Education

The quality of the ingredients that are in a skin care product make a huge difference to the health of the skin. It’s easy to get caught up in following trends and being lured by big-brand marketing, but at the end of the day, it’s what’s inside the product that counts.

It’s very important to look at the list of ingredients on a product.  The ingredients are listed by their quantity within the product. The first ingredient is the most abundant last ingredient has the smallest concentration in the formulation.

Some ingredients that should be avoided are:

• mineral oil
• lanolin
• alcohol
• D&C Colorants
• Fragrance
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

I’ve seen marked improvements in client’s skin when they’ve moved away from drug-store brand skin care that contained dyes and fragrance.  Some indications that your skin care products are doing more harm than good are the presence of:

• milia: These are characterised as small white, pearl-like lumps under the skin’s surface.  Milia do not come to a head and can be present on the skin for long periods of time.  They’re usually the result of ingredients that are suffocating the skin, such as mineral oil and dyes from make up.
• comedones: While everyone is susceptible to comedones, more commonly known as blackheads, in the oilier regions of their skin, it’s not normal to have patches of them or lots of bumps and collections of blackheads which would be referred to as congestion.  This congestion is commonly caused by the ingredients listed above which do not encourage the skin the function normally, causing impactions of dead skin cells, dirt oil and debris.

Sometimes a simple change in routine can make a massive difference in the health of one’s skin, leading to a smoother, softer and brighter complexion.  It’s best to follow that advice of a Skin Therapist who can Face Map your skin and customize your skin care regime to bring about balance and health.

 

SKIN BRIGHTENING SYSTEM

Balance pigmentation and protect against future discoloration. Three Hydroquinone-free formulas work synergistically to provide a maximum benefit.

We all want the beautiful glow of sun-kissed skin, but we don’t want the consequential sun damage that comes with it. One of major signs of accumulated sun damage is an uneven skin tone. More and more people are looking for ways to treat this condition known as hyper pigmentation.

Scientists have extensively studied the process by which our skin gains its pigment, which is referred to as melanin. They do not yet fully understand why our skin’s melanin can become unevenly distributed with age. On a positive note- there are effective ways to treat sun-induced hyper pigmentation.

One ingredient that has been used to treat hyper pigmentation effectively is hydroquinone. Doctors in North America commonly prescribe hydroquinone. However, it has been banned in most of the world because it has a highly sensitizing effect on the skin. In some cases it can cause contact dermatitis and photosensitivity.

Brightening ingredients are one of the simplest and gentlest ways to treat hyper pigmentation. Licorice, bearberry, mulberry, and vitamin C are examples of the ingredients that prevent the formation of pigmentation. Also, lactic acid in 5% formulation is an alpha hydroxy acid that has been shown to effectively inhibit the enzyme that plays a central role in melanin formation.

In addition to topical applications, professional treatment such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser treatments can produce accelerated results. It is best to consult a skin care professional to determine what treatment method is best for you. Results vary and it usually takes at least eight weeks to see visible lightening of the spots. A 75% lightening of the treated areas is considered a good outcome.

The most important thing to remember is that prevention is the key. Always where a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15- even on a cloudy winter day! Use tinted moisturizers or self-tanners to get that bronzed glow.