Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Dynamic Anti-Aging: The Super Fruits Prevention Duo Kit


In a time when UV radiation is a growing concern for your skin’s daily health, there’s a super pair of skincare products who are ready to fight back. The Super Fruits Prevention Serum and Moisturizer Cream are a powerful team! Together they can stop free radicals in their tracks and combat the visible signs of aging, protecting the youthful vitality of your skin.

Who is at Risk of UV-Related Skin Damage?

Unfortunately, anyone who is regularly exposed to sunlight encounters UV rays. The more often you’re exposed to the damaging effects of UV rays, the more your chances of developing skin cancer rise. If you live in a sunny climate, your risk of long-term exposure to UV rays leaves you more likely to sustain damage to the genetic DNA that keep your skin cells healthy and growing.

Skin damage is a short-term effect of excess UV ray exposure. You may know it as the common sunburn or tan. Over time, these seemingly harmless effects can create long-term exposure hazards such as wrinkles, prematurely aged skin, pre-cancerous signs of rough ketosis patches, and dark “liver spots” or “age spots”.

How Does It Work?

The Super Fruits Prevention Duo works together to capture the free radicals which result from UV exposure before they have a chance to harm your skin. These fruits are so full of antioxidants that six of them working together have a dramatic effect on your skin’s health.

What’s in the Kit?

This powerful pair get their strength from the natural antioxidants found in fruits such as pomegranate, acai, gogi, coffee berry, and mangosteen.

Super Fruits Prevention Serum

This mighty serum primes your skin for moisture with many powerful antioxidant ingredients.

One of its key ingredients is coffee berry extract, which has been shown to lessen the effects of long-term or frequent exposure to UV rays. Coffee berry extract increases your skin’s collagen and elastin production, infusing your skin with vital elasticity. It contains caffeine, which is an effective treatment to lessen the appearance of crow’s feet.

Acai berry is full of polyphenols which halt the production of cancerous skin cells, and fights free radicals with its powerful antioxidants.

Noni fruit is a tropical super fruit. South Pacific cultures have known about its amazing healing powers for thousands of years. It contains a high concentration of selenium, which promotes firmer and more elastic skin.


Super Fruits Prevention Moisturizer Cream

This intensive moisturizer seals in the effects of the serum and boosts your skin’s protection against the aging effects of UV rays even more.

The jojoba oil in this moisturizer actually has natural sunscreen properties. When used alone, it actually has an SPF of 4. It is not recommended for use by itself as a sunscreen, but it is incredibly moisturizing for dry skin which makes it a popular ingredient in skincare and haircare products.

Coenzyme Q10 is another powerhouse ingredient. It repairs and protects your skin with its antioxidant properties, protecting you from damaging UV light.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

How to Identify Your Skin Type and Tone

When the sun comes out to play at the beginning of spring, you will notice the way your skin reacts. Do you tend to get sunburns easily, or just tan? It’s helpful to find out your skin’s exact tone to find out just how much sun you can soak up before you put yourself at risk for sun damage.

It’s also important to identify your skin type- whether it’s oily, dry, combination, or somewhere in-between- in order to understand which skincare products and procedures are safe for you. It also provides a great reference for picking out the best products to ensure your skin looks and feels its healthiest.

What is Your Skin Tone?

Dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale to identify skin tones. The scale was created in 1975 by Harvard dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick, who found a direct correlation between a person’s skin color and how the skin responds to UV light. Which of the following best describes the way your skin typically reacts to the sun?

Type I  Always burns, never tans
Type II  Usually burns, then tans
Type III  Sometimes burn, tans well
Type IV  Rarely burns, tans well
Type V  Rarely burns, tans well, brown skin
Type VI  Very rarely burns, tans very well, very dark

What Determines Your Skin Tone?

It all comes down to pigments. Pigments are responsible for all of the different skin colors in the world. One of those pigments; melanin, is like a natural sunblock, protecting you from damaging UV rays. The more melanin your skin contains, the darker your natural skin color will be. This means that those with naturally darker skin are less prone to burns, whereas fair-skinned people tend to burn easily.

Choosing the Right Products for Your Skin Tone

If you fall on the lighter end of the scale, from Type I – Type III, you can safely use Jessner peels, and the entire range of other peels, including TCA peels up to 30% concentration.

If you have very dark skin, some products may permanently change your skin’s pigment. If your skin tone is darker, Type IV, V, or VI, and are considering a TCA peel, make sure to pick one that has a concentration of 10% or lower. Avoid Jessner peels if you fall into these darker skin tone categories. Glycolic peels are a great, safe option for darker skin tones as are AHA Vitamin C peels

Learn more about peels here.

What is Your Skin Type?

Once you have identified your skin tone, you should also consider your skin type. Choose products specifically designed for your skin type in order to meet your skin’s unique set of needs from the following:

Normal Smooth and supple, doesn’t produce excess oil or become dry and flaky. You’re lucky if you fall into this category, and can safely choose from a variety of products.

Oily You tend to have larger pores and can be prone to acne. Acne-prone skin can occur well into adulthood and should be treated with products that remove the dead skin from clogged pores to clear blackheads and acne marks.

