Author: Katie Hitchcock

Spring Forward with Fresh Eyes

The majority of the United States will be turning their clocks ahead one hour with Daylight Saving Time. The one hour less of sleep means your eyes will need extra attention! The skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin on your entire body, and it's most susceptible to damage. Also, as you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area appear puffy or swollen. Several factors can lead to this, including: Fluid retention due to changes in weather (for example, temperature changes from forced heat indoors and frigid conditions outdoors), hormone levels, or eating salty foods Not getting enough sleep Allergies or dermatitis, especially if puffiness is accompanied by ...

The Basics of Acne

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The normal skin is composed of two parts. The upper part is called the epidermis and is composed of skin cells. These cells continually divide, grow, and mature. As they reach the surface of the skin they flatten, die and are then shed. The deeper part of the skin is called the dermis and is composed mainly of collagen, which supports the epidermis. Within the collagen are the nerves, blood vessels and other structures that comprise the skin.The whole surface of the skin, except for the palms and soles, is covered in small skin pores. Each pore is the entrance of a small, flexible tube that runs through into the dermis and represents the canal through which the hairs grow to the surface. Each hair canal is associated with a sebaceous gland, which produces an oily substance, called sebum. The sebum is pumped into the hair canal and from there ...

Night & Day: How Your Skin is Different at Night

In the last decade, dermatological studies have shown significant differences in the skin between daytime and nighttime. In the daytime, your skin goes into protective mode. More sebum (oily secretion from the sebaceous glands in the skin) is produced between noon and 5pm when sun is at its peak. During the night, your skin goes into renewal mode. Microcirculation increases and the skin increases moisture in the process. So you'll want to use products that support what the skin is trying to do. Here are some nighttime skin care routine tips to support skin regeneration: Exfoliate. By helping skin shed the top layers of dead cells, you increase the speed at which the new, healthy skin cells migrate to the surface. Products with AHAs or Retinols are ideal for use at night and help increase cell turnover and the appearance of healthy skin. Nourish. Since your skin is in regeneration ...

Get a Deep, Rich Tan without Harmful UV Exposure

A tan is bad news when it is the result of exposure to UV rays from laying out at the beach or from a bulb in a tanning bed. A recent medical journal study revealed: The number of skin cancer cases due to tanning is higher than the number of lung cancer cases due to smoking. In the US alone, 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning (beds). Out of this number, 6,199 are melanoma cases. Most dermatologists consider the sunless tanner mode of achieving that "sun-kissed glow" much safer than obtaining a tan from the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation that comes from the sun or tanning booths. Self-tanning products are available as lotions, creams, sprays, and wipes. These products typically contain an ingredient known as DHA, a sugar molecule that bronzes the very top layer of the skin. The browning effect occurs within a few hours. The effect ...

Spring into a Healthy Skin Lifestyle with Seven Money-Saving Tips

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  Out with the old, in with the new - it’s time for spring! After a particularly rough winter, I’m sure you are more than anxious to put on shorts, sandals, and shades (but don’t forget your sunscreen!). Here are my seven tips to get your skin in shape for warmer weather without spending a bundle: 1. Let New Skin In: Get rid of the dead, dehydrated skin that’s accumulated over the winter by using a light exfoliator or resurfacing agent. I suggest nightly at-home treatments, such as using a cream-based Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) or gel-based Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) products. The most effective home resurfacing treatments contain 10-15 percent AHA. 2. Simplify your Skin Care Stash: While you are ridding yourself of dead skin, clean out your skin care cabinet too. Save time and money by simplifying to no more than three to four steps in the morning and ...

Vitamin C: The Anti-Aging Powerhouse

As someone interested in learning more about restorative benefits of Vitamin C, we thought it was important to share key tips that will help you get the most out of incorporating it in your daily skin care routine. Use a Vitamin C with at least 10% ascorbic or l-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C stimulates fibroblast production (a co-factor in collagen formation) for tighter, firmer skin, and is an antioxidant that helps reduce free radical scavengers and oxidative damage. Note that Skin Authority Super-C Serum doubles the recommended dosage to 20%, giving your skin even more power to make collagen and fight free radical damage. Choose a Vitamin C formula paired with a secondary antioxidant. Alone, Vitamin C's first action is to eliminate free radicals. In most situations, Vitamin C can become exhausted just performing this function, so less vitamin C is available to stimulate collagen production. When a antioxidant is added to the ...

What is in your SPF?

You constantly hear from skin care experts that you should be covering yourself in SPF everyday. The only problem is not all SPFs are created equal. We have been receiving a lot of calls to our Skin Coaches with confusion about how to know what kind of sun protection to use. Does a higher number SPF mean better protection? What are UVA and UVB rays? What does it mean to be broad spectrum? We’re going to set the record straight on sunscreens. What is SPF? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It refers to the amount of time that the product can block UVB rays. These are the burning rays. Unless the product is labeled broad spectrum, it most likely does not have any protection against UVA rays. These are the aging and cancer rays. What are UVA and UVB? UVA: stands for Ultraviolet A. These rays are longer and can penetrate through the clouds ...

“Will This Make Me Break Out?”

One of the most common questions that our skin coaches get is, "Will this make me break out?" Sometimes new products can cause breakouts to appear, but instead of freaking out and stopping usage, there are a few things to consider. Your breakout may be a sign that you are reacting negatively to an ingredient in the product, however it also could be your skin working towards becoming healthy. Watch the video below for Breakout and Acne Basics: Let's look at a few different types of breakouts and how to deal with them. Purging What it is: Purging is the process of removing dead skin cells and bringing supressed bacteria to the surface. This often occurs when you accelerate the cell turnover cycle by beginning a resurfacing or retinol routine. How to deal: Stick with it. Your skin is becoming healthier by getting out all of the trapped bacteria and oil beneath the surface. You need ...

Facial Cleansing Essentials, Part 1: The Basics

Cleansing is the most basic step in any skin care routine. At Skin Authority, we think of this step as your BeautyWorkout warm-up. With so many cleansing options these days (cleansers, oils, scrubs, pads, wipes, brushes, etc.) it is more confusing than ever to know how you should be washing your face to get the best results and the most effective cleanse. This is the first of a three-part series that will give you the tools you need to find the facial cleansing routine that is right for you. Part 1: The Basics Part 2: Cleansing Like A Pro Part 3: Resurfacing Transformation Part 1: The Basics Why Cleanse? Cleansing is the most fundamental step to healthy skin. Even though you think you should be able to lather up with soap, give a good scrub, and rub dry, those methods will imbalance and irritate your skin rather than help. The skin on your face is constructed with smaller skin ...

What is Healthy Skin?

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November is Healthy Skin Month. You see the term "healthy skin" all of the time, but what does it actually mean? Everyone wants to look in the mirror and see healthy skin. In your 20s, healthy skin may mean clear, bright skin. In your 30s, you may focus on having soft, dewy skin. In your 40s and 50s, "healthy skin" may mean firm and smooth. When you have a healthy complexion, it has many benefits. Not only do you look more youthful, but you have a certain glow. You've heard the saying "Happy girls are the prettiest," but a similar thing can be said for confidence. When you look in the mirror and see a healthy complexion looking back at you, you will be more confident and happy. When you have healthy skin and a confident glow, you can even wear less makeup, as you won't need heavy foundation and highlighter to imitate radiance.  Achieving healthy ...