of natural vitamin E. It may help soothe eczema, psoriasis, and other drying skin conditions. Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Topical application may help relieve dryness, flaking, itching, and related symptoms. People who have inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema may find jojoba oil especially beneficial.
It may help soothe sunburns. Jojoba oil is a popular ingredient in some natural sunscreen products. One study suggests that vitamin E, when combined with other antioxidants, can help protect your skin from sun damage. Jojoba oil contains both. Sun damage can dehydrate your skin and cause flaking. Jojoba oil restores vitamin E, adds moisture, and promotes healing to soothe these symptoms of sunburns.
It may help treat acne: At least one clinical trial indicates that jojoba oil can help keep acne at bay. Jojoba oil has soothing anti-inflammatory agents, healing properties, is moisturizing, and is a natural antimicrobial. These properties suggest that jojoba oil could help you avoid breakouts as well as promote healing for mild acne.
It may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: Oxidative stress can be linked to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There’s no research that links jojoba to treating wrinkles and fine lines directly, but other plant products with antioxidant properties have been shown to improve the elasticity of skin. This means that the antioxidant power of jojoba oil may help slow the signs of aging when used on your skin.
It may help minimize the appearance of scars: Vitamin E has long been recommended by health professionals to help with scarring. Research on whether this works — and, if so, to what extent — is still ongoing. If you’d like to try vitamin E as a remedy to scarring, jojoba oil may prove to be beneficial in the healing process. Jojoba oil’s natural wound-healing properties combined with its vitamin E content, could minimize the appearance of scars.

SHEA BUTTER
25.It’s moisturizing: Shea butter is typically used for its moisturizing effects. These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. When you apply shea topically, these oils are rapidly absorbed into your skin. They act as a “refatting” agent, restoring lipids and rapidly creating moisture. This restores the barrier between your skin and the outside environment, holding moisture in and reducing your risk of dryness.
It's non-comedogenic: It won’t make your skin oily. Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. These two acids balance each other out. That means shea butter is easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t make your skin look oily after application.
It’s anti-inflammatory: The plant esters of shea butter have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. When applied to the skin, shea triggers cytokines and other inflammatory cells to slow their production.
This may help minimize irritation caused by environmental factors, such as dry weather, as well as inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.
It’s antioxidant: Shea butter has significant levels of vitamins A and E, which means it promotes strong antioxidant activity. Antioxidants are important anti-aging agents. They protect your skin cells from free radicals that can lead to premature aging and dull-looking skin.
It’s antibacterial: A 2012 study suggests that oral doses of shea bark extract can lead to decreased antimicrobial activity in animals.
Although more research is needed, this could indicate possible antibacterial benefits in humans. Because of this, some speculate that topical application may decrease the amount of acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
It’s antifungal: Shea tree products have been established as powerful ingredients to fight skin infections caused by fungi. While shea butter may not be able to treat every kind of fungal infection, we know that it kills spores of the fungi that causes ringworm and athlete’s foot.
It may help prevent acne: Shea butter is rich in different kinds of fatty acids. This unique composition helps clear your skin of excess oil (sebum). At the same time, shea butter restores moisture to your skin and locks it in to your epidermis, so your skin doesn’t dry out or feel “stripped” of oil. The result is a restoration of the natural balance of oils in your skin — which may help stop acne before it starts.
It helps boost collagen production: Shea butter contains triterpenes. These naturally occurring chemical compounds are thought to deactivate collagen fiber destruction.This may minimize the appearance of fine lines and result in plumper skin.
It helps promote cell regeneration: Shea’s moisturizing and antioxidant properties work together to help your skin generate healthy new cells. Your body is constantly making new skin cells and getting rid of dead skin cells. You actually get rid of anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 old skin cells each day.
Dead skin cells sit on the top. New skin cells form at the bottom of the upper layer of skin (epidermis). With the right moisture balance on the surface of your skin, you’ll have fewer dead skin cells in the way of fresh cell regeneration in the epidermis.
It may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scarring It’s thought that shea butter stops keloid fibroblasts — scar tissue — from reproducing, while encouraging healthy cell growth to take their place. This may help your skin heal, minimizing the appearance of stretch marks and scarring.
It may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: By boosting collagen production and promoting new cell generation, shea butter may help reduce what researchers call photoaging — the wrinkles and fine lines that environmental stress and aging can create on skin.
It offers added sun protection: Shea butter can’t be used by itself as an effective sunscreen. But using shea butter on your skin does give you some added sun protection, so layer it over your favorite sunscreen on days you’ll be spending outside. Shea butter contains an estimated SPF of 3 to 4.
It may help prevent hair breakage: Shea butter hasn’t been studied specifically for its ability to make hair stronger.
It may help treat dandruff: One way to treat dandruff (atopic dermatitis) is to restore moisture to your dry and irritated scalp.
One 2018 review found that shea butter, when used in combination with other moisturizers, could help decrease dandruff flakes and reduce risk of flare-ups.
It may help soothe conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis: Shea’s anti-inflammatory properties help soothe skin and relieve itching. This may prove especially helpful for inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. Shea also absorbs rapidly, which could mean quick relief for flare-ups. Research even suggests that shea butter could work just as well as medicated creams in treating eczema.
It may help soothe sunburn and other skin burns: Research suggests that oils may be beneficial for superficial (first-degree) skin burns, such as sunburn.
Shea’s anti-inflammatory components may reduce redness and swelling. Its fatty acid components may also soothe the skin by retaining moisture during the healing process.
It may help soothe insect bites: Shea butter has been traditionally used to soothe bee stings and insect bites. Anecdotal evidence suggests that shea butter may help bring down swelling that bites and stings can cause. That said, there isn’t any clinical research to support this.
It can help promote wound healing: In addition to reducing underlying inflammation, shea is also linked to the tissue remodeling that’s crucial for treating wounds. Its protective fatty acids may also help shield wounds from environmental irritants during the healing process.
It may help relieve arthritis pain: Arthritis is caused by underlying inflammation in the joints.
A 2016 animal study on shea oil concentrate suggests that it can help reduce inflammation while also protecting joints from further damage. Although this study focused on knee joints, these potential benefits could extend to other areas of the body.
It may help soothe muscle soreness: Muscles that have been overextended can be affected by inflammation and stiffness as your body repairs muscle tissue.
Shea butter may help sore muscles in the same way it may help joint pain — by reducing inflammation.
It may help relieve congestion: A 1979 study suggests that shea butter may help alleviate nasal congestion. When used in nasal drops, shea butter may reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. It could also help reduce mucosal damage, which often leads to nasal congestion. These effects could be beneficial when dealing with allergies, sinusitis, or the common cold.

