Dragons Blood doesn’t sound like something you’d want to apply on your skin, right? But despite its name, it’s not some extract from a mythical animal. It’s a red resin extract from the latex of the tree Croton lechleri with multiple beneficial properties for skincare treatments.
Intrigued, Luxurious Magazine caught up with Diane Ackers, skin expert for Doctors Formula and licensed aesthetician, to find out more.
Luxurious Magazine: Dragon’s blood doesn’t sound like something we commonly think of putting on our skin. What exactly is it?
Diane Ackers: It definitely doesn’t sound like something you can walk into a beauty hall and purchase! Dragons Blood Extract is a red resin — hence its name – and has been used by the indigenous Amazonian communities for thousands of years for its healing, anti-bacterial and antiviral properties.
At Doctors Formula, we’ve fused Dragons Blood with active ingredients to soothe, smooth, and support whilst simultaneously rejuvenating stressed looking skin. Dragons Blood Extract is a hydro-glycolic extract obtained from the latex of the tree Croton Lechleri, which has multiple beneficial properties that help in taking great care of your skin.
LM: Can you talk us through the ingredients in the beauty products and their benefits?
Diane: Dragons Blood is known for its restorative abilities to support skin repair and rejuvenation due to its anti-ageing properties. It’s a powerhouse antioxidant that is up to 50 x more efficient than vitamin E and comparable to vitamin C. It plays a vital role in delaying the visible signs of ageing.
In our new Dragons Blood range, we’ve combined this super beneficial active ingredient with compatible ingredients such as Citric Acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from citrus fruit to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, fresher complexion. We’ve also incorporated Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Seed Oil), which is naturally packed with Linoleic acid. This sunflower seed oil helps to strengthen, replenish and soothe the skin all at the same time.
It’s super beneficial to stressed skin as it feels more dry or dehydrated. Linoleic acid helps to synthesise the skins own lipids (natural fats), keeping it moisturised and repairing the skin’s natural barrier protection. This range is perfect for stressed skin in need of a calming effect while working to restore it.
LM: There seem to be so many skincare brands out there. How do we choose what will work for us?
Diane: Look for Cosmeceutical brands that combine the sensorial aspects of a great cosmetic product with known active ingredients from a more pharmaceutical background. That way, you get the activity levels of ingredients that will make a positive difference to your skin without any downtime.
Then choose something that targets the ONE thing that you want to change about your skin when you look in the mirror, whether that be lines and wrinkles, redness, hyperpigmentation, breakouts, texture and tone or a mixture of all. Choose what you want to treat and then find a consistency that you like — there is no use in using a serum, lotion or cream which you don’t like the feel of on your skin, or if once it’s applied, you feel like you have an oil slick on your surface skin!
Find the products first that will target what you want to change, then test your skin’s texture, consistency, and absorption rates. Once you’ve tried several different consistencies, you’ll find the perfect skincare for you, which you’ll be happy to use daily, rather than it being relegated to the bottom of your beauty bag.
LM: Let’s talk about Dragons Blood. What is it, and what are its benefits?
Diane: Created to support skin repair and skin rejuvenation while fighting the effects of ageing, the Dragons Blood Collection aims to improve the skins barrier function, acting almost as a “second skin.” Stress can mess with your skin, so the products in the Dragons Blood range has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect due to their rich polyphenol content in order to promote skin regeneration.
Rich in antioxidants counteracting daily free-radical attacks on the skin, Dragons Blood both aids the visible signs and assists in delaying skin ageing. Proanthocyanidins present in Dragons Blood extract are one of the most efficient free-radical killers known, believed to be fifty times more efficient than vitamin E and potentially more efficient than vitamin C.
LM: Are there any side effects of using this product?
Diane: There are no specific side effects associated with the use of the resin extracted from the Croton Lecheri tree. However, it’s always good practice to patch test prior to use, specifically if you know you have reactive or fragile skin.
LM: It’s that time again when we all want to look our best for the Christmas season. Tell us how Doctors’ Formula Dragons Blood should be used to have us looking great for the party season?
Diane: Rich food, late nights, increased alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep all take their toll on our skin. Especially at this time of year when there are deadlines to meet prior to the holidays, or the panic has started to settle in over who you’re inviting over, what to wear to the Christmas “Do”, or if you’ve got everyone’s presents sorted!
Stress frequently has a negative impact on our skin and often generates breakouts, blemishes, dry patches and redness — so even if your skin is usually normal, the additional stress levels can play havoc with your everyday skin reactions. Supporting your skin’s natural barrier defences pre the party season will help to keep your skin balanced and strong throughout the holidays.
The Dragons Blood range is perfect for when you’re looking for the post-party calm and need to give your skin a little extra TLC after the event, as this serenity-inspired range is packed with active ingredients to soothe, smooth, and support whilst rejuvenating stressed looking skin.
LM: Aside from using products, what else can we do during the winter months to look after our skin?
Diane: Think hydration, hydration, hydration. With the change in the seasons bringing a drop in humidity and lower moisture levels in the air, dehydration is the biggest skin aggressor during winter. As the climate of cooling weather and dropping humidity levels is literally sucking the water out of your skin, natural sebum production and water levels in our skin also decline.
The cooler temperatures and lower humidity result in dry air, which draws moisture away from your skin. Combined with the fact that we love to turn the heating up, sit beside a roaring fire, lounge in hot baths, all of these factors push our constant temperature loving skin over the edge!
Turn the central heating down a notch, don’t sit too close to the log burner and ensure you add extra layers of moisture-giving ingredients into your daily skincare routine. Switch up your serum, include ingredients like hyaluronic acid and collagen amino acids. Try a richer moisturiser and keep applying your SPF all year round to give your skin a fighting chance throughout the winter months.
LM: How important is food when it comes to looking after our skin?
Diane: If you don’t feed something, it doesn’t survive. Skin is the largest organ of the body and needs a constant supply of nutrients, protein and healthy fats. Our diets should be varied – one that is packed with antioxidant-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, and healthy fats from fish and nuts, all of which play a vital role in supporting our everyday skin function and encouraging it to work effectively.
Sometimes, we assume that as long as we drink plenty of water, we can maintain a healthy complexion, yet the reality is we need a mixed and rich diet to keep skin healthy from within.
Dragons Blood – Where and How?
For more information on Dragons Blood and other products from Doctors Formula, visit www.doctorsformula.co.uk.
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