As much as we'd like to think we know about skincare, there are some interesting facts that are rarely talked about. Let's get into the reveal.
- The baobab tree, known as the "Tree of Life" and featured on The Lion King movie:
Baobab trees are estimated to be over 3,000 years old. These trees are able to survive droughts and are termite and fire resistant-making safe shelters for animal and humans, providing storage space, food, thousands of liters of water in its trunks, rope, and clothing. Some believe that these trees, which symbolize life and resilience were the original trees in the biblical "Garden of Eden". It regrows its own bark if stripped. and has its own natural accessories: white, night-blooming flowers which are pollinated by bats. These trees serve as meeting places for community elders. If you're ever happen to encounter one of these trees, you should know that it might be bad luck to pick the flowers!
The bark is used for medicine to treat illnesses, such as fever, its oils used as a moisturizer for skin and hair, and it might be helpful to drink the seed-water before venturing near crocodiles. I don't know if I'd put the seed-water to the test. Not much of a crocodile fan, myself...Nope.
2. Artisan Skincare Products Have More Concentrated Actives.
If you ever wondered why so many people are leaving mass-produced products and turning to artisan-crafted natural products (not to toot our own horn, but hey...honk honk), it's because we use less resources to build our products, we leave out toxins, and give you more of the nourishment you need in a single bottle, reducing the need for a 5-piece skincare box just to get the job done. (Flips hair).
3. Your Vitamin C Serum Might Not Contain as Much Vitamin C as You Think it Does.
If the Vitamin C shows up on the ingredient list after the binders, thickeners, and preservatives, the chances are high that there is hardly any Vitamin C in the product, although this might not always be the case. If you've ever heard of "the 1% rule"...
4. You Might One Day See the Results of Your Skincare Obsession in the Mirror.
Every time I watch product content by twenty-year-olds advertising a different anti-aging skin care product on the daily, I cringe inside. My mind screams, "Girl, please stop while your skin still looks healthy!" Excessive overuse of skincare products damage skin over time. You should not be applying anti-aging products and collagen-stimulants in the years before you need them as this won't preserve anything or give you a surplus amount to hold you over in your fifties. On the contrary, it will cause you to really need it at your young age! The last thing you want to do is find yourself rapidly losing elasticity and discovering wrinkles and fine lines in your skin before you hit 30. Promoting being a skincare product addict is NOT it. Remember, LESS is MORE!
5. Arsenic Skincare Was All the Hype in the Victorian Era...I'll pass, thank you.
If you think today's skincare methods are a little kooky, imagine living in the Victorian Era when women were convinced that "Arsenic Wafers" would give them pale, translucent skin, which was a more attractive complexion that said, "I'm an upper-class lady, I do not engage in outside labors, thank thee very much". Well, despite people knowing arsenic to be a poison back then, doctors convinced them that this was a safe practice, and it was marketed and readily accepted. The assumed "English Rose" look quickly became the "fatal death" look, as women nibbled these wafers (which damaged the red bloods cells, hence, the pallid death look of beauty). But it didn't stop there. They added it to dress fabric, creams, lotions, and even soap. The results: think hair loss, lesions on the skin, nervous system dysfunction, and sadly, death. Smh... Ladies, beauty should never hurt that much.
6. The Vampire Facial Lives On
While the legends of Elizabeth Bathory live on despite debates about whether or not she was innocent of bathing in the blood of some 30-600 virgins to achieve eternal life, the idea that blood begets beauty survives (not in the same sense, thank goodness!). Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, done by drawing blood and placing it in a centrifuge to extract platelets and then microneedling it or injecting it to brighten skin and treat blemishes and acne scars, etc., is still very much practiced. Have you heard of this? Would you or have you tried it?
7. 10,000 Bulgarian Rosa Damascena Petals Gets You How Much Oil?
Unfortunately, about one pound using steam distillation. Yes. A single pound of rosa damascena oil. It's no surprise that most skincare products that contain rosa damascena are more costly. It's also worth mentioning that time is of the essence when getting these flowers together- between 5AM-11PM... or the oil will evaporate. It's definitely giving Cinderella vibes.
8. Imagine being Buried with A Pomegranate
-The Ancient Egyptians didn't have to imagine it. Pomegranates and pomegranate seed oil were thought to be symbols of resurrection, and it was believed that being buried with them would help one to achieve everlasting life. This kind of adds up because there has been debate as to whether apples were the fruits in the biblical "Garden of Eden", or whether these so-called apples were...pomegranates actually. Either way, I enjoy both fruits.
9. Chia Seed Offerings to the Gods
Chia seeds and chia seed oils were highly valued in the Aztec empire and was often used in rituals and given as offerings to Aztec deities. Chia seeds were also accepted as taxes by rulers. If only we paid taxes in chia seeds today!
10.) Before Men Liked Blue Eyes... They Loved Belladonna-Eyed Gals
As this train rumbles back through the Renaissance Era, we discover yet another insane beauty practice. Belladonna eyedrops, (also known as "deadly nightshade). These were used to dilate the pupils to make the eyes appear larger and more attractive but- it didn't stop there. It was also used on the skin to gain a pale complexion which was considered seductive. The paler you were, the more social status you were thought to have. I'm assuming going to those extremes eventually won their love interests over, though I imagine the relationships must have been...short-lived.
To read more of our blogs and get helpful information about skincare, visit News – Dollhouse Botanicals