Posts Tagged ‘adult acne’

BEHIND BEAUTY: The Truth About Adult Acne

Once I was out of my teen years, I thought I’d be acne free… No such luck. Adult acne can continue well into your 20s, 30s and beyond.

Unlike teenage acne, which is primarily triggered by hormonal fluctuations, Adult Acne can be triggered by a variety of causes. Clogged pores, Stress, hormones, inferior cosmetics, skincare and styling products, all contribute to adult acne.

Using inferior products is one of the largest Adult Acne causes. Some ingredients in non-professional makeup, hair and skin products can irritate skin, especially for sensitive skin. Oil based makeup and hair products can clog pores causing blackheads.  Once clogged, bacteria can grow inside the pore, causing it to erupt into a nasty red blemish. Instead, consult an esthetician to help you replace your acne-causing products with professional ones that help you achieve a clear complexion.

A regular exfoliation routine is a key component in preventing breakouts and keeping your skin glowing. By regularly removing the dead skin cells from the surface, you reduce the chance they will end up clogging your pores.

Some hormone fluctuations, especially the release of cortisol caused by stress, are another cause of adult acne. Additionally, Women are likely to see intermittent breakouts through till menopause a few days before their periods due to natural hormone fluctuations.

Whether your diet influences your breakouts is a hotly debated topic in the esthetics industry. Even science can’t seem to make a decision. The latest research out of Australia suggests that foods with a high sugar content may be more likely to cause breakouts. Additionally, some research suggests that dairy products may be the culprit. It can be confusing trying to sort through all the research out! However, most estheticians agree that the majority of food related breakouts are the result of an allergic sensitivity and can be caused by a variety of factors. By embracing foods with higher nutrient value, such as vegetables and fresh fruits, your diet can improve your overall skin health.

Contact with unclean surfaces, such as cell phones, pillow cases, and hands can increase the amount of bacteria on the skin leading to more frequent breakouts. Make sure to wipe down your cell phone thoroughly at least once a week. Launder your pillowcases on a regular basis. Some estheticians recommend changing them up to 3 times a week! Finally, try to keep your hands off your face. Our hands are in contact with some pretty dirty surfaces throughout the day, computer keyboards, public transit rails, doorknobs and more! Avoid spreading bacteria by washing your hands frequently.

• Invest in a cleanser that will completely remove makeup and regulate oil production.
• Exfoliate with a gentle mask or scrub. If you prefer a chemical exfoliant, try a gentle AHA/BHA peel.
• Apply a Benzoyl Peroxide product directly to healing blemishes
• Opt for a clay based or  soothing masque to prevent skin irritation from treatment

Adult Acne should not be treated the same as teenage acne. As you age, your skin ages with you. The products that were effective in your teens may actually worsen acne for mature skin. If you’re not seeing the results you’d like with your home care, consult your local esthetician. She will be able to recommend a routine specific to your skin.

We recommend the following kits:

VivierSkin Oily or Acne Prone Skin System (6 PC)
Obagi CLENZIderm Acne Therapeutic System Normal-Oily Skin
GM Collin 3 pc Travel Kits – Acne

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Discover… Pangea Organics

Spa Boutique is excited to announce the newest addition to our growing organic family, Pangea Organics!  A natural line that believes beauty should be organic, cruelty-free and nutrient dense. Concentrated formulas eliminate filler so  your skin feels only the best botanicals, oils, and nutrients nature has to offer.

With so many award-wining products, it’s hard to know where to start! We recommend checking out the Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Lip Balm. The light rose and citrus scent is a perfect way to gear up for Valentine’s Day! This 2008 Natural Solutions Beauty With A Conscience winner, and Real Simple Magazine Pick is packed with essential oils. This Lip Balm protects and soothes while providing a deep level of hydration. Also available in Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom and Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange!

The Canadian Pine with White Sage Hand Soap is a fantastic way to begin introducing Pangea Organics into your home. Winner of The Healing Life Styles and Spas Earth Day Award, talk about a soap that is not only antiseptic but hydrating and refreshing too! Available as a Bar Soap or Body Wash, the pine scent leaves your sink or shower naturally fresh. 

Discover Pangea Discovery Kits! With a wide range of skin options, from combination, dry or blemish prone, there’s a start set for everyone.  Each 6 piece Pangea Organics Discovery Kit includes a Facial Cleanser, Facial Toner, Facial Cream, Facial Scrub, Facial Mask and Eye cream in a convenient sample size.  Each product comes in a different scent- a great way to get to know their entire line!

