My new Obsession!!! SUPER

           FEED HUNGRY SKIN!!!

I recently stumbled across my favorite new store while wandering around Malibu... SUPER by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Their motto is: Feed Hungry Skin! I love it. The products are all created with the world's most powerful superfoods, some of which I have blogged about before, such as, Tumeric, Omega 3 from Chia, Acai... I was in Heaven.

  I even learned about a new superfood that is is great for the skin. Melon. Apparently it brings out the brightness of your skin.


His new "Bright Eyed" melon eye cream has been getting great media attention, so I had to try it. So far it's wonderful. I am itching to go back to the SUPER store again.








Go check it out for yourself; Unfortunately there are only two locations right now, Malibu & Berkeley, CA, but it's worth the trip! XOXO

A Fun SKIN FAB Salsa Recipe Courtesy of Dr. Perricone

Mix up some of these skin beneficial fresh ingredients for a great salsa recipe 

Pomegranate Salsa - Courtesy of Dr. Perricone's Ageless Face, Ageless Mind Book=) 
3 tbsp. of diced red onion
1 garlic clove minced
1tbsp. of organic extra virgin olive oil

1 cup of pomegranate seeds (I found some at trader joes )
1/4 cup of pure pomegranate juice
1/2 cup of cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
zest of a fresh lime


Saute the onion and garlic ( I added a few sweet cherry tomatoes as well) in olive oil at medium heat. Place in bowl. Stir in pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, lime zest and cilantro. Season to taste. Chill ...Then Eat To Great Skin!


YUMMMMM!!!!!! XOXOXOX

Must Read!

Not all skin conditions should be treated the same way. Just because you have breakouts or acne doesn't mean that you have oily skin and that you need an acne face wash, and an acne medicated moisturiser.

I had a client the other day in her mid 40's that came in with dehydrated, flaky skin, and small under the skin acne all across her forehead and jaw line. She was stressed out and anxious about her skin and said that she had spent hundreds of $$ on products that are not working. The problem was my client was misdiagnosed... she had dry skin to begin with and was experiencing a reaction to stress, anxiety and a totally wrong homecare plan. She did not need all those acne fighting products. It was drying out her skin and creating more problems. When people breakout, their immediate reaction is to pile on the acne medications. But that just tricks your oil production to go into overdrive, creating more oil and back up in the pores, while the top layer of your skin is suffering and experiencing inflammation and dryness.

The key to healthy skin is finding the perfect balance. You still need to hydrate and use products based on your skin type. Spot treatments, masks and specialty products may be used to treat the specific conditions that you are experiencing.

My game plan I prescribed for her specific skin type and conditions:

• Gentle non-drying cleanser (you need to keep skin clean and balance oil production)
• A glycolic acid exfoliant with antioxidants (dead skin also needs to be exfoliated to keep acne away)
• A spa grade (smaller molecule than OTC) gentle yet effective Benzoyl Peroxide product to be used only as a spot treatment (you need to use a spot treatment to kill the bacteria... a 2% Salicylic Acid would work great as well)
• A hydrating moisturiser with Rose Hip & Azelaic Acid in it to help fight inflammation and bacteria while hydrating the skin ( I replaced her acne moisturiser which she was using on her entire face, with a hydrating nourishing moisturiser)
• Supplements: Alpha Lipoic (fights inflammation internally), and Tumeric (refer to my blog on tumeric for the many benefits)
• Lots R & R.... find ways to relax and de-stress ( getting rid of stress will help to clear up skin as well;) )

To sum it all up, I encourage you to enjoy my tips and product recommendations along with all the other great information you find on the web or in magazines... but when it comes to your personalized skin care program,  I advise you to leave it to the skin experts to diagnose your skin type and conditions before you start treating your skin=) XOXO 

*Our waiting list (for personal consulting) is growing thanks to all of our great readers! Contact us at KBSkinStyling@gmail.com if you would like a personalized consultation.

The Allies

Here are some other ingredients to look for in products/supplements that can help stimulate or increase the production of Hyaluronic Acid, or help to fight off Hyaluronidase.

