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Menopause is a natural process that marks the end of the menstrual cycle in women. In some cases, women can start menopause prematurely. Either way, taking care of your skin during menopause is important as it's incredibly common for women to experience changes in their skin during menopause. During this time, our estrogen levels drop, which can decrease collagen production in the skin. In return, skin can be dry, itchy, and dull, and it requires special care to stay healthy and glowing.

That's why a great menopause skincare routine is vital! See our “How Collagen Helps & Works For Your Skin” blog to dive deeper on the benefit of collagen for your skin! The purpose of this blog is to discuss how to care for menopausal skin, and which ingredients are best for women who are struggling with the effects that menopause has on their skin.

Keep Your Skin Cleansed With Gentle Cleansers

Keep Your Skin From Getting Dry and Patchy By Moisturizing 

A Little Face Mask Never Hurt Anybody!

Why Retinol is a Key Ingredient in a Menopausal Skin Care Routine

Antioxidants and Their Importance in Your Menopause Skincare Routine

It’s Not Just a Good Menopause Skincare Routine, a Healthy Lifestyle is Important, Too!

In addition to these ingredients, there are also lifestyle changes that you can make to help keep your menopausal skin healthy and glowing. First, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This will help keep your skin hydrated and plump. Second, make sure to get some sort of exercise in 3 - 4 days a week. Start with just 10 minutes a day and gradually increase the intensity and duration.  

Exercising regularly can release the happy hormones called endorphins, which helps relieve menopause symptoms, making irritability and mood swings easier to cope with. Even going for short daily walks or doing some yoga stretches can help keep your body functioning well. Because getting enough sleep is essential during Menopause, getting some exercise in will also help you to get a restful sleep! Lack of sleep can lead to dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, as well as a dull complexion. If you’re having a hard time sleeping, try our soothing Bath Bombs to help you relax before bed. Renu’s bath bombs are made with mineral rich magnesium and sea salt to gently detoxify and re-balance your body, while aroma-therapeutic essential oils soothe your skin and calm your mind! Finally, make sure to eat a healthy diet that is rich in fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Foods that are high in antioxidants and other nutrients are essential for healthy skin.

What Changes Will You Be Making For Your Menopausal Skin?

In conclusion, menopausal skin requires special care to keep it healthy and glowing. To take care of your menopausal skin, make sure to cleanse it properly, moisturize it regularly, and use ingredients such as retinol and antioxidants that can help improve the texture and tone of your skin. In addition to these skincare tips, make sure to stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and eat a healthy diet to help keep your skin looking its best. With the right care and ingredients, you can keep your skin healthy and radiant. If you have any questions or need product suggestions to best suit your needs, drop them down below in the comments, we would love to help you out along your journey!

Why Use Natural Skincare Products in Your Summer Skincare Routine?

Using natural skincare products is an excellent way to protect your skin from sun damage. As well as being beneficial to your skin, natural products don't contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to not only your skin, but your overall health. Keeping your skin healthy and glowing is easy with natural products, which can also contain beneficial antioxidants and other nourishing ingredients! Additionally, they are more gentle on the skin, so you won't have to worry about skin irritation or other skin problems.

Another great benefit of using natural skincare products is that they are usually much more eco-friendly. It is common for chemical-based skincare products to contain ingredients that are harmful to the environment. On the other hand, plant-based skincare products are made with ingredients that are not harmful to the environment! Read up on our "Why Choose Natural Ingredients over Synthetic When It Comes To Skincare" blog for a more in depth read!

What Ingredients Help With Sun Damage?

Adding safe ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, and alpha hydroxy acids into your summer skincare routine can help with sun damage, minimize dark spots, and smooth wrinkles that may have been caused by sun damage. These ingredients work by stimulating the production of collagen, which helps to firm and smooth the skin. Additionally, they can help reduce inflammation and even out skin tone, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots.

4 Steps For The Perfect Summer Skincare Routine

Step 1:Cleanse

Step 2: Toner

Step 3: Treatments

Step 4: Moisturize!

