Category: THE LUMI METHOD

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It’s Official – LUMI Has Europe’s BEST Natural Night Cream!

Science and nature combine forces in our award-winning ICONIC Overnight Peptide Treatment!

Natural skincare has changed. Whereas twenty years ago, the scope of organic skin treatment may have been limited to essential oils and simple herbal remedies, nowadays we see complex natural solutions that rival the efficacy of factory-produced industrial products – and often surpass them!

It’s safe to say that we are currently witnessing something of a revolution in skincare, lead by biotechnology advances and millions of people realising that what you do not include in your products is just as important as what goes in them. With every scientific breakthrough, we see the skincare landscape move away from harsh chemicals and isolated solutions, towards a more holistic approach to treatment that is kinder and more nourishing to skin.

As ever, LUMI leads this charge towards better skin health! Whether through our use of algae-based silica that is kinder to the planet and brings more benefits to our skin, or our adoption of the fantastic plant-based retinol alternative Bakuchiol, you will always find us at the cutting edge of natural science.

This science-first approach to organic skincare has never been more apparent than in our ICONIC Overnight Peptide Treatment. A gold medal winner in 2023’s European Natural Beauty Awards, this night cream represents the perfect combination of science and nature!

ICONIC Overnight Peptide Treatment is designed to prevent premature skin aging and lighten pigmentation spots without harming the skin’s microbiome – a concern that many artificial skincare products ignore, despite its vital importance to skin health.

Fermentation-derived peptides and other compounds help stimulate collagen production in the body, as well as the skin’s metabolism and regenerative capacity. By doing so, ICONIC Overnight Peptide Treatment causes cells to temporarily ‘lose memory’, relaxing and smoothing out wrinkles caused by tension and aging. The treatment’s organic cream base also helps to bring moisture to the skin – a vital component in any treatment!

Included cannabinoids help to repopulate and correct the body’s endocannabinoid system, a potent and oft-overlooked system of transmitters and receptors within the body that help us achieve homeostasis (the body’s natural balance). Combine the overnight peptide treatment with our ICONIC day cream for a 24-hour protective combination that’s sure to revitalise, repair, and reinforce your facial skin!

Ready to give your facial skin the ICONIC boost it’s been craving? Check out our award-winning night cream and other ICONIC products here. Want to see our full range of technology-driven, organic skincare solutions? Look right here!

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Bakuchiol: A Kinder Retinol That’s Just As Effective

The Retinoid Revolution

If you’re interested in skincare, then it’s likely you’ve already heard of retinol and retinoids. First discovered in 1913 and steadily developed through four generations over the last half-century, retinoids are natural or synthetic derivatives of vitamin A. They are lauded by much of the skincare industry and surrounding media for their effectiveness and wide applications in medicine and cosmetology.

But that’s not the whole story! Retinol use can bring with it a host of unwelcome side effects, including skin dryness, peeling, and stinging. For decades, users of retinol have put up with this pain and discomfort, assuming that this was the price they must pay for better skin.

This doesn’t have to be the case, however! Bakuchiol, a completely natural compound found within the babchi plant, has shown remarkably similar properties to retinol, with none of the typical side-effects that regular retinoid users have come to dread.

Interested in learning more? Then come with us, dear reader, as we explain the science behind bakuchiol, and how you really can have your cake and eat it, too!

The Highs and Lows of Vitamin A

First granted approval as a topical medicine in the US in 1971, retinoids have become extremely popular in the treatment of acne, photoaged (aging from sun exposure) skin, hyperpigmentation, and several other skin complaints. They consistently perform in both scientific studies and consumer reviews, and have gained a reputation throughout the skincare landscape as a high-efficacy ingredient.

Retinol works by bolstering the body’s natural processes of wound healing. This process is usually incredibly effective, regenerating our bodies over and over, but can be disrupted by age, disease, and other factors, resulting in imperfect healing (scarring, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and more). Retinoids help facilitate proper wound healing by increasing the amount of cell differentiation/specialisation, proliferation, and apoptosis (programmed and orderly cell death, ready for new cells to take their place). By reducing the production of sebum, retinoids are also effective at reducing oily skin and blackheads.

That is an impressive list of benefits, but there is unfortunately another side to retinoids. The vitamin A derivatives can cause a host of unwelcome side effects, including pain, inflammation, and hypersensitivity. Burning, redness and peeling are so common amongst users of retinol that the ‘retinoid reaction’ has become a popular term in scientific study of the topic. Skin scaling and dermatitis are also reported side-effects, as well as photosensitivity (heightened sensitivity to UV).

