CBD And Clean Skincare: Making Natural Products Work For Your Skin

At MANTLE, we cherish the skin: it’s the largest organ we own, glaringly reactive to internal and external stimulus, responsive to touch and feelings- the skin is something we want to keep smooth, soft, and supple at all times. For most of us, the skin is a reflection of our identity- from the colour of it, the textures, and patterns, the birthmarks and freckles, to the occasional mark, scar, or pimple; we must cherish every phase and cycle of our skin as an extension of ourselves. Our skin is a huge part of our identity: it’s a symbol of our inner fluctuations, a reflection of our health and level of self-care, and an indicator of our genetic heritage. Put succinctly, the skin is a tangible expression of the self- and, by this reasoning, to cherish the skin is a way to cherish the whole self.

So it’s no surprise, then, that we’ve created three premium CBD-skin products- all containing natural, clean ingredients which have been tried and tested on a range of skin types. 

Clean and Natural Skincare

Not only does clean, natural skincare help your skin to thrive with its simple, non-toxic ingredients, it also allows the skin to come into contact with pieces of nature itself. However, what really makes our skincare products different is how each product contains original, premium plant extracts. 

Clean Ingredients

Our ingredients are all sourced responsibly, with many of our botanicals cultivated organically. At MANTLE, we truly value clean beauty, so we’ve made our products all vegan, cruelty-free, and ethically (as well as locally) sourced. 

Since CBD is the main ingredient which links all our premium skin products together, we are pleased to use organically cultivated hemp (also known as cannabis Sativa) as the primary source for all our CBD-infused products. This means that at MANTLE we can remain an environmentally-conscious place, since hemp can be grown under pretty much any circumstance, without the need for hyper-controlled greenhouses with LED lights and heat to waste energy and electricity. Industrial hemp is also an extraordinary plant, because it can also produce a wide range of other products: oil (from its seeds and otherwise within the plant) textiles, fabric, and even biofuel. It’s one of the most efficient and easy plants to cultivate, as well as being potentially beneficial for the environment, since it is known for restoring nutrients back into the soil from which it grows. We also extract our CBD via supercritical CO2 extraction, which is the most environmentally-conscious and high-yielding method of CBD extraction. Lastly, the hemp is grown by local Swizz farmers, who are paid fairly- so you can know that our products have a low carbon footprint and are locally sourced. 

We value the health and happiness of all those involved in producing our products just as much as the wellbeing of our consumers. Since we are a wellness brand, we believe that the journey each ingredient takes into forming a premium self-care product is just as important as its effect on our complexion and wellbeing. 

At MANTLE, we could write a book on the definition of ‘clean beauty’. For us, clean products aren’t just present in the quality of each ingredient, although each one of our products has transparent, clear labelling and is full of safe, clear-to-use ingredients. Clean beauty, to us, also means ensuring that each step of the process for creating our products is saturated with as much integrity and transparency as it is with antioxidants and nutrients.

Natural Ingredients

Many studies have shown that there’s a strong link between nature and the skin; yes, a walk in the park can do wonders for your health, since you’re likely stretching your muscles and oxygenating the whole body by walking, getting more vitamin D from the exposure to sunlight, and breathing in the fresh air- factors which are all incredibly important for healthy skin. This principle stretches into the realm of skincare ingredients. Since many botanicals, vitamins, and organic moisturisers have been used for centuries for beauty purposes, it’s safe to say that natural, clean skincare has stood the test of time. 

Likewise, taking organic components of the natural world and incorporating them into skincare can provide a sense of deep connection to nature- we human beings have yet to touch on all the things that nature can provide for us, but our skin can provide an excellent first step to making that vital connection. In an ever-increasing technological world, a reminder that we are natural beings who have long been using the balancing powers of flowers, leaves, oils, and extracts provided by nature. Simply put, while we recognise that nature is good for the soul, tying this principle to skincare makes a lot of sense when we view it through an Ayurvedic lens.

The Ayurvedic Principle Of Nature and Healing

Ayurveda, one of the more ancient spiritual philosophies, originates from India. Its traditional practices revolve around the concept of taking elements from the natural world and using these elements to balance us. Ayurveda stems from the doctrine that all human beings are, essentially, smaller encapsulates of the universe. The principle claims that the universe is made up of five natural elements: air, water, space, earth, and fire (respectively: Vayu, Jala, Aakash, Prithvi and Teja). These elements translate into three main humours, or doshas, in the body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which must remain balanced in order for the body to function correctly. Any illnesses are allegedly caused by an imbalance of these three doshas. A healthy state of living, according to ayurvedic principles, is a balance between the natural elements of the outside world, and the three inner doshas. According to this philosophy, the natural world has a direct potential impact on balancing and restoring the body because we encompass all of nature and the universe. 

So, in order to be restored back to being as nature intended, the body needs to be in harmony with the surrounding environment. These forms of balancing can be:

• Taking herbs in their natural form, 
• Exercising to take up more oxygen, 
• Taking on a plant-based diet with incorporated vitamin supplements 
• Subjecting the body to heat/cold therapy. 

The Ayurvedic Principle and Natural Skincare

If Ayurvedic philosophy is indeed the mother of incorporating nature into self-care practices, then we can say that this deep-rooted connection between the balancing of the body and nature spans many years of thought, and remains prevalent even today. It certainly accounts for why fresh air and nature lifts the mood, clears the skin, and calms the mind, why plant-based diets can be extremely beneficial for health and wellness, and why many modern supplements used today originate from herbs found in the natural world. It seems that the roots of our wellness will always tie back to the natural world, lifting our spirits, grounding our feet, and, of course, balancing our skin.

