Total Skin Solutions

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are a class of chemical compounds that consist of a carboxylic acid substituted with a hydroxy group on the adjacent carbon. They may be either naturally occurring or synthetic. AHAs are well-known for their use in the cosmetics industry. They are often found in products claiming to reduce wrinkles and touted as anti-aging source; they’re known to improve the overall look and feel of the skin. They are also used as chemical peels available in a dermatologist’s office, beauty and health spas and home kits, which usually contain a lower concentration. Their effectiveness is documented.

If you find yourself using a lot of make up for your daily activities, you may want to pay close attention to your skin care regimen.  Many times, excessive make up can cause more acne and facial blemishes.  At the end of the day, you’ll want to give your face a good, clean scrub.

AdvanSkin AHA Cleanser works best for this.  It’s a natural product and cleans the face nice and easy without harming the skin at all.  It’s a step up from just using water and a washcloth, as there are several vitamins and healthy elements for your skin.

Over the last few months, I’ve gone over several tips on how to keep your skin healthy-looking. Here are the best tips compiled from the last few months:

1. Adopt a routine. In order to maintain your beautiful complexion, you need a daily regimen of cleansing and moisturizing. Use a gentle cleanser that removes all traces of makeup and debris, such as AdvanSkin AHA Cleanser and follow with a moisturizer. Adding a toner after cleansing is an optional step that can help to balance oil production.

2. Restore moisture. A good moisturizer is paramount to your routine. When the skin doesn’t get enough moisture, it becomes puckered and leads to premature wrinkles. Imagine a wrinkly raisin — basically a dried-up grape. Moisturizers aren’t one-size fits all: Choose a moisturizer according to your skin type.

3. Hydrate from the inside out. Did you know that by the time you’re actually thirsty, your body is already dehydrated? Using a topical moisturizer alone isn’t enough to hydrate the skin, so make healthy choices such as drinking a glass of water instead of coffee or soda and help restore lost moisture to the skin and body.

4. Fight environmental enemies. On a daily basis, our skin is exposed to a number of environmental factors that damage the skin — pollution, chemicals and UV rays, to name a few. These factors cause an overall breakdown of the skin and the formation of premature wrinkles. An antioxidant serum is a great way to shield your skin from free radical damage and prevent cellular damage.

5. Stop smoking. Not only is smoking harmful to your body, but the effects will quickly become apparent on the skin. The physical act of smoking a cigarette leads to pursing of the lips and squinting of the eyes, which are repetitive wrinkle-causing actions. On top of that, the toxins in cigarettes lead to discolored skin and wrinkles.

6. Drink in moderation. Alcohol also robs your skin of moisture. Again with dryness arrive wrinkles. Limit yourself to one to two drinks in a given evening, and make sure to drink water in between cocktails to make up for lost hydration.

7. Cover up. Even those who don’t tan are victims of sun damage, as any type of unprotected sun exposure — like driving or sitting by a window — leads to photoaging (damage caused by the sun). Signs include fragile, thinning skin, wrinkles and creases, loss of elasticity and an increasingly rough skin texture. Wear sunscreen year-round, regardless of how long you’ll be outdoors.

8. Don’t neglect your neck. When it comes to healthy skin, it isn’t just about your face. In fact, the delicate skin of the neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. So, take great care of your neck by using serums, moisturizers and, most importantly, applying sunscreen every day.

9. Slough it off. Incorporate a gentle exfoliating product into your routine several times a week to remove dead skin cells and banish dull-looking skin. Exfoliating reveals a radiant complexion.

10. Eat right. An unbalanced diet can lead to skin problems such as inflammation and dehydration, contributing to premature aging.

Vitamin C is typically recommended to fend off colds and sickness, but it’s also great for your skin.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that not only stimulates collagen production but contains the skin damaging activities of free radicals.

Consequently, citric acid can actually improve the health of skin cells which in turn promotes healing and the ability of the skin to protect itself against harmful environmental factors.  Vitamin C is an active ingredient in AHA, which is present in several anti-aging products.

Over the last few posts, we’ve mentioned the dire effects of alcohol, excessive tanning and smoking on your skin.  But there is something that you already may be doing that will help keep your skin looking youthful.

One of the best anti-aging methods is to use creams that use Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA).  You can also find these in some foods (such as yams).  By having a skin care regimen and diet that contains AHA, you can continue with your youthful look.

 AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) is often used to sell product, but some people may not be aware of how they could benefit from using an item that contains AHA. 

Mostly marketed as an anti-aging element, AHA includes natural acids from fruit, milk and sugar canes and causes dead skin cells to dissolve and fresh cells to regenerate.  Because of these properties, AHA is used for wrinkles, age spots and face lines.

Different products that contain AHA have varied concentration of natural acids, so it’s best to test them to see if you will have an adverse reaction.  Chances are you’ll find a product with AHA that will suit your skin care needs.

AHA is so hard to find in normal stores.  I must have gone to twenty different places and not one of them had a good quality AHA containing cream, lotion or cleanser.

Little did I know I didn’t even have to leave my house!  All of my friends are asking me what I’m doing differently and I’m so excited about how great this stuff is that I can’t keep it a secret!  Everyone’s amazed at the quality and the prices.  What a great idea!!