Acne vulgaris (the most common form of acne) main manifestations:
Comedones - (black or white heads) on face, back, chest are actually hair follicle clogged by dead cells or excessive sebum.
Papules – (red bumps in the skin) advanced form of comedones in inflammatory and painful condition.
Pustules – aka pimple, looking like a white head full of puss with a swollen, reddish border.
Skin care that helps clear acne
Cleansing:
First of all, remember that popping pimples is the worst you can do, and it actually worsens the condition, causing scarring and trauma to the skin. Using an anti-bacterial soap washes away excessive oil, however, do not use it more than twice a day, as it might irritate, stimulate sebum secretion and worsen acne.
Marine C Thiopeptide – anti inflammation and anti-bacterial prevents acne spreading, comedones formation, and speeds up the healing process. It can be found in COMODEX Clean & Clear Cleanse.
Peeling:
Removing dead cells from the depth of pores improves skin condition and boosts renewal. A gentle peeling that does not irritate can be achieved with products combining botanical extracts and salicylic acid. Dead cells and toxins are removed from the depth of pores, and cells are recharged with oxygen with BIOPHYTO Herbal Complex.
GLOW Oxygen Peel is perfect for removing dead cells and keratin plugs that clog pores. It incorporates acids and enzymes and is enriched with plankton algae that deliver oxygen that easily kills acne bacteria.
Moisture
There is a belief that moisture is not necessary for oily skin. Completely wrong!
To prevent these negative effects and protect the skin during sun exposure, opt for a day cream with maximum SPF 15. Anything above SPF 15 is too heavy on the skin. It is very important to protect skin recovering from acne in order to avoid pigmentation spots during exposure to sun. Lightweight COMODEX Mattify & Protect Cream SPF 15 with Kollaren biomimetic peptide boosts renewal and speeds up the healing process.
Lightweight Hydra Elastin Collagen daily use is recommended restore the water reservoir. Well hydrated skin turns vital and the healing process improves, preventing scarring.
Incorporating salicylic acid leads to removal of dead cells and excessive sebum that clog pores. In the case of inflammation and skin diseases, it is highly efficient thanks to its strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Effective but not aggressive in concentration of 1-2%. It dissolves lipids and oils that bond together dead cells. Without this bond that prompts acne, acne symptoms become milder. It is recommended to start with gradual usage (2-3 times a week), and once you feel comfortable increase to daily use. Salicylic acid in COMODEX Renew & Repair treatment gel boosts renewal without irritating while inhibiting bacteria proliferation and inflammation. Suitable for recurrent acne breakouts.
BIOPHYTO Normalizing Night Cream based on salicylic acid combines potent natural extracts that rebalance acneic skin.
Conclusion
Acne requires dermatologists’ and beauticians’ treatment and guidance. Applying the right skincare products is essential in dealing with acne. The emphasis is on skin hygiene, unclogging pores and eliminating bacteria. Look for products that balance anti-microbial activity, moderate sebum gland secretion, and perform light peeling to remove dead cells. Night treatment products rehabilitate scarred tissues and protect against pollutants.
What is retinol?
It is a byproduct of vitamin A - one of the most powerful ingredients in skin rejuvenating and approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of wrinkles.
In cosmetics it is known as retinoid acid, in skin care products as retinol that causes peeling, leaving the skin smooth, healthy and firmer. “Retinol boosts collagen and elastin production, and cell regeneration”, explains Mrs. Orly Sagui, chief trainer at Christina Cosmeceuticals. In the past, the only way to deal with wrinkles and skin imperfections was to conceal them under makeup or resort to plastic surgery.
Today there is a game changer that works miracles on skin texture, glow and fine lines blurring. Retinol boosts cell regeneration, fights free radicals (bacteria, air & environmental pollutants), protecting the skin and strengthening the defense system. It makes the skin appear firmer and glowing in the morning if is left on the skin overnight.
Who needs retinol?
At 25+ it prevents and delays early, first signs of ageing - fine lines.
At 35+, after constant use over time, it boosts cell regeneration, treats wrinkles and fine lines, firming the skin.
