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4 Sunscreen Secrets You Never Knew

By on January 27, 2024 in Skin Care Science, SPF

Tips to wear it well and make it last

Apply, then reapply. We all know the basics, but we discovered some surprising facts about sunscreen that could change how you apply it. 

  1. It pays to prep. Sunscreen builds up in your stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin)1, so if you apply it daily for three weeks before a beach vacation, you’ll be less likely to burn.
  2. Some areas need more sunscreen. The areas where the rims of your sunglasses hit your checks are particularly prone to sunburn because the sunglasses reflect light. So are the highest points on your face (your cheekbones and nose). Your nose is especially vulnerable and one of the most common areas for nonmelanoma skin cancers. Sunscreens also break down fastest on oily skin, so reapply frequently.
  3. Some SPFs are harder to wash off. Water and sweat-resistant sunscreens work because they adhere to the skin. However, this can also make it trickier to wash off without leaving behind a residue that can ultimately clog pores and lead to breakouts. Thoroughly cleanse your skin by using a gentle scrub with microbeads, like NIA24 Physical Cleansing Scrub, and a cleansing brush.
  4. Your sunscreen already works well, but it could work even better if you apply an antioxidant serum first to help neutralize free radicals that get through your sunscreen before they can damage your skin2. We like SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF, and NeoStrata Antioxidant Defense Serum—or switch to a sunscreen that contains antioxidants like Topix Replenix Antioxidant Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 50+.
Sources: 
  1. Benson, H. A., Sarveiya, V., Risk, S., & Roberts, M. S. (2005). Influence of anatomical site and topical formulation on skin penetration of sunscreens. Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 1(3), 209–218.
  2. Darr, D., Dunston, S., Faust, H., & Pinnell, S. (1996). Effectiveness of antioxidants (vitamin C and E) with and without sunscreens as topical photoprotectants. Acta dermato-venereologica, 76(4), 264–268. https://doi.org/10.2340/000155557626426
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Move Over UV Rays, Stress Might Be Worse For Your Skin

By on January 20, 2024 in anti-aging, Skin Care Science, Uncategorized

What happens when a schizo schedule becomes totally routine? — Keep calm and read on.

When you’re living your life in the fast lane, your skin is often the first thing to freak out. An external showing of internal workings. 

We have lots of great products to help counteract the damaging effects stress has on the skin, but let’s get one thing straight before continuing on. If you’re relying on products to magically heal your skin issues cause by stress, you’re on a fool’s errand. At best, these products will be like a band-aid for a recurring wound unless you accompany them with some mind-body and stress management practices. 

Acne, splotchy skin, premature wrinkling, and flaky dryness are very often stress-induced and will require more than topical treatment. In some cases, a hormonal imbalance might be at play. And in others, some stress If you’re trying products, and nothing is working, consider stress may be at play and/or, a deeper hormonal imbalance. Your dermatologist and general practitioner can help you make that determination.1

Now that we’re clear on that, let’s talk about what products you can use to manage stress-affected skin alongside a healthy lifestyle. 

Stress factor: Agitation; No Downtime 

What you’ll see: Redness and Breakouts

Chronic high levels of stress – a by-product of a “Go, Go, Go” culture and constant reachability – may trigger your brain to release neuropeptides that cause blushing and sensitivity. Additionally, your body releases an excess of androgen hormones that can bring on breakouts (especially seen in women). 

Calm It Down:

Stress factor: Partying Away Stress 

What you’ll see: Wrinkles and Dullness

If you’re managing stress with late nights out and drinking, well first, don’t. PERSON SUGGESTS taking up a new hobby, scheduling a visit with a therapist. There’s nothing wrong with blowing off a little steam; but if you’re making a habit of dealing with stress by drinking, you’re not doing your skin any favors. Drinking dehydrates the skin, making fine lines look deeper and complexion look dull. Your favorite cocktail or martini  – plus, the carby snacks you binge on at the bar – is packed with sugar and can make your skin look older faster, through a process called glycation. During this process, sugar impairs the production of collagen and elastin in the skin and can cause your skin to stiffen and lose its springiness. Another issue: smoking (whether you inhale it or not) is full of collagen-eating carcinogens that increase your risk of skin cancer.

