#antioxidant

Latest News – December 26, 2024

Skin care ingredients - Vitamin C L-ascorbic acid

  Vitamin C is a skin brightener that protects against daily aggressors Vitamin C is a superstar ingredient for the skin, with L-ascorbic acid being the most potent. Without vitamin C your skin is unable to produce collagen. It’s a well-known ingredient for fighting the effects of sun damage, reducing signs of ageing, minimising hyperpigmentation and revealing an overall brightness to dull skin. Your skin needs vitamin C to protect against free radical damage.    It’s commonly found in a serum formula and used in the morning ahead of sunscreen. However, not all vitamin C is made equal. It’s difficult to formulate in a way that maintains its stability and efficacy so choose yours wisely. Skinceuticals are recognised as the originators of antioxidants and have the patents for the best antioxidants on the market. SkinCeuticals founding scientist Dr. Sheldon Pinnell conducted research about antioxidant formulation and discovered specific formulation factors, now known as the Duke Antioxidant patent. SkinCeuticals is the only brand to formulate antioxidants according to these standards.  Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons, causing them to be unstable and highly chemically reactive. These unstable molecules are generated by UV rays, pollution, and lifestyle factors like alcohol and cigarette smoke. Over time, free radical damage leads to visible signs of accelerated skin aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, discolouration, and even skin cancer.

Latest News – November 01, 2024

Why do we need to protect our skin from environmental and UV damage.

  When it comes to extrinsic ageing, science shows that there is a significant reduction in collagen 1, 3 and 7 when we are exposed to these environmental factors. We need to protect the skin from this kind of damage as well as cellular damage. Cellular damage is hugely impacted by something called Free Radical Theory. This is where atoms steal electrons from healthy atoms causing more inflammation and more damage to the DNA and cell structures. That propagates more free radical damage and breaks down collagen fibres

Latest News – April 06, 2024

Protect your skin from Pollution.

It’s not just UV light from the sun that wreaks havoc on our complexion; environmental damage is also a cause of dull, rough, blotchy, discoloured, and older-looking skin. Daily exposure to various forms of pollution accelerates signs of ageing.Air pollution is a collective term for all gases or particles that are released by human activity. This includes exhaust fumes from cars, production processes, petroleum and other chemical refineries and cigarette smoke.

Latest News – March 31, 2024

Unveiling the Secret Weapon for Timeless Skin: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic.

SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic! Picture this: You wake up in the morning, and as you glance in the mirror, you're greeted by a face that exudes vitality and luminosity. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, with SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, that dream can become your reality. So, what's the buzz all about? Let's break it down. First things first, let's talk about those pesky signs of ageing . Fine lines, wrinkles, dullness – they're like unwelcome guests that just won't leave the party. But fear not! CE Ferulic swoops in like a superhero, armed with potent antioxidants that fight off free radicals, the culprits behind premature skin ageing . Say goodbye to those fine

Latest News – September 21, 2023

Mineral SPF

Best known as a mineral or physical UV protectant, zinc oxide forms a physical barrier on the skin's surface that reflects and scatters the sun's rays before they have the chance to penetrate into the skin. Zinc oxide often is combined with additional UV-B blockers to provide the most complete broad-spectrum sunscreen. As zinc oxide sunscreens offer slightly better coverage across the sun’s UV spectrum, it is recommended to begin with this ingredient.

Latest News – October 08, 2023

Post Summer Skin treats.

  That summer glow can look very attractive, skin conditions such as acne, pigmentation, previous skin damage is very often camouflaged by a tan. Unfortunately, despite the sun having lots of health benefits. Long-term effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure or overexposure to the sun can lead to premature ageing and skin cancer. The sun’s UV rays reach the DNA within the cells in your skin and cause them to malfunction. Skin cancer is caused by abnormal growth of the cells nearest the skin, squamous, basal and melanocytes. Squamous and basal cells form non melanoma skin cancer while melanocytes cells which give the skin its pigment or colour form melanoma skin cancer. Basal cell cancers (BCC) are more strongly related to acute sun burn events in childhood and intermittent adult

Latest News – May 16, 2021

What Are Free Radicals?

  What Are Free Radicals? If you keep up with all things skin care, you have likely heard at least once or twice about how free radicals are bad news for your complexion. But are you aware of why these molecules are so damaging to your body’s largest organ, and what they are capable of? If not, you will want to keep reading.What Are Free Radicals?Before getting into just how much havoc free radicals can wreak on your skin, we must first explain what they are. Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are formed by normal bodily functions — like breathing, for instance — as well as environmental aggressors, such as UV rays, smoke, and pollution. These unstable compounds look to pair with a missing electron. In doing so, they can latch onto your skin, create a negative chain reaction on your skin’s surface and induce damage to cells. Free radicals have extra energy in them that can damage neighbouring skin cells and collagen.