Oily skin? Try the Oily to Blemish-Prone Discovery Kit; hydrating without adding surface oil. The weightless hydration and sebum-control calms surface inflammation. As part of your morning, this kit provides a fantastic foundation for make-up!

Looking to renew dry, damaged skin?  The Normal to Dry Discovery Kit uses nutrients and botanicals to provide superior hydration as well as work some anti-aging magic!

Combination Skin? We’ve got you covered! The Normal to Combination Discovery Kit offers the best of both worlds. With nature’s best anti-aging, purifying and soothing ingredients, this kit replenishes dull, dehydrated or sun damaged skin.

Great news! Pangea Organics are considered safe for pregnancy (even the scented ones!) due to the concentration levels of their essential oils.  Pangea Organics produces their products with as many Vegan ingredients as possible. The products selected for Spa Boutique are Gluten-Free. All Pangea Organics products are cruelty free and have a shelf-life of up to 12 months once opened.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Achieving an Even Skin Tone: how to prevent and treat hyperpigmentation

In the past, anti-aging skincare was all about combating wrinkles, texture issues, and sagging skin.  Nowadays, evening out skin tone (reducing dark spots) plays a huge role in achieving a more youthful looking skin.

The problem is that most of us didn’t realize the damage that was happening to our skin (by not using a daily SPF product) until it was too late.  Now we are all scrambling to find the best answer to lighten pigmentation spots without wasting our money on the latest ‘miracle in a jar’.  Is it really possible to lighten dark spots on your skin with a cream or a masque that we see on TV commercials and in magazine ads? Probably not.  Let’s face it, getting rid of dark spots on the skin takes a lot of time and effort and one simple product is just not going to do the job.  What we need is a skincare system designed for our skin’s needs and we need to use it properly and diligently.

Obagi Medical is a leader in complete skin rejuvenation using specific top-quality ingredients to prevent and correct all types of skin conditions including skin with hyper/hypo-pigmentation.  Obagi is most well-know for their Nu-Derm system  which effectively treats all signs of aging and evens out skin tone using products that contain proven pigmentation lighteners like arbutin or hydroquinone.  Another excellent system is the Obagi-C RX System which also has products which contain arbutin and hydroquinone, but the Obagi-C system also contains premium grade Vitamin C in the L-Ascorbic Acid form.  This form of Vitamin C penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen synthesis as well as acts an an powerful antioxidant which protects your skin from harmful free radical damage.

Here is a brief breakdown of each Obagi System for lightening skin pigmentation:

The Obagi Nu-Derm FX System (with arbutin) is suitable for anyone with no to mild pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, texture issues, and/or adult acne.

The Obagi Nu-Derm System (with hydroquinone) is suited for anyone with mild to stubborn pigmentation (including melasma), fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, texture issues, and/or adult acne.

The Obagi C-FX System (with arbutin) is made for anyone with no to mild pigmentation, minimal signs of aging, and mild texture issues.

The Obagi-C RX System (with hydroquinone) is excellent for anyone with mild to moderate pigmentation, minimal signs of aging, and mild texture issues.

Each system comes in a starter set with full sized products and it is highly recommended to use all of the products in the set for best results.  Additionally, a prescription retinol (Vitamin A) may be added to the regime to greatly boost results.  The daily use of an SPF product is mandatory and if it is not properly used you should not expect to achieve good results.  A daily SPF is not only necessary during treatment, but continuously after treatment as well to prevent recurring pigmentation damage as well as skin aging.

Watch to learn more about each system>>

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

The Benefits of Alpha Hydroxy Acids

AHA’s are probably one of the most versatile and multi-purpose ingredients when it comes to skin care. They can be useful to both oily/acneic skin types and the “mature” skin group. This is a rare combination!

AHA’s increase exfoliation by loosening the “glue” that holds skin cells together. In doing so dead skin cells are removed,  oil is controlled, the look of fine lines is reduced, skin coloring is improved and the tone is evened out. All glowy and smooth.

Sounds win/win to me. So why are some more effective or popular than others? Are there side effects? Why do they work?

Why the other AHA’s are jealous of Glycolic.

You know when you see a ridiculously beautiful person and wonder why they won the genetic lottery? Well, Glycolic Acid is the pretty, intelligent, talented sister of the AHA’s. It has a smaller molecular structure and goes further into the skin. Because it penetrates so well, the exfoliation is more complete.

Overview of the overlooked AHA’s.

