How To: Apply Skincare

Cleansers, moisturizers, and serums….oh my! How much of each product do I apply and in what order do I apply them? Arranging your skin care products seems relatively easy, but can be difficult to understand which products follow which. To receive the maximum benefits of an effective skin care routine and quality skin care products, it is important you know how to apply them correctly. The way a skin care product is applied has a great influence on its efficacy.

As a general rule, apply products with a thinner consistency before the thicker products. This is because products with heavier consistencies can block the lighter-weight products from penetrating the skin and doing their job. The only exception to this rule is prescription topical medication. Anything medicated or with a clinical purpose (including acne creams) should go onto a clean face first so that it can penetrate the skin most effectively.

Here are some tips to apply skin care products correctly:

Step 1: Cleanse

Before applying any skin care product on your face, make sure it is clean of all dirt and debris. Apply a pea-sized amount of a mild cleanser to clean your face and flush out all dirt, dead skin cells and toxins from within the skin pores. Don’t forget about your neck!

After washing your face with a cleanser, don't wipe it dry completely. Rather, gently pat with a soft towel so that it is still a bit damp (not dripping wet.) The active ingredients of skin care products penetrate better when the skin is moist. Please note:  prescription products should only be applied on completely dry skin.

Step 2: Tone

You can spray toner directly onto the skin or apply the toner to a cotton pad and pat (don’t rub) your face and neck gently. The purpose of toner is to restore your skin’s pH and remove any leftover residue from your cleanser.

Step 3: Treat

Apply serums, gels, and any topical spot treatments to clean skin and let them soak in (about 2-3 minutes). Remember, treatment products are highly concentrated. Therefore, you only need to use a small amount. One or two drops/pumps are all that is needed. Gently apply with your fingertips in an upward, circular motion. More than one product may be used and they can be applied together.

Step 4: Nourish and Moisturize

Using the tip of your ring finger, gently dab eye cream or serum around the orbital socket of the eyes. The size of a grain of rice is all you need for each eye.

Apply moisturizer (if needed). A nickel-sized amount is sufficient.

Step 5: Protect

Slather on a quarter-sized dollop of sunscreen all over your face and neck (don’t forget your ears) and let it set for a few minutes. Apply your makeup after.

Additional Steps: Exfoliants and Masks

Exfoliate your skin at least once or twice every week on clean skin to remove the layer of dead skin cells from the skin surface. Do not exfoliate more than 4 times a week. This could lead to skin irritation, breakouts, or itchiness.

A purifying or hydrating mask may be used on clean skin once a week.

 

Professional Product Spotlight:

Skin Script™ Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub, with Kojic

This scrub is a powerful cellular turnover scrub with Retinol (Vitamin A) and jojoba beads to clean, soothe and polish the skin. The retinol encourages the breakup of blackheads and clogged pores, jojoba beads gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while kojic lightens age spots and blemishes left from scars.

Retinol 2% Exfoliating Scrub Benefits:

• Lessens Visible Aging
• Lightens Discolorations
• Provides Chemical and Physical Exfoliation
• Promotes Collagen Synthesis
• Assists in Healing and Rejuvenating

Available only at Fresh Faced Skin Care! Call 302-689-3223.

Focus On: Broken Capillaries

What are they?
It's easy to spot broken capillaries, particularly on someone's face. They are commonly found around the nose or mouth area and look like small red or pink threads under the skin’s surface.

How do you get them?

It turns out that there are a number of factors that could lead to broken capillaries. The tiny veins just under the surface of the skin are delicate. Damaging these veins may cause them to dilate and break. Once broken, the veins remain that way and will not constrict back to their normal thickness or repair themselves.

It's not difficult to damage these veins, since they are just beneath the skin. Scrubbing your face too vigorously or washing with water that's too hot can do it. Excessive exposure to the sun, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, or facial injuries can also lead to broken capillaries.

Can you get rid of them?

