Personalizing Your Skincare

When we aim for a more personalized skincare routine, we can take full advantage of the products we use because they will be more suitable to our skincare needs and problems.

Benefits Of Personalized Skincare
When we personalize our beauty products, we know that the products we choose to use are free of ingredients that could ultimately cause skin sensitivity, reactions, and breakouts. Doing so can help us achieve any skincare goal, whether it is to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, prevent breakouts, or improve the overall tone of our skin.
When it comes to skincare, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. At Utama Spice, we understand this and have created a DIY shop that allows you to get the exact products that you want.

DIY Skincare
Our Utama Spice location in Jakarta has an interactive DIY skincare area where customers have the opportunity to make personalized lip balms, body scrubs, body mists, and bath salts. They can even customize liquid soaps by adding in some of their favorite scents. So not only will you know the ingredients you are putting into each product, but you will have the chance to personalize their aromas as well.

Choosing Your Ingredients
In addition to choosing your favorite scents, you are also selecting the ingredients. When doing this, keep in mind your skin type and what you are hoping to achieve.
For example, if you have dry, chapped skin or want to encourage hair growth, then jojoba oil is an ingredient you may want to add to lotions and shampoos. Jojoba oil is also good to incorporate into face and hand lotions as well as cleansing products.
For an anti-aging lotion, consider adding tamanu oil. It is used in many anti-aging products, and it is rich in fatty acids. It helps keep the skin moisturized and also contains antioxidants that can fight against damage caused by free radicals.
As you can see, the options are endless when it comes to personalizing your skincare routine. Use the DIY areas in our store to find what will work best for your skin and body.

Meta: Personalized skincare is targeted to your own unique needs and can help you have the best complexion. You can opt for jojoba oil, tamanu oil, and more.

Environmental Protection For Your Skin

Every day of our lives, we are exposing our skin to harmful pollutants. To combat those and the harmful effects they can have on our skin, it is important to choose natural skin care products designed to protect and nourish our skin.

Daily Pollution
Our skin is often exposed to the sun’s harmful rays and pollution. These factors all work together to create oxidative damage in the skin. This can ultimately break down our skin’s collagen and damage the protective barrier we have.
A damaged skin barrier means we will be more prone to the negative effects of various elements around us. Harmful free radicals can lead to increased skin cancer risk, premature aging, and other forms of skin damage.

Air Pollution
Air pollution can accelerate skin aging. This includes exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, and ozone in the air. All of this can increase inflammation and damage the skin. Over time, it can lead to premature aging, sagging skin, and fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamins E And C
Vitamins E and C are antioxidants that can help neutralize the free radicals causing the premature breakdown of the collagen and elastin in our skin. A serum with vitamin E can prep the skin at the beginning of the day and offer protection.
To combat the effects of aging skin due to environmental factors, we should focus on products designed to improve the skin’s elasticity, such as argan oil. This boosts cell production and promotes healthy skin. Argan oil can also help keep the skin hydrated.

The Power Of Antioxidants
Another good way to protect the skin throughout the day is by using a lotion rich in antioxidants like coconut oil. An outdoor lotion with natural ingredients can moisturize the skin as it protects it. The skin quickly absorbs coconut oil, and the addition of essential oils like citronella, neem, and clove oils can also help repel insects, offering even more protection while outdoors.

Lip Protection
Lip protection is just as important as protecting the rest of our skin from environmental stressors. A lip balm containing lemon oil can nourish the skin while reducing cell damage. It also contains moisturizing and nourishing vitamin E and beeswax, and it can be applied as often as needed throughout the day.

Bottom Line
Look for natural products without any chemical additives that can create a protective barrier for your skin. This will help keep out and combat environmental dangers that may threaten our health.

Meta: From air pollution to free radicals, many elements can negatively affect our skin unless we protect ourselves with argan oil, vitamin C, and more.

Why Fewer Products May Equal Better Results

The old adage, “less is more” is certainly something to consider even when it comes to beauty products. Sometimes, you will find that too many products can actually irritate the skin and cause more problems you will need to find solutions for.
Here’s the solution: Use fewer products to experience better results.
We can even go as far as calling it the Marie Kondo Effect, except we are moving from tidying up our kitchens and closets to nailing down our skincare routines. Skincare in 2020 is all about fewer steps, fewer ingredients, and more transparency. Today, we will see how we can edit our shelf down to just a few of our favorite products.

