In skincare, there are many weird and wonderful ingredients, all promising to be the best thing you could possibly ever use on your skin. So it can be a confusing minefield of words that sound like they belong in a chemistry test as you’re trying to figure what’s best for you.
That’s why we take care to explain all of our ingredients in full, from what they are, how they work and how they’ll benefit your skin. So that you can plump, exfoliate, clear, hydrate and tighten to your hearts’ content.
This time, it’s the turn of totarol, one of the hero ingredients in our Pimple Patches. So, what is totarol, how does it work and crucially, how to use totarol, so that you reap the skin benefits.
Contents
What is Totarol?
Totarol is a completely natural, plant derived compound, that’s taking the skincare word by storm. So we knew it had to feature in our Microneedle Pimple Patches. As with so many extraordinary skincare ingredients with ancient roots, totarol has been used for skin complaints for centuries by the Maori people of New Zealand.
It’s derived from the Totara tree that’s indigenous to New Zealand. Like a grand old matriarch of the forest, looking over her saplings with a wise eye, the Totara tree can live to see a thousand years. And this is all down to totarol.
How Does Totarol Work?
Totarol has antimicrobial properties that make the wood of the tree highly resistant to decay. It’s also a highly effective antioxidant, acting as a natural preservative in these ancient trees. It’s no surprise that with qualities like these, the Totara tree can live for so long.
But what does this mean for us? How does totarol work on our skin?
What Does Totarol Do for the Skin?
Maori tribes have been boiling the bark of the Totara tree to produce a tonic to reduce fevers and using the smoke of burning the bark to soothe skin complaints for generations. Here in the modern world, we’re only just catching up.
The same antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that make totarol so beneficial to the Totara tree make it equally as beneficial to our skin.
Often, acne is caused by a naturally occurring skin bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. This bacteria can colonise the skin, and become trapped in the pores by dirt, makeup, dead skin cells and excess sebum (that natural, wax like oil that’s produced by the skin to keep it moisturised and protected). Scientific studies have demonstrated that totarol possesses the antimicrobial qualities needed to inhibit the growth of this bacteria. Clearing up this acne causing bacteria can lead to clearer, less spot prone skin.
Scientific studies have demonstrated that totarol possesses the antimicrobial qualities needed to inhibit the growth of this bacteria. Clearing up this acne causing bacteria can lead to clearer, less spot prone skin.
As an antioxidant, totarol is thought to have three times the antioxidant prowess that vitamin E has. Antioxidants help to protect the skin against UV damage and defend against environmental toxins by helping to ‘neutralise’ nasty unstable molecules of oxygen called free radicals. Free radicals can cause irritation and premature ageing, so this powerful antioxidant is extremely beneficial to the skin!
As an aside - virgin trees are never cut down to retrieve the totarol. Instead, it’s extracted from reclaimed wood that’s already served a useful life as a fence post or in building. So it’s sustainable and well as being fantastic for the skin.
Is Totarol Good for Acne Prone Skin?
Totarol stops acne casing bacteria in its tracks and helps to soothe damaged, irritated skin with its antioxidant properties mean that totarol is very good for acne prone skin.
Is Totarol Good for the Skin?
In conclusion, yes, totarol is very good for the skin. Whether you have regular acne breakouts that might be related to your menstrual cycle, or you get the occasional spot due to stress or burning the candle at both ends, totarol will benefit you.
How Do I Use Totarol?
We’re so proud to have totarol in our Vice Reversa Microneedle Pimple Patches. Not only because we know how good totarol is for acne, but because we’ve made it super simple to use totarol on your acne prone skin and breakouts.
Totarol stops acne casing bacteria in its tracks and helps to soothe damaged, irritated skin with its antioxidant properties mean that totarol is very good for acne prone skin.
If you’re wondering how to use totarol, each patch is designed to be placed over the problem area. And with over 500 dissolvable microneedles that painlessly penetrate the skin, the totarol is delivered into the skin, exactly where it’s needed.
Along with pore clearing salicylic acid and skin calming green tea extract, our pimple patches will help to reduce the size, redness and irritation of not-yet-surfaced spots, nipping them in the bud before they ruin your weekend.
In answer to your question – what is totarol, we can tell you – your skin saviour!
