Ocinium Journal

Stress triggers a wide range of physiological and behavior changes and responses as the body tries to adapt to the impacts of stress. The skin is a key stress mediator, acting as a primary sensory organ with a highly developed system where stress hormones and their receptors are produced in the skins cells.  Cortisol is the primary stress hormone in...

We all know the importance of protecting our skin from the damaging effects of UV rays—but preventing visible signs of aging and achieving healthy skin doesn’t stop at SPF! Pollution particles consisting of smoke, soot, acids and emissions consist of particle sizes smaller than pores, allowing them to infiltrate into deeper layers of the epidermis. Once pollution enters the skin, it...

Do you really know why you’re supposed to use it, or why most dermatologists consider it pure magic? Do you even really know how to apply it? We are here here to break down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about retinol, so you can reap all of its smoothing, brightening, firming, and acne-killing benefits fast, without hardcore irritating your skin. ...

There is a sophisticated and complete antioxidant system in the skin, which is used as a defense to the oxidation reactions and free radicals induced by sun exposure, UV and ozone pollution.  The skins antioxidant defence consists of two systems, including the enzyme antioxidant system which consists of [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and a non-enzymatic antioxidant system (vitamin C, vitamin...

Most of us know that without adequate protection from environmental aggressors such as the ultra-violet radiation (UVR) and pollution, our skin will start to show signs of increased blotchiness, darkening of skin spots, dullness and over time, increased pigmentation. Pigmentation is inevitable in our Australian climate.  Pigmentation is a responsive mechanism to protect the skin against these DNA-damaging environmental influences. Pigment...

Your skin’s needs and behaviours are influenced by our body clocks and vary drastically during the day compared to overnight. Skincare products that have been designed and well formulated for night time repair can enhance the delivery of key active ingredients into the dermis and at a cellular level where their performance can be maximised while you sleep.  Throughout the...

With the explosion of DIY skincare tips all over YouTube, Pinterest and blogs, DIY skincare has seen us experiment with a range of natural skin care ingredients for at home skincare recipes from lemon juice, apple cider vinegar to sugars, Himalayan salt, bentonite clay and even charcoal. On the surface, natural ingredients can seemingly appear safe, but not every edible beauty ingredient...

Protecting your skin against atmospheric villains is paramount when it comes to maximising your skin’s capacity to achieve a healthy, youthful complexion. Everyday our skin is exposed to an array of factors that contribute to premature aging, this includes UV rays, infrared radiation, ozone pollution, oxidative stress and more, often resulting in the skin’s matrix becoming compromised. In turn, this...

Essential oils are present in a high volume of cosmetic products from serums and moisturisers to cleansers and toners. These natural compounds have a somewhat controversial reputation, however we’re here to separate the fact from fiction and help you understand the scientific truth! Essential oils are completely natural compounds, derived from plant material, such as leaves, stems, flowers, bark and...

Aloe vera is the oldest medicinal herbal plant ever known and the most used medicinal plant worldwide, rightly earning its position as “the plant of immortality” with its medicinal use dating back thousands of years and its proven history of safety in biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The fresh leaves of aloe vera secrete a colourless mucilaginous gel that contains...

One of the biggest misconceptions in natural skincare is the consumer messaging on the avoidance of skincare ingredients that you don’t recognise or simply cant pronounce the names of. Well if that was the approach you were taking then you have just dismissed the majority of active ingredients that are going to do all that hard work for your skin...

Hyaluronic acid is one of the most powerful ingredients recognised in the skincare industry on account of it’s ability to attract and hold 1000 times its own weight in water acting as the body’s own hydrating molecule for parched and environmentally assaulted skin. Hyaluronic is extracted from cockscomb or rooster combs, however the bio-fermentation using glucose that is corn derived...

An increased understanding of the skin’s cellular and molecular biology including gene regulation, protein expression and enzyme activity has evolved the beauty landscape to the emergence of “hybrid” skincare ingredients that levitate the boundaries between traditional cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Advancements in scientific research coupled with the development of biotechnologies has enabled increased understanding on how to interfere with skin cell...