Royal Image Cosmetics

Royal Visage™

InterPlexus is proud to present 100% All Natural Skin Care products. Only the finest ingredients are used, always natural, always pure. You might be a bit surprised to see the less than healthful ingredients used in other creams...

Objective
Our objective is to create a srictly 100% natural cosmetic line that is body friendly and can demonstrate skin healing and rejuvenating effects with regular use.

To accomplish this:

All artificial and synthetic ingredients were eliminated.
Strictly 100% natural ingredients are used.
Botanicals with potent antioxidant healing and
rejuvenating effects were imported from all over the world.

No corners cut. No compromises. You now have an affordable natural alternative.

The Problem: Chemicals in Cosmetics
The amount of artificial, synthetic, and other non-natural chemicals that are used in women's and men's cosmetics runs a list in the hundreds. We have been gradually conditioned to accept the use of these chemicals as a "necessary" and "normal" everyday phenomena. Synthetic and artificial ingredients in creams and other cosmetics are used primarily for their availability and affordability.

There are no legal definitions for the word "natural." Usually, a few truly 100% natural ingredients are buried into a cosmetic with artificial and synthetic ingredients. To illustrate, see the examples listed below of the ingredients in two products advertised as "Natural Cosmetics."

Example 1: "Natural" Moisturizer Cream
Water, palm oil, propylene glycol, dimethicone, caprylic/capric trigylcerides, stearic acid, cyclomethicone, triethanolamine, sorbitan stearate, polysorbate 60, silicates, polyacrylamide, paraffin, talc, laureth 7, cetyl alcohol, imidazolidinyl urea, fragrance, d-alpha tochopherol acetate, silk proteins, methyl paraben, octylmethoxcinnamate, benzophenone 3, EDTA.

Example 2: "Natural" Waterproof Mascara
Petroleum distillates, SD40 alcohol, castor oil, candle wax, pvp (polyvinyl-pyrrolidone), copolymer, isoparaffin, silica, beeswax, talc, quaternium-18, bentonite, hectorite, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben.

3 Main Concerns
We encourage you to visit a cosmetic or makeup store section and read the labels for yourself. There are 3 areas of concern pertaining to the subject:

1st Concern
What exactly are women & men applying to their skin on a daily basis? More than 50 artificial chemicals are commonly used in facial creams. The following is a list of a few you will probably see on many skin cream labels. Please read and form your own opinion.

The Silicones
Dimethicones, Cyclomethicone, etc. These are used to give a smooth texture to creams. The silicone fluids are all artificial and have been implicated in immunotoxicity when they leaked from breast implants. Cyclomethicone is a volatile solvent; dimethicone occludes and interferes with skin breathing and is used as an industrial anti-foam agent.

Petroleum/Mineral Oil and Paraffins
These are petroleum derivatives. These are primarily hydrocarbons (they are a more refined grade than car lube and motor oil). They are greasy, occlude the skin and do not allow normal skin breathing. These petrochemicals are pollutants to our bodies and water supply when washed off the skin.

Carbomers
These are synthetic emulsifiers and thickeners. They are allergens. Carbomers are high molecular weight cross-linked polymers of acrylic acid. Acrylic acid is a derivative of vinyl used in paints, floors, plastics, etc. It is a petroleum derivative.

Acrylates
Polyacrylamide, methylacrylates, etc. These are synthetic linear non-cross-linked mixed polymers (chains) containing acrylic acid, methyl acrylic acid and their simple esters. They are derivatives of petroleum and the plastic industry. Polyacrylamides were initially used as soil stabilizers in agriculture and paper milling. In cosmetics, these polymers are used as binders for creams (holds the cream together for good texture).

Propylene Glycol & Butylene Glycol
These chemicals are used as cosmetic solvents and humectants (helps retain water). They have been used as industrial lubricants, antifreeze, and plasticizers. Several of the glycols including the above are synthesized from gas.

MEA (Monoethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)
These substances are amino alcohols and are either used alone or as derivatives. Example: Cocamide-DEA.These products have been banned from topical use in the European Community because of studies linking them to liver cancer.

DMDM (dimethylodimethylhydantoin)
This compound is a synthetic preservative and contains 17% formaldehyde and N-Acetal. This is a toxic compound and the formaldehyde released is internalized through the skin.

