the truth serum

Have you noticed that Vitamin C has become the darling of skincare recently? A glance at any beauty magazine and you'll likely see a new serum, moisturizer or toner with Vitamin C as its headline ingredient. It's been around for years, and it's one of the most research-proven ingredients in skincare. So why is everyone buzzing about Vitamin C now? Because it’s genuinely effective!   What is Vitamin C?   First and foremost, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant protecting skin against free radical damage.  Free radicals are all around us: UV light, smog, cigarette smoke, and stress, and they...

I do love a good, healthy fat.  When coconut oil first came to market in a big way, I shelled out $20 for a very small jar and promptly took my new treasure with me on a trip.  As I traipsed through TSA, I found out they didn’t exactly agree with my rationale that it was a “solid” and asked what I did with it. I quickly replied “I eat it and I put it on my body! TSA was not persuaded and my jar of coconut goodness ended up in the trash. Even before I had dipped my toes...

You could call glycerin the “always the bridesmaid” ingredient in skin care, especially organic skin care products.  It doesn’t really get the credit it deserves, considering what a superstar it is when it comes to moisturizing.  It’s also one of the most common ingredients, ranking #3, right after water and fragrance.   What Is Glycerin?   Glycerin (aka glycerine or glycerol) is a natural component of healthy skin.  Glycerin is essentially a sugar molecule. It’s a clear, colorless, and odorless liquid that feels slightly syrupy and comes from plant or animal oils. Most glycerin is actually a blend of oils,...

Here at Kari Gran we believe the question of what makes a clean sunscreen comes down to two fundamentals.  First, what kind of UV filter (or active ingredient) does it have?  Secondly, what other ingredients are in it, and are they good for you and your skin? Our definition of clean sunscreen is one that uses zinc oxide as its UV filter. Zinc oxide is the only UV filter that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays (aka broad-spectrum sunscreen).  All other UV filters with either mineral or chemical active ingredients need to be used in combination to...

“It’s so beautiful, it’s ridiculous.”   Georgia O’Keeffe Georgia O'Keeffe, one of the world’s most celebrated and influential artists, wrote these words to a friend after discovering Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. She spent 50 summers there, painting her iconic images of the high desert and enormous flowers.  Kari made a memorable trip to Ghost Ranch last year, where she, too, fell under its spell. Cue her internal color wheel spinning, and soon a brand-new lip whip color was born. Meet Georgia, inspired by the beautiful pinks and violets of the cliffs overlooking Ghost Ranch. This lip whip is our take...

When Laura, our Head of Marketing, learned we were doing a lip whip named after Georgia O’Keeffe, she was happy. One, because she loves Georgia O’Keeffe and two because she is a native New Mexican. In fact, when Kari made her trip to New Mexico last year, Laura gave her a list of “don’t miss” foods and restaurants to keep Kari and her husband full and happy for days.   During these recent weeks of staying safe at home, Laura’s revisited her New Mexican roots by making Posole, one of her favorite dishes.  Posole is a spicy corn stew traditionally made...

Living in Seattle, we feel a deep connection to our surrounding mountains, lakes, forests, and Puget Sound. After all, Seattle's known as the Emerald City in Washington, the Evergreen State. That's a lot of green. So perhaps being conscious stewards of our environment is simply part of our DNA.   We at Kari Gran wholeheartedly embrace the idea of "eco-luxe." We aspire to be as kind to our planet as we are to our skin. We were championing Green Beauty long before it became the latest buzzword in the beauty industry. From the first cup of (sustainable) coffee in the morning to...

The mission is clear:  During this critical time, we all need to be extra vigilant about washing our hands frequently and thoroughly. Did you know that handwashing with soap and water is more effective than using hand sanitizers? This is because the vigorous scrubbing and rinsing gets rid of more of the infectious microorganisms from the skin. Jane Greatorex, a virologist at Cambridge University says: “No matter what you touch, soap and water is the best way to remove any potential coronavirus from your hands before it can lead to infection.  Using bleach “is like using a bludgeon to swat...

When I was 47 and saw 50 in my sights, I decided to finally get serious about exercise. Pilates and yoga became a serious commitment.  A decade after that, I stopped coloring my hair, made it through the gross grow out, and three years later, I’m finally not shocked when I see my reflection. Last year, at 61, I was recruited to be a “celebrity” dancer for a big charity event here in Seattle called Seattle Dances. This event is for Plymouth Housing, an organization that provides hope and housing to the homeless. This event represents 90% of its yearly...

Ever wondered what the term “Green” Beauty actually means? The green beauty movement started from a growing awareness of the harmful effect’s conventional cosmetics and skincare products may have on our skin, our bodies, and our environment. The green beauty barometer survey shows more and more women are paying attention to ingredient labels, wanting to make sure the products they purchase are good for the planet as well as their skin. Defining Green Beauty Products Surprisingly, there is currently no FDA set of standards or regulations that brands must meet to label themselves as green. This makes it tricky for...