SPRING INTO SUMMER!

Spring has ARRIVED! It is now time to rid your skin of the winter blues. The lack of fresh air, amped up heat blasting through your home, and low humidity has left your skin dry, rough and wrinkled. Typically, during the fall/winter season we are focused on hydration and healing due to weather, indoor and outdoor environment, and lifestyle choices. Spring is therefore a time of renewal, and of course, spring cleaning. Your cleansing routine should reflect this – so OUT with heavy moisturizers and balms (unless your skin type and condition dictate differently), and IN with retinols, anti-oxidants, and of course an SPF.


Retinols. What are they? Retinol is essentially Vitamin A in its purest form. Because it has a small molecular structure, it easily penetrates into the top layer of the skin, moving down into the elastin and collagen layers. This ingredient works to help stimulate collagen production, increase cellular rejuvenation, and decrease pore size, creating softer, smoother skin. To many Aestheticians, including myself, it is the GOLD standard in skin renewal.

Antioxidants are also essential in your skin care regimen. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins inside your body) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body's tissue. They do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. When it comes to caring for your skin, antioxidants can help to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Unlike sunscreens and moisturizers, antioxidants protect your skin from the inside out by guarding your cells from damage. The benefits of using an antioxidant in a serum form, it is able to penetrate into all three layers of the skin because it is made of smaller molecules. The serums ability to go deeper into the skin is what allows it to help combat, correct and prevent damage.

The importance of wearing SPF daily cannot be stressed enough. Studies have shown that the #1 cause of damage and aging to the skin is sun exposure. Excessive exposure to the sun's rays can cause wrinkling, a leathery skin appearance, and in worst cases - skin cancer. It's also been proven that overexposure to the sun can interfere with your immune system. Currently, sunscreen products containing a recommended SPF rating of 15 or above play an important role in helping diminish the harm of the sun's rays. It is recommended to apply your sunscreen at least twenty minutes prior to being exposed to the sun, and to re-apply every two hours.

Here are a few of our favorite products:

SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0

Perfect for problematic and photo-damaged skin, SkinCeuticals Retinol is formulated with the highest concentrations of pure retinol available and enhanced with the latest stabilization and delivery technologies.

2011 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner - Anti-Aging Antioxidant

Phloretin CF® represents a new class of preventive and corrective topical antioxidant treatment. After five years of extensive research, SkinCeuticals developed this patent-pending breakthrough technology combining the newly-discovered, broad-range power of phloretin with vitamin C and ferulic acid in a biodiverse formulation to divide and conquer sources of damage at every level. Phloretin CF®, a broad-spectrum treatment, protects against not only free radicals, but the range of other reactive molecules known to cause damage and DNA mutations among the integral cell types. In addition, it corrects existing damage by stimulating the synthesis of essential proteins and fibers and accelerating cell turnover. The result — a strengthened support structure on the inside
and a more youthful, firm, radiant appearance on the outside.

ColoreScience Sunforgettable SPF 30

Sunforgettable SPF 30 is a lightweight mineral powder with a barely-there feel that provides a safe, non-irritating, instant UVA and UVB sun protection. The self-dispensing powder brush makes this sheer formula easy to apply and reapply throughout the day. This easy to use brush also comes in SPF 50 for those that want more protection.

Having a good skin care regime is the key to the overall health of your skin. It is imperative to know and understand the type of skin you have, and which products are right for you. At Cumberland Aesthetic Laser Center, we strive to help you achieve the glow of a radiant, healthy complexion. We offer a complimentary skin consultation and will provide you with a computerized skin analysis that will allow us to prepare a treatment regimen that is customized to your skincare needs. So spring into a new you with making the right choices in the skincare products you use!