Jhoenna has taken her 15 years of experience in the beauty industry and known expertise to develop the Dérmica line of results-driven esthetic treatments that are sure to surpass your expectations!
It’s that time of the year again! People are flying all over the globe for the holidays. In all of our excitement, we often forget about flight skin care and the effects flying can have on our skin.
What is happening?
Our skin is more prone to infections and buildup when flying due to the recirculated stale air in the cabin. When you share air in a confined space with that many people you are exposed to many contaminants. In addition, the air is dry and arid so your skin can become dehydrated. This results in dull skin complexion and dead skin/oil build up.
Aside from the air, you are exposed to bacteria in the airports and your flights. Many of us don’t realize how often we touch our face. Bacteria transfer is just one touch away.
What is the solution?
Your main skin care focus after a flight should be to refresh and rehydrate your skin. You can do that with exfoliation. Acids are a great way to rebalance the skin’s ph. Also, hyaluronic acid for after care will help rehydrate your skin.
Chemical peels are nice after a flight because they are able to break through the layer that has built up. It is the best way to break through because most exfoliants are unable to dissolve the “glue and gunk” that holds the dead skin at the surface.
Facials -pre or post flight?
Definitely pre-flight! We recommend facials as a great way to prepare for a vacation. Especially the Beauty facial– your brows and skin are ready to go and receive a healthy dose of sun.
Post-flight you may want to focus on damage control, such as peels and photofacials.
You can get peels sooner than photofacials. More specifically, you can come in as early as one week after your return flight or last sun exposure. On the other hand, you have to wait until your tan subsides to get a photofacial. This can take anywhere from 2 weeks to longer.
Customizing your winter skin care routine will help you combat the drying and flaking effects of the season. The following tips should help you address flaking skin on the face this winter.
Use Hyaluronic Acid for added moisture. This excellent hydrating ingredient can attract and hold 1000 times its weight in water, making it a must have for dry skin. Try Glo’s HA-Revive Hyaluronic Hydrator with a powerful antioxidant combination of phyto-retinol and hyaluronic acid.
Also, exfoliate every 2-3 days. This ensures that your skin is always fresh and reaping the benefits of your skin care product ingredients. For those who enjoy a regular scrub try Glo’s Hydra Bright Polishing Cleanser with Salicylic Acid (BHA), amino acids, and gentle Jojoba beads.
Use skin scrubs that are made specifically for the face. It may be easy to reach for the body scrub in the shower, but the granules are not shaped or sized for use on sensitive skin such as the face. Facial scrubs contain micro beads that are smooth and will not cause tears in the skin.
Another option is enzyme exfoliation. Enzyme exfoliation eliminates scrubbing altogether and acts on a chemical level “eating away” at the dead skin.
Another tip is using Lactic Acid for AHA benefits. This hydrating milk acid is excellent for gently dissolving surface cells, boosting hydration, and balancing pH, and brighten dull complexion. Try Glo’s Hydra-Bright AHA Hydrator with benefits of vitamin C and lactic acid.
We hope these tips help you to keep your skin happy and healthy throughout!
When using a BHA such as salicylic acid at home as a treatment or for maintenance for the skin, the ideal dosage is between 0.5-2% for professional products. Anything lower than that is ineffective. Salicylic acid for home care use typically comes in the form of a serum. The serum can be combined in a moisturizer. It can also come in the form of an exfoliant or a cleanser.
If you are using a salicylic-based serum it is important to combine it with a moisturizer. More specifically, a moisturizer that contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. Acneic skin types should go for an oil-free moisturizer.
On the other hand, if you have a sensitive skin type or rosacea, you would benefit from a soothing moisturizer that has calming ingredients such as aloe vera.
Notes for BHA Home Use
If you are using salicylic acid serum, it is important to let it sit until it is fully absorbed before applying a moisturizer. If you have sensitive skin or if you are new to using acids on your skin, it is recommended that you apply 2-3 times a week in the evening after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Do this for two weeks or until you notice that the sensitizing effects have reached a plateau. From there you can start using it on daily basis and even up to twice a day.
Avoid using salicylic acid serum around the eye area as it can be drying.
Product recommendations for cleansing
If you are looking to introduce salicylic acid into your routine in a cleanser, try the Purifying Gel Cleanser. It is good for oily skin, congested skin, and for acne maintenance.
However, if you have severe acne or inflamed acne, try the Beta Clarity Cleanser. This one is also great for use on back acne.
If you have Rosacea or sensitive skin, try the Hydra-Bright Polishing Cleanser because you can use it as an exfoliant but also as a mild foaming cleanser on a daily basis.
Product recommendations for moisturizing
If you are using salicylic acid at home, you should be moisturizing as well.
For combo to oily skin types, we recommend an oil free moisturizer. Very oily to acne prone skin should try the Oil Control Emulsion. Keeping the skin hydrated when using salicylic acid is very important. Both of these moisturizers contain effective dosages of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid attracts and maintains hydration to hold 1000 times its weight in water.
