Skin Care Tips
What is Ectoin? A Trending Ingredient in Skincare
Odds are that you've seen Ectoin pop up in the ingredients lists of more skincare products recently. If you've ever wondered what it is and why it's good for your skin, this is the right place to be. What is Ectoin? Ectoin, also spelled "ectoine," is a resilient amino acid found in several species of bacteria that have evolved to survive in extreme environments. Ectoin plays an important protective role in these bacteria, helping them survive temperature extremes, sun damage, and fighting free radicals. What does Ectoin do in Skincare? You've probably already guessed how ectoin might be helpful for your skin, thanks to its protective properties. In skincare, ectoin helps to stabilize the proteins in your skin, improve its resilience, and even retain moisture. Because it's an amino acid, ectoin works well with many other skincare ingredients, and some experts even believe it works better in tandem with ingredients like retinol and vitamin c. That's why you'll see it in a variety of products like moisturizers, retinol serums, and more, as it can help skin defend itself against damage. [You can read more about ectoin in skincare at NBC News and Refinery 29.] Best Products with Ectoin Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum One of the buzziest products on the market at the moment, this is one of the very best ectoin products too. With a naturally deep blue color from its copper peptides, and a silky smooth formulation, this powerhouse serum is as fun to apply as it is powerful. The dynamic duo of copper peptides and ection help heal skin damage, then protect skin from future damage, leading to overall improvement in the appearance of skin and signs of aging. Alastin Skincare C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum Alastin packed 15 antioxidants into this formula, so it's more well-rounded than your average Vitamin C serum. Speaking of vitamin C, this formula includes encapsulated Sodium Ascorbate for improved absorption and efficacy. Ectoin rounds it all out, adding bonus protection against damage from the sun and free radicals. iS Clinical Retinol Emulsion 0.3 At this point, everyone knows that retinol can provide incredible benefits to your skin, as it increases the rate of your skin cell turnover, leading to fewer blemishes, and fresher, younger-appearing skin. But, those benefits come at a cost, as retinol often causes irritation and makes skin more susceptible to sun damage. That's why new retinol formulas look for ways to reduce irritation and boost protection from the sun. To that end, iS Clinical's Retinol Emulsion uses an encapsulated form of retinol for improved absorption at a lower concentration, supported by antioxidants and ectoin to help soothe and protect skin from environmental damage. AnteAGE Moisturizer One of our best-selling moisturizers, this is a great pick for people with dry, mature skin. It's got a well-rounded formula with ceramides, peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid, designed to work with your skin's natural process to maintain hydration. The addition of ectoin creates an added benefit of protection from UV light, separating it from most moisturizers on the market.
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What are Ceramides? How they work in Skincare
They're everywhere, especially in moisturizers, but what are Ceramides, and what do they do for your skin? In this blog, we explore their natural role in skin health and how including ceramide rich skincare products can help repair your skin barrier.
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Finding the Perfect Vitamin C Product
Vitamin C comes in many different forms. Every company will say their Vitamin C ingredient is superior. As for the scientific evidence, the jury is still out. Here, we breakdown the debate between the different skincare Vitamin C’s and outline which product is best for each skin type.
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How to Choose the Perfect Sunscreen
There are hundreds of sunscreens to choose from now, with mineral, chemical, and tinted options, how do you know which is the best sunscreen for you? Courtney explains the basics of sunscreen and helps you figure out the right fit for your lifestyle.
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Introducing Allies of Skin
Allies of Skin is the newest brand at Harben House. Learn more about the brand, its founder, and some of their products in this post.
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What is Collagen, and why is it Important for Skin? - Skincare Basics
From protein supplements to vitamins, collagen is everywhere in the health and wellness space, and skincare is no exception. It’s likely you have at least a basic understanding of how collagen is part of your skincare journey, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more, we’re here to help. What is Collagen? Image Credit: ttsz / Getty images Collagen is the most common protein found in the human body, comprising almost a third of the proteins spread throughout our tissue. As such it’s the most important building block for muscles, skin, and more. And, that is collagen’s primary function in the body: forming structure and providing strength to the places we need it, like protective casings around organs. Image credit: Anna Bergbauer / Getty Images There are five main types of collagen in your body, as follows: Type 1: Comprising the vast majority of collagen in the body, this dense type forms structures in skin, connective tissue, and even bones. Type 2: Elastic cartilage, like found inside bone joints Type 3: Found in tissues, mostly in hollow organs like the uterus Type 4: A non-fiber type of collagen primarily found in the basement membrane, a separating layer in tissue throughout the body. Type 5: Found in the Dermal-Epidermal junction of the skin, and other places in the body including the eyes. Read more about collagen at The Cleveland Clinic What is Collagen’s role in the skin? Image credit: Mosterpiece / Getty Images Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of your skin. When young and healthy, the collagen in our skin is twisted into long, stretchy fibers that span across the dermis and help skin stretch and bounce back to maintain its shape. It also provides the strength in adhesion between the dermis and epidermis, in the Dermal-Epidermal Junction. Together, with another protein, elastin, it forms a lattice-like structure in the dermis that