Parabens: Methylparaben, Propylparaben
These are synthetic artificial preservatives used to reduce bacteria and fungal growth. They are absorbed through the skin and can be allergenic.

Ceteareth 3, 4, and 20
These are polyglycolates of cetearyl glycol used as emollients and emulsifiers. They dry out the skin and can cause allergenic reactions.

Cetearyl Alcohol
This is a mixture of stearyl and cetyl alcohol-both are fatty alcohols used as emollients, emulsifiers, and thickeners (consistency factor) in cosmetics. They can be natural or synthetic in origin.

Benzophenones
This is a family of synthetic sunscreens (UVA) used in various cosmetics. Benzophenone 3 has been reported to induce photoallergic reactions when mixed with other UV screens for UVB protection. Benzophenones may be photosensitizers, i.e. they cause allergic reactions when exposed to sunlight.

2nd Concern
Do these chemicals accumulate in the skin and cross over into the body?

It is well known that fat soluble substances can penetrate the skin under the proper conditions. Many of the synthetic and artificial cosmetic chemicals meet this requirement when compounded into the creams. Many claim that the amounts applied are small and very minimal. This is true. However, years and decades of applications may cause accumulated small insults (microtrauma). The additive effects of many small mixed amounts of these chemicals when applied for years has NOT BEEN TESTED. A recent study shows that even one application of armpit antiperspirant can show a measurable increase in body aluminum. Aluminum is not even fat soluble. Fat soluble substances cross the skin with greater ease than aluminum. To use numbers, some chemicals such as propylene glycol, are used at 15-20% of the total cosmetic weight. Therefore the amounts available from creams are substantial.

3rd Concern
Are these chemicals suitable for daily use?

Are the hundreds of cosmetic chemicals that we use frequently appropriate for use? (Note: At least 150 of these are known to cause cancer, birth defects, and allergic sensitization).

Most synthetic and artificial chemicals used in the cosmetics we put on our skin are NOT ALLOWED IN OUR FOODS. THEY ARE CONSIDERED TOXIC OR UNACCEPTABLE. SIMPLY PUT...if you can't eat it, don't feed it to your skin!

Remember the skin is a partial and not an absolute barrier. A simple calculation will illustrate this point. A woman uses a 2oz. jar of cream per month. Ten years of use will add up to 240oz. or 15 lbs of cream. If propylene glycol is in the cream at 20%, this person used 3 lbs of this unnatural chemical with most of it going into the skin.

The Solution: Royal Visage™ Skincare
After surveying dozens of facial creams with the "All Natural" claim and others without the claim, we decided to formulate and create a 100% Natural and non toxic facial cream. Our objective was to: "Restore the royal image of the beauty of Eve without toxic substances."

Below is a list of the 100% Natural and Body-Friendly ingredients used in Royal Visage™ skincare products. We also decided not to use artificial preservatives (parabens), instead we chose to utilize a natural preservative system thus ensuring a truly natural cream with 100% integrity throughout.

Allantoin
This is a natural compound found in, and extracted, from comfrey, barberry and rockberry. It is used for its healing, soothing and anti-irritation properties.

Aloe Vera (Barbadensis) Gel
The word Aloe comes from the old Arabic word Alloeh meaning "shiny and bitter." It has been used since ancient Egypt and Greece. Aloe works best on epithelial tissue like the skin. The plant is 99% water and the remaining 1% contains more than 75 ingredients. They act synergistically ie. as a team.

Aloe is known to be absorbed through the skin and does the following:

Hydrates the skin
Helps flaking skin hold together
Promotes connective tissue rejuvenation
Reduces age spot formation

Azulene
Azulene is an intense blue pigment isolated from the yarrow and chammomile plant oils. It is an excellent antioxidant and combats skin redness and irritation. It is known for its gentle skin soothing effect.

Citric Acid
Citric acid is a natural fruit acid used in foods, beverages and cosmetics to adjust pH or acidity.

Coconut Oils
These oils are emollients and used for skin protection. They have antiseptic and anti-blotching properties. Coconut oil, unlike sesame, sunflower and safflower oil does not antagonize Vitamin D activity and receptors in the protection of the skin surface.

Essential Oil-Lavender
These are the natural oils of various plants and flowers. They are steam distilled to avoid use of chemical solvents. Natural essences are usually aromatic and are used as the natural fragrance in Royal Image™ creams and cosmetics.

