Archives for July 2023

If you’re like me, you have probably spent a lot of time researching what not to put on your skin. But what about the things you can look for that go into a skincare line that fits your healthy lifestyle? 

 In this article, I will go into what you absolutely need to look for when seeking out a skincare product that works for you. Whether it’s a Charlís product or another brand, paying attention to these 8 elements will help you find that just-right product that will stand the test of time. 

1 | ToxicFree® Only! 

According to a recent study sponsored by GroupOn, the average American woman spends a little over $300 per month on beauty products. Within her shopping bag could be dozens of products representing everything from makeup to hairspray to facial moisturizer. And if that woman is not consciously shopping with safety in mind, those creams, lotions, and sprays may come with some pretty hazardous side effects for her health.

But that is not the scariest part. What’s more concerning is that once that woman becomes aware of the dangers of toxins and begins to investigate healthier options for herself, there is a good chance she is going to get bamboozled into purchasing products that, while they may look more “natural” on the outside, are just as much of a toxic soup as the stuff she bought before. 

How can this be? For an in-depth report on how companies can get away with false claims when it comes to toxins, be sure to check out this article. The long and short of it, however, is that most products that contain labels such as “all natural,” “non-toxic,” or “dermatologist approved” may still contain a large number of xenoestrogenic chemicals, carcinogens, or synthetically derived fragrances.

The only way to absolutely know for sure that you are getting a skincare product that is 100% free from any and all harmful chemical agents is to look for the ToxinFree® label, such as the one that is on all Charlís skincare products. 

ToxicFree® means that it has been independently lab tested to be toxin free, through and through!

2 | Organic Ingredients 

The next litmus test for safe, clean skin care is to look for a USDA Certified Organic label or other demarcation on the product and/or product ingredients that indicates organic ingredients. This is especially important for the first two or three main ingredients since these are the substances that the product may contain the most of. And as a side note, if your product does not have a list of ingredients at all, you may want to reconsider using that product! 

The USDA Organic demarcation means that that product or ingredient has been certified to be at least 95% organic by the United States Department of Agriculture. 

3 | Wild Harvested

Another important characteristic of high quality, natural skin care products is that they are created using wild harvested ingredients. What exactly does this mean? 

Specifically, it means that the plant or herb being used has been collected from a region that is untouched by humans (think of the diversity of a mountain forest versus rows and rows of the same type of plant). Wild harvested plants and herbs are typically gathered in much the same way that our ancestors did, one at a time by hand or via rudimentary picking tools. 

Wild harvested ingredients are also not sprayed with chemicals or genetically modified. They are also heartier than their farm-grown cousins since they must rely on the biodiversity of their local environment for their survival. This includes nearby plants, animals, and microorganisms as well as temperature changes.

Wild harvested ingredients have become increasingly popular in skincare. This is because the stress and strain that these plants have to go through in their natural environment often make them much more potent as well. 

4 | For Sensitive Skin- No Irritants

If you have a skin-related condition such as psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne, actinic keratosis, or allergy, or if you simply have sensitive skin for another reason, the very best thing you can do is to first and foremost, choose skincare products that are as chemically clean as possible (see the first section on ToxicFree®). 

That being said, symptoms such as rash, itchiness, burning, dryness, or even blistering can sometimes still occur in individuals using the most natural of products, especially after long term use. The reason why is that your body is reacting to something within the product that most people would not react to.

Although the specific irritant may be different for each person, some typical second-level irritants may include:

• dairy substances (such as whey, goat milk, butter, etc.) 
• gluten substances 
• natural fragrances, such as some essential oils 
• some high-potency antioxidants, such as certain forms of vitamin C

Ultimately, if you are highly sensitive, you may have to discover for yourself via trial and error which products you can benefit most from without causing you side effects. That being said, choosing products that are 100% vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and even fragrance free is a great start!

Many experts also recommend choosing only products that say “hypo-allergenic” on the label as well. This is good advice, as long as you completely trust that label and that brand. As we discovered in the first section, a manufacturer may claim that their product is “hypoallergenic” when in reality it is not. 

5 | Clean Manufacturing 

The next thing to consider is how a product is manufactured. After all, a company may claim to use “all natural” ingredients, but how they go about putting those ingredients together and taking them to market can be a whole other matter altogether. Skincare products that use clean manufacturing processes put their product together in a sanitary, dedicated manufacturing facility. They live up to what they say on their label and strive to use the safest processing practices. Most importantly, they do not add additional harmful chemicals or toxins to their products during manufacturing. 

The very best quality skincare companies go a step further and take just as much care into what they put their products in as what goes into their products. I’m proud to say that I have not seen a skincare company that compares to Charlís when it comes to safe manufacturing and product storage practices. If you have already experienced any of the products in the Charlís line, then you know that our products come in elegant glass containers. What you may not know is that these are Italian glass bottles specifically designed to maintain the integrity of the ingredients inside of them. Whereas creams, lotions, and sprays stored in plastic tend to degrade with time (and can even become contaminated by the chemicals such as BPA inside the plastic), our products stand the test of time and will be just as fresh and chemical-free six months from now as they are today.