Party Smart:

Stress factor: Skimping on Sleep 

What you’ll see: Flakiness and Dullness

Frequent late nights leave you playing “catch up” on ZZZs, but an erratic sleep schedule can throw off your natural time clock, inhibiting your skin’s ability to stay hydrated. Research shows2 that poor sleep weakens the barrier function, causing moisture to escape. And chronic sleep deprivation impairs collagen production. After six months of sleep loss, skin starts to lose its suppleness and glow.

Fake Eight Hours:

 

Sources: 
  1. Feeling stressed? it can show in your skin, hair, and nails. American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.-a). https://www.aad.org/news/stress-shows-in-skin-hair-nails#:~:text=Your%20glands%20produce%20more%20oil,on%20how%20our%20skin%20ages. 
  2. Altemus, M., Rao, B., Dhabhar, F. S., Ding, W., & Granstein, R. D. (2001). Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. The Journal of investigative dermatology, 117(2), 309–317. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2001.01373.x
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Have You Been Duped Into Believing These 7 Skin Care Myths?

By on January 19, 2024 in Skin Care Myths, Skin Care Science

“Squeaky clean”? A cure for Acne? Anti-Agers? We look into the truth

 

Skin isn’t clean unless it feels “squeaky” and tight

The phrase “squeaky clean” came into fashion in the 1930s with hair care commercials. The saying referred to the “squeaky” sound hair would make when cleaned and stripped of oils. In skin care (or hair care), that’s not necessarily a good thing. A cleanser should clear out pores and excess oil, but if you’re coming away with a stripped or “squeaky clean” feeling, your skin may be at risk for dehydration and nutrient loss. Replace moisture with an oil-balancing cream.

 

Anti-Agers prevent aging

This is a half-truth we’re sorry to bust. As this 2016 study revealed, aging is going to happen1. Your favorite “anti-aging” products aren’t faux; they just do more to help you age than stop you from aging. All “anti-aging” products can do is make sure you age gracefully, which we think is better anyways. 

 

If a product doesn’t work quickly, it isn’t working

Most skincare products take time to show results. Don’t give up. A solid three months is recommended to gauge the effects on the skin with supervision from your dermatologist. 

 

Acne disappears after teen years 

If only. You keep your skin clean, you’re in your thirties, maybe even forties or fifties, but still, those pesky bumps keep popping up. Why? Even as adults, particularly women, we experience fluctuations in our hormones which can contribute to the occasional blemish. Other factors such as environment, food consumption, an overproduction of sebum, and stress could be culprits. Adult acne may never be far away, but it can be managed by lifestyle changes and with the help of your dermatologist. 

 

There’s a cure for acne 

Acne cannot be cured. Your acne is likely a result of multiple factors. “Acne is a multifactorial disease: genetic factors, stress, androgens, and excess sweating all influence its development and/or severity.”2 You and your dermatologist can manage your symptoms as they fluctuate. 

 

The more it stings the better it’s working 

Like the “squeaky clean” myth, if it stings, it’s stripping away protective barriers or the skin and doing more harm than good. Stop, reassess, and either try a different product or decrease use. Work with your dermatologist to find the best products and track your reactions. 

 

You don’t need a moisturizer if you have oily skin

People with oily skin tend to have fewer wrinkles and thicker skin, but their skin isn’t invincible. Oily skin can still experience dryness, sometimes even as a result of not using a moisturizer. Using a moisturizer helps keep oil production balanced. 

 

How Your Skin Ages is 100% based on genetics 

Genetics do play a role, but skin aging is a little more complex. The environment you live in, your lifestyle, and your health habits all come into play. For example, if your tendency is to cinch your eyebrows you might find wrinkles appear sooner between your brows. If you maintain a smoking habit, your skin is more likely to see premature aging3. 

