The Sanctum Body Care range was awarded a silver for best product range, and the new Sanctum Amenities received silver for most innovative product.

The 2010 Organic Expo Awards recognises excellence in the flourishing organic industry. It acknowledges and encourages quality and innovation in product development, as well as creativity in marketing and presentation.

Now in its sixth year, Australia’s exciting organic and green living extravaganza returns to Sydney on the weekend of August 20-22 and Sanctum will once again be showcasing its popular organic skincare range.

Held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, there’s something for everyone with delicious food tastings prepared by celebrity chefs, the latest advances in all-natural beauty treatments, gardening tips and organic wine to try.

Chamomile extract is one of Sanctum’s most widely used ingredients.

It appears to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. This gives benefits across all skin types, providing soothing and calming after daily exposure to sun and pollutants. 

It can be particularly beneficial for dry and allergy prone skin, especially where there is redness or sensitivity.

It is an anti-allergenic agent that is useful to soothe and prevent skin inflammation. 

It has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy on weeping wound areas after dermabrasion of tattoos; I would expect this to carry over into a general wound healing support function. 

We make our own extract from flowers of organically grown plants. Some of our formulations contain more than 10% chamomile extract.

Sanctum donated a range of their organic skincare products for the launch. The guests enjoyed relaxing foot soaks and foot massages using Sanctum’s popular Reviving Foot Balm and Body Soothe, whilst taking in the gorgeous view of Sydney Harbour and trying on new eco-fashionable footwear!

The launch was visited by people from the fashion and media industries.

Sanctum will also be showcasing its popular organic skincare range at the Organic Expo & Green Show on August 20-22 in Sydney.

Now in its sixth year, Australia’s exciting organic and green living extravaganza returns to Sydney on the weekend of August 20-22 and Sanctum will once again be showcasing its popular organic skincare range.

Experience for yourself how Sanctum has continued to evolve with its new ranges of natural and organic products which include a Men’s range, Baby’s range and Hair care range.

As a pioneer of what is now a heavily competitive and sometimes misleading industry of “natural” and organic skin care, Sanctum is a strong supporter of this expo and would love to see you there.

Held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, there’s something for everyone with delicious food tastings prepared by celebrity chefs, the latest advances in all-natural beauty treatments, gardening tips and organic wine to try.

For more info visit www.organicexpo.com.au

This week one of our Biochemists, Warren, discusses the benefits of Glycerine.

What is Glycerine?

Glycerine is a pure compound and technically a trihydric alcohol. It is a type of sugar. It is a part of all plant oils and is produced from the manufacture of soap. 

What are its benefits?

There is evidence that it is involved with the metabolism of cellular maturation. In this way it helps keep the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, healthy. This part of the skin provides the most protection for our bodies from the environment.

What is it used for?

Transparent and without scent, Glycerine is a heavy sticky liquid. It is strongly hygroscopic and so attracts moisture to the skin making it an excellent moisturiser.  It is also used in cooking especially to help keep cakes moist (it is a sweetener with a low GI).

Glycerine vs. other ingredients?

Glycerine is not a sexy raw material mainly because it is inexpensive and easily available.  But it can be said there are very few sexy ingredients that are as good as Glycerine for basic skin hydration and health.

How is Glycerine used in Sanctum products?

Only plant oils that have been grown certified organically are used for the production of the Glycerine in Sanctum products.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

The ingredient I would, firstly, like to discuss you will find in nearly every product we make:  Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. Definitely one of my favorite ingredients.

Ale Vera is transparent gel from the leaves of the tropical Aloe vera plant.  The gel is extracted by pushing the large succulent leaves through rollers that squeeze out the juice.  The juice is often concentrated before sold.  The juice contains a number of biologically active compounds including polysaccharides, lectins, mannans and the antioxidant anthraquinones.It promotes healing and cellular renewal. It is soothing, moisturizing and toning for all skin types.  It also has antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe Vera is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to man. Used by ancient Egyptians it has remarkable healing abilities and is recommended for light burns to soothe and encourage healing. It draws and holds oxygen and water to the skin improving its tone.  The polysaccharides in particular make it extremely soothing and protecting. An added plus is its natural astringent ability.

Aloe Vera has had a lot of attention in the last two decades and rightly so. We use Aloe Vera that has been farmed & produced certified organically.

Regards,
Warren

Cawarra Cosmetics

Formulator &
Bio Chemist

Sanctum, has been aware of the issue surrounding palm oil for some time. We understand that in certain Asian based countries rainforests are being destroyed & primates such as apes & orang-utans are being displaced, some even killed in the process. Since Sanctum became certified organic we have ensured that we consciously source our ingredients from ethical & fair trade suppliers. This includes palm oil & its derivatives which we source from Brazil. These are from certified organic plantations that have been established for over 50 years farming palm oil.

The main products  in the Sanctum range that palm oil is used in is our soap which is certified organic saponified palm oil. The reason why we use this & derivatives of the oil in our products as there is not many safe natural & organic based alternatives that are both active & provide benefits to the skin.

If you have any more questions about the use of palm oil &/ or our source please let us know by emailing enquiries@sanctumaustralia.com

Last week we explored sensitive skin from the perspective of natural skin care formulations and ingredients.  This post addresses common sensitive skin concerns and questions.  I hope it is helpful to you. (Please remember that the comments below are the views of an individual and not intended as professional advice for a persons skin treatment and condition.)

