Packaging Really Matters

Hi

Just a little blog for you today. Did you know skin care packaging really matters? Certain ingredients need to be packaged in a particular way to be effective and stay stable. Both Vitamins and Anti-Oxidants oxidize within 24hr of being exposed to the air (oxidize meaning, they become totally ineffective). Vitamins such as Vitamin C can do more damage than good once it has oxidized.

So how can we protect them? Simple, the product needs to be in a airless pump. Any products that is in a jar or pottle either doesn't contain Vitamins or Anti-Oxidants or the have oxidized.

Oils also need to be protected, the high the beneficial properties of the oil the more they need to be protected. Keep bottles in their boxes, some oils also need to be kept in the fridge. Light and air effect skin care oils.

Rachel

Pigmentation old vs new!

There has been so many developments in the 13 years that I have been doing Beauty Therapy, the change in the way we treat pigmentation is one of these huge changes.

5-7 years ago the though was exfoliate, microdermabrasion and chemical peels. Well anyone who has done any dermal science post graduate will know that that's now one of the worst ways to treat pigmentation. Think about it, you are scrubbing, scratching and peeling your skins natural protection layer away. If that protection layer isn't there, it's like going out into the sun with a first degree burn (it's going to get even more damage).

So how do we treat it? Well there isn't a easy fix - it's a slow process and takes commitment from the client. Ensure that the skin is healthy first (I explain to my clients it's like trying to build a house without foundations), it's the same with skin you need to have the healthy foundations first. Do this with the right topical Vitamins, Antioxidants and Omega 3 (don't forget about the Wonderful Skin Therapy Omega 3 Treatment Oil).

Once the skin is healthy we can start to introduce pigment fading ingredients, look out for things like DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Licorice Extract, Vit C and Melanostat 5. Clinical treatments with high level Vit A and C will help speed up this process, such as Environ DF Facials, in conjunction with IPL treatments at the appropriate times. Keep an eye out for Prologic's new Pigmentation Range on shelves this year.

My biggest piece of advise though is to have a Advanced Skin Analysis with a very knowledgeable therapist, having the understanding of what cells have been effected and what caused the pigmentation allows a more effective and better result.

Rachel

Best in NZ

Hi Everyone

Well I did it!!!! My many many years of hard work in the industry has been recognised. On Saturday night I took out the Title of NZ Therapist of the Year 2011/2012. Such an amazing title to have won, and such a privileged position to be in!  So where from here??? Well I have every intention of continuing on my growth path as a Advanced Skin Care Therapists, learning more and educating people on the best way to look after their Skin.

Helen and I at the NZ Beauty Awards 2011, Auckland.

Rachel :)

Skin Therapy
1/310 Tinakori Rd
Thorndon
Wellington
www.skintherapy.co.nz
04 4737873

Internationally recognised

Hi

Another bit of wonderful news (it seems to keep coming at the moment), Skin Therapy has been named in the Top Jane Iredale clinics and spa's in the world!!!!!! How fantastic is this. We work so hard to give our clients the best results, service and advise - it's nice for that hard work to be recoginsed throughout the world.

Rachel

Rewarded for having passion!

Hi

Not so much of an informational blog today, but more of a pat on the back. I have once again been named in the Top 5 Therapists in NZ and Skin Therapy has been named in the Top 5 Clinics in NZ.  I really think there is something to be said about being passionate about what you do and loving your career. Hard work brings you reward and success to a certain degree, but you will never get there without passion.

I absolutely love my job and am so passionate about educating people about their skin. I would never want to do anything else and I can honestly say that I never wake up thinking "I don't want to go to work today".

Be passionate about what you do, make the most of it and you will be rewarded for that passion.

Keep you posted on how the Awards Dinner goes next weekend.

Rachel

Oil for an Oily Skin??

I get asked so often why would I want to apply an oil to my Oily Skin??

Well my answer is simple, it helps stop breakouts! Really, I hear you ask... Of course not just any oil, apply a low quality, large molecule size oil to your skin it will do the opposite. But apply Omega 3 Oil to the skin and it will help. The science behind it is that your skin at all times has bacteria living on it's surface. This bacteria lives off Essential Fatty Acids or Omega 3, we need this bacteria - it's healthy. But what's not healthy is when the skin is lacking in Omega 3, when there is not enough Omega 3 on the surface the bacteria will go looking for it. Traveling down your hair follicle and into the oil gland, when in there it will cause all sorts of bacterial problems - and what you get on the surface is a "SPOT".

So increase your Omega 3 internally to 3000mg per day and apply topical Omega 3 - such as Skin Therapy Omega 3 Treatment Oil. Keep the healthy bacteria happy and you will find you have less problems with breakouts.

Rachel

Essential Fatty Acids really are Essential.

Omega’s are so essential to the health of every cell in our body, yet there is a
lack of understanding about what we really need and what really works.

Sources of Omega’s
Omega 3
Fish Oils                  Kiwi Seed Oil         
Soybean Oil            Hemp Seed Oil
Camelina Oil          Flax Seed Oil

Omega 6
Borage Oil              Evening Primrose Oil
Olive Oil                 Safflower Oil
Blackcurrent Oil   Sunflower Oil
Spirulina

Omega 9 – No longer classed as an Essential fatty Acid, high quantities are
found in the following.