On oily, acneic skin, retinol prevents black heads, reduces pores, blurs post acne scars thanks to its peeling properties. In the case of severe acne, seek the advice of a physician. In any event, use of retinol-based products should be gradual, so that no irritation or dryness worsen the skin inflammation.
Check with a physician use of retinol during pregnancy and breast feeding.
Including retinol in your treatment routine
Retinol-based serum fights signs of ageing like wrinkles, smoothing and brightening the skin. Use it gradually, so that the skin can adjust to it.
First week apply 2-3 drops on cleansed, dry face twice a week.
Second week use every second evening. Third week use it every night together with moisturizing cream.
Chateau de Beaute antiaging wine serum for instant glow and firming contains encapsulated retinol for highly effective performance. Reduces dramatically signs of ageing like wrinkles and uneven skin tone, promoting elasticity and vitality.
Night cream.
“Christina specialists believe every product must be tailored to a specific skin condition. Christina incorporates retinol independent research has proven efficient beyond any doubt into formulas designed for specific conditions”, explains Mrs. Orly Sagui.
For oily or acneic skin, combining retinol with salicylic acid in the Comodex night treatment gel offers everything that is necessary to prevent pimples and black heads, to reduce pores and scars and smooth grainy skin.
Forever Young Repairing Night Cream combines encapsulated retinol and ETF to focus on fighting signs of ageing.
Retinol E Active combines optimally retinol and vitamin E to firm and blur wrinkles and post acne scars.
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Salicylic acid
Extracted from the Salix tree bark. Able to break up keratin – the protein that makes up skin cells. Among the many acids in skin care products, this is the only one that can function in an oily environment and penetrate into pores to break up keratin bundles, melt away excessive oil accumulated in the pores and exfoliate dead cells. Use of salicylic acid will reveal fresh, smooth and healthier skin.
Who is it suitable for?
Everyone dealing with oily skin manifestations and with acne. It cleans from the depth of the pores, eliminates excessive oil and helps treat inflammations and skin diseases. When it penetrates into the deeper skin layers, it also triggers peeling that leads to treating hyper pigmentation and reduces the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. Despite being efficient, it is not aggressive in concentrations of 1%-2%.
Who is it not suitable for?
Everyone with dry or dehydrated skin, because it can worsen the condition. In cases of atopic inflammation, during pregnancy or breast feeding, skin infections, chronic diseases and intake of powerful medicine seek for doctor’s advice.
How does it work?
Salicylic acid penetrates into the skin and breaks up lipids that glue together dead skin cells that have the potential to clog pores and lead to acne.
Special attention required
Christina experts recommend
Spots, pimples, scars, black heads? BioPhyto Normalizing Night Cream will balance, rehabilitate and smooth the skin while boosting cell regeneration and preventing formation of black heads.
Dry and rough skin? BioPhyto Herbal Complex with acids complex and herbal extracts will remove dead cells, purify the skin from within and reveal new and fresh skin.
Oily skin manifestations and recurring acne breakout? Comodex Renew & Repair Night Treatment will boost cell regeneration without causing irritation and will prevent inflammation and bacteria proliferation
]]>The world of cosmetics has undergone a revolution over the past few years, started by the development of highly important ingredients – bio mimetic peptides.
]]>Peptides are amino acids compounds responsible for the building of proteins in our skin. Luckily they can be mimicked artificially and they produce results very much alike the natural proteins, and quite often they stimulate the skin to start producing them anew.
The “old” cosmetics focused on products that penetrated only the uppermost skin layer. Today, due to advanced technologies, we are able to infuse the deeper skin layer with peptides and additional active ingredients and thus affect the balance and intensify desired activities that have been weakened by age.
There are so many peptides contributing to the rehabilitation and improvement of our skin, but the important thing is to make sure the skin care products you choose incorporate them and use smart delivery technology to make them penetrate into the depth of the skin layers.
