The Essential Six
Epigentics form the foundation of Rationale skincare, a versatile line of products designed to accommodate mutable skincare needs
ACCORDING TO RICHARD PARKER, CEO and founder of Rationale, our skin experiences the planet’s diverse environments and climates in addition to the natural process of life. Parker, who studied medicinal pharmacy, breaks down the science of cosmetics into the six basic categories of nutrients that our skin needs to be healthy during our lifetime. Essentially, even with a healthy diet of vitamins and minerals, our skin remains the last organ to receive the nutrients. For this reason, he has devoted research into delivery systems that would get ingredients like vitamin C to go where it needs to be. This has led to a overhaul of skincare products ‒ even the formulation of zinc oxide in sunscreen had to be re-invented because oil based sunscreens tend to “float” atop a layer of moisture on the skin and not get properly absorbed to provide optimal protection.
While many of us gravitate towards trending ingredients and popular brands when we shop for skincare, the truth is that each person’s skin is unique. Understanding how human skin reacts is what distinguishes Rationale from conventional skincare brands. What Parker has applied to Rationale is a science he learnt from his friend and mentor, Dr Shyamalar Gunatheesan, called epigenetics, which studies changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the code itself.
It was a game changer. Decades of enquiry into the science of epigenetics ‒ the ways in which lifestyle and environment influence the expression of our genes ‒ has granted Rationale a profound understanding of what skin needs to glow with radiant vitality as it carries us through life. From there, Parker envisioned the Essential Six Collections crafted around the six facets of skin luminosity: Resilience, Vitality, Brilliance, Integrity, Clarity and Renewal.
IT HAS BEEN 250 years since English chemist Joseph Priestley invented seltzer, after pioneering a process he described as “impregnating water with air”. And while humans have been drinking fi zzy stuff since then, it was only in the last decade that some enterprising individuals decided people should be able to put bubbles into their water, rather than buy plastic bottles of the stuff and thus reduce plastic pollution.
They went on to build various devices that let people make sparkling water at home. Then came the game changer that is Drinkmate, which not only lets you make your own sparkling water, but put bubbles into any beverage you want.
Your Ally In Intermittent Fasting
If you are watching your weight, you need to understand why hydration is important: inadequate hydration may confuse your body to believe it is feeling hungry instead of thirsty, and you could end up busting your well laid out eating plans. So the trick is in getting better hydrated, but how?
Carbonated water is a healthier alternative to soda, juice or any isotonic drink, and a hard seltzer has fewer calories than beer. In fact, studies have found that carbonated water improved satiety, or the feeling of fullness, which could be a big help to anyone practising intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting, in case you are unfamiliar, is the practice of timing your meals to optimise the cycle between voluntary and involuntary fasting over a given period. Typical cycles last for eight hours of eating and 16 hours of non- caloric consumption, and those fi rst 16 hours, minus the hours accounting for sleep, are typically the hardest when you’re new to this form of dieting.
Consuming carbonated beverages could be a benefit for people who feel the hunger pangs in between because the bubbles in the liquid leave you feeling fuller.
Introducing Sparkling Tea
Contemporary dining concepts such as Fernando Arévalo’s Preludio are among a handful of eateries that are helping people to discover the joys of carbonated tea. We sampled sparkling oolong and found that the carbonation makes it significantly more aromatic. We could discern hints of tropical fruit, because the chilled bubbly unlocks the fl avours in a tea we thought we knew well. We also tried a Yunnan black tea, which surprised us with a peachy- sweet aftertaste. Who knew it could be so much more enjoyable when carbonated?
New Generation Operation
While a forerunner in the market called Sodastream has achieved pop cultural recognition by now, Drinkmate is a new generation of devices that offer new advantages: the parts that come into contact with drinks (e.g. fi zz infuser and bottle) are detachable and washable, whereas you could previously only wipe down the nozzle and bottle slots. And as they say, hygiene is right there next to godliness.
The unit is $125 while the refillable gas cylinders are priced at $42.95. Alternatively, the cylinder refill, or cylinder exchange, is priced at $19.95, to provide users with a more economical and sustainable solution.