Sustainability, global warming and the environmental state of our planet is serious business and definitely not something to be taken lightly. We repeatedly see its effects on nature, weather, our daily lives, and it has been and continues to be a large part of the conversation in the beauty industry and here at KraveBeauty. But as much as we want to be cool and righteous, take the high road and save the planet, how exactly do we take that high road? To be honest we weren’t 100% sure what the best route was, so we looked into it and here’s what we found: Eco-conscious living can be incredibly confusing and hard! Did you know that the contamination rate for recycled waste is at 25%? That means 1 out of 4 items that are placed into the recycling bin can’t actually be recycled and are later hand-removed by facility workers, which is a dangerous, inefficient yet unavoidable process. Did you also know that if there are any improperly recycled items that contaminates perfectly recyclable items, all of that becomes unrecyclable waste? (i.e. Think twice before tossing your dirty, take-out tubs into the bin just because they’re plastic.) (Source: http://mediaroom.wm.com/the-battle-against-recycling-contamination-is-everyones-battle/) So, what is recyclable? How do I recycle properly? What products can I buy that are eco-friendly? There are so, so many questions and conditions that you as a consumer have to ask yourself to make sure you are being eco-conscious in your every day, and that can definitely get overwhelming. But don’t get discouraged and let’s rally up for the bigger cause! We are on this journey with you, learning as we go and we are here to help you out as much as we can! On this Earth Day, we want to help uncomplicate a little part of your eco-conscious life by starting with how our products fit into all of this. We’ll cover everything you need to know from our production philosophy to actual steps you should take in recycling our products. Yes, every single one of them! INTENTIONAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: Let’s be real. For a fast-growing company in a competitive industry, it’s easy to be swayed into “keeping up” with other brands popping out new collections every season, but we’re not here to just add to an already saturated market. Responsible production is something we care a lot about and we firmly believe that it is just as important for a corporation to produce responsibly as it is for a consumer to purchase responsibly. The pursuit of mere trend is not something that interests us. We want to create products that provide unique value or serve a distinctive purpose in your skincare journey - and that is our promise to you. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION: #SkincareCommitment Let’s #PressReset and think about how and why we buy the things we buy. Is it a need or a want? This simple shift in perspective can largely reduce potential waste and can also encourage companies to produce more responsibly. If we’re talking about skincare and in case you needed another reminder from us...YOUR SKIN IS SMART! It is a rockstar of its own, and that being said - it absolutely doesn’t need a million different products to be happy and healthy. Just a little bit of help here and there. We know it’s easy to fall for the beautiful packaging or that new fancy ingredient, but (correct us if we’re wrong) how often do they end up just sitting on our shelves, collecting dust and not getting the love they truly deserve? So help save the earth (and your wallet and your skin), and commit to your purchases the best you can. #SkincareCommitment is all about encouraging you not only to stick to products to see true results, but also to reduce any waste even the most responsible consumer can leave behind. Your skin does not need a lot to be healthy, and we hope that our blog posts and infographics help you better understand it and equip you with the knowledge you need to choose the right products for your skin. RECYCLING Recycling can be a very confusing topic on its own and the guidelines can be different depending on which city you live in, but it is one of the easiest steps you can take to minimize your carbon footprint. Everything KraveBeauty creates is 100% recyclable - from our products to our mailer box. We encourage you to use up all of our products to the last drop before throwing them away. You can easily cut up the tube for our Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser tube or The Beet Shield to scoop out the rest of the product and wash the plastic before putting it in your recycling bin. Great Barrier Relief has a fully detachable dispenser, which will also allow you to get any remaining product by flipping it upside down and scooping the remainder into a smaller jar. You can easily clean it with any brush and leave it to dry before recycling. Our Kale-Lalu-yAHA is the most fuss-free product as the content of it will run it to the last drop without you having to clean anything out! Give it a quick rinse and it can go straight into your recycling bin once you’re finished. The pouch from the Beet Shield can also go in the bin with all of your recyclable plastics. If you want to learn even more about our packaging, here is the full breakdown of what kind of material each product uses:   Product Type of Material Can I put it in my recycling bin? Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser Cap: PP YES Bottle: LDPE YES Box: Cardboard YES Kale-Lalu-yAHA Cap: Aluminum YES Bottle: PET YES Box: Cardboard YES Great Barrier Relief Cap: PP YES Bottle: PET YES Box: Cardboard YES The Beet Shield Bottle: PE, Adhesive, EVOH YES Bag: PET, LLDPE YES   If you are still confused by the end of this article - feel free to leave us a comment and we will answer to the best of our ability! OUR CONTINUED NOTE TO YOU: We are not perfect. We learned a lot from this dive and acknowledge the fact that our business activity — from using an internet server, transportation, renting an office space, using electricity to manufacturing our packaging — does leave a huge carbon footprint and our aim is to minimize it. You may ask why plastic instead of glass? For now, we opted for 100% recyclable packaging instead of glass as it weighs much less. A lighter weight means it requires less fuel energy meaning a smaller carbon footprint in its transportation route, which is a big factor for us as we are importing products from South Korea and that includes ground shipping within Korea, air shipping from Korea to the US, then more ground shipping within the states to get to our warehouse and then to you. Being eco-friendly is important to us and switching to glass packaging was considered, but it doesn’t come without its own set of issues. We believe that there are many ways to contribute to the planet and what we can do at this very moment is to promote responsible consumption to our community. As the beauty industry (and many others) promotes endless consumerism, we think going against this trend is something that our business is responsible for. Creating a timeless product and educating our KraveBeauty friends about identifying true needs is the goal. We, of course, aim to keep every aspect of our business more planet-friendly. And we are doing our best to seek alternative materials that are compatible with our formulas to strive toward better and best, so we hope you stick around on our journey ~~ Making a difference doesn’t have to be hard. Change, truly, starts with you! #PressReset on blind consumerism and let’s start making educated choices about consumption!

You might have seen all over Instagram that refrigerating skincare is having a moment. We have been receiving a lot of questions asking if it’s better to refrigerate your products; so here’s our advice after asking numerous product formulators.  Just a disclaimer: Know that skincare products can be complex and what’s written below is just a helpful guideline.The maintenance of your skincare items depend on the individual formulation, so this is not one size fits all.   Why You Might Not Need To The refrigeration of products can depend on the stability of the formula. Before any product is released to the public, companies are required to conduct tests such as exposing the formula to harsh UV light, varying humidity and temperature levels and will even leave the product open to see how it reacts. These assessments verify that the formula is safe and stable in all kinds of conditions. A majority of skincare products are created to be stored at room temperature (aka. how most customers store their items) without any issues. Unless a brand advises to store its products in a specific condition, keeping skincare products in the fridge isn’t necessary and can even change the consistency or formulation.  Ice Ice Baby There are, however, some formulas that enjoy a chillier environment: Vitamin C: Since it is an active ingredient, it might be best to leave in the fridge. It’s extra important to avoid exposure to UV light when storing it! Individually Packaged Ampoules:  An ampoule is just a fancy word for a concentrated treatment with a high level of active ingredients. They are typically in small packages and sealed off to cut air-exposure to harness the full benefits of the active ingredient used. Some brands do recommend keeping it in the fridge, but we always recommend asking!  Water-Based Products: Keeping items like hydrating toners, essences, aloe gel and sheet masks in the fridge can provide a refreshing and cooling effect. We can’t tell you that it’ll make them last longer,  but it’ll sure feel greeeaattt! Items Containing Natural Extracts: Just like you would keep certain fruits in the fridge; some products that have natural extracts should be stored in lower temperatures. Brands will usually state this on their packaging.   Jusssttt Right As MOST of your skincare products are built to live in room temperature, they should be kept at room temperature unless stated otherwise by the company.  No Chill Sunscreen and Silicone Based Products: These are found to be more stable in room temperature. If it gets too cold, these formulas can harden up in the fridge and might even separate in the bottle. Creams With High Oil or Wax Content: In a chillier environment, depending on the kind of oils, waxes and formulating technology used, the products can solidify.  Formulas with an Unusual Consistency: Products that have a jam, jelly, memory foam or whipped cream-like consistency, also, have a higher chance of being affected by the change in temperature.  The rule of thumb is that storing your skincare products can 'somewhat' extend the shelf life and stabilize some actives, but most formulas are created to be specifically stored at room temperature. All in all, we don't believe there’s a need to obsess too much about applying another rule to the already complicated realm of skincare.

