A refreshing balm for pimples on the face, chest and back. Never irritating and always soft and sweet on your skin.

Soothing but highly effective anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-irritant, and sebum regulator.

For moderate acne and acne cysts.

It is also a staple for those who need to address severe acne with more agressive drugs, like isotretinoin, for it strengthens fragile skin and instantly quenches thirsty dry skin better than any other moisturizer that can be used while on Accutane.

Licorice extract, from the roots of the botanical adaptogen Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin, has inhibitory actions of testosterone 5-alpha-reductase, lipase and phospholipase A2, as well as androgen receptor antagonist which reduce sebum output. It also acts as an antimicrobial with proven action against P. acnes bacteria while also being a Super Oxide Dismutase antioxidant.

A New Dermatological Availability of the Flavonoid Fraction from Licorice Roots-Effect on Acne ISSN:0387-5253 Journal of Society Cosmetic Chemists Japan, VOL.37; NO.3; PAGE. 179-186(2003) Authors: Kambara Toshimitsu, Zhou Y, Kawashima Yoshihito, Kishida Naoko, Mizutani Kenji, Ikeda Takao, Kameyama Koichiro.

Abstract: In the course of our studies on the further application of licorice as a cosmetic ingredient, we studied a new dermatological availability in the licorice extract containing licochalcone-A as a main principle, Polyol Soluble Licorice Extract P-U, prepared from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin. As a result, this extract showed several activities such as inhibitory actions of testosterone 5 ALPHA-reductase, lipase and phospholipase A2, as well as androgen receptor antagonist, antimicrobial and SOD-like antioxidant actions, which relate to skin care, especially the suppression of acne formation and development. On basis of this evidence, a trial of Polyol Soluble Licorice Extract P-U with acne patients was carried out and the efficacy was demonstrated clinically.

Willow bark extract is a natural source of complex salicylic acid which enhances cell renewal, opens clogged pores, is anti-inflammatory, regulates sebum output, reduces the oily feel of sebum from hyperactive sebum glands, and reduces skin flora on the surface of the skin implicated in the formation of acne, without the irritating effects of the synthetic source.

Licorice Root is to the adrenals what a nice soaking in a tub of hot water followed up with a hand Swedish massage is to tired, aching muscles and joints. Licorice quickly tones the adrenals by relaxing and strengthening them to continue pumping out adrenalin but in more measured amounts.

A herb that feeds the adrenal glands and helps the body adapt is called an "adaptogen." Adaptogen herbs offer the materials needed to make the hormones and secretions so crucial to balance. Licorice Root is a long-favored adaptogen herb for building strength. Licorice's nature and properties so closely match the needs of the gland's hormone composition that hormones are then produced by the body quickly and with little effort.

Licorice contains glycyrrhizinic acid, starch and sugars and contribute toward the strength and energy of the body and helps to build up the entire system. Experiments have shown that Licorice has cortisone-like properties. It has been found to have a very beneficial and nourishing effect on the adrenal glands if some portion of the gland is healthy. Addison's disease, which decreases adrenal cortex secretions, has been treated with success with licorice extracts. Licorice is known to stimulate the production of the cortin hormone which is useful when the body is under mental and emotional stress and helps with the coping process.

Rapidly failing blood sugar level can affect both the mind an the body. The brain, which uses glucose as fuel may be affected. The lack of sugar delivered to the brain and to the body provides one mechanism whereby low blood sugar causes symptoms.

But there is another mechanism. When the sugar level falls, the body can quickly compensate, raising it again by pouring out adrenalin from the adrenal glands. The response is seen in a sudden fright or in a typical anxiety reaction. Think of the phrase: "My adrenalin was flowing" and you'll know what it means.

Adrenalin is a very rapid acting hormone that can change the physiology of the body in less than a minute. In fact, the reaction is so fast that commonly during a glucose tolerance test, the doctor does not even have time to collect a blood specimen before the blood sugar has shot up much higher than it was just a moment earlier, before the adrenaline release took place.

Many systems of the body can be made to malfunction suddenly in the presence of this sudden adrenalin release, and, because of this backfiring, hypoglycemia can be the triggering mechanism of a variety of conditions - sudden changes in heart rate or heart rhythm, sudden attacks of fainting or dizzy spells, sudden onset of headaches or ringing in the ears, an outpouring of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the stomach, and even the cardiac pain called angina pectoris.

Acne Breakouts
If acne breaks out on the neck, people tend to rub and pick at the zits. Excessive scraping and aggravation can make inflammation worse. When people go spend a day at a baseball game or a day at the golf course, they usually apply sunscreen to their necks.