supports your skin’s structure, making it strong and flexible. With age, the collagen fibers in skin weaken and eventually can break. It’s a natural process that weakens skin, leaving it more prone to injury and less able to support itself, leading to signs of aging like sagging skin and crepiness. Image Credit: ttsz / Getty Images Our bodies naturally produce less collagen as we age, so our ability to replace broken or weakened collagen in the skin becomes more difficult, especially after age 60. Plus, common lifestyle factors like poor nutrition and damage from sun exposure can further weaken the collagen we have remaining in skin. How to Produce and Protect Collagen in the Skin Fortunately there are some things you can do to help protect your skin’s collagen supply and boost its ability to create new collagen and strengthen your skin. Wear sunscreen - UV rays are one of the biggest contributors to skin damage and collagen breakdown over time, so lather up the SPF whenever you’re outside. Even if it’s not that sunny or cold, UV rays are still present. Product recommendations: EltaMD UV Clear, Alastin Hydratint Pro Mineral Sunscreen, Revision Skincare Intellishade Original, Sente Even Tone Sunscreen. Make healthy lifestyle changes - as we’ve discussed before in other blogs about anti-aging strategies, getting on a consistent sleep schedule makes a big difference in your skin’s health. Swapping out processed, sugary foods for ones rich in collagen like nuts, dairy, and fish gives your body better proteins to choose from. Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption will also help your body function its best and not waste energy removing toxins. Eat & use antioxidant and Vitamin C rich products - Free radicals that bind to our skin from air pollution are another big stressor on your skin, and vitamin C is a key ingredient your body needs to build new collagen proteins. You can help your body purge free radicals & produce more collagen by eating more anti-oxidant and vitamin C rich foods like blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, and spinach. For an added boost, add an antioxidant-rich Vitamin C serum and give your skin all the support it needs. Product recommendations: Alastin C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum, Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex, Flawless Canvas Free Radical Scavenger, Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%. Stay hydrated - Water is essential for proper functioning in basically every system in the body, so make sure you’re drinking enough daily. Dehydrated skin is stressed skin, and stress kills collagen, so drink up. As an added boost to your skin’s hydration levels, use a hyaluronic acid serum to boost your skin’s ability to retain moisture. Product recommendations: SkinMedica HA⁵® Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator, Ourself HA Replenishing Serum, Alastin HA Immerse, Sente Hydrate+ Serum, Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum Introduce Peptides to your regimen - In order to build new proteins like collagen, your body needs amino acids, which are protein building blocks. Peptides are one such amino acid that can boost your body’s protein building process, so using products with peptides may help restore your skin’s elasticity. Product recommendations: Revision Skincare Revox 7, Neocutis Bio Serum Firm, Ourself Ourself Daily Renewal Cream, AnteAGE MD Serum
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What is Elastin, and What Does it do for Skin? - Skincare Basics
If you’re at all familiar with skincare, you’ve definitely heard the word elastin thrown around as something to do with skin and aging, but a lot of people don’t know exactly what it is. This article, as part of our Skincare Basics series, is here to explain what elastin is, the role it plays in skin health, and how with the right skincare, you can replenish your skin’s supply of it. What is elastin? Image credit: Howard Vindin / WikiMedia Elastin is a naturally occurring, stretchable protein found throughout the body anywhere stretchiness is needed. It is We most often hear about it in our skin (more on that soon), but it’s also a key part of tissue throughout the body’s stretchy parts including muscles, ligaments, the bladder, and lungs. Read more about elastin at The Cleveland Clinic. What does elastin do for your skin? Image Credit: Mosterpiece / Getty Images Elastin is one of the primary building blocks of your skin. When young and healthy, the elastin in our skin is twisted into long, stretchy fibers that span across the dermis and help skin stretch and bounce back to maintain its shape. Together, with another protein, collagen, it forms a lattice-like structure in the dermis that supports your skin’s structure, making it strong and flexible. As we age, the elastin fibers throughout our body slowly degrade and eventually can break, leading to signs of aging like sagging skin and wrinkles. These are a natural result of our skin’s elastin support system breaking down over time and reducing skin’s ability to stretch and bounce back. One way to visualize the loss of elastin in your skin is to pinch an area of loose skin like on your elbow or the back of your hand. On a younger person like a child or someone in their 20s, the skin instantly bounces back, but with increased age, it will react more slowly. How can you maintain elastin in the skin? Image Credit: ttsz / Getty Images The bad news about elastin in the skin is that we produce the bulk of our elastin early in life, with production peaking at about 3 months of age, and about half of it gone by age 70. But, in good news, your body continues producing elastin throughout your life, albeit at a slower pace year after year. And, elastin is one of the most durable proteins in the human body, with a lifespan up 70 years, so the elastin you have can stay healthy a long time if you care for it. Here are some things you can do to protect and rejuvenate the elastin in your skin: Wear sunscreen - the sun’s powerful UV rays are one of the biggest contributors to elastin breakdown over time, so lather up the SPF whenever you’re outside. Product recommendations: EltaMD UV Clear, Alastin Hydratint Pro Mineral Sunscreen, Revision Skincare Intellishade Original, Sente Even Tone Sunscreen. Make healthy lifestyle changes - as we’ve discussed before in other blogs about anti-aging strategies, getting on a consistent sleep schedule makes a big difference in your skin’s health. Add to that other healthy changes