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What are Peptides and What do they do in Skincare?
Peptides are a buzzworthy ingredient in skincare that even beginner enthusiasts will have heard of. But have you ever wondered what they actually are, and what they do for your skin? If so, I have great news, because that's exactly what we'll discuss here. What are Peptides? Peptides are short chains of amino acids, naturally occurring compounds found throughout the body. When many of these chains combine together, they create proteins. They serve many jobs throughout the body like regulating hormones, repairing damaged cells, and metabolizing sugars. [You can read more about peptides and health here.] How can Peptides help your skin? As we age, our skin's supply of two key proteins, collagen and elastin, run short. Wrinkled or saggy, skin is a result of lower, weaker numbers of these structure maintaining proteins. This is where peptides come in: they are often compared to building blocks because they're exactly what the body needs to create more protein. If you can add peptides back into your skin, theoretically you can give your body what it needs to build new collagen and elastin, and restore healthy, youthful appearing skin. Plus, due to their natural role in the body of regulating hormones and other bodily functions, adding peptide-rich products to your skincare routine can help reduce inflammation. Do Peptides really work? If you're a long time reader of our blog (especially the post about microencapsulation), you might already see a potential issue with peptides in skincare: delivery. Collagen and Elastin are formed deep in the dermis of your skin, meaning products need to be formulated in a way that can deliver peptides to the places they can be most impactful. Because peptide molecules are generally too large to be absorbed through the epidermis, there are some people who don't believe peptides can actually help skin. In reality, there are a couple of ways to make it work. 1) Like hyaluronic acid, which is too big in its pure form to be absorbed by the skin, peptides can be broken into smaller forms, which can be absorbed. 2) Peptides can also be encapsulated or micro-encapsulated to improve absorption. For example, Ourself's microencapsulation technology allows ingredients like hyaluronic acid to be delivered directly to the dermis, where they can be most effective. [Read more about peptide absorption here.] Best skincare products with peptides Ourself Advanced Regenerative Serum (formerly known as HA+ Replenishing Serum-- new packaging coming soon) With Ourself's patented sub-topical delivery system, this advanced serum delivers peptides and hyaluronic acid to the dermis where they can plump skin and stimulate collagen and elastin. It's been clinically tested and proven to improve your skin's firmness while reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and crepey or saggy skin. Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting SerumA new favorite with Harben House customers & staff, this serum combines peptides with growth factors to maximize your firming and lifting results. Backed by clinical trials and years of work in development, this is a peptide rich serum you can trust to deliver real results. Revision Skincare Revox Line Relaxer Those in the know have nicknamed Revox Line Relaxer "Botox in a bottle," and it has become popular as a pregnancy safe alternative to anti-aging injections. With a highly concentrated peptide-rich formula, this spot treatment is designed to be applied directly to areas with wrinkles and fine lines for targeted results. Obagi Professional-C Peptide Complex Similar to the Allies of Skin serum, Obagi's offering combines peptides and growth factors, but this complex adds vitamins C & E to make this a comprehensive anti-aging serum. It's clinically proven to produce help firm skin and reduce the appearance of signs of aging as quickly as in one week. Neocutis Lumiere Firm Eye Cream Consistently one of the best-selling eye creams in the industry, there's a decent chance you've already tried Neocutis' Lumiere Firm (or Firm Riche). This powerhouse eye treatment helps brighten dark circles, and uses a tried and true combination of peptides and growth factors to firm and tighten skin around the eyes.
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Fresh Start: Our Favorite Cleansers
This time of year always feels like a good time to update your skin care routine, and there's no better place to start than with the foundation of any regimen: a good cleanser. Here are some cleansers we, the Harben House staff have been loving lately, including a new favorite. 1. Allies of Skin Vitamin C & Omegas Cleansing Balm Meredyth has been raving about this cleanser since she first tried it last year, so I recently decided to give it a shot too. This luxurious balm melts onto skin, and with its well-balanced formula, it cleanses gently and smoothly. Plus, it has a pleasant scent from natural botanicals while being fragrance free. The one downside to this balm cleanser is that it can be a little difficult to remove. But, that doesn't feel like a problem if you're using it as a first step in a two-part cleansing routine, which it's ideal for as an oil based cleanser. 2. Ourself Daily Purifying Cleanser Ourself's Daily Purifying Cleanser is a perfect classic cleanser that cleans without drying skin. It's great at removing makeup without being too harsh, and lathers up into a satisfying, deep cleansing foam. This is the cleanser I'm currently using as my second step after the Allies Vitamin C Balm, and I'm enjoying it as a versatile option. 3. EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser If you were a fan of the best-selling Foaming Facial Cleanser that EltaMD recently discontinued, this cleanser is your next step. With a similar formula that has been boosted by new active ingredients, this cleanser will feel familiar but leave you with even better results. 4. Sente Daily Soothing Cleanser This gentle cleansing lotion is Jenny's long time favorite, perfect for people with sensitive skin or for use post-procedure. Everyone who loves this cleanser knows how well it cleanses without drying or irritation, and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. 5. Restorsea Reviving Cleanser If you're like me and have sensitive skin, exfoliating cleansers can be too much for your skin. While Reviving Cleanser isn't technically an exfoliator, it does help dissolve dead skin cells, thanks to Restorsea's proprietary Aquabeautine XL® complex. I love this cleanser for its ability to cleanse gently and remove makeup quickly. Just keep in mind it is lightly scented, so if you are particularly sensitive to fragrances, this might not be right for you. 6. Revision Brightening Facial Wash If you've been around a while, there's a good chance you've seen Courtney talk about how much she loves this cleanser, and maybe even tried it yourself. If you haven't, consider giving this gem a try. This exfoliating cleanser features AHA & BHAs, plus soothing botanicals to soothe skin as it is lightly resurfaced, with a bright, refreshing scent.