Sources:
  1. Colchero, F., Aburto, J.M., Archie, E.A. et al. The long lives of primates and the ‘invariant rate of ageing’ hypothesis. Nat Commun 12, 3666 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23894-3
  2. Ayer, J., & Burrows, N. (2006). Acne: more than skin deep. Postgraduate medical journal, 82(970), 500–506. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2006.04537
  3. Kadunce DP, Burr R, et al. “Cigarette smoking: risk factor for premature facial wrinkling.” Ann Intern Med. 1991 May 15;114(10):840-4.
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Can You Peel Your Way To Perfect Skin?

By on December 29, 2023 in Skin Care Science

All about chemical peels and the best at-home treatments.

A chemical peel is a controlled injury to the skin which removes old, damaged cells and replaces them with fresh, unblemished cells. A trip to a licensed esthetician can run you anywhere from $200 on the low end to $6,000 on the high end as frequently as once per month (for superficial peels). The cost of beauty, right? Not exactly. 

 

History of Facial Peels 

As early as ancient times, people used a variation of what we now call a chemical peel. Most notably Egyptian women bathed in milk, specifically, Cleopatra who bathed in sour milk. While we might retch to think of the smell and (ew) clumps in her specially drawn milk bath, Cleopatra was unknowingly harnessing the power of a chemical peels driving ingredient, AHAs, found in lactic acid. The Greeks and Romans also joined the Egyptians in earring crushed grapes, and even wine, which contains another AHA, tantric acid.1 

From there, not much changed until the 20th century, when the first intentionally formulated chemical peels were developed, their recipes and services kept under lock and key for the Hollywood elite. Until 1961, that is, when the Baker-Gordon peel recipe was released through the mainstream media and catapulted peels into widespread use.2 For the next forty to sixty years, most sought out chemical peel services from dermatologists and estheticians, and though some at-home products were available previously, COVID-19 completely changed the at-home market, and the DIY beauty confidence. 

 

Mainstream At-Home Use 

During the pandemic, we took our personal care into our own hands. We had to. We also had to face ourselves in the Zoom camera way too often. And what did we see? All the little blemishes staring back at me. 

“Face peel products have grown 150% from 2019 to 2020, according to analysis from 1010 data, with a 107% spike in sales in April 2020 compared to March 2020. Some beauty brands leading the online face peel market include The Ordinary, QRxLabs, Dr. Dennis Gross, M-61, Bliss and Neogen Dermalogy.”3 

Lucky for us, these gentle new chemical exfoliators allow you to brighten your complexion from the comfort of your bathroom for way less than a similar spa treatment. What a time to be alive. 

With a variety of formulas to choose from, each of these peels promises smoother, softer, younger-looking skin, and fewer breakouts with regular use, but let’s see how they really measure up. (All of our offerings on SkinMedix, curated by our Clinical Director, Aaron Kozol, a licensed non-practicing pharmacist, have already been vetted for their quality and effectiveness.) 

 

Glytone Essentials Mini Peel – A weekly skin booster using 10.8% glycolic acid to thoroughly exfoliate and renew the complexion. Perfect for use between in-office peels and safe for all skin types, it works without irritation, resulting in a calm, comfortable finish.

Murad Intesive-C Resurfacing Peel – Formulated with a blend of botanicals and resurfacing agents to replenish radiance while smoothing and softening the skin. Apply the mask after cleansing and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with a warm cloth to deep clean and brighten. Also available in travel size.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel  – The first peel formulated for daily at-home use. Its unique two-step system of ready-to-use pads contains a precise blend of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids, antioxidants vitamins A, C, and E, soothing green tea extract.

Warning: Skin can become vulnerable to UV rays after a peel. Use sunblock to prevent further damage after a treatment.

