We believe in your best skin, organically—and revel in sourcing plant-powered ingredients that offer a natural alternative to retinol.
We invite you to learn about our three most talked-about ingredients, to deliver powerful results, without compromise.
Naturopath and nutritionist, Dr. Simone Laubscher, chimes in to share her love of powerful botanical actives for true wellness and glowing skin.
One | Bakuchiol
A Natural Alternative To Retinol
Treat Fine Lines + Wrinkles
This is one of the best kept secrets in skincare—until now.
Hailing from Ayurvedic medicine, this botanical extract derived from the leaves and seeds of the Babchi plant, is officially named psoralea corylifolia. It provides similar qualities to Vitamin A, without being a Vitamin A derivative.
The herb has a long history to promote cell turnover and revive skin in need of healing. It’s innate organic power to trigger the favored chain reaction: cell turnover to stimulate collagen to firm the skin + level fine lines by strengthening it—is the reason why many of us now know its name.
Bakuchiol is most noted for its purity in playing the famed anti aging role that it does for our skin—alleviating the irritation, sun-sensitivity and health contraindications of a vitamin A-laden retinol products.
Being associated with industry terms like retinol alternative, collagen production + aging support have gracefully, and easily, given rise to its popularity—and for good reason.
We call on the proven power of certified organic Bakuchiol in our range of natural alternatives to aid in visually levelling out fine line and wrinkles, without dryness or skin irritation.
This natural ingredient is a magnet for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers as they shift towards safer Vitamin A-free options, and a hydrating hero; revered to remedy and smooth, sensitive and dry skin conditions.
We believe this powerful antioxidant that helps firm our skin, organically, is here to stay.
Two | Alfalfa
Natural Retinol Alternatives
Treat + Protect Fine Lines + Wrinkles
Alfalfa is a beautifully flowered plant with a beautiful legacy for our skin. It’s a quiet achiever as one of our alternatives to retinol, rich in Vitamins A, C, E & K.
Vitamin C is a gift for glowing skin and to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It naturally inspires collagen production—a go-to for skin firming—improving skin elasticity and easing the appearance of fine lines.
Behind the scenes, the famed proteins, collagen and elastin, hold up the weight of our skin—and Vitamin C is our hero in increasing collagen production to help it do so.
The visual results it can produce are levelled out fine lines and diminished creases and wrinkles. The not-so-seen job it does is to protect your skin against oxidative stress; vital to delay aging where possible.
Let’s then look at the naturally occurring form of Vitamin K in Alfalfa. It naturally revives the skin to renew a youthful glow. Gratitude is owed to this vitamin for its anti-inflammatory, impurity-ridding and natural blood clotting qualities.
Vitamin K is the ultimate healer—which sings the same tune when it comes to skin regeneration for aging skin and acne prone skin. It’s also rich in amino acids which are innate glow givers + it has photo-protective attributes to fight free radicals and protect your skin from sun damage.
Dr. Simone calls on the nutritional power of the edible plant, Alfalfa, as it’s “high in antioxidants and nutrients such as Vitamin C & K, copper, folate, and magnesium which act as wonderful free radical scavengers.”
That’s why we use it as a 4% blend in our range of retinol alternatives—as it behaves like retinol, in a gentle and nourishing way.
Three | Acai Stem Cells
Collagen Production + Protection
Support + Prevent Environmental Damage
Just like Acai in a smoothie bowl is a staple for morning internal nutrition—Acai Stem Cells are a vital morning elixir for your skin, listing Vitamins A, B, C, E & K.
Acai Berries date back to Amazonian tribes who have utilized their potent nutrition and healing properties for number of jungle-created ailments.
We harvest plant-powered stem cells from Acai Berries—and call on their potent antioxidant power in our skincare products to inspire repair for your skin at the cellular level.
They’re a superfood for a reason as they have many strings to their bow; with a favored chain reaction for our skin. They could also be rivalled to a niacinamide firming serum offering alike qualities through their vitamin power.
Acai Stem Cells contain Ferulic Acid which, unlike retinol, is a relatively unknown skincare term. However, it’s your friend for firmer skin and some would say that it falls under the banner of retinol alternatives.
Ferulic Acid has strong anti inflammatory properties to alleviate a host of skin conditions and improve skin texture. A go-to for reactive skin and breakouts.
It’s vital to note that when the skin is inflamed it can break down the proteins we revere most: collagen and elastin. An anti aging skincare routine seeks to boost collagen production rather than diminish it—so, there is a strong argument that to protect your skin it’s also important to keep inflammation at bay.
Further to this, when Ferulic Acid is further infused with Vitamins C & E—like when Acai and Rosehip meet in our blends—they become a powerful and protective force against environmentally-created free radical damage which is the precursor to premature aging.
Dr. Simone Laubscher knows Acai to be “high in antioxidants to help protect cells from damage, aging and swelling.” Nutritionally, she adds that Acai Berries “have more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry.” Which is why she believes them to be a “powerhouse for the immune system!”
We love Acai’s Stem Cells as nature’s retinol in our newest formulation the retinol alternative moisturizer—and it’s sister—our retinol alternative serum.
Additional Antioxidant Power
Rosehip Oil + Noni Fruit
Improve Skin Texture + Prevent Environmental Damage
We love the natural oils of Rosehip to soften the visual effects of stressed skin—and to brighten and promote a more even skin tone. Rosehip Oil has been linked to queens of ancient times to preserve their beauty, and being high in Vitamin A, C & E and essential fatty acids such as Linolenic Acid, we’re not surprised.
Noni on the other hand is our beloved tropical superfruit rich in Vitamins A & C. We blend this powerful antioxidant in all our products for its innate power of rejuvenation, to boost collagen production, and give love to our fine lines and wrinkles. It has dual power to support our barrier function to fend off free radicals and the chaos they ensue.
Simone shares that “Noni has natural occurring enzymes that not only support and stimulate the digestive system but skin renewal too. It’s high in vitamin C and linoleic acid, and so wonderful for skin tone and elasticity.”
We’re obsessed with our ultra-nourishing, skin-firming, daily moisturizer to support the skin with a 5% blend of natural alternatives Bakuchiol and Alfalfa. A boost of antioxidant-rich Acai plant stem cells + natural vegan Peptide and Ceramide blend for healthier, firmer, glowing skin—that is sensitive skin friendly (and all skin types).
We will dive into vegan Peptides and Ceramides in our next post.
Shop the age support skincare products we love to give powerful results that can replicate a traditional retinol treatment—without irritation.
With love,
KORA Organics