The answer is easy: Around the age of 30 natural peptides activity gradually decreases, and as a result the functioning of various systems in the skin is slowed down. The skin ages, wrinkles, becomes saggy and loses its glow and vitality. Quality skin care products can significantly help balance, rehabilitate and renew with the help of peptides and advanced technologies that preserve the peptides’ active state.
]]>A special treatment addressing all stages of melanin secretion and neutralizing all causes that enhance its activity will help you control the formation of new spots and brighten up existing ones.
This treatment relies on two critical principles:
In most cases, pigmentation cells become damaged after exposure to sun at younger ages, becoming over active every time you cease the depigmentation treatment. It is important to balance the activity of those cells twice a day over 365 days. Consistency is the name of the game! Once pigmentation cells are out of balance, they become active all day long, every day. If treatment is stopped, spots will reappear and the entire effort of brightening them will have been in vain. Ingredients sensitive to sun radiation (like prescription creams) oxidize when exposed to sun and enhance the visibility of dark spots. They must not be used during the summer season, and usage only during the cold season will not lead to desired results.
Many customers ask for a time line in the treatment of pigmentation, and we would like to underline that such treatment is an entire process, and the time required for results to show varied from one customer to another. Life style also plays a role in the treatment – stress impacts negatively on results, exposure to sun (even if sun block was applied) can delay improvement. Some can see result within a month, others within a year.
Pigmentation spots are not God given! They can become blurred or disappear entirely with the help of advanced technologies and active ingredients available today. Remember: there are no shortcuts and there are no magical products. There is only a process the requires patience and consistency.
What excitement! What joy! Pregnancy and giving birth are moments of sublime happiness and fulfillment. However, caution with the products applied during pregnancy is required.
]]>However, caution with the products applied during pregnancy is required. Many products contain unsuitable active ingredients and treatment routines might have to be replaced so as to address hormonal changes that affect appearance of the facial skin.
Some think the gender of the baby affects the skin, others think there is no connection. Regardless of the popular belief, pregnant women can be divided into two categories: those whose skin thrives, appearing more radiant and vital than ever, and those whose hormonal changes make the skin appear sweaty, with rashes, acne or pigmentation spots.
Those in the latter category should start treating all the unwanted manifestations so that at the end of the hormonal period the skin will look vital and healthy.
Warning! Using products containing retin-A or retinol might hurt the development of the fetus. Undergoing treatments with energy-based devices (radio frequency, ultrasound, laser, galvanic) is not recommended.
Rashes following excess perspiration (a natural occurrence during pregnancy, when you feel hot and the sweat glands are activated) are the result of dead cells clogging the pores. If the weather is hot and humid, irritations and redness can also kick in. The treatment is simple and easy. When taking a shower, wash your face with soap and then apply grains or granules peels. Such peels unclog the pores, promoting a smoother and healthier skin. Repeat the treatment 2-3 times a week. You can use the same treatment every day on your body if it is full of rashes.
Acne – Enhanced hormonal activity may lead to manifestations characteristic of teen years. The skin becomes oily, black and white heads proliferate and acne scars appear all over the face and body. These frustrating occurrences are the result of lack of balance affecting sebaceous gland activity, and they require treatment with specifically targeted skin care products.
Morning & evening – Wash the face twice a day with anti bacterial soap and wipe with cleansing tonic.
Every night – Apply products with active ingredients (no retinol, phenol or antibiotics) that fight acne bacteria and help balance the skin.
Every morning – Apply an oil-free moisturizing product with SPF to prevent spots after acne wounds heal (the cells responsible for skin pigmentation are active in the healing process).
Hyper pigmentation – Melasma spots are common in many women. They look like butterflies on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and chin. Melasma present during pregnancy is due to the increased amounts of estrogen, and it can also be seen around the belly button and other intimate areas. Brightening treatments are the right ones to deal with the problem.
In salon and home care brightening treatments are allowed and highly recommended, provided there is no medical contraindication.
Many women hesitate and prefer brightening treatments after giving birth, but this is the wrong decision. Spots may become darker during pregnancy, leading to enhanced hyper pigmentation and uneven tone, and treatment may become difficult if too much time elapses.