Perhaps because of their positive effects, users seem willing to put up with a staggering list of negatives when it comes to retinoids. Wouldn’t it be ideal, researchers and users wondered in the late twentieth century, if something out there could work like retinol, but without the drawbacks?

The Promise of Bakuchiol

Enter bakuchiol! First found within the babchi plant during the mid-twentieth century, bakuchiol has been the subject of much excitement and experimentation in the last fifty years. The benefits of bakuchiol are quite stunning when taken as a whole. There is reputable clinical evidence that bakuchiol has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects, as well as having protective functions concerning the heart, liver, skin, and other organs.

How do these benefits compare with retinol, though? Exceedingly well! Studies have found that bakuchiol, despite having no structural similarity to retinol, functions in much the same way as retinoids do on skin. The gene expression profile (a method of measuring impact on cell activity) for both compounds is remarkably similar.

Randomised, double-blind academic research found bakuchiol to be entirely similar to retinol when it came to reversing signs of photoaging, whilst being much better tolerated. Similar studies have been conducted that find bakuchiol significantly improving users’ wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin elasticity, and firmness, all whilst causing fewer side effects than retinol.

It’s clear from the scientific evidence that bakuchiol is one of the most exciting, skincare breakthroughs of the last thirty years. Retinol, itself once considered the cutting edge of skin science, now looks as if its time in the sun is over (no pun intended)!

Same Results, Happier Skin

So, there you have it – bakuchiol has all the benefits of traditional retinoids, with far fewer drawbacks. And it’s completely natural and plant-derived, too; it’s a win-win! That’s why we here at LUMI simply refuse to use any retinoids in our products, despite them being cheaper. If we wouldn’t use it on our own faces, why would we ever allow it to end up on yours?

If you’re interested in adding bakuchiol and all its amazing benefits to your skincare routine, you can take a look at our products here. We particularly recommend the 40 & ICONIC Set, which combines our fantastic bakuchiol-rich skin cream with Superbloom toning mist and vitamin C night serum. The results are so fantastic, they must be seen to be believed!

References:
  1. Baldwin, H., Webster, G., Stein Gold, L., Callender, V., Cook-Bolden, F. E., & Guenin, E. (2021). 50 Years of Topical Retinoids for Acne: Evolution of Treatment. American journal of clinical dermatology,22(3), 315–327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-021-00594-8
  2. Buchanan, P. J., & Gilman, R. H. (2016). Retinoids: Literature Review and Suggested Algorithm for Use Prior to Facial Resurfacing Procedures. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 9(3), 139–144. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.191653
  3. Chaudhuri, R. K., & Bojanowski, K. (2014). Bakuchiol: a retinol-like functional compound revealed by gene expression profiling and clinically proven to have anti-aging effects. International journal of cosmetic science, 36(3), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12117
  4. Cosmetics & Toiletries (2023, June 19). Inside Ingredients: Bakuchiol. https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/cosmetic-ingredients/actives/article/22865115/inside-ingredients-bakuchiol
  5. Dhaliwal, S., Rybak, I., Ellis, S. R., Notay, M., Trivedi, M., Burney, W., Vaughn, A. R., Nguyen, M., Reiter, P., Bosanac, S., Yan, H., Foolad, N., & Sivamani, R. K. (2019). Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. The British journal of dermatology, 180(2), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16918
  6. Hofmann, G. A., & Weber, B. (2021). Drug-induced photosensitivity: culprit drugs, potential mechanisms and clinical consequences. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG, 19(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddg.14314
  7. Motamedi, M., Chehade, A., Sanghera, R., & Grewal, P. (2022). A Clinician’s Guide to Topical Retinoids. Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery, 26(1), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1177/12034754211035091
  8. Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H. C., Roeder, A., & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical interventions in aging, 1(4), 327–348. https://doi.org/10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327
  9. Szymański, Ł., Skopek, R., Palusińska, M., Schenk, T., Stengel, S., Lewicki, S., Kraj, L., Kamiński, P., & Zelent, A. (2020). Retinoic Acid and Its Derivatives in Skin. Cells, 9(12), 2660. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9122660
  10. The Guardian. Hughes, Sali (2023, September 29). Retinoids work, wipes don’t: 21 things I’ve learned about skin care. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/sep/29/21-things-ive-learned-about-skin-care-sali-hughes
  11. Wysocka, M. (2022). Bakuchiol – a plant-based retinol. The review article. Aesthetic Cosmetology and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.52336/acm.2022.031
  12. Xin, Z., Wu, X., Ji, T., Xu, B., Han, Y., Sun, M., Jiang, S., Li, T., Hu, W., Deng, C., & Yang, Y. (2019). Bakuchiol: A newly discovered warrior against organ damage. Pharmacological research, 141, 208–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.001
  13. Yin, S., Luo, J., Qian, A., Du, J., Yang, Q., Zhou, S., Yu, W., Du, G., Clark, R. B., Walters, E. T., Carlton, S. M., & Hu, H. (2013). Retinoids activate the irritant receptor TRPV1 and produce sensory hypersensitivity. The Journal of clinical investigation, 123(9), 3941–3951. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI66413
  14. Zasada, M., & Budzisz, E. (2019). Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments. Postepy dermatologii i alergologii, 36(4), 392–397. https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2019.87443
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Breaking Point: The Impact of Stress on Skin, and How LUMI and PĒLL Can Help!

