Why we chose it:
Aloe possesses the basic building blocks for healthy skin. It contains a high amount of organic silicon, which helps build strong skin cell walls, healthy mucous membranes. Aloe vera stimulates fibroblasts, which are cells that are responsible for your body's production of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin. It also contains MSM and amino acid precursors to collagen production.

What it does:

• Contains a variety of antioxidants
  
  
• Rich in a variety of vitamins & minerals
  
  
• Healing inflammation of the skin
  
  
• Helps with antibacterials and antivirals

Belfiore Herbal products containing Aloe Vera Gel:
Lavender Gel Toner, Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream

Why we chose it:
Carrots contain vitamin C, which has healing properties. It helps skin recover faster from external wounds and trauma. Beta-carotene in carrots also reduces skin inflammation, which speeds the healing process.

What it does:
Since Carrots are rich in vitamin C,that helps in collagen production in the dermis. Thus, regular use of carrots infused oil in Belfiore’s eye cream can help in preventing wrinkles, and stalling the process of aging. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that attacks free radicals, and thereby prevents signs of aging like pigmentation, wrinkles and uneven skin tone.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Carrot Infused Oil:
Eye Renewal Cream

Why we chose it:
Cetostearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol or cetylstearyl alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols, consisting predominantly of cetyl and stearyl alcohols and is classified as a fatty alcohol. It is used  as an emulsifier and emollient.

What it does:
As an emollient, cetearyl alcohol is considered an effective ingredient for soothing and healing dry skin

Not only is it considered safe and nontoxic for use on the skin and hair, but it's also not drying or irritating like other types of alcohol. Due to its chemical structure, cetearyl alcohol is even permitted by the FDA as an ingredient in products labeled “alcohol-free.”

Belfiore Herbal products containing Cetearyl Alcohol:
Moisturizing Body Cream, Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream

Why we chose it:
Coconut oil is safe to apply to your skin and hair, and has been used for centuries as a protective hair treatment.

What it does:
Coconut oil stimulates hair growth getting deep into its follicles. Coconut oil promotes the scalp health fighting against such problems as insect bites, lice and dandruff. ... Coconut oil adds luster, shine and softness to the hair. Coconut oil prevents hair breakage and split ends, contributing to hair length.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Coconut Oil:
Rosemary Coconut Hair Oil

Why we chose it:
Grapeseed oil is a natural moisturizer that is safe to apply to your skin and hair

What it does:

• Moisturizes and Conditions
  
  
• Reducing Dandruff and Dermatitis
  
  
• Reducing Hair Loss
  
  
• Strengthen Hair

Belfiore Herbal products containing Grapeseed Oil:
Lavender Face Wash, Moisturizing Body Cream

While this is not a 'direct' ingredient like the others listed here, it deserves its own special listing. Belfiore Herbal's secret sauce is deriving plant-based hyaluronic acid (which is called galactomannan polysaccharides) from Guar Gum. This natural, plant-based alternative has the exact function as traditional animal-derived Hyaluronic Acid. Here below we will refer to Hyaluronic Acid and galactomannan polysaccharides interchangeably, but keep in mind it is truly plant-based. 

Why we chose it:
70% of skin is a combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Studies suggest that hyaluronic acid can help boost collagen production in the human body. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body, but it decreases as we age. Plant-based Vitamin C and amino acids support healthy cell division and will boost the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen. 

What it does:

Hyaluronic acid is well known for its skin benefits, especially alleviating dry skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and speeding up wound healing. It can also help relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis.

Belfiore Herbal products containing plant-based Hyaluronic Acid & Collagen:
Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream

Why we chose it:
Lavender essential oil is very light and mixes well in our skin care products plus it can benefit the skin in numerous ways.

What it does:
Science has only recently started to evaluate the health benefits that lavender oil contain. Below are the main potential benefits of lavender oil for skin.

• Protects against free radicals
  
  

• Soothes skin

• Improves Acne
  
  

• Promotes wound healing

• Prevents infections

Belfiore Herbal products containing Lavender Essential Oil:
Lavender Gel Toner, Eye Renewal Cream, Moisturizing Body Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream

Why we chose it:
Lavender Hydrosol is intensely aromatic, and share some of the healing properties of essential oils along with all the herbaceous elements of Lavender

What it does:
Due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, lavender hydrosol will keep your face cleaner over the course of the day, and will also give it a fresher, youthful appearance. Furthermore, lavender hydrosol is an excellent way to control the redness of pimples, keeping your skin as beautiful as possible.

Some of the commonly known benefits of hydrosols for skin are: hydration, soothing inflammation, healing and regeneration, balancing sebum and astringing (astringing is constricting small blood vessels, it's more commonly known as 'toning').

