I drink a TON of water...why is my skin so dry?
- Hot showers/hot tubs - while hot showers and hot tubs feel great and relaxing, excessive hot water and all the chlorine and additives in our water are big contributors to dry skin. A few things to help counteract this are:
- Try lowering the water temperature
- Take a shorter shower/bath <15 minutes is best
- Within 3 minutes of your shower, gently pat your skin dry and then apply a moisturizer, one of my faves is a shea butter based moisturizer
- Pollutants in the air - car exhaust, smog, cigarette smoke, pollen, etc. A 1997 Berkeley study showed that exposure to ozone concentrations drained the skin's supply of Vitamin E by 25% in as little as two hours. People are more prone to this risk in cities with high ozone densities, such as Los Angeles and Mexico City. Smoke and dust also absorb the moisture in the skin, leaving it parched. Even climate-controlled environments can play a part in drying your skin. Modern-day mechanical wonders, such as centralized heating and air-conditioning, can actually cause humidity levels to drop inside the living space and cause dry skin. Forced-air furnaces and fireplaces also contribute to dry skin. Devices such as household humidifiers can help prevent this.
- Lack of sleep also promotes dry skin. The body naturally repairs damaged skin cells during this resting phase. Getting enough sleep is probably the simplest thing you can do to avoid dry skin.
- Lack of exercise can also contribute to dry unhealthy skin. Even 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 times per week increases blood flow, which increases oxygen levels and nutrients delivered to tissue which increases skins brilliance, clarity and more.
- Medical Conditions - there are a host of medical conditions that contribute to dry skin; thyroid imbalances, diabetes, digestive issues to name a few.
- Be aware of your environment. Hospital workers, flight attendants and those who work in environment with recycled air are encouraged to moisturize twice daily and especially after showering.
- Get plenty of rest, at least 8 hours per night to rejuvenate
- Use a humidifier in your home to replenish moisture in the air
- Get moving 30 minutes/3 times per week!
- Check with your physician if persistent dry skin doesn't improve with moisturizer, humidifiers and proper rest. You may have a condition that needs medical attention.
- Exfoliating the dry outer layers of skin on a regular basis is important. Removing these dead layers allows moisturizers to penetrate deeper where they can restore the moisture barrier.
- Applying moisturizer both morning and night is imperative to keeping your sin plump
- Use UVA/UVB sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage which causes a myriad of issues including leathery dryness.
Latisse Lashes Longer, Thicker & Darker...see my results!
the product each night, however, I find that nightly is too much for as I start to experience dry scratchy eyes. I have found that using the product every other night is just fine for me and I am still seeing great results.
just enough to feel the product dampen lash line of my upper lids without dripping.
the product for about 3-4 weeks.
Skin Care Ingredients...Helping you understand the labels!
Botox, the bottles, needles, etc.
This is an actual Botox vial
Notice the hologram on the bottle
Details on the back of EVERY bottle
This is mixed with Botox to create the liquid that's injected. Commonly known as saline.
The middle needle is used to inject Botox, MUCH smaller than a regular needle shown here at the bottom is a 27 gauge needle. The small needle makes the injections virtually painless.
If you ever have questions about what your injector uses, ASK! Ask to see the bottle, the needle, whatever it is, it's ok to ask questions!!!
If you have specific questions, please email us! barbie@a2tampa.com
Common Botox questions...does it hurt? Will I bruise? What's the crunch?
New Vit C Formula...POWERHOUSE for the skin!
We have known for years that Vitamin C, used topically can improve skin tone, texture and overall health. We also know Vit C in its traditional formulation is one of the most unstable molecules and therefore, has a very short shelf life and efficacy expectancy. However, advances in the study of skin care ingredients has now brought us a new formulation of Vit C, that is significantly more stable, and effective.
This new formulation is, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is an oil-soluble form of Vitamin C, which is key in the formulation as it allows the product to penetrate deeper into the epidermis, as opposed to aqueous (water based) formulas. Human skin is both lipid and aqueous, therefore in order for a product to adequately penetrate it also needs to mimic this same composition or the skin rejects the product and we do not receive the full benefit. Many Vit C Serums also contain Vit E (Alpha Tocopherol) to create a serum that has a lipid ingredient. The problem with this combination is that Vit E is known to cause signifiant blackheads in many patients and therefore not an ideal formulation.
So, what does Vitamin C actually DO for our skin? It increases collagen levels, reduces melanin production (which causes brown spots), brightens skin, and actually repairs the effects of UV exposure and other environmental damage.
According to Epilution.com, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate also has the ability to stimulate the skin to produce glycosaminoglycans, natural moisturizers that allow skin to absorb moisture from the body itself.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is considered a mild version of Vitamin C, and also remains stable in air and water for up to 18 months, allowing it to serve as a long-lasting antioxidant…this is HUGE! How many of you have purchased a Vit C serum, only to have it turn dark brown after a couple weeks due to rapid oxidation?
Because this ingredient is significantly more effective in lower concentrations than traditional Vitamin C, it has also been found to be gentler and work in some people who are resistant to ascorbic acid (Natural-Skin-Care-Info.com).
According to a study published in Dermatologic Surgery entitled “Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage,” Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate “penetrates directly into the epidermis and dermis, acting both as an antioxidant and a direct stimulant of new collagen,” unlike other ascorbic acids, which are released into the stratum corneum and protect the skin only as an antioxidant. Significant improvement was found when patients applied a 7% concentration of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate with a 10% concentration of ascorbic acid and saw a decrease in visible photoaging and increased collagen production, thanks to the delivery and penetration abilities of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.
This new formula can be found in Revision Skin Care’s Vit C 30% serum and Rejuva MD’s Vit C’s.
About Me
- Barbie Winterbottom
- Barbie is the founder of Advanced Aesthetics and co-founder of the former Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Institute and in Tampa, FL. A licensed medical esthetician, Barbie has studied with physicians, internationally renowned CIDESCO skin care professionals, scientists and researchers to fully understand the skin, products, treatments and how to make them all work together for the best benefit of the client. Expanding on her own clinical practice, Barbie is now sharing her insight and knowledge globally on the web via this blog, The Examiner.com and more. Barbie is frequently featured on local and syndicated TV programs for her expertise in skin care and trends in the industry.