Sources: 
  1. “The history of facial peels and how they’ve changed over the years”. Versed Skin. (n.d.). https://versedskin.com/blogs/learn/history-of-facial-peels 
  2. Brody, H.J., Monheit, G.D., Resnik, S.S. and Alt, T.H. (2000), A History of Chemical Peeling. Dermatologic Surgery, 26: 405-409. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-4725.2000.00505.x
      3. Larson, K. (2021, June 26). The demand for at-home chemical peels continues to surge. Forbes.             https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinlarson/2021/06/26/the-demand-for-at-home-chemical-peels-continues-to-surge/amp/
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Can We Eat Our Way to Healthy Skin?

By on December 29, 2023 in Nutrition, Skin Care Science

Food. Just in the same way that certain foods can ruin your figure, some foods will ruin your skin. The old adage “you are what you eat” holds true. If you eat junk, your skin is likely to feel and reflect that. If you eat well and manage a healthy lifestyle, your skin will reflect it. 

MayoClinic dermatologist, Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. explains even though research on the best foods for healthy skin is limited, “antioxidant-rich foods still seem to have a protective effect for the skin”. But recent research has made a breakthrough in identifying skin-healthy foods. The pistachio nut, being on. Having been theorized to be skin-beneficial in the past (my mother always swore my Grandpa’s good skin was from his copious consumption of pistachios, and not just his Italian heritage) a recent 2022 study done at Cornell University has verified the anti-oxidant power of the pistachio, though it should be noted that the pistachios Cornell used to study the antioxidant capacity were sustainably grown pistachios from western America.1

Meet the Expert: 

Lawrence E. Gibson is a practicing dermatologist in Minnesota and is associated with MayoClinic. With 21 years of experience, his specialty has been dermatopathology, the study and diagnostics of skin diseases. As such, he has paid special mind to the natural preventative measures one can take against  skin diseases and dysfunction. 

Consider these skin-friendly foods:

  • Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
  • Blueberries
  • Salmon, mackerel and other fatty fish
  • Pistachios and other nuts 

“On the flip side, some foods seem to be associated with skin damage,” adds Dr. Gibson. “For example, some research suggests that a diet high in processed or refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats promotes skin aging.”

While some foods may specifically help create healthy skin, a good diet in general is a good place to start. Concentrate on Whole Foods, with as little processing as possible. The less chemical exposure and modification, the better. If you’re going to eat meats, dairy and vegetables as a part of a healthy diet, eat organic and pasture-raised. Limit sweets, but welcome honey and maple syrup into your diet.

As always, work with a healthcare professional to find out what works best for you. 

 

Sources: 

  1. Yuan, W., Zheng, B., Li, T., & Liu, R. H. (2022). Quantification of Phytochemicals, Cellular Antioxidant Activities and Antiproliferative Activities of Raw and Roasted American Pistachios (Pistacia vera L.). Nutrients, 14(15), 3002. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153002
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Ancient Beauty Secrets Are In Your Medicine Cabinet

By on November 24, 2023 in beauty, Skin Care Science

We look at the ingredients beloved by ancient Greeks, Romans, and the Chinese and the products they’re in today. 

Skincare has been evolving for thousands of years. It should be no surprise that our ancient ancestors were just as concerned about preserving and treating their skin as we are today with the natural ingredients around them. It was the Greeks who first coined the term kosmos and then kosmētikos, or what we know as cosmetics. So it’s safe to say, it was big on their radar. At that time, all cosmetics were naturally formulated and handmade. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that synthetic and chemically manufactured products showed up on the market and entered our skincare routines. But in the 90s and 00s, with an increase in interest in natural ingredients (following the horrors of the twentieth century), we’ve been looking deeper into the past to unlock the secrets of ancient and even mythologized beauty. Thanks to archeological findings, historical writings, and anthropological studies of how people lived during ancient times, we’re able to create products today with the best that ancient and modern times offer. 

