AnteAge MD Serum Review
Related Posts
Microencapsulation: A Skincare Revolution with Ourself Skincare
The biggest obstacle in getting your skincare ingredients where they need to be is a literal barrier: your skin's outer layer, aka the skin barrier. The skin barrier has an important job; keeping moisture in and pollutants out, which helps keep your entire body, not just deeper layers of the skin safe. It's great at this job, which is good news for your health, but that becomes a double edged sword with age as it blocks easy replenishment of compounds like collagen and elastin that keep skin healthy and youthful. So how can you actually get your anti-aging skincare ingredients to penetrate your skin? Microencapsulation Encapsulation has been around since the 1930s, where it was originally developed as a potential alternative for carbon copy paper, where tiny amounts of dye were wrapped in a fragile protective layer to allow targeted application. It quickly evolved to be useful in other arenas like with vitamins and other ingredients that need to be protected from oxidation or similarly degradative processes. You can learn more about the history of microencapsulation here. In the 1980s, there was a breakthrough in the cosmetic industry, with the introduction of liposomal encapsulation to help absorption of skincare products. Before, the majority of active ingredients failed to penetrate the outer layer of the skin and would simply sit on top of it. Now, by encasing active ingredients in a layer of lipids, ingredients were better able to slip through the lipid membranes in the outermost layer of skin. Then, the outer layer is shed, allowing the active ingredients to be delivered a bit deeper into the epidermis, and produce greater benefits. This also adds protection to more reactive ingredients like vitamin C and retinol, which can oxidize quickly, contributing to greater potency and longer shelf life. Odds are you already use at least one or two products that have encapsulation to thank for their results and shelf stability. To read more about liposomal encapsulation in beauty, click here. Ourself: The Next Generation of Encapsulation A new arrival in the skincare market, created by seasoned pros from brands like SkinMedica and Alastin, has pioneered a new development in microencapsulation, allowing for the first subtopical delivery system. Ourself products use a patented multi-tiered vescicle system that allows encapsulation of multiple active ingredients within 18 or more layers of phospholipids. This evolution of traditional liposomal encapsulation is a huge step forward, allowing tiered-release of active ingredients, which gets them to deeper layers of the skin. That means, that for the first time, ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid can actually be delivered to the dermis, leading to an increase in collagen fibers, skin hydration, and skin firmness. The results from their clinical trials are incredible, showing ingredients penetrating deep into the dermis and stimulating collagen production as quickly as within 24 hours. Read Ourself's clinical findings as published in the Dermatologic Surgery Journal. To read more about Ourself's clinically tested technology, click here. Ourself Results I have been using Ourself's marquee skincare product, HA+ Replenishing Serum for about a month and a half now, and am ready to report on my results. First, I love how easy it is to apply compared to other HA serums. It's a smooth formula that glides on easily, absorbs well, and doesn't pill like other HA serums can. Because it feels a little thinner than your typical HA serum, it feels like a little goes a long way, and it's easy to spread out across my whole face and neck with just 1-2 pumps. Plus, with Niacinamide, Vitamin C, and peptides, it's an all-in-one serum that promises to do much more than your standard hydrating serum. My skin tends to be very sensitive and doesn't always tolerate Vitamin C well, so I was curious to see if the multi-level encapsulation would help with that. Since I've been using Ourself HA+ Replenishing Serum, I haven't had any increase in sensitivity, so it seems the vitamin C encapsulation has been working for my skin. It hasn't been a big change, but I do think my overall complexion looks a bit brighter too. The biggest change I've observed in my skin is that it definitely feels firmer since I started using Ourself. I'm 40 and have been using scientifically backed skincare for about 10 years. I haven't experienced any sagging yet, and my fine lines and wrinkles aren't too noticeable yet, so I can't speak to results with those concerns. But, I definitely have noticed in the past few years that my skin feels softer and less elastic than it used to. Since using Ourself, there is a noticeable improvement in how firm and resilient my skin feels, so I plan to keep using this serum to keep it that way. Summary Microencapsulation was a huge step forward in the skincare industry, allowing for greater stability and absorption of active ingredients past the skin barrier. Ourself's patented multi-layer encapsulation technology is the next generation of encapsulation, allowing active ingredients to penetrate all the way to the dermis, deeper than they've ever gone before. If you've tried Ourself and love it like I do, tell me about it in the comments!
