Active Ingredients

 

At ishga, we combine our unique Hebridean seaweed extract with the highest-quality natural active ingredients to maximise effectiveness of our skincare products. Together, they deliver powerful results and promote healthy, radiant skin. Discover our natural skincare ingredients we use across our organic, vegan and cruelty-free skincare range below.

Almond Oil

An emollient excellent for hydration, to moisturise and smooth the skin. Improves skin texture and is ideal for those with sensitive skin. Lightweight and quick to absorb.

Aloe Vera

Hydrates, soothes and promotes skin renewal. Calms, cools and balances the skin. Ideal for reducing redness and inflammation whilst promoting a refreshed and even skin tone.

Aloe Vera (Little ishga)

Aloe vera has hydrating properties and can help to soothe inflammation and reduce any irritation or dryness on the skin. It's perfect for babies and kids' sensitive skin.

Amaranthus Seed Oil

It has a high natural squalene content which offers multiple benefits for the skin including improved hydration, elasticity, and soothing and firming effects. Particularly useful around the delicate eye area as it helps to reduces inflammation to soothe puffy eyes.

Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot Kernel Oil enhances skin elasticity and leaves a soft and smooth quality. It is absorbed easily and is perfect for those with sensitive skin. It also brightens, reduces fine lines and decreases any puffiness of the skin.

Argan Oil

Contains moisturising factors and can reduce excess sebum. Argan oils omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and linoleic acids, work to hydrate skin and soften dry areas.

Arnica

Arnica is a powerful skincare ingredient due to its brightening, anti-inflammatory and healing effects. It's particularly useful around the eye area to de-puff, improve dark circles and smooth fine lines.

Ascophyllum nodosum (Knotted Wrack Seaweed)

Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweed is one of the key ingredients we use at ishga, due to its incredible benefits for the skin. Contains high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols which help repair the skin. Known for its exfoliating properties to smooth and brighten skin.

Bergamot Oil

Bergamot is a natural cleanser and can help to unblock pores. It also deeply nourishes the skin and helps to control sebum levels for balance in natural oil production.

Carnauba Wax

Moisturises, soothes, softens the skin, and is hypoallergenic. It's non-comedogenic, so it won't block pores. It allows our Marine Cleansing Balm to glide onto your skin smoothly.

Castor oil

Castor oil contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturising properties which are beneficial to all skin types.

Cocoa Butter

Delivers a protective barrier on the skin to help it retain moisture. Cocoa butter is rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals. These have been found to improve blood flow to the skin and reduce signs of ageing, by naturally shielding against damage from the sun's UV rays.

Coconut Oil

Rich in anti-microbial properties, lauric acid, and fatty acids that strengthen hair, condition the scalp, and promotes hair growth. Coconut oil is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to keep hair strong, shiny and healthy.

Comfrey Glycerol Extract

Plants like comfrey, which have high carbohydrate content, are considered to rejuvenate the skin and to have healing, soothing and moisture retaining properties. It is an ideal ingredient for rough, damaged skin and over time can alleviate fine lines and enable skin tissue to regain its youthful elasticity.

Cucumber Extract

Cucumber naturally contains Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Caffeic Acid. These nutrients help to soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. Cucumber calms, soothes and promotes balance in the skin.

Decyl Glucoside

Decyl Glucoside is derived from corn and coconuts, so it’s natural and biodegradable. Decyl Glucoside is obtained from 100% renewable raw materials, through a combination of plant based fatty alcohol, Decanol, which is derived from coconut and glucose (corn starch). It is a mild, and gentle, surfactant and does not dry the skin. It also helps to moisturise the skin to prevent inflammation and itchiness.

Eucalyptus

Has a cooling effect on muscles, reducing pain and fatigue and also helps to increase circulation, naturally.

Frankincense

Can reduce skin redness and skin sensitivity. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and can help to restore the epidermis whilst calming irritated skin.

Fucus Serratus Seaweed Extract

Fucus Serratus Seaweed is one of the key ingredients we use at ishga, due to its incredible benefits for the skin. It contains high levels of natural antioxidants known as polyphenols. These antioxidants provide protection against damage to the skin by neutralising free radicals (damaging atoms in the air). Fucus Serratus Seaweed has also been found to regenerate skin cells, promote natural collagen and hyaluronic acid production in the skin, and deliver hydrating properties to lock in moisture.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a humectant which means it attracts moisture to your skin. It helps your skin absorb water from the air reducing any dry and dull patches. Using glycerin regularly can help to make your skin smooth and prevent problems associated with dryness.

Hebridean Spring Water

Known for its unique healing and therapeutic properties. Collected locally on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, near ishga HQ. Mineral-rich and pure. We do not use any tap water in our products, only Hebridean sea and spring water collected locally here on the Isle of Lewis.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) allows nutrients to reach deeper levels of the skin by maintaining extra cellular space. Can bind up to 1000x times its own weight in water which boosts and maintains skin hydration levels, accelerates tissue repair and cell regeneration. Environmental pollution can decrease the levels of hyaluronic acid in your skin, causing fine lines, reduced elasticity, wrinkles and dark spots. By including hyaluronic acid in your skincare routine, this can replenish the levels resulting in improved skin texture and appearance. Low molecular HA weights penetrate the skin to deliver nourishing and regenerative qualities to the deeper layers of the skin. HA with higher molecular weights forms a hydration barrier on the surface of the skin delivering instant visible results, improving skin texture and hydration levels whilst also protecting against pollutants in the environment.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is a carrier oil ideal for all skin types. It hosts antioxidant properties to protect and heal the skin. It can help to reduce redness and keep skin calm and soothed.

