Why are skin care products so confusing? Why is there so little brand loyalty? Part of the problem is that the last 20 years have brought a tsunami of new skin care products, new ads, new claims. The splashy advertising, the celebrities and the offers combine to produce instant hype. Every new product promises a new “advance” or “technology” or “significant improvement”. Because this revolution is so new, everyone–retailers, consumers, dermatologists, editors–are struggling to figure it out.
Some cosmetics companies like it that way. They invent funny names for molecules. They retouch the living daylights out of those unretouched ads. They cleverly (yet legally) manipulate the copy. These deceptive practices are called “smoke and mirrors”– the metaphor for deceptive or fraudulent practices. The term was first invented to describe the way in which magicians could make objects appear or disappear by using mirrors amid a sudden burst of smoke. It’s clever, but also deceptive.
It works for magicians, and it works for the skin care industry. So women, the willing and unknowing, plunk down big bucks because they want to believe in magic. It’s a national addiction. People everywhere want to fight aging and are looking for solutions.
If you’re going to spend money on skin care products, spend it advisedly. Make sure that you’re not being conned. Make informed decisions. Invest in products that really work. Discriminate. Know how the channel of distribution affects the quality of the merchandise, and the price that you pay. Understand how ads are delicately written and carefully crafted.
Zein Obagi, MD Visit us on the web! http://www.zoskinhealth.com/store
Follow our Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ZOSkinHealth
purpose of your skin is to protect your body from foreign agents. The skin
is the first line of defense against disease and infection. It is also the
skin that gives us protection against the sun.
However, it is also the skin that first betrays the effects of aging. Skin
ailments such as psoriasis or dermatitis can be irritating and make our lives
miserable. While we never needed things like wrinkle creams or moisturizers
when we were younger and our skin more resilient, the fact is that some degree
of skin care is inevitable as we age.
But skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to
our aging skin. Dry skin is caused by a number of conditions and therefore
its treatment options will depend on the actual cause. Here are some causes
of dry skin:
Medication Side Effects
As a society, we have increasingly become dependent on medication for things
like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and even depression. Skin care
treatment for dryness may very well be necessary due to some side effect
of your medication for a completely unrelated condition. For this reason,
you always want to monitor any potential skin irritation immediately after
starting any new medication. If you already have dry skin and can’t remember
whether or not it was a problem before starting your medication, you may
need to consult with your physician and discuss an alternative medication
in order to rule out side effects as the cause of your dry skin.
Poor Nutrition
Skin care problems are often the result of poor nutrition. Our bodies require
a delicate balance of nutrients in order to keep everything functioning properly,
especially the skin. Vegetarians and vegans often run into dry skin issues
as a result of not consuming enough animal fats in their diet. A vitamin
B12 deficiency will cause your oil glands (sebaceous glands) to function
improperly, generally leading to acne.
Basically, any attempt to address a skin care issue (be it oily, dry, or even
itchy skin) should begin with a close look at diet. Dermatologists can best
assess potential diet-related skin care problems and recommend corrective
measures to naturally restore skin vitality. However, here are some foods
to avoid where possible in order to keep your skin as healthy as possible:
·
fried foods (chicken, French fries)
·
processed sugars
·
caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks
·
high fat dairy products like milk or cheese (consuming low fat
varieties of milk and cheese may not be great, but they are better for your
skin!)
Now the best thing that you can ingest for improved skin care is water. That’s
right, water. Water naturally removes toxins from your body-so the more you
drink of it, the purer your body will be. Drinking lots of water is especially
good for people with acne problems and it will also help reduce the onset
of wrinkles.
Skin Care Problems Due to Sebaceous Gland Problems
If you have ever been to a dermatologist because of acne problems then you
are probably very familiar with sebaceous glands. Because the skin needs
to be lubricated, it is covered with oil secreting glands known as sebaceous
glands. If these glands become clogged with dirt, then bacteria begin growing
inside and a pimple is the result. However, sebaceous glands can either become
clogged and dry skin is caused or they can produce too much and cause oily
skin. More often than not, problems with the sebaceous glands are due to
poor diet and can usually be corrected rather easily.
Skin Care Problems Due to Diabetes
Believe it or not, even diabetes can cause you serious skin care problems.
