It’s time to review and renew your skincare regime

It’s getting towards that time of year, the sun’s starting to fade, the days are getting shorter and we’re starting to think about adding layers in preparation for winter. Our skin has been fighting the elements, sun, sea, not to mention the extra cold air condition causing dehydration. The skin may also be getting dry and flaky and in need of a pick me up. A wholistic approach is best. Good nutrition will give you benefits in making you feel better on the inside and give your skin some nutrients. Remember that only 10% of the nutrients you consume make it to the skin which is why topical skincare is necessary.

Invest in a high-grade Vitamin C and A to stimulate collagen production and boost cell turnover. Your skin care should be chirally correct meaning the ingredients are specifically made to ‘lock in’ to target cells with no inactive components. This is especially important with Vitamin C. Have you heard of L-ascorbic acid? The L stands for levo which means left therefore, it targets the left receptor of the cell, the active receptor, to accept the ingredients into the cell. Vitamin A should be use with caution depending on the percentage and the type of vitamin A used in the product. The many forms of vitamin A are confusing and it’s always best to do your research as some types do not readily convert into the form the skin needs. There are three main types of Vitamin A used in skincare – Retinoic acid, Retinol and Retinyl palmitate. Retinoic acid is a good one to look out for as this is the active form that the body can use. Retinol needs to be converted to retinoic acid where as retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid.

Another important factor when comparing skincare is to look at the percentage of active ingredients. Australian restrictions mean that our levels in skincare are lower for Vitamin A than the U.S., but this is not necessarily a bad thing. High levels and incorrect usage can cause irritation on the skin. As a rule, you should ease vitamin A in to your skin care routine, introducing it a few times a week then building it up over three weeks until the skin is used to it.

Vitamin B is a great all-rounder, particularly Niacinamide (vitamin B3). It helps to maintain the skin’s natural barrier preventing trans-epidermal water loss which can lead to dehydration. This is when the cells shrink on the surface as they die off leaving gaps in between each cell. This makes the skin more prone to water evaporating as well as irritation from ingredients penetrating too quickly between the gaps. Niacinamide also helps prevent melanin transferring into the cell which makes it a great adjunct for anyone who dealing with pigmentation issues on their skin. Another great benefit is that it helps control oil production balancing out sebum levels so it’s very beneficial if you’re trying to minimise breakouts on the skin. Add to the fact that it has been proven to reduce lines thus making Vitamin B3 essential to any skin care regime.

If you would like to revamp your skin care regime and discuss your skin’s needs, please call our Dermal Clinician Chrys who will be happy to consult with you to find a regime and treatment plan tailored to your needs.

For Bookings call: 02 9387 3900