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Woman applying lipstick.

Anti-aging Makeup: How Resveratrol is Making its Way Into Cosmetics

We love resveratrol, and we have been big fans of this potent antioxidant for some time. The benefits that resveratrol provides are so incredible and so varied. From anti-aging to fighting cancer, resveratrol truly is a superior antioxidant. Quality skin care lines have been incorporating resveratrol into their products for some time, and now it seems that the entire beauty industry is taking note.

Resveratrol and Aging
Resveratrol is a chemical produced by various plants in order to fight off attackers or to withstand a lack of water or essential nutrients. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that protects your cells against free radical damage. Free radicals are created by exposure to oxygen and sunlight, and they damage collagen and other active enzymes necessary for healthy, youthful looking skin. The subject of much scientific study, how resveratrol works is just now being understood. It is thought that resveratrol works not only by eradicating existing free radicals, but also prevents new free radicals from forming. Applied topically, resveratrol has also been shown to inhibit UVB oxidative stress and to prevent UVA damage.

Resveratrol Beauty Products
While skin care is currently the biggest source of resveratrol products in the industry, makeup companies are beginning to follow suit. BITE beauty, founded in 2011 is one brand that has started incorporating the power of resveratrol into their cosmetics. BITE was conceived when founder Susanne Langmuir developed sensitivities to non-natural beauty ingredients and fragrance chemicals. The idea behind the BITE brand was, “you eat what you put on your lips, so your lipstick should be good for you.” The result was a collection of moisture-rich and creamy lip products that were made using antioxidant ingredients which are actually good enough to eat.

The BITE Luminous Creme Lipstick, is a long-lasting, moisturizing lipstick made from 95% natural contents. One of these natural antioxidant ingredients is resveratrol. The concentration of resveratrol in each lipstick is equal to anywhere from five to 10 glasses of wine. BITE Luminous Creme is available in 24 shades, so you’ll certainly be able to find one that suits you and that protects your lips against early aging.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of skincare and makeup products that contain resveratrol is the level of resveratrol you receive. As we noted, one BITE Luminous Creme Lipstick contains concentrations equal to five to 10 glasses of red wine. While you can certainly receive the benefits of red wine by ingesting it, the concentration of resveratrol is significantly higher in products designed for topical use as opposed to drinking wine. Consuming resveratrol does not provide as much of the antioxidant than topical skincare and cosmetic items containing this skin-saving ingredient. A great beauty routine starts with excellent skincare, but using makeup that contains resveratrol is a great way to increase your defenses against aging and environmental damage.

Woman exfoliating her skin

Resveralife Investigates Skin Care Brushes

You’ve finally developed a skin care routine that works for you. You have your products, and the ingredients in them, specially chosen to address your specific skin concerns and you are faithful to your cleansing routine. That’s pretty much all you can do for your skin, right? Nope. If you want to take skin care to the next level, consider the use of skin care brushes.

Skin care brushes have become increasingly popular since the Clarisonic turned from a cult beauty product to a mainstream must-have. But is it really worth the price tag? And can is really work on all skin types? Fortunately companies hopped on the skin care brush bandwagon quickly, so there are numerous options for different skin types and different price points. Should you invest in one? We’ve done some research and the answer is….maybe.

In an article published by The Huffington Post, dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad states that cleansing brushes can work, but one needs to be careful. Why do you need to exercise caution while cleansing your face? Dr.Dennis Gross explains, that overuse of these products could lead to excessive dryness, broken capillaries, redness, irritation and sensitivity. If such issues occur, one needs to alter usage or stop immediately.

Cleansing brushes can be incredibly beneficial to your skin. They help with exfoliation, they penetrate the pores more deeply than your fingers can and they help treatments like serums or oils absorb more quickly, and better, into your skin. However, the problem is that with these devices there is some danger in irritating your skin. Experts recommend using skin care brushes a few times a week to avoid completely drying your skin out. If you really can’t go a day without your brush, use it at night to completely remove makeup, sebum and other daily debris from your face.

Woman using a skin care brush to cleanse her skin.

In addition to not using skin care brushes too frequently, Dr. Dennis Gross warns that the brush heads should be well maintained in order to remain as effective as possible. You can keep your brush free from acne-causing bacteria by using soap and water to wash it. If you want to provide a bit of a deeper clean, you can use alcohol to cleanse the brush head and don’t forget that the brush heads do need to be replaced every couple of months.

So do skin care brushes live up to the hype? They can, but there are several conditions that you should keep in mind before investing in a costly skin care brush. Do not buy it planning to use every single time you wash your face, because in this instance the brush is far more likely to cause damage rather than help you get the best looking skin possible. Also, do not forget to sanitize the brush heads frequently (once a week depending on how often you use the brush) and change them out for new ones every few months. Skin care brushes can help you take your skin care routine to a whole new level, but they must be used with caution.

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