A person with diabetes has trouble regulating the blood sugar levels. When
there is an excess of blood sugar in the body, the excess must be absorbed.
To do this, the body uses a lot more water than normal and that can lead
to dry skin.
Skin Care Treatment for Dryness
While diet must always be part of any skin care treatment regimen, it is just
a simple fact that our bodies will need more help as we age. For this reason,
a moisturizer of some sort will ultimately be needed. To this end, it is
HIGHLY recommended that you use a natural skin moisturizer.
Moisturizers using natural ingredients are far less likely to cause the irritating
side effects mentioned earlier. Synthetic ingredients are often less expensive
to use in moisturizers but they are not the best skin care option because
the body is less receptive to them. Natural ingredients, on average, cause
fewer side effects and are therefore better where skin moisturizers are concerned.
Skin Care for Wrinkles
Wrinkles are probably the biggest cause of all skin care treatments in the
United States. As a person ages, the skin naturally becomes less elastic.
As a result, fine lines begin to form on the face which ultimately become
the wrinkles we hate so much. There are two main skin care strategies when
it comes to wrinkles: affect the muscles that reveal the wrinkles or fill
in the skin so the wrinkles are less noticeable. The first strategy involves
Botox and the second Collagen injections.
Botox Skin Care
A person is actually having a strain of Botulism injected in their face when
they opt for Botox skin care treatment. Botox actually interrupts the transmission
of nerve impulses to the muscles that reveal our wrinkles. It may sound radical,
but these injections do actually reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the
face for a significant period of time. Now these injections can be costly
and they must be repeated-but they are generally affective.
Collagen Injection Skin Care
Many people have a serious misperception about collagen injections. The perception
is that collagen is a form of fat that is injected into your face to fill
in the lines caused by wrinkles. Actually, collagen is an effective form
of skin care treatment for wrinkles not because it is fat-but because it
is protein. In fact, collagen is a special protein that helps cells and blood
vessels connect to one another. When this happens, the wrinkles fade because
the collagen helps the skin to “rebuild” in areas where wrinkles
form and actually fill in the lines. Again, collagen treatments tend to work
but they also are expensive and need to be repeated.
Natural Anti-Wrinkle Creams
A cheaper, but slower, alternative to expensive skin care treatments for wrinkles
is a simple cream. Anti-wrinkle creams work to rebuild the skin texture and
helps with the elasticity over time. However, unlike Collagen or Botox injections,
anti-wrinkle cream skin care treatment is only applied to the skin surface.
This is why it takes so much longer. Still, an anti-wrinkle cream is a cost-effective
and non-invasive treatment for wrinkles that does work if given enough time.
Again, in order to reduce possible side effects, stick with creams that use
natural ingredients as they will react better with your skin.
For a natural skin care product, try SkinSoSilky today to help manage any of your anti aging, acne, or dry skin care needs.
There are a lot of reasons why skincare products need to be applied at night. In fact, it can be easily argued that nighttime products are more important than daytime, because that’s when the skin repairs itself.
During the day, skin is bombarded with wind, makeup, pollution, sweating, and all of this exhausts the cells. Why? Because the sole purpose of skin is to protect our bodies from outside insults and contaminants. So during the daytime, the skin is busy defending itself from these environmental factors. That’s why, during the day, we apply products that strengthen, hydrate and protect with skin with antioxidants (topically and systemically) and UV protectors. At night, it’s ready to get ready for another day. That’s the time when the cells renew themselves and need to be activated with key ingredients like retinol; surface repair agents, such as ceramides; and anti-inflammatory agents, such as botanicals. These all work together to create skin that is brighter, more even-toned, and hydrated. So nighttime products are different from daytime products, because the skin’s needs are different.
Many active ingredients in skincare products have a relatively short life, and are deactivated by sunlight. So the really important ingredients—the really good stuff—is rendered useless. So by nighttime, there’s no residual value. Products need to be reapplied.
During the daytime skincare products are rubbed off, sweated off, washed off, wiped off. Or they’re completely absorbed. Moisturizers last only 3-4 hours. Medical treatments require application 2-3 times every 24 hours. I’m a proponent of saturating the skin with active and powerful ingredients so that it’s nourished throughout the day and night.
