Meadowfoam seed oil is a seed oil, extracted from the seeds of Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam). The seeds contain 20-30% oil. Meadowfoam seed oil is extraordinarily stable, primarily because it contains over 98% long-chain fatty acids.
Meadowfoam oil is most similar to rapeseed oil, with which it competes directly for the high-volume industrial oilseed applications. Meadowfoam oil is widely used in cosmetic and hair-care applications due to its stability, emollience, and smooth, soft skin feel. The oil in its unpurified form is not suitable for human consumption, primarily because of its erucic acid content.
Benefits of Meadowfoam Seed Oil
RETAINS MOISTURE. The unique, high-quality and long-chain fatty acids deep within the oil are ideal for providing moisture without leaving a greasy feeling. They are also the reason why the oil is not absorbed by the hair but instead forms a protective coating around it, in turn helping your hair retain its moisture.
MAKES HAIR SILKY AND SMOOTH. Meadowfoam repairs damaged tresses by sticking to hair shafts, and reduces frizz while providing a natural shine.
REJUVENATES THE SKIN. With its high vitamin E content, meadowfoam can rejuvenate skin by tackling degradation and allowing beneficial nutrients to enter deep into the epidermis.
PROTECTS THE SKIN. As an antioxidant, meadowfoam protects your skin against cellular damage. Myristic acid contained in the oil is anti-inflammatory and soothes irritated skin.
DOESN’T BLOCK PORES. Despite being rich in essential fatty acids, the oil is light and non-greasy. It resembles sebum, the oil secreted by skin, and balances the skin’s natural sebum production, meaning that it’s perfect for keeping your face in that sweet spot between too dry or excessively oily. This allows it to heal acne while being mild enough even for the most sensitive of skins.
PROTECTS YOUR HAIR FROM THE SUN. Need protection against the harsh rays of the sun? Meadowfoam oil will do the trick.
RESISTANT TO OXIDATION. By evading the corrosive actions of oxidation, meadowfoam seed oil will help your hair keep its color for longer. That’s some money you can save on hair coloring treatments!
As a skincare entrepreneur, having the right products is just the start of your journey. In order to get your company off the ground, you need access to capital. Today, we’ll be talking about three financing ideas that will help your business take off. Let’s get started!
Self Financing
For most business owners, the first round of capital comes from their own pockets. Funding your own venture is an excellent idea if you’re starting small in the skincare business and if you’ll be going through the private labeling route.
While funding your own business may have its risks, it’s still a feasible option. You have total control over your business since it’s your own money to begin with. Furthermore, you can attract investors more easily down the line if you finance your own business from the get-go because it signals that you believe in your company’s vision.
Friends and Family Financing
Did you know that 5% of US adults have invested in a company started by someone they know? Asking for capital from your friends and family is a viable option that rests on the amicable relationships you have.
When choosing family and friends to ask capital from, you need to make sure that they have faith in your potential to succeed, they understand your plans and the direction your business will take, and that they know the risks the investing in your business entails.
Be realistic about how much money you need and make sure to agree on what form the funding will take. This could be a loan or equity in your company.
Get Help from Venture Capitalists
Venture capitalists are investors who typically go for more mature businesses. They also want a say in the daily operations of a business. They often require scalable cash-flow and positive companies with proven products and business.
To get their attention, you need to have a great pitch which includes:
Explaining what’s changed. Detail the innovation, industry shift, or problem that presents a substantial opportunity for your company.
Explaining what you do. In one sentence, show how your company can capitalize on this opportunity.
Explaining the facts. Get to your company’s story and financials quickly. Layout the opportunity with numbers. Discuss the team and their abilities and experience.
Now that we’re all spending more time at home, a lot of our day-to-day activities have bee put on hold. However, one thing you should never skip, apart from frequently washing your hands, is caring for your skin. Here are 4 things you need to keep doing to maintain healthy skin.
1. Get into a routine and stick to it
Whether applying makeup or not, skin still greatly benefits from maintaining a morning and nightly protocol. Cleansing, exfoliating, and toning regularly helps skin remain tolerant to environmental aggressors, as well as evenly toned and smooth in texture.
