Kate from Ivadore fills you in on why natural skincare is important to her
With age comes experience, learnings and confidence, and more importantly confidence in your own skin. It’s from this viewpoint I am now able to give more meaningful consideration to many aspects of my life and choose what’s best for me whether without getting caught up in the hype, let’s face it… hype can be exhausting.
In the past few years, I have applied this to my daily skincare routine and without a doubt natural skincare and clean skincare is what I have found to work for me, so much so that I started a business around it, hello Ivadore – Australia’s best kept secret for natural skincare.
It’s also been a two-fold decision – choosing products that align best for my skin and also match my core values (which over time have changed).
“I’m so much more conscious now of the relevance that clean skincare has”
Is natural skincare better?
There have been lots of discussions amongst my friends and colleagues about the efficacy of natural skincare verse synthetic. I think in the past there was a misconception that natural skincare was not as effective. When you think about it, synthetic ingredients are modelled on natural ingredients and the processes that occur in nature and our bodies. They are copies, scientifically replicated using highly processed chemical compositions. There is a place for both in this industry but whether one is better than the other is based on many factors, for example, extreme acne needs to be treated with medicated solutions that are going to be synthetic – and this is perfectly OK as it’s a skin condition that requires specialist treatment, but for those who are generally happy with their skin instead of making one compete against the other, you should be thinking about it from the view of what does my skin need.
Natural skincare is perfectly equipped to combat the changes in our skin as we move through the years, this is because of all the goodness that comes from the natural sources that ingredients are derived from (such as plants, herbs and fruits) are naturally rich in vitamins, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that all nourish and protect the skin. They aren’t compromised by synthetic adaptations making them beautifully clean. And the best part is, you don’t need as many ingredients to get results, they are that good!
Products I use daily
Gentle Skin Thirst Hydrate Oil
Products I use weekly
I’ve hit 50 and natural skincare is pro-aging
I’ve just tipped the 50 scale and for me it’s all about pro-aging, here are my insights into how natural skincare supports my clean beauty routine.
1. Gentle on the Skin
As we age our skin becomes thinner and more fragile. I have found that products with high levels of actives and synthetic ingredients tend to irritate my barrier so I end up with more dryness and inflammation. I love that natural skincare is suitably gentle and formulated with ingredients that are closer in composition to my skin's natural oils and lipids. I never feel like I have just stripped my skin after cleansing or experience that annoying irritation after moisturising like it’s stinging a little, any products that contain synthetic fragrance or smell like alcohol are also a huge no no for me, my skin will instantly react. I need more calming ingredients that natural skincare provides.
2. Nourishing and Hydrating
The older we get we start to lose moisture and are prone to dryness and dehydration. Natural skincare products often contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid (yes this can be naturally derived!) and plant oils, which can help to hydrate and moisturize the skin. These ingredients can also help to improve the skin's elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I used to find that with synthetic ingredients I would constantly break out around my chin with clogged pores. Now that I have switched to natural oils, any breakouts on my chin are hormonal only. I also love that with natural skincare I can mix my face oil with my face moisturiser if I need an extra nourishing boost.
3. Even out skin tone Damn those age spots!
For the most part I have been really good with looking after my skin in the sun. But having spent a lot of time at the beach growing up and also having a baby in my 40’s, my skin tone has suffered slightly. I love that many natural skincare ingredients are loaded with Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant that is good for things like tone, pigmentation and fine lines. I have found that the natural versions of Vitamin C are far more gentle on my skin as well and over time my skin has a more radiant look to it.
4. Good for the planet.
This is where my values come in to play. We are an outdoors kind of family who spend a lot of time in and on the water. I have made a number of changes in the past few years switching to products that are better for the environment. Synthetic ingredients not only use excessive water to create them, they can pollute water sources and contribute to the destruction of natural habitats. That’s why I love natural skincare even more because the ingredients used are sustainably sourced and less likely to negatively impact the planet. What I know is that every bit helps - so I am conscious of my footprint and try to minimise as much as possible.
Natural skincare is a driving force for good overall skin health
Our skin can be triggered by many things, but one of the biggest contributors to unbalanced skin is synthetic ingredients. Because they contain lots of chemical bi-products, there is an increased risk of irritation and it’s actually really difficult to determine what is causing the irritation. I love how effective natural skincare is with streamlined formulas, and the fact that it is safe and non-toxic is a no brainer for me.
When products deliver more and can offer a holistic approach, I find that the experience and the results are profound. I have tried to build this into the value that Ivadore provides with expertly formulated products that are beautifully simple to use but scientifically robust for results.
Supporting my best skin, overall health and health of the environment… it’s natural skincare for me!
Kate xx