Lactic: We’ve all heard the “Cleopatra bathing in milk” story. There is a reason. Lactic acid usually comes from soured dairy products and is gentler than Glycolic. With the larger molecules they don’t absorb as deep, therefore cause less irritation, it’s wonderful for more sensitive skins. Exfoliating, softening, moisturizing and humectant-y (holds water in the uppers layers of the epidermis=firm and plump!) lactic is definitely not to be ignored.

Malic: The sour acid. Found in unripe fruit, tart foods and especially apples, Malic is a gentle exfoliant that is smoothing. It does have anti-oxidant properties, but those are mostly from ingesting the foods it’s found in. Like sour keys. Kidding. There’s no research to indicate that it’s topically beneficial in slowing the aging process, but it does provide a little more exfoliation when included in products. It’s molecules are twice the size of glycolic acid so it doesn’t go anywhere as deep.

Tartaric: Oh Tartaric. You try, you really do. This is a by-product from the grapes used to make wines. It has very minimal benefits, but enough that during the middle ages wine was used as a skin treatment by hip, castle-dwelling ladies to get glowing skin.

Citric Acid: Completely deserving of its own post, we’ll touch on this quickly.  Vitamin C  can be extremely unstable in liquid or lotion products. When exposed to air or sunlight it oxidizes very quickly and actually causes free radical damage once that happens. Stabilized vitamin C is available but is very expensive so will come with a higher price tag accordingly. In those siuations it does wonders for stimulating collagen growth and brightening the skin beautifully. Vitamin C derivatives (Ascorbyl Plamitate and Magnesium Ascorbyl  Phosphate) are more stable and less irritating but may may not be AS effective. More research is needed!

Either way, beware cheap products that claim Vitamin C as an ingredient, they won’t work because as an effective ingredient it is pricey, no getting around that. Packaging usually needs to be opaque and in an airtight pump.

Are they safe?

What makes this interesting is that because of how deep Glycolic Acid can go it almost takes AHA’s into the realm of being categorized as a drug. Almost. The Cosmetic Ingredients Review Report last looked into them in 1998 and the FDA should hopefully be doing a review again soon. As a result the percentages and pH are strictly implemented to protect the consumer.

• For home use 10% or below and a pH of 3.5 or higher
• Cosmetologists can use 20-30% with a pH of no less than 3
• Dermatologists and doctors can use  50-70%, but this results in severe peeling and redness, some oozing…usually with a recovery time of a week or two.

What terrifies me while writing this is the amount of high percentage glycolics available on online auction sites for anyone with absolutely no training. Shudder.

So use only the suggested percentages for home use! When that’s done, you get all the beautiful  advantages of AHA’s and no face melting.

AHA’s are water soluble and less irritating to the skin than benzoyl peroxide, which makes them great for acneic skin. If you can find an AHA product that has salicylic in it, even better! Because it’s fat-soluble, it can dissolve the oil that clogs pores, lifting out the bacteria and exfoliating away the clumped skin cells.

There can still be side effects of redness, tingling and some itching though. A small amount is ok, but if it becomes unbearable, just rinse away with water.

Tips for types of AHA products.

• It can cause photo sensitivity, try and use the fewest amount of AHA products in your regime as possible and always wear sunscreen. Always. Go put some on right now.
• AHA cleansers don’t really make a lot of sense unless you spend at least two minutes washing your face. The AHA needs to be absorbed and that takes time. Applying and then rinsing does keep your sink drain exfoliated and young looking though.

Conclusion

AHA’s are wonderful. There is one out there for everyone if it’s used properly and instructions are followed. They really do improve the look of skin, people just need to be  careful! Thank you to @ahalchemist for some great info on AHA’s. Because information hasn’t been updated in a decade it can be difficult to find relevant studies.

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Acne Skin Care Tips: How To Treat and Prevent Pimples

 

We get a lot of questions about how to best deal with pimples. Harsh medications, completely natural remedies and everything in between exist for treatment. The reason why there are SO many products is that it’s an extremely complicated issue and unfortunately not everything works for everybody. Take heart though! There is a solution for you; it’s just a matter of being patient and finding the right one.

A pimple can be in the works for a couple of weeks before it decides to make itself known. Acne varies in degrees from mild (a few spots here and there) through to severe cystic acne (large, painful nodules that cover most of the area affected), and can occur on arms, chest, backs and shoulders.

Who gets acne?
Acne can pretty much affect anyone at any age. Women who’ve gone most of their lives with clear skin can find that pregnancy or menopause makes their skin go crazy. Or some just suffer from it during the already tempestuous teenage years and then clear right up. A large percentage of adults now experience an onset in their 20’s and 30’s .

