Legend has it that there exists a magical oil that supposedly heals scars, wounds, dry skin, burns, and basically any other skin condition you can think of. Nature and science prove that this oil does indeed exist! And guess what? It’s going to be the star ingredient in our upcoming product release. We’re excited to shine the spotlight on our upcoming product’s most vital ingredient that will #PressReset on your damaged skin barrier, TAMANU OIL. Originating from sunny places like Madagascar (where we happen to source our Tamanu Oil from), Tahiti, Vietnam, and other Polynesian islands, Tamanu Oil has remarkable skin-regenerative properties that led it to be traditionally used to heal wounds and cure various skin conditions. Our founder Liah is personally OBSESSED with this oil as it helped to eliminate most of her hyperpigmentation (sunspots, acne scars, other discoloration) far more effectively than any other retinol or vitamin C ingredient she has used before. Now, we know that’s a pretty bold statement to make – but it definitely left an impression.BEFORE:  AFTER: Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrpLcYCePqw History Tamanu Oil, also known as Green Gold, has a century-long history of being used in topical remedies for various skin problems, infections, and ailments among Polynesians. Not only was it an MVP for soothing cuts, burns, blisters, scars, bites, dry skin, psoriasis, acne, eczema, and sores (yes, basically EVERYTHING), it has also traditionally been used to address body odors, as well as, nerve irritation. In other words, we have the Polynesians to thank for discovering Tamanu Oil’s magic-like skin-regenerating properties. Tamanu Oil was all the rage in other parts of the world too. In the early 1900s, French scientists revealed their findings on the healing and regenerative properties of using Tamanu Oil topically. This helped the French people realize that Tamanu Oil was amazing for addressing pain and soothing ailments such as leprosy. In other areas of Europe, it was used to address not only cuts, wounds, burns, and rashes, but to also soothe chapped and cracked skin, topical allergies, bedsores, nail infections, and Athlete’s Foot. It was even used cosmetically to diminish the appearance of dark and puffy under-eye circles. With everything this bad boy can do, it’s no wonder it was loved internationally. Cicatrising Property AKA Wound Healing Powers: So just how does this seemingly mythical potion do the most for our skin? In multiple studies, Tamanu Oil has demonstrated capabilities in cell proliferation, glycosaminoglycan and collagen production, and wound healing. To put it simply, it heals scars and regenerates/rejuvenates skin. One study showed that applying Tamanu Oil to the skin dramatically reduced the visual appearance of six subjects’ scars, which explains our founder’s obsession for using the GBR serum for fading her post-acne marks. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Tamanu Oil can even be used for anti-aging purposes. Can I get a hallelujah? At this point, you might be thinking ‘alright, now what’s the catch’? There is – slightly. The downside to Tamanu Oil is that in its natural form, it can feel pretty greasy and thick on the skin. To combat that, we infused it into a light-weight lotion type formula for you to experience the benefits of Tamanu Oil with less chance of clogged pores. We’re super excited to make this oil more approachable with this important decision, and we look forward to hearing your experiences with our GBR release! If you’ve got any other questions on Tamanu Oil, ask away in the comments!  

When I say “CERA-”, you say “-MIDES”!  “CERA-” “-MIDES”! “CERA-” “-MIDES”!!! Does that name ring a bell? If not, now’s the time to get acquainted because ceramides are a VERY important part of your *dun dunnn* skin barrier! And from our skin barrier-obsessed KraveBeauty fam to you, we want to make sure you’re as well informed as can be so that you’ll be ready for GBR, our upcoming superhero for a damaged skin barrier. Now let’s talk Ceramides. How Your Skin Functions Our skin produces two kinds of oil: Sebaceous lipids AKA your sebum Epidermal lipids which are linked to our skin barriers If we imagine our sebum to be a coat of paint on the wall, the epidermal lipids would be part of the wall itself, specifically the wall’s surface. The epidermal lipids hold the outermost layer of skin cells together like glue, and this glue constitutes the lipid barrier. When healthy, the epidermal lipids are packed into a highly organized structure that keeps the skin cells stuck together like mortar does for bricks. Now if you wash off a coat off the wall’s outer paint coating, AKA the sebum, you can always just repaint the wall by producing more sebum. But if you disrupt or liquidize the mortar between bricks inside the wall structure, AKA our epidermal lipids, the bricks become too weak, making it much harder to restore the mortar to exactly how it was before it was disrupted. Where Ceramides Come to Save the Day This is why ceramides are so important. Ceramides are waxy lipids that are major components of this epidermal lipid barrier, making up a whopping 50% of this lipid barrier. The other important components are cholesterol at 25% and fatty acids at 15%. Stay tuned for how we’ve got you covered on all three of these bad boys in GBR’s formula *wink wink*. Ceramides are not only critical for helping our skin retain water, but they also help to repair the skin’s natural barrier and to regulate our skin cells. If our skin’s ceramide (or cholesterol or free fatty acids) deposit is running low, water can more easily evaporate to leave your skin feeling sad and dehydrated. Also, just like anything else, the natural aging process dwindles the production of ceramides, which can result in dry skin, wrinkles