Stratia is a Skin care brand driven by boundless scientific curiosity to delve into the technologies behind our skin and the affect each ingredient in our products can create. Alli Reed founded Stratia, inspired by a study on ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids which kick-started her journey to formulating her own skin care line. Further to obsessively reading dermatology journals, Alli released her first product, a moisturizer, liquid gold.
Exclusively in-store at New London Pharmacy.
Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids (oils) found naturally in skin and are essential in supporting the skin barrier and retaining moisture. When ceramide levels are low, the skin barrier is weakened, allowing moisture to escape from skin. In addition to keeping skin feeling smooth and looking supple, ceramides play another important role. As a part of the skin’s barrier layer, they help protect it from exposure to environmental aggressors like pollution and dry air.
If you think about it, this makes total sense, one of the main functions of our skin is to protect us from the outside world. When it lacks the right balance of ceramides, our skin barrier doesn't perform to its highest potential and the health of our skin goes deteriorates.
On the flip side, when your skin doesn't contain enough ceramides, it shows. When the skin lacks ceramides, the barrier becomes compromised, resulting in dryness and irritation. Recent research has linked low ceramide levels to skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Cholesterol
While high levels of Cholesterol can build a certain level of fear and worry from a health perspective, having been linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other conditions. It's taking off in the beauty industry, incorporating the ingredient into many of their skin care products.
Already present in our skin, cholesterol plays a major role in supporting and boosting our barrier function, ultimately a more resilient first line of defence against environmental aggressors and an increased ability to retain moisture. An unhealthy barrier means a tendency towards drier skin and therefore more wrinkles, dull skin and sagging.
Due to its skin strengthening abilities, delicate, sensitive and dry skin types as the ones that will benefit most from cholesterol-containing products. It's important to start incorporating it into your skin care routine as you get older to maintain sustainability as it will play an essential role in the skin’s epidermis.
Ceramides, cholesterol and lipids are key players in its our skins make-up, with While ceramides represent about 50 per cent of the skin’s lipid layer, cholesterol actually represents about 25 per cent of the lipids in this layer, with other fatty acids making up another 10-15 per cent.
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids like those found in fish oil are well known for their remarkable nutritional benefits when consumed as part of a healthy diet, but you might not know about the amazing benefits they have when applied to skin.
Omega fatty acids are important fats, for your diet and your skin. There are 11 omega fatty acids of which two (omega-3 and omega-6) are considered essential fatty acids because the body cannot produce them on its own.
Most Vital For Our Skin:
- Omega-3—Found in foods such as fish oil, flax seed (linseed) oil, walnut oil, chia oil, and certain species of algae.
- Omega-6—Abundant in many plant oils, linoleic acid, and passion fruit oil.
- Omega-9—Plentiful in flax seed (linseed) oil and soybean, canola, peanut, and sunflower oils.
How Does It Benefit Skin:
- Reinforce and smooth skin’s surface.
- Increase hydration without feeling heavy, and help keep skin hydrated.
- Calm signs of external stressors, including redness and sensitivity.
- Eliminate signs of flaky, dehydrated-looking skin.
- Visibly strengthen skin against signs of environmental damage.
- Deliver antioxidants for anti-aging results
Liquid Gold - Moisturizer
Liquid Gold is the first product released in Stratia's Skin care line, this powerful lightweight moisturizer is formulated containing our ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids creating a tool that's perfect for re-enforcing our skin barrier and retaining moisture resulting in hydrated skin for longer, leaving you with a soft subtle finish.
Key Ingredients:
Sea Buckthorn oil - Liquid Gold’s gorgeous color, which comes from two different types of oils from the sea buckthorn plant. Each oil features unique fatty acids that heal, strengthen, and support your skin’s natural structure.
Niacinamide - Another power ingredient, with brightening properties which helps fade out hyperpigmentation, Scars, Dark spots and circles. It increases the rate and quality of skin cell renewer.
Ceramides - Making up 50% of our skins moisture barrier.
How and When To use: If you suffer with de-hydrated skin I would recommend using this product AM - PM after cleansing and applying any other desired products before moisturizing. People with oily skin should use this during the PM so it can soak into the layers of the epidermis while you sleep.
Suitable For: All skin types, though it is more effective on dry over-exfoliated skin. People that have more oily skin may find that using this as a regular moisturizer may be too heavy.
Velvet Cleansing Milk
Harsh cleansers can strip away all of our natural oils and leave our skin feeling tight, itchy and uncomfortable. Velvet Cleansing Milk is an extremely light, non-foaming cleanser that gently removes impurities, dissolves bad oils and bacteria left on the skin.
Key Ingredients:
Aloe Vera - This magical plant has an abundance of health properties that we can benefit from in many different ways. Aloe vera is great for soothing irritated skin, reducing inflammation as well as being a great anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.
Rice Bran Oil - The natural antioxidants present in the rice could also help you get rid of excessive makeup, making your skin look supple and soft. It is an excellent source of vitamin E which penetrates deep into your skin's layers.
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters - Water soluble with non-ionic surface active ingredient derived from olive oil containing excellent emollient, conditioning, solubilizing and co-emulsifying properties. Its mild, non-irritating.
Suitable For:
Gentle cleansing and make up removal, suitable on all skin types.