Why do we get acne?
Isn’t that the million dollar question? There can be many factors that contribute to acne, sometimes even a combination of them. Some of them linked to acne are:

• Hereditary: There is a tendency for acne to run in families, so thank your parents!
• Hormones: Over production of the oil glands can be influenced by the hormone androgen. Puberty, stress, menstrual cycles and pregnancy increase production of  it, resulting in more breakouts during those times, also be aware of medications that cause an increase of hormone production.
• Build up of skin cells: If the dead skin cells don’t shed properly, they stick around and create places for bacteria and oil to buildup.
• Bacteria: P. acnes is the culprit. It thrives without oxygen, so those pores filled with oil and skin cells are a perfect breeding ground.

It isn’t caused by dirt or a lack of hygiene. The jury is still out on whether or not diet affects your skin. But diet affects most things about our body, so it doesn’t hurt to be responsibly and eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water. I don’t think you can ever feel bad about that.

So finally, here are ten tips to gain control over your acne:

1. Be consistent and patient: Your body does not rest when it comes to producing oil and skin cells. When you start a system, do every step-every day, and give yourself time to see results. Most acne products may cause you to break out a bit more for a short amount of time, this is ok. It’s awful, but it means all the bacteria are being flushed out of the skin, and your skin will be healthier. Give a product at least a month before you decide if it works. Of course this is barring any other negative reaction i.e.: burning, redness or swelling. If that happens, stop using the product.
2. Use the right products: Look for ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These are proven to help control acne. Try and use products with the lowest percentage possible that still give you results. They can be a little drying so you absolutely must use an oil-free moisturizer and sun-screen. Also only use makeup that is non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause breakouts).
3. Follow the instructions! I know this sounds obvious. But you’d be surprised how many times I’ve seen people using a drying treatment as a moisturizer and complaining about the results. Make sure you understand how to use each product and in which order. With stronger ingredients you may have to gradually get the skin used to them.
4. Cleanse: Cleanse daily, morning and evening. Use one designed for oily skin. This helps to dissolve the oil and remove any debris or makeup, making the next steps more effective. The cleanser shouldn’t make your skin feel tight, but it should feel soft and clean.
5. Exfoliate: Gently exfoliating removes the clogging dead skin cells and improves texture. People with oily and acneic skin tend to like to scrub the heck out of their skin. This has the opposite effect than what they want. Our goal here is to balance the skin, not strip it entirely of the oils and irritate it. Over exfoliating can stimulate the oil glands. We don’t want that. There are many different ways to effectively and gently exfoliate. Alpha Hydroxy Acids loosen the bonds between dead skin cells and they can then be washed away. Mechanical exfoliants (with little beads or grains, or gommages which are gently rubbed off the skin) pull the dead cells away from the fresh new ones and then are rinsed away.
6. Tone: This is an extremely important step that is often skipped or done incorrectly. It finishes the cleansing process (what’s shampooing without conditioning?) and helps to dissolve oil and re-balance the skin. Make sure to use a professional quality toner. They’re gentler and often moisturizing as well. Cheaper ones contain alcohol which just dry out the skin and can irritate. A good ingredient to look for in a toner is salicylic acid. It dissolves the sticky oil inside the follicle.
7. Moisturize: Even with oily skin, moisturizing is important. After the other steps, if a moisturizer isn’t applied, the skin can overcompensate and create MORE oil. So save yourself the frustration and finish with an oil-free moisturizer. They’re light and specifically designed for that skin type and shouldn’t cause more breakouts.
8. Extras: There are spot treatments, masks and serums available to enhance whatever program you’re using. Make use of these. Masks are extremely underused but very effective. Look for clay masks that absorb oil while providing valuable nutrients. Spot treatments are fantastic for getting rid of any stubborn little guys.
9. Standard No No’s: Don’t squeeze, pick or touch! This is the hardest to do, but leave them alone and allow the products to work. Keep things that touch your face clean: pillow cases, cell phones, hands and hair. This will prevent old oils and skin cells from getting back onto the skin.
10. Pay attention to results: Whether positive or negative. I remind you, there are a lot of great products out there, but you have to find the one that works for YOU. If your skin gets too dry, make sure you’re using the right moisturizer, don’t just stop using the other products. Professional products use higher quality and more active ingredients, which doesn’t just mean clear skin. It means healthy, hydrated and glowing skin.

 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the topic of this blog!  Feel free to post your comments or questions below.  As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!