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What is Skin Flooding, and Should You Try it?
If you're active on social media, there's a strong chance you've heard people talking about a new trend in skincare: Skin Flooding. If you're wondering what Skin Flooding is, and whether or not it's a trend you should try, you've come to the right place. What is Skin Flooding? Skin Flooding is a skincare philosophy focused on one thing: hydration. To try and achieve deeply hydrated skin, you layer multiple hydration focused products onto your skin, including a toner, serum, and moisturizer. (Don't forget to start with your favorite non-drying cleanser.) Exactly how you choose to flood your skin will vary from person to person. Some people use two or three different toners, add in essences or multiple serums, but that's all up to personal preference. As long as you're using those three hydration focused products: toner, serum, and moisturizer, you're doing skin flooding well. When I first heard about this trend, I was surprised that it was aligned with my personal skincare strategy, so I am excited to see this catching on for so many people. Read more about skin flooding here. Wait, a Toner? It's become pretty common in the past decade or so for people to leave toners out of their skincare routine, so that inclusion might throw you off. That said, here are some things to keep in mind about toner use in general, and with skin flooding in particular. Choose an alcohol-free toner. If a toner you're considering using has alcohol in it, keep moving. Alcohol dries skin, making it a better fit for oily or acneic skin, and not the right choice for a hydration-focused routine.. Using a toner before applying serums can help absorption. If you didn't already know that applying skincare products to wet skin can improve absorption, it's true. A water based toner can help do exactly that, by helping draw products into your skin with it. A toner can boost hyaluronic acid's effectiveness. If you've read our blog about HA, then you already know one possible downside to HA is that in some cases, it can absorb water from your skin. Because HA is a hydrophilic compound, it draws water from its environment. Applying HA to wet skin provides moisture for it to take as it absorbs into your skin. Don't be afraid to double up. Some proponents of skin flooding swear by using multiple toners, or even adding an extra step of plain water. You can even maximize your application by putting your toner in a spray bottle and spritzing your face and neck thoroughly. Who Should Try Skin Flooding? A good skin flooding routine can be beneficial for almost anyone, if you tailor it correctly, but it's especially good for people with dry or aging skin. I've seen a lot of women talking on social media turning to skin flooding as a solution to increased dryness they're seeing in menopause or perimenopause. Definitely consider it if you're undergoing similar hormonal shifts as that can have major effects on skin. If your skin is sensitive, flooding can still be a good fit. Just be sure to go slowly with introducing new products and choose them carefully. Skin flooding can even be helpful for people with oily or acne prone skin, but be really careful with choosing your products and avoid occlusives or anything that can clog pores. Recommended Hydrating Products Are you interested in trying flooding, but not sure on the best products to use for it? Here are my recommendations based on what I currently use & best-sellers our customers love. Toners: Revision Skincare Soothing Facial Rinse This is my personal favorite toner and the one I'm using in my current flooding routine. I prefer to spray my toners and this one is a bit thick so I usually water it down slightly to make it sprayable. With soothing botanicals like aloe vera and chamomile, and vitamin K, this is a gentle and nourishing formula that makes a perfect first step for a flooding regimen. EltaMD Skin Recovery Toner This is another great option for a gentle multi-tasking toner with a simple formula including moisturizers. Gently formulated to balance your pH and help repair the skin barrier, this is a good choice for most skin types, including sensitive. Neogenesis Moisturizing Mist While this mist isn't technically a toner, it would be another great option to use in a flooding routine. Especially if you want to do a two part liquid step at the beginning, this would be a great fit for the second toner spot. Designed to moisturize and soothe skin and especially after sun exposure, you can include this spray as a hydrating step in your daily skin regimen and as needed throughout the day. Hydrating Serums SkinMedica Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator As far as product recommendations go, SkinMedica HA5 is the one with the best track record-- it's the one I can be most sure that people who try it will like it. With 5 forms of hyaluronic acid, now boosted in a new formula with collagen and added nutrients, HA5 is better than ever at hydrating skin and helping it retain water naturally. Ourself HA+ Replenishing Serum This is my current hydrating serum in my routine, and I've been loving it! Ourself's patented tiered release encapsulation technology delivers HA and peptides deeper into the skin than was previously thought possible. If you're looking for a silky smooth formula that's easy to rub in, wears well under makeup, and that can help firm your skin while it hydrates, there's nothing better. Alastin Skincare HA Immerse Serum One of our long-time best selling hydrating serums, HA Immerse could be the right fit for you. It's another comprehensive formula, with multiple forms of HA, plus peptides and more anti-aging ingredients. People love this serum for its hydration with immediate and long-term plumping effects, and it's gentle enough that it works for most people with sensitive skin. Moisturizers Sente Dermal Repair Cream This moisturizer is another fan favorite that always sells well, and for good reason. Sente's flagship product, the first to feature their patented HSA technology, is loved for its ability to heal while moisturizing. With hyaluronic acid, moisturizers, vitamins, and botanicals, it's a well-rounded formula that people love for its ability to hydrate, soothe, and firm skin. EltaMD PM Restore Facial Moisturizer Another popular moisturizer, EltaMD PM Restore is formulated with antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to strengthen your skin barrier while it moisturizes and hydrates. Ideal for nighttime use, this moisturizer has a daytime counterpart, AM Restore so you can moisturize your skin with ideal ingredients both day and night.
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