Beauty Blog By Tiffany Andersen Volume 1
When was the last time you changed your beauty routine? Mine used to be pretty simple back in the day. I would wash my makeup off and then moisturize. Easy peasy. That worked for me then but I learned if I wanted real results, as I got older, then I had to adopt a different protocol. It’s not really until I became an aesthetician that I started to have an understanding of the importance of different ingredients and it really started to evolve even more with my personal journey. That’s a WHOLE other story as you may know (stay tuned for more on that in future blogs) but truly healthy skin requires a balance of these six essential ingredients. Here is my arsenal of must-have ingredients that I have not been without for twenty years. Now I’m not saying that if you don’t use these every single day you won’t see results but consistency is the key as with any good habit.
Exfoliation is one of the best first steps to seeing results. Done every few days aids in the natural sloughing off of dead skin cells on the top layer of skin but the process does slow down as we get older. Using a product with alpha hydroxy is probably the most common and gentle way to exfoliate at home. And guess what? If you’re removing the dead skin then your products are going to penetrate so much better, which then equals BETTER RESULTS. What’s great about exfoliation is that you feel immediate results and who doesn’t love soft-to-the touch smooth skin?
Antioxidants What makes antioxidants so essential is that these molecules safely terminate the oxidation chain-reaction before cells are badly damaged by attacking them and then neutralizing the free radicals that lead to aging and disease. I don’t know about you but I much rather try to stop this process than try to aggressively reverse it later, thank you very much. The other great thing is the next few vitamins I’m about to mention ARE antioxidants so it’s not necessarily an extra step in your beauty routine.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for the function of skin cells, so that pretty much says it all. We can’t function without water and our skin cells can’t work without this vitamin. Therefore skin that is thick and dry shows a deficiency in Vitamin A and overexposure of the sun depletes Vitamin A. (Don’t forget your sunscreen with a physical block like zinc oxide. NEVER use a chemical block!) I use products with tropical fruits like mangosteen and papaya that are rich in Vitamin A. Antioxidants always work better when used synergistically, so it’s best to use products containing several of these ingredients in high concentrations.
One of the most valuable antioxidants used topically and internally is Vitamin C. This water-soluble vitamin helps maintain healthy cells and reverse effects of oxidation and premature aging. Topically it’s vital in reactivating Vitamin E and also prevents the oxidation of Vitamin A. If are looking for the strongest Vitamin C on the market, look to the exotic super fruit Kakadu Plum. It is one hundred times stronger than any other synthetic Vitamin C; safe, non-toxic and POWERFUL! What more can you ask for??
The last essential vitamin for skin, Vitamin E. It is the most important oil soluble antioxidant and free radical scavenger. It helps protect the cellular membrane from free radicals but is very unstable and for this reason it must be coupled with Vitamin C. This reactivates it and enables it to work correctly.
Peptides Lastly peptides are as important as vitamins A, C, and E. Now the fun technical part. Peptides are compositions of amino acids that create proteins to stimulate the fibroblast and growth factors, which trigger the rebuilding of the intercellular membranes. Our skin is made up of 40 percent ceramides (the glue that holds our skin together) and is an integral part of the intercellular membrane. Therefore serums are especially important after a chemical peel or laser treatments since they contain high concentrations of peptides. Make sure to use it daily, as studies have shown you get greater results when you do.
So you see, these don’t have to be time consuming but can be worked into your existing beauty routine by combining several of these essentials. Everyone’s time is precious but your skin will personally thank you.
Written By
Tiffany Andersen, Founder and CEO of Gavée Gold reverse aging collection. Tiffany is a Medical Aesthetician and Holistic Health Practitioner out of Renew Medical Spa in Las Vegas.
What questions do you have?
We’d love to hear from you!
Live in good health with beautiful skin!