Face oils are all the rage lately, but let us break down one of our favorites for you: Rosehip oil. Rosehip oil is one of the star ingredients in our skin-repairing serum, Great Barrier Relief, for some of its special superpowers. We’ll let you in on some (; Read along. Its first power is in its occlusive consistency which coats and hugs your skin to prevent moisture loss. But don’t worry too much about breakouts cause Rosehip Oil is high in linoleic acid (a fatty acid) making it friendly for acne prone skin! This ingredient keep oils a lot lighter compared to those higher in oleic acid, which is found in heavier oils like avocado oil, marula oil, and even tamanu oil - aka the reason why you’ll find it in our Great Barrier Relief. This beauty is also rich in essential fatty acids, high in antioxidative properties and is the highest plant source of retinoic acid. TLDR: All you need to know is that Rosehip Oil is pure goodness for your face! The Good Good: Reduces Inflammation Research shows that using Rosehip Oil is beneficial for inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema or acne. It relieves irritated skin and help keeps it calm like the superhero it is. Antioxidant Properties  Rosehip Oil’s powerful antioxidants properties helps to restore your skin like no other. It not only prevents and slows down the damage of skin cells, but also fights against free radicals from attacking your system. Avoid premature aging and inflammation?! Sign me up! When your skin is compromised and can’t fight back against harmful effects, it accelerates the process of aging and impairs your skin barrier function. Using products that are high in antioxidant content such as Rosehip Oil can be your savior! Sounds amazing right? But how do I know if I need it? Acne Prone Skin Studies show that people with acne prone skin have a lower percentage of linoleic acid in their sebum compared to those with normal skin; this essentially means they might have thicker oils on their skin! Sebum, we all know, aids in the development of acne and using products high in linoleic acid like Rosehip Oil can be ideal for acne prone skin. Anti-Aging Let’s get real - UV damage is a villian and causes major skin aging. It accelerates the process by generating free radicals that breakdown our skin building block, collagen (the structural protein that keeps our skin looking smooth and supple). Luckily, Rosehip Oil is a warrior with amazing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and helps counteract the effects of sun damage!   How Do I Use Rosehip Oil? You can apply rosehip oil in addition to your moisturizer, as a replacement or even mix it in! Or you can also look for products that contain rosehip oil, like our Great Barrier Relief!

Hey hey, Daniela here! Usually, I am behind the camera/computer crafting stories here at KraveBeauty, so being an interviewee is quite special for me. Alas! I am thrilled to talk to you about my acne struggles: accepting and rocking my flaws and how #PressReset became my way of life. Spoiler alert: I have some wild skincare tips to share, as well! Full Name: Daniela TesfaieOccupation: Content Director at KraveBeautyLocation: New York City, USAAge: 24Skin Type or Concerns: Acne, hyperpigmentationLife Motto: Dare to be yourself!Fun Fact: I am OBSESSED with horror movies and witchcraft :3   My Skin Journey | Let’s start from the beginning Acne is a common condition but, often times, I felt very alone struggling with it. And I guess that was the hardest part of it. Both of my parents have perfect skin, most of my friends had perfect skin and, even, I only really started struggling with breakouts way past my teens. I’ve always had a blemish here and there as a teenager, but nothing major. When I turned 19, I moved to the US, and everything about my skin changed. I started getting huge cystic acne, my skin would scar and develop dark spots anytime I had a blemish (something that had never happened to me before)... And I had NO idea what was going on with my body.Everybody would FLOOD me with advice: oh, it’s hormones, oh, it’s food-related. I visited countless dermatologists that would prescribe me harsh treatments, antibiotics, hormone treatments (which I refused to take), and all of that left me feeling more and more confused and lonely. Why is this happening to me?How could I treat my skin if I do not know what the hell is going on with me? I was desperately searching for an answer for three whole years before, finally, I met my esthetician, Bonnie. She was the first person who did not jump to conclusions and, instead, asked me a ton of questions first. Are you allergic to anything? Do any of your close relatives have acne? Are you on any medication that could influence your hormones? What is your diet? What products do you use? It turned out that my acne is totally genetic, and as such, it will always be a part of my adult life. There is no “cure,” as it is just a result of how my body naturally operates and a lot of it has to do with skin cell turnover rate. Bonnie clarified for me