The Biggest Secret in “Organic” Skin Care

The most common ingredients found in most “organic” skin care products today are “herbal extracts”.
Most people assume herbal extracts are a pure form of the herb, plant, fruit or vegetable from which they are taken but this is far from the truth.

Herbal Extraction - The Big Secret

Herbal extracts are actually made by piercing the cell walls of the plant material and draining it with the aid of a solvent.

In other words, dried or fresh plant material such as fruits, seeds, vegetables and other parts of plants are combined with alcohol, where the solid matter is removed and the oils and juices are mixed with alcohol. This process is what is referred to as “herbal extraction”.

So, when cranberries are crushed and mixed with alcohol, what results is called a cranberry extract.

More Extraction Than Herb

Even more interesting… typically extracts made from dried material require more solvent than plant material, in most cases 4 parts alcohol to 1 part plant material.

A good example is a traditional Rosehip extract. With a ratio of 1:4, Rosehip extract has 1 part of Rosehip and 4 parts of alcohol.

What most skin care companies don’t talk about is that it is possible to create truly organic skin care products without alcohol and other solvents.

Reclaiming Lost Ingredients

Regardless of the skin care product, the most diverse and intact collection of nutrients comes through use of the whole plant! Specifically - the pulp and the skin.

The Power of Pulp
For example, researchers at the Agricultural University of Wroclaw, Poland, found that apple juice containing fruit pulp has four times as much of the beneficial substances as non-pulp juice.

So, what exactly are these beneficial substances?

Ever heard of polyphenols? This group of chemical substances found in plants that are also referred to as tannins and phenylpropanoids, lignins and flavonoids, and are found in organic produce as well as in fruit pulps rather than in juices. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that help absorb chemicals known to damage cells in the body, therefore inhibiting the aging process. Researchers have shown that polyphenols may also reduce the risk of some cancers as well as heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.

For example, the white pulpy part of the orange is the primary source of its flavonoids. The juicy orange colored sections contain most of its vitamin C. In the cells of the human body, flavonoids and vitamin C work together to support health. However, when the pulp of the orange is removed during herbal extraction, the flavonoids are lost.

Healthy Fruit Skins
More and more people are learning about the benefits of the edible skin of many of the world’s most beneficial fruits and herbs. The skin of grapes, apples, plum, peaches and apricots (just to name a few) – is home to important biological activity of the plant.

The surface of an fruit or vegetables’ skin interacts with sunlight, and forms a variety of colored pigments that absorb different wavelengths of light. Research has proven that these pigments, including carotinoids and bioflavonoids, are nutrients that protect the health of and provide nourishment to the skin.

In fact, the skin of grapes has actually been studied for their ability to help lower the risk of cancer and help provide protection from ultraviolet light.

ilike from Szep-Elet - Solvent Free Skin Care

The vast majority of companies ignore the tremendous value of pulp based skin care creation and opt for herbal extractions. Understandably, manufacturing costs and shelf-life are major concerns for traditional and organic skin care companies alike. The process of growing, selecting, converting and storing herbal pulp is more time consuming, requires more attention to caring for the base ingredients and requires a lengthier process prior to the creation of the final herbal product.

But the time and expense are indeed worth it, especially given the fact that our environment is increasingly taking a toll on our skin.

Each products in the ilike organic skin care line contain whole fruit and herb pulps as the primary active ingredients rather than herbal extracts.

All of the herbal ingredients in ilike skin care products are either grown on certified organic farms or in the rural woods and fields of Hungary.

All ingredients are hand-picked and hand-selected by associates of the manufacturer.

ilike often uses the skin of the herbs in addition to the pulp in order to deliver the full benefits of the herbal ingredients which leads to much more natural and effective products and superior skin care results.

Shop the full line of ilike organic skin care products and get free shipping on selected orders>>>