If you do develop broken capillaries, you can seek treatment from a dermatologist. Depending on how deep and long the capillaries are, you may need to undergo laser treatments that will stop the capillary from leaking blood and shrink the blood vessels to prevent future breaks. If you don't want to undergo laser treatments, your dermatologist may be able to prescribe medication that can shrink blood vessels.

Skin care products are also available that aim to strengthen the capillary walls, reducing the redness. Look for products containing one or more of the following ingredients:

·         Chamomile

·         Rose oil

·         Vitamin K

·         Vitamin C

Can you prevent them?

You can take some steps to prevent broken capillaries. Be gentle when you wash your face and use warm water (not hot water). Apply sunscreen to your face, particularly around your nose and mouth, when going outside. Don't abuse alcohol. Drink chamomile tea to help improve your body circulation. While these measures won't prevent broken capillaries in every case, they can help minimize the chance that you'll develop them.

Professional Product Spotlight:

Skin Script™ Ageless Skin Hydrating Serum

This serum can be used to firm and plump fine lines. Hyaluronic attracts and binds moisture around cells for extra hydration.

Hydrating Serum Benefits:

• Improves Hydration
• Reduces Visible Wrinkles
• Tones Capillaries
• Improves Cellular Respiration
• Plumps the Skin
• Assists in Healing and Rejuvenating

Pick up Ageless Skin Hydrating Serum today, only at Fresh Faced Skin Care.

Topical Vitamin C Value

We know that Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) is a strong antioxidant, especially in regard to protecting our skin from sun damage. But, what else does it do? It strengthens the skin barrier and thickens the dermis. It can encourage wound healing and reduce inflammation. In high concentrations (>10%), it can reduce the appearance of skin discoloration. Most importantly, Vitamin C helps to form and maintain collagen, which plumps the skin and provides radiance and smoothness.

How does Vitamin C help form collagen? The role of Vitamin C in the production of collagen is to interact with amino acids within collagen cells. It adds hydrogen and oxygen to those amino acids, so that they may do their part in collagen production. If you don’t get the proper amount of Vitamin C, collagen production will slow. A decline in collagen production will not only make skin more susceptible to wrinkles, but it might also make it more susceptible to bruising.

It is important to note that only topical Vitamin C that is stable, active and able to be absorbed, and remain stable throughout the life of the product once it is opened, is effective. All vitamins are subject to oxidation when used topically, meaning that the vitamins lose their potency when exposed to the air. Some skin care companies offer stabilized Vitamin C products, which oxidize less rapidly. However, these products are usually more expensive (especially the ones concentrated enough to be effective).

The Benefits of Topical Vitamin C:

• Rapidly absorbed so it won’t rub or wash off
• Greater penetration to the epidermis and dermis = greater benefit
• Neutralizes free radical damage caused by UV light, smoke, and air pollution
• Enhances the protective barrier function of the skin
• Helps moisturize and increase skin hydration
• Stimulates collagen production
• Restores elasticity
• Prevents premature skin aging
• Protects against damaging UVA and UVB rays
• Reverses the appearance of photoaging
• Decreases fine lines and wrinkles
• Lightens and brightens the skin for more even tone
• Fades brown spots
• Helps reduce oiliness and restore sebum balance
• Helps to normalize problem skin (pimples, blackheads, and other problems associated with oily skin)
• Anti-inflammatory

A facial serum with Vitamin C provides the most benefit in the vitamin's topical application.

Professional Product Spotlight:

C-Quench^® Antioxidant Serum

This exceptional antioxidant serum combines lilac leaf stem cell extract, resveratrol, glutathione, L-ascorbic acid and ergothioneine. Its powerful blend of ingredients effectively prevents and corrects cellular oxidation. It also enlists a host of powerful anti-inflammatory agents to soothe the skin while increasing hydration and adding support to the extracellular matrix. C-Quench® Antioxidant Serum promotes healthy skin function for all skin types.

Key Ingredients:
L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Hyaluronic Acid
Ergothioneine Orange Oil, Black Current Seed Oil and Resveratrol
Lilac Leaf Stem Cell Extract
Glutathione

Pick up your C-Quench Antioxidant Serum today, only at Fresh Faced Skin Care.