Olive Oil                Almond Oil
Canola Oil            Palmberry Pulp

Omega 9 is now seen as not being a necessary Essential Fatty Acid in our
diet, it is thought that we now have an over-abundance of Omega 6 and 9 and
are deficient in Omega 3. This is something I see time and time again with clients skins.

Recommendations for Omega 3 internal intake - Preferably from a fish form
3000mg per day – General Skin maintenance
6000mg per day – Skin Condition
9000mg per day – Menopause

Look for a good quality Omega 3 Oil - the EPA and DHA should equal as close to 1000mg as possible, so cheaper brands will have as little as 250mg.

Topical Application – What to look for?

Look for products containing the following ingredients - 

Omega 3 – Kiwi Seed Oil, contains the highest amount of Omega 3 from a plant source.

Squalene – the original form of this is from shark oil, however new plant
extracts are starting to come through in skin care formulations. The best
source being from Rice Bran.

Phospholipids – Lecithin, extracted from Soybean

Biomimetic Epidermal Lipids – Alpha Lipoic Acid and Beta Carotene are great
examples.

Buy Skin Therapy Omega 3 Treatment Oil
http://www.skintherapy.co.nz/store.html

Rachel

Sun Protection, the Recommendations!!

Part 2 - My Recommendations

Different types of protection -

Physical sunscreens are rarely associated with allergic reactions. Micronized Zinc oxide or Titanium dioxide are 2 of the best ingredients. They remain on the skin without being absorbed meaning that many products containing these only need to be applied once a day. With the exception of these ingredients being used in a cream form.

The best form of Physical sunscreen that I recommend is Jane Iredale mineral make-up. It’s 100% natural and contains both of these ingredients. Easily brushed on in the morning for a full day of protection.

Chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin, when there is UV exposure the UV is absorbed into the skin and converted to heat by the chemical ingredients, the concern with this is they create free-radicals while doing this (free-radicals speed up cell deterioration – meaning your skin is aging by the second as this process happens). There has also been a lot of evidence to prove that chemical sunscreens are a common irritant, causing skin concerns like contact dermatitis.

High SPF? Reapplying…

Recently many skin care companies are bringing out very high SPF sunscreens. I recommend staying under a SPF 20 or 30 at the very most. A SPF 15 gives you 95% protection from UVB compared to a SPF 50 which gives you 97% protection from UVB. The extra chemicals added to give 2% more protection are doing more damage to your skin than the 2% UV exposure.

No matter what the SPF number, all cream sunscreens need to be reapplied every 2-3 hours. Pure Minerals – like that Jane Iredale spoke about before can be applied in the morning and don’t need to be reapplied through out the day.

So I suggest you check your Sunscreen-

Is it UVA and UVB broad spectrum.?

Is it SPF 20 or at least SPF 30 and under?

If it’s a cream sunscreen are you reapplying it every 2-3 hours?

Does it contain Zinc Oxide?

Remember a sunscreen should last you one summer season, if you still have a sunscreen from last summer, you are not getting the full protection out of it you need.

Rachel

Sun Protection, the Facts!

 

Are you using the right sunscreen? 

Part One, the Facts

I have broken this subject down into 2 blogs as there is so much information, the first is information about sun exposure, the second is my recommendations.

Do you know the difference between UVA and UVB? What does SPF mean and what does it protect you from? How often do you need to apply sunscreen for it to be effective?

UV exposure is the main cause of pre-mature aging, meaning lined, loose and discolored skin.  I can’t stress enough if you want to stay looking youthful longer then you need to protect yourself from the suns damaging rays.

UVB, which mainly reaches the top layer of your skin, is responsible for sun-damage including sunburn, and some non-melanoma skin cancers.

UVA, which penetrate deeper into skin, are responsible for pre-mature aging photo-aging and melanoma.

The truth about SPF is that it only protects you from UVB damage – not UVA. Many sunscreens will only be SPF not full broad spectrum.

So what protects from UVA?   

Zinc Oxide is the only ingredient that provides a full protection from both UVA and UVB. Antioxidants such as Vit A, C and E in high doses will provide a natural protection from UVA. Products containing these antioxidants must be packaged in a way that air cannot get to the product. Ie Vaccum or airless pump, self collapsing tube. Vitamins and Antioxidants will oxidize within 24hrs of being exposed to the air.

Did you know that if you are using a cream sun protection it needs to be reapplied every 2-3 hours? Many skin care companies have moisturizers that contain a sunscreen, if you are applying this first thing in the morning by the time you go out for lunch let alone morning tea you are not protected!

My recommendations for the best way to protect yourself are still to come, watch this space. 

Rachel

Start understanding how your skin works...

Hi

Welcome to my new blog. My name is Rachel Robertson, I have been a qualified Beauty Therapist for 12 1/2 years and I own Skin Therapy - Advanced Skin Care Clinic, in Thorndon, Wellington. I'm in the process on launching my own professional skin care line, with the philosophy that every ingredient must have an action on cell systems and functions. I have been named in the top 5 Beauty Therapist's in NZ the last 2 years running, my aim is to be at the top of the industry and provide my clients with the very best information and results

My aim with this blog is to share my 12 years worth of knowledge.  Educate about how your skin works, how different ingredients work on your skin and how to get the best results.

Please feel free to ask questions you may have about skin concerns or about products you maybe using, I will always give my honest professional opinion.

Look forward to helping you achieve the best for your skin.

Rachel