Showing posts with label Serums. Show all posts

Summer Skincare for Your Teen!


Do you remember your skincare routine from your teenage years? It's enough to make you want to scream a little in fear... Bar soap, sometimes no soap, and pounds of makeup. Yep, we remember those days well which is why we have devised some simple, fun routines for your teen to start positive skincare habits now. Their skin will thank them 30 years from now!

Even if your teen has great, clear skin it is still important to implement a routine into their daily life. They may not need as many steps as, say we... whose age shall not be mentioned do, but they can still get some strong results to maintain their healthy skin.

If your teen has troubled skin, we've got them covered as well. Read on to find out which routine is best for your teen, then bribe them anyway you can into using it! (we think video games or shoes work best).

Normal/balanced skin maintenance:



Purify
Clear
Replenish
Protect

Troubled/unbalanced skin treatment:



Deep Clean
Clarify
Clear Plus
Rescue
Protect
Skin Perfection Harmonized Water

If you'd like to introduce supplement habits with your teen, take a look at our internal wellness supplements including DIM which helps with hormonal skin troubles and any of our Harmonized Waters!

It is so important to teach your teens about positive and healthy habits, whether with food, hydration, exercise, work ethic and so on, we sometimes forget about the importance of healthy skin habits. Each routine features sun protection, which should be an important daily habit of you and your teen. Teaching them about keeping clean, clear skin can help boost confidence and boost the importance of self care and keep their skin from going off the rails later in life (adult acne anyone)? This summer is great timing to get them into a good skincare regimen.

Find out where to shop for your teen here.

Taking Skincare to the Next Level: Meet Catalyst AC-11

We recently completed a clinical study on Catalyst AC-11®, one in a series of three DNA Repair Serums. This is very exciting for Osmosis because the results are amazing! This study shows improvement in the appearance of actinic keratosis, capillary visibility, as well as the firming and elasticity of the skin, and more!

How is Catalyst AC-11® doing this? We utilize Vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid which is essential in forming proteins in the skin. We then take alpha ketoglutarate, a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle, to enhance the activity of L-ascorbic acid for even more protein production. By adding amino acids we also provide the skin with building blocks to create protein. This isn't your normal Vitamin C Serum though. The main focus: to repair damage in our DNA.

DNA is the essential communicator within our cells, instructing each cell how to function. With extensive damage that comes from normal aging processes, environmental exposures, and lifestyle, our cells perform less efficiently. Repairing that damage is essential to healthier, younger functioning skin.

Catalyst AC-11® taps into an innate repair mechanism called Zinc Fingers and a clinically proven DNA repair ingredient extracted from nature, AC-11™. Zinc Fingers are created by combining Vitamin C, amino acids, copper, and zinc. In our skin the repair DNA damage as well as cellular division and differentiation. AC-11™, on the other hand, is an extract from Cat's Claw that has powerful DNA repair ability and is clinically proven to correct and prevent the formation of Thymine-Thymine Dimers, a mutation in our DNA that occurs from UV exposure. It also decreases erythema, or redness, from excess sun exposure and improves immunity in our skin. These two repair mechanisms that are taking skincare to the next level are why Catalyst AC-11® is so good at repairing wounds, decreasing the appearance of capillaries and precancerous lesions along with improving firmness and elasticity.

With a cellular focus, we see results that far surpass other products on the market. We are now creating younger skin with permanent results.




4 Ways to Speed Up Your Morning Routine


Morning is the best time of day, a new beginning. The only thing keeping us from taking it on is our morning routine. If you're anxious to get out the door or if you have trouble waking up to your alarm, these tips will help you speed up your morning routine so you can get to your day and accomplish your goals faster.

Keep Your Products Organized 
Every second counts when you're in a hurry. If you find yourself shuffling product around to find your serum or moisturizer, you're wasting precious morning time! Organizing your products means you'll know exactly where to find them. Try placing them in the order you use them, then you'll know exactly where to reach for your serum instead of doing the shuffle. This can become a little unorganized after a couple of mornings, especially when every second counts. Not to worry, a little reorganization during your evening routine will make sure you're prepared for the next morning!

Cocktailing Your Serums
This is a great way to get your full skincare routine in less time. Your Osmosis Vitamin A Serum can be cocktailed with a DNA Repair Serum and Rescue. Pump your serums into your hand and massage into the skin. Don't forget to spray Clear (or Clear Plus) for added penetration once the skin becomes tacky.

If your morning routine includes StemFactor, you'll want to use that first and separate from your other serums. Applying other serums first, whether cocktailed or not, decreases the amount of penetration StemFactor will achieve.

