Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Power of Vitamin C by Nivea Visage

As with my previous article, This New Skin by Nivea Visage is made with 99.9% pure vitamin C! Yes, you read that correctly! It's almost 100% Vitamin C all for your thirsty skin. This claims to renew your skin's cell structure by 10 years younger. Nivea has even commissioned NASA to make the special container of the cream to protect it from air. Pure Vitamin C is a very unstable ingredient in most dermatologic preparations. Once exposed to air for for long periods of time it with react and will lose it's efficacy eventually. So with this in mind, Nivea concocted a cream to lift your face backwards by 10 years thru Vitamin C and other skin nutrients.

Note: Please apply it immediately after throughly cleansing your face.
Use night and day.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Vitamin C moisturizing cream by GNC

Okey let's get to business right away. I know most of us guys have oily skin, and that's a big problem when it comes to moisturization. Yes, we will be less prone to wrinkles as we grow older but does that mean we have to suffer oily skin? Or worse, pimples or blackheads and whiteheads.

Recently, I have stumbled upon a moisturizer that's water based and blessed with Vitamin C. Meet the GCN Vitamin C moisturizung cream. It's a no-fuzz moisturizer that is immediately absorbed into the skin, especially if applied directly after bathing. It is very light to the touch and feel. And afterwards, you feel your fingers glide over your face easily.

Vitamin C, both oral and topical, increases collagen production to make our skin firmer and younger-looking. It also combats and neutralizes mild pigmentation for mildy blemished skin. It also rejuvinates and energizes fragments of vitamin E on the skin to ward off oxidation of cells and preserving their integrity.

It's manufactured in the US so the best way to get it is from a GNC store near you. As personal care stores don't carry this cream because it's not mass produced as with most brands.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Filipino Skincare Innovations

Superb Skin: Filipino Brands

Many of today’s skincare line are works of mostly international brands such as L`Oreal, Nivea, Aveeno, Ponds, etc. Many of us Filipinos just patronize these products mostly because of the results that we expect from such notable brands. Of course I must admit most of these brands do really deliver a certain degree of satisfaction for the results that they give, that are mostly scientifically-based. Being a successful skincare company is one thing, but maintaining that status is another thing. That’s the power of research and development which most of the brands heavily funds. Innovations are directed towards breakthroughs for the human skin. However, the efficacy of these products does not come cheap due to the budget they allocate as they embark on quests for innovations. So for most of us Filipinos, skin comes next after numerous necessities in life.

Now, as more and more Filipinos become more skin-conscious the more and more local products become more main stream. Research and development are now the primary focus of the local brands to compete with the international more established ones. So lieu of this topic, here are some of the most trusted Filipino skincare brands you must seek next time you’re buying your personal items.

1. Sensa
 They have a whitening and tea tree oil line, you can choose either. But for super skin without regards to fairness, choose the tea tree line. Not only is it medically proven but it will give you more for your money. It’s a combo of the following: anti-blemish, anti-inflamatory, regulates oil production, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, soothing properties (that’s why its found in spas and dermatologic preparations) and moisturizing effect thanks to its added olive oil. For my fellow guys (men’s skin are 2x more oilier than women’s), this is the brand for us.

2. Belo Essentials
 A trusted name in the skin industry. Recently launched their combo of soaps, face wash, and lotions. They have a nice scent. Blue line is for regular skin. But for oilier skins, the pink line was specifically created to dissolve our oil overproduction. For the soap, I give credit to the pink one for its exfoliative properties with its microbeads. For the lotion, I go for the blue one. For the face wash, the pink one is superb for oily skin like mines.

3. Hype Duo
 This is a brand that unknown to many but try it and be satisfied. Much research has gone into the products they offer. They have a patented glycotech/glysocsphere technology that enable their concoctions to be absorbed fully and instantly into the skin without any greasy build-up. It works more efficiently as it can penetrate more deeply into the skin. Lately, they have developed a whitening line that combines the most powerful and most potent whiteners in the market today. Also in it is vitamin C, a potent anti-oxidant. But what I like about this product (lotion) is that it has an SPF (sun protection factor) rating of 25! For a lotion to get that rating it has to be expensive since protecting your skin against the sun isn’t cheap you know. It’s only a bit above a hundred pesos but worth it compared to buy a bottle of an expensive international brand of UV block lotions that cost at least 300 pesos.

Note: A UV block lotion/ SPF lotion is a must no matter what your skin color is. Dump that dumb misconception that you only need those if you’re fair. Ask any dermatologist. I doubt it if you’ll like to have hyperpigmentation before you start aging. And for the record, a UV block lotion is the next best thing that you can grab and apply to protect your self from sun-induced aging. And its not right to say “sun block” because it doesn’t really block the sun, just the UV rays – the ones used by malls and banks to detect if your money is a counterfeit.

4. Splash
 Need I say more? Splash has been a mainstay of our skincare industry here in the Philippines. Its has earned its reputation of providing top quality and cost-effective skin solutions that have delivered superior results. This brand is best for skin with specific targeted-needs.

5. Celeteque`
 This is a local brand that is thought by many as an imported product due mainly to its name. But of all the skincare brands in the market today, this is the brand more dermatologist trust and recommend to their patients. It’s reasonably priced with visible results. For sensitive skin and oily skin like mine, try their facial wash and oil-free moisturizers. I’ve seen they have come up with an oil-regulating line as well, that’s nice to know.

So what are you waiting for, check them out guys. Start taking good care of your skin now. We all now that a dose of prevention is better than a ton of cure or in this case botox – anyone?

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

A Guy 's Need to Shed Some Skin

Why men should exfoliate

Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing off dead skin cells to reveal and expose "younger," fresher skin. The shedding process unclogs pores, keeps skin clean and helps reduce acne breakouts. It's usually the first step in cleaning your face, to be followed by washing your face with soap (preferably one with hypoallergenic properties) and finally, moisturizing.

Unfortunately, many men wash exclusively with plain old, hotel-grade soap. It's certainly enough to keep you clean, but it's not the best bet to keep your skin healthy. Indeed, bar soap dries out your skin, its ingredients sometimes clogging pores and leading to rougher skin in the long run.

Exfoliation also specifically helps men in a huge way: It exposes the face's hair follicles, allowing for a better shave. And we all know that a smoother shave is practically the holy grail of a man's morning routine.

Exfoliate part by part

Men have hair all over, and hair traps oil, dirt and grime. For men, there are three major areas in need of regular exfoliation: face, back and chest (exfoliating your feet and hands is great, but not essential).

Face

The skin on your face is quite different from that of a woman's. It contains larger pores, whiskers, more collagen and elastin (fibrous proteins that help hold everything together), a denser supply of blood vessels, and it produces more sweat. Put all these factors together and a guy's face can attract a fair amount of dirt.

So, the most important component of any good facial exfoliation routine is the cleanser/foamer. Brands that sell top-notch affordable cleansers include Clinique, 4Voo.com, Baxter of California, and Nivea for Men.

Most of these products contain some combination of granulated pumice, sea salts, fruit seeds, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, and beta hydroxy acid, all of which serve to loosen and slough off dead skin cells. Some even aid in the formation of collagen.

To get the most out of your exfoliating cleanser -- and to help work it into a good lather -- you should use one of the following methods of application.

Exfoliating gloves: Okay, these reusable nylon gloves are more suitable for women, but they work. Just put them on and gently rub the cleanser around your face. The gloves' massaging motion will also improve circulation and open pores. Just keep in mind the fact that you use them on the down low...

Sponge: An abrasive sponge, or loofa (a sponge made from the dried fibrous part of the loofa plant), works the same way as gloves, but it has the advantage of whipping the exfoliating cleanser into a richer lather that gets deeper into the pores and the skin's upper layers.

More ways to get rid of dead skin and grime...