What is 'Raw' Cold Pressed skin care?

Raw skin care has not been heated beyond room temperature at any stage of production. This is achieved through a technique known as cold processing, which creates an emulsion without the traditional assistance of heat. A combination of cold processing and judicious ingredient selection means Ao Skincare can produce products that are raw.

Why Raw?

The raw revolution has hit the food industry with powerful force as people are beginning to realize the benefits of raw and minimally processed foods. “Cold pressed”, “whole”, “unrefined” and “raw” are terms that are synonymous with healthy, nutrient-rich, feel-good fare.

What is true for what you eat is also true for what you put on your skin. “Rich in natural ingredients” is precisely what you should look for in skin care, but you should also look for cold processed or raw skin care products. Why? Because, cold processing preserves the potency of the natural, active ingredients.

The problem: oil and water don’t mix
Take a glass of water and drop a few tablespoons of oil in it. It’s no surprise that the oil and water don’t mix.

The conventional solution
Modern manufacturing methods solve the oil and water conundrum through the use of heat. Traditional emulsification (dispersing fine droplets of one liquid into another that is not soluble) involves a lot of heat, sometimes as high as 194°F (90°C).

Heat-assisted emulsification has been used for years in cosmetics and skin care manufacturing because it works well with certain emulsifiers to solve the problems of product separation. However, the use of heat can damage many of the delicate active ingredients in the final product, making them less effective. Imagine a stem of broccoli, boiled until it is limp and discolored, all the nutrients drained out of it. Then imagine a fresh stem of raw broccoli…. Need we say more? 

The Ao Skincare solution
Cold processing. Ao Skincare uses this method to create an emulsion without using heat so that the active ingredients stay potent and eager to help your skin.

By selecting an emulsifier that that allows the oil and water phases to combine at a low temperature, and, by making a conscious effort not to use any ingredients that require heat (such as, for example, waxes) we do not have to use heat to create a skin care formulation. The benefit is that the ingredients are protected, which improves their effectiveness on your skin.

Within these constraints, we handpicked a series of no-nasties ingredients to craft a range that achieves the feel, performance and bacteria-free properties of traditionally manufactured cosmetic products. The result? Raw skincare.

So really, we did less. And by our doing less, you get more.

As a bonus, it's also better for the environment, because less heat means less energy is used in production.

Our products that use our pioneering raw skin care system:

Prepare Cleanser
Often cleansers can dry out your skin. This is due to a high level of surfactant (soap) contained in the formulation. With a unique composition and low level of surfactants, this cleanser works to clean your skin without stripping it of its natural oils. 
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Fortify Day
Luxurious and nutrient-rich, this moisturizer is cold-processed to ensure ingredients maximize their nourishing and conditioning qualities. 
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Protect SPF30
Daily skin defence comes in two forms; chemical or natural. Our natural sunscreen protects and nourishes but won’t leave your skin feeling tacky. 
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Restore Serum
Peptide and vitamin-rich, this serum helps to revitalize, strengthen and restore the skin. 
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Night Treatment
Antioxidant and nutrient-rich, this hydrating night cream repairs, restores and conditions the skin. 
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Retinal Rewind
Retinal (Retinaldehyde) is a powerful form of Vitamin A with known anti-aging benefits, including helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. 
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