Are your skin care products evaporating into thin air?

Water-free skin care | Shop Mokosh at Biome | Blog Post Did you know: up to 80% of a bottle of water-based moisturiser will literally evaporate into thin air once applied! Most skin care products are majority water. If you see 'aqua', 'aloe vera juice' or 'hydrosol' at the start of the ingredients list, then that product is likely comprised of up to 80% water. The other ingredients such as oils and butters that actually do the work and target your specific skin care concerns hide amongst the remaining 20%, alongside preservatives, emulsifiers and fragrances, which are often synthetic. We find that water-free skin care alternatives can be more effective at caring for your skin, better value for money, free from harmful toxins, and when you shop at Biome, a more sustainable choice. That's why we love the water-free Mokosh skin care range.

Why do most skin care products contain so much water?

This main purpose of the water component is to dilute the beneficial oils so they are more easily spread over the skin. The water doesn't help hydrate the skin. It also doesn't help smooth, nourish or protect the skin. In fact, within around 15 minutes of applying, the water component will literally evaporate straight off!

The 'sunk in' illusion

Initially a water-based product will feel cool on the skin, and quickly appears as though it has 'sunk in'. This is an illusion though. That 'sunk in' feeling is actually the water evaporating from the product. A large percentage of the cream has evaporated into thin air, and what remains is the small percentage of other ingredients. This also means you will need to use more of that water-based product to see results, in turn spending more money replenishing the products and generating more waste.

All water-based skin care needs preservatives

Water-based skin care needs a preservative added to it to ensure bacteria and fungi don't grow in the product. Without preservatives, a water-based product would have a shelf life of merely a few days or weeks. Preservatives inhibit bacteria and fungi growth in the product. However, when you then apply that product you are also killing the bacteria and fungi that live on your skin, impacting the health of your skin's microbiome. A healthy, resilient skin microbiome, like a healthy gut microbiome, has a large range of different species, so killing the bacteria and fungi that live on your skin may not be in its best interests. Besides impacting your skin's microbiome, many preservatives are synthetic. Phenoxyethanol, for example, is a very common synthetic preservative used in skin care (even those marketed as 'natural'). However, it is a potential carcinogen and recommended to be avoided during pregnancy. It is also likely palm oil derived, so its manufacture is contributing to environmental destruction and global warming. SIDE NOTE: you won't find any phenoxyethanol or harmful preservatives in the skin care products we stock at Biome.

What about water-free skin care?

With water-free skin care like Mokosh you are applying only the beneficial ingredients to your skin. A concentrated blend of pure nutrients that is not only free from water, but also free from preservatives, emulsifiers and synthetics, so much closer to nature than water-based skin care. Water-free skin care products will also last you a much longer time because you don't need to use as much. They're essentially up to five times the concentration! So with water-free skin care you'll use less, replenish the products less frequently, save money, and avoid the filler ingredients that don't provide benefit to your skin. Water-free skin care | Shop Mokosh at Biome | Blog Post

Won't all those oils make my skin oily and break out?

Dermatologists remind us that oil alone does not lead to pimples, cysts, blackheads and whiteheads. Instead, blemishes are the result of several different factors, including hormones, bacteria, and the build up of dead skin cells. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it, and it is there for the benefit of your skin. Water-free oil cleansers are designed to gently cleanse your skin. They remove blackheads, excess sebum, dirt and impurities, and at the same time replenish oils that will restore your skin's barrier. They don't strip your skin of natural oils, unlike other cleansers. When it comes to water-free moisturisers, serums and other oil-based products, your skin will only feel oily if you use too much. TIP: Oil-based skin care only needs to be used sparingly compared with water-based skin care. Oil-based skin care is much more concentrated. Water-free skin care | Shop Mokosh at Biome | Blog Post

The best water-free skin care routine for my skin

Whether you have oily, combination, normal, dry or mature skin, Mokosh have have a simple, effective and ethical skin care routine for you.

Cleanse:

Take 2-3 pumps of the Makeup Remover & Cleansing Oil and massage it over the face in circular motions for 2 minutes. Take a few deep breaths as you do this to really embrace the relaxing experience and pure, natural ingredients. Remove the cleansing oil by pressing a warm, damp face cloth onto the skin. If you are wearing makeup, we recommend repeating the process for a double cleanse, or simply pump some Cleansing Oil directly into a cotton face wipe and glide it around the face to remove. [pswp_products ids="16688"]

Treat:

After cleansing, and while the skin is still slightly moist (not dripping wet), take just 2-3 drops of your favourite Mokosh serum, warm it in the hands and pat it gently into the face, eye, and neck areas. [pswp_products ids="17301,16689,37324"]

Moisturise:

Take a half a pea-sized amount (or even less) of the Rich or Light face creams. Warm it in the hands and pat into the skin. [pswp_products ids="6022,6374"]

Exfoliate:

1-2 times a week, take 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of the Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator & Mask and add sufficient water to make a smooth paste. Gently massage into the face using small circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. Follow with the Pure Hydrosol Toner, a Mokosh serum and a Mokosh moisturiser of your choice. [pswp_products ids="16687,5994"] As you can see you only need a very small amount of each product, so each will last you a very long time, making this ethical skin care range excellent value for money.

About the Mokosh water-free skin care range

Based in Western Australia and founded by former medical scientist, veterinarian and pathologist Marion O'Leary, Mokosh combine science, Ayurveda and pure botanical ingredients to create extremely high quality, concentrated certified organic skin care products that are made in Australia. Mokosh is 100% palm oil free, cruelty free, preservative free and synthetic free. Each product is made with the purest ingredients to the highest standards and will help you experience the joy of healthy, radiant skin. You can shop the exceptional Mokosh range online and in store at Biome. Water-free skin care | Shop Mokosh at Biome | Blog Post
Further reading: https://mokosh.com.au/blogs/blog/why-you-should-make-the-switch-to-water-free-skin-care https://mokosh.com.au/blogs/blog/microbiome-your-skin-your-planet
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