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What’s in a good moisturizer?

Shopper deciding on lotion

There are a ton of skin products on the shelves. To ensure you’re using the safest and most effective products, you should follow two steps:

  1. Determine your skin type so you know the right kinds of products for your skin. Refer to this blog to determine your skin type.
  2. Check the ingredients to make sure the appropriate products are effective.

Here are the best ingredients to look for when determining which moisturizer to purchase at check-out.

Glycerin – As stated in our blog about winter skin, hot showers and heaters can sometimes suck the moisture out of your skin. Glycerin does the opposite – it sucks moisture in the air back into your skin. It also makes lotions silkier, allowing you to put makeup on almost immediately after application.

Lactic acid – Lactic acid should be applied just out of the shower and is another good moisturizer to treat chapped skin. It’s especially effective for healing dry legs.

Ceramides – Ceramides reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier. They seal water in so cells don’t dry out. It primarily helps to relieve dry, itchy skin and tends to leave an afterglow.

Key antioxidants – There are dozens of antioxidants that can help the skin in a variety of ways. Keep your eyes peeled for: grape extract, resveratrol, green tea extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, epigallocatechin-3 gallate, superoxide dismutase, ferulic acid, quercetin, willow herb extract, feverfew extract and licorice extract. Because they each have a different effective quality, the more antioxidants in your moisturizer, the better.

If you’re worried about an ingredient in your daily skin routine or need advice on how to treat a problem area, consult KDG. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group by calling (865)690-9467.

Guide to Anti-Aging Ingredients

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We all have one thing in common … we age. Many consumers turn to anti-aging creams and makeup to reverse wrinkles. However, non-prescription products aren’t required to undergo testing to prove their effectiveness. To ensure you have a product that actually does its job, look for these key ingredients:

Retinol- Retinol is a vitamin A compound that speeds up cell turnover by stimulating cellular repair and pumps circulation of blood. This boosts collagen and elastin and works best in the dark overnight.

Hydroxy Acids- Hydroxy acids such as alpha, beta and poly hydroxy acids are exfoliants that remove dead skin so that it becomes even and smooth. It also allows other anti-aging ingredients to work faster.

Coenzyme Q10- Also referred to as Vitamin Q, this ingredient helps retain the elastic tissue in your skin. It also aids in protecting the skin from sun damage and preserves collagen.

Tea Extract- Green tea extracts are the most common amongst anti-aging creams. These extracts contain antioxidants that repair skin damage and stimulants that energize the skin.

Peptides- Peptides are amino acids that produce collagen to firm skin. This ingredient is known to be used in products that help stretch marks, scars and wrinkles. All of these ingredients were cross-checked through the Mayo Clinic, Allure, and Everyday Health. Other helpful ingredients include Niacinamide, grape seed extract, and Vitamin C. To examine other ways to help prevent your skin from aging, contact a dermatologist or visit www.knoxderm.com.

Image courtesy of 7Crafts at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Beauty Product Ingredients to Watch Out For

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Whether you love getting dolled up with the works or stick to plain mascara, there are many ingredients you should lookout for when picking out makeup. Some ingredients in beauty products can be harmful to your skin’s health.

  1. Polyethelene/PEGs (found in scrubs, body wash and face wash)

Polyethelene is what makes up the tiny beads in exfoliating washes and scrubs. The U.S. government considers these beads frequently contaminated with a human carcinogen that can irritate and penetrate the skin.

  1.  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS – found in body wash, shampoo, foundation and face wash)

SLS has been said to disrupt the skin’s natural oil balance and cause skin irritation. Some even believe it causes acne around the mouth and chin.

  1. Petroleum Distillates (found in mascara)

Petroleum-based products can cause contact dermatitis. They are often contaminated with cancer-causing impurities, according to the CDC.

  1. Butylated Hydroxyanisole/BHA (found in exfoliants and perfume)

Listed by the National Toxicology Program as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” BHA can also cause depigmentation in the skin.

  1. Triclosan (toothpaste, deodorant and liquid makeup)

Triclosan has been linked to hormonal imbalance, immune disruption and increased allergies. In 2013, the FDA demanded manufacturers who use triclosan to prove there are no long-term effects.

Be careful when trying different makeup and skin products. Be sure to research any ingredients you have questions about or ask your dermatologist.

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Pack Some Vitamin-C in Your Skin Care Routine

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We’ve all heard that taking vitamin C supplements can be beneficial to our health inside and out, but vitamin C can also benefit us when applied topically. That’s right! Continuous use of vitamin C in our skin care routines can diminish hyperpigmentation and increase collagen production, giving us a brighter, refreshed and more youthful complexion.

Because of the way it is molecularly structured, vitamin C is an effective agent in protecting the skin from free radicals. When your skin is exposed to UV light, superoxide ions, peroxide and singlet oxygen molecules are produced. Vitamin C can donate its electrons to neutralize these free radicals and prevent them from harming your skin.

While it comes in many forms, vitamin C is best used when combined with other ingredients, such as green tea, retinol and ascorbic acid. When you check the ingredients on a skin care product label, look for at least one of those three ingredients in addition to effective forms of vitamin C like sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl ascorbate.

Vitamin C is great for you skin! To learn more about what type of products and ingredients would be beneficial additions to your skincare routine, schedule an appointment with one of our skin care providers today by calling (865) 690-9467.