True, there are unsafe products, but there are also safe ones! It is recommended to choose products with high concentrations of vitamin C and plant extracts that balance melanin production, such products will brighten existing spots and prevent formation of new ones in the future.
Hyper pigmentation treatment during the summer, when susceptibility to spots is higher
Curcumin extract, liquorices root extract, Chilean Boldo tree extract, vitamin C & vitamin B3 have enhanced brightening properties, and do not jeopardize pregnancy.
Moreover, these ingredients protect the skin against sun rays and environmental pollutants.
Important rules to be followed:
Brightening soap and tonic help thoroughly cleanse the skin and prepare it for optimal penetration of brightening products.
Morning: Apply brightening serum with high concentrations of vitamin C on cleansed face. It rehabilitates damage done by sun rays, brightens and delays damage to collagen fibers.
Continue with moisturizing cream with SPF30 and above.
Evening: Apply brightening serum with high concentrations of vitamin C for enhanced results. Do not use brightening night creams since most of them contain retinol.
Medical or cosmetic clinic?
I strongly recommend one of the in-salon professional brightening treatments. They will boost brightening and radiance!
Your cosmetician or aesthetic doctor must be informed of the pregnancy, so they will avoid using skin care products unsuitable during pregnancy.
]]>They come in all shapes and tones, and we would all love to make them disappear.
You have surely tried all possible treatments, spent tons of money on products that promised to rid you of them, but the spots are still there… And all women and men around the world want is a smooth, even-toned skin!
Reasons for spots appearance
Those with darker skin must know: dark skin is very sensitive and pigmentation appears in abundance very quickly. It is important to use brightening skincare products specifically created for dark skin.
Do spots recur? This is how you stop the vicious circle
Brightening products are very susceptible to sun rays, and most of them are therefore not suitable to be used during the summer. If used during the wrong season, they can cause more harm than good, or, in other words, they can enhance spot formation.
In order to ensure good and lasting results, products suitable for use throughout all seasons of the year are recommended, together with minimal or no exposure to sun rays during the treatment.
Treatment method
Before choosing the most suitable treatment for your skin, think about how you can prevent worsening existing spots or appearance of new ones.
Non-invasive treatments
Invasive treatments (not recommended for dark skin)
Regardless of the treatment you chose, remember! Home follow-up treatment is essential in preserving results over time!
Start the treatment ASAP in order to restore to your an even tone and a healthy appearance!
]]>Instead of a firm, tight jaw line, the face will display sagging and take on a bulldog appearance that gives away age more than anything else.
Main reasons for Y-area ageing
Possible solutions
40% of women interviewed stated that ageing of the Y-area made them look older than their biological age. Treating the area with specifically designed products at young ages will prevent or at least slow down the appearance of the unwanted signs.
Prevention
The high incidence of depleted Y-area has led to the development of targeted treatments
Non-invasive treatments
Invasive treatments
Technological: radio and ultrasound frequency deliver heat to the tissue below the epidermis, stimulating collagen production and contracting fibers to tighten the skin
Mesotherapy: medical, cosmetic promotes tightening and renewal
Injections: botox, hyaluronic acid, melting under-skin threads
NOTE
Opting for an invasive treatment should in no way exclude the non-invasive treatment. Make sure you observe a strict daily treatment routine in order to maintain results over time.
When should treatment be started?
At young ages make sure to use skincare products specifically targeting the area.
Starting with the age of 35 it is recommended to use specific products that help prevent future damage, correct existing damage, and firm and tighten the skin in this delicate area.
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Oily Skin. Photo: Istock.
Diving Deeper into Oily Skin
You know you have oily skin when your face has a shiny complexion, your pores are visible mainly on your forehead, nose and chin, and your skin could be acne prone. Among the annoying downsides of oily skin are makeup sliding off, comedones (best known as blackheads when open and whiteheads when closed) and that everlasting greasiness in all the wrong places.
Although all that sounds a bit depressing, the good news are that it’s not that hard to achieve balance and make sure that your skin is not too oily, yet still maintains it natural moisture.
The target: Balance. Photo: Istock.