Glucose Stearate (GS)
This is made from vegetable oils (trigylcerides) and a glucose derived from food starch which is substituted in the oil. GS is a naturally derived emulsifier with a very smooth skin feel. It is edible and non toxic.

Glycerin (vegetable)
Glycerin or Glycerol is an emollient extracted from vegetable oil. When used in small amounts it is an excellent emollient and helps skin retain moisture.

Gurjum Balsam
This is a sap-like product from the gigantic Dipterocarpus trees that grow in East Asia. It is a gentle balsam used traditionally in India for the treatment of leprosy and several other dry skin conditions including scaling and flaking of fatigued skin. It is included in the Desert Balm™ as a skin restorative.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Hyaluronic acid is a functional component of human skin. As we age, HA content in skin decreases, with the most dramatic drop occurring after the age of 50. Low molecular weight HA can penetrate the skin and help re-establish the HA content. HA is published to aid repair of skin connective tissue. It is also an excellent moisturizer and can absorb up to 500 times its weight in moisture. It reduces water loss from skin, especially chapped and flaky skin, or sun and dry climate exposed skin.

Lemongrass
The lemongrass plant with its tall yellow-green narrow leaves grows in warm tropical and subtropical climates. The lemongrass extracts and oils are used in India as a support for sagging skin. The oil is also used for acne, stretch marks, and a general skin toner.

Menthol
The main source of L-menthol is from the oil of mentha arvensis (spearmint) but can also be derived from mentha piperita (peppermint) by slow crystallization. An alternate source is to derive menthol from a relative of menthol found in pennyroyal oil (L-polegone). Menthol imparts a cool feel after application and can enhance the absorption of some nurturing cream ingredients into the skin.

Myrrh
Myrrh is the gummy tear-like drops removed from the commiphora plant family which grows in semi-arid regions. It is one of the ancient sacred aromas next to Olibanum (Frankincense). Myrrh has natural antibacterial properties and in ancient and modern times is used for athletes foot, mouth sores, dressing of wounds, etc. The Myrrh used in our cosmetics is grown in the Himalayan foothills (India).

Myrtle (Myrtle communis)
Myrtle is a common plant with aromatic leaves and flowers. It has a natural component called Myrtol which in Europe is used to alleviate bronchial allergy and asthma. Myrtol is a natural combination of Eucaliptol and Pinene. Myrtol is a natural antioxidant. Myrtle extract has a soothing and redness quenching effect on irritated skin.

Natural Essences
These are the natural oils of various plants and flowers. They are steam distilled to avoid use of chemical solvents. Natural essences are usually aromatic and are used as the natural fragrance in Royal Image™ creams and cosmetics.

Natural Gums
These gums are derived from various plants and are all edible. They are used as thickeners in drinks, creams and ice-cream.

Olibanum (Frankincense Extract)
Frankincense is extracted from the Boswellia plant, a desert shrub. This resin has an earthy scent and has remarkable and time proven anti-irritation properties. The foothills of the Himalayan mountains are the source of the Frankincense in this balm. Topical application of FE has been shown to inhibit toxin induced skin tumor formation. FE is also known to reduce elastase activity the enzyme which breaks down elastin in the skin leading to loss of skin flexibility and sagging.

Olive Extract and Olive Oil
The olive tree and its fruit and oil are world famous for their many healing properties. The olive extract is a powerful natural antiseptic and a newly discovered antioxidant with excellent stability. It improves the quality of our natural skin oil and the flexibility of stressed and damaged skin (makes the skin more flexible and elastic).

Olive Squalane
This substance helps the smoothness and spreadability of the cream. It promotes and normalizes immune response. Olive squalane is an excellent carrier of the beneficial fat soluble ingredients across the skin. It helps transport Vitamins A, E, D, and other fat soluble antioxidants. Squalane constitutes about 15% of human sebum (our natural skin oil) and helps maintain elasticity and surface protection.

Plant Extracts
These include extracts of: Arnica, comfrey, ginkgo, ginseng. These plant extracts further enrich this skin cream with various antioxidants and bioflavonoids to further bolster skin texture and overall health. These plant components are used to improve the strength of the capillaries and small blood vessel walls. Bioflavonoids are also natural chelators of heavy metals.