Will You Be Incorporating Renu Naturals Into Your Summer Skincare Routine?

To conclude, using clean, plant-based skincare products after spending time in the summer sun is essential for maintaining healthy skin and promoting overall well-being. You can ensure your skin stays nourished, hydrated, and protected throughout the summer months by incorporating natural ingredients and gentle formulations in your summer skincare routine such as those in our Renu products. 

So, do you feel ready for summer? Check out our Essentials 4-Step Set with Renu Bag or our Glow-on-the-Go Beauty Bag for those who are constantly on the go, but want to stay consistent in their summer skincare routine! Or relax with our Positive Energy Gua Sha Set! No matter what your skin type, RENU Naturals has something for you.

Following a proper clean skincare routine is essential to seeing consistent results in the overall appearance and health of your skin. Cleansing and exfoliating are two essential steps in helping to remove buildup and impurities from the face, revealing a cleaner, more radiant complexion.

Your skin type, personal preferences and lifestyle determine how often you cleanse your face, along with the season and even the weather. To reduce congestion and increase clarity of the skin, it’s important to be consistent in your cleansing routing. Removing makeup, dirt and oils from the skin every night is important in preventing breakouts, reducing congestion and clogged pores, and helps to maintain the hydrolipidic balance on your skin.

Washing your face was a basic function, typically with either soap or by using a face wash. As we evolve with ingredients, function and technology, the latest skincare trend offers another option: Double Cleansing.

What is Double Cleansing?

Double Cleansing is a revolutionized way of cleansing the face with a 2-step process, using two cleansing products instead of just one. The first step is to apply a cleansing oil, followed by a face wash, which can be a gel-based cleanser, or a cream-based formula based on your skin type. The oil is used to remove makeup pigments and debris, then adding in a face wash to continue the cleansing process for a truly effective cleanse leading to the best results.

Importance of Double Cleansing

Double cleansing is a must for avid makeup wearers, ensuring the removal of impurities, makeup, sunscreen, and excess buildup. Adding the cleanser / face wash, building up a full lather, will work to further remove remnants of debris, sweat and oil, leaving the skin clean and completely free of impurities.

Origin of Double Cleansing

Double Cleansing originated in Korea, China, and Japan with some women opting for a 10-step process in their face care routine.

In Korea, women used plant-based cleansing oils to remove their makeup, followed by using rice water to deep cleanse their face. In Japan, women used cleansing oils to remove their face paint, followed by using a foamy cleanser to remove excess oil.

Benefits of Double Cleansing during Different Seasons

Double cleansing works well for skin in all seasons, as during summer, intense heat and humidity trigger the excessive production of sweat and oil that clog pores and cause breakouts. Double cleansing starts with the oil-based cleanser: oil and water repel each other, which means that a water based cleanser won’t effectively remove all of the oil-based ingredients and impurities on the skin.

During fall and winter, skin is usually dry, tipping the balance of water and oil on the skin’s surface. Double cleansing helps to remove oils, but also restores the skin’s oil balance, ensuring not to strip the skin of the necessary oils needed to protect and keep skin hydrated.

Benefits of Double Cleansing:

1. Double cleansing aids in improving skin tone and brightening dull skin.
2. Double cleansing helps in opening the pores of the skin, allowing other nighttime skincare routine products to deeply penetrate the skin, such as night creams to rejuvenate the skin and promote skin healing.
3. Oil-based cleanser helps in balancing the drying effects of water-based cleansers that may strip the skin.

Which Cleansers to Avoid?

When looking to shop for double cleansers, avoid products containing sulfates and alcohol as they remove the skin's oils, making the skin irritated and dry. Always look for cleansers that meet the needs of your skin concerns. If you tend to be more sensitive, be careful of fragrance and active ingredients. Oily skin types benefit from a gel cleanser, and drier skins will prefer a cream-based cleanser.

