Great
tips to remember as winter starts coming to a close.
HYDRATION
Have
you noticed your foundation doesn't seem to cover as well? This is especially the case if you use
mineral makeup in the winter which adheres best when the skin is hydrated. If
you are not achieving coverage with the minerals during application, most
likely your skin needs more moisture. For a quick fix, use the Mineral Hydration Mist for an extra boost of hydration in seconds.
CIRCULATION
The
cold can decrease circulation in the skin and therefore can cause dry, sallow
skin. Certain ingredients like "liposomal niacinamide" found in all
of our Vitamin A Serums are designed to enhance the skin's
circulation which restores its nutrition levels. This will not only improve
your overall health, but enhance that natural luminosity for fresh, lively
skin.
DON’T
EXFOLIATE!
Forcing
exfoliation removes your lipid barrier which makes your skin even drier than it
may normally be, especially in the cold winter. Make sure to use products that
will encourage the skin to naturally turnover its cells to keep your skin
radiant.
DRY
PATCHES & GUT HEALTH
During
the winter time we often notice more "dry patches" on our body. What
shows up on your skin can be due to a connection in the health of your gut.
Make sure you’re taking care of your digestion by taking internal supplements
such as Harmonized H20, that will tend to your sensitive gut and
treat your skin from the inside out.
WINTER
SUN PROTECTION
Just
because it’s cold out doesn’t mean the sun can’t get to you. Make sure that
you’re still wearing sun protection when you go outside especially here in Colorado
and most appropriately when skiing as the elevation increases your exposure
level. So keep your skin protected by using holistic internal sun protection (UV Neutralizer H20), great all natural SPFs (Shade) and/or a
full coverage mineral makeup powder.
WARM UP
YOUR FACE
With
snowfall and icy days we tend to cover up more and let our skin turn dull and
even pale. Stay vibrant during the winter and war m up your skin by dusting a beautiful
bronzer to give you a natural sun kissed glow.
What IS product diversion?
Product diversion is one of the biggest challenges in the professional beauty industry and it is BIG business in the United States with annual sales of diverted products in the tens of billions of dollars.
What is product diversion? It is a term used to refer to products and merchandise that are being sold outside the intended distribution channel or simply put, in "unauthorized places".
How does product diversion occur? With a market this hot and few to no laws to prevent it, there are many, many ways. A wholesaler orders product and fails to sell it all. They then drop the product on eBay or Amazon or sell the product to a third party without the manufacturer's consent. Diverted product may have been stolen or "collected" from multiple sources before being sold to a third party or end-user. In some cases, diverted product can be the result of illegal fraud as was the case with Dina Wein Reis who diverted millions of dollars of product away from huge corporations including Proctor and Gamble, Roche, and Unilever. To read more on this story, click here.
So why does it matter to you?
Diverted products can be counterfeit, diluted and/or altered formulas, old, or expired
products that may not be safe to use. There could even be a completely different product inside the bottle than what is listed on the label.
Are diverted products dangerous?
They could be depending on what is actually in that product you purchased. Using a diverted product could result in irritation, infection or worse.
But if the product turns out to be real, who does it really hurt?
Diverted
product hurts the independent businesses (your aesthetician, spa/salon owner, and doctors offices), the professional
manufacturer, and ultimately you, the consumer, who trusts a
professional brand to deliver the highest quality
ingredients and results.
Product Diversion and Osmosis Skincare
Osmosis Skincare products are formulated with the most advanced ingredients in the world. Our
products produce optimum results when chosen and sold by trained
skincare professionals who understand their clients' skincare needs
and objectives. Osmosis Skincare can not guarantee the authenticity, efficacy or condition of products sold outside legitimate distribution channels. Genuine Osmosis Skincare products are sold exclusively through authorized skincare professionals or online retailers. Osmosis Skincare products found outside of these places are considered to be diverted product. Click here or call our offices for authorized skincare professionals near you.
