BB CREAMS – WHAT ARE THEY? ARE THEY A BEAUTY “MUST HAVE?”

Have you seen BB Creams advertised lately and wonder what they really are?

 

 

In short:

 

·         Originally developed in Germany and named Blemish Balm, these creams rapidly became extremely popular in Europe.  The popularity then caught on in Asia.

·         In Asia skin discolouration, from brown spots to red marks left over from breakouts is called a blemish (where as in Australia we think of blemishes as pimples or breakouts). The BB Creams in Asia claim to do anything from sun protection and moisturising as well as whitening & preventing breakouts, to supplying skin with anti-ageing ingredients such as antioxidants. The Asian BB Creams have a thicker texture and higher levels of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for sun protection, and are intended to leave a white cast on the skin. They also are often formulated with antioxidants and skin-lightening ingredients because the marketing for these products in Asia is mostly about lightening the skin.

·         The American markets quickly caught on to this new phenomenon.  In western countries, BB Cream now stood for Beauty Balm.  The list of claims these cream say they do range from creating a flawless complexion to reducing pore size (which is impossible to do), healing breakouts, controlling oil, and lightening dark spots.... hmmm a little unbelievable?

So what is in these creams?

Despite the excitement the marketing companies have drummed up, it is NOT a must-have.  Most creams sold in western countries are little more than tinted moisturisers with sunscreen.... which we have had available to us for over 10 years.

In our fast-passed lives – we like to go for products that are convenient.  Using a moisturiser that has a tint and a SPF is really appealing. 

I have looked into the ingredients list of a lot of these products and the verdict is not great.  Most are showing up as highly synthetic. 

Not only that, but any active ingredient that they claim to use is normally in such low quantities that it could not make an impact on the skin.

Do your own research

A lot of skin types will develop redness in their skin from using such highly synthetic products. 

If you are using a BB cream or tinted moisturiser with SPF at the moment, do a test. Try using a good quality natural skin clinic prescribed moisturiser, plus using a skin clinic prescribed mineral makeup with an SPF for 2 weeks and notice what kind of changes and improvements you see in your skin.

If you love a trend and want to give one a go (plus you might like convenience),  Aveda do a great tinted moisturiser - which will be better & more active than any mainstream synthetic BB cream.   Enjoy!

ASPECT SKIN CARE REVIEW

Aspect is one of the most talked about cosmeceautical skin care ranges. 

To read an independent bloggers review, click.  

http://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/advance-australia-beauty-fare/

We say a definate must have!

WEATHER!

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE BATTLING ALL MANNER OF WEATHER EXTREMES IN AUSTRALIA RIGHT NOW.

With the absolute extreme weather the country of Australia has been experiencing this summer - on Australia Day weekend - it is timely to remember Dorothea Mackellar's (1885-1965) poem "My Country"

"I love a sunburnt country
a land of sweeping plains
of ragged mountain ranges
of droughts & flooding rains
I love her far horizons
l love her jewel-sea
her beauty & her terror"

Australia's weather is predictable by being unpredictable, and that hasn't changed in 100 years.

We wish all those - including our own family and friends - health & safetly.  Our thoughts are with you.

EXTREME UV INDEX FORECAST FOR AUSTRALIA DAY

Warning! UV index today is forecast at "Extreme".

 

Don't be tricked by the overcast nature of the day, and patches of rain. "At this time of the year without sun protection it can take as little as 11 minutes for the signs of sunburn to appear,"

 

The extreme nature of UV is forecast to continue the whole Australia Day long weekend.

 

For more info on how best to protect this Australia Day visit http://www.cancervic.org.au/sunburn-australia-day.html. Then relax and enjoy! Happy Australia Day! Nothing like a bit of zinc cream to make you feel Aussie! :)

YOUTUBE CLIP ON IPL SKIN REJUVENATION

Would you like to know a little more about IPL Skin Rejuvenation?

 

For details on ...

• what IPL can treat
• what you can expect from your treatment
• what outcomes you can expect for your skin

...click this YouTube link to see information from Kate Brown from Fletcher Brown Skin Clinic . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hsRmsAmRfs

 

Happy Viewing!!! :) Paula

PAIN-FREE IPL TREATMENT! almost :)

CAN IPL SKIN REJUVENATION BE A COMFORTABLE TREATMENT?

 

SO!!!  I have been having IPL skin rejuvenation treatments each winter for 6 years!  I have ALWAYS found them sooo painful that I actually cry real tears.  Although, I have noticed some patients don't find it painful at all. 

NOW listen... Before you start thinking I am soft.  I have always been the brave one in my family with needles, dentists & all manner of uncomfortable pain.  But IPL I cannot handle.  I only persevere because the results are just so good.

Let me explain my insistence on - what I find to be - an extremely uncomfortable treatment.

On my return to Australia, as a 29 year old - and after spending 3 years on-the-tear - I had accumulated definite forehead lines & severe pigmentation

Now as a 38 year old mother, I have not a line on my forehead & my pigment is practically clear, primarily because of IPL treatments.

BUT I HATE THEM!

Something AMAZING happened today.  I was introduced to the combination of a medical numbing agent with my IPL treatment.  My treatment was TOTALLY within my comfort levels.  I could still feel the pulses, but the sensation was completely within my threshold.  I did not flinch once, and the treatment was over a lot quicker than usual, as the Dermal Therapist did not have to stop for me while I composed myself.

I really was a wonderful turn of events.

There are a couple of things you may need to consider before adding a numbing agent to your next IPL treatment.

