The Dry Skin Myth

Dry skin causes wrinkles, right? Right?  That’s what I’ve always been told and that’s what I believed until I took a closer look into this common myth.  Let’s take a look into what makes the skin form wrinkles. The causes of skin aging can be broken down into 5 categories that we will look at individually.

Skeletal Remodeling

Huh?  As we age, our bones go through changes and the bones in our face actually tend to decrease in size.  As you can imagine, if the bones are smaller they don’t “fill in” our faces as well.  This is particularly evident in the jaw and on the forehead, where the skin often starts to sag.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot that we can do at this time to prevent this from happening.  There isn’t a cream in the world that can fix this, but there are non-invasive procedures (fillers) and surgical procedures (face lifts and facial implants) that can help if you want to go that route.

Gravity

Well, we all know about this one.  As we age the cumulative effects of gravity start to take over.  Gravity is constantly working against us and pulling our soft tissues downward.  Now, obviously we can’t take away the gravity effect unless we all move to the moon but we can take steps to make our skin more resilient to gravity.  Collagen and elastin fibers help to hold our skin structures together and as we age these fibers deteriorate.  The goal is to increase the natural formation of these two fibers.  You can do this in several ways- the most important thing to do is feed your body the ingredients that it needs to make them:  soy, dark green vegetables, and beans can all help.  Secondly, treat your skin with glycolic acid or another one of the alpha-hydroxy acids to stimulate production.

Muscular Facial Activity

You know those people that have their feelings written all over their face?  I’m one of those people with a very expressive face- and I pay for it with crow’s feet, the dreaded “11” on the forehead and other expression lines.  The good news is that research has brought us wonderful ingredients that help to decrease these lines.  Argireline (otherwise known as acetyl-hexapeptide 3) is a peptide that decreases the muscle tension that causes these lines.  It doesn’t work to the same extent that an injectable would, but it does offer great non-invasive results on expression lines.  

Soft Tissue Maturation

As we get older, our skin cells and the tissues underneath begin to function differently.  The skin cells become flattened and distorted and the skin itself becomes thinner.  Skin cells are produced at a much slower rate than they were when we were younger.  These factors cause the skin to lose more water- which makes the skin look worse, but I’ll get to that later.  Retinol is one of the greatest ingredients available to mitigate these effects.  Retinol speed up skin cell turnover- it helps you to make new skin cells faster.  The best news is that the new skin cells that are formed tend to function more normally and are not flattened.  After just two weeks of use you can see visible benefits of retinol and there are countless benefits that you can’t see.  There are few ingredients that I would term to be true skin care “superstars” but this is one of them.  There are certainly side effects of retinol use and some people cannot tolerate it (it can cause dry flaky patches, itchiness and redness).  To avoid side effects, try using it every other day until you know how your skin reacts and increase usage as you are able to.  The side effects should subside after two weeks.  If you use retinol make sure you protect your skin from the sun because it will be more sensitive.

Solar Changes

When it comes to damage from the sun, there is good news and bad news.  The bad news is that it wreaks havoc on our skin- causes skin cancer, sun spots, collagen and elastin destruction...need I go any further.  The good news is, you guessed it, it’s preventable!!!  So lather up, get your fake bake on and look young for years to come!

So what about dry skin?  Well, as I said earlier, it just makes wrinkles look worse.  By hydrating the skin we plump up those areas that are wrinkled and sagging and drooping.  Did you know that some companies will use alcohol to clean someone’s face before they take “Before” pictures in skin care product trials.  That’s because alcohol dries out the skin cells and makes the skin look worse than it actually is!  

There are 3 key ways to hydrate the skin:

1. Provide it with water- drink up!
2. Provide it with hyaluronic acid- this ingredient is incorporated in SimplySkin Rx’s Prime and Restore products.  It binds water in the deeper layers of the skin to keep it moisturized from within. (Stay tuned for our new Hydrate mask that contains hyaluronic acid)
3. Provide it with oils- the key moisturizing ingredients in lotions and creams are the oils that help your skin retain moisture.  Sometimes it takes time to find a formulation that works for you and doesn’t clog your pores, but your skin needs moisture so keep looking.