Why It Matters
By purchasing diverted product you are contributing to a major problem that affects both consumers and the entire skincare industry. But if that doesn't convince you, before you decide to save a dollar or two buying product from an unauthorized seller, please first consider your health and safety. You wouldn't purchase "discounted" medication online just to save $5, would you? Your skin is your body's largest and fastest-growing organ. Skin is your body's protection. It helps you stay warm when it's cold, and cool when it's hot. Your skin protects everything inside you from your heart and lungs to your blood and muscles. Don't endanger the health of your skin with diverted product. It's just not worth the risk.
Whether you're dining by candlelight or hitting a hot and happening nighstpot with your sweetie, look fabulous this Valentine's Day with this romantic look from Artistic Director, Alejandro Falcon!
LIPS: Use Delicate Rose lip liner along with Pink Sapphire gloss for a subtle fuller lip.
CHEEKS: Apply a dusting of Pink Pearl blush to warm up the cheeks.
EYES: Romanticize the smoky eye with softer shades of pinks and natural colors from the Matte Collection. Apply the Sienna shadow on the crease of the eye, highlighting just below the brow using the Butter Crème shade. For added drama, apply a touch of Amethyst Watercolor on the center of the lid. Finish the look with mascara and the new Liquid Eye Definer. Fill in the brows and you are ready for a romantic night out!
As if an ugly blemish isn't bad enough, it can often leave it's reminder hanging around for weeks or months. Luckily, you can speed up the healing process and get your acne under control.
TO AVOID: ANYTHING THAT INFLAMES OR DEHYDRATES THE SKIN
Many products function as drying agents designed to strip away oil. Skincare products that dehydrate in order to reduce oil succeed only temporarily. As soon as the body senses the imbalance, the skin produces MORE oil in an attempt to protect the skin. Dehydration leads to fragile skin and a weaker barrier against dirt and debris, which can worsen acne in many cases. It's a perfect catch-22.
YOUR SOLUTIONS:
INCREASE SKIN HEALTH:
Look for products that will help the skin detox, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the skin. To Try: Restore.
ASSESS YOUR DIET:
- Increase you fiber intake to encourage your body to eliminate toxins through the bowels.
- Buy organic foods if possible. Too many of the added growth hormones in our meat and dairy end up in our systems and the body responds with hormone shifts. As a result, candida (yeast) populations in the body get out of whack which in turn, can contribute to acne.
- Reduce your intake of sugar, hydrogenated oils, sodium and synthetic flavorings where possible. Inflammation, even internally, stimulates oil production and leads to acne.
Your daily run may be doing wonders for your body, but it can tax your skin. Sunlight and toxins such as pollution and smoke can unleash damaging free radicals which can increase inflammation in your skin and cause collagen to break down. Poor dietary habits will manifest in skin stress as well. But just as you can slow muscle loss with weight-bearing exercise, you can help slow down collagen loss as well.
To Avoid: Retinoic Acid and Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Mainstream strategies to treat aging skin often include retinoic and alpha hydroxy acids. Much of their visible effects are the result of exfoliation and plumping, neither of which is actually helping the skin's aging problem. In the long run, retinoic acid and alpha-hydroxys do more harm than good. Damage done to the epidermis will always make it impossible for the skin to maintain itself and it definitely cannot recover losses with the additional trauma and starvation that results. The amount of free radicals that results from a loss of melanin or an exposed barrier is insurmountable. As a result, both the epidermis and dermis are worse off, causing skin to actually age faster than if left to it's own resources.
Your Solutions:
Retinaldehyde ~ Vitamin A is an important nutrient that should be supplemented both internally and topically but the type of Vitamin A you choose is very important. Proven
to be 1000 times stronger than Retinol, Retinaldehyde penetrates deeper
into the skin, creates an equal amount of collagen and elastin as
Retin-A without being irritating or damaging and provides antibacterial
properties. To Try: Relieve
Antioxidants ~ Antioxidants are free-radical fighters and key in our defense against numerous conditions. Look for serums containing superoxide dismutase, catalase, l-glutathione, coenzyme Q10, and R-lipoic acid. To try: Replenish.
As we get older, the rate of skin-cell turnover starts to slow and the pace at which these cells are shed isn't the same all over your face. Cells in the T-zone where there are more oil-glands tend to get replaced faster than the skin on the sides of your face. Add in winter woes and the result? Dull, dry skin that reflects light unevenly.
