Where's the Hemp Seed Body Butter? ... And what the heck is Cupuaçu??
First blog post, woohoo!!
In this first post I wanted to highlight a change in the Canna Beez lineup that many of you have noticed that I have not yet formally addressed .. the discontinuation of all varieties of our Hemp Seed Body Butter in Lavender, Vanilla, and Unscented.
**Crickets**
If your jaw just hit the floor wondering why I decided to discontinue a great product, have no fear! One application of our new Body Butter made with Cupuaçu + Mowrah + Murumuru Butters will make you forget all about that old moisturizer!
Though you may be asking, "Why wouldn't you just make both?".
Well, that's simple! If I see an opportunity to seriously improve a product (in this case, moisturizing even better without a bit of greasiness + safe for the face!) I usually do it without hesitation. :)
Again, you may be saying, "Ok, sounds good, but how did this all come about?" maybe even more so, "and what the heck is cupuaçu??"
From the beginning, this story really starts last year, when the product that I had the most requests for (that I didn't have) was an eye cream. With enough requests I excitedly rose to the task and began researching new ingredients, with the intent to make a superbly powerful cream able to fade the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles + dark circles + puffy eyes, but also be gentle enough for the most sensitive skin types.
I used many ingredients that I had never used before, some that I had never even heard of before, sourcing from all over the world from the Brazilian Amazon, to the African Savannah, and the tropics of India; and when the first batch was done .. it was perfect. The kind of perfect you dream about.
The eye cream felt so nice under my eyes that I put it on my entire face and down my neck. It made my skin GLOW.
So .. I decided to try it out as a body butter .. and you guys it was the BEST decision I have EVER made! PERFECTLY MOISTURIZED + GLOWING SKIN from HEAD to TOE.
I was convinced - I was definitely going to make the formulation into a body butter that was as good for your entire body as the best eye cream is for under your eyes. It moisturized all day, had absolutely no greasy or tacky feel, and the nutrient content was out of this world! I quickly came to the realization that I was going to need to let the old body butter go, in favor of the new heavy hitter.
But, folks, I'm not sorry! And you won't be either! So now lets get to the good stuff inside!
SO .. Firstly: CUPUAÇU! (Theobroma grandiflorum) Cupuaçu, pronounced coo-poo-wa-soo, hails from and is very abundant in the Brazilian Amazon; it's also related to another superfood from South America, Cacao. Cupuaçu butter is rich in polyphenols (antioxidants!) to combat free radicals, and fatty acids to moisturize + protect the skin's moisture barrier. It also has high levels of phytosterols (kind of like plant based cholesterol) which are effective in stopping the slowing down in collagen production caused by sun exposure, and even stimulates the production of new collagen! (Grether-Beck, S., Mühlberg, K., Brenden, H. et al. Hautarzt (2008) )
Cupuaçu has amazing water absorptive capabilities (more than 120% more than lanolin) making it function as an effective skin plumper + hydrator, and it absorbs UV rays!
And that's just ONE ingredient!
Stick with me... I also used...
Mowrah Butter (Madhuca longifolia) that originates in the tropics of India. It is highly permeable and locks in moisture, helping to soothe dry and itchy skin conditions, lighten the appearance of scars + fine lines + wrinkles, and acts as an astringent, helping to tighten skin. It helps restore skin flexibility, and contains high amounts of phytosterols to aid dry and damaged skin and stimulate the production of new collagen.
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Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum murumuru) also originates in the Brazilian Amazon. It contains high levels of Provitamin A + Vitamin C, 3, 6, 9 Fatty Acids, and an astonishing 47% Lauric Acid - a rare fatty acid also found in breast milk and coconut oil - Murumuru butter contains the same amount of Lauric Acid (which is antibacterial, antifungal and extremely moisturizing) as coconut oil, but without clogging your pores!
Murumuru butter is easily absorbed deep into skin layers, helping to improve skin elasticity, skin texture and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
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Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa L.) was an obvious choice to include in this new butter as well! It's packed full of Essential Fatty Acids (80%!) in an ideal ratio, and is easily absorbed into skin without clogging pores or leaving a residue!
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Baobab Oil (Adansonia digitata) comes from a species of Baobab Tree in the African Savannah. It is often called 'The Tree of Life" or the "Upside Down Tree" and these amazing trees have a normal life span of 500 years, with the oldest trees being thousands of years old! The oil pressed from the Baobab seeds is rich in: -Powerful Antioxidants (for scavenging those pesky free radicals) -High levels of Fatty Acids (to protect your skin's moisture barrier)
-Phytosterols (to aid collagen production + dry, damaged skin) + -High concentration of Vitamins A, D + E (to lessen dark pigmentation in the skin, improve elasticity, and smooth fine lines + wrinkles)!
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Borage Seed Oil (Borago officinalis) is rich Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA), a fatty acid with strong anti-inflammatory properties and sometimes regarded for helping to soothe chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It's also an excellent moisturizer, helping to soothe dry and irritated skin.
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Red Raspberry Seed Oil (Rubus idaeus) is another HEAVY HITTER in this powerful moisturizer. It softens and deeply moisturizes the skin, but is extremely gentle, light and soothing. It's an amazing addition for helping to brighten + balance your complexion, and excellent for aging skin due to its:
-High Vitamin E Content
-Natural Sun Protection: reportedly comparable to titanium dioxide for UV protection, with an SPF of 28-50! (Oomah et al 2000)
-It's packed with Antioxidants + Fatty Acids
-High Level of Phytosterols: Stimulate collagen production -Contains Ellagic Acid which helps to reduce destruction to collagen + protect from UV rays (Bae JY et al Exp Dermatol. 2010)
+ Lastly, but seriously NOT least, we have:
Cranberry Seed CO2 (Vaccinium Macrocarpon carbon dioxide extract). This oil/extract is a concentrated source of Omega 3 + 6 Fatty acids and Phytosterols, but also contains all 8 isomers of Vitamin E, BOTH Tocopherols AND Tocotrienols which are sometimes called the "Super Vitamin E". Tocotrienols not only have more antioxidant power than Tocopherols, they also have a high bioavailability when you apply them to your skin, meaning your body can actually USE them to efficiently fight free radicals and oxidative stress.
Cranberry Seed CO2 has OUTSTANDING antioxidant activity, and is said to moisturize the skin like no other. High in Vitamins A, C, E + K, this oil helps protect against and reverse free radical damage and hyperpigmentation, tighten and brighten your skin, and fade fine lines and wrinkles.
WOW.
So, when put all that together you have.. an amazingly gentle yet powerful moisturizer with:
- Outstanding Antioxidant Activity
- Elevated Levels of Vitamins A + C +D + E to tone + tighten + brighten + protect
- Extremely high levels of phytosterols that help to stimulate collagen production and aid dry + damaged skin - Natural sun protection (Oomah et al 2000)
- Rare + Essential Fatty acids to moisturize + protect your skin + moisture barrier
- High levels of GLA to help soothe inflammatory skin conditions
- Head to toe moisture - perfect for facial use...
And of course, the original purpose, fade the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles + dark circles + puffy eyes!
It was a no-brainer - I had to change it! - and did so with ZERO regrets.
I'm officially IN LOVE with these new products, and know that when you try them, you will love them too!
Have you already tried either the new Body Butter, or the Double Shot Caffeinated Eye Cream? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No product is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