P.S. This really goes for any serum! You'll want to apply the serum that is most relevant to the condition you're looking to target first so it gets the most penetration.

Add a Moisturizer to your Loose Base 
Need a quick tinted moisturizer? Pump your Osmosis Moisturizer into your palm, sprinkle your Osmosis Colour Loose Base on top, mix, and apply!

Create a Morning Playlist
You typically know how long it takes you to get ready and music is a great and energizing way to help you keep yourself on track. Create a playlist of your favorite morning tunes to listen to while you get ready, keeping in mind that the length of your playlist should match the time it takes you to get out the door in the morning. Singing along is encouraged!

Keep these tips in mind while you're getting ready and you'll find you're able to tackle your day a lot faster!

Is your skin AGE-ing?


by Corporate Educator, Jamie Palmer

Unfortunately, yes. All of us are experiencing the effects of aging skin from advanced glycation end
products (AGEs). This results from excess sugar in our blood stream attaching to collagen making it tough and aging it before its time which leads to wrinkles. The sugar-protein bonds form new molecules called AGEs. Over time they become more permanent and affect the ability of our fibroblasts to create collagen and they also produce free radicals increasing the aging process even more.


To help combat AGE-ing one should look to their diet and their skin care regimen. By maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and taking Elevate, excess blood sugar will stay low leaving less available to affect our skin. The food industry has also added AGEs to our diet by adding sugar to food and processing them at high heat. We are introducing the end product into our bodies by consuming things like french fries (yes they add sugar to them to make them tasty), barbequed meats and soda. AGE-ing occurs in our bodies just as it does in our skin and can lead to damaged DNA and disease processes. Elevate contains niacin and AC-11. These two ingredients will help prevent and diminish the damage that can occur from AGEs while reducing excess sugar in the body by fueling energy production. So there is less sugar available to cause damage and ingredients that repair and prevent the damage from AGEs.


Topically certain ingredients can help prevent AGE-ing when used daily. Vitamin B3, niacinamide, has been shown to decrease glycation and thus the advanced glycation end products that wreak havoc in our skin. Many of the Osmosis serums contain niacinamide because it is an important ingredient to support skin health and maintain youthful function.










So help stop AGE-ing in its tracks by taking Elevate and using Osmosis Vitamin A Serums daily. Your skin and body will thank you!

Simplifying Serums - Dr Johnson's Corner


Dr Johnson's Corner - April 2015


Simplifying Serums

The Osmosis Vitamin A Serums are the most powerful age reversing serums available. They allow the skin to help remodel itself through increased nutrition, immune repair and collagen and elasticity production.

We use Retinaldehyde which is the only Vitamin A that is proven to stimulate collagen as well as Retin A, works on rosacea, does not cause inflammation or skin sensitivity and is completely stable.

Our Vitamin A Serums are designed by the level of active and corrective ingredients to align with skin tolerance. Below is a guide to help understand our levels:

Renew

The strongest age reversing serum in the world, plain and simple (0.1% Retinal).

Correct

The second strongest, same active ingredients as Renew, but with less Retinaldehyde (.05% Retinal).

Calm

Focuses on redness in the skin; has the same amount of Retinadelyde as Correct but there is less niacinamide and more anti-inflammatories than both Correct and Renew.

Relieve

Focuses on redness and has the same active ingredients as Calm but with less Retinaldehyde (.025% Retinal).

Clarify

Focuses on blemished skin and has more acne related ingredients than age reversing ingredients; has the same amount of Retnaldehyde as Calm and Correct (.05% Retinal).
Some of the key ingredients you will find in our Vitamin A Serums include: Retinaldehyde, 1,3 Beta Gluca, Niaciniaminde, Willow Herb, Chlorella Vulgaris and Phosphatidylcholine.

Make the best of your Vitamin A Serums!

To use these incredible age-reversing serums we always recommend pairing them with the Clear or Clear Plus+ Harmonized Water spray to help provide you with even better penetration and a smoother feel.

To read more about the science behind Retinaldehyde and why we chose it, read this article by Dr Johnson. Afterwards, mosey on over to the Science Center where you can find published articles on our ingredients as well as research summaries for your expanded knowledge!


Serum Levels - Where to Start

by Ami Shvartzman, Director of Education


You may have noticed with some of our Osmosis Serums  that there is a new addition to the labels. Each Vitamin A and DNA Repair serum now reflects a level listed on the bottle. But what exactly do these levels mean?  Have no fear, we are here to help you crack the code!