WHAT TO AVOID: EXCESSIVE EXFOLIATION & CHEMICAL PEELS
Excessive exfoliation and chemical peels are extremely common answers in the skincare industry to every problem from fine lines, scarring, acne, and hyperpigmentation. They are born from the idea that the skin needs help with cellular renewal and regeneration. When we apply acid or excessive exfoliation to the top layers of the epidermis, we are forcing the process of epidermal turnover which interferes with the skin's natural ability to function, causing inflammation and the underlying dermis to divert is valuable resources towards repairing and restoring the compromised upper layer of skin.
YOUR SOLUTIONS:
Nourish your Skin ~ Just like the rest of the body, the skin needs certain nutrients to function efficiently. If it doesn't receive them, it will go into survival mode just as if you are dieting and cut calories too dramatically. When the skin doesn't get the nutrients it needs, it is forced to prioritize. The skin must choose between fully repairing the skin or slowing down the natural exfoliation cycle (think about a bear going into hibernation). The result - without the proper nutrients, the skin is allowed to thin. The most beneficial ingredients do one of three things; increase
circulation (the skin’s only
source of food/nutrients/immune cells/building block materials),
stimulate fibroblast activity (the only way to make collagen, elastin,
GAG’s needed to rebuild/repair the skin),
and provide antioxidants to help neutralize the 24-hr a day attack on our
cells from free radicals. To try: Facial Infusion.
Gentle Exfoliation ~ While you never want to force exfoliation or exfoliate too often, there are products designed to help your skin carefully break apart the clusters of dead skin cells safely and without irritation or inflammation to the skin. To try: Polish
Nourish your Body ~ Ensure you are drinking plenty of water and taking in a sufficient quantity of antioxidants to nourish your skin from the inside-out. Some to try:
Vitamin C
This well-known vitamin is essential to collagen production, protects your skin from UV damage and helps scars heal. Eat: Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly citrus fruit such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit, kiwi, cabbage and parsley.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the most important vitamin for healthy, radiant skin and also protects against UV damage. Eat: Liver, eggs, butter, and brightly-coloured fruit and vegetables such as mangos, melons, peppers, and carrots.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant with a great ability to repair sun damage. It
traps aging free radicals and acts in harmony with Vitamin A and Vitamin C to
protect cell membranes, which are the main target of free
radicals. Eat: Nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, whole grains, cereals and vegetable/plant oils.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B3 is crucial in your body's ability to produce energy, metabolize fats, and repair DNA. Eat: Fish such as swordfish, salmon, and tuna, beets and green vegetables such as brussels sprouts, spinach and broccoli.
We're all for embracing your freckles but when you have spots that don't fade after summer, it's time to take action. Generally, brown spots are indicative of cumulative sun damage and tend to develop first in areas typically exposed to the sun - face, décolletage, your hands. However, our spots are not always caused by the sun. We can hyper-pigment from any kind of stress on the body, especially when that stress is caused by a hormonal fluctuation or imbalance. Fortunately, there are ways to combat spots.
What to avoid: Hydroquinone
Many US dermatologists consider this skin lightener the gold standard for fading spots. However, it is much less common outside of the United States because so many countries have banned its use. The reason? Serious risks, including cancer and organ toxicity.
Your solutions:
DNA Repair ~ Zinc Finger Technology normalizes melanin but does not shut it down. In other words, it allows the rest of your skin to protect itself and stay healthy while healing the melanocytes. To try: Catalyst
Repair Protein Damage ~ Extract of Sweet Wormwood has the ability to calm inflammation and promote wound healing at the dermal-epidermal junction. Once healed, it allows the melanocyte to produce normal amounts of protective melanin. To try: Restore
Lightening Agents ~ While hydroquinone is often used, based on the risks involved, it is not ideal for skin health. Look for lighteners with natural ingredients that function effectively without toxic ingredients, exfoliating or adding inflammation and only use as needed. To try: Enlighten.
Sun Protection ~ Always top off with sun protection to protect against further damage. To Try: Shade
Follow Me @Instagram
