At Magical Medicine, we understand skincare for mature skin as a daily dialogue with the body’s innate intelligence. Rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom, our ingredient policy follows one essential principle: whatever touches the skin should be natural, pure and supportive of balance. In this article, we share what we use, why we use it, and the values that guide every formulation we create.

What is the problem with modern skincare?

We believe skincare has two critical tasks. First, to ensure that ingredients are absorbed effectively. Second, to ensure that whatever is absorbed is safe, natural and supportive of whole-body health. Modern skincare often fails at one, two, or both of these tasks.

The skin is the body’s largest protective organ, yet not everything applied to it penetrates. This is a key issue with many conventional products. Numerous creams sit largely on the surface of the skin, temporarily improving texture or appearance without supporting long-term skin health (2). They may make the skin look smoother, brighter or more hydrated in the short term, but they do little to strengthen the skin barrier or improve overall skin function.

At the same time, when ingredients do penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, they may also enter systemic circulation. Modern dermatological research confirms that many topical ingredients can pass through the skin and enter the bloodstream (1). If these ingredients include preservatives, synthetic fragrances or petrochemical derivatives, they must then be detoxified by the liver and kidneys, contributing to cumulative toxic load (3).

Used once, this may seem insignificant. Used daily—across cleanser, serum, moisturiser, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, body products and perfume—the load accumulates. When combined with additives and preservatives from food and the wider environment, this burden is often mislabelled as “ageing”, when it is in fact chronic overload (4).

This is where Magical Medicine takes a different path.

1. A commitment to truly natural formulations

We believe in 100% natural ingredients—not “natural” as a marketing term, but as a formulation standard. No hidden preservatives, no synthetic fragrances, no undisclosed additives. Where preservation is unavoidable, particularly in water-based products, we are fully transparent and choose the safest, most gentle options with the lowest known biological impact.

Our philosophy is simple: whatever you put on your skin should be as clean and supportive as what you eat. This way, the skin receives nourishment rather than toxins, and the body’s detox organs are protected from unnecessary overload.

2. Avoiding synthetically made ‘nature-identical’ ingredients

More concentrated does not mean more effective. Isolated active compounds are often harsher and less suitable for sensitive or compromised skin (6). Scientific evidence shows that whole-plant extracts frequently outperform synthetic, isolated actives because of the synergistic interactions between their naturally occurring compounds (5).

For this reason, we do not “add” synthetic vitamins to our formulas. Instead, we select botanicals in which these nutrients naturally occur in high and bioavailable amounts. Amla and rosehip are naturally rich sources of vitamin C, rosehip also provides vitamin A, and sesame seed oil contains naturally occurring niacin. Amaranth oil is one of the richest vegetarian sources of squalene known, offering exceptional support for skin hydration and barrier function.

In Ayurveda, excessive processing is understood to diminish prana—the vital life force that gives herbs their intelligence and therapeutic effect. When ingredients are overly refined or chemically altered, they may retain an isolated function but lose their capacity to work harmoniously with the body.

We therefore prioritise minimal, purposeful processing—only where it enhances absorption, stability and efficacy. For example, our herbs are traditionally slow-cooked in sesame oil, a method known to improve lipid-based extraction and bioavailability while preserving botanical integrity (7). This approach allows our formulas to penetrate deeply, nourish the skin’s lipid barrier and support lasting improvements in skin health, while ensuring that whatever enters the body is pure, natural and biologically compatible.

3. Uncompromising quality

We select exceptional ingredients, including precious oils such as rose otto, amaranth, rosehip and jojoba. Each is chosen not only for its long-standing traditional use in skincare, but also for its clinically recognised benefits in supporting the skin barrier, improving elasticity and providing antioxidant protection (8).

We source our ingredients directly wherever possible, prioritising freshness, purity and ethical supply. Every oil and botanical is selected with intention and care.

Quality is what we choose to feed both the body and the skin. This unwavering commitment is why our products deliver deep, lasting improvements in skin health, rather than short-lived cosmetic effects.

4. Practitioner-led formulation

While many brands invest primarily in marketing, we invested in education. Magical Medicine is founded and guided by fully qualified Ayurvedic practitioners with extensive expertise in creating classical and contemporary Ayurvedic formulations. Our products are formulated by us and developed in collaboration with Ayurvedic doctors, ensuring both traditional integrity and modern relevance.

We understand that ingredient synergy matters more than the number of ingredients used. Creating the best skincare for mature skin is not about adding everything that sounds beneficial, but about how each herb and oil works in relationship with the others. Like a meal cooked by an expert chef, every step, proportion and process is intentional. Nothing is included by trend or assumption—only by purpose.


Conclusion

Our ingredients policy reflects our commitment to deep, holistic care—for the skin, the body and long-term vitality. When skincare honours biology, respects Ayurvedic tradition, and is formulated with integrity and intention, it becomes a daily act of nourishment rather than mere surface correction. What you put on your face truly matters, because it does not stop at the skin—it supports your overall health, vitality and balance.


References 

Bos, J.D. and Meinardi, M.M.H.M. (2000) The 500 Dalton rule for the skin penetration of chemical compounds. Experimental Dermatology, 9(3), pp.165–169.

Draelos, Z.D. (2018) Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. 2nd edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Darbre, P.D. (2004) Environmental oestrogens, cosmetics and breast cancer. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 20(1), pp.121–143.

WHO (2013) State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Geneva: World Health Organization.

Williamson, E.M. (2001) Synergy and other interactions in phytomedicines. Phytomedicine, 8(5), pp.401–409.

Mukherjee, P.K. et al. (2011) The Ayurvedic medicine approach to botanical drug development. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Article ID 964086.

Sharma, P.V. (2014) Dravyaguna Vijnana. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy.
Lin, T.K. et al. (2018) Anti-aging effects of plant oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), 70.