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.

Rethinking Rosacea

A New Approach to Skincare’s Most Elusive Condition

By Noureddine Mriouah

Rosacea is a common skin concern that affects millions of people worldwide. Largely misunderstood (and often ignored) by the skincare community, rosacea affects all types of skin and usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 50. More common in light-skinned people, it disproportionately affects women, who are two to three times more likely to suffer than men. Symptoms typically appear on the middle of the face (particularly on the cheeks, cheekbones, nose and, to a lesser extent, the forehead and the chin) and can be difficult to treat without a solid understanding of this elusive condition.

Causes

While the origin and pathophysiology of rosacea are not fully understood, there are several assumptions suspecting vascular disorders, abnormal response to thermal stimuli and/or inflammatory reactions. It also seems that both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of this dermatosis. It is believed that vasomotor instability is the original phenomenon that underlies the disease.

Responding to different stimuli (such as sun exposure, alcohol and tobacco intake, spicy foods, emotional stress, temperature fluctuations, exercise and reactions to low quality cosmetic products), hypersensitive facial capillaries dilate and become more permeable, releasing various proteins, cytokines and inflammatory mediators in the dermis. This initiates an inflammatory reaction, resulting in erythema (a.k.a. Rosacea Diathesis). In the long term, persistent edema, damaged telangiectatic vessels and, in some cases, hyperplasia and fibrosis of different structures of the dermis may appear.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rosacea may include a sensation of dry skin, heat or burning in the face and, in rare cases, pruritus (itching). The primary signs of rosacea are the presence of erythematous papules, pustules, edema and telangiectasia.

There are various degrees of rosacea, which consist of four main stages: flushing or "flush" paroxysmal, Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea, Papulopustular Rosacea, Phymatous Rosacea, However the progression from one stage to the other is not always systematic.

The flushing paroxysmal stage is characterized by a temporary redness caused by sudden exposure to heat or cold or after alcohol intake. Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea, on the other hand, is characterized by a permanent redness on the malar areas, especially on the cheeks and the chin; the dilated capillaries lead to the “Classic Couperose”. Papulopustular Rosacea is the real state of rosacea, easily identified by papules and pustules a few millimeters in diameter beneath the erythema, without any associated comedones. Lastly, Phymatous Rosacea appears when the skin thickens progressively, the volume of the nose is increased and diffusely red, and follicular orifices are dilated. Unlike other stages, this later phase primarily affects men.

There is another form of rosacea called Ocular Rosacea, an inflammatory conjunctivitis, causing damage to the edge of the lashes with small blue tones (blepharitis) and damage to the cornea (keratitis). These signs are often ignored and sometimes confused with an ocular allergy.

Rosacea is most often confused with the Acne Vulgaris, which is characterized by the presence of comedones and usually occurs in younger subjects. Rosacea may also be confused with Seborrheic Dermatitis, which can be distinguished by the presence of scales and erythema on the scalp, eyebrows and in the external ear canal. Seborrheic Dermatitis may also include ocular impairment and is treated differently from rosacea.

Treatment

The most popular topical treatments of rosacea are prescription topical creams or gels using 0.75% to 1% of Metronidazole, which different clinical studies have proven to be effective. Other topical treatments used less commonly include Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Sodium Sulfacetamide, Tretinoin and Azelaique Acid. Studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory oral antibiotics, such as Tetracycline, Clarithromycin, Doxycycline and Minocycline, for the treatment of papulopustular rosacea.

For patients who want to avoid prescription drugs for fear of side effects, other options can be good alternative for relieving rosacea. First and foremost are preventive measures, such as avoiding the aforementioned stimuli and by using a daily sunscreen protection cream (SPF 30 or higher). Exposure to ultraviolet rays is the primary factor associated with the appearance of rosacea. In fact, UV rays are directly responsible of generating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), causing both oxidative damage and eliciting an amplification of cytokine release, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle resulting in a chronic, systemic, pro-inflammatory state.

It is then highly recommended to use a broad spectrum of topical products formulated with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active ingredients with the objective of inhibiting the key mediator of inflammation and aging processes, such as NF-KB. These actives should also be able to reinforce, protect and boost the antioxidant response system.

Two different classes of anti-inflammatory agents seem to show promising results: COX inhibitors (cyclooxygenase) and 5-LOX inhibitors (5-lypooxygenase). Natural inhibitors used in topical treatments for rosacea include Boswellic acid, found in the Boswellia serrata tree; resveratol, found in grapes; Tamanu Oil, found in nuts from the Polynesian ati tree; and Beta Glucans, derived from plants, bran of cereal grains

To avoid the progression of the temporary erythema to stages of rosacea that are more difficult to treat, it is important to reinforce the skin barrier. There is a reciprocal effect of many chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rosacea, psoriasis, atopic and seborrheic dermatitis, on the disruption of the stratum corneum barrier. However, the barrier can be reinforced by using ingredients designed to stimulate the component of the natural moisture factor (NMF), the production of ceramides and the maintaining of tight junctions—a series of fusion points between plasma membranes of adjacent keratinocytes in the granular layer of the epidermis, which is responsible for ensuring homeostasis of the barrier function.

