PURE SKIN BY MAGGIE: 2015

Knowledge & Application Are The Keys to Scientific Skin Care

Posted on 下午1:32, under

Okay, let’s be brutally honest here. We’re all aging. And none of us like it. No matter how old you are, getting out of bed in the morning is not as easy as it was 5 or 10 years ago. The joints creak, energy never seems as high…and then, there’s our skin. Where did the wrinkles come from? The crepe paper eyelids? Those spots? And please oh please, how do we get rid of them – or at least slow them down?

Ever had one of THOSE conversations in your head? I sure have. Realizing that my illusion of more time is just that – an illusion. And then there are the conversations – why oh why didn’t I listen to my mother about sunblock and moisturizer and good skin care when I was younger? Especially with our beautiful Hawaii sunshine. (We’ll stay away from the sneaky gray hairs for today.)

If we are going to accept that this has happened, do we have to accept it, period? That it is inevitable and unavoidable? NO!! And double NO!! And, NO, surgery is not the answer either!

We are so lucky to live in an age of incredible research and skin care options. The more scientists research, the more we learn what our skin needs and how to provide it, with precision (minus the surgery – thank goodness!).

The keys to all of the wonderful science we have are knowledge and application. Knowledge because we have to know not only what claims are true and which are false but also we have to know what our skin individual needs so we don’t accept a "one size fits all" approach. Application because all the amazing science in the world profits nothing if it is mis-used. If at all possible – work with a professional esthetician for both the invaluable knowledge and necessary application.

Let’s take one of our signature treatments for example – the Vital Infusion Treatment. This treatment itself is good for all skin types, however, the actual infusion (application) is customized to each client’s actual skin needs (knowledge).
While someone with oily, acne prone skin does not need the same infusion that someone with dry skin and rosacea does, all skin types need good skin care and extra "boosts" with good skin treatments.
While we all need proper hydro-balance for our skin in order to keep those aging signs at bay for as long as possible, the nutrients necessary for each of us may differ depending on skin condition and age.
While all skin needs collagen to be wrinkle free, plump and beautiful (it is an essential, natural building block, after all) we may need it in different places.
Science is the best friend of aging skin – but let’s use it to its fullest advantage! Start off with the mantras "never assume" and "never stop learning" – never assume that you know what is best for your skin (unless you have a degree!) and never stop learning what options are out there, being uncovered for your benefit!

Update Your Skin Care Routine

Posted on 下午1:54, under

Let’s face the line…the very thin line between a skin care "routine" and a skin care "rut". It’s time to do a review of what we are putting on our faces, not just on a daily basis, but weekly and monthly. Here in Honolulu, we don’t have the extremes of weather common to the mainland that cause people to evaluate and update their beauty routines. We also don’t live in temperature-controlled homes with A/C or heat constantly drying out our skin. Unfortunately, living in paradise makes it a little easier for our routine to become a rut.
Think over the past month, or even longer, if you can. What does your daily skincare look like? Do you ever vary it or do you wait until you have a breakout or suddenly see your complexion getting dull and tired or signs of blackheads or, heaven forbid, new wrinkles appearing out of nowhere? I’m not suggesting that you skip any of the steps in the morning or evening – they are very important! Cleansing and gentle exfoliation is foundational; depending on your skin type, toner is critical to managing oil production; serum carries important nourishment deeper into your skin than other products can penetrate; and we all need moisturizer to keep our skin hydrated and balanced – yes, even those of you with oily skin! And don’t forget your sunscreen in the morning – the Hawaii sun has cumulative effects (ahem…wrinkle that wasn’t there yesterday!). But is that where your skin care ends?

Our skin needs more than just the "daily" stuff. Just like our bodies can become weak and vitamin deficient if we eat the same food all the time, our skin also needs a varied "diet". Our routine should be more than just daily. Enter one of our favorite weekly skin care "treats" – the mask. We aren’t talking about harsh masks, either. A deeply hydrating mask treatment at least once a week can keep your skin vibrant, hydrated and clarified. Clarified, you ask? Yes! Skin that is deeply clean and properly hydrated is less likely to break out.

We created our Age Reversal Serum Mask and Serum Infusion Masks for just that reason. To give your skin the "boost" it needs with hydrating serums and nourishing ingredients it needs. We also wanted to make sure our clients could take home a gentle, healing product after they have come in for a peel treatment at our Honolulu spa. The Age Reversal Mask is targeted for those of us who are watching the signs of decreased collagen production appear…doesn’t that sound so much nicer than "wrinkles"? Ingredients like Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and hyaluronic acid, penetrate deeply to heal and hydrate with immediately visible results – aka, "wrinkles be gone". The Serum Infusion Mask sends restorative anti-inflammatory Vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic acid deep into the layers of skin.

Don’t limit the use of a serum mask to just after a peel treatment or facial – we all need pick-me-ups between visits to an esthetician. Once a week, or more often if your skin needs extra TLC. We love to take these when traveling to ensure that the dry air of the airplane does not damage our skin. They are mess-free and feel amazingly luxurious on a long flight.

So, let’s wake up our skincare routines – your skin will thank you for it by glowing! When my skin glows, I feel better all over, and who couldn’t use that kind of confidence and bounce in their step?

Peptides – What are they really?

Posted on 晚上10:03, under

Over the years, as scientists make discoveries that are then found to be beneficial to skin, a lot of “buzz words”. Distinguishing which terms are truly of benefit to you and what they mean can feel like a mine field of information. This is why we research all the time – to help our clients make sense of all the information out there and differentiate which is truly beneficial and what is a hoax.

Through our research and experience, we have brought the benefits of peptides to our clients in several products, including our most recent Tri-Peptide Collagen Serum. Sounds complicated, right?

Science lesson! Let’s start at the beginning.

Twenty percent of the body is made up of protein. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids. These essential amino acids are responsible for many important operations – they give cells their structure, transport and store nutrients, and influence the function of organs, glands, and arteries.

For our understanding of amino acids and their role in the health of our skin, they have another role – they are essential for wound healing and tissue repair in the muscles, bones, skin and hair. In every part of the body, they are working in crucial roles.

Sooooo…what does that have to do with “peptides”?

Very simply put, a peptide is a compound of two or more amino acids linked in a chain. These peptides are building blocks of proteins in the skin. Peptides in a long chain of amino acids form proteins. But the shorter chains of peptides are able to penetrate the outer layer of skin and send signals to our cells, letting them know how to function.

An example of how peptides work is found in a protein we are all familiar with – collagen. As the collagen protein breaks down with age and environmental stressors, wrinkles begin to develop. The proper formation of peptides applied to the skin signal to the body the need for collagen production, leading to smoother skin.

Amino acids, peptides and proteins are a complex function of our body, but as science continues to develop, we continue to stay on top of what our clients need to know and apply to their skin.

One word of caution – as we mentioned above, not every peptide is created equal when it comes to topical application. And while some peptides are able to provide immediate results, others take continued use to see the full benefits. Consult with an esthetician about what type is best for your unique skin concerns.

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