Good Skin Care Reviews

It’s hard to think about keeping your skin smooth and summer-ready when you’re in the thick of the coldest months of the year. During the winter months, though, skin hydration is just as important (if not more important) as it is during the warmer seasons. Although, it does take a little extra care and effort to keep skin smooth and supple. In the winter Here are some tips to help you keep your skin hydrated no matter what time of year.

Anatomy of Dry Skin

1. Drink Water

An imperative all year round, drinking water every day is one of the only ways to give your skin a natural glow, maintain its health, and keep it looking younger longer. During the winter months, drink just as much water as you would during the summer. Eating extra fruit and vegetables, or drinking tea or fruit juice (not from concentrate) will also help do the trick.

2. Exfoliate

We all know that exfoliation is an important part of skin care. During the winter, though, skin flaking is more common because of the cold winds and artificial heat and our skin needs a little extra scrubbing to get those dead cells off and allow moisturizers to do their job. Get a gentle facial exfoliate, like a homemade sugar scrub, and use it once or twice a week. Also, if you don’t already, start body brushing in the shower to get rid of dead skin and help improve circulation.

3. Change Your Shower Habits

Even though the cold weather makes us want to do nothing more than spend hours in a piping hot shower, this can actually be a disaster for our skin. First, water in general will dry your skin out. Hot water is even worse. So, if your skin is dry, take shorter showers with water at a lower temperature. Also, let the water evaporate naturally off your skin rather than towel drying, as this will allow some of the moisture to soak in.

4. Moisturize

Finding a moisturizer that works for you is the final step to getting supple skin during the coldest months of the year. Try a moisturizer with essential hydrating ingredients combined with the technology to lock moisture into the skin, like the new Hydradvance program, which is formulated perfectly for the winter months.

Byline:

This is a guest post from Jacelyn Thomas. Jacelyn writes about identity theft prevention for IdentityTheft.net. She can be reached at: jacelyn.thomas @ gmail.com.

Sonal Bahuguna:

Hair CareHair care with natural products makes it easier to maintain hair at home.

For women her hairstyle and texture of hair completely compliments her beauty if they are maintained and groomed well. It is add on to her beauty that makes her personality vibrant and appealing. Hair care is lot easier if properly done at home at regular period. It not only saves time but helps you understand what all amount of care your hair need to look beautiful. Natural products are very beneficial for hair as they keep your hair healthy. There are several natural care products that can help you regain lost shine of your hair.

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Because botanical and fruit extracts contain a multitude of vitamins, amino acids and flavonoids that feed the skin, they can easily ramp up the effectiveness of product or service without the addition of too many ingredients. Several examples of extracts that are rich in these components include the following:

Calendula extract: This extract has properties that make it an excellent ingredient in cleansers for all skin types, especially dry, sensitive and sunburned skin. The cleansing properties of calendula extract are attributed to saponin, a natural surfactant that foams and lathers when agitated in water, calendula extract also contains mucilage, a polysaccharide that has humectant and soothing properties making it a moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredient. This ingredient also contains flavonoids, thus exhibiting antioxidant properties.

Ginkgo bilobo extract: This extract can be a useful ingredient in any number of products, expecially leave-on products, such as facial moisturizers and massage oil. It has been studied as an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and sun care ingredient. In fact, the main, flavonoids proven to be effective in treating mature and sun-damaged skin are found in ginko biloba extract. Because flavonoids have the ability to penetrate the epidermal skin layer, they have some effect on the dermal layer as well. This property alone makes ginkgo biloba extract a noteworthy ingredient.

Watermelon extract: Rich in vitamin C and amino acids, watermelon extract is a powerful antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. Becasue of its antioxidant activity, watermelon extract is an effective ingredient for fighting free radicals released by sun exposure. The vitamin C content of this fruit extract also works well to gently exfoliate the skin without the use of physical exfoliants. True to form, this ingredient helps promote skin-cell regeneration, revealing a healthy, glowing skin tone. Watermelon extract lends itself well to both leave-on and rince-off products, including masks, cleansers and moisturizers for the face and body.