The Power of Peptides

Peptides are naturally occurring chemical messengers in the body. Like proteins, peptides are composed of amino acids. When a chain of amino acids is over 50 acids long, it is usually called a protein. When there are less than 50 amino acids in the chain, it is a peptide. Essentially, a peptide is a portion, or a building block, of a protein.

What is a Peptide used for in skin care? The peptides used in skin care direct skin cells to behave in a certain way. Some peptides may tell the skin to relax and the result is wrinkle reduction. Others may stimulate collagen production, which will firm up the skin. The peptides used in skin care are synthetic. All fixed sequence peptides commercially available are patented. Manufacturers will typically combine synthetic peptides with a fatty acid to help it access the deeper layers of skin. For example, the fatty acid palmitoyl helps to improve solubility in the skin, allowing better penetration and function of the peptide. 

Synthetic peptides are very expensive and some manufacturers of skin care products may use very little in their formulas. Consult your skin care professional to ensure your products contain therapeutic levels so the product may show optimal results.

Examples of Peptides:

Acetyl Hexapeptide: Also known as Argireline. This product is marketed as “an alternative to Botox,” due to relaxing certain types of facial wrinkles by inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters.

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide: Also known as Matrixyl. It is the main ingredient in anti-aging products. It was originally developed for use on stretch marks. It works by stimulating the deeper matrix layers of the skin to increase the production and synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Professional Product Spotlight:

ExLinea^® Peptide Smoothing Serum

This technically advanced treatment formulation synergistically hydrates, smoothes and firms aging skin. It contains ingredients that relax the facial tension that leads to wrinkling; increase intracellular moisture; fight free radical damage and provide the skin with an immediate tightening and lifting effect.
Key Ingredients:

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline)
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalene
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax

Pick up your ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum today, only at Fresh Faced Skin Care.

COOL AS A CUCUMBER

Cucumber is rich in various vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, magnesium, and silica. Vitamin E promotes healing and fortifies capillary walls. Silica helps to strengthen the body’s connective tissue, benefiting not only your skin, but also your hair, nails, and bones.  In fact, drinking cucumber juice on a regular basis hydrates your skin and supports your liver in cleansing.

Cucumber works well with all skin types, from oily to mature skin. Here are just some of the positive effects that cucumber has on your skin:

1. Hydrating: Since cucumbers mainly consist of water, they act as very good hydrating agents. After all, keeping your body hydrated is one of the most basic requirements for keeping your skin healthy.
2. Soothing: Cools and soothes inflammation associated with skin irritations, such as   sunburns and rashes.
3. Anti-Aging: Potassium and Vitamin E present in cucumber seeds aids in the reduction of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots.
4. Cleansing: Cucumber is also a great cleanser, especially for oily and problem skin types.

Try at Home Recipe:

 

Cucumber Mask

Ingredients:

3oz cucumber, very finely diced

3 tsp olive oil

2 tsp plain yogurt

Directions:
Mix ingredients into a fine paste. Spread a thin layer onto face. Allow to dry for about 15 minutes. Wash off with cool water. Skin feels soft, conditioned and clean.

Professional Product Spotlight:

Try the Cucumber Hydration Toner from Skin Script™, only at Fresh Faced Skin Care.

10 BENEFITS OF DERMAFILE™

What is Dermafile?

Dermafile is a skin polishing and resurfacing tool made of stainless steel and finely crushed cosmetic diamonds. The file lightly polishes skin by removing the top layer of dead skin cells. What’s left behind is velvety smooth, fresh, rejuvenated skin.



How does the Dermafile Procedure Work?

The Dermafile procedure is administered in the same way as a microdermabrasion treatment. The Dermafile may be passed over the skin several times to ensure that each layer is removed evenly and the esthetician may choose to concentrate on a particular area that has a high level of skin pigmentation or skin irregularities. A chemical peel may be applied to enhance results. The entire procedure takes less than an hour. The procedure can be performed once a month to enhance results and promote rapid skin cell regeneration. Over time, the skin will begin to produce more collagen and appear more youthful, toned and soft.