Finally, no topical anti-rosacea treatment is complete without addressing a major skin issue: maintaining and reinforcing the integrity of the Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM). Using ingredients designed to stimulate the production of collagen and glycoaminoglycans will enhance this key function, ensuring a more thorough treatment with lasting results.

Call today to book your Complimentary Consultation and learn what products and treatments Suede Salon Sp sand Body has to offer to help control your Rosacea: 856-985-0700

Affirm
Antioxidant Firming Serum
$79.00

Benefit Clean
Gentle Clean
$33.00

Clarity Serum
$36.00

Define
Resurfacing Treatment
$77.00

Hydrate +
Daily Moisturizer SPF 17
$46.00

Restore
Colon Cleanse
$34.00

CPR
Skin Recover Serum
$48.00

Delicate Facial  $89

This 60 minute facial is designed to soothe sensitive skin.  Enjoy a thorough cleanse, tone and exfoliation in the most gentlest form.  Includes a face, neck and shoulder massage.  Specific antioxidants and serums are used to calm, soothe, hydrate, protect and heal the most delicate skin. 

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

Holiday Skin Must-Haves

The holiday season is fast approaching.  And while we enjoy the camaraderie, giving, receiving and joy, we tend to focus on the never ending to-do list - the cooking, baking, preparing and getting everything just right--only to step back from the mirror to gaze upon the look of neglect.  Staring back at us is a tired, wrinkled, puffy-eyed face that is supposed to be in a holiday dress smiling like June cleaver by the end of the week.  Add traveling halfway across the county by car or plane, and the damage to fix increases tenfold. 

 

There are scientific explanations for why our skin goes berserk at times. A large cause is the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for blood pressure regulation, immune function and inflammatory response. During times of chronic stress, like the holidays, cortisol can reach prolonged high levels, causing impaired cognitive function, elevated blood pressure, blood sugar imbalances and breakouts. Add cold weather and dry indoor heating, and a plan for healthy skin becomes imperative.

Fortunately, Suede Salon Spa and Body carries CosMedix to make it easy for you to face the holiday hustle and bustle with a radiant glow. The CosMedix Correct Kit is an easy, four-step skin correction routine that’s appropriate for everyone. Approved by the FAA, this travel-sized kit contains everything you need to cleanse, protect, hydrate and correct your skin on the go.

Starting with Benefit Clean, a chemical-free, shea butter-rich cleanser formulated for all skin types, the Correct Kit removes dirt, impurities and even stubborn waterproof makeup to cleanse and prime skin for correction. To undo environmental damage and protect the skin, Affirm antioxidant serum then infuses it with over ten active antioxidants.Hydrate+, a chemical-free, hydrating sun protector, soothes and protects the skin from the elements. Lastly, Define refinishing treatment helps to combat the multitude of concerns—from fine lines, discoloration and uneven texture to breakouts, dehydration and loss of elasticity.

While the Correct Kit will help you achieve a flawless complexion, there are a few must-haves to include in your holiday/winter regimen. Opti Crystal not only combats signs of aging around the delicate eye area, it also hydrates, smoothes, sets concealer and reflects light away from fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. Used on the lips, Opti Crystal is a nourishing treatment that also helps prevent vertical lines and rehydrates even the driest chapped lips.

If you need a bit of extra winter hydration, send Rescue balm to the, well, rescue. This soothing at-home treatment mask not only rehydrates lackluster skin, but also infuses it with antioxidants to save it from the damage of too much travel, lack of sleep and stress. An immediate pick-me-up, Rescue balm is perfect anytime your complexion needs a little help. It’s also great for dry hands, feet, elbows and knees.

Lastly, when all else fails—when you’ve waited too long, traveled too far and stressed too much—head to your nearest Suede Salon Spa and Body for a quick, no-downtime Today’s Peel. Designed to immediately revive, exfoliate, soften and correct multiple concerns, chirally correct CosMedix treatments like Blueberry Smoothie, Pomegranate Peel, Benefit Peel and Purity Peel will get your skin in shape without the wait. So, with the holidays approaching, the to-do list a mile long, and too little time to spare, reach for the Correct Kit and rest assured that help is on the way.  Call today for your Free Skin Consultation 856-985-0700.

Suede Holiday Specials

Buy $100 in Suede Gift Certificates and Receive a $25 Suede Reward Card
Valid Jan 1-31, 2014

Buy $200 in Suede Gift Certificates and Receive $50 in Suede Reward Cards
Valid Jan 1-31, 2014

Buy $250 in Suede Gift Certificates and Receive $50 in Suede Reward Cards
Valid Jan 1-31, 2014

December 16-21, 2013 Buy One Get One 50% off Retail Products,
excluding Cosmetics, Hair Tools, Extension Bar orJewelry

Change Her Look...Change Her Life Make-Over Contest

This October, Suede is holding a Make-Over Contest.  We are asking you to nominate a woman whom you think best deserves a Make-Over.    The winner will receive a day of beauty that will  “Change Her Look and Change Her Life”.  The elected winner will experience a Radiance Facial, Color, Hair-cut, Blow-dry and Style along with an Instructional Make-Over and Signature Manicure compliments of Suede Salon and Spa.  We aren’t stopping there, the winner will also create Two New Clothing Outfits retailing at $500 with our very own Image Consultant/Personal Shopper, Heidi.    