6 | Keep It “Made in the USA”

And speaking of manufacturing, when at all possible, choose products that are made right here in the USA. Not only is this a safer choice (less distance to ship means less chance of irradiation, spoilage, and leakage), but also choosing “American Made” whenever possible keeps Americans employed and American communities thriving. It also ensures that the skincare product you have just purchased was not manufactured using child labor.

If you already look for “Made in the USA” products, you are not alone. A recent Consumer Reports survey found that 78 percent of Americans would rather buy a product made in the USA than one made outside of the country. All of Charlís products are manufactured right here in the good old US of A! 

7 | Ethically Sound 

Finally, make sure that the brand you choose is created using the most ethical choices and practices possible, including following sustainability guidelines for the region of harvesting and/or manufacturing and that the product does not test on animals. 

Remember that sometimes you may have to do your own research when it comes to the ethical (or lack thereof) practices of the brands you choose. This information should be easy to find, either via reviews online (Consumer Reports or the Environmental Working Group’s SkinDeep Database are both great resources) or by going directly to the product’s website. If you are finding it difficult to find information on a skincare company regarding their ethical practices (or any other category of information for that matter), my advice is to, again, consider whether or not  using that product is the best choice for you, your health, and the health of the planet. 

8 | Elegance and Beauty 

Finally, we have gotten to my favorite part! After all, creating a skincare line that offers women like you safe, clean, super effective products that are also beautiful to the eye was my primary objective in starting Charlís. 

I have always felt that elegance and luxury were important traits for any beauty product. That was why I was so disappointed when I first went on my own journey to find more healthy choices. Yes, these products were safe and some of them were very effective. Truth be told, however, the look and feel of them just didn’t get me too excited to use them day after day.  

In creating the one-of-a-kind products that make up the Charlís skincare line, I wanted you to feel just as beautiful holding that Italian glass bottle in your hand as you do when you eventually open that bottle and use its contents on your face and skin. 

From the feedback I have received so far from hundreds of women all over the world, I think the team here at Charlie has indeed accomplished that mission. I invite you to feel the Charlís difference as well today. It really is luxury skincare for real women…because YOU are so worth it!

You have probably noticed by now that CHARLÍS is pretty unique amongst all of the luxury skincare lines “out there.” 

It’s true that the safety and effectiveness of our independent lab-tested products are second to none. But there is also something more. You see, when I first created CHARLÍS, I knew that what would make us truly unique is not just what we put on the inside. Creating a one-of-a-kind skincare product would also depend on all the care and attention we gave to what happens on the outside as well. This includes the packaging, the way we present information on our website, and even the bottles in which we put our ToxinFree® cleansers, lotions, and toners. 

Luxury, elegance, fun, and health- this is the winning combination that makes CHARLÍS a shining star for health and beauty on all levels. 

Why Elegance?

Refined grace, restrained beauty, tasteful richness…these are some of the words used to describe the illusive state known as elegance.

We know it when we see it because, for most of us, we can feel it too. Walking into an elegant room or seeing a woman in an elegant evening gown, we automatically exhale, and our shoulders relax just a little. Just the sight of elegance can sometimes cause time to stand still for just a moment or two. 

According to author Tonette Fornillos, “elegance is the soft voice of confident simplicity.”

What’s more, elegance is timeless. Don’t believe me? According to the researchers over at Psychology Today, “elegance as a descriptor for attractiveness is more resistant to effects of aging than beauty or gorgeousness.”

For example, was there ever a time when Audrey Hepburn was not the epitome of elegance? Even into her 80s, she walked with simple grace whether she was on a movie set or in the middle of a dusty street in Africa. 

When you choose CHARLÍS, you choose elegance. With each pump of the handle or pop of the top, with each box opened to reveal our beautifully packaged CHARLÍS Collection inside, we strive to exude that “confidence simplicity”.  And I hope our products help you to exude the elegant woman you are because—guess what? —you are elegant no matter what your age or situation in life!

Why Luxury? 

When you think of luxury, what comes to mind? Opulent wealth? Riches available only to a few? Yachts, mansions, and jewels? Yes, all of these things have become associated with that word over the years, but true luxury is about so much more. 

According to Merriam-Webster, luxury is actually defined as “a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort.”

Boy, I so love that definition.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in that state every day? 

Some of you may have heard the story about what ultimately propelled me to start a “luxury” skincare line in the first place. I have always made looking my best a priority. When I was younger, I admittedly didn’t give much thought to safety or toxic load in the beauty products I purchased. As I got older (and wiser) I started to do my own research. Eventually, I threw away all of my Revlon, Maybelline, and Clinique products (which are all loaded with chemicals, for the most part) as I prioritized safety over the sense of luxury those products provided. 