Why Less Is More
More certainly doesn’t equate to better when it comes to our skin. Not only can we achieve healthy skin with fewer products, but it also allows us to cut down on the time it spends for us to go through our skincare routine each day.
When choosing products, you want to focus on those that address your skin’s texture, tone, and softness.

Morning Routine With Less
Try changing up your morning routine. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. If you have acne-prone skin, you should reach for a facial wash with all-natural ingredients and effectively wash away dirt and makeup and prevent breakouts.
You should then exfoliate your skin. This can be done a few times a week to rid the skin of any dead skin cells and other contaminants that can cause redness, irritation, and inflammation. A 100% natural face serum can also be used to hydrate and smooth the skin and protect it without any chemical additives like perfume.

Evening Routine With Less
For your evening routine, use the same facial wash you used in the morning. You can then apply the same serum as you did before as well, followed by a moisturizer that doesn’t contain perfume. These steps all use fewer products but can go a long way in balancing your skin tone, cleansing the skin of impurities, and locking in moisture.

Face and body clay masks can also be used to detoxify the skin and remove the outer dead layers that threaten to clog our pores and cause dry skin.
As you can see, you don’t need to have a cabinet full of beauty products to get the results you desire. The less you put on your face, the better. For this reason, you should find a few high-quality and all-natural skincare products you can use that target your specific skin type. A good cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and face mask are all you need for a well-balanced skincare routine.
With fewer products, there is less chance of your skin becoming irritated and more chance that the few products you use will do the job as intended without overdrying or irritating the skin.

Meta: Less is more certainly applies to our beauty routines. The fewer products we use without harmful ingredients like perfume, the better the results will be.

The Importance Of Toner And Finding The Best One For Your Skin

Toner is something you can use to help close your pores tightening cell gaps in the skin after you cleanse it. A toner is a good way to reduce the visibility of impurities and environmental contaminants that try to make their way into the skin.

Toner Versus Face Serum
To understand the importance of toner, we also need to take a closer look at the differences between it and a serum. A face serum is a concentrated dose of exfoliants that moisturize while helping to heal the skin and it targets specific skincare problems such as acne, aging, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Serums are more beneficial when it comes to combatting aging, while toners are best used to hydrate and balance your skin as it is right now.

Benefits Of Toner
You should use a toner after cleansing your face so it can shrink pores and remove any excess oil from the face. This means it is especially beneficial to acne-prone skin. The toner also forms an additional protective layer on the surface of the skin while helping reduce environmental contaminants.

Applying Toner
To apply toner, wash your face as you normally would with a cleanser or face wash. You then need to pat your skin dry and apply a small amount of toner to a cotton ball or pad. Let the toner sit on the skin and dry naturally. Once the toner has had time to dry, you can then apply a moisturizer to complete the process.

Importance Of Toning The Skin
No matter your skin type, toner is important to include in your skincare routine because it helps you acquire a more balanced pH, which is essential to the health of your skin. When you use a cleanser and toner in your routine, you are effectively ridding it of makeup, pollutants, dead skin cells, and oils that accumulate on the skin throughout the day.
When we let those pollutants stay on and in our skin, they get trapped in our pores and make our pores appear even larger. A good toner will balance our pH level, thoroughly cleanse our pores, prep our skin for the maximum absorption of our moisturizer, and soothe the skin.

Choosing A Skin Toner
When choosing the right toner for your skin, there are a few things to note:

Dry Skin: Choose a toner that can also gently exfoliate and hydrate. It should contain soothing ingredients like vitamin E and antioxidants.

Combination Or Normal Skin: Choose a toner that will help replenish moisture and help to soften the skin.

Sensitive Skin: Opt for an alcohol-free toner that is gentle and free of chemicals. You can add a few drops of lavender essential oil to some witch hazel to make your own facial toner.

Oily Skin: Choose a toner that will gently exfoliate the skin and eliminate dead surface cells. You can also mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with witch hazel to create your own facial toner. This mixture has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help reduce redness and irritation.
Witch hazel is a multipurpose product used to reduce excess skin oil while sealing in the skin’s natural moisture. It also helps protect skin cells against sun damage and remove toxins.

