Chemical vs. Physical Sunscreen

Chemical vs. Physical Sunscreen

Shedding Light on UV Skin Care

While there is no denying that sunscreen is essential for maintaining safe and healthy skin, the debate over a chemical vs. physical active ingredients remains a source of conflict between skin care professionals and product developers. Cheaper and easier to manufacture, chemical ingredients, such as oxybenzone, continue to be a mainstay of drugstore and supermarket shelves despite safety concerns. And with complaints ranging from skin irritation to inadequate UV protection to environmental danger, it is becoming clear that when it comes to chemical-based sun care, the heat is on.

Inadequate Protection

Leading the list of complaints against chemical sunscreens is the concern over inadequate UV protection. Although the sun emits three bands of ultraviolet light UVA, UVB and the largely ozone-blocked UVC most active chemical ingredients only shield against surface burning UVB rays (the kind responsible for sunburns). However, studies of sun-related health problems clearly indicate that the deeper-penetrating UVA rays are far more dangerous to the skin. A suspected carcinogen, UVA overexposure has been widely blamed for the increased melanoma rate worldwide, a fact that has not escaped consumer advocates pushing for broad-band, physical sun protection.

According to Bettylou McIntosh, co-founder of CosMedix, UVA light suppresses the immune system, leaving the skin extremely vulnerable to free radical damage. This damage, she explains, not only poses a serious health threat, but is also the primary culprit in premature aging. When the skin is overwhelmed by free radicals, collagen and elastin often suffer.

Collagen and elastic connective proteins that help support the skin and maintain its formal degrade more rapidly with regular UV exposure. As these fibers weaken and unravel, the skin starts to lose form, causing lines and wrinkles to become more apparent. You really need a broad-band, physical blocker like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to prevent this type of damage,  McIntosh stresses.

Free Radical Generators

In addition to offering inadequate UVA protection, many chemical sunscreens have come under fire for containing ingredients that may actually help generate free radicals. While ingredients like oxybenzone and octocrylene may offer adequate UVB defense, these chemicals can also penetrate into the skin where they act as photosensitizers, actually increasing the skin's sensitivity to harmful UV light. This photosensitivity often results in increased free radical production under illumination. The popular ingredient para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was banned for use in sunscreen after it was de-termined to produce DNA damage when illuminated. The European Union has placed similar restrictions on other potentially harmful ingredients.

According to McIntosh, many chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays to minimize their impact on the skin. Physical sunscreens, on the other hand, work by reflecting light away from the skin.

Environmental Concerns

While consumer safety groups have largely led the charge for higher sunscreen standards, another, more recent complaint concerns not the skin but the sea. According to a study released in January 2008, four common chemical sunscreen agents may be at least partly responsible for increased coral bleaching worldwide. Cinnimate, benzophenone, parabens (artificial preservatives) and camphor derivatives were found to activate viruses in the algae that provide the coral both with its main source of food energy and its vibrant color. Once infected, the algae explodes, dumping the virus into the ecosystem where it can infect surrounding coral communities. With its energy source depleted, the coral bleaches and dies. Researchers estimate that an astounding four to six thousand pounds of chemical sunscreen wash off swimmers each year, destroying approximately ten percent of the world coral reefs. As a conscientious alternative to damaging chemical blockers, environmental groups suggest using biodegradable titanium dioxide- and zinc oxide-based sunscreens when entering fragile ecosystems like lakes and oceans.

Cosmedix Skin Care and Sun Products are Available at Suede Salon Spa and Body

Call Today for your Complimentary Skin Care 856-985-0700

Reflect $45.00

Serious Protection $42.00

Don't Be a Victim of Diversion

What is diversion?

Diverted products come from unauthorized distributors and individuals. Products purchased outside of the CosMedix professional channel are coming from unknown sources that are not a part of the authorized chain of distribution.

What are the dangers of diversion?

Diverted products may be counterfeit, diluted or old, expired formulas that may cause irritation or even infection. Bottom line: they may not be safe to use.

What is CosMedix doing to fight diversion?

CosMedix combats diversion through intelligence and investigative procedures that uncover offenders and their tactics–including the misuse of internet e-commerce sites. We regularly monitor suspected diverters, and utilize tracking systems to trace diverted products back to their original source.

How can I ensure I’m not purchasing diverted products?

CosMedix products are ONLY sold through authorized professional partners,NEVER via clubs or mass merchants. Our professional partners have been specially trained to recommend products and treatments based on your skin’s needs.