Cleansers to Use According to Skin Type

Cleansers should be used according to skin type. If you have dry or sensitive skin, then you need to use non-irritating cleansers that may strip the skin of necessary oils and offset the PH balance.

If you have oily skin, then consider using lightweight cleansers that help in regulating oil production. Too much stripping of oils will trick your skin into creating more oils which can be a vicious cycle. If your skin is acne-prone, then consider using gentle, non-invasive cleansers to address bacteria and clogged pores. Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Retinoids will help to remove bacteria and break up the ‘glue’ that holds dead skin together, aiding with cell turnover and keeping the pores clean.

If you have combination skin, then consider using a cleanser that controls oil production without drying out the skin, spot treating areas of concern.

If you have normal skin, then you can use any cleanser as long as it does not irritate your skin.

How to Double Cleanse your Skin?

Step 1

Double cleansing is similar to a regular cleansing routine. First, use an oil-based cleanser that gently removes makeup and impurities from your face. 

Step 2

The next step is to use a water-based cleanser such as Renu Naturals Purifying Gel Cleanser formulated with green tea to reduce sebum secretion, aloe vera to soothe inflammation, soy milk to moisturize the skin and lactic acid to break down dead skin cells.

For application, apply a small amount cleanser to dampened skin, working a lather in a circular motion.  Rinse and pat dry.

What to do After Double Cleansing?

If you are double cleansing during the day, apply a moisturizer with sunscreen to protect your skin against UV rays.  At night, follow cleansing with a toner and moisturizer. For a boost of hydration and nourishment, add our Luxury Face Oil after using one of our Pure Radiance Moisturizer to lock in all the nutrients, and increase radiance and overall skin health.

How Often Should Double Cleansing be done?

Double cleansing can be performed both in the morning and evening, based on your preference. Adding the cleansing oil at your nighttime routine allows for a more effective removal of impurities, buildup, and makeup from the day. However, double cleansing can also be done as part of a morning routine and throughout the day after a workout to remove excess oil and sweat build-up that causes clogged pores.

Incorporating a double cleanse option in your routine can be a game-changer for your skin’s overall tone, texture, and appearance.  The benefits of using an oil to remove makeup and debris extend beyond ‘removal’, helping to balance, replenish and nourish your skin.

References:

1. https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-double-cleansing/amp
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/double-cleansing#results

When seeking out Cruelty Free and Vegan Skincare, there is a sea of information out there to make sense of. The Derm Review has done a great job in breaking down the information and what it means for a skincare product to be Cruelty Free and/or Vegan. You can read the article here, to help you decipher labels and ingredients lists.

https://thedermreview.com/guide-to-cruelty-free-skincare-cosmetics/

Are you constantly searching for the ultimate serum or cream that promises to help fight signs of aging? Collagen is the latest must-have ingredient that is featured in so many products, including supplements, collagen-rich creams, and skincare treatments that promote collagen production. But why is collagen so vital to us? We have some answers that will take the mystery out of collagen and help bring back that youthful skin. 

The role Collagen plays on our skin.

As a person ages, their body naturally produces less collagen which results in the common signs of aging. Wrinkles, sagging skin that has lost its elasticity, and stiff joints are all signs that the body is producing less collagen. When collagen levels are high, the skin is soft, smooth, and firm. Collagen helps the skin cells renew and repair themselves, and helps keep the skin moist. Current trends and products in the beauty market are a result of extensive research on how we can repair and re-stimulate the production of collagen in our skin to slow down aging.

Collagen and Why It’s Important for Skin

 Collagen is an abundant protein in our body. It makes up 75 percent of skin’s support structure and is an essential building block of bones, skin, ligaments, and muscles. It is also a part of blood vessels, teeth, and corneas. In essence, collagen fibers provide structural support to tissues and hold everything together.

But as we age, collagen production tends to slow down and eventually breaks down due to external factors such as our lifestyle, diet, environmental exposure, and stress. This leads to a loss in elastin and collagen fibers and our skin starts to sag with fine lines and wrinkles developing. But there is some good news! By adjusting our diet to include collagen-rich foods AND using products that stimulate collagen production can help skin to boost its collagen levels.

