The following are the 5 major types of alpha-hydroxy acids found in skincare products and their sources:
- glycolic acid – sugar cane
- lactic acid – milk
- malic acid – apples and pears
- citric acid – oranges and lemons
- tartaric acid – grapes
Blog Archives
Luxury Launch: Kinara Weightless Infusion Antioxidant Primer
⟐⟐⟐
Celebrity adorned Kinara Skincare was created by renowned facialist and skincare expert Olga Lorencin-Northup. Located in Los Angeles, Kinara Skin Clinic and Spa is frequented by celebrities as well as individuals who understand good skincare. Meaning “on the edge” in Hindi, Kinara combines old world recipes with cutting edge cosmeceutical ingredients.
This month, Kinara launches a powerful antioxidant-packed primer – Weightless Infusion Antioxidant Primer. This serum/gel is the only product that successfully combines fourth generation peptides, powerful antioxidants, and skin lightening agents to create an oil-free lightweight primer. The results leave your skin rejuvenated and healthy with a radiant appearance.
Benefits:
♦ Firms skin by building collaged and elastin.
♦ Preserves the skin from oxidative stresses.
♦ Improves DNA protection.
♦ Protects against glycation damage.
♦ Brightens and lightens skin tone and prevents discoloration.
Kinara Weightless Infusion Antioxidant Primer will be available January 2013 at Kinara Skin Clinic and Spa, independent spas and retailers nationwide, and online at kinaraspa.com.
ABOUT KINARA:
As a renowned facialist and skin care expert, Olga Lorencin-Northup has spent years studying and perfecting skin, client-by-client, hour-by-hour, and pore-by-pore.
A native of Yugoslavia, Olga was classically trained in the European tradition. Rigorous regimens and timeless ingredients shaped attention to every detail.
Moving to Los Angeles, Olga worked in the prestigious Ole Henriksen salon where the ability to achieve immediate and long-lasting results for her clients soon captured the attention of Hollywood’s most famous faces. Feeling the desire to share her skin care philosophy with even more people, Olga opened Kinara Skincare Clinic in 2001 and her product line was invented – in the treatment room, not the board room.
Combining old world recipes with cutting edge cosmeceutical ingredients resulted in a concise line of must-have products designed for the good of the skin delivering dermatological change with unapologetic pleasure.
Brand Bravado: Alpha-H
✵✵✵
Australia’s best-selling skincare brand – Alpha-H – was born from a desire to make a difference to one’s skin. Best summed up as a cosmaceutical range, Alpha-H bridges the gap between skincare and cosmetic procedures. The professional-grade formulas improve the appearance of your skin’s tone, texture and clarity almost instantly.
As one of the first Australian companies to develop glycolic cosmeceutical skincare, Alpha-H products contain a scientific blend of Vitamins A, C and E with naturally harvested ingredients. The combination is designed to assist in treating lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and acne problems. Alpha-H’s team of scientists spent years developing the best formulations for optimal skin health. Alpha-H believes in using active ingredients, not fillers, for maximum and fast results.
Alpha-H’s range includes award winning skin care products across a wide range of categories such as cleansers, facial scrubs, skin repair serums, glycolic and non-glycolic moisturizers and outstanding sunscreens.
Liquid Gold, the brand’s hero product has developed a cult following around the world. As the name suggests, Liquid Gold is a luxurious indulgence for the skin. It is a powerful resurfacing and firming solution that jump-starts the skin to help refine enlarged pores while improving the appearance of fine lines, acne scarring and pigmentation to deliver a brighter more radiant complexion. Key ingredients such as licorice and 5% Glycolic extract leave the skin looking more youthful, plump and energized.
One of the best skincare lines I have ever used, Alpha-H provides quick and tangible results. After just one week, I noticed an enormous difference with the texture of my skin. After a couple months, I have noticed dark spots fading, firmer texture and less breakouts.
Last night, Alpha H launched in the US. Products are now easily accessible HERE.
Additional Alpha-H Review: HERE
Blown Away! Elchim 3900 Healthy Iconic
✧✧✧
A great hair dryer is the difference between healthy hair and and a head full of dry, split ends. The cornerstone to any haircare routine, the longer it takes to blow dry the hair the longer period of time your hair is exposed to heat. The logic is simple – the better your hair dryer, the better your hair.
The Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic is the very first professional dryer to focus primarily on maintaining healthy hair. The most powerful in it’s category – this hair dryer produces over 2,400 watts of power, reducing drying time by 30%. The ionic ceramic technology ensures evenly applied heat and reduced surface tension, leaving locks shiny, frizz-free and more manageable. Used by over 80,000 salons worldwide, Elchim blows it’s competition away.
Features:
- Hyper Technological Design of the latest generation.
- Integrated hair concentrator, easy fastening, optimized for high temperature.
- High power to straighten the frizziest hair in half the time.
- The most silent of its category, the lightest of its category, perfectly balanced.
- Ionic ceramic system, moisturizes and enlightens the air eliminating electrostatic charges.
- All Elchim dryers come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacture.
When shopping for hair dryers, the most important features for me are the wattage and heat settings. Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic is both powerful and adjustable – with over 2400 watts of turbo-charged air flow and three heat settings plus a cool shot. I never feel like this hair dryer is going to burn my hair off, nor do I have to be extremely cautious as to how long the hair dryer is placed on one section. I can adjust this dryer to the exact heat and power I need. After every use, my hair looks and feels like I just got a professional blow-out. The best hair dryer I have ever used.
About Elchim:
Since 1942, Elchim has been providing salon professionals around the world with the highest quality products. Hair stylists worldwide agree, Elchim is the international leader in salon appliances.
All Elchim products are characterized by the unmistakable quality and style that can only come from European design. Elchim creates the perfect balance between power, performance and working time. Elchim’s high pressure technology provides higher air pressure which allows you to reduce operating time without damaging the hair with excessive heat.
Skin Rehab: Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel CA (10)
▲▲▲
Get glowing, healthy-looking skin instantly with one swipe of Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel CA (10). This one-step, daily peel gently exfoliates the skin delivering a powerful dose of protective antioxidants to help prevent visible signs of aging.
The Daily Antioxidant Peel CA (10) is formulated with 10% Citric Acid (antioxidant found in citrus fruits) to exfoliate dead skin cells, neutralize free radicals, and help prep skin for moisturizer and serum absorption. With no rinsing or recovery time required, the result is impossibly smooth skin with improved texture and tone.
Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel CA (10) is an amazing rehab for the skin. Gentle enough for everyday use, this peel provides the instant gratification of glowing skin after every use.
The product comes with a jar containing 36 pads (+1 test pad), and a bottle of solution. When ready to start the regime, pour the solution over the pads and let it soak in. Then begin to use one pad over the face (can also be used on hands, neck and chest) each morning, or as tolerated. Skincare and makeup can be applied immediately after. There is no rinsing, waiting period, stinging, drying or flaking.
In a clinical study, 100% of participants reported healthier looking skin, smoother texture and a more even tone after just one use.
“The skin is constantly shedding and renewing itself. Failure of old cells to slough off leads to a dull, more aged appearance to the skin. This peel is an innovative way to incorporate gentle exfoliation and antioxidant protection into your daily routine with one easy swipe. It’s formulated by the dermatologists who created the original glycolic peel, and utilizes 10% Citric Acid to scavenge damaging free radicals brought on by environmental exposure and help prevent future signs of aging. I recommend using it between office visits to help refine skin texture, smooth fine lines, even skin discoloration, and help diminish the appearance of acne scars and environmental damage.” -Dr. Julie K. Karen, a board certified dermatologist who currently practices at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of NY.
What are AHAs – Alpha-Hydroxyacids?
AHAs are a group of naturally ocurring acids, many of which are found in fruits (hence “fruit-acids”). AHAs are used to help improve a variety of skin disorders including xerosis (dry skin), acne, ichthyosis, seborrheic keratoses and psoriasis. They also improve pigmentary disorders and symptoms of photo-aging; such as fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, skin laxity and dullness.
AHAs penetrate the dead surface cells of the skin, loosening the molecular bonds that attach them to the underlying tissues. The loose cells slough off, exposing newer skin.
About Citric Acid:
Citric acid is a substance that is found naturally in citrus fruits. It is a powerful antioxidant that can improve the health of skin cells. It stimulates collagen production, fights and protects from free radicals, has skin lightening properties, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and improves the appearance of scars.
Tried & Tested: The Battle of the Cleansing Conditioners
❈❈❈
A cleansing conditioner is a new approach to the way you clean your hair. These products cleanse and hydrate the hair in just one-step. Different from past “two-in-one” products, these cleansing conditioners do not contain any harsh detergents, chemicals, surfactants and/or sulfates that strip hair of it’s natural oils.