The Paraben Myth

This is probably one of the most controversial topics in skin care.  Many people believe that parabens cause breast cancer.  Lots of companies advertise products that are “paraben-free” and spend their time and money convincing you that you shouldn’t use products with parabens.  Hmmm....let’s take a look at the evidence and then you can make your decision accordingly.

First, what are parabens?  They are chemicals that are used to preserve foods, deodorants, antiperspirants and cosmetics.  They protect the product from a broad range of microorganisms (bacteria AND fungus) that could ruin the product or cause illness or infection in the user.  They are extremely effective, low cost and have a long history of use.  That all sounds sounds pretty reasonable to me.

What evidence exists to show that parabens cause breast cancer (as many people claim)?  I found this article from the National Cancer Institute that is pretty helpful in discussing what research has shown.  Basically, a 2004 study found parabens in 18 of 20 breast cancer tissue samples.  The study did not look at healthy breast tissue samples to determine if parabens were present there.  There have also been other studies that specifically looked at breast cancer patients who used antiperspirants and deodorants and shaved.  All of the research was inconclusive and there is no research available that proves that parabens cause breast cancer.  More research is needed and I’m sure that we will hear more on this topic in the next few years due to the controversy (and the large amount of funding that is available for breast cancer research).

What do the “powers that be” say about parabens?  Check out this information from the FDA.  The Cosmetic Ingredient Review board concluded that parabens were safe for use in cosmetics at levels of up to 25%.  WOW!  Did you know that it only takes a concentration of 0.01% to 0.3% to properly preserve a product.  The next time you look at the ingredients on your product, notice that parabens are usually listed last or next to last.  That is because the ingredients are listed in order of concentration from high to low and parabens are used in extremely low concentrations.  

So, my take on parabens is that they are safe for use and very effective.  We use them in very low amounts at SimplySkin Rx and will continue to do so until one of two things happen.  If we find a preservative that is more effective or if parabens are ever proven to be harmful we would immediately remove them.  I know this is a sensitive subject because breast cancer has touched so many of us and those around us.  If you’ve looked at all of the research and you STILL think that you want to go paraben free there are definitely products that are available to you.  

I hope that this was helpful in sorting out the facts vs. the hype.  Leave your comments below!

The Tanning Myth

How many times have you heard someone say: “I’m going to go to the tanning bed and get a base tan so that I don’t get sunburned when I go to the beach.”  How many times have you said this yourself?  Maybe I hear this more often than the average person because, as a pharmacist and an advocate of healthy skin practices, I’m constantly wagging my finger at patients that tan.

The truth is that tanning your skin does provide an SPF of only about 2-3.  You would never (I hope!) use a sunscreen with such a low SPF, and you had to damage your skin to even gain that small amount of “protection” from future sunburn.  Tan skin is damaged skin and there is no longer a need to tan with all of the great products that are available to add some color to your skin.

To help further convince you that you shouldn’t tan anymore I’ve prepared some pro’s and con’s of tanning and I’m going to share the best products that are out there to get your fake-bake on!

Tanning Pros: 

It looks good (while you are young)

It gives you a time to relax

It helps curb depression in some people during the winter months

Tanning Cons:

It causes skin cancers (Melanoma is the #1 cause of cancer deaths in women aged 25-30)

It causes wrinkles

It causes skin discolorations (ever heard of sunspots?)

It causes dry skin

It has been proven to be addictive

It makes your skin smell bad

It has been linked to ocular cancers

Great sunless tanning products:

I have long been a fan of L’Oreal Sublime Bronze products.  They work well, don’t streak when applied correctly and they are relatively inexpensive.  I use these products when it is spring or summer and I need a great tan.

In the wintertime, I like to have a faint glow.  For this, I use and recommend Neutrogena Build-A-Tan.  What I like about this product is that you can gradually increase your shade without fear of turning orange or too dark.  It is easy to apply and, because it is gradual, it is much more forgiving if you don’t get it applied just right.