The Good Stuff – How to Alleviate Oily Skin
While the main cause of oily skin is genetics, environmental, hormonal and lifestyle factors can influence it significantly, as well as stress, poor hygiene and so on. And although you cannot change your skin type, there are things you can do to keep the oiliness under control.
Use the right products. Photo: Istock.
Dry or Dehydrated?. Photo: Istock.
Dry VS. Dehydrated
The signs and symptoms are the same – your skin may look (the signs) dull or flaky and feel (the symptoms) itchy or tight. But the causes differ.
Dry skin is a skin type which:
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition which:
Sometimes it’s quite difficult to know whether your skin is dry or oily but dehydrated. In such instances, it’s best to ask a licensed aesthetician for their professional advice.
The Best Way to Treat Dry Skin
One of the best tricks in treating dry skin has everything to do with your bathing habits. First, when you bathe make sure to close the bathroom’s doors and windows to keep all that good moisture in. Second, when you get out of the shower do not pat your face dry. Instead, use your hands to remove any excess water and while it’s still a little damp, apply your topical products. Why? Because when our skin is damp, the products penetrate it better; but when our skin is completely dry, the topical products do not work at their full capacity. If you really would prefer to dry your face another option would be to apply the products immediately after you’ve patted your face dry and are still in the moist bathroom.
Improve your shower habits. Photo: Istock.
When you choose your skin-care products opt for oil-based, rich creams and make sure to look for:
There are endless myths about acne – the one skin condition experienced by most people at some stage in their life. But, in order to properly treat acne, you must first be able to differentiate between tested truths and unsubstantiated tales.
]]>Here are three well known acne myths and some proven facts.
Popping Acne Myths.
Myth #1 – Acne is caused by makeup, stress, sunscreen, chocolate and sodas
Although all these factors may exacerbate acne, the actual cause is one of four:
More about these four factors here
So what affect do these exacerbating factors have on acne? Let’s look at each one.
stress. Photo: Istock.
Myth #2 – Acne is a teenage issue
Unfortunately, that’s just not true. Plenty of researches show that many people suffer from acne in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. it is true, though, that teen and adult acne is not the same. While teen acne is caused by both hormonal and genetic factors, as well as increased oil production that is part of puberty, adult acne is usually caused by hormonal fluctuations and tends to be deeper and more painful and take longer to heal.
Myth #3 – Washing, popping, cleansing or… toothpaste can treat acne
Let’s go through these one by one: yes, toothpaste can dry out your pimples but it’s not intended for use on your skin and can cause irritation; popping a pimple is actually the worst thing you can do. It can make the situation worse and cause trauma to your skin; using cleansers or washing your face cannot treat or prevent acne, although it’s advised to do both regularly to maintain clean skin. It’s also important to mention that washing your face more than twice a day could dry your skin an cause irritation.
So, what’s the best way to treat acne?
Using the right products is the best course of action. In general, the right ingredients for treating acne focus in unclogging the pores and getting rid of the bacteria. Therefore, look for products that control and regulate antimicrobial activity, moderate sebum secretion, renew the skin and repair scar tissue, and reduce inflammation.
Natural Ingredients treatment
All You Need to Know About Natural Ingredients
There’s no doubt that natural ingredients in skincare can do wonders. But, just like anything else under the sun, not every natural ingredient is effective or even good for your skin. To help you know what to look for when choosing your natural skincare products, here is a list of the most effective natural ingredients:
Synthetic Ingredients and What You Should Avoid
It’s important to note that not all synthetic ingredients are bad for you. In fact, the best skincare products contain not only natural but also synthetic ingredients that are more bio-available than their natural counterparts. These synthetic man-made ingredients offer advanced delivery attributes that allow the natural ingredients reach the right area in the skin; make sure the product doesn’t separate, as oil and water tend to do. In addition, some synthetic igredients such as hyaluronic acid and retinol, which are naturally found in our skin and are highly effective, are basically non-existent in nature and must be produced in labs.
So, in reality, synthetic and natural ingredients are partners in crime that work really well together in perfect nature-science synergy.