On the other hand, if your are using BHA to treat sensitive skin, we recommend the Phyto Calm Aloe Hydrator. As the name implies, the aloe vera improves skin hydration and delivers strong anti-inflammatory benefits.
The betahydroxy acid (BHA) in your chemical peel works by lifting the stratum corneum (the upper layer of the skin). As it lifts, it dissolves the lipid layer between the dead skin cells. As a result, a fresh layer of skin cells is exposed that has a healthier and more active cell function than the dead layers that were exfoliated with the treatment.
Better Absorption of Products
In turn, the BHA in the treatment allows for better absorption of products applied to the skin. This is especially true for serums or other topicals being used to treat acne or blemishes; They are better able to reach the pores and target inflammation since there is no longer a layer of excess oil and dead skin blocking the way.
After a BHA chemical peel, you will also be able to achieve deeper cleansing on a daily basis. Again, this is due to decreased pore congestion and a reduced amount of oil barrier at the surface. Your cleanser is able to get into those pores and keep them clean which helps you maintain results.
Inflammation and Sensitivity Reduction
BHA chemical peels can also be used to treat inflammatory conditions of the skin, as well as sensitivity. This is due to the strengthening effects of betahydroxy acids. Also, BHA is part of the same family as anti-inflammatories such as aspirin. So, the BHA in chemical peels has anti-inflammatory properties.
Who should avoid BHA in chemical peels?
BHA is not suitable for people that are allergic to aspirin or other similar medications. People that are taking medications that cause photosensitivity or adverse reactions to the skin should avoid BHA treatments.
In addition, avoid BHA if you are using topical medications for skin conditions or are on oral medications for acne. It is always best to consult with your dermatologist, physician, or pharmacist, and go by their recommendations.
Seemingly perpetual dry skin in the winter is more common than you may think. When faced with cooler temperatures, your skin’s natural response is to slow it’s metabolic rate. This includes the rate at which your skin regenerates, known as the cell turnover rate.
The cell turnover rate of your skin determines how frequently dried cells at the surface shed and regenerate. When this process slows down, you get a buildup of dead cells that result in flaking skin, fine lines, and dry patches. These layers of dead cells also block vital nutrients and moisture from absorbing into the fresh cells. This is why no amount of product seems to relieve the dryness.
Introducing regular exfoliation to your skin care routine during the winter will help increase your cell turnover rate and maintain it at an active level.
Types of exfoliation
Exfoliation is achieved using chemical or manual exfoliants. While both offer resurfacing benefits, they differ in procedure and interaction with the skin.
Manual exfoliants (skin scrubs) will give a great skin scrubbing massage while sloughing away dead skin cells. Manual exfoliants are not recommended for sensitive or acneic skin types, or for people with large pores.
Enzymatic exfoliants contain fruit enzymes, AHA, or BHA. They react with the skin on a chemical level by dissolving the binding matter between the skin cells causing them to gently lift and rinse away. The active ingredients and intensity vary depending on concentration level and quality of the acids and enzymes.
Advanced skin treatments
Photofacials and chemical peels are excellent ways to eliminate flaking skin and bring plump new cells to the surface. Amongst the many benefits these treatments offer, they also speed up the skin’s cell turnover rate, boost collagen production, resurface, brighten complexion, and restore vital moisture and hydration.
Keeping your skin happy during the winter months is really quite simple…watch for the hints and DO as it asks! After all, your skin is your first line of defence and will show you who is BOSS when not tended to.
Extra oily this winter?
Your skin is constantly fluctuating with changes in the temperature and moisture levels in the air. With the winter being a dry season both indoors and outdoors your skin is under an accelerated rate of trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), an evaporation and diffusion of skin hydration.
Although water is what your skin requires, it compensates for the lost moisture by producing more oil. This causes a buildup of dead cells saturated in excess surface oils, clogged pores, and frequents breakouts. In order to restore your skins moisturizer balance and hydration, choose products containing hydrating (water) ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E.
Stay away from heavy creams and oil based products as these will only block and clog further.
Addressing WINTER oily skin at home
Use light gel cleansers free of parabens and sulfate. A thorough cleanse in the morning and double cleanse at night gives your skin the fresh cleanse it desires without stripping away vital moisture.
Using a hydrating toner or mist. This gives your skin a boost of hydration which helps your skin absorb moisture from deeper into the skin.
Moisturize regularly. Using a lightweight oil-free moisturizer morning and night while skin is still moist will provide the right amount of moisture without leaving your skin feeling heavy or greasy.
Spa treatments for WINTER oily skin
Photofacials, chemical peels, and traditional facials are a great way to give your skin a fresh start, balance pH levels, and deliver a much needed boost of nutrients for the season. They also help clear clogged pores, excess oil, remove painful blemishes before they spread, and diminish existing scars.