Juniper Berry

Has astringent, calming, purifying, antiseptic and skin healing properties that contribute to its health-promoting effects. Can help to fight against breakouts and acne and control excess sebum in the skin.

Kelp Seaweed Powder

Kelp seaweed powder nourishes, oxygenate and detoxifies the skin. This slows skin ageing.

Lavender

Contains relaxing properties to ease stress, soothe the mind and improve low mood. Helps to ease muscle cramps and aches.

Lavender (Little ishga)

Lavender has been included for its soothing effects, and can help promote calm and a healthy sleep.

Lemongrass

Has skin healing properties and is an effective cleanser for all skin types. Its antiseptic and astringent properties make lemongrass oil perfect for getting even and glowing skin.

Lus Nan Laogh

It has been used for generations to treat a range of skin conditions including acne and rosacea. Roots of this Hebridean flower are used with spring water from a healing well to create an extract known to be highly effective in treating inflammation of the skin. We source this locally on the Isle of Lewis during it's season for using in our Hydrating Hand Cream and Hydra+ Marine Cream.

Macadamia Nut Oil

Macadamia nut oil is great for all skin types, but especially for those with dry skin as it helps skin to retain moisture. It contains high levels of Palmitoleic Acid which helps to maintain moisture levels. Macadamia nut oil also promotes healing and smooths skin texture.

Macadamia Nut Oil (Little ishga)

Macadamia nut oil is great for all skin types, but especially for those with dry skin as it helps skin to retain moisture. It contains high levels of Palmitoleic Acid which helps to maintain moisture levels. Macadamia nut oil also promotes healing and smooths skin texture.

Mandarin Red Essential Oil

Uplifting, soothing and calming to the skin. Tones, heals and can reduce excess oil and acne breakouts.

Mandarin Red (Little ishga)

Mandarin red is an uplifting, soothing oil. It helps to calm the nervous system, and its relaxing properties make it effective for soothing restlessness, and hyperactivity in children.

Maris Sal (Sea Salt)

Detoxifies the body and restores the skin's natural pH balance. Vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in the sea salt help the skin to stay clear and healthy. Gently exfoliates to remove impurities that clog pores, promoting blood circulation and skin regeneration. Has healing properties, beneficial to all skin types.

May Chang

Uplifting for mental clarity and it's aroma can help to relieve physical fatigue and boost energy. May chang is also great for nourishing all skin types. It contains mild astringent properties, making it particularly useful for those with oily and acne-prone skin.

Olive Oil

Helps bring moisture back to the hair, leaving it healthy-looking and shiny. Rich in vitamins A, E and Antioxidants, helps protect the keratin in hair and seals in moisture.

Organic Ethanol

For a sanitiser to be effective against micro-organisms it must contain an alcohol content of between 60-80%. ishga sanitiser contains 78% ethanol so it is highly effective at breaking down the fatty lipid bilayer that holds a virus together effectively destroying the virus. ishga sanitiser is also highly effective against bacteria and fungus.

Palm Kernel Acid

Moisturising and protective properties.

Patchouli

Patchouli is known for its ability to regenerate the epidermis to leave your complexion rejuvenated. Heals and detoxes your skin and contains active compounds that help to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles.

Pelvetia Canaliculata Seaweed Extract (Channelled Wrack)

Used in ishga retail hair products only. Sugar components found in this seaweed lock in hydration when exposed to long periods of dryness. This unique ability is harnessed into our products, locking in moisture to keep the hair hydrated. The extract also binds to metal residues left by chemical treatments and hard water, which reduces damage to the hair cuticle resulting in stronger and healthier hair.

Peppermint

Features a naturally cooling sensation to ease sore muscles and aches. It is also stimulating for the mind, which reduces mental fatigue.

Potassium Cocoate

Potassium Cocoate is a potassium salt that originates from the fatty acids present in coconut oil. Potassium Cocoate is a natural surfactant, that removes dirt from the surface of the skin leaving the surface below clean and refreshed.

Potassium Palm Kernelate

Moisturising and protective properties.

Prickly pear oil

Hydrating, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Contains Vitamin K and can brighten skin whilst also reducing inflammation.

Rapeseed oil

A carrier oil known for its moisturising and anti-inflammatory benefits. It also features anti-bacterial properties, making it ideal for treating skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It is calming for the skin and can help to reduce redness and irritation.

Rose Geranium

Can help to balance the skin's natural oil production. It can minimise the appearance of enlarged pores and brighten skin, and is excellent for those with acne.

Rosemary

Anti-inflammatory benefits for easing muscular pain. A natural pain reliever.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood features gentle astringent properties which make it an effective yet gentle toner. Sandalwood oil tightens the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, while calming skin to even its tone and make it feel renewed.

Hebridean Sea Water

The Outer Hebrides has some of the most clean, pure and unpolluted waters on the planet. Its rich mineral content offers fantastic benefits for the skin. We do not use any tap water in our products, only Hebridean sea and spring water collected locally here on the Isle of Lewis.