Good Foundations

In India, cold cream was invented by mixing rose oil, water, and melted beeswax together. The Ancient Egyptians had an array of vegetable oils they used to keep their skin moisturized in the desert dryness. Oils and ingredients like thyme, marjoram, chamomile, lavender, lily, peppermint, rosemary, cedar, rose, aloe, olive oil, sesame oil,  and almond oil were regularly used. We know from archaeologists that ancient Egyptians even made soapy cleansers out of mineral clay and olive oil and creams made with castor, sesame, and moringa oils. 

Used in the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC -24 AD), Chinese skincare included brightening and anti-aging products made from Chinese Waxgourd Seed, and Apricot seeds were used to make a cream that could relieve black spots and acne during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Today, we recognize apricot kernels and oil as widely used ingredients for the same skin issues. 

The Chinese also unlocked the powerful ingredients found in pearls. “Pearl powder has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine since the early part of the Common Era as a health, cosmetic, and nutrient supplement. The empress Wu Zetian (625–705 AD) consumed pearl powder and applied it to her face for its brightening/lightening properties.” Calcium carbonate, the most abundant ingredient in pearls, is used today as an oil-absorbent for creams and cosmetic products. Its presence in skincare formulas provides consumers with a smooth, silky matte finish to their skin. Calcium phosphates, too, are found in pearls and today utilized in protecting the skin from UV rays, and in cleansers to absorb sebum and promote skin turnover. 

Pliny the Elder detailed the use of certain ingredients in derma care in Ancient Rome. Honey, he noted, was used as an emollient and acne treatment. The bulb of narcissus (daffodil), removed blemishes and softened skin. Myrrh was another commonly cited ingredient. “Myrrh has been used to treat ailments of the skin since antiquity. It is obtained from the sap that is secreted as an exudate from the Commiphora myrrha tree. Myrrh is considered a natural remedy for wounds, infections, and acne and is also used as a perfume agent. “

Eh…Think Again

In Ancient Greece and Rome, where pale skin was a sign of aristocracy (i.e. money, please!), women used a powder of white lead, chalk, and crocodile dung to lighten their skin. Modern science has since revealed lead to be deadly – no duh. The Chinese in BC years went even a step further. They didn’t just powder their skin; they bleached their skin with a mixture of lead, rice, and gel from songyi mushrooms. This kind of skin-bleaching or lightning technique persisted around the world well into the 18th Century, particularly in Europe. 

We’ve come pretty far, even since the 1930s, when mascara dye was blinding women and a facial cream was covertly causing mercury poison. Thanks to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Administration we now have some ground rules to keep us safe when using skincare. We’ve learned from the past, taking the good and reformulating products that are safe and effective. 

And we’ve added some good things, too. Through scientific advancements, we’ve been able to develop skincare staples like Hyaluronic Acid. “In 1934, Karl Meyer and his colleague John Palmer were the first investigators who discovered and isolated HA from the vitreous body of cows’ eyes.” 

“The retinoid drug project was launched in 1968 to synthesize compounds similar to vitamin A by chemical manipulation of its molecule to improve clinical efficacy and safety. The use of these substances in therapy dates back some 3000 years to ancient Egypt, where liver was used to treat endemic night blindness. The modern history of retinoids, however, began in 1909 when an essential factor in the viability of an embryo in the fatty extract of the egg yolk, called vitamin A, was discovered. Retinoids finally were introduced into the treatment of dermatoses including photoaging more than two decades ago”

Niacinamide was discovered in the 1930s and has since become a common ingredient found in skincare products. 

As always, read the ingredients on the products you buy and chat with a dermatologist about your specific needs. The more you educate yourself on what specific ingredients do, the better you can work with your dermatologist to custom-create your skincare routine. And in the meantime, be inspired by the past, and learn from it. But we can be thankful for the ingredients our modern science has given us. Find the best of both worlds in many of our products on SkinMedix.