We’ve never done something quite like this and cannot wait to see how we can empower a Woman Nominated and Elected by our Facebook friends.   For this contest we will be accepting Nominees up until October 15, 2013.  We will then post our Top Three Stories on October 16th and you will get to vote on who you think should win by just liking their picture.  Voting will end at midnight on October 31^st and the winner will be announced on November 1, 2013.

Here are the rules:

• First, you must like our page on Facebook to have your nomination considered.  https://www.facebook.com/suedesalonandspa
• Nominate any Woman you feel deserves a Make-Over.  All types of Woman are eligible.  A Mom who has become the family’s chauffeur and maid to the Woman stuck in the 80’s .  Wife, Homemaker, Professional Woman, nominate them all!
• Message the details of your nominee to us on Facebook
• You can nominate only 1 Woman
• You must include their full name, phone number and email address.  Just a way for us to get in contact with her if she wins!
• Nomination letter must include the reasons why you believe she should be nominated. 
• Your nomination must include a clear, good quality photo
• All nominations must be submitted before Monday, October 15^th at midnight
• Employees and Employee Family members cannot participate
• Salon Spa and Personal Shopping will be completed by November 15, 2013

Peels with the Power to Change the Skin and the Results to Prove It

The Proof is in the Peel

Few cosmetic treatments can change the skin’s appearance more dramatically than a professional facial peel. From correcting troublesome conditions, like acne or hyperpigmentation, to simply giving the skin a rejuvenating “lift,” peels exist for a variety of purposes. However, navigating the bloated peel market all alone–and the claims that each product makes–can be a daunting task. If you’re considering a facial peel, the myriad choices available can seem overwhelming without a solid benchmark for comparison. And for most people, that benchmark is the proof that a product performs as promised.

For Suede Salon, Spa and Body's , proof is easy to come by. Suede's Estheticians are known for their ability to create  a healthy complexion without irritation, Suede only uses peels that back up their product claims with hard evidence for years. And with a proven collection of non-wounding peels for all skin types, you won’t have to scour the earth to find the right treatment for your unique concerns.

For those looking to correct superficial flaws and revitalize the skin, Today’s Peels offer a gentle, no-downtime alternative to harsh chemical peels. Instead of forcing the skin to repair itself with damaging chemicals, Our peels work with the skin’s own chemistry to encourage healthy exfoliation and renewal. Using chirally correct ingredients–ingredients purified at the molecular level for maximum potency with minimal irritation risk–Today’s Peels require no prior preparation, yet are powerful enough to dramatically diminish the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, oily and acne-prone skin.

Blueberry Smoothie $75
Combining antioxidant blueberry extract with stimulating L-lactic acid and blue corn meal, Blueberry Smoothie is a powerful yet gentle exfoliating peel and scrub. An exceptional blemish treatment, this light peel effectively corrects an assortment of superficial skin concerns, from sun damage to multiple degrees of discoloration. So impressive are its results that Blueberry Smoothie is among Suede's top-selling treatments.

Pomegranate Peel $75
Designed to even out the top layers of the skin, Pomegranate Peel infuses the skin with powerful antioxidants while stimulating collagen to smooth over rough skin and correct uneven texture and tone. Combining 15 percent L-lactic acid–a chirally correct alpha hydroxyl acid derived from milk–with some of nature’s most effective free radical fighters, including red wine resveratrol, pomegranate seed oil and astaxanthin–a marine carotenoid 500 times more potent than vitamin E–Pomegranate Peel is remarkably gentle catalyst for change.

Benefit Peel  $100
Benefit Peel truly is a peel for all skin types. Utilizing encapsulated retinol, this stimulating antioxidant peel is especially effective at neutralizing hyperpigmented, problem and prematurely aged skin types. In fact, in recent clinical testing, 91 percent of Benefit Peel recipients reported brighter skin, more uniform tone and less apparent wrinkles in just six weeks.

Purity Peel  $125
A unique blend of five chirally correct acids, Purity Peel is the answer to oily and acne-prone skin. Made with 10 percent encapsulated retinol and over four percent salicylic acid and L-TCA complex, this maximum strength clarifying peel effectively exfoliates problem skin, unclogs pores and eliminates toxins and impurities with amazing results. In clinical testing, over 95 percent reported clearer skin and fewer and less severe breakouts in just four weeks.

Call today for your Complimentary Skin Consultation and learn what peel is best for your skin type.  856-985-0700.