1) how would you define a “sensitive” skin? The characteristics of a sensitive skin can be very thin, fragile looking with a tendency to look pink or flushed.

There are 2 types of sensitive skin:

Hypersensitive – any skin type can suffer from hypersensitive and normally is a skin reaction that is superficial and starts when a product is applied. The sensitive skin client will experience a warming, tingling or itchy sensation and once the product is removed the skin will calm down after 30 to 60 mins.

Allergic sensitive – an allergic reaction to a product is rare but will normally occur on a deeper dermal level and the client will not experience anything immediately but will have a reaction within 6 to 24 hours and will experience swelling, severe redness and deep itchiness and will need to seek medical advice.

2) in your experience, what are the most irritating ingredients/factors to skin?

some of the most irritating ingredients can be certain preservative, colouring agents, ingredients with astringent properties, artificial fragrance and harsh abrasive ingredients

3) have you found that natural products are less irritating to skin than products containing chemical ingredients?

It really depends on the ingredients and each skin will react in a different way to different ingredients.

4) what are the key factors in selecting a product suited to sensitive skin?

Choosing products that are designed to calm and soothe the skin as well treating the skin gently whilst cleansing, exfoliating and ensure the water is always tepid not hot or cold. Try to avoid extremes in temperatures as well as over exposure to UV rays.

5) are there any other factors to sensitive skin, other than what we apply topically?

Yes try to avoid the following to ensure that a sensitive skin remains calm. Certain spicy food, coffee, red wine, saunas, steam baths and excessive sun exposure.

6) some natural ingredients can be irritating to the skin – what are the most common of these in your experience?

Some natural products can have a high concentration of essential oils that can also irritate the skin.

When treating a truly sensitive skin the less is more rule applies: less product, less stimulation and less heat as well as less time spent on your home care and that is something we all want.

For many people common sense would suggest that chemicals would be generally more irritating and less soothing to the skin than natural products.  Research also cautions us against the use of certain ingredients and preservatives.

Whilst it is true that natural ingredients can be irritating on the skin, we hear over an over from delighted customers  “Sanctum is the only range, the only products that i can use on my skin without a irritating reaction.”

Below are some questions – answered by Chemist Warren Taylor that you may find interesting.

1)       how would you define a “sensitive” skin?

This is really something you find by experience.  It is one that is easily irritated, that is goes red or itchy.  There is some difficulty in finding more basic causes for sensitive skin but certainly some involve allergies.

2)       in your experience, what are the most irritating ingredients/factors to skin

Apart from the AHAs and the citrus juices containing them some essential oils are very irritating.  Synthetic surfactants are also very irritating to about 20% of the population.

3) have you found that natural products are less irritating to skin than products containing chemical ingredients?

Yes and I think for 2 reasons.  They will not contain synthetic surfactants and many natural ingredients have an anti-inflammatory effect.

4) what are the key factors in selecting a product suited to sensitive skin?

Knowledge of what products have caused an adverse reaction.  With any luck an ingredient will stand out.

5) are there any other factors to sensitive skin, other than what we apply topically?

Sun and smoking have their role as do other allergic factors like pollen and pollution.

We have explored certified organic, logos and a little more about the Sanctum range and in this blog I have some insight in to a common skin question…”is it true that using products with oil in them will cause breakouts on oily skin?”

The information below is from the experience of a well known beauty therapistt. After her comments, i have included the comments from a leading natural skin care chemist.

“It is my belief that it is a myth that oil on the skin will cause break outs, however, there are some considerations that help us understand why breakouts may seem related to oils applied to the skin.

Often people with oily skins use stripping / high alcohol content products and then, when an oil is applied to the skin a break out can occur.  I see this break out as an interim / transitional event only – due to the skin being confused from incorrect treatment initially.  In the long term, certain oils are definitely more beneficial to the health of the skin than stripping products.

In my experience, we successfully use a ‘like treats like’ approach, where the correct oils will actually assist to balance an oily skin.

Importantly, the type of oil must be considered.  Lighter planet based oils (jojoba, rosehip) penetrate the skin and do not sit on the skin. They can assist the skin correct an imbalance of oils.

Heavy, non-botanical oils have been found not to penetrate the skin, and therefore sit on the skin, having a clogging effect and causing break outs.”

And now words from the Chemist:

“I have yet to find a definitive list for comedogenic oils; most lists have different oils on them!

It is also fairly well accepted that despite the possibility of oils in a formulation being comedogenic the formulation itself may not be at all.  Apparently there are cases of formulations being comedogenic even when they contained no oils thought of as poor in this respect.

There is also a wide variance of individual response and I suspect that some breakouts may result from emulsifiers used rather than oil in the product.”

Whilst it makes sense that oil skin needs no more oil added, we can see the inbalance caused by working against the body in an attempt to strip the oil away.

Avoiding chemical based oils and emulsifiers can also be a challenge as these may not be obvious within ingredients lists.  You can make this simpler by selecting Certified Organic products (certified by one of the Australian Government approved bodies).

On behalf of all of the comments we receive from our customers, the best results by far have been achieved by getting to know your skin and working with the skin, using natural and pure ingredients.

If you would like assistance in selecting a product, you are welcome to email news@sanctumaustralia.com

Shortly I will create a post that takes a close look at SENSITIVE skin…what is it, what causes it and how you can treat it…