Dry Your pores tend to be smaller, with visible dry flakes. Moisturizer is important, so pick one tailored to the amount of moisture your skin needs based on its level of dehydration.

Combination The most common skin type. If you have combination skin, your face will typically be normal or dry with an oily area in your T-zone. You may need to treat these separate areas of your face with different products.

Sensitive Sensitive skin which is easily irritated by products designed for normal skin, and becomes red or itchy. Stick to milder treatments specifically designed for you.

Aging Advanced signs of aging include wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and sun damage. These visible issues can be minimized through a variety of treatments.

Want a personalized skincare routine for you? Take our quiz

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Skincare Tips for Wedding Season

Amidst all of the excitement of planning a wedding – or attending one - a bit of self-pampering does wonders for your mood and helps your true beauty shine through on the big day. No matter how much time you have in your busy schedule, you can always treat yourself to a facial peel. Whether you’re attending a wedding or getting ready for your own, spending a little extra time on your skincare routine is a great way to de-stress while adding a super healthy glow of confidence to your skin. As the day approaches, take care of yourself and make sure you’re ready to shine in all those photo ops!

Boost Your Skincare Routine

If you’re short on time, but looking to make a change in your skin’s health, a product like the 3-Day Vitamin C Facelift Kit is a lifesaver. In three days, its alpha hydroxy acids work to stimulate your skin’s circulation while safely but rapidly exfoliating dead skin cells. Many also find this product invaluable to maintain the skin’s firmness and youthful appearance between peel treatments. It’s suitable for all skin types, and can give you an impressive glow if you only have a few days before the wedding.

A Few Weeks Before the Wedding

A medium-strength peel can take care of blemishes and wrinkles, including those caused by blocked pores and sun damage, but keep in mind that your skin will take a few weeks to heal after the treatment. If the wedding is 2-3 weeks away, try the Fusion Peel - Medium Strength.

For a Major Change Planned in Advance

If you would like to take care of some more serious skin issues like deep wrinkles and have months to spare ahead of the wedding day, a deep peel such as TCA is for you. Make sure to prepare your skin for this serious treatment by using a daily exfoliator for at least a week in advance of your TCA peel. Also note that this peel is not recommended for darker skin tones or those new to peel treatments. Follow these precautions, and your skin will be transformed and wedding-ready about two months after your peel!

Take Care of Yourself Post-Peel

If you’ve just had a peel, you may find your regular moisturizer is suddenly too harsh to use. Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream is a great way to maintain your skin’s health after your peel. Its extremely light formula makes it non-irritating and gentle enough for everyday use and has a calming and cooling effect on your newly sensitized skin. It’s also essential to remember a to wear a moisturizer with broad spectrum of at least SPF 30 every day.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

DIY Salt Scrubs for Cinco de Mayo

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! While you’re enjoying fresh guacamole, salsa, and salted margaritas, why not give your skin a treat? Here are two ways to make your own colorful facial scrub using some of those same ingredients. Not only are these scrubs revitalizing for your skin, they smell great and are an affordable alternative to salon treatments.

Benefits of Scrubs
A gentle exfoliating treatment at least once a week makes all the difference in your skincare regimen. It helps you to loose those old skin cells and expose the healthy young skin underneath. The motion of sloughing off dead cells increases blood flow in your face and helps to remove the stubborn dirt and oil that can clog your pores and cause recurring breakouts.

The ingredients in these recipes are a nod to Mexico, and they’re packed with benefits for your skin!

Avocado Oil
Great for hydrating and softening the skin, avocado oil can also help to clear acne.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is both rich in antioxidants, which work to reverse signs of skin damage, and extremely moisturizing.
Fine Sea Salt
The trace minerals in sea salt encourage your skin to retain moisture and grow new cells. Note: Regular iodized table salt has sharper granules that may be too rough on your skin.
Lime juice
The acidity of lime juice’s citric acid works as an exfoliator as its Vitamin C content rejuvenates the skin.
Lime Zest
Lime zest carries some of the antiseptic benefits of lime essential oil, and has an invigorating, uplifting scent.
Cilantro
This herb deserves to be a staple not only in your kitchen, but in your skincare routine. It has antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent, and cooling properties which make it a great treatment for acne-prone or sensitive skin.
Tomato
A seemingly unorthodox yet effective skincare ingredient, tomatoes are full of the antioxidant lycopene which helps your skin keep its youthful elasticity.

Cilantro Lime Scrub
·       1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
·       juice of 1 lime
·       1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
·       ½ c fine sea salt
·       Lime zest, finely grated

Tomato Avocado Scrub
·       1 Tbsp. avocado oil
·       ¼ c cilantro leaves
·       ¼ c tomato
·       ½ c fine sea salt


For both recipes: Blend together all of the ingredients, except the salt. Stir in the salt just until combined. In gentle circular motions, apply the scrub. Rinse with water, then cleanse your skin as normal to remove any residual oils. Store your new DIY scrub in an airtight container, and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Enjoy your smooth new skin and feel invigorated to go out and join the fiesta!