 

Sources: 
Fakhari, A., & Berkland, C. (2013). Applications and emerging trends of hyaluronic acid in tissue engineering, as a dermal filler and in osteoarthritis treatment. Acta biomaterialia, 9(7), 7081–7092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2013.03.005
Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H. C., Roeder, A., & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical interventions in aging, 1(4), 327–348. https://doi.org/10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.327
McMullen, Roger L., and Giorgio Dell’Acqua. 2023. “History of Natural Ingredients in Cosmetics” Cosmetics 10, no. 3: 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10030071
Carella, F., Degli Esposti, L., Adamiano, A., & Iafisco, M. (2021). The Use of Calcium Phosphates in Cosmetics, State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 14(21), 6398. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216398
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To Squeeze or Not to Squeeze

By on November 10, 2023 in Skin Care Routine, Skin Care Science

The Hamlet-esque question we all contemplate in the bathroom mirror.

An unexpected whopper just showed up on your face. Like a mosquito bite or scab, you want to touch it. You want to pick at it. You really, really want to pop it. But should you? While most skin care professionals would prefer you leave it alone, the truth is that YES, you can – but only if your blemish is white. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re a persistent pimple popper. 

First, make sure your hands are clean. (I always keep either alcohol wipes or alcohol hand sanitizer with me in my car or bag. Avoid scented or doctored-up hand sanitizer (the real goopy stuff; the goal is to sterilize, not scent-ivize). There are too many fillers and added ingredients in your run-of-the-mill hand sanitizer beyond sterilizing agents like isopropyl alcohol to further irritate your skin. 

Next, cleanse the skin you’re going to be touching before popping. If you have to use your fingers, fine, but ideally, you’ll either use a sterilized blemished tool or two Q-tips to gently press on either side of the blemish (if you see blood or any liquid or feel pain, stop pressing)

Then, pop the head. Dab what comes out with a tissue. Bacteria can easily spread from a ruptured blemish to other areas of the face, creating more acne. 

Lastly, cleanse your skin immediately and avoid touching other parts of the face, then use an antibiotic spot treatment. We recommend Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix or Glycone Acne Tinted Spot Treatment. After that, hands off!

 

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Sweat Is Good For My Skin?

By on November 3, 2023 in Skin Care Science

Let’s call it a sparkle!

Sweating has gotten a bad reputation. And I mean, it’s not surprising. It’s the ultimate “scheeve”, or Ew, when someone sweaty brushes up against you, or leaves a seat with a ring of sweat. We associate sweating with acne, BO, poor hygiene and smelly locker rooms. We can be honest. It is gross in excess, but it’s also extremely important and, you might be surprised, good for your skin. 

 

Sweat Everyday

In fact, sweating is actually your body’s way of helping to keep your skin clean, producing an antimicrobial peptide, dermcidin, which naturally helps to destroy harmful bacteria on the skin.  Breaking a sweat once a day will make your skin glow! Aside from the natural antioxidants sweating produces, exercise which leads to sweating improves your circulation and oxygen levels to result in a gorgeous complexion.

But Not All Day

That being said, we don’t need to marinate in our sweat. Like a good face mask, you should only “wear” your sweat for so long. Soon after working out, cleanse your skin, or some adverse effects might override the DIY Nature facial you just got. (Obagi Medical Foaming Cleanser is an anti-oxidant rich microfoam you can use to capitalize on the antioxidant goodness of sweat when it’s time to cleanse!)

When we sweat, perspiration pushes out oil and dead skin from our pores. If all that extracted junk sits on your face for too long, it can actually resettle and clog your pores with added substance. Sweat also releases ammonia and urea. If left to settle in our pores, they can cause irritation and, mingling with the natural bacteria on the skin, make us stanky. 

And Replenish With Water

We know that sweating depletes our body of its water storage, using up electrolytes and hydration our skin sorely needs to stay supple and dewy. After sweating, drink! And we mean water.

Staying hydrated replenishes fluids lost while sweating and can clear up your skin. People often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won’t happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.

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What Color Should My Vitamin C Serum Be?