The ingredients contained in sunscreen can become just another element capable of blocking pores. It is simple common logic that the more creams and lotions someone puts on their skin, the higher the probability you are giving the pore to clog.

Do you fancy hair gel? Do you suffer from acne cysts on your neck? Hair products can drip down onto the skin of the neck and cause acne redness. Hair products are made with many chemicals which once again can obstruct pores very easily. Eliminating acne on the neck can every so often be as easy as discontinuing the use of hair products.

Antimicrobial Peptides

This is not your normal cosmetic acne remover. It can eliminate acne cysts and repair acne lesions naturally. Applying the product with glycoconjugates keeps bacteria from thriving since it includes antimicrobial peptides.

These peptides act within seconds of saturating the skin and are an efficient tool fighting bacteria without the harsh side effects of over the counter chemical medicines. Destroying bacteria on the skin will eventually lead to cleaner appearance. The natural enzymes open clogged pores, dissolve scar tissue, and cure old scars by promoting new healthy cell formulation in their place.

Anti-inflammatory efficacy of Licochalcone A: correlation of clinical potency and in vitro effects Beiersdorf AG, Research and Development, Unnastrasse 48, 20245 Hamburg, Germany. ludger.kolbe@beiersdorf.com

Licochalcone A (LicA), a major phenolic constituent of the licorice species Glycyrrhiza inflata, has recently been reported to have anti-inflammatory as well as anti-microbial effects.

These anti-inflammatory properties might be exploited for topical applications of LicA.

We conducted prospective randomized vehicle-controlled clinical trials to assess the anti-irritative efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing LicA in a post-shaving skin irritation model and on UV-induced erythema formation.

The clinical trials were accompanied by a series of in vitro experiments to characterize anti-inflammatory properties of LicA on several dermatologically relevant cell types.

Topical LicA causes a highly significant reduction in erythema relative to the vehicle control in both the shave- and UV-induced erythema tests, demonstrating the anti-irritative properties of LicA.

Furthermore, LicA is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory in vitro responses, including N-formyl-MET-LEU-PHE (fMLP)- or zymosan-induced oxidative burst of granulocytes, UVB-induced PGE(2) release by keratinocytes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PGE(2) release by adult dermal fibroblasts, fMLP-induced LTB(4) release by granulocytes, and LPS-induced IL-6/TNF-alpha secretion by monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

The reported data suggest therapeutic skin care benefits from LicA when applied to sensitive or irritated skin.

Forskolin-rich extracts are commercially obtained from the roots, which also yield a viscous dark brown colored essential oil containing a range of aroma constituents that collectively impart a pleasing delicate aroma with a spicy note.

The newly discovered antimicrobial properties of the oil render it useful in topical preparations. A specific composition of the oil prepared by a patented process, is particularly effective against Propionibacterium acnes, the micro-organism implicated in acne. In addition the composition was found to be active against other microbes known to be associated with skin infections and eruptions.

In laboratory studies, Coleus oil was found to more effectively inhibit the growth of skin pathogens including Propionibacterium acnes (associated with acne), Staphylococcus aureus (a bacterial strain found in infected wounds and skin eruptions including acne), Staphylococcus epidermis a bacterial strain occurring in a variety of opportunistic bacterial skin infections and in acne, than the well known tea tree oil. Additionally, Coleus oil was found to inhibit the yeast culture Candida albicans more effectively than tea tree oil. Mucocutaneous candidiosis is often reported to be associated with acne.

Tetrahydropiperine, a compound present in small amounts in black pepper fruit (Piper nigrum), is added in low concentration to enhance the permeation of Coleus forskohlii extract (forskolin) and of the other active ingredients.

Unsaturated fatty acids of Inca Inchi oil applied topically allow to preserve the cutaneous lipidic balance, avoid keratinization troubles and improve healing. Alpha Linolenic acid (Omega-3 oil) and linoleic acid (Omega-6 oil) allows to decrease comedones and irritation associated with them.

Omega 3 fatty acids are used in the synthesis of the PGE3 prostaglandins which regulate the inflammatory response and help to reduce a number of inflammatory related disorders from which the body suffers, including skin rashes and redness.

Linolenic and linoleic essential fatty acids as well as their Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) derivatives are essential to keep and maintain a good health. They allow cholesterol level reduction, they participate in the cell membranes structure and are biological precursors of vital ceramides which are essential for the proper barrier function of the skin.