Tag Archives: argan oil

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.

Our Nine Naturals Founder, Grace Lee, was featured in FitBump360's article on which ingredients should be avoided and which should be embraced. Read the interview below!

Article & Photo courtesy of FitBump360

Grace Lee, founder of the natural hair- and bodycare brand Nine Naturals, knows just how it feels to, as a pregnant woman, stare down an aisle of products and cosmetics and feel utterly paralyzed. “It’s crazy that you basically need a degree in chemistry in order to understand what is on an ingredients label,” she says. To simplify things, we asked her a few questions to help get to the bottom of what we should and shouldn’t use—and why.

Q: Let’s start with the bad stuff. What ingredients should we avoid?

A: While pregnant or breastfeeding, we recommend avoiding synthetic chemicals, especially the five listed below. Why? A growing number of studies show 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.

• Parabens are the most widely used preservative in cosmetics. Intended to stop the growth of bacteria in your products, they are endocrine disruptors—chemicals that act like hormones and disrupt the reproductive system. They can build up in the body over time and have been associated with reproductive disorders in babies.
• Sulfates are cleansing agents used to create soaps that foam and lather. Nitrosamines and 1.4-dioxane are the two primary culprits present within sulfates and have been labeled carcinogenic. Sulfates have also been shown to disrupt hormonal balance, incite reproductive and developmental problems and seriously pollute the environment.
• Phthalates are found in a wide variety of personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners and perfumes, and are often a component of fragrance in products. Exposure to phthalates is associated with hormone disruption, birth defects and endometriosis.
• BPA is a chemical commonly found in plastics mostly used for containers. More importantly, BPA can seep into the product it holds. Recent studies have shown BPA to cause developmental disorders, such as cancer, ADHD and asthma, in fetuses when pregnant women interact with the substance.
• Petrochemicals are made from natural gas liquid and crude oil and are used to create a slew of raw materials, including all plastics. What many people don’t realize is that petrochemicals are also added to food, personal care products and household products. Though widely used, petrochemicals are known hormone disrupters and have been linked to causing many health problems, such as cancer.

Q: On the flip side, what natural ingredients should we shoot for?

A: We believe in creating products that are not only safe and natural, but also high performing. Some of our favorite natural ingredients include:

• Vitamin E: Isolated from vegetable oil, vitamin E works as an important antioxidant. It conditions and moisturizes skin and has been shown in studies to help prevent stretch marks when used during pregnancy. We use it in all of our skincare products.
• Argan Oil: High in vitamin E and linolenic acid, argan oil is wonderful for moisturizing the skin and hair. Ours is sourced from a woman’s collective in Morocco. It is a prime ingredient in our Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner.
• Broccoli Seed Oil: This oil is a natural replacement for silicone/dimethicone. It is an amazing emollient loaded with omega-9s that makes your hair and skin feel great. We use it in our conditioners and skin creams.
• Cupuaçu Butter: Packed with an array of rich compounds, including omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids and phytosterols, cupuaçu butter helps to balance skin’s natural moisture levels. We use it in our products that focus on restoring moisture in the skin and hair.
• Coconut Oil–Derived Soaps: Soaps that are naturally derived from coconut oil are gentle cleansers that clean well without overdrying your skin or hair. We use them in our Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash.

Q: All great to know. Any parting words of wisdom for moms and moms-to-be interested in learning more about the products they use?

A: My best advice is to find brands that they trust are maintaining high standards for developing products and that provide full transparency on their ingredients listings. They should start to read labels and begin to educate themselves on ingredients to avoid. The five I listed above are a good start since they are so ubiquitous among beauty products.

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, we launch Nine Naturals Ingredient Story Series with ongoing features on the natural, plant-based ingredients behind our high performance beauty products.

You've likely heard about argan oil in advertisements for cosmetics and hair care products. Does the ingredient deserve the hype? Absolutely.

Known as the "Moroccan miracle," argan oil has taken the beauty world by storm with its rich compounds and advantages for health-troubled hair. Read on to learn more about the argan oil sensation.

The Science & Extraction of Argan Oil

Argan oil is produced from the nuts of the argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) from Morocco. The argan nuts are dried in the sun and then the flesh is removed to reveal the (1 to 3) kernels within. The pulp from these kernels is roasted and then pressed and ground to produce unfiltered argan oil. After it is decanted, the oil is ready for prime time, whether for cosmetic or culinary purposes.

Interestingly, most of the process of extracting argan oil from argan nuts continues to be manual. Attempts to mechanically separate the kernels from the outer flesh and the pulp from the kernels have largely proven inferior to manual methods.

The oil contains high levels of vitamin E, omega fatty acids (especially linoleic acid), sterols, squalene, and phenolic antioxidants. A word on linoleic acid: the compound is an extraordinary remedy for dry, weak, and frizzy hair. This makes argan oil all the more optimal for beautiful locks. As an added plus for pregnant women, argan oil is also naturally non-fragrant.

Benefits of Argan Oil

Argan oil wins even more appeal for serving as a secret weapon for exceptional hair. It's an extraordinary moisturizer, instantly hydrating hair and lending a beautiful shine. Extremely lightweight, argan oil absorbs almost instantly and leaves a non-greasy finish to the hair and fingers. It nourishes and strengthens both the hair and the scalp, promoting growth in your locks and warding off itchiness and dandruff. In short, argan oil is a wonder oil for women who value high performance beauty products.

Why Nine Naturals Loves Argan Oil

Having researched argan oil's benefits, we knew we had to incorporate this great ingredient into our Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner for its high levels of vitamin E and for its contribution to beautiful luster in hair. Argan oil also helps to correct damage to follicles and gives them strength, making it a great ingredient for colored or frequently styled hair. Argan is also great for pregnant women, as it can help hair survive the impact of hormones both before and after baby's birth. The oil achieves this because it can deeply penetrate the follicles and increase hair's natural elasticity.

Argan oil is a beauty marvel. We build on argan oil's assets by pairing it with other powerful ingredients like macadamia seed oil, shea butter, and Vitamin B5, all of which contribute to a healthy, natural and intensely restorative conditioning for your stunning hair.

Argan Oil Among Many Others!

What ingredients pique your curiosity? Allantoin, Vanillin, Broccoli Oil …? You can learn more about the carefully selected ingredients behind Nine Naturals products in our Ingredients Glossary.