2. It is important to recognize that typically the air inside houses and apartments lacks humidity
The dry air indoors can dehydrate your skin. To combat this, consider incorporating a daily hydrator depending on your skin’s specific needs.
3. Take advantage of time indoors by focusing on more aggressive Anti-Aging protocols
Products that contain higher concentrations of retinol can yield more dramatic results that target moderate to severe signs of aging. With less exposure to the sun which can irritate the healing process, the skin has more time to heal. Additionally, with less face-to-face interactions, there is less worry over going out and about with peeling skin. If new to including retinol into your skincare routine, consider a product with a lower concentration, such as Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25% by ZO® Skin Health. If your skin has already built up a tolerance to retinol, consider increasing to a higher concentration such as .05% or 1%.
4. Indoor skincare still needs to incorporate sun protection
Natural light from windows or skylights exposes skin to harmful rays that contribute to the signs of aging. Plus, exposure to blue light from computers, cellphones, and other devices have been shown to contribute to the aging of the skin. Finish your AM skincare protocol off with a lightweight SPF product that protects the skin from a wider spectrum of light, like Sunscreen + Powder Broad-Spectrum SPF 40.
Lactic acid is a hydrating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) commonly derived from milk. However, there are alternative vegan sources, like fermented corn starch, beets, and other sugar-rich foods. Synthetic forms of this ingredient are often found in peels and serums.
How Does Lactic Acid Work
Lactic acid brightens, smooths, and evens skin, while also making it look firmer. It helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
It exfoliates by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells to reveal a more radiant complexion.
How to Use Lactic Acid
It’s generally recommended for nighttime use and suggested frequency varies from product to product. Check the packaging for specific instructions.
While it can be used with many other ingredients and products, sunscreen’s essential when lactic acid is a part of your routine. Another important step: cleansing the morning after you use lactic acid to sweep away dead skin cells.
Don’t use it on days you use retinol since both are potent ingredients. Alternate between the two to avoid irritation.
Benefits of Lactic Acid
Kills bacteria: Research around lactic acid’s efficacies as they relate to the skin are limited in the early to mid-1900s, but in 1985, a study found that lactic acid helped to kill skin infections in newborn infants. It tracks that it would do the same in adults, including the irritating, acne-causing kind.
Diminishes wrinkles: Later, in ’96, when different concentrations were tested (5% and 12%), researchers observed that a higher concentration actually penetrated both the dermis and epidermis (5% could only reach the epidermis) for firmer, thicker skin, resulting in fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
Reduces acne: It’s also been proven to reduce acne lesions.
Increases cell turnover: It works by increasing the rate of skin turnover, causing new and younger-looking skin to grow.
Helps skin hold moisture: With new skin cells on the surface, it can hold on to moisture better.
Tips for Using Lactic Acid
Start by following the instructions on the packaging—many advise using lactic acid every other night, or even once or twice a week. Slight tingling or redness is normal, but if you experience anything more intense, talk to your dermatologist.
Don’t forget to layer on a moisturizer. This essential step nourishes and balances skin so it doesn’t overproduce oil.
Say yes to SPF. Sun protection is a must when using lactic acid because sloughing off dead skin cells can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage.
Logos are important for branding your skincare business. Here are some awesome tips that can take your logo design to the next level.
Explore conceptual icons
In logo design, an icon is a simplified visual that captures the spirit of your brand. A common misconception is that your icon should literally be an image showing what your product or service is. While this may benefit some, it doesn’t have to be the case for all businesses. You can explore more conceptual (or even abstract) icons to emphasize what it is your company does.
Or consider Nike, for example. The iconic “swoosh” icon evokes the feeling of movement and speed. Very fitting for a sportswear brand. Think of your icon as a symbol rather than a picture. It needs to be highly visual and easily recognizable. The advantage of a more graphic icon is that it can often carry more visual weight. Ideally, your icon should be simple enough that clients can recall it even after one quick glance.
Use the space you have
For most businesses, an icon is simply not enough to fully express their brand identity. Also known as a slogan, taglines are dramatic phrases that sum up the tone and premise of a brand. Now, not every company has a tagline. And that’s okay, but that doesn’t mean you should let this valuable space go to waste. If your name allows it, you can break it up into two lines while keeping the same font and size for both lines.