Nighttime products are heavier, to restore essential moisture, reduce wrinkles and repair the skin. They provide what we call barrier protection—to prevent transepidermal water loss (dehydration). Then in the morning, your skin is supple, revitalized and smooth.
The active ingredients used in nighttime products are better able to stimulate and up-regulate cell turnover so that fresher, brighter, healthier skin can emerge.
Nighttime is a perfect opportunity for controlled release of active ingredients over a 4-6 hour period. It is also a good time to layer products which may not be possible during the daytime if makeup is to be applied overtop.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the importance of cleansing as a part of a night- time skincare program. Many people, I’m convinced, take the short-cut of not removing their make-up before retiring. Our faces are never covered, they’re always exposed to all kinds of environmental pollutants. Cleanse your skin, faithfully and thoroughly to remove the dirt and surface oils. It’s important for everyone, but critical for women who wear cosmetics. Sounds a bit extreme, I know, but you may even want to do it twice. It’s that important.
You may be tired, you may be stressed. But nighttime skincare is important. And it only takes a minute.
Zein Obagi, MD
Visit Us on the Web Today! at http://www.zoskinhealth.com
Or our Twitter updates at: http://www.twitter.com/ZOSkinHealth
Why are skin care products so confusing? Why is there so little brand loyalty? Part of the problem is that the last 20 years have brought a tsunami of new skin care products, new ads, new claims. The splashy advertising, the celebrities and the offers combine to produce instant hype. Every new product promises a new “advance” or “technology” or “significant improvement”. Because this revolution is so new, everyone–retailers, consumers, dermatologists, editors–are struggling to figure it out.
Some cosmetics companies like it that way. They invent funny names for molecules. They retouch the living daylights out of those unretouched ads. They cleverly (yet legally) manipulate the copy. These deceptive practices are called “smoke and mirrors”– the metaphor for deceptive or fraudulent practices. The term was first invented to describe the way in which magicians could make objects appear or disappear by using mirrors amid a sudden burst of smoke. It’s clever, but also deceptive.
It works for magicians, and it works for the skin care industry. So women, the willing and unknowing, plunk down big bucks because they want to believe in magic. It’s a national addiction. People everywhere want to fight aging and are looking for solutions.
If you’re going to spend money on skin care products, spend it advisedly. Make sure that you’re not being conned. Make informed decisions. Invest in products that really work. Discriminate. Know how the channel of distribution affects the quality of the merchandise, and the price that you pay. Understand how ads are delicately written and carefully crafted.
Zein Obagi, MD Visit us on the web! http://www.zoskinhealth.com/store
Follow our Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ZOSkinHealth
purpose of your skin is to protect your body from foreign agents. The skin
is the first line of defense against disease and infection. It is also the
skin that gives us protection against the sun.
However, it is also the skin that first betrays the effects of aging. Skin
ailments such as psoriasis or dermatitis can be irritating and make our lives
miserable. While we never needed things like wrinkle creams or moisturizers
when we were younger and our skin more resilient, the fact is that some degree
of skin care is inevitable as we age.
But skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to
our aging skin. Dry skin is caused by a number of conditions and therefore
its treatment options will depend on the actual cause. Here are some causes
of dry skin:
Medication Side Effects
As a society, we have increasingly become dependent on medication for things
like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and even depression. Skin care
treatment for dryness may very well be necessary due to some side effect
of your medication for a completely unrelated condition. For this reason,
you always want to monitor any potential skin irritation immediately after
starting any new medication. If you already have dry skin and can’t remember
whether or not it was a problem before starting your medication, you may
need to consult with your physician and discuss an alternative medication
in order to rule out side effects as the cause of your dry skin.
Poor Nutrition
Skin care problems are often the result of poor nutrition. Our bodies require
a delicate balance of nutrients in order to keep everything functioning properly,
especially the skin. Vegetarians and vegans often run into dry skin issues
as a result of not consuming enough animal fats in their diet. A vitamin
B12 deficiency will cause your oil glands (sebaceous glands) to function
improperly, generally leading to acne.