If you need a tan and you need it now (as in, you just tried on that new spring dress and WOW your legs are white!) you should try either- Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs or Scott Barnes Body Bling lotion.  These are products that give you an instant tan without a self-tanner odor and both produce amazing results.  I prefer to use the Sally Hansen just on my legs and the Scott Barnes on my upper body.  The only con to these products is that they can be messy- I stand in the bathtub to use the spray so that I can just wash away the overspray.  Both products wash away with soap and water so be prepared to clean up after yourself.  I like to think of these products as “special event” products because I don’t want to deal with the mess from day to day, but it is well worth it for an event or night out.

Did you know?

There are LOTS of sunless tanning products out there, but they all use the same active ingredient: dihydroxyacetone (DHA)

Every sunless tanning product in every price range uses this ingredient.  Of course, the other ingredients that are incorporated will influence how well the product covers, spreads, feels on the skin, etc.

DHA is also what causes that characteristic sunless tanning smell.  The only way to get a sunless tan without this smell is to use one of the body makeup products (like Sally Hansen or Scott Barnes).

BTW- You should know that I haven't been asked to feature these products, I haven't been sent free product, I haven't been solicited by anyone in regards to these products.  These are all products that I honestly use and have chosen and purchased myself.  If you have any other products or advice that you would like to share in regards to sunless tanning feel free to comment below!

The Blackhead Myth

Blackheads are a nuisance, plain and simple.  They are one of the most difficult things to get rid of and they come back much too easily.  One of the reasons for this is that they are often misunderstood by the vast majority of people and apparently by marketers of beauty products as well.


The myth about blackheads is that they are caused by dirt and improper skin cleansing.  Many believe that blackheads are a result of dirt from the surface of the skin "seeping" down into the pores- hence the reason for so many "pore shrinking" products.  Actually, blackheads are a result of sebum and cellular debris that cannot properly escape the pore because the opening of the pore is being blocked by dead, flattened skin cells.  This buildup oxidizes and turns black, in the case of a blackhead (a whitehead is the same thing except that oxygen is not able to get to the buildup so it stays white).


So, what can be done about this?  Well, for starters we can all stop over cleansing and scrubbing our faces. This just causes excess inflammation and does not do anything to remove or prevent blackheads.  The gold standard for blackhead removal and prevention is chemical exfoliation.  By exfoliating the skin with chemicals such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid, you remove the dead skin cells that are blocking the pore and allow the buildup to naturally flow out.  Depending on the strength of acid you choose, this process can take a couple of weeks to fully work and you have to be diligent to maintain the exfoliation, or else those blackheads will quickly return.  Try our Renew-An Exfoliating Mask to begin exfoliating your skin safely and effectively.

Renew-An Exfoliating Mask

Last Minute Christmas

It is the week before Christmas and many of us have switched gears into PANIC mode as we realize that we only have a few more days to conquer the insurmountable tasks of cleaning, decorating, shopping, wrapping and cooking before the BIG DAY arrives.  In an effort to make life a little easier, we have compiled a few little lists of last minute ideas for your holiday planning.

Decorating

Write a Holiday Message on your existing mirrors with washable window paint.  It will look great and only takes a few quick minutes!  The window paint can be found at craft stores and at some of the “big box” stores like Target.

Hang Christmas Tree decorations from the light fixtures above the dining table for a quick festive look.  It creates instant atmosphere! 

Decorate with candy canes and peppermints.  They look great in glass vases and bowls or hot glued onto styrofoam molds or clay pots.  Best of all, they are inexpensive and you can pick them up while you are at the grocery store (since you will likely be going there anyway).

Go outside! Grab some greenery, pinecones, bare branches etc.  You’ll be surprised what you can do with these simple (free!) items and some ribbon, spray paint or ornaments.

I found these ideas here and they have several other great ideas about quick decor.

Shopping

If you don’t want to fight the crowds you still have about 10 minutes a day or two to get those last minute gifts online.  Here are the shipping policies for Overstock.com, which has about any gift you could possibly think of (except SimplySkin Rx, but we’ll get to that!):

U.S. Holiday Shipping Cut-Offs*:

Christmas Day: (Delivery by 12/23)

1. Standard Ground Shipping* Order by: 12/19 @ 2:00 AM EST
2. 2nd Day Shipping* Order by: 12/21 @ 2:00 AM EST
3. Next Day Shipping* Order by: 12/22 @ Noon EST

Christmas Day: (Delivery by 12/24)

1. Saturday Delivery* Order by: 12/23 @ 11:00 AM EST

*Items with specific shipping restrictions as denoted on the product page are not guaranteed for delivery by December 23, 2011. This includes all oversized items, LTL items, custom framed art, magazine subscriptions, custom sized jewelry, and any other products with extended shipping time frames. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks delivery time for any LTL items being shipped.