Play around with caps or lowercase
Sometimes, it’s the small details that make all the difference. Something as simple as playing around with caps and lowercase could bring your trademark to a whole new level. Traditionally, uppercase logos give off a strong sense of authority, while the use of lowercase exudes a more approachable, casual vibe. That’s not to say you can’t utilize uppercase text while softening the appearance with your choice of colors. It’s all a matter of balance.
Understand handwritten fonts
Handwritten offer a quirky and authentic feel that is sure to delight any customer. They are especially effective when used as the font of your tagline. If you’ve opted for one of these font styles, then this tip is for you. Often the use of caps for handwritten fonts make them seem less authentic, so take that into account.
Balance your tagline
Let’s talk about your tagline. A simple rule to follow to ensure that your logo makes sense is to always make your tagline shorter than your name. This is why we suggest going for no more than 25 to 30 characters. For the same reason, if you’re using a thicker font for your name, it’s best to use a thinner (or more basic) one for your tagline.
Adjust your name and tagline
Remember the golden rule of design? That’s right, it’s all about visual balance. This is why, although smaller in dimension, your tagline should always be perfectly aligned with your name. This will give your viewers and potential clients a natural sense of harmony.
In the situation where either your name or tagline is considerably longer, you can easily solve that by adjusting the font or size of either elements.
Let your logo breathe
Just like the Mona Lisa, some logos look best when surrounded by a beautiful frame. If you decide to go in this direction, be sure to leave enough space between your chosen frame and logo. In essence, allow your logo some breathing room. If things are looking a little cramped, simply enlarge the frame or decrease the font size.
Ensure readability
Your masterpiece will be popping up in all kinds of places, from the header of your website to your business cards. Regardless of where it appears, your text should always be readable. To ensure this, take note of the text size and font that you use, and check the final result on various platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), and from different devices (desktop, smartphone, tablet, etc.). If your logo is too difficult to read, what was the point of designing it in the first place? In order for your logo to serve its entire purpose, make sure it’s readable in any situation, for any potential customer.
Give your background contrast
Following the theme of visibility, another way to ensure your logo is always ‘seen’ is by selecting a background color that gives enough contrast with your text. If the color of your text is white go for a darker background color such as black. So small, yet so effective.
Align all your elements
Once all of your elements (name, tagline and icon) are present, it’s imperative that they are well balanced as a whole. While there are no set in stone rules, in order to be on the safe side, we suggest that you align all your elements in the same direction: left, center, or right. Remember, your design and content should be one (small happy family).
Frankincense has a long history. It has been used for centuries to relieve respiratory and digestive ailments. Today, it is commonly used to soothe the mind, boost energy, and promote healing.
But did you know that the so-called “king of oils” can also do wonders for your skin? In this blog, we’ll be talking about why this essential oil is the gold standard for boosting your complexion. Let’s get started!
Frankincense Oil at a Glance
Frankincense oil is obtained from the dried and distilled resin of the Frankincense tree (boswellia). This plant is native to specific regions of Africa and the Middle East. The word frankincense comes from the term “franc encens,” which means quality incense in old French.
Also called olibanum, frankincense oil has a sweet, woody scent and is often used to ease stress. It contains Limonene, Pinene, Borneol, Farnesol, Phellandrene, Myrcene, and other constituents. These compounds have strong anti-inflammatory and protective properties
When used as an ingredient in skincare products, it is said to treat dry skin. Furthermore, it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, scars, and stretch marks.
Frankincense oil has astringent and cytophylactic properties. This means that it can be applied topically to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin imperfections such as discoloration. It stimulates the growth of new cells, thus when used on cuts it promotes faster healing.
Benefits of Frankincense for the Skin
Frankincense oil has excellent wound healing properties. It may decrease the appearance of scars including dark spots from acne, stretch marks, and eczema.
This oil can also strengthen the skin and improve its defense mechanism against bacteria. Moreover, it may also be beneficial for the fading of stretch marks, surgery scars, or marks associated with pregnancy. Furthermore, it can be useful for healing dry or cracked skin.