Meta: With the right toner, you can restore balance to your skin and brighten your complexion. It can work with other skincare products like a face serum.

The Beauty Of Refillable Products And Refill Stations

There is a growing problem in the beauty industry today, and that problem is plastic. From shampoo and conditioner bottles to packaging for makeup, facial cleansers, and more, many beauty companies have been significantly contributing to plastic pollution in the world.
For this reason, we have decided to make refill stations readily available to our customers at Utama Spice.
People today are looking for less packaging and more eco-friendly and sustainable products. Some brands have chosen to go completely plastic-free, while others have looked for other more sustainable solutions to this growing problem.

What Are Refillable Products?
With refillable product options, you can get closer to achieving a zero-waste lifestyle. For products you use every day and products you constantly purchase, it might be a good idea to consider how more environmentally friendly it can be to simply refill the bottles of those products rather than purchasing an entirely new bottle.
It is a great way to save some money as well on your favorite skincare products. With our Utama Spice refill locations, you can refill any bottle with your favorite Utama Spice product and save on packaging, save money, and save the planet.

Benefits Of Refill Stations
As we already mentioned, there are tons of savings involved when you visit the refill stations at our stores. When you choose to refill products like liquid soaps, you are significantly reducing the amount of packaging waste you throw out without having to compromise on the price or quality of the products you are refilling. You will still be getting your favorite Utama Spice products, just without the extra packaging.
It also allows for more sustainability. Refill stations promote sustainability regarding the three pillars: the economy, the environment, and social impact. While the concept is not new, it has evolved into something that more people have become interested in. And to fulfill this renewed interest in refillable products, we have opened another refill station to provide our customers the opportunity to try it out and see the difference it makes for themselves.

Refillable Product Options
Running low on your favorite Utama Spice shampoo or conditioner? Maybe you need a refill on your liquid soaps. If so, come on down to one of our refill stations and discover the eco-friendly impact you can have on the environment.
The refill program charges by the gram and if you forget to bring your container in with you or want to start fresh, we have bottles available for purchase.
With our refill programs, you are becoming more environmentally conscious and showing how much you love and understand nature.

Meta: Refillable products such as liquid soaps and refill stations can help you save money and the environment and start leading a zero-waste lifestyle.

Why Clean Beauty Is Becoming A Trend

In today’s world, more and more consumers want to be able to recognize and pronounce the ingredients that are in their favorite beauty products. They want to know what they are using while also shifting their focus toward more sustainable and eco-friendly products. Fewer ingredients can have less of an impact on our environment.
Let’s look into why clean beauty is becoming a trend and find out how you can achieve a more natural Bali skincare routine.

Why Is Clean Beauty So Popular?
The word “clean” can mean different things to different people as well as brands. The term itself is not regulated in the beauty industry; therefore, there is no single definition. Each brand comes out with their own interpretation of clean beauty while using ingredients that they feel are natural and acceptable.
Clean beauty is popular because people are looking for products that are free of toxins and chemicals and more sustainable and safer to use.

Ingredients To Avoid
While there is still some disagreement as to which ingredients shouldn’t be considered as part of a clean beauty program, there are two that are more universally accepted as ingredients that should be avoided. Those two ingredients are parabens and SLS.
Parabens are the preservatives used in many products to keep them from going bad. SLS is what removes oils and produces the lather in some of the products we use such as shampoo and body wash.
Those two are common when it comes to beauty products, but they can irritate the skin. Parabens have also been linked to cancer.

Purchasing Clean Beauty Products
Clean beauty is becoming a trend in Bali skincare because it offers a safer and more natural way to take care of our skin and body. However, is it a trend you want to follow? For consumers, it is important to know and understand what products and ingredients they are using, and they are becoming more aware of what is considered harmful.

When it comes down to it, clean and non-toxic ingredients will prove to be better for the health of our skin. So if you are interested in healthy skin and a more youthful appearance, then clean beauty is a trend you will definitely want to consider.
Clean beauty products like those you can find at Utama Spice are mindfully created and produced without the inclusion of harmful or toxic ingredients. The ingredients in these clean beauty products are ethically sourced and made with a healthy body and environment in mind.

Meta: Clean beauty is an emerging trend in Bali skincare as more people are looking for ethically sourced and safe ingredients to use in their beauty products.