Rose Hip Oil
This is a very unique oil obtained from the famous vitamins A and C rich Rose Hips in the South American Andes mountains. Rosa Mosqueta oil has been shown to accelerate rejuvenation of burnt skin. It is known to reduce appearance of skin wrinkles and scars. RMO is touted for its ability to reduce some of the sun's photo-aging effects such as the leathery, inelastic, coarse, hyper/hypopigmented skin. The benefits usually become evident within 4-6 months of use.

Rosemary
These are the natural oils of various plants and flowers. They are steam distilled to avoid use of chemical solvents. Natural essences are usually aromatic and are used as the natural fragrance in Royal Image™ creams and cosmetics.

Rosewood Oil
Rosewood grows in Brazil and the Amazon basin. It is an evergreen tree with reddish bark and wood. It yields oil that is is used by local natives to promote wound healing and for skin inflammation. Rosewood is used sparingly in our products for its healing and smooth relaxing aroma.

Seaweed Extract
Seaweed extracts are rich in polyphenols and fucocidians (the sulfur rich sugar complexes). This brown sea plant (fucus veciculosus) is reputed for its soothing skin effect and rich antioxidants. This extract is rich in fucosterol (seaweed lipids) and galactolipids (sugar-lipid combination) that are believed to nourish the skin. The sulfated sugars have been shown to promote would healing by activating collagen contraction.

Shea Butter
Shea Butter is the oil fraction of the shea tree nuts which only grow in the African savanah and to date cannot be cultivated by man. Most trees are 50-200 years old. This product contains the native and chemically unmodified shea nut butter. The butter is a superb emollient and is rich in UV-B absorbing natural compounds. The butter is rich in phytosterols. Shea butter is used for its anti-inflammatory and collagen-stimulating properties and is traditionally used to protect the skin from the sun and other elements.

Spikenard
Spikenard essence is an ancient, strong aromatic oil extracted from the plant leaves of Nar-dostachys grandifolia. It is an expensive natural fragrance reputed for its calming and relaxing scent. Spikenard essential oil is published to be anti-septic and antifungal. It possesses potent antioxidant activity and helps protect the lipids in skin cells from oxidation and aging.

Turmeric Extract
Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as an ingredient of healing balms for the skin. Olive Balm™ is made with a high curcuminoid extract content. Curcuminoids are the yellow/orange active ingredients of Turmeric. Curcumin extract has three known and proven effects:

It is excellent in fighting irritation and reducing arachidonic acid byproducts.
It is a protectant of DNA against oxidation by environmental toxins and chemicals.
It inhibits skin tumor promotion by environmental toxic and noxious agents.

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate)
Supplied as palmitate, it is absorbed efficiently through the skin. About 40-50% of the absorbed retinyl is metabolized to the active free retinol. Retinol is known to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and promote epithelial tissue health.

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
This Vitamin D3 is of marine origin. The Vitamin D family of molecules are considered pro-hormones. Most recent research indicates that certain Vitamin D3 derivatives made in the body are antiproliferative, i.e. help the body control excessive growth of undesirable cells.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
The natural d-alpha tocopherol used is soy-free and is free of the synthetic L form of vitamin E which is not functional in the human body. Vitamin E can cross the skin; and even small amounts are utilized effectively to protect the skin lipids and cell membranes from excessive oxidation. It is an excellent skin antioxidant.

Bioflavonoids
These plant components are natural antioxidants. They also improve the strength of the capillary walls. Bioflavonoids are natural chelators of heavy metals. Since all the makeup foundations have heavy metal, use of flavonoids will help chelate and bind them on the skin.

A Note on the Natural Fragrances
The fragrances used in Royal Visage™ are all-natural, non-fractionated, non-synthetic and not nature identical-but natural. These exotic fragrances were chosen because of their inherent skin rejuvenating and protective effects.

Fragrances have different smells on different skin types. The presence of multiple fragrances in our cosmetics creates a complex crescendo of top notes which may seem strong at first, then become mellow as the middle notes come into effect. The heavy notes gradually fade out of sensory perception and leave the skin with a most gentle and hamonious impression. The strong top notes in the fragrances are themselves part of the healing agents that penetrate the skin. To downplay the fragrance would downplay the cosmetic quality and properties.

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