According to a review published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, frankincense oil reduces redness and skin irritation. According to the same study, it can also produce a more even skin tone. Studies suggest that it’s the pentacyclic triterpene (steroid-like) structure of frankincense oil that contributes to its soothing effect.
Since it is an essential oil, it should be mixed with a carrier oil or added to an emulsion.
One of the biggest challenges for new skincare business owners is what to charge for their products. When you take the private labeling route, determining the right price point is critical.
The truth is you can’t just drive down the price of your products in the hopes of beating your competitors. Remember that the price of your product determines the market you’ll be interacting with. Furthermore, it affects the perceived value of your brand.
To help you out, here are some strategies that can help you determine the right price point for your private label brand. Let’s get started.
Start with Your Landing Costs
Landing cost refers to the cost of creating your product plus all the other expenses you incur to get it to your customer. In other words, this is your manufacturing cost, shipping from the manufacturer to your warehouse, and shipping to your customer. You should also factor in distribution costs if you’re selling in retail stores and if there are fees associated with selling on certain platforms.
One way to lower your landing cost is to purchase materials in bulk and to manufacture products in bogger quantities. However, many skincare products have a set shelf life. This means you need to be able to sell your inventory, otherwise, you’ll run the risk of wasting capital and losing profits.
Indirect Cost
Apart from landing costs, your skincare business can also incur indirect costs or fixed overhead costs. This includes all of the expenses needed to set up your business including insurance, website maintenance, electricity, renting office space, and salary for your staff.
This should also be factored in computing for your product prices.
Suggested Retail Price and Profit Margin
A general rule when pricing private label skincare is that your profit margin should be at least 33 percent. However, the cost of raw materials can fluctuate from time to time which raises your landing cost.
To prevent you from having to change your pricing constantly, you need to set your selling price with a good profit margin. A lot of skincare products on the market are actually priced between five and six times its landing cost giving a profit margin of at least 80 percent.
This means if your landing cost is $10, then your sale price should be at $50 to have a profit of margin of 80 percent. This gives you a $40 profit per unit.
Final Words
Setting a reasonable profit margin for your business is important if you want your business to succeed. Otherwise, your brand will just end up burning through your cash.
However, with the right strategies, you can sell your products at the right price not just to cover your landing costs but to also give you enough profit every time.
Whether we like it or not, there’s not one product that can solve all of your skin’s concerns. Chances are, you have different bottles and jars just to keep your skin happy and healthy. But picking the right formula for your skin type and issues is just one part of the equation. You also need to make sure that the products you use work well together.
The truth is not all skin actives play well with each other. Sometimes, this means they cancel each other out so you don’t get the results you need or expect. Other times, it means your skin can get irritated because of certain ingredient combinations.
Skincare cocktails can be tricky but we’re here to help you out. Here are certain skincare ingredients you shouldn’t mix together or layer on your skin:
Retinol and Vitamin C
Retinol together with vitamin C is a disaster waiting to happen for your skin. When used in one sitting, your skin can get irritated, become red, and peel. It can also increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
If you must include both in your skincare regimen, use retinol and night and vitamin C by day.
AHAs/BHAs and Vitamin C
Used separately, these acids can do wonders for rough, dry, and uneven skin. However, mixing them together destabilizes the pH balance of each ingredient and makes it completely useless for your skin.
Retinol and AHAs/BHAs
Retinol is an excellent peeling agent that stimulates cellular turnover, Meanwhile, AHAs and BHAs are chemical exfoliants that decongest the skin and reveals healthier skin cells.
However, you shouldn’t use them together or your skin can get extremely dry and irritated. Using them together can also damage your skin’s moisture barrier.
Retinol and Benzoyl Peroxide
These two ingredients work excellently for clearing acne and preventing future breakouts. They are both potent products but benzoyl peroxide can make topical retinol inactive.
Avoid layering these two products. Instead, use them separately. Benzoyl peroxide should be used in the morning while retinol should be used at night.
Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid
Used separately, these are excellent chemical exfoliants. Glycolic acid breaks down dead skin cells on the surface while salicylic acid penetrates deeper and removes pore-clogging sebum and debris.