that, on a daily basis, my skin is producing more new skin cells than it sheds, which end up clogging my pores. Couple that with using acnegenic makeup and skincare, oil production, stress, and you get a perfect concoction for regular acne. As soon as I understood why I was getting acne, everything changed. I had no trouble accepting it as a part of me and instead began to embrace it. My skin is doing its thing, and all I needed to do was to learn to listen to it and catch up with it. I became very passionate about learning about acne-prone skin, clogging ingredients and the beauty industry, which eventually led me to start writing reviews as DEADLY VISION (I even started a YouTube channel this year!) and becoming the Content Director at KraveBeauty! My struggle with acne has allowed me to learn a lot about myself and about self-acceptance.Skincare Products I Can’t Live WithoutI know it’s a lot, but I actually have five: Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser: As a skincare and makeup junkie, I tend to try a lot of different products, but I always, ALWAYS come back to my Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser. It is truly all you can possibly need - gentle enough to use in the morning, great to use as a first cleanse to remove makeup at night, affordable, and fun to use! I actually bought this cleanser on the first day it launched (before I started working at KraveBeauty) and have always had it on my shelf ever since. Kale-Lalu-yAHA: In the past year, I graduated to paying more attention to the skin on my body and Kale-Lalu-yAHA has made all the difference in how smooth it looks today. I get occasional breakouts on my back and, actually, my butt, heh! And it has helped me reduce these breakouts and made my skin glowing and smooth. I love using it on my shoulders, chest, and neck too to keep my decollete area looking youthful! Face Reality Acne Med 10% and Iluma Intense Lightening Serum: These two products are my absolute HOLY GRAILS for keeping my acne at bay and helping me deal with hyperpigmentation. Face Reality is a clinic that specializes in acne and all of their products are 100% acne-safe, and Acne Med is Benzoyl Peroxide-based. A lot of over-the-counter Benzoyl Peroxide treatments contain clogging ingredients, but this one doesn't and it truly transformed my skin. The Illuma Serum is full of natural extracts, is oil-free, and lightens my hyperpigmentation like nothing else. I cannot live without these two. And… the weirdest one: ICE CUBES. Yup, I know, everyone takes a double-turn when I say that, haha! Ice cubes are your cheapest remedy for acne. Regular icing of your pimples and your face helps to reduce existing inflammation and prevent any future ones. I’ve been icing every day for the past 3 years, wherever I go, and it truly made a difference even in the appearance of acne I get nowadays. My Current Skincare RoutineAM Routine: Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser May Coop Raw Sauce (Emulsion) May Coop Raw Eye Contour Cream Image Skincare Illuma Lightening Serum Tatcha Water Cream FaceReality Daily Lotion SPF 30 PM routine: Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser (to remove makeup) PCA Skin Acne/Oily Face Wash (as a second cleanse) Face Reality Acnebeta-C Toner Face Reality Acne Med 10% Image Skincare Illuma Lightening Serum Face Reality Clearderma (Cream) May Coop Raw Eye Contour (Cream) Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Kale-Lalu-yAHA (on the body) What #PressReset Means to MeThis is always my favorite question in the series because it could mean so many things to so many people!To me, #PressReset means tuning out the noise and listening to your own voice inside. It is a philosophy of becoming introspective, learning about oneself, and showing the outside world the middle finger, haha! To #PressReset is the first step in becoming you, and to finding what you are truly about.How I #PressReset Beyond BeautyI’ve always felt different.As a mixed girl (I am half-Russian, half-Ethiopian) growing up in Moscow, Russia, I’ve been constantly reminded of the fact that I wasn’t like the others. My skin was always darker, my hair was wavy, my body was curvier… And when I started struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation when most of my friends and family didn’t, I felt like I would never, ever fit in.My struggle with acne was one of the first things that inspired me to #PressReset on listening to everyone around me and just start embracing my own body. It was vital for me to tune out the noise, to stop comparing myself to the world outside, and start appreciating the fact that I am different. The acceptance of my skin’s condition eventually led to my acceptance of my body, my personality, and even of my mixed race. Today, I do not want to “fit in”. Today, I dare to be myself! What I’ve Been Loving MakeupStress is inevitable when you launch a new product (I’m looking at you, Great Barrier Relief), so my skin has been acting up quite a bit in the last few months! Whenever that happens I always