What are the Benefits of Dermafile Exfoliation?

1.    Can be used on all skin types- even sensitive skin

2.    Builds collagen and smoothes fine lines.

3.    Improves sun damage and evens skin tone.

4.    Helps remove age spots.

5.    Treats enlarged and clogged pores.

6.    Smoothes away dead skin cells and rough, bumpy, dry patches of skin.

7.    Smoothes away acne scars and other types of facial scars.

8.    Makeup goes on smoother.

9.    Skin feels silky smooth and clean immediately.

10.  Dermafile is a safe and effective microdermabrasion alternative.

Where Can I Get the Dermafile Treatment?

Fresh Faced Skin Care in New Castle, Delaware performs advanced facial treatments using Dermafile. The March Special, Spring Cleaning Facial ($99), features Dermafile exfoliation. Offer good for a limited time only: March 1- March 31, 2012. Call 302-689-3223.

http://www.freshfacedskincare.com/

Does Sunscreen Truly Matter?

Is it really necessary to wear sunscreen every day? The answer is YES. We need to use sunscreen every day, rain or shine (and winter or summer), in order to protect our skin cells from ultraviolet (UV) exposure. UV rays can damage the skin and cause damage to your cell’s DNA, causing mutations to occur. These mutations can lead to cancer.

 We are exposed to two types of ultraviolet light on a daily basis: UVA and UVB. UVA has a longer wavelength and less energy that UVB. However, these rays exist during the day and night and play a significant role in aging. UVA rays have been associated with causing fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity and hyperpigmentation.  These rays can pass through glass (think your car window) and may be present in fluorescent lights (what’s that above your cubicle?). Prolonged exposure to UVA will damage your skin and will even show up years after the exposure takes place. UVB are the “burning” rays which are present during the day (even on cloudy days!).

So, what is the best sunscreen for protection? To answer this question, you need to be aware of the active ingredients in your sunscreen. For example, a sunscreen with both UVA/UVB protection which also includes antioxidants can help prevent future damage as well as assist the skin in repairing itself.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the multiple of time it takes for your skin to burn. For example, if it normally takes you 10 minutes to burn, and you use an SPF 15, you should not burn for 150 minutes (10 x 15). Bear in mind that SPF only applies to UVB rays and not UVA rays. FDA has specific labeling requirements for UVA protection.

Some of the most common chemicals used in sunscreens are oxybenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate, and avobenzone. These chemicals work by absorbing UVB light. However, they can only absorb UVB light until they become saturated. Once they become saturated, they lose their ability to protect. This is why we have to reapply sunscreen often, especially after prolonged sun exposure or swimming. These chemicals are great for protection against UVB light, but cannot protect us from UVA light. Remember that UVA light penetrates deeper into the skin, affecting collagen, elastin, and DNA. So, what can protect us from UVA light?

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide work as a sunscreen by reflecting the ultraviolet light, including UVA (think thick, white goop on a lifeguard’s nose). Micronized versions of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are now used and can even be found in some makeup formulations. These “physical” sunscreens are inorganic and generally do not produce sensitivity reactions, as a chemical sunscreen might.

Do you think it is more effective to use an SPF 50 sunscreen rather than an SPF 30 sunscreen? The answer is- it depends. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 30 absorb about 94% of UVB light. Increase that SPF to 50, and you increase the protection to 99%. That sounds good, right? By increasing the absorption power to SPF 50, you are also increasing the amount of potentially irritating chemical ingredients by 50%. For those with sensitive skin, this increase in irritants may be more of a risk than the extra SPF protection provided.

The bottom line is- sunscreen does matter. Whether you use absorbers or reflectors, UVB or UVA protection, you actually have to use them for any of them to work! It also doesn’t hurt to limit your sun exposure.