As consumers continue to demand natural and organic products, researchers are honing in on the power of a multitude of plant life for their skin benefits. Lavandou is is happy to offer the best in botanical and Organic products:

• Sothys
• Beauty Garden – by Sothys
• YonKa of Paris

When considering which extracts are best suited for your skin, it is important to understand the role various chemicals components play in skin care:

Vitamin A:  Also know as retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate and retinoic acid, is a tried and true anti-aging ingredient. Research has show that when applied topically, vitamin A can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As the skin ages, collagen production decreases, leading to thinner, less taut skin. Viotamin A has been show to increase the production of procollagen, the precursor to collagen production, and glycosaminoglycan, which is known to retain significant amounts of water. Thus, vitamin A aids in the the maintenance of skin structure and moisturization to reduce the signs of aging.

Vitamins C & E: Vitamin C and E are powerful antioxidants that can combat free radicals caused by sun exposure. Free radicals act as scavengers looking to find suitable mates. As a result, they attack structural components of the skin, such as collagen and elastin, which can lead to aging in the form of fine lines and wrinkles. Although vitamin A helps restore the skin post-aging, vitamins C and E are more preventive ingredients.

Flavonoids: Flavonoids are chemical components responsible for giving fruits, vegetables and plants their color. They are also known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Although most cosmetic ingredients merely treat the outermost layer of the skin, studies have shown that some flavonoids exhibit activity in both the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. Such flavonoids are excellent chemicals components for anti-aging and after-sun products, providing both short-term and long-term results. This is especially useful in tackling the damage caused by UVA (Aging) rays, which affect deeper layers of the skin, resulting in damage that isn’t immediately apparent.

Amino acids: Amino acids also play an important role in maintaining healthy, youthful skin. They are the building blocks of protein and because human skin is made of fibrous protein, amino acids are essential. The body can produce the majority of the amino acids it needs; however, essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be introduced via ingestion or applied topically. Because proper skin function and development is reliant on amino acids, they play an important role in the delivery and function of other skin care ingredients.

Lavandou is proud to represent the top brands that have developed a complete line of skin care products utilizing the finest chemical components available. Learn more:

• Jan Marini Skin Research
• Cellex-C
• MD Formulations

The peptide explosion began in the late 1980′s, when French scientiest JP Borel and F. Maquart found that the copper peptide pal-GHK (shorthand for the string of amino acids comprising the peptide) stimulated collagen synthesis, improved wound healing and played an overall role in regulating the skin remodeling process. In the late 90′s, another collagen pentapeptide fragment began making news: pal-KTTS. Palmitoyl pentapeptide, its generic name, is currently used in dozens of cosmetic products.

Pal-KTTS became the talk of the town after laboratory studies presented at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology in Paris in 2002 showed it could increase collagen synthesis. Later clinical studies indicated that applications of 3% Matrixyl (the proprietary name of the palmitoyl pentapeptide patented by French pharmaceutical giant Sederma) could significantly decrease both wrinkle depth and volue by as much as 45%. Peptides, such as Matrixyl, have made an important contribution to antiaging skin care.

Jan Marini Skin Care has been one of the leading skincare companies to take advantage of this newly discovered technology within their Age Intervention line.

Marini Lash Eyelash Conditioner is a proprietary and spectacular non-prostaglandin eyelash formulation that will give you amazingly gorgeous, dense and lush eyelashes… the eyelashes of your dreams! Marini Lash features a proprietary peptide blend which when combined with other essential factors produces extraordinary eyelash and brow enhancement.

New_MariniLash - Click to view dramatic results!

Marini Lash available in two convienient sizes from Lavandou Skincare, visit Jan Marini skin care

We get the question all the time: ‘What is the difference between the products sold at mass retail outlets and the Professional Skincare products’?  The short answer is: MARKETING.  This question comes up more often when the economy is weak and rightfully so as there is a notable gap in price points between the mass retail products and the Professional product lines.

