Mother Nature + Science: The Best Skincare Team
As second generation skincare professionals, we’ve spent years researching, teaching and creating products that use high concentrations of the most powerful plant extracts the planet has to offer—active botanicals and minerals rich in potent antioxidants and vitamins that actually feed your skin from the outside in. We also believe that when you combine botanicals with some serious skincare science, the end result is healthy, glowing skin. So while we don’t let any potentially harmful ingredients (nothing toxic such as DEA, MEA, Formaldehyde, etc.) in our products, we do understand that even mother nature (as powerful as she is) needs a little help from science. Let’s talk about why science is an important part of any natural skincare routine.
Science is a Good Thing
The truth is science doesn’t have to mean chemical or toxic, and in the buzz worthy battle of clean beauty, nature isn’t the good guy, and science isn’t the bad guy. In fact, in some cases, with the help of science we can formulate synthetic skincare products that are actually better and safer for you and the planet than those in their natural form. Another important reason to use science over nature? If you’re a brand like Tuel that is committed to being 100% vegan, then you also have to rely on some science to create safe sustainable alternatives to some of skincare’s most effective ingredients.
How Science Keeps Skincare Vegan
The truth is many common and highly effective skincare products are not vegan. Made with animal-based ingredients, skincare companies have to look to science to create alternatives. Some examples include:
- Lanolin: A wax-like substance derived from sheep wool and used in skincare to moisturize. Instead, opt for synthetic or plant-based substitutes such as coconut oil, shea or coconut butter.
- Hyaluronic Acid: While usually vegan, hyaluronic acid was originally animal-based, produced from the combs of roosters. While this type of hyaluronic acid is very close to what is found naturally in the body, it’s definitely not vegan. Instead, it can be reproduced through science to yield the perfect molecular weight ideal for skincare purposes.
- Collagen: The holy grail of anti-aging, collagen is a protein responsible for skin elasticity. As you age, your existing collagen breaks down and it gets harder for your body to produce more. As an important structural protein in our skin, it’s the stuff that will give you plump, youthful looking skin. The problem is cows and fish are often the most common source of collagen in skincare. Good news is science has found a way to make vegan collagen—by using genetically modified yeast and bacteria. And there are plant-based sources as well such as almond oil and soya protein.
- Squalane: Another powerful ingredient when it comes to anti-aging treatments, it helps to brighten and moisturize the skin. However, squalane is found and extracted from shark liver oil. For obvious ethical concerns, the industry has turned instead to mother nature and science to create alternatives that are better for the environment.