see sweet almond

'argania spinosa'

Native to morocco, the oil or ‘liquid gold’ is extracted from the kernals of the argan tree.  High in essential fatty acids and vitamin e, it is sought after for its skin moisturising and softening qualities.  It is also a beautiful addition to hair care products with deep conditioning properties adding shine and manageability.  Due to its very specific small growing areas, argan oil remains one of the rarest oils in the world.  it is found in ILA + AVA’s ‘nourish face cream’, ‘glow body oil’, ‘restore night oil’ and 'restore face oil'.  * organic used

Technically not a root but rather an underground root system, this nutritionally dense starch is extracted from several rhizomes of the Marantaceae family of plants.  Used for thousands of years in primitive cultures for its traditional healing properties, today arrowroot is more commonly used in the kitchen.  As a naturally gluten free white powder it is a common replacement for the now genetically modified cornstarch, used as a thickener.  ILA + AVA uses an ‘aluminium free’ arrowroot powder sourced from Thailand, in the ‘refresh deo balm’ to help bind the finished product into an easy to use consistency and help draw and absorb moisture. *aluminium free used

‘citrus bergamia’

This refreshing scented fruit is the bergamot orange. part of the citrus family, it is close to the same size as a regular orange although more yellow and with a slight pear shape.  the name comes from ‘bergamum’ a town in Italy where the fruit is widely produced.   The oil is extracted from the rind and commonly used in earl grey tea and within the perfume industry.  The zesty scent helps to calm and refresh, and when applied to skin has skin purifying qualities.   Considered a natural cleanser, bergamot oil helps remove dirt and impurities and helps unclog pores, while balancing oily skin.  Sourced from Italy, ILA + AVA uses a ‘bergaptene free’ bergamot essential oil, meaning there is no sun sensitivity (which is common for all citrus essential oils).  It is used by ILA + AVA for its refreshing calming scent, found in the ‘salt scrub + soak’, ‘refresh deo  balm’ and ‘botanical perfume oil’.

Famous for its unique mineral composition, dead sea salt is harvested from the dead sea (between Jordan, Israel + Palestine).  It offers amazing benefits to the body via the skin and assists in stimulating circulation and detoxifying when used in scrubs or soaks.  Using dead sea salt assists your body in eliminating toxins, while absorbing the minerals and nutrients transdermally (through the skin) for the body to use directly where they are needed.  ILA + AVA is proud to use this amazing product in the ‘salt scrub + soak’ and the 'mineral foot soak'.

Emulsifying wax is a product used to assist the combination of oil and water.  Traditionally it is created when a wax material (either vegetable or petroleum based) is treated with a detergent.  It is very alarming to research this product and its hidden labeling tactics.  ILA + AVA uses OliveM 1000.  An ECOCERT certified organic emulsifying wax produced in Italy, made purely from olives.  * organic used

‘foeniculum vulgare’

With its sweet and earthy anise-like aroma, fennel essential oil is steam distilled from the crushed seeds of the plant.  This leafy herb is originally from southern Europe and parts of Asia although now can be found all over the world.  Its rich aoma encourages a feeling of groundedness, perfect for calming the senses.  ILA + AVA includes in the 'salt scrub + soak' fennel oil for its lymphatic stimulation to help cellulite and improve circulation. 

Also known as the ‘botox plant’, this flower extract helps with age spots and encourages a fresher, younger and smoother looking complexion.  Its naturally occurring acids assist in purifying the skin through breaking down dead skin cells and stimulating cell turnover, which also benefits the control of acne breakouts.  ILA + AVA uses an organic hibiscus flower extract, in natural preservative, found in the ‘nourish face cream’.  * organic used

‘jasminum officinale’

This exotic white flower creates a seductive and gentle floral scent.  With countless emotional body enhancing properties, is has been used for hundreds of years in parts of Asia to naturally remedy depression and anxiety, and combat emotional stress, low libido (considered an aphrodisiac) and insomnia.  Research suggests its positive effects are due to its subtle workings on the nervous system.  When penetrating through the skin when used in beauty products, jasmine oil helps moisturise, soothe and nourish skin (and hair), while evening skin tone and reducing the appearance of age spots.  ILA + AVA absolutely loves the scent of jasmine, and with its soft, delicate scent has been chosen for the ‘nourish face cream’ and ‘glow body oil’.

