Feed Your Skin...FOOD!

Happy Wednesday Fabulous Readers!

I'm Jessica and this week we are talking about Vitamin & Antioxidant Skin Care. What exactly does that mean? It's basically nutrient rich ingredients in products that work to reduce free-radical damage and environmental stress to ultimately promote the health of your skin. Blocking the oxidation process slows down the skin aging. I did a project in grade school about aging and as a visual I had an apple that was peeled and left out for a few weeks compared to a fresh peeled apple. The oxygen broke down the layers of the apple and tuned it rotten over time, and even the freshly peeled apple was quickly starting to brown after exposure to oxygen, but what happens if you apply lemon juice to the apple? The lemon juice will actually preserve the apply and leave it fresher longer, compared to doing nothing at all. This of course is just an example, we are clearly built different than an apple :)

 

 

As more and more products are coming out with claims of the benefits of antioxidants and vitamins in skin care, more and more scientists and doctors are doing studies to see if these claims are justified. Can our skin layers actually absorb these nutrients effectively? What is the verdict? "Many studies and reviews have appeared in medical journals confirming the ability of antioxidants to be absorbed into skin cells. Now we know they can be absorbed into the cells of the stratum corneum [the topmost layer of skin] and that is where they neutralize free radicals.". [Source: Best Health Magazine, May 2009]
 

I never really stopped to think about the benefits of ingredients in skin care...until Sara made me care (lol)! I would buy products based on my need and what it said it did. If it would even my skin tone I would buy it based on that claim. Now I look at what is actually in the products that will achieve what I want it to do to my skin. When we eat healthy it shows on our skin, so it only makes sense that the same nutrient rich foods we eat would have an effect when applied topically. I am a newbie vegan so I am learning all the time the best possible foods to eat to gain the highest levels of health benefits for my body AND skin.

 

For this week's topic I found a great company that has a whole line of products containing various Vitamin and Antioxidant concoctions focused on your skin needs. Skin By Ann Webb, is a brand developed by a trained esthetician that has put more than 10 years of research and labor into her line. Ann envisioned products that would be affordable, simple to use, and contain the best pharmaceutical-grade ingredients available.

The particular product that caught my eye to try out (there are many), was the Apple Berry gentle clarifying serum. Said to help lighten sunspots and reduce blemishes with 3% azelaic, tea tree and hyaluronic. This aloe-based serum is best used at night so it can have time to repair the skin cells over a length of time.

 

 

I love this serum! It was very easy to apply and absorbed into my skin without a residue or greasy feeling. The scent was pleasant and the feeling was smooth and easy to work with. It wasn't too thin like water and it wasn't  too thick like apple sauce, so the consistency was just right for a serum. When I woke up the next morning after apply the serum I felt like my whole complexion improved! My skin tone looked bright, balanced and clear and it was perfectly moisturized...not too dry and not oily.

Wow, I kind of went super geek on you guys today! Knowledge is power though :)

Until next week, Keep On Being Beautiful YOU!