Let’s hop in a caravan and time travel back to the times of Ancient Egyptians, Aztecs and India. Each civilization separated by mountains and oceans, with no seemly connected links to one another they each have had a high-praise for copper.

It was often was heralded as “the fountain of youth” and went as far as being believed to provide magical powers to those who wore it. In today’s beauty trends, copper has seen a rise in hype thanks to its anti-aging properties, and in the olden days was a staple when it came to sterilizing wounds, drinking water, and healing skin ailments. But what is the reason behind all that?

Few years ago, biochemist Dr. Loren Pickart was researching the cause and effects of human aging. In his discovery he found the main difference between the healthier younger blood and aging older blood was the presence of the copper. “Further studies established that copper improved the healing of skin wounds. As for cosmetic skincare, studies on women in their 50s found that copper improved skin elasticity, firmness, and thickness while reducing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and photo-damage.” According to Pickart research, copper in skincare can potentially reset human genes to a younger condition, providing a natural alternative to anti-aging skin treatments.

Copper is a critical functional component of a number of essential enzymes, known as cuproenzymes. The copper-dependent enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase, plays a critical role in cellular energy production. Another cuproenzyme, lysyl oxidase, is required for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin, which are essential for the formation of strong and flexible connective tissue.

In layman’s terms: copper-rich face products, like MAHALO’s *hydration concentrate* are known to enhance development of collagen and elastin, which maintain the strength of the skin, and promotes the production of skin-plumping hyaluronic acid. In addition, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which results in helping to soothe skin inflammations like acne. What you get is visible reduction of signs of aging, scarring, effects of environmental stressors, inflammation, and blemishes.

Wait, what is collagen and elastin again?

Collagen is a protein that exists in the deep layers of the dermis, providing a foundation, or a framework, for the rest of the skin. This connective tissue is the “glue” that holds the body together, giving tissue its shape and keeping it strong. Healthy, young skin with plenty of collagen appears firm, elastic and plump. As our bodies age, the formation of collagen begins to gradually decline, which results in appearance of wrinkles, saggy skin, and lack of elasticity. As discovered by Dr. Pickart, the slowing down of collagen production is correlated with a decreased presence of copper in blood plasma as we age.

Elastin usually exists in conjunction with collagen. Elastin is the protein that gives skin its elastic quality, allowing it to move with facial expressions and then snap back into place.

So, what exactly does copper do to slow down the signs of aging?

Small amounts of copper are dispersed throughout the body’s cells. When they are at work, they encourage blood vessel growth, help promote skin regeneration, stimulate collagen, and boost antioxidant activities. Essentially, copper acts as a transporter that carries nourishing, restorative proteins to the skin. When there’s not enough copper in the body to carry out this work, the visible signs of aging become more obvious. As an antioxidant, copper works to fight off, or neutralize, the free radicals that are scavenging the skin cells. When these free radicals are neutralized, they no longer attack your cells. This allows the cells, and your skin, to retain the tissues that keep it strong and healthy.

The beautiful thing about using copper in your skin care is it’s incredibly, almost non-existent risk of toxicity because it is easily metabolized by the body.

Enter The Hydration Concentrate

radiant ~ resilient ~ repair ~ glow

• reducing and preventing breakouts by drawing out excess oil from the pores
• promotes skin hydration
• protects against oxidative stress
• enhances skins natural healing ability, and reducing inflammation
• fading appearance of scars
• balances the skin’s sebum production that results in regulated shine and even appearance
• tightens pores with the help of copper’s astringent properties
• restores youthfulness by enhancing collagen and elastin production
• promotes skin cellular renewal

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