‘simmondsia chinensis’

Jojoba is the closest oil to the skins sebum production giving it its remarkable moisturizing benefits.  It contains many essential fatty acids, vitamins and powerful antioxidants.   Naturally gentle and non-irritating qualities make it great for all skin types, soothing sensitive skin, hydrating dry skin, balancing oily skin and assisting the healing of acne and breakouts.   This luxurious oil is a liquid wax ester released from the female jojoba shrubs beans.  Although native to Southern California, Southern Arizona + North-Western Mexico, the plants beans are distributed and pressed in other locations.  With its naturally silky, odourless and non-allergic qualities, jojoba oil promotes healthy skin by maintaining and stabilizing the intercellular structure.  ILA + AVA uses an organic jojoba oil in the ‘nourish face cream’, ‘glow body oil’,  ‘restore night oil’ and restore face oil'  * organic used

‘terminalia ferdinandiana’

This Australian native plant, found in the northern regions, has adapted to the harsh and persistent sun exposure of its area.  Kakadu plum contains the highest concentration of nutrient available vitamin C in the world, which acts as a free radical scavenger to protect the skin.  Used topically it protects the dermis from degradation while stimulating collagen and hyaluronic acid to help reduce wrinkles, protect against UV damage and improve skin texture.  It contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties which strongly increase collagen synthesis, reduce hyper pigmentation and enhance skin radiance and resilience.  ILA + AVA uses an Australian made liquid extract of kakadu plum, preserved with natural ingredients, found in the ‘hydrate toner mist’, ‘nourish face cream’ and ‘salt scrub + soak’.  Other names for this plant fruit include: gubinge, billygoat plum, green plum, salty plum, murunga / mador.  It is a flowering plant of the combretaceae family, widespread throughout the tropical woodlands, from Eastern Arnhem Land to Northwestern Australia.  ** organic + Australian used

‘lavandula’

This wonderful purple flowering plant is well known.  With strong healing properties for various skin disorders including psoriasis, wrinkles, acne and other inflammatory conditions, lavender has antibacterial qualities which penetrate deep to clean out pores and help prevent and heal breakouts.  The unique floral scent is deeply calming and relaxing and soothing for a good nights sleep.   ILA + AVA uses subtle amount of an organic lavender essential oil for these properties in the ‘glow body oil’, ‘refresh deo balm’, ‘restore night oil’ and 'restore face oil'   * organic used

‘cymbopogon’

This fresh smelling herb belongs to the poaceae grass family.  It has a light fresh lemony scent with earthy undertones, and is has countless healing and culinary uses.  As an essential oil, lemongrass has a stimulating, soothing, relaxing and balancing effect.  It is also contains anti-fungal, insecticidal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties with some antioxidant benefits too.  Rich in essential vitamins and minerals it’s a great herb to introduce more of into your cooking and skin routine.  Its strong detoxifying and muscle relaxing qualities are utilized by ILA + AVA in the ‘salt scrub + soak’, while its incredibly refreshing scent and anti bacterial properties are put to good use in the ‘refresh deo balm’.   ILA + AVA uses an Indian grown lemongrass essential oil (from personal travels to India this is the favoured origin for lemongrass).

‘citrus aurantium’

Steam distilled from the fragrant white flowering blossoms of the orange tree, this oil has an intensely floral, sweet, citrusy and exotic scent.  Relaxing and uplifting it is considered effective for scars, stretch marks and mature skin and great for every skin type.  It has strong rejuvenating and regenerating benefits, is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic which add additional healing properties for oily or blemished skin.  ILA + AVA uses an Italian sourced neroli essential oil in the ‘nourish face cream’, ‘refresh deo balm’,  ‘restore night oil' and the 'restore face oil'.

‘carica papaya’

Papaya’s enzymes help rejuvenate the skin by removing dead cells while cleansing to clear skin impurities.   Its vitamin C content helps protect and hydrate for glowing skin.  Considered one of the most powerful plant proteolytic enzymes (helps break down dead cells), it assists with moisturizing and preserving the natural barrier function of the epidermis.  As one of the richest sources of antioxidants (20x higher than vit E), papaya contains a myriad of enzymes.  ILA + AVA uses freeze dried papaya flesh powder, from Thailand, to obtain the highest nutrients and benefits.  This powder is found in the ‘radiance face polish’.

'mentha piperita'

The humble peppermint plant delivers a strong and clean scent.  Used in a wide range of applications from food to healing, ILA + AVA use a beautiful organically grown peppermint essential oil in the ‘enrich lip balm’.  Its refreshing scent invigorates the mind and creates a sense of clarity and peace while the lips are gently plumped leaving a fresh and clean feeling.  * organic used

‘punica granatum’

Renowned to assist with collagen production, pomegranate contains punicic acid, found in the fruits seeds.  This acid boasts as a strong free radical scavenger, boosting the repair and restoration of the skin.  By extending the life of fibroblasts which are responsible for the production of elastin and collagen, pomegranate extract is used to protect the skin against UVB damage and to assist repairing sun damaged and aged skin.  Considered an excellent moisturiser, with protective and nourishing benefits, this extract soothes dry, mature and aging skin while supporting its anti-inflammatory functions.  With its plumping properties, the skins elasticity is maintained while minimizing wrinkles.  ILA + AVA uses an organic Australian pomegranate extract in natural preservative, found in the ‘hydrate toner mist’ and the ‘salt scrub + soak’.  ** organic Australian used