THE ALLIES:

• Polyphenols- help to inhibit the activity of Hyaluronidase
• Grape Seed Extract- helps by inhibiting the destruction of the Hyaluronic Acid
• Citric Acid- 20-25% applied topically may increase the Hyaluronic Acid content of the skin
• Glycolic Acid- applied topically may increase the production of Hyaluronic Acid
• Retinoids such as Retinol/Retin A- also found to increase the production of Hyaluronic Acid when applied topically
• Coenzyme Q10- Can help to increase the synthesis of Hyaluronic Acid by the skin's Fibroblasts
• Echinacea- may protect Hyaluronic Acid from destruction by the Hyaluronidase enzyme
• Gotu Kola- stimulates the production of Hyaluronic Acid
• Estrogens- when applied topically, this female hormone can also help to stimulate the production of HA

A few great products that have some of the indgredients listed above:


H2V 's G-10 (Burke Williams Private Line) - Its an amazing 10% glycolic serum with acai berry (super antioxidant)
 

Caudalie Radiance Day Fluid- packed with grape seed polyphenols, and gives your skin a natural glow!


Peter Thomas Roth's Retinol Fusion PM-  I love this product!! has both the Retinol (gentle) and Vit C 


Enjoy XOXO

Learn how to fight the "SKIN VILLAIN"

The hyaluronidases; a.k.a "The Skin Villain" are a family of enzymes that degrade or kill off our precious hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin, but as we age, the percentage of HA in the skin decreases, which leads to loss of moisture, elasticity, and firmness... AGING.  

I had the wonderful opportunity yesterday to attend a training with the Brilliant Boldijar Koronczay, Owner and President of Eminence Organics. This was not the first of his training's that I have attended, but definitely one of the most informative! I learned all about the aforementioned skin villain, and how many of their products help to fight it.  Their Strawberry Rhubarb line is my personal favorite (both the mask and serum are amazing). It is extremely hydrating, rich in anti-aging ingredients , and also contain their "vegan" version of a topical hyaluronic acid. Eminence's HA is extracted from the Marshmallow Root , which has a 10-20X smaller molecular size than the HA found in many skin care lines that extract theirs from pig skin and rooster combs. That means that it has a better chance of getting deep in to the skin to get the job done. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for a list of other ingredients that I have found to either increase the natural production of Hyaluronic Acid, or help to battle the evil hyaluronidase. 
XOXO                                                                                                                                                         

Fact/ Myth: Is it possible to change your pore size??? read to find out

QUICK FACT: It is not possible to change your pore size!  You can however, make them appear smaller and prevent them from stretching by keeping pores clean and empty. Getting facials and exfoliating skin regularly can help. Witch hazel is also great for keeping pores nice and tight without drying out your skin. I like the witch hazel with rose water in it, it gives you that extra hydration.

P.S- Do not attempt to squeeze the big ones on your own, they can cause permanent stretching of the pore. Leave it to the professionals;)
XOXO

Tomatoes!!!

Who would have thought that eating tomatoes could help to boost your sun protection. They contain an extremely potent antioxidant, Lycopene, which recent research proves to boost sun protection. The tomatoes should be cooked or stewed for maximum results, and eaten daily. Don't go throwing away the sunscreen. Eating tomotoes, combined with a topical UVA/UVB protection will offer great results while playing in the sun this summer!
XOXO

The Sunshine Vitamin

Although we (skincare professionals) stress the damaging effects of the sun, sunshine is not our enemy. There are many wonderful benefits of spending time in the sun. Just stay protected, and don't over do it. Moderation in all things is key;)
 
Vitamin D Comes From the Sun ; Sunlight is the best and the only natural source of vitamin D.  Hundreds of studies now link vitamin D deficiency with higher rates of cancers‚ heart disease‚ osteoporosis‚ multiple sclerosis and many other conditions and diseases. Vitamin D also helps with depression and supports a healthy immune system.

It is essential that we get our daily dose of "D" from the natural sunlight. XOXO
 

Life Saving Skin Care

The sun doesn't care what time of the day or year it is, what color of skin you have, where you live, or how much time you spend in the sun... It's harmful rays can be damaging to your skin and overall health.

The best tip I can give you: SUNSCREEN
It should be an essential part of your daily skincare regimen. If you remember nothing else, slap some on before you leave the house in the morning.  It only takes a few minutes in the sun for sun damage to begin. Think...  walking to your office from your car, driving, playing outside with the kids.... You don't have to be a sunbather to see damage.

I love the spending time in the sun! Surfing , hiking, sports, playing with the kids... I enjoy outdoors too much to stay out of the sun. But I apply my SPF 30 in the morning and re-apply my Eminence Sun Defense Minerals throughout the day.  Wide brim hats and sunglasses are also a great way to stay sun smart. With spring here and summer coming, I thought I would dedicate this week to the SUN!  

Stay tuned this week for more info on benefits of the sun & prevention of sun damage...  XOXO