Learn more
What is Bakuchiol? The Skincare Ingredient Everyone's Talking About
Bakuchiol has been an ingredient used in skincare for a while now, but recently it's been more talked about as an important one. Some people even call it a gentler retinol alternative. But what is bakuchiol, and is it really accurate to call it a retinol alternative? Read on to learn more.. What is Bakuchiol? Bakuchiol is a natural compound extracted from the seeds of the Psoralea Corylifolia plant, which produces the beautiful purple flower pictured below. The plant is native to Asia and has been used for centuries in Chinese and Indian medicine traditions. The Sanskrit name for the plant is "Bakuchi," and that's where bakuchiol gets its name. You can read more about bakuchiol and its historical usage here. What does Bakuchiol do for your skin? Bakuchiol has been isolated and researched for its potential medicinal properties since the 1970s, but has only made it's way into skincare within the last 20 years. Clinical studies have shown bakuchiol to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as an ability to minimize the appearance of signs of aging like hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. It can also help prevent pores clogging to prevent blemishes, and help restore a glowing, youthful appearance. If those benefits sound familiar, you may be starting to see why people are referring to it as a retinol alternative. Read more about how bakuchiol works and how it compares to retinol at the Cleveland Clinic Is Bakuchiol really a retinol alternative? Retinol, or Vitamin A, has a completely different chemical structure than bakuchiol, so you may initially think they'd have totally different benefits, but that isn't the case. While bakuchiol may not give you all of retinol's benefits and might not be as potent, it does produce many similar effects without the drawbacks of retinol, which can be too harsh for those with sensitive skin. For example, bakuchiol provides results with far less irritation than retinol. And, it does not make your skin more susceptible to sun damage the way retinol does (but that's not an excuse to skip the sunscreen, okay?) Some people are hesitant to call bakuchiol a retinol alternative because it isn't an exact 1:1 replacement, and that's true. However, the benefits are similar enough to make it a valid analogue for people with sensitive skin to try using instead. It also appears in some retinol products as an added anti-aging boost, so you don't have to see it as one or the other-- use both together! Best products with Bakuchiol Allies of Skin CE15 Bakuchiol Firming Oil With 1% bakuchiol. this oil from Allies of Skin is the highest concentration we carry, in a formula that took 5 years and dozens of revisions to create. In addition to bakuchiol, it has vitamins C & E, botanical extracts, and 11 natural oils to soothe, hydrate, and nourish skin. This product is designed to not only firm skin, but smooth your complexion and keep it moisturized all day long. Revision Skincare DEJ Night Face Cream This fan-favorite (and Courtney's long time fave) is a gentle retinol that boosts its anti-aging effects with bakuchiol. Consider this as a great place to start with retinol if your skin is on the slightly sensitive side. It's an opportunity to get the famous effects of both retinol and bakuchiol, with a reduced risk of irritation. AnteAGE Eye Cream If you've been looking for a multi-tasking eye cream that does it all, give AnteAGE Eye Cream a try. This formula includes antioxidants, peptides, bakuchiol, brightening agents, and lipids to reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines, firm and smooth the under eye. Get multiple anti-aging effects in one non-irritating formula. NeoGenesis Volcanic Ash Mask This purifying mask can refine pores and draw out pollutants, while smoothing and hydrating skin. While kaolin clay and a blend of minerals and moisturizers do the bulk of the work here, bakuchiol is an important addition to the formula, contributing to a smoother, more youthful appearance. It's perfect for a weekly refresh, especially with blemish prone skin. iS Clinical Retinol Emulsion 0.3 iS Clinical's Retinol Emulsion is a perfect example of the next generation of retinoids that use new technology & ingredients to maximize results. 0.3 is a lower concentration, but because this is an encapsulated retinol that can better penetrate the skin, it's plenty potent. And, with bakuchiol added to optimize its benefits, this is a powerful retinol worth the time of even seasoned retinol users.
Learn more
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.
Learn more