Diverters often sell their products through online retailers. Products purchased on these sites may be expired, contaminated or counterfeit. CosMedix cannot guarantee their quality or authenticity and assumes no responsibility for them. The following websites have not been authorized by CosMedix to retail our products:

• Strawberrynet.com
• Fragrance.net
• Ebay.com
• Amazon.com
• SkinSolutionStore.com
• Senseonline.com.au
• CosmeticsNow.com.au

• Acmamall.com
• Wowhd.co.uk
• Cosmeticsnow.co.uk
• Skincaresultsnow.com
• Graysoutlet.com
• SkincareDirect.com.au
• Fragrancesandcosmetics.co.nz

Cosmetic Home Care and Professional Treatments are Available at Suede Salon and Spa.  Call today for your Complimentary Skin Consultation 856-985-0700.

Why Winter Hydration is Important

Feel that chill in the air? Winter is well on its way. And while many of us look forward to sweater weather with relish, you wouldn’t know it by looking at our skin. Between the icy outdoor air and the desiccating indoor heat, it’s no surprise that the biggest beauty gripe of the season is dry skin. However, what most see as a minor inconvenience could hold serious consequences for your complexion years down the road. In the fight against premature aging, winter hydration is just as important as summer sun protection.

While the cold alone isn’t enough to signal a four-star beauty alarm, the drop in humidity compounded with around-the-clock heating are solid clues that its time to step up your skin care regimen. To keep your home cool in the summer and toasty in the winter, your air conditioner dehumidifies the air to control the climate. While this saves you from constantly bundling up when it’s cold outside, it also throws your skin into a state of panic.

Like a sponge, your skin absorbs moisture from the environment to keep its cells healthy and functioning. It also creates a lipid (fatty) barrier to maintain optimal moisture levels even when the humidity fluctuates, like during the winter. Between this lipid barrier and sebum—natural oils secreted by the sebaceous glands—the skin helps combat trans-epidermal water loss, or TEWL. If these natural defenses are compromised, the skin’s cells can quickly lose vital moisture, dry out and die. Over time, dead cells can build up, creating a dull appearance and blocking topical ingredients from reaching the healthy cells below.

What threatens the skin’s natural defenses? Anything that strips its lipid and sebum barrier leaves skin vulnerable to dehydration. Talc-based cosmetics, common cleanser detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and topical irritants, like alcohol and benzoyl peroxide, that can cause inflammation all pose a threat to skin’s delicate moisture balance. Chronic barrier abuse can lead to cracked, broken skin, contributing to signs of premature aging. With skin immunity and repair function in jeopardy, lines and wrinkles can easily follow.

Fortunately, you can prevent the type of winter damage that can lead to premature aging with topical ingredients that work with the skin’s barrier to minimize moisture loss. In addition to natural emollients like shea butter, moisture-enhancing ingredients like jojoba oil, liquid crystals and heavy water can work wonders on both seasonal and persistent dry skin.

Jojoba oil comes from the jojoba shrub, found throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico. Jojoba oil acts similarly to human sebum, conditioning the skin and helping to trap in moisture. Combined with other key moisturizers in a formula like CosMedix’s Hydrate+, this highly prized emollient encourages healthy hydration, especially in skin stripped of its own natural oils.

While jojoba oil helps hydrate skin by locking moisture inside, liquid crystals, like those found in Emulsion, help support the natural liquid crystal matrix of dermal tissue and cell membranes. Existing in a state between liquid and solid, liquid crystals help enhance the absorption of topical hydrators that might otherwise remain on the skin’s surface. Because all cellular components in the body exist in a liquid crystal state, liquid crystal skin care products communicate with the skin’s cells to help correct concerns like moisture loss.

One ingredient you’re not likely to hear a lot about is heavy water. However, with a list of benefits that includes ionizing radiation, boosting immunity and fighting acne bacteria, this little known substance is a skin care powerhouse. Heavy water, or deuterium oxide, is water enriched with deuterium, a hydrogen isotope found naturally in the ocean. Denser than water (hence the name), it’s more resistant to evaporation, making products rich in this moisture-binding ingredient, like Mystic, dry skin must haves.

By targeting moisture loss from outside and within, multi-active hydrating products like those in CosMedix’s chirally correct skin care line can help eliminate winter dryness and prevent the aging effects that build with time. Used in conjunction with a skin care regimen customized to your skin’s needs, corrective hydrators can help you give dry skin the cold shoulder this season and every season.

