CAMELLIA OIL
Also known as tsubaki oil, this antioxidant-rich
oil has been a Japanese beauty staple for centuries. Traditionally,
geisha used the cold-pressed oil to remove makeup and condition their
hair. It's rich in antioxidants and oleic acid, helping to restore
moisture to skin and add shine to hair. Two Japanese-inspired products
to try: Tatcha Camellia Beauty Oil amps up the luxury factor with the addition of gold flakes, while Shu Uemura Art of Hair Moisture Velvet mask leaves hair glossy and smooth.
ROSE
More
than a thousand years ago, roses were used to treat everything from
depression to coughing fits—and with good reason. This bloom has one
impressive résumé, which includes anti-inflammatory properties,
emollient qualities, and antimicrobial activity. For skin, that means
rose-infused treatments can soothe and hydrate, as in Fresh Rose Face Mask and Shiffa's petal-adorned Rose Bliss Balm. Hair, too, gets a floral boost with Christophe Robin Instant Volumizing Mist, which uses cold-pressed rose seeds and steam-distilled rose petals to soften locks and keep color from going brassy.
MANUKA HONEY
Not
to be confused with the sweet stuff that comes in a bear container,
manuka honey is a souped-up superversion that intensifies honey's
inherent qualities. Made from the nectar of the manuka tree, native to
New Zealand and Australia, this liquid gold is heralded for its
anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties—and as recent studies
have found, it may help speed up the healing process. Translation: It's a
godsend for blemish-prone, easily irritated skin. Try it in the
softening, firming Apinourish Rejuvenating Face Mask from Manuka Doctor, a Kiwi brand specializing in the ingredient (as well as humanely harvested bee venom).
CAVIAR
Caviar
might just be the ultimate delicacy—and not just for your taste buds.
Found in luxe skin-care and hair products, caviar extract is loaded with
fatty acids and lipids that provide a smoothing, plumping effect. La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift Cream, for instance, partners the ingredient with peptides to minimize the look of tired eyes. And Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue packs caviar into a mask to repair dry, damaged hair while you sleep. Sweet—or should we say salty?—dreams.
GOLD SILK SERICIN
A
brighter, more even complexion may owe thanks to the humble silkworm—or
more specifically, to its cocoon. To develop its Aurealux collection of
skin care, Dolce & Gabbana created a nine-step process to transform
a golden cocoon into a moisture-boosting extract. The protein from the
cocoon, sericin, is a mix of amino acids and polypeptides that combat
wrinkles and boost radiance. It's the kind of beauty alchemy that leaves
skin feeling smooth as, well, you know.
SAFFRON
Weighing
in at up to $5,000 per pound, saffron is among the most expensive
natural substances in the world. Made of the dried stigmas of the Crocus
sativus flower, an extract of saffron is the star ingredient of Yves
Saint Laurent Or Rouge collection; the once-yearly cultivation in
Morocco requires hand-plucking the pistils from the plants, and it takes
150 flowers to produce just one gram. Why go to all of this fuss?
Because crocin, a glycan found in saffron, is what is called a messenger
ingredient, one that encourages older skin cells to behave like younger
ones. With that kind of science, we're not surprised YSL calls it red
gold.
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