Alba Botanica is a skin and hair care brand that has been on a mission to “do beautiful” since 1979. At Alba Botanica, the ultimate goal is to seamlessly blend health and beauty by creating products that are eco-friendly and packed with botanical ingredients. And the reason behind this mission is simple. Alba Botanica believes that the choices you make when it comes to the products that you put on your body affect who you are on the inside as well. The Alba Botanica goal to “do beautiful” is two-fold, helping women look and feel beautiful on the inside and out.
Alba Botanica is very committed to being friendly to the Earth. For example, Alba Botanica sunscreens are made with biodegradable and reef friendly formulas. You might notice a biodegradable claim on Alba Botanica skincare products, which means the formula has been tested by an accredited third party laboratory in accordance with industry standard methodology for biodegradability claims. Ultimately, this means the formula is designed to break down in nature with minimal impact on the Earth. As you can see, Alba Botanica is serious about caring for our environment. If you want to learn more about Alba Botanica skincare products, keep reading below to find out the brand’s best selling products, key ingredients, Alba Botanica reviews from real customers, and more.
The Top 5 Alba Botanica Skincare Products
Alba Botanica offers products for your face, body, and hair, as well as an extensive collection of sun protection products. Perhaps the most well known Alba Botanica skincare products come from the brand’s Hawaiian line, which infuses tropical botanicals into each product. Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 Alba Botanica Skincare products.
Sensitive MIneral Sunscreen
This Alba Botanica sunscreen spray is a fragrance free, broad spectrum mineral sunscreen that offers SPF 33 protection. The reef-friendly formula contains non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient, as well as supporting ingredients like sunflower seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter, and more. The formula comes in a convenient spray and can help to protect against sunburn, skin cancer, and premature signs of aging.
Acnedote
Another very popular Alba Botanica skincare product is Acnedote, a dual-purpose face and body scrub that is said to be tough enough for acne on the body while being gentle enough for daily facial cleansing. This scrub includes ground walnut shell, a type of physical exfoliant that is considered by most skin experts to be too abrasive for the skin. The formula also contains the chemical exfoliant salicylic acid, a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA).
Hawaiian Facial Cleanser
The Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Cleanser contains fruit enzymes from pineapple and papaya to gently exfoliate the skin while washing away makeup and other impurities. These enzymes are also said to help purify the pores. The formula also contains aloe, hibiscus, and passion flower to soothe and calm the skin.
Hawaiian Oil Free Moisturizer
The Alba Botanica Hawaiian Oil Free Moisturizer is a facial moisturizer that provides hydration thanks to plenty of humectants in the formula. It has a lightweight, silky texture that doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin. There are also antioxidants in this moisturizer from aloe, green tea, gotu kola, and cucumber extracts.
Very Emollient Body Lotion
The final best selling Alba Botanica skincare product we want to discuss is the Very Emollient Body Lotion. This fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formula provides rich hydration that absorbs quickly with no greasy residue. It also contains antioxidants and soothing extracts such as aloe vera, green tea, and chamomile extracts.
What Are The Key Alba Botanica Skincare Ingredients?
Alba Botanica skincare products contain a variety of botanical ingredients, but we noticed there’s a few ingredients they incorporate into several of their formulations, including: aloe vera leaf juice, green tea extract, gotu kola extract, and jojoba seed oil. Keep reading to learn how these key ingredients can benefit your skin.
Aloe vera leaf juice is in nearly all of the Alba Botanica skincare products, which is great because aloe is a very beneficial skincare ingredient. For example, aloe is rich in vitamins and enzymes that help to brighten the skin tone. It also contains a rich supply of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a class of sugar molecules that help bind moisture to the skin. According to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, GAGs are naturally found in human skin with a primary role of supporting the proteins collagen and elastin in the dermis. Collagen, elastin, and GAGs form the majority of an important support system called the extracellular matrix (ECM). GAGs readily absorb water, which creates the fluid that fills the space between collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis, giving it turgidity.
Green tea extract is a key ingredient in the Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, Hawaiian Oil Free Moisturizer, and several more Alba Botanica skincare products. One of the most important components in green tea extract is the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This polyphenol has been extensively studied for its health and beauty benefits. For example, a 2001 study in the journal Carcinogenesise found that topical application of EGCG to human skin resulted in decreased oxidative stress and an increase in antioxidant enzymes after UV irradiation. This is why green tea leaf extract can help improve the look of skin clarity, texture, and elasticity.
Centella asiatica extract, also known as gotu kola, is another key ingredient in the Alba Botanica skincare products. When used as a topical ingredient, gotu kola enhances moisturization, calms inflammation, and stimulates collagen synthesis. These benefits are due to the extract’s rich source of natural bioactive substances, including triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, and sugars. The most important compounds in organic gotu kola are asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid. A large number of scientific reports have shown that these compounds can cause a significant increase in skin collagen.
Collagen is what gives our skin strength, durability, and firmness. Thus, by increasing collagen production, gotu kola may help restore a firm, youthful complexion.
The final key Alba Botanica skincare ingredient we’d like to touch on is jojoba seed oil, which you’ll find in the Very Emollient Body Lotion and several other products. Jojoba oil is unique in that it mimics the skin’s natural sebum more closely than any other oil. According to the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, jojoba oil improves the skin’s barrier function and helps to prevent transepidermal water loss. It also has proven anti-inflammatory effects and can impart soothing effects upon application
Where is Alba Botanica skincare sold?
Alba Botanica skincare products are sold on the brand’s websites, as well as numerous third party online retailers, such as Amazon, iHerb.com, Target, Walmart, and more.
What is The Alba Botanica Return Policy?
The Alba Botanica return policy states, “Alba Botanica guarantees your satisfaction on all your purchases. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, call: (877) 263-9456 within 30 days of receipt to get an Authorization Number to return the product. We will refund the full purchase price of the product, however, we cannot refund the cost of shipping it back to us.”
Is Alba Botanica Cruelty Free?
Alba Botanica is cruelty free and the products are officially Leaping Bunny Certified. Leaping Bunny Certification means Alba Botanica skincare products are free of animal testing at every stage of product development.
References:
1. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;59(3):179-186. doi:10.1016/s0378-8741(97)00112-8
2. Carcinogenesis, Volume 22, Issue 2, February 2001, Pages 287–294
3. Indian J Exp Biol. 1996;34(12):1208-1211.
4. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(1):103-117. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0301-1