As always, this system was designed with the Osmosis customer in mind. Each level listed on the bottle serves as a starting place for the skin care professional recommending the product. The levels were designed by aligning the activity level of the formulation with skin tolerance (i.e. how sensitive your skin is to these ingredients).  We felt that this was particularly important when recommending our Vitamin A and DNA Repair serum families.

Our Vitamin A serums all contain the active ingredient Retinaldehyde with our phosphatidylcholine delivery system. Retinaldehyde is the safest and least irritating form of Vitamin A on the market but has the same effectiveness as Retin A. Because of this strength, it is important that our customers (and their clients) remember to introduce these serums into their daily facial regime very slowly.  We have broken these serums out into 4 different levels and a specific Blemish Vitamin A serum to make this introductory process more seamless. These levels can be broken down into the following:

 
 
Level 1 – Relieve (.025% Retinaldehyde): Relieve is our level 1 vitamin A serum, designed for sensitive skin types who desire a dramatic restoration of the skin rejuvenation process. The most gentle of our vitamin A serums, this formula addresses skin immunity to allow for healing and repair.

 
 
 
Level  2 – Calm (.05% Retinaldehyde): Calm is our level 2 vitamin A serum, designed for moderately-sensitive skin types who desire a dramatic restoration of the skin rejuvenation process. It encourages the skin to calm inflammation, restore the protective barrier, increase skin nutrients and immune repair, rebuild the thin dermis, normalize oil, hydrate and firm.

 
 
 
 
Level 3- Correct (.05% Retinaldehyde): Correct is our level 3 vitamin A serum, designed for normal skin types who desire a dramatic restoration of the skin rejuvenation process. This formula sets up the ideal environment for aging skin to remodel itself through increased skin nutrients, collagen production and elasticity.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 4-Renew (.1% Retinaldehyde):  Renew is our level 4 vitamin A serum, designed for resilient or conditioned skin types who desire a dramatic restoration of the skin rejuvenation process. The most potent combination of fibroblast stimulators encourages the reversal of skin aging.

 
 
 
 
Blemish – Clarify (.05% Retinaldehyde): Clarify is Osmosis blemish serum clears blemishes, normalizes oil production, shrinks pores, increases skin's immune support, hydrates, calms inflammation, protects skin from UV rays, restores the epidermal barrier, and restores dermal thickness.

 
 
 
Please note that these levels do not necessarily indicate a progression and moving to a higher level of serum is not always necessary. However, if you do choose to increase to a higher level  serum, make sure that your skin is comfortable with the serum you are using at 2 pumps a day before transitioning.


When it comes to our DNA Repair Serums the active ingredient used is Vitamin C, specifically L-Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbyl Glucoside.  These forms of Vitamin C in these particular forms are supercharged antioxidants and are wonderful at helping to build proteins, decreasing hyperpigmentation and working synergistically with our products containing vitamin E. With that said, Vitamin C and particularly L-Ascorbic Acid can be somewhat stimulating to the skin. Ascorbyl Glucoside contains one molecule of Ascorbic Acid and one of Glucose so it tends to be more mild in activity. Because of these differences we have also applied our levels to this category, these levels can be broken down into the following:

Level 1- Catalyst Plus+: Catalyst Plus + is our level 1 serum that is more appropriate for very sensitive skin. It is in an Aloe base with the active ingredient Ascorbyl Glucoside. Catalyst Plus+ contains a patented formula that activates your natural zinc finger remodeling process, which is a critical part of DNA repair. The unique combination of vitamin C, amino acids and minerals also encourages the skin to increase collagen and elastin production, promotes wound healing and improves sun protection.

 
 
Level 2- Catalyst: Catalyst is our level 2 serum that is more appropriate for normal skin. It is L-Ascorbic Acid in a water base. Catalyst contains a patented formula that activates your natural zinc finger remodeling process, which is a critical part of DNA repair. The unique combination of vitamin C, amino acids and minerals also encourages the skin to increase collagen and elastin production, promotes wound healing and improves sun protection.

 
Level 3- Catalyst AC-11:  Catalyst AC-11 is our level 3 serum which has the highest level of repair activity, appropriate for all skin types, even some sensitive skins. It has L-Ascorbic acid in an aloe base. Catalyst AC-11 contains a patented formula that activates your natural zinc finger remodeling process, which is a critical part of DNA repair. In addition, this product contains the patented technology AC-11 that is proven to increase DNA repair by 33%. The unique combination of vitamin C, amino acids and minerals also encourages the skin to increase collagen and elastin production, promotes wound healing and improves sun protection.

 
 
 
 
Use these levels as a guide with your product usage and recommendation, should you have any questions we are always here to help.