Tips on Boosting Collagen Production

 Simply adding certain foods to your diet, taking a daily supplement, and adding a new practice to your daily skin routine can help in the efforts to boost collagen production. 

•  Hyaluronic Acid - found in foods rich in amino acids, such as beans, root vegetables, and soy.
• Vitamin C - The human body cannot make Vitamin C, so eating citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, papaya, strawberries, and broccoli PLUS adding it topically is how to get this source.
• Aloe Vera - aloe actually stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen, both topically and in a supplement form.
• Ginseng - increases the amount of collagen in the bloodstream and has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Researchers also noted that ginseng might have the potential to stop skin cells from aging. Found in the form of tea, tinctures, and supplements.
• Garlic - may add more than just flavor to your meals. It could boost your collagen production, too. Garlic is high in sulfur, which is a trace mineral that helps synthesize and prevent the breakdown of collagen.
• Beans - are a high-protein food that often contain the amino acids necessary for collagen synthesis. Plus, many of them are rich in copper, another nutrient necessary for collagen production
• Tomatoes - Another hidden source of vitamin C, one medium tomato can provide up to almost 30 percent of this important nutrient for collagen.
• Antioxidants - fight free-radical damage and protect and rejuvenate the skin. Blueberries, green tea (or EGCG, its active component), yerba mate, licorice extract, mulberry extract, pomegranate extract, coffee extract, astragalus, cinnamon, basil, oregano, and thyme essential oils.
• Retinol - helps to increase the lifespan of collagen, as well as block certain enzymes that destroy collagen, making it a perfect addition to many skin care formulas
• Red Light Therapy - Red light therapy, or low-level laser light therapy (LLLT), has been shown to increase collagen growth and improve wrinkles and skin elasticity. Red light therapy is a non-invasive method of boosting collagen that has no side effects.
• Protection from the ENVIRONMENT- Harsh weather, pollution, sun exposure, and even dust particles can damage the skin. The damaged cells have to be replaced, which reduces collagen levels even more. An easy solution to this is to simply keep the skin clean. Washing and exfoliating can help to protect the collagen already in the skin PLUS protecting the skin from the SUN is imperative. Try our Hydra Whip Facial Exfoliant to hydrate, polish and renew skin cells!

Topical Ingredients That Boost Collagen Production in the Skin

 Vitamin C- Collagen is a product of two amino acids: glycine and proline. This process requires the use of vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in the top layers of our skin: the dermis and epidermis. The topical application of vitamin C provides protection and fights DNA damage from the environment. As mentioned before the two enzymes: prolyl hydroxylase (proline) and lysyl hydroxylase stabilize the collagen molecules and give strength to the cross-linked structure of fibers respectively. The presence of vitamin C in this synthesis leads to stronger collagen fibers, which can translate into more tone and tautness in the skin.

Renu Naturals Nourishing Night Cream contains vitamin C to boost collagen production while firming and tightening your skin. It also contains Green Tea which has antioxidants that may help collagen renew and rejuvenate

Hyaluronic Acid- Hyaluronic Acid is a carbohydrate found naturally in our body’s tissues. It is responsible for supporting skin cell renewal, for increasing skin elasticity, for boosting collagen production, and for keeping our skin plump, soft and smooth. Hyaluronic Acid works by binding and holding water and by improving the moisture of our skin, HA gives it a more youthful appearance making it soft and supple, and making fine lines and wrinkles less apparent. Plant-based Hyaluronic Acid is extracted from microbial fermentation that comes from “Cassia Angustifolia”, also known as Senna, a polysaccharide-rich plant native to India, which simultaneously fills out fine lines and provides rich moisture.

Renu Naturals Luxury Face Oil has a perfect blend of plant extracts along with vitamin E and carrot seed oil, definitely earning a spot on your vanity. This blend including eight plant oils along with vitamin E and botanical Hyaluronic acid improves elasticity in the skin. Your skin will appear youthful, radiant, and smooth.