You know what I’m talking about ladies– that sense of ease, abundance, and even giddy excitement you get every time you open that shiny package of makeup or hold that expensive, stream-lined bottle of face cream in your hands. Those more natural products I now held in my hands, with their chunky packaging and bland labels, made me feel more like I was getting ready to do the dishes than getting ready for a night out. Simply put, at the time I thought I had to give up all that luxury for the sake of my health.  

As hard as I searched all these years, I never did find a brand that married ToxicFree® and a commitment to health with simple elegance, luxury, and that sense of “opulence from within.”  Fast forward to just a couple of years ago, and I had finally had enough! I decided that I deserved to have the best of both worlds and I had a sneaking suspicion that a lot of women felt the same way too. Hence, CHARLÍS was born!

And guess what? I wasn’t wrong. So far, the response to our ToxinFree© luxury skincare line has been out of this world. In fact, if we weren’t such elegant ladies, we would be shouting from the rooftops about how this product has changed the beauty routines and the lives of so many! (Instead of shouting, you can read all the testimonies HERE). 

Luxury matters. So does your health.  With CHARLÍS, now you don’t have to choose. 

Why Fun? 

Elegance and luxury, we got that covered. But who says you can’t have a little fun too? In fact, according to studies, immune health actually improves when a person is doing something they enjoy! Stress lowers, hormones balance as healing hormones like serotonin and dopamine are produced, inflammation levels go down, and even gut health can improve.  A large scale 2014 longitudinal cohort study on older adults found that “positive affective well-being” (that is, overall feelings of happiness and enjoyment) are associated with longer survival rates after a serious illness, as well as reduced occurrence of illness in general.

The researchers also found that doing things you enjoy, like pampering yourself with a little luxury from CHARLÍS, can keep you healthy and functioning better on all levels no matter what your age. 

And Healthy Too… CHARLÍS Has It All

CHARLÍS truly is unique.  Every one of our products carry the ToxinFree® stamp of approval, our ingredients are wild harvested and organic, and our products are never tested on animals. What’s more, they are 100% vegan, non-GMO, and made right here in the USA! 

From the contents on the inside of the bottle to the authentic Italian glass, rose gold caps, and purposeful packaging on the outside, CHARLÍS stands out in the luxury skincare space. From the beginning I knew that I wanted our products to reflect that Breath of Life—pure, clean, elegant, beautiful, and fun from start to finish. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results, and we are just getting started. Come grow with us and experience the CHARLÍS difference today!

There are no accidents in nature. Plants, herbs, and minerals have all been placed on this earth by God for very specific reasons. The amazing thing about all of this is that not only do all living things on this planet have a purpose, but they are also designed to work together for harmony and balance.

At CHARLÍS, we are in line with the harmony and balance witnessed in nature, and not just on the outside.  We choose each ingredient for a reason, not just for their amazing individual attributes but also for how each one flows together to give you the very best for cleansing, toning, rejuvenating, and moisturizing your precious skin. 

Keep reading to learn more about how synergy works and how CHARLÍS products are harnessing the power of synergy to create products that are above and beyond anything you have ever seen! 

What Is Synergy? 

The synergy found in nature is pretty exciting. But before we go there, let’s back up a little and look at what synergy is in general. 

The basic definition of synergy is “an interaction or cooperation giving rise to a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts.” The word stems from the Greek synergos, meaning “working together.”

As you can imagine, synergy can happen in all kinds of arenas, not just in nature. For example, synergy can happen in business, in finance, and in technology (especially as it pertains to AI). It can also happen amongst individuals working in an organization or on an individual project. In the sciences, synergy is often studied in terms of all the bad things that can happen. For example, biological scientists study the synergy between viruses or other microorganisms and body to cause illness. In pharmacology, scientists study what could potentially happen when two or more drugs interact with each other.

Synergy for Healing in the Body

However, there is a flip side to synergy that is very positive. Synergy for healing and balance in the body, including for the skin, can also happen when two or more natural substances, such as plants, herbs, and minerals or even nutrients, protein groups, or individual phytonutrients work together to create a synergistic effect for more diverse and powerful healing.

And there is also another vital component at play. The synergetic effects of multiple plants and herbs interacting together also work in tandem with the mechanisms within your own body, especially the immune system. Again, when coupled in the right way, the result can be supercharged healing and rebalancing on all levels. 

One Example: Turmeric & Black Pepper

A great example of natural synergy in action for healing can be found with turmeric and black pepper. Turmeric root is found mostly in Indian cuisine and contains the phytonutrient curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to be a powerful natural anti-inflammatory since it has the ability to inhibit the production of a number of pro-inflammatory molecular substances. Interestingly, many of these inflammatory mechanisms also play a role in cancer tumor growth as well.

