As the body’s largest organ responsible for protecting our insides from the outside world, it is critically important that we keep it healthy and, of course, looking its best. Having a simple, yet effective, daily skincare routine comprising the essential steps of cleansing, moisturizing and protecting your skin from environmental aggression (UV rays + pollution) is the surest way of properly caring for your precious outer covering! Be sure to select products that are made in ultra clean (cGMP certified) environments and whose performance claims are supported by clinical tests performed on live individuals (in-vivo testing), to ensure that your products are safe and will do what they promise.

(3 min read) 

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The skin barrier (stratum corneum) represents the body’s first line of defense against the outside world. Unfortunately, the daily use of harsh microbiome- and moisture-stripping chemical products on the skin (ex. cleansers), coupled with the steady assault by the environment (sun, pollutants, pathogens), oftentimes causes our skin barrier to become compromised and unable to properly do its job. In order to avoid and/or repair an already compromised skin barrier, it is imperative that lost moisture be replaced and sealed within the skin and oxidative stress-causing free radicals be neutralized. Selecting skincare products that (a) neutralize free radicals and manage inflammation, (b) are microbiome friendly, (c) do not strip protective oils and (d) effectively moisturize the skin, will enable your skin to perform its important barrier protection function.

(12 min read)

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The skin microbiome is comprised of colonies of microorganisms whose job it is to ensure that a proper balance is maintained between the good and bad microbes within the colonies. Should the balance be tipped in favor of the bad microbes, the microbiome will biologically trigger the body’s immune system to spring into action and restore proper balance, otherwise skin will become inflamed and begin to deteriorate. The use of skincare products that are microbiome-friendly, rather than microbiome-stripping, is the best strategy for preserving one’s skin microbiome.

(8 min read)

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Exposome is the term used to describe all the damaging environmental aggressors (UV rays and air particulate pollutants) that the skin is “exposed” to daily. The exposome causes free radicals, a.k.a., reactive oxygen species (ROS) to form on the skin that, if left unchecked, wreak havoc on its health and appearance. The best way of avoiding exposome damage is through the use of products that have been clinically proven to not only neutralize existing free radicals present on the skin, but that are also capable of forming an antioxidant-rich film on the skin surface to keep them from contacting the skin and becoming problematic in the first place.

(15 min read)

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The field of genetics, a subspecialty of biotechnology, is starting to influence the understanding and treatment of various skin disorders. Hence, the ability to take a sample of a person’s DNA to determine whether they are genetically predisposed to suffer from certain skin disorders so that they can better manage their individual skin disorder via the use of specific types of active
ingredients represents the next great frontier in skincare.  Continue reading if you want to learn more
about this testing and what it can tell you.

(15 min read)

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Biotechnology is beginning to play a major role when it comes to the sourcing of nature-equivalent active ingredients that possess a consistent and reproducible level of potency, safety, and sustainability that today’s consumers expect from their clean/natural skincare products. For example, by leveraging
biotech-derived fermentation microbes as miniature chemical factories or selecting plant cells based on their benefits as expressed in skin cells models, new and unique plant-based active ingredients can be created with specific functional properties meant to address the needs of an individual’s skin more safely and efficaciously.  If you’re curious about biotech, this chapter is for you.

(15 min read)

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Hydration (moisture) is critically important to the way skin looks, feels, and performs. Inadequately hydrated skin is not only more susceptible to looking dull, flaky, and irritated but its ability to protect the body from the outside world is also negatively impacted. Use of a Corneometer on live clinical study volunteers to measure skin hydration levels represents the industry standard.

(20 min read)

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Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) references the amount of water that evaporates from within the skin via the skin’s surface. Although TEWL is a phenomenon that occurs naturally throughout the course of a day, excessive TEWL is an obvious problem and typically a sign of a poorly functioning skin barrier. A device known as a “Tewameter” is used to measure the amount of water evaporating from the skin surface to ascertain a product’s impact on TEWL.

(18 min read)

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The body naturally produces an oily substance known as sebum which not only helps to hydrate skin, but also protects it from harmful microorganisms and sunlight. The over-production of sebum can lead to skin disorders such as acne and cause skin to appear oily/greasy. A device known as a “sebumeter” is used to measure sebum production by the skin and ascertain a product’s ability to influence sebum production levels.

(18 min read)

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Being good stewards of our planet is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that future generations will have a clean safe place to call home. By using plant-based packaging materials for our products, managing our carbon footprint when it comes to product transportation, and respecting global fair labor practices, Codex is always striving to make sustainability a top priority in its business model.

(2 min read)

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The concept of sustainability also includes the product inside the package. The implementation and consistent use of Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Control processes reduces product waste which further reinforces one’s commitment to sustainability.

(3 min read)

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