Niacinamide- Consuming vitamin B3 through diet has ample health benefits, so it’s no surprise that topical application of niacinamide greatly benefits the skin as well. By improving skin health on a molecular level, niacin improves the overall appearance of skin. When skin is damaged or compromised, niacin boosts collagen synthesis, giving skin a healthier, plumper appearance. 

And what needs this boost more than the thinning skin around the eyes! Renu Naturals has infused this miracle ingredient derived from mushrooms into our Repair Eye Cream. In addition, we've also added raw avocado oil into our formula. Studies have found that the essential fatty acids and oleic acid in avocado oil can promote collagen synthesis, which is the process of creating new connective tissue. Collagen is nature’s way of preserving youthful skin naturally, so anything that can boost collagen levels is a holy grail ingredient in our book! 

Retinol- Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is great for your skin. It has so many benefits and has been known to help with acne, helping to reduce the signs of aging and sun damage. As we age, our skin cells turnover and our collagen production may slow down. When using retinol, it may help give your skin cells a boost and speed up cellular turnover and produce collagen production.

 Our Repair Eye Cream is also formulated with retinol to help tackle fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, dark spots and dehydration around the eyes. The retinal will stimulate collagen production to help you combat those pesky signs of aging!

How to AVOID Collagen Breakdown?

Cut down on Sugar: Sugar damages your skin through a natural process called glycation. The sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to produce harmful free radicals called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). As AGEs accumulate (the more sugar you eat, the more you develop), they damage the proteins around them. AGEs make your collagen and elastin stiff, dry and brittle, zapping them of strength and spring. The effects are seen on your complexion in the form of fine lines, sagging and wrinkles. Sugar is known to interfere with collagens' ability to repair itself.

 Sun exposure: One of the most common causes of reduction in collagen production is exposure to the sun. Sun damage slows down the rate of skin cell renewal, causing a build-up of old, dead skin cells that result in dull, congested skin. It can also cause stubborn pigmentation marks or brown spots. Sun damage can destroy the collagen and elastin in your skin too. Collagen is a protein that retains the firmness of your skin and elastin is the support fiber that allows skin to bounce back. Collagen and elastin degradation in the deeper skin layers can result in premature signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, because your skin loses its elasticity and firmness.

 Quit Smoking: We've all heard that cigarette smoking is harmful to our health, but the chemicals found in tobacco, in addition to the lack of nutrients and oxygen, causes collagen and elastin to break down. That’s bad news considering collagen and elastin give our skin strength and elasticity -the not-so-optimal result: sagging skin, lax blood vessels, and uneven skin coloring. 

Now that we understand the invaluable role collagen plays on our skin, maybe we will be more aware of the need to combine a diet rich in antioxidants with the use of Renu Naturals beneficial skincare products to reduce the effects of its loss. We might not be able to achieve eternal youth, but we can live with healthy skin for more time.

Are Face Oils Good for Your Skin?

Yes! Oils are a wonderful natural resource that provide so many benefits for our skin. They are full of vitamins, fatty acids, antioxidants and minerals to help heal, boost skin function, nourish and protect. Essential oils contain the most nutritious and protective component of plants at high concentrations and are derived from various parts of the plant: seeds, barks, roots, leaves. Using individual oils, or a combination of oils can be beneficial for several skin concerns. Whether you want to increase hydration, reduce redness and inflammation, manage acne breakouts, soften fine lines and wrinkles, or just maintain your skin – oils will deliver results and help you reach your skincare goals.

Are Oils Better than Serums?

