Nature’s injectables

Over the last decade, the beauty industry has seen a surge in the popularity of cosmetic injectable treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers, along with complex, chemical-driven skincare formulas. On the flip side, the “clean” beauty movement has gained momentum, making it clear that consumers are looking for alternative solutions when it comes to supporting ageing confidently and naturally.

While cosmetic injectables certainly deliver results, these procedures do come with associated risks, ranging from poor cosmetic outcomes to, at worst, blindness or skin cell death. Likewise, “toxic” ingredients in skincare may have an adverse impact on your wellbeing. According to studies, you can absorb over 60 per cent of the ingredients you apply topically to your skin, the body’s largest organ — meaning the products can penetrate through the skin barrier and into the blood, where toxins may contribute to hormone disruption, as well as lowered immunity, allergies or intolerances, among other health issues.

In a results-driven consumer culture, it poses the question: do you have to make a choice between natural or effective beauty methods to slow the clock on ageing? Or can natural ingredients really have a significant age-defying effect?

“Yes, absolutely they can!”, says Annabelle Personeni, a leading skincare biochemist and formulator behind JSHealth Vitamins, a science-focused yet natural, vitamin-infused skincare range. It’s important to note, when speaking about natural versus synthetic, that it’s not the origin of the ingredient that determines its efficacy. “Many very potent ingredients were first discovered in nature,” explains Personeni. “Botanical extracts and ingredients