Raw Food For Your Face

Browse the aisles of any health food store and it can seem like fermentation is the latest revolutionary food trend. Kombucha, kimchi, yogurt: all are having a “moment,” if you will. When in truth, it turns out that all of our favorite things– healthy in their own ways– owe their glory to the magic of fermentation. Coffee, chocolate, bread, wine, cheese… we say cheers to you, microorganisms!

What is new, however, is the use of fermentation in skincare. Innarah, an American brand based in Connecticut, developed a fermentation method for just that purpose. Using natural ingredients combined with changes in pressure and oxygen levels, Innarah’s products are all formulated without heat– they’re the skincare equivalent of raw food, a quality that Innarah says allows the ingredients to maintain their potency. We agreed to try out some of Innarah’s products, and here’s a rundown of our favorites:

Treatment Cleanser – Ultra-gentle and effective, this cleanser combines coconut oil’s cleansing properties with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant rich extracts like snow algae and mangosteen. It’s a tiny bit tingly (but not in a scary way), and would be good for dry or super sensitive skin.

Treatment Solution – Normally, I’m not a huge fan of toners — they either don’t do much of anything or they turn my skin a disconcerting shade of red– but this one is lovely. It’s made with hydrating and exfoliating ingredients like organic apple cider vinegar, basil extract, and alpine rose leaves, and left my skin feeling clean and comfortable.

JO2 Compound Clarifying Moisturizer – Glycolic acid, sea buckthorn oil, neem oil, hyaluronic acid — Innarah combined all of these superhero skin-savers into one product and it is awesome (with a price tag to match). I used this over a sun-filled, ice cream-filled, and generally hectic 4^th of July weekend and my skin looked brighter and smoother on Sunday night than it had on Thursday– no small feat!

Defense Oil – Defense Oil is meant to hydrate and protect your skin, and with an ingredients list that reads like a who’s who of oils– kukui nut, argarwood, neem, carrot seed, sea buckthorn– it’s no surprise that you only need a few drops. It’s definitely a multi-tasker and would be a great gift for new moms who could use a little pampering.

Photo by Sara Dimmitt