Despite the principles of Ayurveda becoming somewhat diluted over the span of time, its principles have held steady in many cultures and ideologies. 

With clean, natural and organic skincare, such as MANTLE’s range of premium products, at the forefront. The natural world has so much to offer our skin- and, when created by skincare professionals, certain botanicals and extracts can be combined to form a synergistic entourage effect for glowing, youthful skin.

How MANTLE Uses Natural Products: Adapting Ayurveda

So, what does this have to do with MANTLE’s natural skincare collection? Despite Ayurveda being a considerably deep holistic practice, its wisdom can be condensed: since we are creatures of the natural world, it is the natural world which, in its cleanest, most organic form, has the potential to truly restore us. 

Since we’ve already established that the skin is our largest organ, as well as being our most important manifestation of health and self-care on open display, it stands to reason that our organic, natural skincare ingredients have Ayurvedic philosophies in mind- we use natural ingredients in our products to allow the skin to balance and blossom. In-keeping with the idea that we are all little bubbles of nature, our ingredients, much like a flower in spring, or a vine spreading its roots along a tree branch, hold the power to radiate warmth and beauty throughout your skin.

What is CBD?

CBD, one of the botanicals we use in our three premium skin products, is the most prevalent clean, natural, and plant-based ingredient in our three premium skincare products: The Dream Mask, The Glow Serum and The Calm Balm . Extracted from the hemp plant, CBD is also known as cannabidiol, one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis Sativa plant. At MANTLE, we derive our CBD from hemp, a specific variant of the cannabis Sativa plant. Since hemp is efficient to grow (as long as you have sufficient sunlight), requires very little monitoring with very high payoff, gives nutrients back to the soil so that other plants can be nourished, and typically contains higher levels of CBD than THC (the intoxicating compound found in cannabis), any CBD brands who attempt to care for their carbon footprint and the environment should be using hemp as their primary CBD source.

The reason why we use CBD as a core for our three products circles around the Ayurvedic principle that the natural world can provide us with some serious skincare gems. CBD is a game-changer for the skin, packed with antioxidants, with hydrating and balancing effects to boot.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are essential in every skincare product, and the more there are, the better. Since antioxidants typically minimise levels of free radicals, which are harmful molecules which easily build up in the body via natural biochemical reactions and environmental factors (think: pollutants, chemicals, UV rays, and smoke), antioxidants are crucial for the skin. 

Without antioxidants to stabilise free radicals in the body and on the skin’s surface, something called oxidative stress can occur. Oxidative stress due to too few antioxidants on the skin surface can result in chronic skin diseases, as well as premature wrinkles, fine lines, and the loosening of skin elasticity. 

Alongside the CBD element, each of our products are packed with other natural ingredients, and are infused with antioxidants. The Calm Balm, perfect for soothing and moisturising dry and rough patches on the skin, is enriched with antioxidants such as bisabolol and buckthorn- both natural botanicals which have been specially added to repair and restore the skin’s glowing smoothness.

Glow-Inducers

One thing everyone wants from their skin is that natural glow; the Ayurvedic principle of reflecting the outside within is never more evident than when we see someone with radiant, glowing skin. It seems natural that we should all have youthful, smooth skin- most of us were born with that well-balanced, soft skin we crave as adults. As we age, our skin seems to adapt to our stresses, environments, and harmful habits, until we forget what it’s like to touch our cheeks and feel the silky smoothness of our own skin.

Our natural ingredients hope to restore our natural, rightful inner glow. The Glow Serum, infused with liquorice root extract and carrot oil, provides the perfect brightening and moisturising effect on the skin. Liquorice, a natural ingredient to even the skin tone and promote that delicate balance is ideal to impact and restore the skin. Paired with a nutrient-rich occlusive, such as carrot oil, specifically added to protect that lipid-based moisture barrier and preserve hydration in the skin throughout the day, make The Glow Serum the perfect product to potentially preserve and maintain that natural, youthful glow.

Hydrators

From organic buckthorn to vitamin E, our products are filled with hydrating, moisturising ingredients to allow your skin to thoroughly moisturise from the bottom layer to the top. Since the epidermis tends to lose water from the top layer of skin, also known as trans-epidermal water loss (a tragic way of losing water from the surface of your skin, often familiar in those who don’t moisturise or seal in their hydrated skin products properly, with a thick layer of something protective), it’s essential to pair your hydrators or humectants with moisturisers. 

At MANTLE, we have you covered- our products are infused with organic, natural hydrators which allow that water to saturate each layer of the skin. This includes the top layer, the stratum corneum, which tends to lose water through evaporation pretty quickly, often drying out the skin’s surface resulting in dehydrated, dry, and dull skin. With every natural, organic humectant, we have included organic, natural occlusives or moisturisers to seal in all that juicy hydration. Some of our favourite moisturising occlusives include shea butter, vitamin E, and carrot oil- all present in our two occulsifying products, The Dream Mask and The Calm Balm.

We Take Natural Beauty Seriously

Especially designed for Scandinavian skin, which is often exposed to cold temperatures and harsh sunlight, our CBD-skincare centres around protection, hydration and, of course, balance. At Mantle, our aim is simple, and our ingredients are even more straightforward. 

And in this simplicity, much like a flower blooming on a bed of winter soil, we have found true beauty.