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Skin Care Products

Woman buying cosmetics from a store
 by Mayank

Changing Up your Skincare Products

You know how you can develop a tolerance to things like medications (painkillers are a common example), alcohol, and other substances? It turns out, you might actually be able to develop a tolerance to certain skin care products too. What we mean by this is that there is evidence suggesting that if you use certain skin care products for long enough (around a year) they can stop being as effective, in the same way that if you take a certain painkiller a lot for the same kind of pain, it will get less effective at blocking it out for you after awhile, or how the more you drink alcohol, the more you can drink at a time without the adverse effects being as effective (do note, this is only provided as an example, and we do not encourage irresponsible drinking by any means; try to keep it to one glass of antioxidant-rich red wine a night).

How does this happen? And what can be done about it? Let’s talk about that.

The Process
The process wherein your skin can develop a tolerance to certain ingredients involves the particular enzymes that the ingredient activates. You can’t develop a tolerance to all skin care ingredients, because this applies specifically to ones that are active in a certain way. Some skin care ingredients, like retinol, vitamin C, and others, cause enzymes to be released in the skin cells and attach themselves to a specific receptor, which then triggers the desired effect of the product. However, your cells only have so many receptors, and if you repeatedly flood them with enzymes, eventually they will all be taken up and bonded to an enzyme and unable to accept more for awhile, lessening the effect the product can have on your skin.

How to Fix It
The solution here is to vary the skin care products you use; to change them up on a regular basis. It’s recommended to use the same set of products no longer than 6 to 8 months, and then switch to another set of products which aims at producing similar effects, but with different formulations of ingredients, and/or with ingredients available in different forms (recall, for example, that all vitamins have several different “forms” which all act as the vitamin, but trigger slightly different reactions in cells). Conveniently enough, this span of time lines up relatively well with the change of seasons from summer to fall and then winter to spring. As such, try taking advantage of this convenient timing and do what’s already recommended anyway: a seasonal switch. Use slightly heavier, more moisturizing products in autumn and winter than you do in spring and summer, and kill two birds with one stone.

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Woman exfoliating her skin
 by Mayank

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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Woman sipping wine while taking a bath
 by Mayank

Incorporating Resveratrol Into Your Skin Care Routine

Taking care of your skin not only yields a radiant complexion, it is also beneficial to your health overall. A good skin care routine not only includes actions such as washing, exfoliating and moisturizing, it also requires that you use high-quality ingredients. Certain ingredients benefit skin of all types and ages and one of these is antioxidants. Antioxidants are incredibly important in your skin care routine because they fight free radical damage and help minimize premature signs of aging.

Grapes growing in a vineyard.

Of all the antioxidants available in skin care products, one stands out above the rest as an anti-aging superstar:  resveratrol. Resveratrol is a chemical that naturally occurs in many forms of plant life to fight off would be attackers. This magic polyphenol is found in nuts, the skin of grapes, berries and red wine. Adding resveratrol to your diet does positively impact your health, and applying it topically can dramatically improve the appearance of your skin.

The skin has the ability to repair itself and does much of this work overnight. However, as you age, your skin’s ability to regenerate nightly decreases. Resveratrol, and other antioxidants, help your skin repair overnight. Resveratrol boosts the production of other beneficial antioxidants within your skin cells and can stimulate collagen production.

With all of the incredible benefits of incorporating resveratrol into your skin care routine, you would think all products would carry this ingredient. The one issue with resveratrol is that it previously would destabilize when exposed to air and light, making it a difficult addition to skin care formulas. However, scientists have worked hard to discover ways to stabilize resveratrol and it can now be found in many products.

Woman cleansing her skin

A good skin care routine begins with a clean face. A mild, gentle cleanser removes dirt and debris from the face without stripping your natural oils and moisture. Oily skin types may benefit from the use of a toner to help reduce excess oil. Exfoliation is an important skin care step that some feel unnecessary. However, exfoliation removes clogged dirt, oil and dead skin cells allowing for healthy regeneration and for skin care treatments to penetrate the skin more fully. In the evening, after proper exfoliation, applying a treatment product with resveratrol can help your skin repair damage.

Friends having wine in a restaurant.

When you add resveratrol to your diet it helps benefit your health and your skin. However, using resveratrol topically allows you to fully experience and appreciate all of the advantages resveratrol has for your skin. This powerful antioxidant yields healthier, more radiant skin for all ages.

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