As most of you readers know by now, a huge part of my skin care mission is to educate women about the ingredients present in skin care formulations. This month, we will focus on Cotton Thistle.
Cotton thistle is a hot new skin care ingredient. Cotton thistle is a flowering plant native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The plant was introduced to North America early in the 19th century and is generally regarded as a weed. According to published sources "a single Cotton Thistle is imposing enough, but an entire colony can ruin a pasture or destroy a park or campsite, sometimes forming tall, dense, impenetrable stands."
Soooo, why the heck would we want to put this stuff on our face? Well, according to recent studies cotton thistle has been shown to promote cell regeneration within the epidermis, especially on dry or dehydrated skin. As a result, it stimulates cell repair thus regulating skin hydration. This means that cotton thistle helps heal dry, cracked skin and promotes softer, more hydrated, more flexible skin.
Experts recommend the ingredient particularly for those with mature skin or for post-operative treatments. It may also be used in post-sunburn treatments. The recommended level of active ingredient is 2%.
The ingredient has been approved in Europe, United States, Japan, and Australia. Gatefosse, a french skin care ingredients supplier, has launched cotton thistle under the name Gatuline Skin-Repair Bio. In addition, Gatuline Skin-Repair Bio is Ecocert certified organic. Look for it to appear in skin care products within the next year.
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