“Delivery by” Disclaimer

Delivery of your order by 12/23/2011 is contingent upon supplying Overstock.com with correct delivery information.

Target is offering Seasonal Shipping by December 20th on select items and they are sure to have something for just about everyone, unless you are looking for luxury.

If you are looking for luxury- Saks Fifth Avenue is where its at.  They are offering free shipping in time for Christmas for all orders until FRIDAY DECEMBER 23rd at 4pm EASTERN.  This is a really great deal for all you last minute shoppers.  You simply have to enter the code HOLIDAY at checkout to redeem the free shipping offer.

Unique Last Last Minute Gifts

So if you find yourself on Christmas Eve with still not a gift in hand you can rest easy with these unique gift ideas that can be purchased and printed from the comfort of your computer.

Photography classes

Better photo is an online course, but there are many local photographers that offer face-to-face classes that can be purchased last minute through their personal websites.  

Cooking classes

The Viking Cooking School offers couples cooking classes that are wonderful for date nights with your spouse or significant other.  They also offer individual classes for beginners all the way to enthusiasts.  Again, there are many other companies that offer this same type of service, I’m just offering one example.

Racing experience

This is a great gift for anyone who loves racing or if they are just an adrenaline junkie.  There are courses like this at racetracks across the country and the man (or woman) in your life is sure to love it.

Gift Certificates

You can buy gift certificates to practically anything online at the last minute- Including SimplySkin Rx!  Gift certificates are great for those that like to shop or pick out their own gift.

Cleaning

I found these articles to be quite helpful in regards to quick cleaning tips.  These tips can be used right now to prepare for Christmas guests and year round to make life a little easier. 

Housekeeping Channel

Quick Clean Room

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and we appreciate your support of SimplySkin Rx.  Please let us know any way that we can help you with your skin care needs.  

Sincerely,

SimplySkin Rx

My Favorite Things

So, Christmas is upon us and I have found some wonderful gift ideas, products and deals that I thought you might want to look at for yourself or for others!  You can even print this list out and leave it in a conspicuous area for your significant other to find (maybe you should highlight your favorite items from this list).  Some items are steals, some are splurges....enjoy!  

1. Sephora Fragrance Sampler

So this is the gift idea that I am most excited about!  I love fragrances, but I hate to commit to an entire bottle of something in the store because it gets confusing to smell so many different things in one sitting.  With this sampler you get ten sample sizes of Sephora’s favorite/most popular fragrances and you even get an atomizer to use with them.  Then, when you have tried them all and picked your favorite there is a gift card in the package that you can use to get the full size bottle at the Sephora store!  How ingenious is that?!? 

2. Mally Eyeliner Set

These eyeliners are my new obsession.  I got sucked into a QVC promo for them and begged my husband to purchase them for me (I was sick and in bed, not up to getting my computer or phone out to place the order myself).  If you think that a collection of 10 eyeliners is overkill, you might be right you’re dead wrong!  These eyeliners do not smear or run and they are so pretty.  I love the shades and I have actually used all but one of them, surprisingly.  I’m just overjoyed that at the end of the day it is still in place and not halfway down my face!

3. Tria

So this one is definitely a splurge and it is not for everyone, but it is still one of my favorite things.  It is an at home laser hair removal system and it really works!  I have had mine for about 6 months now and I’m seeing exciting results.  I’ll tell you the good and not-so-good about it.  It only really works well if you have pale skin and dark hair, which I have.  It is not pain free, but it is definitely no worse than waxing.  It does take time to see results.  Like I said, I’ve had mine for about six months and you are supposed to use it every other week.  I only remember to use it about once a month (so I’ve done about 6 treatments, maybe 8) and I now have thinner and softer hair growth.  I expect to be “hair-free” in about 6 more months and I’m seriously going to try to start using it every other week, as directed.  It’s a big investment but I think it is totally worth it if you are committed to using it and if you meet the pale skin/dark hair requirement.

