Can Tree Bark Help Eliminate Acne?

Can tree bark help eliminate acne? Well sort of. But not all bark is created equal and it’s really not the bark, but an extract within the bark that does the work.

Ok, to be more specific it’s the totarol that is extracted from the bark of a tree found in New Zealand. Nevertheless, it is a powerful phenol and antioxidant, and you should be using it as part of your skin care routine.

What It Is

As I mentioned totarol comes from a tree – the podocarpus totara – abundant throughout New Zealand. Researchers began investigating the tree for unique molecules because they noticed it had an increased resistance to rotting.

Various studies have confirmed that totarol does in fact possess some one-of-a-kind antimicrobial and therapeutic properties. For this reason, the wonder ingredient is also being looked at as a promising candidate for use in the medical arena because of its ability to effectively inhibit a number of microorganisms.

How It Works and Where to Find It

So why does totarol matter to you? This answer can be found in the three A’s – antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant.

Even if you don’t have acne-prone skin, since this natural phenol packs a powerful dose of antioxidants, it works to inhibit lipid peroxidation by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In other words, it fights the free radicals that attack and break down our cell membranes, which results in cellar damage and aging.

The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties in totarol make it a miracle worker when it comes to cleaning up bacteria on the skin. This is particularly beneficial for those of us who are prone to acne, workout and sweat a lot, and produce excess amounts of oil. Even if you have normal conditions (stop gloating), totarol is great for maintaining an overall healthy skin condition.

Look for this powerful ingredient in cleansers and cleansing pads. We use it in our CTRL.HALT.DEL. Salicylic Cleansing Pads