SUNFLOWER SEED OIL
26. Non-comedogenic: Sunflower oil is a non-comedogenic carrier oil which is highly absorbent, and won’t clog pores. It’s non-irritating for most people, and can be used on all types of skin, including dry, normal, oily, and acne-prone.
Antioxidants: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help protect skin from free radicals and from adverse effects of the sun, such as premature aging and wrinkles. Using a skincare product formulated with sunflower oil is a good way to obtain vitamin E’s benefits for skin.
Skin-protecting barrier:Linoleic acid helps to maintain the skin’s natural barrier, supporting its ability to retain moisture. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect when used topically. This makes it beneficial for dry skin and for conditions, such as eczema.
A small study with 19 volunteers, which contrasted the benefits of topically applied sunflower oil to olive oil, found that sunflower oil was more effective at improving skin hydration and maintaining the integrity of the skin’s outer layer. The linoleic acid in sunflower oil makes it effective for protecting skin against bacteria and germs. A study done in 2008 on premature infants in Bangladesh found that topical application of sunflower oil significantly reduced infant mortality caused by hospital-acquired infections, such as sepsis.
Wound healing: A small animal study also found that topical use of sunflower oil was beneficial for healing wounds faster. This may be due to its oleic acid content, which can be beneficial for wound care. An animal study done in 2004 found that sesame oil and its component, sesamol, had chemopreventiveproperties in mice with skin cancer, but also indicated that more study is needed to ascertain their full potential.

MAGNESIUM SULPHATE
27. Not well enough researched yet known to clean wounds and used as electrolyte.

BULBINE
28. The results of this study suggests that the leaf extracts increase tensile strength by increasing fibroplasia, differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, and increased collagen deposition and maturation. This study further validates the use of the Bulbine leaf gels for the treatment of skin wounds.

When answering this question we need to look at:
SYNTHETIC VERSUS NATURAL SUNSCREENS-
Properly shielding the skin is important when spending time in the sun, but there has been a recent focus on the benefits of natural skin protection.

Weighing the options:
SPF 20 blocks 94% of UVB rays while SPF 50 blocks 98%.

IN SYNTHETIC SUNSCREENS:
High SPF products require higher concentrations of sun-filtering chemicals than low SPF sunscreens do. Some of these ingredients may pose health risks when they penetrate the skin and have been linked to tissue damage, potential hormone disruption and even skin cancer. Some may also trigger allergic skin reactions.
IN NATURAL SUNSCREEN:
High SPF products become thick and are difficult to apply, leaving a sticky white residue on the skin;

SPF 20 is a reliable method of sun protection that extends your sun exposure time by 20 times compared to not using any sunscreen, potentially providing over 3 hours of protection. To ensure maximum effectiveness, take into account factors like the time of day, level of activity, and sweating, which may reduce the effectiveness of SPF 20. For optimal protection, remember to regularly reapply sunscreen.

