Tag Archives: All natural ingredients

5 Natural Ingredients to Use During Pregnancy

While pregnant or breastfeeding, it becomes especially important to be mindful of what goes in and on your body. Studies have shown that common chemicals in everyday personal care products, such as shampoo, makeup and moisturizers, are associated with developmental, reproductive and behavioral disorders, hormone disruption and cancer. Nine Naturals believes in creating products that are not only high-performing, but also completely safe and natural. Some of our favorite natural ingredients include:

VITAMIN E: Isolated from vegetable oils, Vitamin E is an important vitamin required for the proper function of many organs and an antioxidant, meaning it helps to slow down processes that damage cells. This is important for pregnant women because it can help prevent complications in late pregnancy due to high blood pressure, PMS, painful periods, hot flashes associated with breast cancer, and breast cysts. The moisturizing properties of Vitamin E for skin is well known but it also does wonders for your hair! When ingested or applied topically on hair, Vitamin E is effective for hair growth by improving blood circulation in the scalp, prevent premature greying by slowing down the overall aging process, giving hair a lustrous shine by promoting natural strength and shine, and preventing split ends by countering damage done by heat. Find Vitamin E used in all Nine Naturals products.

ARGAN OIL: Not all women get pregnancy glow. Some often experience dry skin, especially around the belly, breasts, and hips as the skin swells and grows. High in vitamin E, antioxidants, and linolenic acid, argan oil is a super-effective moisturizer that has been shown to prevent and treat stretch marks by maintaining elasticity and preventing moisture-loss. On top of improving your body’s immunity to diseases such as breast and colorectal cancer, argan oil is good for treating under eye circles, burns, wrinkles, brittle nails, arthritis, and rheumatism pain. Argan oil in Nine Naturals Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner gives lackluster postpartum hair a boost by adding shine and hydrating roots.

BROCCOLI SEED OIL: Broccoli seed oil is high in vitamin C, Vitamin B, and erucic acid, which is a light oil composed of many different omega-9 and omega-6 oils. This means that it helps eliminate free radicals that can contribute to cancer, prevent hair loss while promoting thicker healthier hair, and soothe redness and inflammation. Best part? Broccoli seed oil is a natural substitute for silicone--often found in cosmetic products, particularly in leave-on skincare and haircare products, such as Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter. This natural emollient hydrates hair and skin without leaving a greasy film and adds a protective layer that traps in moisture, and keeping skin and hair hydrated all day long!

CAPUAÇU BUTTER: Found in the rain forests of South America, Cupuacu butter has a natural hazelnut aroma, is rich in phytosterols, polyphenols, and fatty acids, and is a good natural substitute for lanolin. This means that it can be used to effectively treat dry, damaged skin, combat free radicals in tissues, and protect and moisturize skin. Treating skin with cupuacu butter also allows skin to attract 240% more water, fight inflammation, and improve elasticity--making it the perfect ingredient for stretch-mark fighting belly butters! Plus, it also absorbs UV rays, adding natural sun protection. This is why Nine Naturals uses cupuacu butter in its Unscented Moisturizing Body Cream.

COCONUT OIL: Coconut oil, used in all Nine Naturals products, is a fatty acid that is easily metabolized by the body, making it an excellent replacement for butter and oils, and helps regulate blood sugar levels while providing stable energy. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, much-needed lauric, caprylic, and capric acid in coconut oil passes from mother to child. These acids are known to have antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasiticidal properties that support immune system in mommy and baby. On skin, this holy grail ingredient prevents stretch marks and alleviates itchiness on belly and breasts.It’s also a natural, moisturizing, and gentle cleanser. Use to remove makeup from skin, tame frizzy hair, and soothe cracked lips.

Adding these simple and natural ingredients to your beauty routine will go a long way in helping detoxify your pregnancy. Read labels carefully and opt for brands that provide full ingredient transparency. The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database is also great place to get more information about companies with high safety ratings.

At Nine Naturals, we’re on a mission to make beauty simple, smart and safe for moms and moms-to-be. Integral to that is understanding our ingredients’ science and benefits. Today’s Nine Naturals Ingredient Story Series featuring Cupuaçu Butter is part of on ongoing series featuring the natural, plant-based ingredients behind our high performance beauty products.

Loved in its native Brazil for the succulent and sweet fruit that yields it, cupuaçu butter earns plaudits as one of Mother Nature's most impressive ingredients for health and beauty. Although similar to cocoa butter, cupuaçu is even more powerful as an amazing and powerful remedy for damaged skin and hair.

The Science & Extraction of Cupuaçu Butter

Creamy cupuaçu butter is derived from the cupuaçu tree of the eastern subsection of the Amazonian rainforest in Brazil. Brazilian locals make delicious juices and desserts from the fruit of the tree -- the most popular fruit in the country, in fact.

The seed pods within the fruit create the rich and healthful cupuaçu pulp which comprises approximately half the weight of each cupuaçu seed. A process of cold-pressing, refining and filtering renders the butter from each seed to yield the soothing butter.

Cupuaçu’s Benefits for Beautiful Skin

A powerful and deep-penetrating moisturizer, cupuaçu butter is packed with an array of rich compounds including Omega 6- and 9-fatty acids and phytosterols, which can help reverse long-term skin damage and balance skin's moisture levels. Those who suffer from eczema, dermatitis, dandruff, and other skin conditions can also tremendously benefit from cupuaçu's anti-inflammatory activity.

Cupuaçu butter has a high water absorption rate - almost double that of shea butter. The butter restores and reinforces strength and elasticity in every skin cell by improving skin’s long-lasting ability to absorb and retain moisture. By creating a fortress of moisture at the cellular level, cupuaçu proves essential for anyone craving truly healthy and vibrant skin. In short, cupuaçu is a potent all-around wonder for the skin, direct from Mother Nature.

Why Nine Naturals Loves Cupuaçu Butter

Nine Naturals hand-picks each ingredient in our products to ensure the best beauty benefits that nature offers. USDA Certified Organic cupuaçu butter is an essential part of our formulations. We use cupuaçu butter in our products focusing on restoring moisture in the skin and hair including our Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner, Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash, Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter & Stretch Mark Cream, and Unscented Moisturizing Body Cream. Improving moisture is a crucial task in the battle against pregnancy skin woes like irritation and stretch marks.

Cupuaçu butter is but one ingredient in Nine Naturals’ arsenal of powerful, toxin-free ingredients for beautiful skin and hair. Checkout others like jojoba seed oil and geranium oil by checking out our Ingredient Glossary.