Education

There’s so many conflicting opinions about whether what we eat influences our outward appearance. In my experience it differs for everyone due to genetics and environmental influences.  For some people, food sensitivities can have a huge influence on the appearance of their skin- something as minor as taking a bite of cheesecake can cause an eruption that may takes days or weeks to go away. 

For others, diet does not have such an obvious influence on their skin, but over time, the aging process can be accelerated if proper diet, lifestyle and exercise haven’t been made a priority.  This is because, our skin is our largest organ, and it receives it’s nutrients from the blood stream.  If we’re not giving our body plenty of nutrients to draw from, our skin suffers the consequences as it subsists on the leftovers from the internal organs.

Of course supplements are nothing new.  People have been taking gingko biloba, echinacea, fish oils and many other herbal and dietary supplements to improve their health. However, the recent trend is in vitamin drinks, potent anti-oxidant and mineral rich cocktails as well as omega oil and enzyme supplements directly marketed to prevent aging of the skin and body.

What it comes down to is whether or not your diet supports your optimal health and for most people, it’s hard to get the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables which contain the nutrients we need.

Introducing a supplement into your daily routine can help support your body’s ability to cope with stress and free radical damage, thus slowing down the aging process.

We recently brought in a product called GliSODin which is researched and developed by a dermatologist and nutritionists. The key ingredient for this line of supplements is superoxide-dismutase.  This enzyme can be found in the most luxurious of skin creams on the market for it’s potent anti-free radical properties.  SOD is actually produced by our body naturally, but as we age we don’t create as much of it to battle free-radical damage.  GliSODin has taken SOD from melon and wrapped it in a protein sheath to ensure that it is protected from the stomach acids which would normally break down the SOD enzyme, rendering it inactive by the time it reaches the small intestine.  This biotechnology, along with therapeutic dosages of bioactive ingredients, allows our body to absorb the supplement properly and use it to significantly reduce inflammation and free-radical damage which are two of the main triggers of aging.

I’m personally very excited to offer this product to my clients here at Spruce Body Lab.  Not only am I able to help them feel and look their best from an external perspective, but now I can boost their internal wellness as well.  This is something I’ve always felt to be a non-negotiable with regards to beauty.  If you’re not right on the inside, it will reflect on the outside.

One of our staff members has had tremendous result from using the Brightening Formula from GliSODin to treat post-inflammatory pigmentation.  For me, seeing is believing and the results that my co-worker had were incredible. Uneven skin tone can cause a lot of self-consciousness for people and by simply taking two tablets a day for a month, this concern was greatly improved; all the while supporting the organs and functions of the entire body.

Here’s a great blog review of these products by Carmindy from TLC’s “What Not To Wear”.

Curious about these products?  Email us and ask away! or comment here…

http://www.glisodin.com/

A key ingredient to look for in a skin brightening product is Vitamin C.  It helps to build collagen in the skin, it scavenges damaging free radicals and it lightens pigmentation; it plays a very important role in keeping our skin youthful.

The type of vitamin C that is used in  a skin care formulation is actually quite important.  You need to look for a stabilized form otherwise the vitamin C will be oxidized before it gets anywhere near your skin and it won’t give you any result. Oxidized vitamin C may potentially contribute to free radical damage in your skin which is contrary to it’s purpose for the skin. Unmodified vitamin C is very costly but highly effective in boosting collagen synthesis.  It is also very acidic and has an exfoliating effect on the skin, so it’s usually not suitable for sensitive skins.

The most potent and stable derivative of vitamin C for use in skin care is MAP (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate)- which is water soluble, highly effective for collagen synthesis and non-irritating. It tends to be more affordable, however, you just need to look for products that contain a large enough concentration in order to benefit the skin. This ingredient is resistant to oxidation, but it isn’t infallible, so freshness and proper storage are still important. 

So how does vitamin C prevent and lighten pigmentation? Without getting into too much detail- vitamin C inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme which is part of the process of melanin production.  By inhibiting this enzyme the production of melanin is reduced and therefore the pigmentation of the skin is brightened.

So it would seem that you need to take your vitamins externally as well!

MAP 15 Regenerator

Pro-Derm Ultra C 10%