Latest News – May 25, 2023

Skin and Ageing.

  Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we some we can influence, others we can do nothing about . The skin has three important layers: the outer epidermis, the middle dermis and the inner subcutaneous fat layer. The epidermis is a thin layer that contains the pigment that colours your skin. The thicker dermis layer contains hair follicles, oil glands and blood vessels. The inner, fatty layer serves as a protective barrier to your organs. As you age, the epidermis gradually thins and pigment levels decrease. This results in thinner, paler skin. You may also notice sunspots from UV exposure, known as solar lentigo. 

Latest News – May 22, 2023

Skin Cancer and what you need to know.

Skin cancer accounts for most malignancies across the globe. They are primarily divided into melanoma and nonmelanoma skin malignancies. Nonmelanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. .One in every three cancers diagnosed in the world is a skin cancer.There were more than 320,000 cases of skin cancer globally in 2020, the most recent figures available from the World Cancer Research Fund International.Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 13,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects this number to double by 2040.Skin cancer is a disease of skin cells. Nine out of every 10 cases are caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. Over exposure to UV rays, which leads to tanning, redness or burning of the skin, causes damage to skin cells. While much of this damage is repaired some remains and can lead to skin cancer later in lifeYou need to use protection even indoors and behind the wheel of the car, as UVA penetrates through glass .The phrase 'high SPF' sounds ­reassuring, but it may give a false sense of security as a product with this factor only refers to protection against UVB rays, which is not quite enough. So this typically means that you might stay out in the sun for longer as the perception is that you are not burning. In the meantime UVA travels like a X-ray and damages deeper in to the skin. UVA is the primary radiation used in tanning beds. It causes almost all forms of skin ageing , including wrinkles. UVA damages the collagen and elastin in the skin and also generates free radicals.

Latest News – April 09, 2023

Moisture loss as we age. Good Fats.

What are some examples of good fats? A few examples of foods that supply fats and powerful nutrients include nuts [walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, pecans], seeds [chia seeds, ground flaxseeds], avocados, and fatty fish [such as salmon].

Latest News – April 09, 2023

Anti-glycation foods: Research says that certain foods may actually help protect our collagen.

Skin Glycation.  A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced is a potent corrective cream designed to help reverse accelerated signs of aging impacted by glycation and collagen decline. Formulated with a high-concentration combination of ProxylaneTM, wild fruit flavonoids, and glycyrrhetinic acid, this breakthrough anti-wrinkle cream helps correct visible skin aging and defend against new and recurring damage. All in a luxuriously textured formula. 

Latest News – December 10, 2022

What causes skin ageing?

Skin ageing is caused by two main processes; intrinsic and extrinsic. They both contribute to the visible signs you may see on your skin, such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and discolouration.  

Latest News – April 04, 2022

Today is Vitamin C Day.

Today is Vitamin C Day.  In 2019, a skincare line, SkinCeuticals, created National Vitamin C Day. The aim was to generate awareness around vitamin C. The day also celebrated a research breakthrough. SkinCeuticals established parameters to allow the effective delivery of antioxidants in vitamin C to the skin. The findings proved beyond a doubt the benefits of topical application of vitamin C to the skin.

Latest News – October 17, 2021

Dehydrated Skin and how to treat it.

Dehydrated skin is a common skin concern. Dehydrated skin occurs when the skin lacks moisture in the surface layer which is the epidermis. For our skin to function optimally, it needs adequate water content and without it, dead skin cells won’t exfoliate smoothly, leaving skin feeling dry and rough. It’s important to know the difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin as the terms are often incorrectly used interchangeably, which makes it difficult to treat. Dry skin is a permanent state and is often referred to as a “skin type”. It results due to the lack of water and lipids - oils skin feels rough and tight, those with dry skin are often dry on other parts of the body.

Latest News – October 17, 2021

What causes skin to age ?

Skin ageing is caused by a combination of different factors, both internal and external. Understanding the way that internal and external factors affect skin’s structure and function can help to inform skin care choices and prevent premature skin aging. Internal factorsYoung skin has a thick epidermis and a strong network of collagen fibres.Mature skin has a thinner epidermis and a weakened network of collagen fibres.

Latest News – October 17, 2021

How does skin change over the years?

Skin is a living organ and undergoes significant changes during a person’s lifetime: from the delicate skin of a new-born baby, through the teenage years when some are acne-prone, to the wrinkles of later life. Each stage has its own demands and skin care should reflect these changing needs. Choosing appropriate products to cleanse, protect, nourish and repair skin at each of these stages will help to keep it healthy and ensure that your skin looks and feels its natural best, whatever your age. How is skin different at each age and stage?

