SKINTUITIVE

The Benefits of Plant Stem Cells

2011-12-28T14:52:00.000-08:00

Plant stem cells help to protect longevity of skin stem cells, delay biological aging of essential cells, preserve the youthful look and vitality of skin and promote skin's ability to regenerate. Plant stem cells show remarkable promise, and they are already proving themselves to be powerful skin healers. Unlike most cells in an organism that are specialized, stem cells are full of potential and have the ability to develop into various types of cells, and they can also repair and replace damaged cells by dividing almost limiltlessly. One area of research for stem cells is in treating skin problems, such as acne, wrinkles, visible capillaries and sun damage. The inspiration for using plant stem cells in skin care came from an unusual source: an almost extinct apple tree in Switzerland. Originally bred in the 18th Century for their incredible shelf life, Uttwiler Spätlauber apples had an ability to heal itself. When an apple was scratched while still on the tree, the skin would quickly regenerate and close the wound.

No Magic Potions

2011-07-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to talk about taking care of your skin as a whole body approach. There definitely are some products you should start using as you get a little older that do make a difference as far as keeping your live skin cell production going, sloughing off the dead skin cells and aiding in collagen stimulation. Alpha hydroxy acids, apple stem cells and retinols are all great products (which I will discuss in my next post) but even more important is your lifestyle. NUTRITION, REST, EXERCISE and HAPPINESS. Nutrition: Your skin is your largest organ so put something noursihing into your body.... vegetables and fruits the more colorful the better. Dairy products can add mucous to your stomach and cause acne so limit your intake. If your concerned about calcium some great alternatives to dairy are: broccoli, almonds, kale, asparagus, soybeans and tofu. Eat lean meats and fish. Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 essential fatty acids (salmon, mackerel, sardines). If you are looking for good non animal sources of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids try flax seed oil and evening primrose oil. Drink plenty of pure water. Rest: Your body needs a good 6-8 hours of rest every day so it can repair and renew itself, regulate hormone levels and maintain proper levels of serotonin in your brain. Exercise: One of the skins major functions is to eliminate toxins so you need to sweat every day. Exercise also gives you more energy, relieves stress and gives you a general feeling of well being. Happiness: Your state of mind can make you look young!! We all go through hard times and get depressed. Being unhappy weighs you done and zaps your body of energy. When your feeling stressed and unhappy your bodies circulation of blood actually slows down and deprives your skin and body of needed oxygen. I have started to make a conscious effort before I get out of bed to think of all the things I have in my life to be grateful for and I get up feeling great. So smile it uses less energy than frowning:)

Enzyme Facials

2011-07-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Enzyme Facials are a great summer skin care treatment. These treatments unclog the pores, make extraction very easy and leave your skin feeling fresh and clean. If you are taking a break from your more intense treatments for the summer, due to sun exposure, do yourself a favor and switch to enzyme facials. Using sunblock, bronzers, etc. clog the pores and leave a build up on the skin. Also, neglecting your skin for months will leave your skin feeling out of shape. Good skin care is like going to the gym or the dentist...it requires you to maintain a healthy balance throughout the year in order for it to function properly and look its best.

Glycolic Peels

2011-06-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Glycolic peels are one of my favorite non invasive treatments. They are good for just about any skin type. The acids range in strength and time duration depending on your sensitivity. Peels are best done in a series of 4-6 treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart. During this series you will experience a softer, cleaner, more even skin tone and texture, with the added bonus of smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, truly brightening your complexion.This helps to shed dead skin cells while rejuvenating your live skin cells and aids in stimulating your collagen. A definite in your age management routine and leaves your skin feeling amazing. If you are a sun worshipper this may not be the treatment for you. Peels make your skin more sun sensitive for a few days so you need to use sun protection. The great thing about this treatment is if they are done properly and you are well informed there is no down time.

Beauty Foods

2011-06-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Healthy skin, requires a good supply of vitamin A, some of which our body synthesizes from beta carotene, a plant source of vitamin A. Carrots, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes and apricots are great sources. Oily fish, walnuts, flax seeds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and their oils, are rich in essential fats and vitamin E, which also plays a role in maintaining healthy skin. The B vitamins, along with iron and zinc, are important for healthy skin, hair and nails, and can be found in brown rice, oats, sardines, pumpkin seeds, raisins, broccoli, peas and sweet potatoes.

Antioxidants

2011-06-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

A great source of antioxidants... Get your Vitamin C on. In order for Vitamin C to really work you need to use L-ascorbic acid with at least 15% to penetrate the skin. This is a great free radical scavenger and can protect your skin and help to reverse sun damage. Most serums should be refrigerated because they go rancid very easily. If your serum is getting dark yellow or brown it has gone bad. When applying Vitamin C it is the first application to the skin after cleansing. I advise using this product during the day... this is a must during the summer because of its potential to protect your skin from the sun, but not to be considered an alternative to sunblock.

Sunscreen

2011-06-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs to wear sunscreen. It's very important to make sure your sunscreen has a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.There are several companies that have over 60 spf and I am not a fan of these high percentages. I think a 30 spf is perfect. You may need to reapply this if you are outside for the whole day, but in my opinion it's better than having the additional chemicals that are necessary to acquire stronger sunblocks. I don't like the idea of more chemicals entering your skin and the possibility of these chemicals being altered when mixed with the natural radiation from the sun.