The modern world is a stressful place. The news can be overwhelming, and the frenetic pace of living in an era of endless connectivity can take its toll on us, both mentally and physically. We can sometimes even contribute to our own stress by not giving the body what it needs.

If all that wasn’t enough, there are also things we may not immediately identify as ‘stressors’, but that exert the same kind of pressure on our bodies – factors such as pollution and even UV exposure. It can be tough out there!

Our skin is unfortunately not immune to the effects of all these stressors. If anything, it can display the impact of stress more quickly and severely than the rest of our bodies. That’s why it’s vital that we give our skin the helping hand it needs to prevent and recover from stress damage.

But how, you ask? Well, with LUMI and PĒLL, of course!

Today, we’re going to explore how different stressors affect your skin, and how a combination of all-natural skincare and potent phytocannabinoids from your two favourite Estonian innovators can help your skin fight back and feel great.

Let’s jump in!

You Do It To Yourself – Internal Stressors

When most of us think of stress, our minds will jump to mental or emotional pressure. Factors such as anxiety, prolonged low mood, or external triggers such as work or family commitments can all put our mind and body under a significant load of stress.

Our bodies can deal with mild amounts of stress over short periods, but prolonged periods of stress have been shown to contribute to and sometimes trigger skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and acne, as well as speeding up the skin aging process.

This happens because stress triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response in our cells through cortisol production that leads to delayed wound healing (causing skin to regenerate imperfectly), reduced collagen production (vital for skin structure and elasticity) and oxidative stress.

It’s not just mental or emotional pressure that can force our skin into this fight or flight response, though! Putting our bodies through physical hardship, or depriving it of its needs, can also contribute greatly to premature aging. Factors such as extreme temperatures, lack of sleep, malnutrition, and infection can all take their toll on our skin on a cellular level, affecting the body in the same way as any other stressor.

Looking after your skin means looking after your whole body and its needs – it’s always a holistic endeavour!

You vs. The Universe – Environmental Stressors

As we mentioned earlier, stressors are not limited to merely internal factors. There are a host of environmental stressors that can impact your skin, whether by hastening the aging process or contributing to skin diseases. These environmental stressors can be far reaching. Tobacco smoke, radiation, pollution, and even some cosmetic products can all affect skin cells, triggering responses similar to that of internal stressors.

UV radiation contributes perhaps the largest, and certainly most consistent, stress upon our skin. Whilst many people think that the sun only causes damage if allowed to burn skin, the science is clear – photoaging (UV-caused skin aging) is a process that occurs whenever we are in direct sunlight. Photoaging is caused by UVA and UVB rays acting as stressors to skin cells and DNA, and can be responsible for wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and skin thickening (sometimes giving skin an almost leathery texture).

Repairing the Skin Damage Caused by Stress

Don’t worry! There’s no need to stress about stressors (if you’ll pardon the pun) because help is at hand. The most important, and perhaps most obvious, piece of advice we can give is to try and reduce the amount of stressors in your life, whether they be mental, physiological, or environmental. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a well-known cliché for a reason!

Of course, it’s not always that simple. Sometimes, we simply cannot avoid stress and the impact it has on our skin. That’s where LUMI and PĒLL come in. Two of Estonia’s most innovative all-natural brands, the pair bring a wealth of skincare and cannabinoid solutions to help your body weather the storm of adult life.

LUMI have over a decade’s experience in mending and protecting skin from stressors both inside and out. Their creams are packed with ingredients such as fermented oat extract to restore and strengthen the skin barrier, whilst natural antioxidants from red algae and blackcurrant extract eliminate pesky free radicals, reducing oxidative stress.

Another favourite is bakuchiol (a plant-derived ingredient that has the efficacy of retinoids without much of their painful drawbacks), which has been shown to be clinically effective in rejuvenating skin by increasing collagen production. A breakdown of existing collagen and restriction of collagen production are common effects of photoaging. To round things off, included prebiotics and probiotics in many products help foster a healthy skin microbiome – vital in maintaining skin’s protective function and proper wound healing capabilities.

