Arboretum Skincare is an all natural skincare line handmade in Boston, Massachusetts. The products are developed by Olga Goldberger, a molecular biologist with many years of research experience at Harvard Medical School. So, how are Arboretum Skincare different from most products on the market?

We Say No to Emulsifiers

Emulsifiers are substances that help mix water and oil into an emulsion. Most companies use emulsifiers like ceteareth-20,25, polysorbate 20,60,80; cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, or stearyl alcohol. These chemical emulsifiers can be harsh on sensitive skin, creating damage to the skin’s barrier. 

Have you noticed your skin staying dry even after you use moisturizer twice a day? Are you going through your moisturizer quicker than you should and still not seeing hydrating results? If so, you may be experiencing the "Wash-out" effect. This effect happens when emulsifiers in creams continue to penetrate your skin and strip it of natural lipids, most commonly when you’re washing your face. It is especially important for dry and sensitive skin to preserve the skin's barrier function.

 

 

Arboretum Skincare uses phospholipids made from soy to help mix water and oil. Phospholipids form liposomes and along with ceramides create an ideal environment for botanical active ingredients.

Skincare Heroes: Liposomes and Ceramides

Even the best ingredients would be of little use if they could not get deep into your skin. We use liposomes derived from soy phospholipids precisely for this reason. Liposomes are an advanced delivery system for deeper skin penetration, ensuring that even the smallest quantities of our products absorb easily into your skin. Phospholipids in our formulas serve not only as delivery vehicles, but also as sole emulsifiers. We do not work with commonly used chemical emulsifiers within the skin care industry, such as stearic acid, polysorbates, and glycerin stearate. Those can all lead to skin irritation. Instead, Arboretum focuses on delivering a powerful, all natural product suitable for the most sensitive skin and for skin suffering from rosacea.

Ingredients Matter

We are proud to source the best all natural, powerful ingredients including organic herbal extracts and organic shea butter. Above all, we believe in combining natural ingredients with the latest scientific advancements. We specifically believe that ingredients for skincare need to be chosen to benefit the mitochondria, as these cellular organelles are tightly connected to human aging. Mitochondria are organelles where cellular respiration takes place generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a vital energy resource for most cellular processes. Cellular respiration can also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS).

It is thought that the accumulation of ROS damage and the resultant mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leads to cell death and plays a role in many diseases, such as Parkinson’s and diabetes. It also leads to the characteristic signs of aging and UV-induced skin damage, such as the loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles and tissue loss. We believe that skin-care products should contain powerful antioxidant agents to prevent skin damage (e.g. Niacinamide, Coenzyme Q10, DMAE) and complex skin care ingredients, such as pepha-tight, pantrofina, malt secrets, and celligent. Carefully crafted and tested combinations of these ingredients give our products a powerful natural base that leads to effective results. We use active ingredients in the highest recommended concentration to bring you active working products.

Skincare Routine

The last pillar depends on you! We strive to educate our customers on the right regimen to suit their skin and lifestyle. We recommend the following:

Before applying our skincare products, ensure that your skin is clean by washing it with the Herbal Gentle Cleanser and lukewarm water. Next, apply the Herbal Liposomal Toner either directly to the skin or in a 3-minute lotion mask on a piece of wet cloth. This technique was developed by Chizu Saeki and described in her book “The Japanese Skincare Revolution.” Watch the technique here. 

Finally, apply your serum or cream of choice that's suited for your skin type. Feel free to reach out to us for recommendations! Remember to always apply the serum first, followed by the moisturizer, using gentle upward strokes. Make sure to use a mask at least once a week. Arboretum Skincare never uses harmful chemical preservatives. Instead, we use a natural preservative called NataPresTM, which is made from a combination of fermented radish root, honeysuckle, and aspen bark extract. 

We are Leaping Bunny Certified

The Leaping Bunny is the most trusted cruelty free certification for non-animal tested products. More than 700 companies across the globe already hold Leaping Bunny certification, providing real choice for ethical consumers who want to identify and buy products that are free from animal testing. Achieving Leaping Bunny certification shows our customers that Arboretum Skincare is genuinely committed to producing products that are not tested on animals and that we have procedures and policies in place to enable you to verify your cruelty free claims.