Latest News – October 17, 2021

LED treatment. Works well on its own, makes most other treatments better.

LED or Light Emitting Diode therapy is known for its ability to accelerate the skin’s healing process. Skin cells receive a rejuvenating, anti-aging boost increasing blood flow, helping bring nutrients to the treated areas, as well as stimulating fibroblast and collagen production to strengthen your skin and battle the ageing process. Antyage is the most advanced and powerful LED phototherapy medical device available to treat a broad range of concerns.  

Latest News – August 01, 2021

Skin Barrier Issues.

Your skin barrier is the lipid matrix found in the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum-corneum, and essentially sits on top of this layer. When healthy, the skin barrier helps keep moisture in and external irritants out (e.g., UV, free radicals, bacteria) - acting as your skin’s bodyguard.What is the skin barrier?The skin barrier, or moisture barrier, is mainly composed of three lipids: ceramides, cholesterol, and free (AKA essential) fatty acids. These lipids work together to prevent water loss and to protect your skin from the environment. Damage to the skin barrier occurs in the form of miniscule cracks through which moisture can easily escape and irritants can enter more easily.Signs your skin barrier is damaged:When your skin barrier is healthy, your skin generally looks plump and smooth and feels soft to the touch. If you have oily skin that’s also dehydrated, that’s a common sign that you may have a damaged skin barrier. (Yes ... Your skin can be both oily and dehydrated.  

Latest News – July 25, 2021

Vitamin C is a highly regarded skincare ingredient.

Vitamin C has several essential roles in skincare. It’s an antioxidant, skin brightening agent and anti-inflammatory, and is also required for the synthesis of collagen, which gives our skin its youthful firmness and support structure. It’s safe to say that Vitamin C is the gold standard of skincare ingredients, especially when it comes to supporting the skin through the ageing process.

Latest News – July 24, 2021

Pigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is defined as darkening patches of skin. This occurs when the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. Sun damage is the main cause of pigmentation. The initial melanin production from sun exposure acts as a natural sun screen to protect from harmful rays. However excess UVA/UVB exposure disrupts the melanin production, which leads to increased pigmentation. 

Latest News – June 08, 2021

Human Skin -Microbiome and Acne.

Research in to microbiomes of the human body , to include skin and gut tell us that a diverse and physiologically important array of bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea make their home on the skin. Typically, a person has around 1,000 species of bacteria on their skin. And, as might be expected from such a large area — roughly two square metres for an average adult — the skin offers a variety of distinct ecosystems, which create conditions that favour different subsets of organisms. We harbour roughly the same number of microbes as we have cells. This complex ecosystem is crucial to our health, affecting many processes including immunity, child development and bone density regulation. Research in this area has been extensive, with exciting work on how the microbiome develops, its influence on brain and behaviour and implications in both contributing to and treating various disorders.A person’s gut microbiome is seeded in early life according to the bacteria they are exposed to and how successfully these microbes colonise the intestines. Populations of bacteria in the gut are highly sensitive to the food we eat, so sensitive, in fact, that changes in species variation and gene expression appear within three or four days following a major sift in diet.

Latest News – May 23, 2021

Sunscreen Can help to protect against Skin Cancer

Before understanding the consequences of skipping sunscreen, it is important to note how UV radiation works and affects the skin. UV radiation ranges from a wavelength of 100 to 400 nanometres. UVA and UVB rays are somewhere in the 300 to 400 range. UV radiation is divided into 3 main groups:

Latest News – May 11, 2021

Vitamin C: Everything you need to know about this fab skincare ingredient

SkinCeuticals vitamin C, E and ferulic acid super serum is worth every single penny when it comes to results. The high concentrate formula contains a whopping 15 % of pure vitamin C, with 1 % vitamin E plus the addition of the antioxidant ferulic acid. Unlike many high concentration vitamin C products, this is gentle enough for sensitive skins. Simply pat on clean dry skin every morning. Then apply an hyaluronic serum plus a broad spectrum SPF. 

Latest News – April 05, 2021

Tretinoin and its benefits for skin.

Tretinoin also known as retinoic acid comes from Vitamin A  is recognised as the gold standard of anti-ageing treatments as it can have profound beneficial effect on the stratum corneum layer and deeper layers of the skin. By regulating cellular functions, keratin becomes softer and the stratum corneum becomes smooth and compact. These effects can last for up to 4 months, even when the use of the product has ceased.  Retinoids and Skin Ageing - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641/