However, if you want to have healthy skin, more isn’t always better. Avoid mixing these two in one application to prevent stripping and over-exfoliating your skin.
Apart from its notably uplifting and refreshing scent, sweet orange essential oil is an excellent ingredient in skincare products. It is a powerful botanical extract that can strengthen, rejuvenate, and protect your skin.
In this blog, we’ll be talking about how sweet orange oil can help keep your skin clear, smooth, and supple. Let’s get started!
What is Sweet Orange Oil
Sweet orange oil is an essential oil produced within the rind of the citrus sinensis fruit. It is produced using a cold-pressing method. It has a sweet, fresh, and tangy smell and a yellow to orange hue. This essential oil has a light, almost watery consistency.
The oil is composed of 90 percent d-limonene. However, it also contains several hundred compounds including long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon alcohols, aldehydes like 1-octanol and octanal; as well as A-pinene, citronellal, geranial, myrcene neral, and sibenene.
These compounds lend sweet orange essential oil powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Benefits of Sweet Orange Oil
Fights Acne
The strong antibacterial properties found in sweet orange essential oil helps keep propionibacterium from wreaking havoc in the skin. It prevents bacteria from spreading which prevents acne from developing.
As a citrus oil, it can also help balance the skin’s sebum production for clearer skin.
Evens Out Skin Tone
Sweet orange essential oil has a remarkable ability to inhibit melanin production. This helps in slowing down skin damage caused by UV light exposure, pollution, and toxicity. This results in brighter and more even-toned skin.
It also contains vitamin C which helps lighten dark spots and corrects hyperpigmentation.
Fights the Visible Signs of Aging
Since sweet orange essential oil is chock full of limonene, it can help fight free radicals that hasten the aging process. It can also promote collagen production for smooth and plump skin.
Strengthens the Skin
The beneficial compounds found in sweet orange essential oil can protect the skin from harmful external factors. It strengthens the skin’s barrier function by promoting the formation of the skin’s stratus corneum which keeps the skin’s barrier function intact.
As a skincare brand, one of your goals should be to bring products that deliver what they promise to the public. However, getting an effective formula is just half the battle.
Some people may be more sensitive to certain ingredients than others so before you release any product to the mass market, it has to be tested widely.
If you’re partnering with a manufacturer, you need to make sure that they do their due diligence when it comes to testing. Otherwise, you may face ramifications like poor consumer ratings, negative publicity, and even lawsuits.
Here’s how working with a manufacturer that tests their products properly can help your company:
Compliance with FDA Regulations
Companies are required by the FDA to follow certain regulations about the manufacture of their products. Testing gives the FDA proof that you and your partners are takings steps to follow regulations.
Gives Insight Into Future Products
Before selling a new product, a company needs to test it in order to ensure that it’s actually going to sell. The test most useful in this case is the stability test. This will tell companies if their product is in danger of separating, changing colors, or ending up with foul odors and thus becoming aesthetically unpleasant while on the shelf. They’ll also learn from this how to label it; if consumers should be given specific instructions on proper storage, practice and how long realistically they can use the product after opening before it expires.
Improves the Quality of Your Products
A benefit that goes along with marketability and product planning, quality is an aspect of any product that should be kept in mind. Any company can devise the most eye-catching packaging or quick methods of getting a consumer to buy that first item, but the quality of the product guarantees repeat customers. By testing their cosmetics, companies are making sure that their products will last long enough at home for the customer to fall in love. Deterrents to such ends are things like changes in the smell of the product, mold growth, separating of liquids in the cosmetic, and skin irritation. All of these things can be detected with testing and remedied before the product ever reaches the consumer.
Ensures the Safety of Your Products
The number one reason why a company should test their products is safety. The concept of most cosmetics is that they’re temporary and always changing. When safety fails, it could lead to permanent damage, usually to the skin but also to the eyes. Danger to the consumer means danger to the company. By not testing their products and ensuring that they are safe for use, companies are taking the chance that something could go wrong and they could end up with a lawsuit, FDA involvement, and product recalls, all of which are very expensive and not conducive to the future of any company.