PHYSICAL BARRIER: Physical barrier is not absorbed by your skin, it just sits on the skin’s surface. Light is either absorbed into the sunblock material or reflected away from the body back into the atmosphere similar to a mirror or tin foil. Physical protectors, such as zinc oxide, reflect UVA rays.
Physical sunblock ingredients (UVA and UVB protection, non-irritating, non-allergenic)
• ZINC OXIDE:
Recognized as a mild antimicrobial, wound healing and sunscreen agent. Primarily absorbs UVA light rather than scattering or reflecting, non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and micronized by forming many small micro particles for cosmetic use.
• TITANIUM DIOXIDE:
Derived from Titanium, a highly reflective white chalky mineral, non-irritating, non-comedogenic, micronized by forming many small micro particles for cosmetic use, listed in the FDA monograph as one the top and most effective active ingredients for sun protection.
CHEMICAL BARRIER:
A chemical barrier has the ability to be absorbed by the skin, sunlight is invalid upon contact. Most chemical protectors absorb UVB rays. Meaning: the chemicals absorb the UVB rays. None of the chemicals absorb the whole spectrum of UV rays (like physical barriers do), so several different chemicals are needed to make a protective chemical barrier. The challenge with these chemicals: your skin absorbs them; when heated they become reactive and toxicity levels rise.

When we are describing the pigmentation of the skin, we are referring to changes to the colour of your skin. The pigment responsible for the colour of your skin is called Melanin, which is made by the melanocyte cells in the skin. Melanin is produced due to a signal from the enzyme Tyrosinase and this message can be “over triggered” which can cause the melanocyte to create more melanin than usual. The melanin will flood into the cells causing the skin to darken. This condition is called Hyperpigmentation.
In a normal healthy skin, the melanocytes produce melanin when the skin is exposed to UV light as a way of protecting itself. This is what gives us a suntan but excessive exposure to the sun can cause an increase in melanin production.
Pigmentation can take on many appearances when caused by over exposure to the sun. Some people may be covered in lots of pigmentation patches and some will have a few small patches of pigment appearing like freckles. You will be recognized it most on areas that are exposed to the sun, e.g., you will notice that the top of your arms will always look darker, but the inside will always be lighter.

What causes pigmentation?
It can be a combination of internal and external factors. The sun generally is often the biggest cause for most people. However, age, hormonal imbalances, stress, diet and environmental attack, such as pollution, can also lead to dark patches appearing.
You do not only have to be sunbathing to be at risk as UVA rays are present all year round. Just being outside in the daylight continuously can in some cases give equal damage as to those who sit in the sun once a year on holiday. The best way to prevent dark patches is to wear an SPF on the skin daily.

Look for products which contain Vitamin C as this helps to reduce the Tyrosinase activity which therefore slows down the production of melanin. It will also brighten the skin and help to even out the skin tone. Products that contain ingredients which have antioxidant or anti free radical properties will also help as they can protect the skin from environmental attack and help prevent skin rust. There are many treatments available which can help from facials, peels, and microdermabrasion to laser or micro-needling. Speak to your skin care expert for advice.
The sun is a key player when it comes to your skin which is why it is so important to remember to apply daily SPF to keep your skin protected. Don’t forget, your skin pigmentation can still be targeted by using key ingredients like Vitamin C and other Anti-Oxidant rich substances. Just so you know: 123 blockmyself has all of these.

HYPERPIGMENTATION - is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin.
MELASMA - Melasma, Chloasma or also referred to as the mask of pregnancy. Here you will see large patches of darkened skin.
POST INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION -spots or patches of darkened skin that appear after skin inflammation such as eczema or acne.
FRECKLES - these can appear when melanin builds up under the skin. Freckles may look brown, red, or tan. Sun exposure and genetic factors make some people more likely to develop freckles than others, often more common in fairer skins.
AGE/ LIVER OR SUNSPOTS - are flat and dark on the skin and can vary in size. They usually occur on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands and arms. They normally years to develop and can appear like a liver shape.

The demand for natural, organic and vegan skincare is higher in Europe which means that the competition is bigger. We also want to fall under international standards and want to compete with those in the same playing field. South Africa is awakening to the damages of synthetic/chemical ingredients and we are working hard to educate clients. We are sure a movement will start soon following us towards healthier skincare.

While burning is bad, not all exposure to sunlight is harmful. It is important to be sun wise but remember that the sun's UV rays help the body to produce vitamin D, which is essential for health. Moderate exposure to sunlight is good for us and it actually boosts the level of serotonin, helping to improve the mood. It also provides vitamin D to the skin which is essential for binding calcium in bone. It does also give that beautiful sun kissed look where skin flaws like cellulite and stretch marks are not as obvious.
There's no getting around the fact that sunlight is hard on your skin. Age gets blamed for wrinkles and rough, dry skin. But the real culprit is a combination of age and sun that dermatologists call photo-aging. The short UVB wavelengths that cause sunburn can also damage DNA and suppress the skin's immune system. The longer, more penetrating UVA wavelengths may create
highly reactive oxygen molecules capable of damaging skin cell membranes and the DNA inside.