If you have acne-prone skin, you know the struggle of unpredictable breakouts. During the summer, when you want to wear less makeup and show off your natural, glowy skin, nothing makes you want to let out a deep sigh more than seeing a pimple pop up uninvited. With breakouts being caused by a combination of factors like excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, you need a skincare product that’s going to keep your blemishes at bay.
Luckily for us, there's an antibacterial skincare product that’s doing just that: hypochlorous acid spray.
What is Hypochlorous Acid?
Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
Tower 28
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a naturally occurring substance produced by our white blood cells as part of the body's immune response. It plays a crucial role in fighting off infections by killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Surprisingly, this compound is also used in various household disinfectants due to its potent germicidal properties, but gentle enough to be used on the skin. For skincare purposes, hypochlorous acid is harnessed in a much milder form to deliver its benefits without causing harm or irritation.
This antibacterial, antimicrobial skin-saving solution not only fights off acne-causing bacteria but also soothes the skin and treats wounds. HOCl spray is typically produced through a process called electrolysis, where a saltwater solution (sodium chloride and water) is subjected to an electrical current. This process splits the molecules into hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The resulting solution is then stabilized and diluted to a concentration that is safe and effective for topical use.
Benefits of Hypochlorous Acid Spray
Antimicrobial Properties:
HOCl spray is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This makes it a powerful tool for disinfecting surfaces, wounds, and even the skin. It works quickly to neutralize pathogens, reducing the risk of infection and promoting faster healing.
Acne Treatment:
HOCl spray can help reduce inflammation and bacterial load on the skin, making it an effective adjunct treatment for acne-prone skin. Its gentle nature makes it suitable for people with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema and rosacea. It also helps soothe irritated skin and provides hydration without causing irritation or dryness.
Wound Care:
HOCl is used in wound care to clean and disinfect wounds, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of infection. Unlike traditional antiseptics, HOCl does not cause tissue damage, making it ideal for delicate or chronic wounds.
How to Use HOCl Spray
HOCl spray is simple to use and can be applied directly to the skin or affected area. For skincare, it can be sprayed onto the face or a cotton pad and gently patted onto the skin. For wound care, it can be sprayed directly onto the wound or a sterile dressing.
If you're tired of battling breakouts and ready to try something new, hypochlorous acid sprays might be your next skincare savior. Here are some top picks to consider:
Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray - $28
Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray - $17
Magic Molecule Spray - $22.50
Briotech Topical Skin Spray - $14.99
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While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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