‘salvia officinalis’

With its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiseptic and astringent properties it is an incredible plant.  Also beneficial as a skin toner and purifier due to its astringent nature, tightening and gently drying the tissues to assist with preventing and treating wrinkles.  It is non-irritating and non-sensitising, good for acne, dandruff, dermatitis and eczema.  With a pleasant, refreshing, light herbaceous woody scent, it emits a strong spicy, clarifying scent, with cleansing properties, to calm and soothe the skin and the senses.  ILA + AVA uses sage oil in the 'resfresh deo balm', 'radiance body polish cleanse and smooth' and the 'mineral foot soak'.

‘prunis amygdalus dulcis’

With its gentle cleansing properties and high amounts of vitamins, minerals and monounsaturated fatty acids, sweet almond helps improve skin complexion.  Considered a deep skin cleanser, its light texture can easily penetrate the skin, softening and dislodging dirt and debris accumulated on the fine hair follicles and in the skin pores.  Also high in vitamin A, using almond oil can prevent blackheads and acne.  Originally only native to Mediterranean climates, the almond plant has since been introduced in other parts of the world.  ILA + AVA uses an organic sweet almond oil, found in the ‘nourish face cream’, ‘glow body oil’, ‘enrich lip balm’, ‘botanical perfume oil’ and ‘restore night oil’.  ^ Australian used

‘citrus sinensis’

The essential oil from the sweet orange is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory by nature.  It is known to increase the ability to absorb vitamin C, promote blood flow and collagen production, balance the skins oil production and has skin brightening effects.  Its fresh zesty scent is great for mood lifting and refreshing the senses.  ILA + AVA uses an Australian made and sourced sweet orange essential oil, found in the ‘mineral foot soak' and ‘botanical perfume oil’. ^ Australian used

This clear, odourless liquid derived from plants is a common product in cosmetics.   Used to combine oil and water ingredients, (and to keep foods moist), its usual sources are palm, soy and coconut.  * ‘palm free’ and organic used

‘tocopherol’

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin and usually refers to a group of compounds.  It helps to fight free radicals preventing skin aging and instead promoting youthfulness.  It is high in antioxidants and as such supports new cell growth and cell regeneration.  ILA + AVA use a GMO free product in the ‘enrich lip balm’ where it is most suitable due to its thicker consistency.  Much higher antioxidant powered ingredients with finer consistencies are used in the creams and oils of the ILA + AVA range.  This is one type of product that can contain many hidden GMO variations of tocopherol in the one ‘vitamin E’ ingredient. 

* GMO version used

The shell of the walnut, when finely ground, makes a great natural skin exfoliator.  Gently helping to slough away dead skin cells, this powder can help achieve smoother, softer skin with a brighter and even skin tone.  Many cleansers and scrubs contain harsh chemicals which are very detrimental to our skin, our health and our oceans and environment.  Please choose your products carefully and always check the ingredients and their hidden names.  ILA + AVA uses fine walnut shell powder in the ‘radiance face polish’.   Use this polish 1-2 times per week and always only exfoliate by gently rubbing the polish.  Greater benefits are achieved by doing your skin routine gently and not overdoing it, which will allow the skin to function as nature intended.   

'hamamelis virginiana'

With its soothing and antiseptic properties, witch hazel is natures toner.  It stimulates the skin, reduces mild inflammation and skin irritation.  Used for its softening qualities it is especially useful on oily blemished skin. 

The true witch hazel extract used by ILA + AVA has been distilled containing 86% witch hazel extract and only 14% alcohol.  Found in the ‘hydrate toner mist’.  * organic used

'cananga odorata'

This essential oil is created by steam distilling the fresh star shaped flowers of the tropical ylang ylang tree.  Used extensively in perfumery and aromatherapy, it has been used for centuries in ceremonies.  Its sweet, rich and spicy aroma reduces stress and tension and promotes positivity.  It is great in skincare due to its nourishing and protective properties to promote the appearance of healthy skin and hair.  ILA + AVA uses a high quality ylang ylang oil produced in France, in the ‘botanical perfume oil’.

(non-nano particles)

With the broadest UV protective spectrum, zinc oxide is considered an excellent sunscreen.  it cannot be absorbed into the blood unlike petroleum based sunscreen chemicals.  Staying on the surface of the skin where it is needed most, it effectively provides a layer of protection against damaging UV rays.  Although ILA + AVA uses zinc oxide and other nature derived ingredients which help prevent sun damage, ILA + AVA strongly advises other approved sun protective measures to be taken.