ARCONA shakes things up with its pure and clean line of products

Cold-pressed juices have grown in popularity because the low temperatures emitted during the process help retain nutrients that would normally be lost if your drink was prepared via a centrifugal juicer that uses a high-speed spinning blade that generates heat.

It is an age-old concept, but one that American chemist Arcona Devan understood was key to success when she founded facial spa and skincare brand ARCONA in Los Angeles back in 1989, with hopes of it dominating the global skincare and beauty industry.

And much like how freezing food helps preserve it and its nutrients longer, ARCONA cold-processes products at extremely low temperatures and in small batches to retain the goodness of cosmeceutical-grade ingredients such as enzymes, antioxidants and amino acids, which are formulated to work in tandem to produce the desired results.

This is a boon in a market where most other skincare brands heat-process quality ingredients. Although less laborious, less time consuming and less costly, heat processing often renders the benefits of the ingredients less effective.

“When ingredients are (processed) at cold temperatures, it really helps preserve the efficacy and integrity of the ingredients that go into a product,” said Allison Marks, who is ARCONA’s brand expert and spa director at The ARCONA Studio in Los Angeles. “(If) we have an organic piece of broccoli from the farmers’ market and we put it in the microwave, we lose some of those ingredients through heat processing.”

And while cold-pressed juice expires within days after the bottle is opened, the shelf life of ARCONA’s products is two years, said co-owner Chanel Jenae. This is because the brand uses food-grade preservatives such as benzyl alcohol derived from ylang-ylang and jasmine alcohol.

“We recommend that ideally with any product once you’ve opened it, even if it is air tight, you should use it within six months,” Jenae added. “This is not to say that it is going to go bad or rancid. You should use it within that time frame because it is in its most efficacious state.”

Jenae believes the cold-processing technology will thrive because customer expectations are constantly rising. “People are becoming more knowledgeable about what they put on their skin and certainly their bodies,” she said. “So I think that we will see more cosmetics and skincare brands jump on the bandwagon. As far as I know, we are the first (to use this technology). Most (brands) won’t do it because of the cost. It’s very, very costly to do it.”

But ARCONA’s story does not end with cold-processing. Advanced technology, such as the use of chiral technology to process their products, also makes up the skeleton of the brand.

Marks explained: “Molecules have a right spinning side and a left spinning side. At ARCONA, we will take the molecule and spin it to the side where the skin can recognise the ingredient. (The reason why) we spin the molecule depending on which side the skin is going to recognise first is (because you’ll) get deeper penetration and less sensitisation as the skin is more readily able to recognise that ingredient.”

Jenae believes ARCONA is the first brand (in skincare) to fully understand and employ the use of chiral technology. “It’s a pharmaceutical technology — all medications that we take worldwide are all chiral. And the interesting thing about (Devan) was that she got that, and understood that process and why it would benefit the skin. There are other brands that will incorporate portions of it, but everything that is chiral and can be chiral in terms of ingredients, we actually do use,” she added.

Drina Chee, regional marketing director of Sephora Singapore, said: “It’s a brand that’s dedicated to creating highly effective and luxurious skincare, what with the selective use of chirally correct active ingredients and small-batch, cold-processing methods. Few other beauty brands are able to consistently deliver this level of commitment — it fulfils a gap in the market and bolsters our current assortment, (addressing) an increasing demand for high-performing skincare.”

Another aspect that differentiates ARCONA from many other brands is its calibration of the pH level of its products to optimise their products’ efficacy. In fact, most consumers are likely unaware that a product with an incompatible pH level can irritate or injure skin.

Except for the Golden Grain Gommage exfoliator, we also like that all of ARCONA’s products are gluten-free. Their offerings are also vegan, apart from the Kiwi Cream Bar, Hydrating Serum and Instant Magic Reversal Serum, which all contain honey.

To boot, its products are not tested on animals, and features non-genetically modified soy, which has brightening and antioxidant properties. Suffice to say, no parabens, petrochemicals, binders, fillers, sodium lauryl sulphates, chemical stabilisers and other caustic ingredients are used in this pure and clean line.

Jenae said: “You have to think about what you put in your body … The skin is very permeable. Everything you’re putting on the body, you’re putting in the body — (that’s) the philosophy of the brand. When you look at so many of the skincare brands that are out there, there are so many toxic ingredients in the formulas. We just steer clear of things that we believe are not good.”

ARCONA will be available at all Sephora stores from Sept 3 with a price range of S$14 to S$143.

OUR TOP PICKS

Choosing from ARCONA range of 47 products can be tough. So here are our top picks to get you started.

Oily Skin Starter Kit (S$119)

The Oily Skin Starter Kit is a part of ARCONA’s daily foundation programme - The Basic Five. “The Basic Five is the pillar of the brand, and when ARCONA started their range, it was with these five products,” said Marks. “If you stick with them, and are consistent with them and compliant with The Basic Five routine, you will really see a change in your skin.”

Advanced A Serum (S$116)

This overnight anti-ageing serum is formulated with patented retinaldehyde, a form of Vitamin A that that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, discolouration and enlarged pores. This wonder product also contains anti-inflammatory and anti-glycation ingredients.

Gentle Solution (S$69)

Wake up to smooth and clear skin as this product gently exfoliates and resurfaces skin while you sleep. We recommend you use the Golden Grain Gommage (S$60) exfoliator in tandem with this product the morning after for baby soft skin.

Triad Pads (S$44)

Wipe the day’s grime away and use these convenient cotton pads before your gruelling vinyasa yoga class. Cranberry extract aids in clarifying and neutralising free radicals, leaving skin refreshed and nourished.

Magic White Ice (S$55)

This moisturiser, which really feels just like a serum, deeply hydrates without clogging pores, leaving skin fresh and dewy. It smells really good too.

Cranberry Gommage (S$60)

Those with visible pores and congested skin can now find respite in this purifying exfoliator. Cranberry and raspberry enzymes unclog and diminish the size of pores.

Tea Tree Mask (S$47)

American actress Katherine Heigl once mused: “About once a week, I use this ARCONA Tea Tree Mask. Now, I rarely ever have a breakout.” Lavender, allantoin and grapefruit extracts calm and purify.