Benefits Of Seaweed To The Skin

Seaweed offers many unique benefits when it comes to natural skincare, including a clear complexion, hydrated skin, and an overall healthier appearance. This is all thanks to the soothing and anti-aging properties of this powerful ingredient.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of seaweed to the skin.

Hydration
Seaweed is full of humectants. These can draw in moisture from the environment. Seaweed also contains vitamin E, which is good for hydrating the skin. This mix of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants can greatly benefit your skin and body. The fatty acids help maintain the skin’s barrier and polysaccharides, including alginic acid, which helps lock moisture in the skin.

Exfoliation
Seaweed can also prove to be a good exfoliant for the skin. Some seaweed like red seaweed or Corallina officinalis can help gently remove dead and loose skin cells from the surface of our skin.
Brightens The Skin
If you have brown spots or other pigment problems, seaweed can help reduce pigment production and brighten the skin.

Heals Acne
If you have acne, seaweed is useful for soothing the skin and combatting the inflammation that is commonly associated with acne breakouts and rosacea. Seaweed has anti-inflammatory properties along with natural minerals, including magnesium and zinc. All of this can help improve redness in sensitive skin as well while also shielding the skin from environmental conditions by creating a protective barrier.

Diminishes Wrinkles
Seaweed is great for anti-aging as well because it is a rich source of natural antioxidants like vitamin C and amino acids that promote collagen production. This helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles and gives you a more youthful appearance.

Regulates Oil Production
Some seaweed has also been found to decrease oil production in the skin. Others have also been shown to decrease bacteria that have to do with acne.

How To Use It
As you can see, there are many advantages to using seaweed for the skin. Not only is it packed with antioxidants and humectants, but it can also be used for exfoliation, anti-aging, and acne. It is soothing for irritated skin and can create a protective barrier to protect the skin even more.
For those reasons, it is used in many different beauty products, including cleansers, moisturizers, scrubs, and anti-aging solutions. It works well for a variety of skin types, including dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. That’s why many people can benefit from incorporating seaweed into their natural skincare regimen.

Meta: If you are looking for an ingredient that can improve your natural skincare regimen, then seaweed is the perfect option to consider.

The Benefits Of Seaweed Farming

Considered one of the least damaging forms of aquaculture for the environment, seaweed farming provides several benefits. Also known as kelp farming, it is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed.

Seaweed growth is good for the economy as well as the ocean, and it involves an environmentally friendly process. Seaweed doesn’t require food or any additional attention either, so it is easy to propagate. These plants are 100% natural, and a seaweed farm can create healthy nursing grounds for fish and crustaceans alike.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the bigger benefits of seaweed farming and why it is so important.
Improve Water Quality
An open ocean seaweed farm can improve the water quality significantly, including ocean acidification. The leading cause of ocean acidification is rising carbon dioxide levels, and this can be mitigated through seaweed farming. Seaweed is known for its carbon dioxide uptake ability and storage.

Breakdown Environmental Pollutants
Seaweed farming can also effectively break down environmental pollutants such as excess feed and fish feces that can negatively impact the ecosystem. Nitrogen emissions from salmon farming, for example, can be reused by kelp in the area to help them grow bigger and stronger.

More Efficient Renewable Energy
Increasing seaweed farming and production can lead to biomass, a more efficient form of renewable energy. The growth of seaweed can also lessen the growing competition for land access and freshwater.

Encourages Local Protection
Seaweed farming is important environmentally and encourages locals to protect and value the sea and its resources. It can be an essential form of employment for many, and it can reduce overfishing in the area.

Seaweed Is Important To Many Industries
Seaweed is considered a crucial resource for many industries as more people are looking for 100% natural, healthy, and sustainable ways of doing things. Seaweed or kelp proves to be a sustainable food source, and it is also used in the beauty industry to create different skincare products.
Seaweed promotes collagen production, and it is an ingredient often used in many natural anti-aging skincare products. It can go a long way in calming and moisturizing the skin.
As you can see, there are many benefits of seaweed farming that several industries across the board can take advantage of. Most importantly, it is good for the environment. Not only does it benefit our oceans and ocean life in the ways described above, but even just the presence of a seaweed farm can also help prevent deep-sea bottom trawling in certain areas, which can further protect the seafloor.

Meta: Seaweed farming is beneficial to a number of industries and the environment, and the entire process involved is 100% natural.