• It is not recommended if your concern is capillaries or redness - as your results may not be as good - because your vessels temporarily constrict with the numbing agent.
• Numbing agent cannot be used over a large surface area of the body ie, back and legs.
• A patch test may need to be done if you may be sensitive to numbing agents.
• There is an added cost

 I am planning to have one more treatment on my full face, neck & decolletage with the numbing agent this year.  Then if I have any capillaries that need treating, I will just have them spot treated without the numbing agent on my 3rd visit.  I think I can handle a hand full of zaps - full throttle, just not the whole face now I know there is an alternative :)

Happy Zapping!
Paula

The Vogue Verdict on Active Skincare

The lastest 'Vogue' magazine's view on Cosmeceauticals.

"Editors' Blogs

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Credit: Conde Nast Archive.

• BY SIGOURNEY CANTELO
• 16 th Jan 2013

Vogue's beauty director tries out active skincare.

Since having a baby, I’ve grappled with the post-baby beauty conundrum of sallow skin and pigmentation.

Now, finally, I’ve seen the light. After several months of topical vitamin C, AHAs and retinol, my skin has been reborn. Yes, folks. I’ve found active skincare and I’m spreading the gospel like some kind of born-again clinician. Hallelujah!
Active skincare, also known as cosmeceutical or clinical skincare, is considered more active than most over-the-counter products as they contain a higher percentage of active ingredients. Most lines are built around targeted scent-free serums, which you layer on to address particular concerns, rather than thick luxurious creams that smell great but don’t do a lot. This is serious skin therapy minus the fluff. Active ranges are usually sold through dermatologists, medi-spas and skin clinics because it’s important to have an expert instruct you in the right products for your skin and how to use them.

I first discovered how effective actives can be several years ago when I tried Australian brand Rationale Skincare. I started using The Essential Six and within a month noticed serious changes in my skin. I loved that the founder, cosmetic chemist Richard Parker, had come up with a tight edit of only the ingredients that have been proven to work via peer-reviewed literature. 

A couple of years went by and I was distracted by organics and luxe French brands. But, as we say in fashion, three times and it’s a trend. When I had three different beauty experts prescribe actives to me again, I had to get back on the program.

Since actives are strong, it’s all about taking it slow and building your skin up to the ingredients to avoid irritation. So first up, Alexia Shinas at Next of Skin put me on to another Australian brand, Aspect. Their Exfol 15 uses lactic acid to unplog pores and keep hormonal spots at bay. It worked a treat. 

When my skin was used to that, the owner of cute Sydney North Shore salon Missy’s Place, Kylie, suggested the Aspect Doctor Active C Serum – a super-charged antioxidant and peptide formula to repair and protect skin.

Finally, I was ready for the big guns: retinol or vitamin A. One of the most effective skingredients around, retinol brightens, tightens and clears skin remarkably. The only downside? It can cause sensitivity if it’s not used correctly. The travelling peelsman, James Vivian who comes to your home to treat you, suggested I start with CosMedix Define Resurfacing Treatment but “only a pea-sized amount every third night”. This cream uses a special form of retinol that converts to retinoic acid once absorbed into the skin, so is less irritating that traditional prescription-only Retin-A. I’ve worked my way up to daily applications and my skin is looking better than ever. 

The only problem with these brands is the packaging. Think functional (to protect the stability of the ingredients), high tech and basic. As an unapologetic aesthete, this does offend my sensibility – and my bathroom cabinet. The good news is some brands are getting the message. Rationale have just revised its packaging with glossy black bottles that are numbered, for ease of use. They’ve also reformulated and have taken out all their preservatives. They are about to open a clinic in Sydney’s Woollahra, so I am going to get my skin analysed and try the new products. I’ll report back. Watch this space!"

3 COSMETIC INDUSTRY ADVERTISING FIBS

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED.....

1.  The ‘pseudo-science’ marketing behind the major cosmetic companies.  These companies stock their products for easy access in supermarkets and cosmetic counters.  These product companies spend an incredible amount on advertising.  Currently the trend is to highlight the lastest "medical/scientific" ingredients which they are including in their products.  When the actual ingredients are looked into, it  has generally shown, the quantities of actual active ingredients that go into these products are so small, they cannot make an improvement to the skin.

 2.      Extravagant Packaging. Unfortunately the packing of the supermarket and cosmetic counter ‘skin care’ companies can be as expensive as - or more expensive  - than the actual product.  This packaging is used to make the product look either like it has a scientific, high end, or a natural basis.  Please beware of any company that look to be putting a huge emphasis on over packaged products.  They may have something they are compensating for.

3.     “Scientific Studies”.  Please listen closely to advertising that have ‘studies’ that back up their claims for improving the skin.  You may have noticed that most advertisements do not state the study size, what group of people they have surveyed and how they measured their results.

We are not saying that all cosmetics in supermarkets and cosmetic counters have no value.  There are some “good brands” and some “not so good brands”.

The 'not so good' brands are highly synthetic with extremely little active ingredient.   The high amount of sythetics can lead to skin becoming redder in appearance, more sensitive, increase ageing, irritations can occur and/or congestion.

If you are interested in buying your product from these places, please try to stick to brands that are certified organic.  So at least you know they are safe.   Saying ‘organic’ on the label does not mean it is organic.  The only way to ensure it is really a natural and partly organic product is to check for an organic certification. 

If this is the way you want to go, please stick to a basic creamy or milky cleanser and a light moisturiser.  Even if this is done, the problem with picking a product from the shelf, is it may not be the correct one for your skin, so you still may end up with more ageing, more sensitivities and more congestion.  Although sticking to the absolute basics should reduce this.

The best and safest option to get the correct product for your skin is to see a Dermal Therapist at your Skin Clinic. 

If price is a concern, please let your Therapist know, and he/she will work within your budget. 

If results are your interest, you will be in the best hands possible J