The three products up for review are: WEN Pomagranate Cleansing Conditioner, Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo and L’Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner. Each product claim the same purpose – a healthy alternative to cleansing hair – but perform differently using varied ingredients.
WEN Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner
Company Description: WEN uses a combination of natural extracts and botanicals to hydrate and cleanse the hair without the use of detergents and chemicals. The perfect mixture and blend of it’s ingredients leave hair healthy, moisturized and cleansed. WEN Cleansing Conditioners replace shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner giving you five products in one bottle.
Suggested Use: Rinse hair thoroughly. Apply product in 4 sections, crown, nape, ends on left side and ends on right side. For short hair 24 pumps is suggested, for longer thicker hair 48 pumps. Add a splash of water and massage into scalp. Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the product and leave in for 3-5 minutes. Rinse. Product can then be used again as a detangler or leave-in treatment.
Review: WEN Pomegranate Cleansing Conditioner is truly a unique product. My first attempt trying the product was mediocre, due to the fact that I ignored the company’s directions and thought “I could not possibly need that amount of product.” After a bit of experimenting and following directions, WEN left my hair clean, extremely hydrated, bouncy and shiny. (Do I sound like the infomercial?… sorry.) When trying this product for the first time, the satisfaction level is a bit frustrating. With no lather or bubbles (it barely foams), it is hard to get used to, until you see the results.
Shu Uemura Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo
Company Description: Delicate formula that transforms quickly into a rich thick foam that effectively draws out the impurities and build-up on the scalp without stripping the natural oils. Leaves hair naturally radiant, soft, and in a balanced state – volumized and moisturized. Paraben and silicone free.
Suggested Use: Formuated for daily use. massage through wet hair and rinse.
Review: Shu Uemura Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo should be in a category of it’s own. Just like the company’s best selling oil-based facial cleanser, their philosophy is “oil removes oil.” Which is exactly what this product does. Formulated from deep-sea volcanic extracts, this revolutionary oil-to-foam cleanser gently washes away built-up impurities and leaves hair lightweight, lustrous and magically free from unwanted grease. After application, I do use a separate conditioner but it is not necessary.
L’Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner
Company Description: This one-step wonder product is an ultra-gentle, yet powerful combination of 1/4 cleanser + 3/4 moisture. Its Low-Poo, or Low-Lather, cleansing reduces friction on the hair fiber to help minimize breakage. This innovative, ultra-concentrated triple action conditioning formula, with Omega-3 and 6, leaves hair super soft and nourished without weigh-down.
Suggested Use: Apply to wet hair and massage into a low later. Leave in 1-2 minutes. Rinse. No separate conditioner needed.
Review: L’Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner is the drugstore equivalent to WEN Haircare. The newest product of the three, this product produces much of the same results with varied ingredients. L’Oreal Cleansing Conditioner has a surfactant in it, a type of detergent. Although very mild, this product is really no different than any other “sulfate-free” shampoo – other than having added moisturizing properties. It does cleanse the hair and leave it soft and manageable and would be a great product to have in your gym bag for a quick shower.
✴✴✴
Conclusion: I have a hard time using one product for a long period of time, therefore, cannot review their long-term effect. But, this is what I have concluded: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo might be the best shampoo I have ever used. Feels gentle and nourishing at the same time. WEN is truly a unique product and wins for best all-in-one product. L’Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner is a good drugstore option, but is not that much different than the line’s sulfate-free products.
Tried & Tested: Susan Posnick COLORFLO
✯✯✯
Susan Posnick COLORFLO
One of the first mineral foundations ever created is Susan Posnick’s COLORFLO. After she was diagnosed with skin cancer, Susan Posnick (celebrity makeup artist) developed a mineral foundation with natural sun protection. She wanted a foundation that had coverage but felt invisible on the skin.
COLORFLO Mineral Foundation is made with all natural ingredients. It lets skin breath and won’t clog pores or irritate skin. It feels weightless on the skin and creates flawless radiant skin.
This sheer coverage foundation is buildable. By layering the product, one can create a medium coverage foundation or use directly as a concealer. COLORFLO provides powerful and natural sun protection and is extremely gentle on the skin.
Packaging is easy and simplified with a built-in application brush. The self-dispensing brush is perfect for on-the-go touchups and fits nicely in any bag.
Glow-T 