like eating more nutrient dense foods, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol comsumption, and staying active, will reduce stress, improve blood flow, and help your skin be its best. Eat & use antioxidant rich products - Free radicals that bind to our skin from air pollution are another big stressor on your skin’s elastin supply. You can help purge your body of free radicals by eating more anti-oxidant rich foods like blueberries and spinach, and help your skin defend itself with antioxidant serums. Product recommendations: Alastin C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum, Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex, Flawless Canvas Free Radical Scavenger, Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%. Stay hydrated - Water is essential for proper functioning in basically every system in the body, so make sure you’re drinking enough daily. Dehydrated skin is stressed skin, and stress kills elastin, so drink up. As an added boost to your skin’s hydration levels, use a hyaluronic acid serum to boost your skin’s ability to retain moisture. Product recommendations: SkinMedica HA⁵® Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator, Ourself HA Replenishing Serum, Alastin HA Immerse, Sente Hydrate+ Serum, Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum Introduce Peptides to your regimen - In order to build new proteins like elastin, your body needs amino acids, which are protein building blocks. Peptides are one such amino acid that can boost your body’s protein building process, so using products with peptides may help restore your skin’s elasticity. Product recommendations: Revision Skincare Revox 7, Neocutis Bio Serum Firm, Ourself Ourself Daily Renewal Cream, AnteAGE MD Serum Summary Despite being a microscopic protein, elastin is incredibly important to our bodies, and even more critical to maintaining healthy, youthful-appearing skin. Putting some effort into caring for your skin’s elastin supply is one of the most impactful ways to improve its well-being and appearance.
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Skin Structure & Functions - Skincare Basics
Most people have already heard that skin is the human body’s largest organ, but have you ever wondered about how skin works? The first in our new Skincare Basics series, this article is a deep dive into the structure and function of skin, to help you understand what your skin needs and how to care for it. How is skin structured? Photo credit: About Time / Getty Images Your skin is divided into three basic layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis is the outer layer including the skin you can see, with pores, hairs, etc. Its role is to protect your body, produce new skin cells, and contains melanin, which determines skin’s color. It also functions to keep skin hydrated by functioning as a natural barrier to water loss. Photo Credit: ttsz / Getty Images The epidermis itself is divided into 5 layers or strata: Stratum Corneum - The visible layer of skin, made up of keratinocytes and fats that prevent water from entering or leaving the body. Stratum Lucidum & Stratum Granulosum - 2 thin layers of skin cells beneath the surface Stratum Spinosum - the fourth layer, comprised of skin cells and proteins that hold the cells together and enable flexibility in skin. Stratum Basale - The deepest layer of the Epidermis, this is where keratinocytes produce keratin proteins that grow hair, nails, and new skin cells for the outer layers. This deepest layer is also where melanin, which determines skin’s color, is found. The dermis is the middle, thickest layer of your skin. It contains nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and hair follicles. This layer is also where collagen, elastin, and fibroblasts form a supportive structure for your skin. It is divided into two layers of its own: Papillary Dermis - the thin top layer of the dermis, which contains blood vessels, touch receptors, collagen fibers, fat cells, and more. Reticular Dermis - Bound tightly below the papillary dermis, this deeper layer is thicker and filled with blood vessels, glands, hair follicles, etc. Importantly, this is where a network of elastin and collagen fibers form the skin’s structure, providing strength and elasticity. The deepest layer of your skin, the hypodermis, also called subcutaneous tissue produces fat cells that can insulate the body and store energy. Its other primary function is to connect skin to muscles and bones, and providing a buffer around organs, and preventing the skin from rubbing against everything beneath it. Read more about the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis at The Cleveland Clinic. Function and Health Your skin has several important functions, including: Protecting the body from the sun, germs, and other environmental hazards Regulating body temperature through sweat and fat storage Providing sensory feedback from touch and pain Producing hair Providing cushioning and connective tissue for bones and muscles When we are born, our skin has everything it needs to be healthy and function properly (except for sunscreen, which everyone should wear every day). A youthful dermis is full of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid that keep skin strong, flexible, and well hydrated, contributing to a smooth, plump, and healthy appearance. Photo Credit: Rujirat Boonyong / Getty Images As we age, our skin naturally loses its supply of hyaluronic acid, and our collagen and elastin fibers weaken and break. That weakens skin’s underlying structure, leading to the visible signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin, and crepiness. This is why so many anti-aging skincare products contain ingredients to resupply or restimulate natural production of elastin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid: if you can maintain or repair your skin’s natural structure, skin will remain healthy and more youthful for longer. For more information on elastin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and the best products to help replenish your skin’s supply of them as you age, click the links below to be taken to the Skincare Basics article for each. Collagen Elastin Hyaluronic Acid
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5 Ways to Keep Skin Healthy in the Sun
Keep your skin safe and healthy in the summer heat! Protect your skin and read our tips more making sure you take care of your skin this summer.
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