Ingredients
Our ingredients are the foundation of our products. We source carefully, looking for small-scale suppliers and high quality materials. We choose our ingredients for their history and their properties. Some have been distilled and used for centuries in the same ways that we use them in our products today, while others are the best of modern botanical science.
We've started a glossary of our ingredients below and will continue adding to it.
Meanwhile in our Journal we'll be sharing our experiences of visiting distilleries, farms and shops in India where we source some of our raw materials. We'll also write about the historical evidence and stories about how our ingredients have been discovered, used and distilled over time, and about the different practices and beliefs, rituals and religious influences related to healing, adornment and perfumery that we draw upon.
Ingredients
Activated Charcoal
Found in the Vajara Scrub
Activated charcoal has been used in healthcare for decades. It's used to treat poisoning and overdoses as it's very absorbent and binds to toxins and is increasingly used for other health conditions as well. Some cultures have been using it to treat skin conditions for many years, but it's made its way into mainstream skincare products in more recent times. Its absorbent qualities make it an excellent ingredient for masques and scrubs, as sits on the skin it can draw impurities to the surface. With its increasing popularity in skincare, there's more researching being conducted into its benefits.
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/charcoal-mask-benefits
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322609#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
Almond Oil
Found in Kosha Body Oil and Universal Balm
Almond Oil is full of beneficial nutrients, including Vitamins A and E, Zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids and more. It has been used topically in Ayurveda for the treatment of dry skin, eczema and psoriasis and scarring. In some studies, Almond Oil has been found to improve the appearance and emergence of stretch marks, as well as improve the absorption of other ingredients. Almond Oil is an emollient, which means it provides moisture to the skin and helps to maintain the skin's protective barrier. This in turn keeps irritants out, keeps the skin flexible and supple, and reduces itchiness and dryness. There are studies that even suggest it might help to reduce the damage caused by UV exposure.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/almond-oil-for-face