Basically, any attempt to address a skin care issue (be it oily, dry, or even
itchy skin) should begin with a close look at diet. Dermatologists can best
assess potential diet-related skin care problems and recommend corrective
measures to naturally restore skin vitality. However, here are some foods
to avoid where possible in order to keep your skin as healthy as possible:
·
fried foods (chicken, French fries)
·
processed sugars
·
caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks
·
high fat dairy products like milk or cheese (consuming low fat
varieties of milk and cheese may not be great, but they are better for your
skin!)
Now the best thing that you can ingest for improved skin care is water. That’s
right, water. Water naturally removes toxins from your body-so the more you
drink of it, the purer your body will be. Drinking lots of water is especially
good for people with acne problems and it will also help reduce the onset
of wrinkles.
Skin Care Problems Due to Sebaceous Gland Problems
If you have ever been to a dermatologist because of acne problems then you
are probably very familiar with sebaceous glands. Because the skin needs
to be lubricated, it is covered with oil secreting glands known as sebaceous
glands. If these glands become clogged with dirt, then bacteria begin growing
inside and a pimple is the result. However, sebaceous glands can either become
clogged and dry skin is caused or they can produce too much and cause oily
skin. More often than not, problems with the sebaceous glands are due to
poor diet and can usually be corrected rather easily.
Skin Care Problems Due to Diabetes
Believe it or not, even diabetes can cause you serious skin care problems.
A person with diabetes has trouble regulating the blood sugar levels. When
there is an excess of blood sugar in the body, the excess must be absorbed.
To do this, the body uses a lot more water than normal and that can lead
to dry skin.
Skin Care Treatment for Dryness
While diet must always be part of any skin care treatment regimen, it is just
a simple fact that our bodies will need more help as we age. For this reason,
a moisturizer of some sort will ultimately be needed. To this end, it is
HIGHLY recommended that you use a natural skin moisturizer.
Moisturizers using natural ingredients are far less likely to cause the irritating
side effects mentioned earlier. Synthetic ingredients are often less expensive
to use in moisturizers but they are not the best skin care option because
the body is less receptive to them. Natural ingredients, on average, cause
fewer side effects and are therefore better where skin moisturizers are concerned.
Skin Care for Wrinkles
Wrinkles are probably the biggest cause of all skin care treatments in the
United States. As a person ages, the skin naturally becomes less elastic.
As a result, fine lines begin to form on the face which ultimately become
the wrinkles we hate so much. There are two main skin care strategies when
it comes to wrinkles: affect the muscles that reveal the wrinkles or fill
in the skin so the wrinkles are less noticeable. The first strategy involves
Botox and the second Collagen injections.
Botox Skin Care
A person is actually having a strain of Botulism injected in their face when
they opt for Botox skin care treatment. Botox actually interrupts the transmission
of nerve impulses to the muscles that reveal our wrinkles. It may sound radical,
but these injections do actually reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the
face for a significant period of time. Now these injections can be costly
and they must be repeated-but they are generally affective.
Collagen Injection Skin Care
Many people have a serious misperception about collagen injections. The perception
is that collagen is a form of fat that is injected into your face to fill
in the lines caused by wrinkles. Actually, collagen is an effective form
of skin care treatment for wrinkles not because it is fat-but because it
is protein. In fact, collagen is a special protein that helps cells and blood
vessels connect to one another. When this happens, the wrinkles fade because
the collagen helps the skin to “rebuild” in areas where wrinkles
form and actually fill in the lines. Again, collagen treatments tend to work
but they also are expensive and need to be repeated.
Natural Anti-Wrinkle Creams
A cheaper, but slower, alternative to expensive skin care treatments for wrinkles
is a simple cream. Anti-wrinkle creams work to rebuild the skin texture and
helps with the elasticity over time. However, unlike Collagen or Botox injections,
anti-wrinkle cream skin care treatment is only applied to the skin surface.
This is why it takes so much longer. Still, an anti-wrinkle cream is a cost-effective
and non-invasive treatment for wrinkles that does work if given enough time.
Again, in order to reduce possible side effects, stick with creams that use
natural ingredients as they will react better with your skin.
For a natural skin care product, try SkinSoSilky today to help manage any of your anti aging, acne, or dry skin care needs.