By on September 22, 2023 in Skin Care Science

Natural color change over time happens, but your Vitamin C should arrive a fresh light hue.

“I’ve bought Vitamin C Serum a few times in the past year and a half. The first time I bought it, I noticed the color was a yellowish brown. The next time I purchased from the same brand, the serum was a very pale yellow, like a light olive oil. And then this last time I purchased it, it was dark, like the color of agave. Why is it always different? Is that normal?” 

-Kelsey S. 

Vitamin C offers a plethora of benefits including the possibility of brightening, hydration, reducing redness, promoting collagen, protecting against sun damage, and healing wounds. But as a popular product, it’s not always distributed with the highest standards. You may have noticed, like Kelsey, that your Vitamin C Serum is a different color from bottle to bottle, or that the Vitamin C you keep on your shelf changes colors over time. And like Kelsey, we know a lot of men and woman have been wondering Why. We’ve got your answers. 

“The reason Vitamin C serum often comes in a spectrum of hues”, Aaron Kozol, founder of SkinMedix and pharmacist-turned-skincare enthusiast, “is due to oxidation.” The fresher the batch, the lighter color it will be. Vitamin C usually comes in a dark bottle, to protect from UV light and oxidization. The bottles try to keep out as much air and light as possible, but overtime it will naturally age and succumb to the oxidization process as the bottle is opened and the serum periodically exposed. From light to dark amber, your Vitamin C Serum tells you how old it really is.

The key is to find a supplier who consistently sells the freshest batches and with good turnover. Serums like the 100% Pure Vitamin C Serum sold by SkinMedix have the highest quality. The shelf life of your Vitamin C Serum will naturally begin the oxidization product, even if you receive the lightest hue. Opening the bottle each time of use allows more and more air in. Fortunately, your serum is safe to use until it turns dark amber.

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Why Does My Acne Clear Up In The Ocean?

By on January 12, 2023 in Did you know?, Skin Care Science

And how to get the benefits of seawater all year long.

My skin always feels good when I’m going to the beach 1-2 times per week, even if only for an hour at a time. Using good sunscreen, I notice that my blemishes clear up, and my skin feels alive. I’ve always wondered why. Now, I know. 

Turns out, it’s the ocean water. 

Simply put salt from the sea helps dry out pimples and cleans out pores. Pretty incredible. And to think of all the times we tried to avoid getting our faces wet! This is a beauty hack, old as time.  Yup, even the ancient Egyptians recognized the healing properties of saltwater. Today, science has gone even deeper — literally — to find that the beneficial properties of ocean water go beyond what was originally thought. 

A 2016 study1 looked beneath the surface of the ocean to discover a concentration of nutrients Jack Lalane would be jealous of. Deep enough where the sun cannot penetrate, the minerals of the sea are kept in their purest form. Undisturbed by plant plankton, scientists found that the water found at depths of over 200m is where it’s at. The purest forms of:

  • magnesium
  • calcium
  • potassium
  • chromium
  • selenium
  • zinc
  • vanadium

You don’t have to scuba down to the depth to get your mineral fill. While the minerals 200m can be pumped up to the surface and used for a host of skin and health benefits, a quick dip at your local sure is nothing to sneeze at. 

For year-round ocean water benefits, when you can’t get to the beach easily, try Dead Sea Mud Mask from Pure Body Naturals. Packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals, mud from the Dead Sea has been referred to as the Fountain of Youth. This mask will improve your skin’s elasticity and minimize the appearance of pores for a youthful and flawless glow. 

Next time you snorkel, swim, or take a walk along the beach, welcome the splashes and enjoy the microbial effects on your skin, but know the benefits of seawater can easily be found in your medicine cabinet as well. 

 

Sources: 
1. Samihah Zura Mohd Nani, F. A. A. Majid, A. B. Jaafar, A. Mahdzir, M. N. Musa, “Potential Health Benefits of Deep Sea Water: A Review”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2016, Article ID 6520475, 18 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6520475
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