turn to my trustee foundations from PRIIA to make sure my makeup is not making it worse. It is a true underdog brand and a blessing for anyone with acne-prone skin. Every single product they have is targeted for acne-prone skin, and every ingredient is as pure as it gets! They have the most acne-safe pigments I know of. And the coverage is BOMB without looking cake-y at all. MusicMy soul is very ready for summer, so I’ve been listening a lot to Arbes. They are a soft, Australian indie-rock band, but their tunes carry a lot of character and really help me to get in the creative mood. My go-to album by them is Swimmer. BooksMy favorite book of the moment is, hands down, “Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution” by Sara Marcus. It is a very unfiltered and personal take on the Riot Grrrl Movement - a radical feminist punk uprising, of sorts, that took place in the 90s and has truly pushed all gender norms and changed the conversation about feminism forever.As a feminist, I was incredibly touched and yet shocked by how relatable all of the struggles these women were facing are to this day. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who is interested in music, arts, and feminism, men and women alike. Really, we should've been able to #PressReset on mysogyny and patriarchy yeeears ago (see what I did there, eh eh?), but if you're still confused, I highly recommend this book! :D Want to learn more about Daniela? Follow her on social media: Instagram: @deadly.vision Youtube: @deadly-vision Blog: deadly-vision.com   #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.  

We got an important task on our agenda: to bust some beauty myths about-- TA-DA! -- SILICONES!   WHAT IS SILICONE? A lot of people assume that silicone is not a natural ingredient, but guess what? Silicone actually originates from sand! It, however, does undergo a chemical process which turns it into a synthetic polymer made up of silicon, oxygen, and other elements. Silicone is present in a lot of products across industries and, even, opened up so many opportunities in the medical field. It can be found in implants, contact lenses, and even bandages! Hospitals and other medical practices primarily use silicone-based medical adhesives because silicone has an extremely low occurrence of allergic skin reactions. Read that sentence again. LOW OCCURRENCE. Yup, doctors all around the world will tell you that silicone has little to no adverse effects on the skin.   WHAT DO SILICONES DO? Cosmetic grade silicones were first introduced in the 1950s, offering a number of unique characteristics that helped to improve the feel, appearance, and performance of cosmetic products.   So what roles do silicones actually play in personal care products?   Enhancement of spreadability: Silicones allow for lower surface tension, especially with mineral sunscreens such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that have quite a rep for terrible spreadability. These ingredients are incredible at protecting your skin from the sun and silicones allow for an easier application. Improvement of consistency: Silicones allow the formulas to feel lighter on the skin and make the application of most products smoother as the product is spread on the skin/hair without any oily or sticky feeling. Conditioning effect: You might have spotted some silicones in hair care, and the reason being that they enhance the conditioning effect and help detangle hair! Silicones in hair care can make the hair feel less rough, more hydrated and even improve shine. Moisture retention: Yup, silicone improves moisture retention of most products. In fact, they are the most breathable occlusive! They create a very flexible barrier that prevents Transepidermal Water Loss and helps your skin to keep moisture in without clogging or blocking pores. Dimethicone is particularly good at that as it stays on the skin for a long time.     SO… SILICONE-FREE FORMULAS ARE NOT ACTUALLY BETTER FOR THE SKIN?!   Many companies that position themselves as eco-friendly and market their product as “natural” are choosing to create silicone-free formulas. They often substitute silicones for blends of botanical oils and waxes, but this practice does not necessarily make the product you’re using “better”.While there is certainly a market for these types of formulas, increased use of oils and waxes in formulas could increase the cost of the product, make the formula less acne-prone friendly (as a lot of oils and waxes can clog pores), and in general just feel heavier and more tacky on the skin. Unlike silicones whose molecular size is too large to seep into pores, vegetable and nut oils often have a molecular size that will pass through pores easily and absorb into the skin and in some instances clogging pores. So yeah. Silicone-free formulas are not necessarily a better option for you and if anyone is telling you otherwise - now you’re equipped with enough knowledge to decide for yourself!   TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SILICONES, WATCH LIAH’S LATEST VIDEO: