Author: Katie Hitchcock

Sunless Tanners — How do They Work?

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Although many people still desire a suntan, we now understand just how damaging exposure to the sun can be. Repeated sun exposure greatly increases skin wrinkling and may even lead to skin cancers. Adding wrinkles while trying to improve appearance is obviously counterproductive and has led to the popularity of so-called sunless tanning products. The active ingredient in sunless tanners is the compound dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in externally applied cosmetics intended to impart color to the skin. A three-carbon sugar, DHA reacts with amino groups in the proteins of the top layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum (SC). The first step is known as the Maillard reaction, the same process that leads to the caramelization of sugars and the browning of bread. Sunless tans do not absorb ultraviolet light in the range that causes sunburn. They therefore do not protect ...

Brighten Up!

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  Brightening Serum from Skin Authority on Vimeo. You know I love to share my tips about the one product that I can't live without, that always has to be in my bag. For me, that is definitely the Skin Authority Brightening Serum. The editors at Shape Magazine agreed with me because they voted it Best New Product! What makes this product so amazing and the go-to product that you need in your bag is that we combine three very powerful technologies into one formulation that makes an easy, single-step you can do to lighten, brighten, tighten, and even out your skin tone. So how do we do that? First, we tackle that red, inflamed, blotchy surface of the skin with a very advanced oligopeptide that calms inflammation, brings down the redness, and has an anti-inflammatory, soothing effect on the skin. We add to that a natural melanin disruptor using Alpha Arbutin to tackle ...

Reading Ingredient Listings on Skin Care Product Labels

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Questions answered by Celeste Hilling Why does every skin care product contain a list of two-dozen or more ingredients?  What are the common ingredients every skin care product contains? Today, most products are expected to: Be multipurpose (i.e. sunscreen moisturizer, shampoo/conditioner in 1, etc); Have a long shelf life; Be cosmetically pleasing (needs to apply smoothly, not change color, smell nice, etc). To meet these requirements, most formulations include several key ingredient families: Humectants, Emollients, Occlusives, Protein (Plumping) Agents, Surfactants and Preservatives. Humectants are used to draw moisture up to the surface layers of the skin. Common humectants ingredients are: AHAs, Glycerin, Glycerol, Elastin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ceramide, Propylane Glycol, Lecithin, PEG-20, Urea, Sorbitol, Lanolin, Panthenol Vitamin B-5, Ceramide. Emollients create the feeling of smooth skin by lubricating or filling the cracks in the skin. Common emollients are: Oils from Avocado, Almond, Grapeseed, Sunflower, Jojoba, Sesame, Coconut, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Propylane Glycol, Squalene. Occlusives form a moisture barrier ...

Ask a Skin Coach: What is your favorite product?

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Our skin coaches are constantly connecting with you via email, phone, FaceTime, and Skype to help you reach your skin care goals. While helping you, we often get asked questions about our own skin care routines. One of the most common questions we are asked is about our favorite products from Skin Authority. While it is really, really hard for many of us to narrow it down to just one, we're bringing you  a look into some of our favorite Skin Authority products and why we cannot go a day without them. Carrie, Skin Coach: "My favorite product ever is the Sunscreen Moisturizer! I love that it has a Dry Touch TechnologyTM finish and you can’t smell it on during the day. It is the most important product in preventing skin damage, which it is why it is my favorite anti-aging product! I always remind everyone to apply it to their neck, décolleté, ...

Seven Sun Safety Fails: Oops I Did it Again!

Do any of these sound familiar? Skipping sunscreen because you are running late. Digging to the bottom of your beach bag for last year’s bottle of sun protection and actually using it. Putting on self-tanner and sitting in the sun immediately after. You are committing sun safety fails! There are a lot of misconceptions and wives’ tales about sun safety, which can definitely harm you. One in five Americans are found to have skin cancer in their lifetime. While that number is epidemic, what is more epidemic is the fact that only one in five people wear sunscreen on a daily basis. (Source: Harris Interactive). I want you to be healthy, educated and free of sun spots. Here is the scoop on sun safety fails. These seven tips will help you be healthy, educated and free of sun spots Learn to read a label. Check the SPF number; those with SPF 15 or ...

The Science of Feeding your Skin: The Down-Low on Vitamins

After the crazy weather all around the country this winter, spring is finally approaching and everyone is rushing to pack in as much fun and activity as possible. In our hurry, we forget to wear sunscreen or stay hydrated. Perhaps we drink one too many sodas (or margaritas!). Just as we need to be conscious of healthy nutrition for our bodies to look fit, our skin needs its own forms of nutrition to maintain its healthy glow. I’m here to give you the dish on feeding your skin with vitamins. Skin is an organ and responds to healthy nutrition as positively as other organs in our body. It is challenging for our skin to get those vital nutrients from food because less than 1% of the vitamins we ingest ever make their way to the skin. This is why applying those vitamins topically is so important. Think of it as a ...

Plan Ahead and Transform Your Skin for the Wedding Day

As you prepare for marriage and your highly-anticipated wedding day, we urge brides to also think about another life partner – your skin. Just as brides-to-be trust hair stylists, dentists, make-up artists, and personal trainers, Skin Coaches can help transform brides and their skin before the wedding day. For best results, give yourself a six month head start, but if you don't have the time, we have tips and tricks for any time up to the day before. Skin Authority Skin Coaches have come up with 10 tips to help prepare for your big day: A bride’s best friend. It would be nice to go to the spa multiple times a month leading up to your wedding day. But we know that's probably not going to happen, so why not bring the spa experience to you? Masks are a great way to start. Look for masks made from clay, eucalyptus, and sulphur to ...

Essential Oils for Your Skin

Think facial oil is simply about moisture? Afraid to use oils because you think they will clog your pores? Think again! Research shows select essential oils have strong anti-aging benefits. Oils are even better for your health when they contain ingredients that not only lift your spirits, but also boost the strength and radiance of your skin. We turn to essential oils because they are proven to soothe, restore, and instantly transform dryness with their high concentrations of vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. The added benefit of using essential oils is the body’s stress release response to the essential oil molecules, eliciting a calming sense of wellbeing while it works What are Essential Oils? Essential oils are very different than common carrier oils that are found in most beauty products. They are also NOT the same thing as fragrance oils. If you see the word “fragrance” or “fragrance oil” or even “perfume” on ...

Tame Tension and Unleash Beautiful Skin

The secret new therapy for amazing skin? Tame tension! Stress damages the skin as severely as smoking and sun exposure. Stress triggers the elevation of adrenaline and cortisol increasing dryness, wrinkles, and acne. But relax, here are four tips that will not only calm your skin, but also your mind! Forgo Facebook for Face Time Anxiety increases as you gain more Facebook friends. The higher the number of friends, the more pressure you'll feel, even to the point of feeling failure. This kind of stress disrupts your hormone imbalance, causing unwanted congestion, breakouts, and even acne. On the other hand, hanging out in-person with your friends and family helps you release chemicals in the brain that ease anxiety, resulting in more balanced hormonal conditions reaching the skin, leaving the skin less stressed and more able to fight infections and breakouts. Tip: Schedule more time for group activities with friends: a yoga class, a community ...

SAD? Boost Your D

Does everyone around you to have the holiday spirit, yet you would rather hide under the covers feeling SAD? The cause may be seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Also known as winter depression or the winter blues, SAD affects up to 20% of people. The condition is four times more common in women than in men and is more prevalent the farther north you go. (Source: American Academy of Family Physicians) Low levels of Vitamin D contribute to SAD as well. It’s estimated that one billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient; a number that goes up in winter. Vitamin D is only made in one place - the skin - and as a healthy skin care expert, I have spent considerable time researching the importance of D to mind and body. Vitamin D is critical for inside-out beauty, health and wellbeing. Vitamin D is the only vitamin which the body makes (all others ...