Oprah loves Weightless Protection SPF 45!

The May issue of O magazine has hit the shelves and guess what made The O List? PCA SKIN Weightless Protection SPF 45! Since its launch in 2010, this light, quick-absorbing sun protection powerhouse has quickly become a customer favorite. Now it seems it’s become one of Oprah’s favorites, too.

Weightless Protection SPF 45 is a revolutionary formulation that provides broad-spectrum protection with zinc oxide and octinoxate. Part of what makes this sun protection product unique is caffeine, an amazing topical ingredient that increases the activity of other antioxidants and also identifies cells damaged by UV exposure and forces them into apoptosis – the process of cell death.  This is an unprecedented boost to skin cancer prevention. Also, the powerful antioxidant sylibin from milk thistle fight free radicals, suppresses redness caused by exposure to UVB rays and reduces the formation of sunburn cells. Because it is so light and disappears into the skin, especially people with oily skin and acne love this product.  This member of the PCA SKIN family of sun protection products truly is the next generation of sun protection, and we’re glad that Oprah agrees! 

the future of retinol is here

Retinoids (vitamin A) have long been seen by dermatologists as the gold standard for treating acne and aging skin. The prescription options contain retinoic acid, the retinoid that interacts directly with the receptors in the skin. Although highly effective, these prescriptions can cause irritation, redness and even skin cracking for some patients. On the other hand, retinol, also a vitamin A, is converted into retinoic acid in the skin on an ‘as needed’ basis, so it produces less surface stimulation. This makes retinol a great option for many skin types and conditions.

Retinol is not new to cosmetic and cosmeceutical products. The majority of products available without a prescription are formulated using what is called a retinol complex. This is retinol blended with either retinol esters or other support ingredients that stabilize the retinol and increase its efficacy. These are beneficial, but the percentage of pure retinol is only part of the complex, so although they deliver excellent visible results without irritation and redness, those results usually come more slowly. In contrast, pure retinol products deliver amazing results that can truly rival that of a prescription. These products must use advanced stabilization technologies to protect the inherently unstable retinoid. We at PCA have done just that. Newly available, Intensive Clarity o.5% pure retinol night and Intensive Age Refining 0.5% pure retinol night provide unprecedented results.

These two new formulas are also special because they do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Intensive Clarity incorporates additional support ingredients that make it excellent for breakout control and hyperpigmentation.  Intensive Age Refining is designed to correct the variety of challenges faced by aging skin including: fine lines, sun damage, laxity and dehydration. These new formulas have already been recognized by beauty editors at O Magazine, Vogue and Redbook! We are excited to share the best in pure retinol. Give us a call, or visit pcaskin.com to find out more about the future of retinol.

smoking and the skin

While the month of November brings to mind fall leaves, pumpkins and giving thanks, it also marks the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout.  November 17 is the date for this year’s 36^th Great American Smokeout, reminding smokers to either mark this day as a time to quit smoking permanently or to refrain from smoking for just this one day. 

Interestingly enough, most people begin to smoke as teenagers, thinking that it will make them appear older.  This thought couldn’t be farther from the truth!  In fact, smoking does exactly that!

Smoking is one of the most controllable causes of disease and death today.  It is known for directly contributing to heart and lung disease, but the damaging effects to the skin are less known and often ignored.  Smoking can cause poor wound-healing, collagen degradation, abnormal skin growths, oral cancers, deep wrinkling and premature skin aging, as well as a dull, sallow appearance.

Healthy skin function requires oxygen, and smoking causes a restriction of oxygen flow to the skin cells.  One cigarette causes vasoconstriction for up to 90 minutes.  Additionally, the carbon monoxide in cigarettes binds with oxygen and prevents it from reaching the skin cells.  Smoking also causes an increase in the enzyme responsible for breaking down collagen.  This accelerated degradation of collagen in conjunction with the repeated lip-pursing and eye-squinting during inhalation also contributes to increased severity of wrinkling and skin aging ……. especially in female smokers.

Professional treatments that encourage oxygenation and detoxification to the skin will improve the appearance and health of all skin types, especially those who smoke.  PCA SKIN’s Oxygenating Trio Treatment is an excellent choice, as it may be performed weekly and will increase oxygenation and the cells’ ability to detoxify, resulting in a radiant, healthy glow.

Not all skin is created equal

Although all skin has similar anatomy, there are surprising differences between skin in different locations on the body, and even different parts of the face. Of special concern is the delicate skin around the lips and the eyes. The differences are affected by both biological and environmental factors.

Lips

The skin on the lips is much thinner than most facial skin. Also, the lips do not have sweat glands or the same barrier function as the skin on the rest of the body, making it harder to keep smooth, free of bacteria and at the proper temperature. Also, the digestive enzymes contained in saliva can be drying and irritating to the lips and can cause chapping. To keep flakiness and irritation under control, Gentle Exfoliant and Peptide Lip Therapy by PCA SKIN are highly recommended as part of any regular daily regimen.

 

Eyes

The area around the eyes is characterized by skin that is substantially thinner than the rest of the face. In addition to the normal breakdown of collagen and elastin that weakens this skin, the constant motion of blinking, smiling and squinting stress this area even more. And, because the eye area contains almost no oil glands, it is critical to keep it properly moisturized. EyeXcellence and ExLinea® Peptide Smoothing Serum is designed to treat the unique needs of the eye area with strengthening antioxidants, peptides and other hydrating and anti-aging ingredients.

Understanding the unique needs of the skin on different parts of the face and will help you provide the best products and treatments for each patient.

what is autophagy and why is it important?

A critical biological process that has not gotten much attention in the skin health industry is autophagy. This, along with exocytosis is responsible for the cells’ ability to rid itself from spent materials within themselves, allowing important cellular functions to continue properly.  Just as we need to take out the trash on a regular basis to keep our homes running efficiently, the cells also need to expel waste material to maintain proper function.

Step two of the newly reformulated PCA SKIN Oxygenating Trio, Detoxifier, contains hydrolyzed candida saitoana extract that helps to promote healthy autophagy within the cells.  This step performs repairing and detoxifying functions that allow the skin to maintain homeostasis and rid itself of damaged proteins that can lead to disease, skin dysfunction and premature aging. One theory of aging is that over time, defective components accumulate in cells that ultimately disrupt the proper functioning of living processes. This extract is a byproduct of the metabolic process of a specific type of yeast. It has the unique ability to promote the formation of lysosomes that capture spent materials within the cells.  It also enables the fusion of these multi-membrane structures allowing the waste materials to be degraded by lysosomal enzymes.  Once the materials are degraded, they are move slowly toward the cell membrane and released into the extracellular matrix through the process of exocytosis.

This critical process in the healthy function of cells is complex, but can be simplified into one elementary concept – taking out the trash. Although the Oxy trio has always been an effective treatment for detoxifying skin, with the new addition of hydrolyzed candida saitoana extract, it can assist in the purification and healthy function of cell at a whole new level.