How and When To Use:
You can use this soft cleansing formula AM - PM as your cleansing step.
Soft Touch AHA
Soft Touch AHA is a super effective but gentle exfoliator mastered to clearing out clogged pores, smoothing and brightening skin while improving it's firmness. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) is a powerful ingredient used to dissolve the intercellular glue that holds the dead skin, un-covering our smooth healthy skin underneath. Many acids can be very abrasive to our skin such as glycolic acids, mandelic acid being the exception as its made up of larger molecules rendering it unable to penetrate deeper layers of the skin, therefore making it a lot more delicate. This light gel formula dries quickly so it can be used under make-up also.
Key Ingredients:
Mandelic acid - Gently sloughs off dead skin, evening out skin tone, hyperpigmentation, scarring, dark spots. It encourages and supports skin cell renewal and does with minimal irritation.
Chamomile extract - Not only has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, it's also a powerhouse of antioxidants and provides protection against free-radicals. Chamomile also helps heal acne, decrease eczema, soothe dermatitis.
Allantoin - Acts as an emollient that keeps your skin moisturized and prevents dryness and irritation. It soothes and protects the skin by forming complexes with irritant and sensitizing agents.
Suitable for: Due to how gentle this product exfoliates dead skin while supporting moisture levels and soothing the skin, makes it suitable for a wide variety of skin types. Make sure to use an SPF after applying acids to your skin.
How And When to Use: It's best to use Soft Touch AHA once every 2-3 days until your skin adjusts, at which point it can be used daily.
C+C Serum
C+C Serum contains an abundance of antioxidants with 15% vitamin C in a feather light, water free formula. This powerful serum features 10% ascorbic acid (the pure form of vitamin C) plus 5% ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (an oil-soluble vitamin C derivative, adding some coQ10 on the top. C+C Serum uses 10% L-ascorbic acid, and to keep it safe, we’ve suspended it in a lightweight silicone formula away from water, heat, and light.
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful skincare ingredients you can get without a prescription:
- Scavenge and neutralize free radicals
- Promote collagen production
- Smooth out hyperpigmentation
Key Ingredients:
Ascorbic acid Highly potent antioxidant that helps prevent premature aging by neutralizing free radicals caused by UV damage, pollution, and other sources.
Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate Oil-soluble derivative of vitamin C that penetrates skin deeply to fight free radicals, boost collagen production, and brighten skin tone.
CoQ10 Powerful antioxidant that’s found naturally in the skin. CoQ10 levels decrease with age, so skincare featuring this ingredient has anti-aging benefits.
Suitable For: C+C Serum's silicone base evaporates away, it's lightweight, non-greasy, and suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
How And When To Use: Due to the nature of C+C Serum’s silicone base, it’s important to apply the product to clean, dry skin and wait a few minutes before applying your next product.
Rewind
Rewind is a Stratia's lightweight serum that will turn the clock back on your skin. 2.5% DMAE increases the appearance of firmness, tone and lift to the skin. DMAE also improves the appearance of skin elasticity and luminosity, helping to decrease the look of fine lines and wrinkles while brightening skin's appearance and evening out imperfections. Partnered with Niacinamide and hylaronic acid with a blend of plant extracts, licorice root, Centella asiatica, and tamarind seed. This a must-have essence for a plump, smooth, brightened and moisturized complexion.
Key Ingredients:
DMAE - Shown in scientific studies to reduce the appearance of fine lines and increase skin firmness. Paired with panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) for an extra skin-firming boost.
Niacinamide - An all-around skin hero that can regulate cell turnover, fade hyperpigmentation, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and strengthen your skin barrier.
Hyaluronic Acid - A molecule found naturally throughout the human body, this hydration superhero can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Suitable For:
Rewind is a watery, hydrating serum that's great for all skin types, from very dry to very oily. It's especially good for aging or sun-damaged skin.
How And When To Use: Apply to skin after cleansing and layering, AM - PM.
Fortify
Fortify is Stratia's restorative facial oil featuring a balanced blend of omega fatty acids. This bottle of face oil contains eight different plant oils including three types of omega 3,6 and 9 which is crucial to our skins health and protection.They can mitigate UV damage, reduce the signs of aging, decrease sensitivity, and increase overall skin health. They can also lighten sun spots and other UV-induced hyperpigmentation. Borage seed oil, perilla seed oil, and cranberry seed oil contain 60-75% linoleic/alpha-linolenic acids each, giving Fortify its omega 3 and 6 components. Oleic acid (omega-9) is a powerful moisturizer and skin-softener, fortify’s other major source of oleic acid, marula oil, possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers.
Key Ingredients:
Camellia seed oil Also known as tsubaki, this traditional Japanese oil is rich in oleic acid, or omega-9 fatty acid, and provides deep moisturization and soothing.
Tamanu oil Contains high amounts of linoleic acid (omega-6) and has soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Squalane A skin-identical lipid that absorbs quickly, allowing Fortify to moisturize without a heavy, greasy feeling.
Suitable For: Fortify is a medium-weight oil that's minimally greasy and especially great for those with dry, combo, dehydrated, or sensitive skin.
How And When To Use: Pat a few drops into your skin before or instead of your usual moisturizer. Or, to give your normal routine a fatty acid boost, mix a couple drops into your serum, lotion, or foundation.