The question was presented to Dr. Claudia Aguirre and her answer was a little more in-depth:  “The answer is yes. Although we cannot speak for every company out there, generally, mass market brands are more sensitive to pricing and will therefore use cheaper or fewer active ingredients. For example, a mass market brand will opt for a very low concentration of an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) to avoid potential issues with irritation in the general population. Professional products are sold with the added benefit of a thorough skin analysis and education from a professional skin care therapist. Therefore, these prescribed products will have higher levels of actives that will deliver results to those clients in need. Furthermore, some ingredients are very expensive and inevitably bring up the total cost of the product. Peptides are a great example. Mass market brands will either have no or very low concentrations of synthetic peptides, compared with professional lines that devote a greater amount of the formulation of these target-driven ingredients.’

Professional skincare lines, who have professionals assisting individuals with products to match their specific skin type and specific concerns, have products that maximize the active ingredients for maximum results. Something impossible to do for the uncontrolled distribution channels at mass.  Products that make a visible and tangible difference on the skin are in demand. Mass market brands tend to be more ‘beauty-oriented” and rely heavily on marketing.

Lavandou Skincare has partnered with the best of the best in Professional skincare companies such as: YonKa of Paris, Jan Marini Skin Research, Sothys, MD Formulations, Cellex-C, Dermal-K, Tend Skin and Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup.  Products produced by these companies are product specific and because they are prescribed by skincare professionals have the best active ingredients avilable

Pollution, cigarette smoke, exposure to UV rays, climate variation, and more: your face encounters harsh environmental factors
every day. These damaging factors generate a large quantity of free radicals, overwhelming the body’s self-defense
system: this is oxidative stress, which is responsible for premature aging of the skin and causes a dull, muddy complexion.Specially designed to fight this stress, Vital Defense Crème helps the skin to remain youthful; the skin is oxygenated, stress-free, glowing. *Free radicals play a major role in tissue balance. When present in excessive numbers, they attack cell membranes, altering the communication between cells. At the cutaneous level, they trigger premature aging.

The best defense against free radical damage is a good offense. Lavandou and YonKa understand the best approach is to nutralize the ‘free radical damage’ on a daily basis as part of your daily skincare regime. YonKa’s new Vital Defense does just that.

Biggest sins in skincare

Exfoliation & Moisturizing!

It’s been a harsh winter and looking in the mirror reveals our exposure to the cold weather with lower humidity, the harsh winds and extended periods sitting in controlled (heated) home or office environment.

It is this very exposure that creates a build-up of dead skin cells on the outer most layer of our skin. Our bodies become less efficient in sloughing off this top layer as we age. Removing this build-up of dead skin cells or exfoliation has a number of benefits. You will notice immediately that your skin feels smoother and the fine lines and wrinkles will be a little less noticeable. Your skincare products will be more affective as it becomes easier to penetrate deep into the dermis.

Lavandou Skincare has a line of ‘full spectrum’ sun protection products that are waterproof, contain an antioxidant and moisturizer for the most elegant feel:  Sun Protection

Moisturize – now that we have removed the dead skin cells we want to moisture our skin. Our skin becomes thinner as our dermis becomes dry, the collogen cells cannot renew themselves without proper moisture and this soo becomes visible in the mirror. Apply your favorite moisturizer booth AM and PM. It’s a good idea to feed the cellular level of your skin with hyaluronic acid which will absorb 100 times it’s weight in water.

The result – a full healthy skin structure that will provide a much improved reflection in the mirror.

DermStore.com is excited to unveil its Physician Strength section, the newest way to shop the skin care and cosmetics website. Continuing to set the standard for online beauty e-tailers, DermStore.com now features more than 50 doctor and spa-exclusive brands in the easy to navigate and informative Physician Strength Section.
“Our goal is to provide DermStore customers [...]