Face serums are lightweight moisturizers that penetrate deeper to deliver active ingredients into your skin. They are a common step in a skincare routine and can offer specific benefits to the skin. You have to look at the ingredients to make sure that not only do they address your skin concerns, but also that the product includes ingredients that make skin healthy. Serums alone may not offer enough hydration or targeted solutions, and it is recommended to follow with a moisturizer. Just as you layer your clothing to keep warm, effective skincare also uses layering to provide fuller benefits. Serums are typically packed with antioxidants to help protect against possible sun damage and fight the damaging free radicals that cause fine lines and wrinkles. You will also see hydrators in the list of ingredients, such as ceramides, amino acids and essential fatty acids. These strengthen the skin's barrier and help build strong cell membranes to protect against dryness and fine lines by replenishing naturally occurring skin lipids, improving moisture retention, and protecting skin from the environment.

Whether it be a serum or an oil, they are both good for the skin – depending on your specific skin’s needs and goals. Using a facial oil will provide different benefits than a serum and will help to maintain the oil / water balance of the skin better than a serum alone. Oils really offer the daily protection your skin needs. Because oils are lipophilic, they can penetrate deep into the skin, trapping water and other moisturizing goodness in, while keeping toxins and other bad stuff out. Some oils also help to fortify and strengthen our own natural skin barrier. Take a look at our Luxury Face Oil with Hyaluronic Acid – a pure blend of beneficial oils with plant-based hyaluronic acid. Our antioxidant-rich formula delivers deep hydration, nourishment, and powerful age-fighting benefits. The combination of 10 plant oils, vitamin E, Essential Oils, and plant-based Hyaluronic Acid boosts both surface hydration and beyond.

What makes our Oils Special?

All of our oils are cold-pressed and un-refined, which means they have not been processed at high heat or chemicals and so they retain all of the antioxidants to nourish and rejuvenate your skin. The oils we use in our products are of the highest quality and maintain the integrity of the source.

Oils of Excellence

Grapeseed and Argan oils contain strong antioxidants. They have high vitamin E levels and other antioxidants that prevent free radical disruption and ageing of the skin. Triterpenoids and phytosterols in oils have anti-inflammatory properties. The skin appears smooth and supple due to their rapid absorption, revealing plump and radiant skin. Oils helps active ingredients such as vitamin C to penetrates deep into the skin, reducing the overall inflammation that these active ingredients alone may cause. Oils also protect the acid mantle of the skin, restore, and maintain the lipid barriers, and accelerate the healing of the skin.

Jojoba oil has a plethora of benefits, including anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, healing, repair, and moisture. This oil is rich in vitamin E and is a fast-absorbing oil. Jojoba is excellent for acne skin because it is lightweight and helps to heal and restore the balance of the skin.

Carrot Seed Oil is a Super Antioxidant we infuse in our Facial Oils. Antioxidants in this essential oil repair a lot of the damage done to your tissues by oxidants (free radicals), and stop them from doing further harm. Carrot Seed essential oil is super high in vitamins that encourage cellular repair and growth. In other words, Carrot Seed essential oil protects your skin from wrinkles!

We also use Rosehip Seed Oil which is high in vitamin A to soften, firm, brighten and boost collagen production, which aids in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Rosehip oil is a champion in restoring the skin’s health from damage caused by the sun. It’s composition of vitamins A and C target age spots, scars, hyperpigmentation and stretch marks, along with providing radiance to your complexion.

Another ingredient we added in our Luxury Face Oil is Sesame oil which is packed with benefits that give your skin a pleasant, silky feel. The inclusion of fatty acids, along with linoleic acid, makes it an excellent moisturizer for the skin. Sesame oil has a high degree of viscosity and this particular property makes it ideal for massaging as it is capable of penetrating deep into the skin. This oil is good for restoring weakened cells and enhancing blood supply and can be readily absorbed by the skin. Massaging with sesame oil improves the muscles of the body, which gradually helps in improving skin appearance and tone.

Facial Oils - Friend or Foe?

Despite what their name might imply, face oils won’t leave your face oily and will not make your skin break out. Plant Oils are packed with good-for-you ingredients such as polyphenols, fatty acids, and antioxidants, to help reduce inflammation and give skin a dewy glow. Whether you are looking to eliminate redness, stop irritation from acne or rosacea, plump skin, or simply moisturize – go for the oil!