Adaptogen Series Three!
Adaptogenic Skincare
So I am a big believer in choosing a skin routine that is good for you, and sticking with it. It has been said that you need up to 3 months using a product to see the results and I have definitely found that to be true.
In my teens I jumped around a lot in terms of routines, products and plans around my skin. Any new thing I read about (usually containing harsh chemicals) I was willing to try, but usually just once, or until the bottle ran out, and then I was on to something else.
Then in college the mom of one of my close friends came to visit for a week; she was a dermatologist and she changed everything. I mentioned that I grew up in Arizona and she inquired about my skin care as a child and teenager. Well, let’s see… I vividly remember using tanning oil with my mother around the age of 10, I worked in a tanning salon (IN ARIZONA!!) in my high school years where I tanned regularly, and I spent my fair share of time laying out by resort pools in Scottsdale… S-C-A-R-Y.
I learned that much like eye and dental health, skincare should be preventative, not reactive, which is why you should start treating for things before they become an issue.
Now living in Seattle, where my skin was having a break from the sun and dryness of of the desert, she then inquired into my current skincare routine. Cue the crickets.
What I learned that week when I was only 21 has made all the difference for how I’ve approached skincare overall, and it’s from the inside out and the outside in. Double attack and health (not necessarily vanity) focused. It includes supplements (there are specific probiotics that promote healthy skin!) for internal health of the skin, and topical products for external skin health.
I also understood that much like eye and dental health, skincare should be preventative, not reactive, which is why you should start treating for things before they become a problem. I also learned that products should be added from thinnest to thickest: liquids to creams. So for example, a liquid exfoliator like Moon Juice’s Acid Potion, which I share below, would be a first step in a skin care routine.
Products should be added from thinnest to thickest. Liquids to creams, so a liquid exfoliator, like Acid Potion, would be a first step in a skin care routine.
I’ve never been one for super harsh treatments or for products that have lots and lots of main, active ingredients I don’t understand or can’t pronounce, so when I came across the company Moon Juice in my adaptogen search (I wrote about their AMAZING adaptogenic collagen in another post you can find here) I was super intrigued by their adaptogenic skincare products.
How do Topical Adaptogenics Work?
So we know that ingested adaptogens work by managing your stress response by adapting to your own unique needs, and by working with your adrenal glands and nervous system internally to bring balance and calm to your overall system.
So how does it work when you use adaptogens directly on your skin?
Adaptogens can work directly to soothe and calm irritation (rashes and redness), inflammation (puffiness) and stress (which manifests as premature aging or, in other words, dryness, discoloration and the breakdown of collagen.)
Topical adaptogens work directly on skin to sooth and calm irritation (redness), inflammation (puffiness) and stress (which manifests as premature aging in the breakdown of collagen, dryness and discoloration.)
Don’t get me wrong, ingesting adaptogens is still incredibly beneficial for your overall system and your skin, but you can double up by using them directly on problem areas topically as well. Like I said, double attack!
Here are three of their products I’ve been incorporating into my tried-and-true routine over the last few months, that have acted as boosters in hydrating, reducing inflammation, increasing elasticity, diminishing redness, evening skin tone and even offering protection against blue light (YES!)
Acid Potion
Ingredients
- Lactic Acid
- Gylcolic Acid
- Salicylic Acid
- Niacinamide
- Reishi
Moon Juice’s Acid Potion is a combination of Lactic, Glycol and Salicyclic Acid that works to unclog pores, promote cellular turnover and resurface skin for a smoother and softer texture. And the best part is that it’s REALLY gentle; it won’t dry you out!
It has Niacinamide, which supports the skin barrier by increasing it resiliency and making pores smaller. Reishi, an adaptogenic mushroom, helps to hydrate, soothe and balance the skin. I really love this. I use it at night after a gentle cleanser and let it almost completely dry before adding gels and creams on top.
Plump Jelly
Ingredients
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Peptides
- Beet Amino Acid
- Silver Ear Mushroom
This Plump Jelly lotion is smooth and light and absorbs really nicely. It’s really hydrating and I put it on directly after the Acid Potion. I had been using a very expensive Hyaluronic Serum from Germany for years, and this has taken its place, outright.
I was using an expensive Hyaluronic Serum from Germany for years and this has taken its place, outright.
The adaptogenic Silver Ear Mushroom (also known as the Tremella) helps brighten the complexion, and it helps boost blood circulation which is beneficial to making the skin look full and have more elasticity.
What’s remarkable is that it is almost identical in it’s chemical structure to hyaluronic acid, so it has almost an equivalent effect (and then add the glow from all that extra blood circulation and it’s a winner in my book! No other plain Hyaluronic Acid is going to do that!)
Cosmic Cream
Ingredients
- Ashwaganda
- Jojoba Oil
- Grape Seed Oil
- Silver Ear Mushroom
- Reishi Mushroom
This Cosmic Cream is a buttery smooth cream that I apply as my final step at night. It smells SO good. Adaptogenic mushrooms (Silver Ear and Reishi) offer anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits, while powerhouse Ashwaganda protects the skin against aging by blocking blue light and slowing collagen breakdown.
Ashwaganda is astringent, protects the skin again aging by blocking blue light and slowing collagen breakdown.
Ashwaganda also has astringent properties and helps the skin produce the appropriate amount of natural oils to keep the skin hydrated but not oily. This cream takes a bit of time to absorb so I only use it at night. It’s not greasy at all, just rich.
Final Thoughts
I’m just scratching the surface here, but I’m really into the benefits adaptogens can have for overall wellness. I’ve been able to incorporate these products in with my other products with no issues, and I’m happy so far!
Do you have any adaptogenic products you’re using that you love? Drop a comment below and share! I’ll check them out!
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