There is no doubt that curcumin is a super-powered anti-inflammatory. However, its effect can be exponentially enhanced by the introduction of piperine, a phytonutrient found in black pepper. A study done at St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, found that curcumin’s bioavailability in the body is raised 2000% when taken in conjunction with piperine. Interestingly, studies have also found that eating sources of fat in addition to black pepper can raise curcumin’s effectiveness even more. Is it no wonder that traditional Indian cuisine often contains turmeric, black pepper, and added ghee? 

Of course, this is just one example amongst hundreds. Now let’s take a look at how some of the healing plants, roots, and herbs found in CHARLÍS products work together to create equally powerful benefits for your skin.  

Charlís Skincare Products: Synergy at Work in Every Bottle! 

The skin is an organ system of the body. As such, it can benefit from the synergetic effects of natural substances in basically the same way as other organs and parts can. The “team effort” of healing plants, herbs, and roots as well as extracts, when working together, can help to protect, rejuvenate, refresh, and rebuild your skin.

One thing you have to realize about all CHARLÍS luxury skincare products is that, unlike most natural skincare lines, we don’t just put one active natural ingredient in our products. We put several! This is pretty unheard of even amongst the best all-natural, ToxicFree® skin toners, lotions, and cleansers. 

Why do we do this? The reason, plain and simple, is that we want to answer the call which many of you put out there when I was first starting CHARLÍS. My main goal is to produce skincare products that you can trust and that produce results. Not only are these products 100% ToxicFree®, but we have also used the wisdom of nature combined with the miracles of science to find key active ingredients which can work together beautifully to truly help your skin heal and revive. 

Our products work to rejuvenate, refresh, and replenish your skin whether that skin is oily, dry, stressed out, or just plain tired. Like I mentioned above, in order to do this, we don’t just use one active ingredient. We use five or more key ingredients that have the ability to act together in just the right way so that the synergistic effects will be incredible for you. 

The Synergistic Effects of CHARLÍS Daily Revitalizing Moisturizer

One example of a CHARLÍS product that uses the power of synergy to produce some pretty amazing results is our Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer. First of all, our Moisturizer contains stem cells extracted from bamboo plants (Bambusa Vulgaris). According to CHARLÍS Master Formulator Linda Chae, bamboo has a number of characteristics that can benefit any type of skin:  

“First of all, bamboo is like the skin’s therapist. It soothes, it calms, it…tells the nerves in the skin ‘it’s okay, everything’s okay, just be calm.’ It [also] makes the skin resilient, strong, and tough. There is not a plant stronger than bamboo.” 

The bamboo stem cells found in the CHARLÍS Daily Revitalizing Moisturizer also have the effect of reversing time at the skin’s cellular level:

 “How many times would we just like to go back and do it all over again? [Bamboo stem cells] let your skin go back and do it all over again.” 

Finally, bamboo stem cells help to “mother” your skin by stimulating collagen production. This produces deeper healing, including skin repair and wound healing. 

But bamboo is not the only active ingredient in the Daily Revitalizing Moisturizer. It also contains argan oil (Argania spinosa), a powerful natural anti-inflammatory for the skin that also helps to strengthen through improving skin elasticity. In addition, the Daily Moisturizer contains alpha hydroxy acid in the form of grapefruit peel extract, which is also great for cell renewal. Organic perilla ocymoides seed oil is another key ingredient. Perilla is a member of the mint family that is omega 3 fatty acid rich and an excellent antioxidant source. 

And that is still not all!  There are over a dozen other ingredients in this one round Italian glass bottle, all designed to work together to protect, moisturize, and encourage the mechanisms of your own skin cells to retain moisture themselves for ongoing healing. 

100% ToxicFree ® and Luxury to Boot: There is Nothing Like CHARLÍS! 

Your skin renews itself approximately every 24 to 32 days. This means that when your whole body is stressed, inflamed, or just plain worn out, you are going to see it in your skin first. This is also why the overall signs of aging in general are often seen first on the skin under the neck and on the hands.

However, there is an upside to skin’s quick turnaround time. Once you start using CHARLÍS Daily Moisturizer (or any CHARLÍS product for that matter), you are going to start feeling and seeing the difference right away. I pretty much guarantee it since this is what hundreds of women and men—yes, CHARLÍS is for men too! —say about our products month after month. 

Let nature’s miracles and the synergetic effect found in herbs and plants help your skin look and feel its best. Only CHARLÍS can deliver elegant, luxurious skincare with formulas specifically designed with synergy in mind. 

Try CHARLÍS today. We are 100 % ToxicFree, non-GMO, wild harvested, 100% vegan, and made in the USA. CHARLÍS is luxury skincare for real women — because YOU are so worth it!