and even some types of skin irritation. Like we’ve discussed before, dehydrated skin oftentimes stems from having a damaged skin-barrier. And if we’re talking about how ceramides plays into this, this means your skin is lacking in the CCF (Ceramides+cholesterol+free fatty acids) combo. So in short, just trying to hydrate your skin using water-based toners/essences hoping to fix the dehydration is basically as effective as pouring water to a broken glass (Yup, that’s no bueno), That’s why you want to rebuild the skin barrier from its foundation by using a product that has the CCF combo, as well as opting for a hydrating product that’s rich with water-binding ingredients. And that’s a wrap on our mini lesson on Ceramides! Nowadays, our skin is challenged by so many external and internal factors compromising the integrity of our skin barriers. We know just how real the struggle is, so we really hope to help you guys #PressReset on skin barrier damage with our new GBR formula.

You know that soccer mom type in your neighborhood who seems to be able to do it all and more? Well, we’re here to tell you that there’s one of those in the skincare ingredient universe, as well. Meet Niacinamide, AKA Vitamin B3– our friendly neighborhood soccer mom who wears many hats with ease and efficacy. With multiple studies to back up its many skin benefits, this super ingredient is one of our founder's absolute saviors from early on in her skincare journey, and it’s also one of the key ingredients used in our upcoming launch *wink wink*! So let’s dive in to learn just what makes this ingredient so awesome: Benefit #1:  Barrier Reparation FunctionsIf you need a quick refresher on the importance of maintaining a healthy skin barrier, we HIGHLY recommend you to check this post out first and then come back (trust us, you’ll literally get so much more out of this post if you do). In general, the key components of our skin barrier are free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. If these are parts are intact, you have yourself a healthy skin barrier;  if these components are depleted, your skin barrier will function poorly. Fortunately for us, studies have shown that 2% niacinamide can increase the creation of free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides to make your skin barrier healthier and stronger, and to decrease trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Benefit #2: Anti-aging PropertiesWhether we want to admit it or not, we can’t stop the clock– so that means that our skin is also feeling the effects of the natural aging process. One very notable effect is that the rate at which our skin is producing important skin-building proteins, such as keratin, filaggrin, and involucrin, is much, much slower. This is the very reason we see a reduction in skin elasticity and an increase in wrinkles as we get older. Niacinamide is super helpful in this case by helping boost our skin’s collagen production, as well as, the production of these three important proteins. So say hello to improved skin elasticity and fewer wrinkles. Benefit #3: Skin-brightening PropertiesAnyone need some help with hyperpigmentation or discoloration? Look no further – niacinamide can help with that too. We’re not saying it’s going to be easy to completely fade these skin conditions away with topical products, but they can surely help to a certain degree. Studies have shown that using 2-5% niacinamide daily for 8 weeks resulted in significant lightening of skin hyperpigmentation and discolored spots. Niacinamide works by suppressing the transfer of melanosomes (little spheres carrying the melanin pigment) from melanocytes (skin cells producing the melanin that darkens your skin) to keratinocytes (skin cells in the top layer of the skin), so that it becomes a lot harder for skin discoloration to form in the first place. On the other hand, most other skin brighteners work by blocking an enzyme called tyrosinase (that also plays an important role in melanin production). So, if you want to release the ultimate multi-front attack on your skin’s dark spots, you can combine a niacinamide treatment with tyrosinase inhibitors like vitamin C, arbutin or kojic acid. Benefit #4: Anti-acne PropertiesNiacinamide is not going to work like your typical acne treatment, but boy does it offer some awesome sebum-regulating and anti-inflammatory properties. A study that used 4% niacinamide for 8 weeks to treat acne found that 82% of those treated showed some improvement. Definitely keep in mind though that the causes of acne are complex, so niacinamide won’t be some kind of all-in-one acne cure. Of course, it sure can help a great deal :). We love niacinamide for being such a versatile queen. What’s more, it’s also one of the most gentle active ingredients that delivers great skin benefits without any skin irritation, making it accessible for all skin types to give a chance. We hope we convinced you that niacinamide is a must-try for pretty much everybody– whether it be your mom, dad, brother, or cat! (jk maybe not cat but you know where we’re getting at). <3