Still, some synthetic ingredients are indeed harmful so make sure you stay away from the following:
When are Natural Ingredients Less Effective?
Have you ever seen what a fresh leafy salad looks like after it spent a day in your fridge? The leaves kind of wilt, right? Well, natural ingredients are similarly unstable. In fact, to maintain their effectivity and stability, most natural ingredients actually need their (safe) lab-grown friends to lend a hand.
For that reason, there are only a handful of skincare products which are 100% natural and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. All you need to do is make sure your product does not contain harmful chemicals.
Although it is a physical activity, it’s been scientifically proven that yoga benefits not only our body but also our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing – thus improving our overall quality of life. According to an article published in the Harvard Health Publishing of the Harvard Medical School, “Early evidence suggests that yoga may even slow aging on the cellular level… What makes these findings so exciting is that they suggest that a regular yoga practice can improve multiple areas of your life at once, creating positive feedback loops that can further promote health”.
So, what’s the secret of this ancient practice? It’s simple: yoga is all about focusing the attention on the body in the present moment. Once learned, this focus is applied to all areas of life positively affecting our body, mind, and emotional state.
Countless Types
Over the 5,000 years or so that passed since its creation, many types of yoga were developed; so many that no one knows the exact number. Here are three of the most popular ones.
In Sanskrit, hatha describes the physical postures (or asana) of yoga. But in western society, hatha is a comprehensive term used to describe all the yoga types that are based in physical practice. Such yoga practices are the most popular and include well known sypes, such as Iyengar and Ashtanga. Hatha is recommended for beginners as the pace is slower than other yoga types and includes holding a pose for a few breaths.
B.K.S. Iyengar founded this type, which focuses on correcting the alignment of the body and is perfect for people suffering from injury or joint issues. Iyengar practitioners put a lot of emphasis on the subtleties of each pose, while poses are held for longer than in other yoga types.
Ashtanga is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic and athletic practice. Naturally, this type is very popular among celebrities and is very physically demanding. It’s a repetitive practice that involves six series of postures, which are repeated at each practice.
Yoga Poses for Glowing Skin
One of the many perks of yoga is its effect on our skin. Some yoga poses are particularly beneficial for our skin as they improve blood circulation to the face, which increases nutrient supply and clears out more toxins.
Here are two relatively easy poses for a more radiant skin. Both should be practiced 4-5 times a week.
Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)
Utthanasana
Crinkle Lines
In dermatology’s lingo these lines are called atrophic crinkling rhytids, but we like to call them fine lines. Fine lines are the easiest to prevent and treat since they are still not a full blown wrinkle.
Normally, fine lines will start to appear in our 30s, although they can appear much earlier in smokers and sun-bathing enthusiasts.
Prevention and treatment.
Boost your skin with moisture. Use products that improve the blood circulation in the skin and contain active ingredients that restore youth, firm, tighten and revitalize the skin.
Fine line wrinkles. Photo: Istock.
Dynamic Expression Lines
As their name implies, these lines are caused by facial expressions. The repetitive muscle movement creates creases in the skin that deepen in time and become wrinkles. Although genetics is a major factor with this type of wrinkles, smoking and sun damage can also contribute greatly. Normally, expression wrinkles will show on your forehead and around your eyes.
Prevention and treatment.
Protect yourself from the sun and if you’re smoking, just stop. In addition, use skin care products that contain retinol, which has the ability to reduce wrinkles and loss of elasticity, as well as hyaluronic acid for skin hydration.
Dynamic wrinkles. Photo: Istock.
Permanent Elastic Creases
Elastic creases are the direct result of too much sun exposure, pollution, smoking and other environmental factors. Usually, elastic wrinkles form around the upper lip, cheeks, neck and décolletage.
Prevention and treatment.
Yet again, protect yourself from the sun and stop smoking. Once you’ve done that, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize using products that contain vitamins (specifically vitamin C), hyaluronic acid and peptides that increase collagen production.
Permanent Elastic wrinkles. Photo: Istock.