Cannabinoids represent an exciting new possibility when it comes to protecting and mending skin, and PĒLL are right at the forefront of things. There is an ever-growing body of research that suggests that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) – an internal network of signallers, signals, and receptors in the human body – plays a pivotal role in keeping our bodies healthy, including our skin.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be effective in bringing skin back towards homeostasis (optimal biological functioning) via the ECS in cases of skin disease such as acne and dermatitis, as well as restoring the skin barrier and helping with pigmentation issues.

Similar results have also been found for cannabigerol (CBG), another prevalent cannabinoid. In addition to helping reduce skin aging and repair the skin’s protective barrier, both CBD and CBG are also effective methods of managing stress and anxiety, helping to reduce the amount of stressors that reach your skin in the first place!

Both CBD and CBG oils are available from PĒLL, in a variety of strengths to suit your individual needs. The most brilliant aspect of PĒLL’s oils is that, because of their food grade quality and high efficacy, they can be consumed internally or applied externally on skin. Try mixing a few drops of PĒLL oil into your LUMI creams to complement your cannabinoid regime and watch how quickly great results follow!

The First Steps to Better Skin

Ready to start fighting back against stress? Help your body de-stress and rejuvenate your skin with the power combo of LUMI and PĒLL. We recommend the 40 & ICONIC Set, which is packed full of natural ingredients to help you restore your skin barrier, produce more collagen, and protect your body from free radicals.

For PĒLL oils, we recommend applying a few drops of medium strength 30% full-spectrum CBD extract under the tongue each day (proper dosage may vary from person-to-person), as well as mixing some more of the oil into your LUMI skin products.

Cast off the shackles of stress, and embrace a happier, healthier you with LUMI and PĒLL!

 

References:
  1. Baswan, S. M., Klosner, A. E., Glynn, K., Rajgopal, A., Malik, K., Yim, S., & Stern, N. (2020). Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 13, 927–942. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S286411
  2. Battista, N., Di Tommaso, M., Bari, M., & Maccarrone, M. (2012). The endocannabinoid system: an overview. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 6, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2012.00009
  3. Chen, Y., & Lyga, J. (2014). Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation and skin aging. Inflammation & allergy drug targets, 13(3), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871528113666140522104422
  4. Debacq-Chainiaux, F., Leduc, C., Verbeke, A., & Toussaint, O. (2012). UV, stress and aging. Dermato-endocrinology, 4(3), 236–240. https://doi.org/10.4161/derm.23652
  5. De Tollenaere, M., Meunier, M., Scandolera, A., Sandre, J., Lambert, C., Chapuis, E., Auriol, D., & Reynaud, R. (2020). Well-aging: A new strategy for skin homeostasis under multi-stressed conditions. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 19(2), 444–455. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13047
  6. Dhaliwal, S., Rybak, I., Ellis, S. R., Notay, M., Trivedi, M., Burney, W., Vaughn, A. R., Nguyen, M., Reiter, P., Bosanac, S., Yan, H., Foolad, N., & Sivamani, R. K. (2019). Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. The British journal of dermatology, 180(2), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16918
  7. Graubard, R., Perez-Sanchez, A., & Katta, R. (2021). Stress and Skin: An Overview of Mind Body Therapies as a Treatment Strategy in Dermatology. Dermatology practical & conceptual, 11(4), e2021091. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1104a91
  8. Kahan, V., Andersen, M. L., Tomimori, J., & Tufik, S. (2010). Can poor sleep affect skin integrity?. Medical hypotheses, 75(6), 535–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2010.07.018
  9. Pandel, R., Poljšak, B., Godic, A., & Dahmane, R. (2013). Skin photoaging and the role of antioxidants in its prevention. ISRN dermatology, 2013, 930164. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/930164
  10. Parrado, C., Mercado-Saenz, S., Perez-Davo, A., Gilaberte, Y., Gonzalez, S., & Juarranz, A. (2019). Environmental Stressors on Skin Aging. Mechanistic Insights. Frontiers in pharmacology, 10, 759. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00759
  11. Perez, E., Fernandez, J. R., Fitzgerald, C., Rouzard, K., Tamura, M., & Savile, C. (2022). In Vitro and Clinical Evaluation of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid with a Broad Range of Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Health-Boosting Properties. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(2), 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27020491
  12. Poljšak, B., & Milisav, I. (2012). Clinical implications of cellular stress responses. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences, 12(2), 122–126. https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2012.2510
  13. Tóth, K. F., Ádám, D., Bíró, T., & Oláh, A. (2019). Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the “C(ut)annabinoid” System. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(5), 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24050918