Many of you already know Liah. She is our founder, CEO, and our personal favorite skincare guru on YouTube. Her unconventional acne-fighting tips have helped hundreds of men and women around the world truly get in tune with their skin by encouraging them to take all the ‘should do’s’ and ‘shouldn’t do’s’ of the beauty industry with a grain of salt. Occupation: Youtuber & Founder of KraveBeautyLocation: New York City & SeoulAge: 29Skin Type or Concerns: Maintaining balanced skinLife Motto: "Just do it"Fun Fact: I can absorb anyone’s accent like a sponge “Heyo, it’s Liah! Today we’re going to sit down and talk all things skincare. I’m excited to take you through my skin journey and talk to you about what inspired me to start KraveBeauty. And I’ll take you though my favorite products as a bonus ;)” My Battle with Acne | Let’s start from the beginning “I battled with acne for over half a decade and I tried everything. I applied heaps of Benzoyl peroxide, used drying products, took antibiotics, tried invasive treatments, and made sure my skin was squeaky clean at all times. And as you might have guessed, my skin took a huge toll because of it. Not only was my acne not cured, but I was also suffering from greasiness, mild rosacea, chronic inflammation, and sensitized and reactive skin. I was shoving products into my skin that it didn’t need, that it didn’t crave, and at one point I was using more than 12 products in a single routine! But I was desperate and every product seemed to promise a new solution. My skin was tortured and screaming at me to CHILL OUT…to press reset and just listen to it. From then on, I began to research a lot about the actual biology of our skin and soon realized how misleading the beauty industry could be. A lot of beauty brands position themselves on the notion of “fixing” your skincare problems with products and, therefore, sell you on this “miracle” cream that is the solution. But the truth is: our skin is a lot smarter than we think and products should support your skin’s natural function. When your skin is functioning like it naturally is trained to do, your skin will be at its best. This simple realization encouraged me to #PressReset and simplify my skincare routine. I tried to converse with my skin and identify what it was craving in order to only feed it products that it needed. Without relying on harsh treatments and unnecessary products, my skin turned around 180 degrees. This inspired me to start KraveBeauty. That’s why me and the team here are such huge advocates of purposeful skincare and the message of #PressReset! I truly believe that skincare should be easy and intuitive. It really isn’t as complicated as you might think!” Skincare Products I Can’t Live Without “All KraveBeauty products, of course. I strongly stand by each product and how they work with your skin, not against it! Besides those, I would have to thank tamanu oil, rosehip seed oil, hemp seed oil and squalane oil for really helping my skin live its best life.” My Current Skincare Routine “My skincare regimen changes nearly every day. As a product developer and a beauty YouTuber, I’m sort of fated to try new products each week! But if I have to list a solid routine that protects my skin from TEWL in this harsh winter, it would be this! Cleanse with Farmacy’s Green Clean Balm if I’m wearing makeup. If I’m not, I gently wash my face with the KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser. Depending on how dry/dehydrated my skin feels, I’ll add a layer of the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner. It really adds long-lasting hydration better than any other toners I’ve tried. Then I’ll seal in everything with Mamonde’s Ceramide Light Cream. And I never leave my house without a solid layer of sun protection. KraveBeauty’s The Beet Shield/Beet The Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ is my absolute bae. At night if my skin feels extra parched, I add a drop of rosehip seed oil or other facial oils into my moisturizer.” What #PressReset Means to Me “A clean slate, a fresh start, a new opportunity that’s totally in your control.” Favorite Self-Care Rituals | How I #PressReset Beyond Beauty “I treat making time for myself like any other appointment. One hour after I wake up and one hour before I go to bed is the time when I press reset on my entire day. I meditate, read, go to the gym, drink coffee or tea, and recently I’ve been making time to pause and reflect - on the day and myself. I think a lot of people have gotten used to constantly being online; endlessly scrolling through Instagram and Facebook. We consume so much media and information throughout the day that our brain is just wired to digest, digest, digest without really letting our brains take a breath and THINK. To get out of that state of information overload, I’ve been trying to exercise my brain power by blocking 30 minutes to an hour to just think and organize my headspace. It’s been a time that I have to really sit with myself and confront my thoughts and feelings. It wasn’t easy at first but it’s been one of the best practices to become more self-aware and a really great practice overall that I think everyone can benefit from. Sometimes you catch negative self-talk that may have been subconsciously limiting yourself. Just acknowledge it and rewire it once you spot it :) Your brain is always eavesdropping on how you talk to yourself and that can definitely dictate your actions. So if you have a cluttered mind, #PressReset, and take some time for yourself. If it’s hard to just get into your head, brain-dumping on paper helps.”What I’ve Been Loving   Makeup “EM Cosmetics’ Truegloss in Moroccan Sunset. It’s just a lip gloss that does it all! It’s a long-lasting lip gloss that has a fairly thin consistency. It’s not overly glossy and it stains your lips too, like a lip tint.” Books “This is Marketing by Seth Godin. I love Seth Godin and I really learned a lot from his talks and books so I was excited when he released a new book. He’s truly extraordinary when it comes to marketing.” Places “I visited Australia and went strawberry-picking and cherry-picking for the first time ever! The Cape Schank Lighthouse Reserve was beautiful with a stunning ocean view.”   Want to learn more about Liah? Follow her on social media: Instagram: @liahyoo Youtube: @liahyoo #PressReset Diaries is a monthly series on KraveBeauty’s blog that spills the tea on the all too real skincare journeys of members in our community. Tune in to learn about their experiences, routines, and what #PressReset means to them.