Gravitational Folds
Gravity plays a leading role in our aging process. As we mature, or following an extreme weight loss, our skin tends to lose volume and sag, being pulled downwards by gravity. One of the most common of gravitational folds is the nasolabial fold – the familiar two parallel lines that form along each side of our nose, running down towards our mouth.
Prevention and treatment.
Boost your skin with products that contain collagen nourishing peptides and dimethyl MEA – a firming agent.
Do you believe in myths? Anti-Aging. Photo: Istock.
Quite the opposite – the earlier you start, the better. Our skin needs certain substances to help it maintain elasticity and firmness at any age during adulthood. Contrary to what some believe, these substances cannot harm younger skin and although some of them are potent, all they do is delay signs of aging.
We all tend to believe that the more we pay for a product or service, the higher its quality. That might be true in some industries but when it comes to anti-aging, it’s not always the case. Many brands slap on a high price tag in hopes consumers will assume their products are more effective than their more affordable counterparts. So how would you know if the price tag is worth it? It’s actually quite simple – instead of looking at the brand name look at the ingredient list. Look for ingredients such as micro-biopeptides (peptides that are able to penetrate deeper), moister retaining agents such as phytocohesine PSP and (Hyaluronic Acid), and cellular regeneration agents such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
While it’s true that your gene pool is a significant actor in your aging process, there are many other factors at play here and the good news are you can control most of them.
It’s not all about the genes. Photo: Istock.
Moisturizers, as their name implies, hydrate our skin and that is why it’s important to use them daily. But if you want to prevent the aging process you need to add other ingredients to the mix such as sunscreen, collagen strengtheners, hyaluronic acid and vitamins. Therefore, although you do not need to use every product available in the skin care line, you really should find the right product mix for your skin.
Stress is a powerful thing that affects our skin. Photo: Istock.
Understanding Stress
When we stress our body releases a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. While adrenaline increases heart rate and energy levels, cortisol elevates blood sugar levels and is responsible for decreasing functions that aren’t essential (at the moment, we cannot say that the digestive system is generally not vital), such as the digestive system.
The process we described is our physical response to a perceived threat and hormone levels should return to normal as soon as the perceived threat no longer exists. But, when our lives are filled with stressful situations and we constantly feel anxious, hormone levels do not decrease. In such cases we are constantly exposed to high levels of cortisol, which can adversely affect our entire body and disrupt numerous biological systems.
Stress and Our Skin
One of the organs adversely affected by sustained high levels of cortisol is our skin. High cortisol levels result in a more sensitive and reactive skin which, in many cases, leads to acne. Why? Because the sebaceous glands in our skin are activated by high levels of cortisol and produce more sebum, aka oil. Too much oil clogs the pores, leading to acne breakouts. And that’s not all. Cortisol also causes collagen loss and we know how important collagen is to younger, firmer looking skin.
High Cortisol can Couse collagen loss. Photo: Istock.
In addition, genetic studies have shown a link between stress and the enhancement of the aging process. The effect on our skin is caused by a process called glycation, in which glucose binds to lipids and proteins, leading to DNA damage and loss of skin elasticity. Stress also accelerates the natural process of wearing down our telomeres (the caps at the ends of our chromosomes), which are directly linked to the aging process, resulting in the appearance of wrinkles.
Finally, biology aside, people who stress a lot also tend to smoke and suffer from interrupted sleep, both of which accelerate the aging process.
Keep calm and protect your skin. Photo: Istock.
So… Don’t Stress!
Naturally, the best remedy would be to just relax but while you work on that, you can also provide your skin with the nourishment it needs using products containing substances such as quintescine, an antioxidant-peptide that improves DNA protection and cell function; collaxyl, a unique deep penetrating peptide that enhances dermal collagen synthesis; and hyaluronic acid that increases water retention.
Skin discoloration, what causes it? Photo: Istock.
Cause and Effect
We all know that exposure to UV light is damaging to our skin and that damage can very noticeable in some cases. When we are exposed to too much UV light, our body will try to protect itself and block the light by overproducing melanin – the pigment that determines our skin and hair color. The result? Our skin will develop an uneven tone and brown spots.
