Education

I came across this article on the Guardian’s site a few months ago and found it interesting. The article begs the question about whether or not tanning is rooted in addiction. I’d never really contemplated this before- but it does seem to make sense. I’m sure that eventually, people start to identify themselves as tanned and they may feel abnormal without a tan or miss the ritual and feeling that goes along with getting a tan.

As the sun is peaking out, I’m contemplating wearing skirts and dresses that will inevitably expose my lily-white legs to the world. (I hope you’re all wearing sunglasses! Ha ha ha…) I’ve never been one to tan- partly because my skin does not tan easily and I will tend to burn before I tan if at all, and partly because I usually get bored of lying in the sun before either a tan or a burn can happen. I also can’t bare the idea of the smell or the time involved with self tanners- so I’ve learned to embrace my paleness.

However, I think I may be in the minority. Many people are sporting tans year round, and in Vancouver from October to March- that isn’t coming from the atmosphere. It seems that looking bronzed and acquiring the mood lifting affects from the simulated sunlight makes tanning an alluring vice- despite the threat of melanoma.

I’m not one for advocating walking around with sunglasses, a visor, a parasol and gloves (I’ve seen this, and the person was walking backwards- I’m not sure if they were avoiding the sun or communicating with extraterrestrials), but I am advocating accepting a new definition of beauty- the glow of vibrant healthy skin which no tan can improve on. In this Elle Canada article by Joan Harting, Dermatologist Patricia Wexler cites that ultra violet light inhibits your skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor- which helps to maintain the balance of your skin’s hydration levels. So protecting your skin with sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, proper nutrition and an effective skin care routine are your best aids to being pleasantly pale.

Some of my favorite products for sporting my pale skin are:

• Dermalogica’s Chromawhite Pure Light SPF 30: My new favorite moisturizer features hyaluronic acid- as must have ingredient for hydration, peptides and minerals to treat and prevent uneven skin tone as well as chemical-free full-spectrum sun protection. The best part is how this medium-weight cream gives my skin a lit from the inside glow.
• GliSODin Skin Nutrient’s Skin Brightening Formula: This nutricosmetic provides a  therapeutic dose of coenzyme Q10 and carotenoids that are photo-protective and anti-inflammatory to help protect the skin and reduce inflammation caused by exposure to u.v. rays. Citrus bioflavinoids promote an even skin tone by inhibiting the enzymatic process that leads to hyperpigmentation, while superoxide dismutase acts as a powerful anti-oxdiant, significantly reducing the aging effects of oxidative stress. In plain english- your skin looks great and you have more energy.
• Sea Flora Wild Organic Sea Weed Skin Care’s Laminaria Body Lotion: Containing healing and nutrient rich gels from West Coast sea weeds along with  olive, sunflower and avocado oils, this organic and locally produced moiturizer enriches and softens your skin like no other. I find it especially good for eczema and psoriasis, as it instantly soothes irritation.

So these are just a few of the gems that help me maintain my pale pallor. Fingers crossed you will join me in my pale crusade! (Thesaurus.com is not helping by the way- a synonym for pale is cadaverous- shocking!)

How do you feel about tanning? Do you feel like you need to have a tan in order to bare your skin? Share your thoughts here.

Plan ahead and save 7% PST by purchasing a series of photorejuvenation packages before July 1st, 2010 to reverse sun damage in the fall and winter months. http://www.sprucebodylab.com/services/bbls-photo-rejuvenation.php

Colorescience Pep Up Gel

This has become my favorite product to apply to my client’s skin as a serum under their finishing moisturizer and mineral cosmetics.  The key ingredients contained in Pep Up Gel are pearl powder, 10% hyaluronic acid and tripeptides. Now- these ingredients are certainly quite good for the skin on their own, but in this combination, I think they are superb.

Pearl powder is purported to provide the skin with amino acids and melanin inhibiting properties while creating luminosity. Hyaluronic acid is an extremely common- yet expensive ingredient used in skin care for it’s incredibly hydrating benefits, and at 10% in this formulation, the hydrating, cooling and voluminous effect is instantaneous.  Lastly- protein peptides are all the rage in cosmetics due to their ability to improve cellular metabolism and recovery of skin cells, thus significantly reducing wrinkles and loss of tonicity in the skin.

So after all this- the icing on the cake is how good it makes the skin look, it’s an addiction, and obsession, I don’t know if I can stop myself from using it or talking about it! I heart Pep Up Gel!

It’s sure to be a favorite at tonight’s Colorescience Launch Party!

Have you used Mineral Cosmetics on your skin? What do you like about it compared with traditional make up?

The term “non-invasive cosmetic procedure” seems to have become an everyday term over the past few years.  Tune into your daily talk show and you’re bound to see a makeover segment where someone is being lasered, peeled and injected. 

As a Vancouver Spa integrating medical grade procedures with traditional spa treatments, Spruce Body Lab has recently expanded it’s menu of services to include fillers as demand for injectables has increased.

For the average consumer fillers and Botox® have become more accessible and  with continued improvements in procedures and products the results have gotten better and are lasting longer. 

For example- Juvederm, a commonly used hyaluronic acid filler, has now been approved by the FDA to last for up to one year.  

There are many different brands of HA fillers on the market- all competing for consumer dollars.  The trend is towards creating a smoother product with less side effects such as bruising and swelling, or post-treatment lumps and bumps.  

In it’s natural form, hyaluronic acid is a liquid substance which is found to naturally occur in the skin.  It’s main function is to maintain skin volume and hydration as it holds 1000 times it’s own weight in water.  If it was to be injected in it’s natural form it would be absorbed by our bodies in about 12 hours.  Facial fillers last longer in the skin through a process called cross-linking which chemically binds the individual chains of the acid. This differentiation prevents it’s rapid break down.

Do you need both Botox® and Facial Fillers?

Botox® and fillers differ in the type of wrinkles that they target.  Botox® is used to paralyze the muscles that cause deep wrinkles such as the furrow in the brow; whereas HA fillers address wrinkles that relate to loss of volume in the skin, in areas such as the naso-labial fold (smile lines) and marionette lines around the mouth. It is also used to enhance the lips and fill scars. As a substance it has been shown to increase collagen production and inhibit the break down of existing collagen.

Botox® and facial fillers work well in combination to address the signs of aging, and a consult with a trained professional will help determine whether you can benefit  from one or both.