You’ve heard the magic words, “Now, seal in your skincare with a moisturizer!” probably more times than you can count (and we’re a little guilty of the constant reminders). What can we say? Topical moisturizers are awesome for keeping our skin hydrated and for preventing further moisture loss. Now here’s the plot twist– did you know that our very own skin is actually a moisture-making machine itself? Yup, the moisture has been within you all this time, and they’re called Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs). As their name suggests, NMFs are naturally produced by our bodies from the breakdown of protein in our systems, and their job is to give our skin the moisture boost it needs. Where are they located and produced? NMFs are located inside the stratum corneum cells, or corneocytes, AKA in the brick-like part of our skin’s outer layer (remember this funky name from our skin barrier article?). They are a product of the breakdown process of a protein called filaggrin. As we’ve discussed before, the stratum corneum is crucial in keeping our skin barrier strong, and one of the main ways it does so is by using NMFs to maintain our skin’s hydration levels and shed off dead skin cells. Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/10344389/ What are they made of? NMFs are composed of a variety of highly effective humectants, AKA water-attracting molecules. Specifically, they’re mainly made up of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids such as PCA, urocanic acid, inorganic salts, sugars as well as lactic acid and urea. These guys pack themselves within our skin’s corneocytes, occupying approximately 10% of the corneocytes’ masses! But they’re more than welcome to stay because we can use all the help we can get in the moisture department. Source: Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology How do they actually maintain our skin's moisture and keep our barrier intact? NMFs are composed of water-attracting ingredients (humectants), which essentially serve to keep our skin hydrated by attracting water from the atmosphere. If you’re not familiar with what humectants are and how they works on our skin, we highly recommend checking out our previous blog for a crash course! How much NMFs we produce on our skin is greatly dependent on the climate and humidity levels wherever it is we call home. In other words, our skin can basically control and figure out how many NMFs it should produce in order to work optimally in its current environment (yes, our skin is that smart). So when we’re located in a higher humidity climate, our bodies naturally break down less filaggrin to form NMFs, and the other way around when we’re in a lower humidity climate. Thanks to the NMFs that help us retain the water in our skin, our skin barriers are much better off too. That’s because this water increases the elasticity of the skin’s stratum corneum and thus makes our skin appear healthy, supple, and non-flaky. In addition, the water in our skin helps ensure that our skin’s enzymes are working properly to shed off the dead skin cells, which is very necessary for preventing bacteria buildup that leads to acne and skin congestion. We appreciate everything you do for us, NMFs 💗 What can affect our NMF levels? Other than the humidity level/weather of our living environment, various skin conditions cause a natural reduction in our skin’s NMF production. Conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and xerosis are some examples, causing dryness, flaking, scaling, or even fissuring of the skin. Not fun at all. Over-washing the skin, as well as, overexposure to UV rays have also been shown to disrupt our NMF levels. Additionally, the natural aging process seems to reduce our skin’s NMF levels as well, thus compromising our skin barrier and leading to dryness, wrinkles, and more signs of aging.  And that wraps up our spotlight on our skin’s natural moisturizer! If you’re interested in learning more on NMFs, check out msbeautyphile’s overview. Until next time, stay moisturized!!!