Cosmedix Facials and Products are available at Suede Salon Spa and Body.  Call today to schedule your Complimentary Skin Consultation.  856-985-0700

8 Skincare Words You Hear But Might Not Know What They Mean

If you’ve ever picked up a skincare product and felt a little stumped, you are not alone. Even the biggest beauty fanatics can have a hard time keeping up with the evolving dermatology-speak popping up on products left and right. To help us wade through the diction and learn why these key words matter to us, we reached out to Dr. Mona Gohara,Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale and co‐founder of k&j sunprotective clothing.

AHA/BHA: Two types of acids that are very useful in the fight against acne, exfoliation, anti-aging, and overall skin maintenance.

Antioxidant: The antidote against free radicals, antioxidants protect cells from damage that causes aging and even cancer. They can come in the form of synthetic chemicals, vitamins, or foods. Some antioxidant-packed foods include kiwis, mulberries, blueberries blackberries, prunes, pomegranate, pink grapefruit, red grapes, kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets and red bell pepper.

Barrier Function: The skin's barrier (the epidermis) is the outermost layer. Its main function is to keep water in, so that the skin is well hydrated and moisturized.

Collagen: One of the most important structural proteins in the skin, it keeps us wrinkle free, and youthful.

Elastin: Collagen’s BFF, these two work together to keep the spring in skin's step. Without elastin, sag would be a permanent status.

Enzyme: Proteins that speed up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the chemical reaction. For skin, they help with inflammation, aging, and cell turnover (exfoliation).

Free Radical: A tiny chemical particle that, when activated by UV light, wreaks cosmetic havoc on the skin, causing wrinkles and discoloration.

Peptide: The building block of proteins—they are small particles that can penetrate the skin easily and signal other cells to do things (such as rebuild collagen), making peptides a prime ingredient in cosmetics.

And now you’re armed with your dermatologist dictionary.

Have any other skincare questions?  Call us at Suede Salon Spa and Body to schedule a Free Skin Consultation and custom regiment.  856-985-0700

Let Us Teach You How to Get the Most From Vitamin C

It’s no secret that vitamin C is a skincare powerhouse. From fighting harmful free radicals to creating a visibly brighter appearance, the topical benefits of this super-nutrient have been proven many times over. However, despite its myriad uses, vitamin C nevertheless poses a challenge for skincare companies. Its hydrophilic nature means it degrades quickly in aqueous solutions—an Achilles heel for an industry dominated by liquid and cream-based products.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C reduces the oxidative damage to cells (including skin cells) by neutralizing free radicals in the body. It’s also required for the conversion of procollagen to collagen—the protein group responsible for the skin’s structural integrity. While most vitamin C comes from dietary sources, its benefits are diffused throughout the body when taken internally. Topical application more directly affects the skin—but only if a substantial concentration reaches the desired location without degrading.

For most skincare brands, some degree of degradation is an acceptable—even inevitable—part of product development. Customers expect serums, creams and lotions, and meeting these expectations—even at the cost of ingredient integrity—is often easier (and cheaper) than offering potent alternatives that challenge customer perceptions. However, despite such challenges, one company has done just that.

CosMedix has built a reputation for rethinking the way products are packaged and even delivered to the skin. From molecular purification to cutting-edge ingredient encapsulation, the Atlanta-based company has developed novel ways of solving skincare’s biggest challenges. Their answer to the problem of vitamin C takes advantage of a purification technology that allows the synthesis of vitamin C into its purest powder form.

Made of 100 percent, pure L-Ascorbic Acid, in a unique, crystal form, Pure C preserves this key nutrient’s potency for maximum effect. The result is a highly concentrated powder that mixes with any serum or cream to dramatically enhance its brightening, antioxidant and anti-aging benefits. By delaying liquid interaction until the moment of application, Pure C sidesteps the issue of prolonged breakdown within a liquid formula to deliver the highest concentration of vitamin C possible to the skin.

As a powder, Pure C also allows users to incorporate vitamin C into their existing regimens. For instance, a person battling hyperpigmentation might mix it with a brightening serum, like Simply Brilliant, for added spot reduction. Someone concerned with premature aging might add several crystals to a firming serum or exfoliating cream, like Affirm or Serum 16 respectively.

By combining maximum potency with user customization, it’s no wonder that Pure C is a perennial bestseller. For CosMedix, the success of its innovative vitamin powder is proof positive that thinking outside of the box—or bottle—pays off.

Cosmedix is available at Suede Salon Spa and Body.  Pure C retails for $52.00.  Call to book  your Complimentary Skin Consultation  856-985-0700

 

Expert Advice from Our Skin Care Specialists

The Power of Professionals

No one knows the skin better than the people who treat it every day. From clinical-strength corrective products to complex procedures, like peels and facials, there’s a reason why professional treatments require a professional touch. If you’re looking to visibly transform your skin’s appearance, you probably have questions about which products and procedures are best for you. Fortunately, Suede's skincare professionals have the tools and the know-how to help you achieve your healthiest complexion ever.