Don’t expose yourself too much. Photo: Istock.
Like the sun, air pollution also stimulates the overproduction of pigments. The tiny particles in the air embed themselves deep in our skin’s layers, causing inflammation which over stimulates our pigment producing cells.
Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that develops on sun exposed areas. Closely linked to hormonal imbalance, melasma (aka ‘mask of pregnancy’) most commonly occurs during pregnancies and in women using contraceptives. Yet, there are other causes of melasma, such as genetic disposition and medications.
Hormonal imbalance causes melasma. Photo: Istock.
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH for short) is a condition in which a skin injury triggers a pigment overproduction. PIH is common in darker skin and is usually caused by acne although other skin injuries, such as burns or psoriasis, can also result in PIH.
Even it Up
So how can you treat uneven skin tones? You could use laser treatments or a chemical peel, or you could opt for the non-invasive option. If you prefer the latter, try these tips.
What is this acne that most of us suffer from? And what causes it? Here is everything you need to know.
]]>What is acne?
This is the easy part. Acne, or a comedo in medical terms, is actually a clogged hair follicle which was blocked by oil or dead skin cells. These clogged hair follicles tend to become inflamed and infected by bacteria, at which stage they will become either whiteheads, blackheads or pimples on the skin’s surface. Here’s a quick guide to the various comedones:
Blackheads – a partially clogged pore.
Whiteheads – a pore clogged with sebum.
Pimples – an inflamed or infected white or black head.
Acne is actually a clogged hair follicle. Photo: Istock.
Always an unpleasant surprise. Photo: Istock.
What causes acne?
Here are the four main causes.
Oil production. Our sebaceous glands are responsible for the production of sebum, an oily secretion. When, for various reasons, the glands go into overproduction mode all that excess oil tries to make its way out but instead, clogs our pores. Yet, sometimes it’s not about the amount but rather the type of sebum. Some people have thicker sebum, which tends to stay in the inner layers of the skin instead of leaking onto the surface, like the more liquid oil does. This, too, results in clogged pores.
Bacteria. Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes, is a bacterial infection that grows in an oil-rich clogged gland. The bacteria feeds on the sebum and excrete waste products which irritate the follicle. On the surface, this results in whiteheads or blackheads.
Skin cells. When our body functions properly, dead surface cells are moved through our skin layers to be shed through the pores. But, in acne-prone pores there is a proliferation of cells trying to push through the pore, clogging it in the process. There, in the pore, the dead cells meet the sebum and the two become one, leading to a plug that is the perfect environment for bacteria. This is called a microcomedone in medical lingo, and is the forebear of all acne.
Gland level. When bacterial infection causes inflammation, the gland might rupture under the skin. When this happens, whether closer to skin surface or in the deeper layers, our body tries to repair the situation with white blood cells, causing an inflammation.
]]>We have the power to slow the aging process. Photo: Istock.
Serve as blocking agent by trapping moisture in our skin. Photo: Istock.
Increase your skin immunity by using target products. Photo: Istock.
There are various factors contributing to the appearance of dark circles. Here are the most common ones.
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extremely difficult to get rid of. Photo: Istock.
There are various factors contributing to the appearance of dark circles. Here are the most common ones.
Age. When we get older our skin tends to get thinner as collagen and fat levels decrease. And the thinner the skin, the more transparent it becomes exposing the dark blood vessels under the skin surface and making our skin look darker.
Fatigue. Not getting enough sleep affects our skin, making it pale and exposing the dark blood vessels. Sleep deprivation can also lead to excess fluid under the eyes, resulting in puffy eyes.
Genetics. If members of your family tend to develop dark circles, you might follow in their footsteps.
Pigmentation. Very common in dark skinned individuals due to increased melanin levels.
Allergies. An allergic reaction involves the production of histamines, which could dilate our blood vessels and make them visible on the skin surface.
Sun. An overexposure of the eye area to the sun could trigger pigmentation and darken the skin under our eyes.
trigger pigmentation, sun exposure. Photo: Istock.
What can be done?
What can be done? Photo: Istock.
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