– Sun Damaged
– 100% Whole Plant Organic
– 27 Beneficial Active Ingredients
– 30ml
repair, strengthen, restore, brighten
Sun Serum: Phyto Defense + Repair is a concentrated moisturizer, treatment serum, and elemental defense oil that addresses the symptoms that come with overexposure to the sun. By combining the most current botanical research on phytonutrients with centuries-old plant traditions, this repairing serum delivers a firmer more supple appearance, a brighter more even tone, and a visible reduction in irritation and discoloration.
Our Sun Serum is ideally applied both before and after time spent in the sun, as it features whole plant extracts that address both prevention and repair through the use of antioxidant-dense and anti-inflammatory botanicals. Whole plants rich in carotenoids, resveratrol, flavonoids, polyphenols, and essential fatty acids are blended mindfully to help prevent UV damage. This Serum’s reported repairing abilities include quick recovery from sunburn to a slow and steady brightening of years of chronic sun damage. Tiny, sun-loving Scarlet Pimpernel flower has been used historically for sun-kissed skin, along with healing, resinous Calendula. Licorice Rootand Bilberry have both been researched extensively for brightening-up long term sun-induced hyperpigmentation. While Licorice Root reduces inflammation and directly acts to reduce melanin production, Bilberry flavonoids prevent oxidation and work to strengthen and protect. Nutrient dense fruit and seed oils from Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip, and Red Grape provide elemental defense with EFAs, carotenoids, and resveratrol. Soothing plants Chamomile and Marshmallow Root soften and provide relief to immediate irritation and redness, while Gotu Kola and Carrot Seed firm connective tissue over time. Oils like our Red Raspberry and Jojoba are all raw and unrefined, offering additional antioxidant defense against UV induced oxidation.
Ingredients
Scarlet Pimpernel – This tiny coral flower represents joy and strength. Laurel’s spirit plant grows wherever she goes. It thrives and relishes in the sunshine as a common weed, and has been used historically to reverse sun damage for centuries. By stimulating circulation and bringing new life to cells, rough sun damaged skin is repaired. Simultaneously, Scarlet strengthens our ability to flourish healthily in the full glory of the sun.
Carrot Seed – This antioxidant-rich, aromatic oil helps to firm and soften the skin, repairing chronic UV damage related symptoms such as uneven skin tone and loss of elasticity. Ours is seeded, harvested, and distilled just for us by a farm in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Licorice – This organically cultivated root is a powerful anti-inflammatory, containing phytoconstituents that provide immediate relief, improving all skin functions. Licorice has been studied extensively for its ability to balance and slow melanin production, making it a brightening ally for hyperpigmentation and scarring.
Sea Buckthorn – This concentrated superfood extract is made of the whole fruit and seed, which makes it a wealth of its entire range of essential fatty acids, vitamin C, flavonoids and carotenoids. Its whole plant synergy works together to strengthen connective tissue and prevent its breakdown.
Marshmallow – This gentle root is an ideal skin softener for those who have spent years basking in the sun’s glow. Grown just miles from our Petaluma apothecary-lab, Marshmallow is a soothing anti-inflammatory to address redness and irritation of any kind.
Red Raspberry Seed Oil – Our organic, unrefined Red Raspberry Seed oil is custom-pressed for us and contains nutrients making it specific for both pre- and post-sun care. It’s a beautiful, soft, antioxidant-rich oil that offers a wide variety of essential fatty acids. It contains both carotenoids and flavonoids, such as Rutin. Both the whole oil itself and its individual constituents have been closely studied for their ability to prevent UV induced skin damage.
Red Grape Seed Oil – When we are seeking Resveratrol, not just any grape seed oil will do. It has to be raw, unrefined, and made with red grapes in order to help protect and repair our skin from UV damage. This is incredibly rare in the world of skin care. It is deep greenish blue in color, and it smells just like grapes. When examining our ingredients, Red Grape falls pretty far down on the list, and that is strictly due to its potency. If you are using products with Grape as a primary ingredient, and the product doesn’t smell like grapes, then that can be an obvious cue that it has been refined and the necessary antioxidants that promote UV defense and repair are no longer present.
**This serum also contains plants that have been studied for their ability to support our skin against UV damage, such as Red Raspberry Seed, Cranberry Seed, and Jojoba.**
Full Ingredient List: Jojoba Oil˚, Rosehip Fruit and Seed Oil˚, Red Raspberry Seed Oil˚, Almond Oil˚, Sesame Seed Oil˚, Sea Buckthorn Fruit and Seed Oil˚, Cranberry Seed Oil˚, Pumpkin Seed Oil˚, Red Grape Seed Oil˚, Tamanu Oil˚, Rosemary Extract˚; House Made Whole Plant Extracts of Scarlet Pimpernel˚, Calendula˚, Gotu Kola˚, Licorice˚, Bilberry Fruit˚, Comfrey˚, Chamomile˚, Red Clover˚, Marshmallow˚, Rosehip Fruit˚, Nettle˚, Horsetail˚; Essential Oils of Sandalwood˚, Carrot Seed˚, Helichrysum˚, Cistus˚
˚organically grown ingredient
Usage
After applying Elixir first for hydration, then apply 3-5 drops of Serum into fingertips and press into wet face and neck. Follow with Balm, if desired. This product works as a treatment serum, a moisturizer, and it strengthens your skin’s response to the sun and environmental elements.
Use within 6 months of opening and by the recommended use-by date, which is found on the bottom of the bottle. Store this product in a cool, dry and dark place.
Laurel says
Plants + Sun Care
While physical sunscreens like Zinc have an important place and are necessary in many situations, there is much evidence to support that plants can indeed strengthen our skin’s response to UV rays. Studies show that nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, Beta Carotene, Rutin, Quercetin, Resveratrol, and many different polyphenols can lessen damage brought on by both UVA and UVB rays. All of these nutrients are most definitely found in the potent plants that we work with. On the other side of this conversation, plants are not drugs and are not designed to behave in the same way. Plants can offer varying degrees of protection from UV induced oxidation and inflammation, but they don’t act as a foolproof physical sunscreen. If you are relying on whole plants for UV protection, you would need to reapply more frequently than you would a zinc sunscreen, because plants absorb into the skin more readily. Read our journal about using plants as sunscreen.
Individual Choice
All the research aside, what do I do personally? I love the sun and I am a huge believer that the sun is essential to our physical, mental and emotional health. I believe the sun on our skin makes us stronger, and it is not natural to block that healing connection – nor would I want to do anything to inhibit my body’s production of Vitamin D. I have chosen not to wear sunscreen for many years. I don’t get too much sun on any given day, walking from my car to our Petaluma Barn. When I do get more sun than usual – either on vacation or on an outdoor adventure – I always wear a hat and apply a combination of our products such as Sun Serum, Hydrating Elixir and Day Balm.
If I felt it was absolutely necessary for me to wear sunscreen, then I would use one containing Zinc as the only listed active drug. I never wear chemical sunscreens, which can be toxic to our body systems, as well as our oceans and coral reefs. I push the limits for my own skin on this delicate topic, because I wholeheartedly believe we shouldn’t live in fear of the sun or even the rare occasional sunburn for that matter. This does not mean that I don’t think zinc-based sunscreen is helpful and necessary in many situations – possibly even daily for many individuals; especially those who may be in poor health or have autoimmune disease.