What’s Right for Me?

Wrinkles, dark spots, acne–you know what concerns you most. However, each condition is unique, and what helps one person’s skin might not work for yours. Using CosMedix’s Seven-Point Skin Analysis, our skincare professional can accurately identify the source of your unique skin concern. Weighing such factors as sebaceous activity, skin thickness and accumulated photodamage, a qualified skin expert can then tailor a corrective regimen to your needs–eliminating time-and-money wasting guesswork.

Facials

Facials can be used to combat a number of skin concerns, including mild discoloration, lines, blemishes and oily skin. Among professional skincare’s least invasive procedures, facials generally affect the upper, superficial layers of the skin and require little to no downtime. CosMedix facials are particularly gentle, though powerful enough to produce real, noticeable change. Using chirally corrected enzymes, peptides, antioxidants and growth factors, these unique, nonirritating treatments are safe enough to be applied 365 days a year!

Peels

Unlike most peels, which wound the skin with harsh chemicals, CosMedix professional treatments use chirally correct natured-based ingredients to encourage healthy renewal. Known as metabolic peeling, this process can penetrate from very superficial to medium depth and correct a broad range of troublesome concerns–from oily, problem skin to hyperpigmentation to wrinkles and sun damage.

CosMedix treatments fall into one of two categories, based on their level of intensity. Today’s Treatments refresh and exfoliate the skin without prior preparation. Meanwhile, Tomorrow’s Treatments correct more persistent signs of damage and include pre-treatment skin preparation. Based on your custom skin analysis, your CosMedix skincare professional can pair you with the best solution for your needs.

Today’s Treatments

Today’s Treatments use natural, chirally correct forms of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) to exfoliate away dead skin cells and promote the appearance of healthy skin. These procedures offer a gentle alternative to aggressive treatments using glycolic acid and benzyl peroxide, delivering visible results without the typical irritation or downtime.

Tomorrow’s Treatments

Tomorrow’s Treatments are CosMedix’s most powerful professional tools. Providing medium-depth resurfacing, these one-of-a-kind formulas make the skin appear dramatically tighter and smoother without the long-term damage of traditional peels. Due to their intensity, these treatments require a 10 to 30-day pre-procedure regimen that may include additional products your skin expert recommends for your individual concerns.

Call today to schedule you appointment. 856-985-0700

Esthetician Sharon Pichoto: Intro to Skin Care 101

Good Skin Care starts with proper nutrition.  Sometimes those late nights of studying and not always grabbing the right food can take its toll and wreak havoc on your skin.  CosMedix Skin care offers supplements that can be taken in the morning before you start your day:  Clarity provides powerful internal defense blend of detoxifying cleansing and supportive herbs to help acne.  Balance is a complete green formula with 44 unique fruit and vegetables which boost your energy!  Restore is a proprietary blend of herbs and probiotics to detoxify the colon.  Most importantly drink lots of water!  Half your weight = the amount of ounces you should drink each day.

Keeping a daily skin care routine “simple and affordable” is easy with the following regiment:

Cleanse in the morning and evening.  Going to bed without cleansing will age your skin 7 days!  Select a cleanser that is gentle enough to remove makeup but will also be effective for your personal skin type.  CosMedix Benefit Cleanser is great for most skin types while Purity Clean is perfect for oily/congested skin.

Tone for added protection against clogging pores. Spray a cotton ball with toner and simply swipe your face.  Benefit Balance is gentle enough for all types while Purity Balance works well with clogged conditions. 

Enhance your cleansing by using the Clarisonic brush, which will clean your skin 6 times better than you can manually!

Moisturize to protect and hydrate according to your skin type.  CosMedix Mystic provides hydration without the greasy feeling.  Phytoclear works as the best moisturizer for those “hormonal breakouts”.  Hydrate+ is a light moisturizer with and added protection of SPF 17. 

This simple routine will only take you 3-5 minutes morning and night.  Create the habit within 21 days and see the results.  Suede Salon Spa and Body offers Complimentary Consultations to help you jump start into a Skin Regiment that works best for your skin type.  
Book Today 856-985-0700

Cosmedix Products Sold at Suede Salon Spa and Body:

Clarity Supplements $30.00
Balance Supplements $48.00
Restore Supplements:  $34.00

Benefit Clean $34.00
Purity Clean $34.00
Benefit Balance $34.00
Purity Balance $34.00

Mystic $36.00
Phytoclear $58.00
Hydrate + $46.00