Belfiore Herbal products containing Lavender Hydrosol:
Lavender Gel Toner, Moisturizing Body Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream, 

Why we chose it:
Marigold flowers contain essential oils and a high concentration of flavonoids (secondary plant substances), such as carotene. They act as anti-inflammatory to promote topical healing and soothe irritated skin.

What it does:
Marigold flower revitalized dull and sagging skin. It also soothes dry, sensitive and damaged skin. It reduces acne, rashes, pimples and blemishes. Its powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties have been used to soothe rashes, heal wounds and all other skin infections.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Marigold:
Rejuvenating Face Cream, Lavender Face Wash, Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream

Why we chose it:
Hydrosols are intensely aromatic, and share some of the healing properties of essential oils. Hydrosols are around 30 times stronger than herbal teas, and gentler than essential oils.

What it does:
Organic Marigold (Calendula) Hydrosol is well known for its remarkable ability to soothe the skin and is well suited for use with dry, itchy, irritated, damaged or problem skin. This lovely hydrosol is highly versatile and can be used for a variety of applications on its own or as an ingredient in a wide range of formulations. Our Face wash has one of the top most ingredient as Marigold hydrosol. It can be used in facial toners, body sprays, natural fragrances and other water-based personal care and holistic aromatherapy products.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Marigold Hydrosol:
Lavender Face Wash

Why we chose it:
Potassium Sorbate is a chemical compound that acts as the potassium salt of sorbic acid that is good for all skin types.

What it does:
Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring antimicrobial compound. It is used as a mild preservative in cosmetic and skin care formulas and as a paraben alternative to prevent or retard the growth of microorganisms and protect these products from spoiling.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Potassium Sorbate:
Lavender Gel Toner, Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream, Moisturizing Body Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream

Why we chose it:
Because of its numerous benefits of skin and hair. Rosmarinic acid in rosemary has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant activity of rosmarinic acid is stronger than that of vitamin E.

What it does:

• For Skin: Rosemary oil is excellent at managing sebum production, which means your pores will be clearer and your skin will be a lot less oily. It's anti-inflammatory as well, so it treats redness from frequent breakouts and reduces puffiness without causing further irritation. 
  
  
• For Hair: First, it's an anti-inflammatory which helps to keeps hair follicles healthy and inflammatory scalp conditions like dandruff at bay. Additionally, the carnosic acid found in rosemary oil has also shown to promote nerve growth, and healing the nerves on the scalp can encourage healthy hair.
  

Belfiore Herbal products containing Rosemary:
Lavender Night Cream

Why we chose it:
Shea Butter is 0 on the comedogenic scale. As rich and luxurious as it is, it does not clog the pores. High concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make shea butter an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin.

What it does:
Shea butter  contains around 100ppm Vitamin E and the vast majority of that is in the alpha form (which is biologically active). Due to its high concentration of vitamin E, shea butter is a potent skin lightener. ... helps in achieving even skin tone, dealing with hyper pigmentation and lightening dark areas on skin

Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.

Fair Trade:

Belfiore Herbal works with Augustina & Janet Boachie to import authentic Ghanaian Shea Butter directly from the markets of Accra, Ghana. Through our arrangement, we buy from a collective of female farmers who harvest, process, and sell the Shea Butter to earn extra income on top of their current farming duties. This extra income funds educational opportunities in the village. In addition, once our import with Augustina & Janet is complete, we donate 20% of the final cost back to the female farm collective. 

Belfiore Herbal products containing Shea Butter:
Lavender Night Cream, Moisturizing Body Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream, Eye Renewal Cream

Why we chose it:
A naturally-occurring saturated fatty acid used as an emulsifier and emollient.

What it does:
According to skin care expert Paula Begoun, stearic acid has been shown to protect skin's surface against water loss and help shore up skin's protective barrier.

Belfiore Herbal products containing Stearic Acid:
Eye Renewal Cream, Lavender Night Cream, Moisturizing Body Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream

Why we chose it:
Sunflower oil is non comedogenic, does not clog pores, and suitable for all skin types.

Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E which help in promoting skin health. These vitamins act as antioxidants. They help in regenerating damaged skin cells and getting rid of the acne causing bacteria. The oil is light and non-greasy and thus, it gets absorbed in the skin easily without blocking the pores.

What it does:

• Moisturizes your skin
  
  
• High in vitamin E
  
  
• Fights acne
  
  
• Rich in beta-carotene
  
  
• Reduce signs of aging
  
  
• Soothe and heals your skin

Belfiore Herbal products containing Sunflower Oil:
Lavender Night Cream, Rejuvenating Face Cream