A Closer Look a New #4 The PreCleanse Balm.
A Closer Look a New #4 The PreCleanse Balm
Lipids have been used for centuries in dermatology.
They are technically oil-like fluids that are non-water soluble, and the term is used to cover a vast array of substances—from the natural and Skin Identical, to the synthetic.
The emollient, moisture-protective qualities of olive oil were well known to the Ancient Greeks, and even further back, the wound-healing properties of lanolin were revered by the first agrarian populations.
In the twentieth century, new spectrographic technologies enabled us to look ‘inside’ the skin to analyse the profiles of lipids that are native to human skin.
The major finding was that there are two types of lipids that affect the skin: Physiologic Lipids (PLs) and Non-Physiologic Lipids (NPLs).
Physiologic lipids have a biological purpose. They act as biochemical signal carriers, as well as forming a water-resistant barrier over the skin’s surface layer (the Stratum Corneum) to keep moisture in and irritants out. This is vital, and directly influences the skin’s ability to grow, reproduce, mature and constantly turn over corneocytes.
At RATIONALE Research, we classify PLs as Skin Identical, because the skin recognises and knows how to put these substances to best use.
Skin Identical PLs include Ceramides, Triglycerides (such as Behenic and Palmitic Acid), and Cholesterol. These lipids are capable of both restoring the skin barrier and reducing inflammation, which results in a calmer, clearer, more hydrated complexion.
As we age, and as a result of environmental damage, PLs are depleted, leaving our skin dry, sensitive and further vulnerable to solar and conditional harm.
A new advance from RATIONALE Research is #4 The PreCleanse Balm, a Skin Identical compound of PLs which forms a water-soluble wax to remove particles of sunscreen, makeup and pollution completely from the skin.
Over the years, I have observed that people with dry, reactive skin tend to have barrier dysfunction, often exacerbated by cleansers that strip and irritate. They also tend to be heavy users of products that contain NPLs.
NPLs are not often helpful to the skin, and can cause significant problems. NPLs, which include compounds such as mineral and most vegetable oils, are not recognised by the skin at all, and while they can help reduce water loss from the skin’s surface, they tend to clog pores and cause irritation.
Some botanical oils, however, can be extremely beneficial as they assist in further reducing skin irritation. One such example is Australian Sandalwood Oil, rich in Ximenynic Acid, which is a potent yet natural anti-inflammatory agent, helping to alleviate concerns such as redness, dryness and sensitivity.
The ideal role of a cleansing formulation should be purification of the skin combined with replenishment of skin barrier lipids. Our new Skin Identical cleansing balm, residing within The Integrity Collection, achieves precisely this—removing all traces of surface debris and impurities while also acting as a nourishing treatment for the skin, restoring suppleness, firmness and abundant moisture.
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