4. Stella and Dot Pegasus Necklace

I’m a jewelry junkie!  I’ve become slightly obsessed with this necklace from Stella and Dot, probably because it is on the cover of my catalog and I see it all the time.  I saw a girl wearing it with jeans and a white t-shirt and she looked so polished and then , of course you can wear it with a dressy outfit to just take it to the next level! 

5.  Tarte Make-Up Vanity

I WANT THIS!  I haven’t actually tried this product so I can’t gush about the functionality of it, but it is so pretty!  I think it would make me very excited to put my make-up on everyday.  It is also such a great deal at $52, when the regular retail price would be $505 if each item were purchased separately.  The best part is that when the make-up is gone you can use the case as a jewelry box-does that make this a green product?

6.  Black Friday Deals at Sephora (even available online)

I can’t wait for these!  They have ten sets that are $10 each which will be great for stocking stuffers, friend gifts, teacher gifts, or just for yourself!  I’ve got my eye on the Tarte mascara and primer due, the Stila lip palette and the Sephora travel brush set.  Buyer Beware: These deals are available while supplies last and start at 11:59 PST online.

7.  Old Navy Jeans for $15

These are available on Black Friday in store and online!  Now, I know that Old Navy jeans are not the most exciting thing out there, but you know how every year there is a new style of jeans that you want to try?  This is your opportunity!  I always get some really trendy style for really cheap and wear them for the season, then if the trend sticks around (like skinny jeans for instance) I might buy a nicer pair later.  I’ve got my eye on The Rock Star Jegging this year in that fabulous royal blue color!

8.  GNC Women’s Vitamins

Yep, vitamins.  This is the best time of year to start taking vitamins if you aren’t already taking them.  Our immune systems are working overtime, we are working overtime to get ready for the holidays, and let’s face it, Christmas candy is not a food group.  I take GNC Women’s Active vitamins and love them.  

9. John Wind Jewelry

Like I said, I’m a jewelry junkie!  This jewelry designer is one of my favorites because his work looks modern and vintage at the same time.  He makes these great little charms that can be added to some of his pieces and there are new charms every season.  I guess it still technically fits into the “costume” jewelry category, but I feel like I could pass it down to others because it is so classic.

10.  SimplySkin Rx

Of course this is on my list!  If you haven’t tried our new skincare line, this is the perfect time.  Our line consists of five products that work together to give you healthier and younger looking skin.  We incorporated anti-aging ingredients that are backed by quality research into formulations that work well with all skin types.  We designed it to be easy to use- 3 steps in the morning, 3 steps at night and a once weekly treatment.  We offer a 100% Money-Back Guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.  It makes a great Christmas gift too!

The Magic Bullet Myth

The magic bullet myth is the idea that there is one product or ingredient that will miraculously meet all of your skin care needs and/or solve all of your skin care problems.  Many times you will see these products advertised with ingredients that sound anywhere from odd to quite bizarre- clay, mud, snail gel, snake oil, beeswax etc.  They will often be accompanied by bogus claims such as: “Ancient miracle cream developed by Mayan medicine man.  Cures acne, arthritis, warts, scars, diaper rash, psoriasis....” 

Now, of the ingredients that I listed above most of them do have a known use that is beneficial for the skin.  The problem is when false advertising stretches the truth about how much these ingredients can actually do.  Another thing to note is that it is actually illegal for companies to make claims that their product can “cure” anything unless the FDA has approved their ingredient as a drug for a specific indication and they have FDA approved labeling that indicates that (ex. the Drug Facts box on OTC medications).  Some companies get by this in a sneaky way- they will put in fine print on their marketing material “People that have used our products say that it heals:” and then give their list of ailments in large print.  Dirty advertising.

Watch out for products like this and don’t be fooled by their dishonest marketing strategies.  When in doubt about any product, look at the main ingredients and do an internet search for that ingredient.  If there is any credible research that proves a benefit for your skin, you will find it fairly easily.