Epionce

How Important is Post-Care after a Skin Rejuvenation Procedure?

trish — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:45:49 +0000

In these current times of aging baby boomers trying to keep from looking older than they feel, there are a wide variety of aesthetic rejuvenation procedures from which to choose.

Many of the common procedures people will invest in to look younger involve skin resurfacing, such as deep chemical peels and/or laser treatments. When the outer layers of the skin are removed, this stimulates fresh new cells to come to the skin surface, which also encourages collagen and elastin formation in the deeper dermal layers to help visibly firm, plump and smooth the skin. As beneficial as these treatments can be, it’s important to be aware that having a treatment that removes skin layers also creates an unprotected, or compromised, skin barrier until the skin has completely healed.

When the skin barrier is in a compromised state, it becomes much more vulnerable to harmful environmental insults including bacterial microbes, pollution and sun. As well, your skin should never feel dry and tight during the recovery process, as this could negatively affect proper healing. So it is essential to help your skin heal as quickly as possible after treatment by applying products that help to restore barrier function, while calming and soothing sensitized skin.

Sometimes, the price of beauty can be quite costly. Proper after-care doesn’t have to be. Ask your skin care professional how you can protect your investment with the NEW Intense Skin Rehab System by Epionce. It’s the ideal take-home regimen following moderate to deeper skin rejuvenation procedures, containing 2.5 oz. sizes of Enriched Firming Mask and Medical Barrier Cream, to provide a generous boost of hydration while rapidly restoring healthy barrier function.

A New Way to Protect Your Skin Care Investment

trish — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:19:52 +0000

There is a wide variety of moderate to deeper skin rejuvenation procedures to choose from. Everything from CO2 fractional laser to plasma treatments offer wonderful results without being too invasive. The treatments can be costly. What can easily be neglected is the importance of the products used following the treatments to long-term results.

Protect your investment with the NEW Epionce Intense Skin Rehab System! This targeted hydration and barrier repair kit was shown to reduce downtime following a CO2 fractional laser treatment by up to 5-6 days. Faster results that last longer – what a combination!

Two favorite Epionce products combine to make a powerful take-home regimen following moderate to deeper skin rejuvenation procedures. Together, the Enriched Firming Mask and Medical Barrier Cream provide a generous boost of hydration while rapidly restoring healthy barrier function, helping to soothe and calm highly sensitized skin.

It doesn’t get much better than this!

What’s the Difference Between Dehydrated Skin and Dry Skin?

trish — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:44:54 +0000

Here is another common question that we hear often in the colder months, when the indoor heating is cranked up and our bodies feel dry and itchy after a shower.

Very simply put, dry skin is a skin type. Dehydrated skin is a skin condition. Both of these terms are often intermingled, but the actual definitions are slightly different.

Your skin type is determined by genetics. When you have dry skin type, your skin is deficient in sebum, which is what keeps our pores and outer skin layers lubricated and protected. The drier your skin is, the more compromised your skin barrier is, which makes it more susceptible to further damage and damaging chronic inflammation.

When you have dehydrated skin, your skin is lacking water. Skin that does not have proper moisturization can easily become dehydrated. External factors will play a part in this condition, including harsh cleansers or cleansing too frequently, using the wrong moisturizer for your skin type, low humidity, poor health or side effects from prescription medications. Even oily skin types can have dehydrated skin, especially acne-prone types that use strong treatment products. Dehydrated skin feels tight, and can develop tiny cracks, or fissures on the surface, which can cause the skin to become inflamed and red. When you pinch dehydrated skin (try this on the back of your hand), you won’t notice it “bouncing back” into shape.

If you have dry or dehydrated skin, start first with a proper moisturizer with a balanced ratio of skin barrier lipids, such as Renewal Facial Cream. Epionce Renewal products also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients (safflower, meadowfoam, avocado, bisabolol, rosa canina fruit oil) along with barrier-repairing ingredients (phytosphingosine, safflower, avocado, meadowfoam). Super-emollient Intensive Nourishing Cream contains potato and yeast peptides, which help to upregulate key lipid levels in the skin. Try cleansing with a gentle cleanser, such as Milky Lotion Cleanser, to clean the skin without stripping lipids. Balancing Toner, made with humectant ingredients to hold moisture in the skin, can also be applied to the itchy, drier parts of the body before Renewal Body Lotion or Extreme Barrier Cream.

Avoid long, hot showers – because, believe it or not, too much water can actually cause the skin to feel worse. Use a humidifier during the colder months when the heater reduces room humidity. Also consider upping your daily water intake, and investigate adding supplements with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Acne Success Story!

trish — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:49:48 +0000

I had the privilege to work with someone very near and dear to me last year to help with her Grade 2 acne. Her parents were worried about permanent scarring — but if you treat acne early enough (and don’t pick your face), scarring could be greatly minimized.

At age 15, I felt she was the perfect candidate to try the new Lytic Sport Tx. We started her on a simple home regimen for the first 8 weeks, which included AM: Lytic Gel Cleanser, Purifying Toner, Lytic Sport Tx and Active Shield Lotion SPF 30; PM: Lytic Gel Cleanser, Purifying Toner, Lytic Sport Tx and Renewal Lite Facial Lotion if her skin started feeling dry. After 8 weeks, I began a series of Epionce Peel System mal-e peels to provide a boost of anti-bacterial effect and encourage cell turnover. Peels were every 4 weeks, increasing timing each time.

We are very happy with the results she’s had after 6 months (click on the photo to enlarge detail):

So many acne products for teens really dry out oil production, which in turn, could cause the oil glands to overcompensate for the dryness and actually produce more oil. Epionce Lytics do not dry the skin out, although the Lytic Sport Tx is a much lighter feeling formula than original Lytic lotion formulas, which makes it the perfect choice for teens, early 20′s and men with oilier skin types. No matter your age, if you are struggling with acne, your Epionce Expert can recommend a Lytic product that would work best for your skin type.

‘Tis the Season for Red, Flaky Eyelids?

trish — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:42 +0000

During the change of seasons, especially fall into winter, many people experience irritation, redness and flakiness around the eyelid area. You may be surprised to know that it’s actually not usually attributed to a skin product reaction or a symptom of dry skin.

The main causes of flaky eyelids are seborrheic dermatitis and allergies. Other common triggers include toluene or formaldehyde found in some nail polishes, perfumes and room fragrances. Fortunately, neither of these types of ingredients is in Epionce products.

Product irritation should be considered, so individuals with sensitive eyelids should avoid shimmery shadows. Many sparkly shadows contain rough particles and fish scales to produce a sparkly effect. Also consider throwing out all eye makeup (especially mascara) and starting over – at least everything you have been using from the time the irritation started, and especially if it is not mineral makeup (pure minerals do not harbor bacteria). Thoroughly wash all eye makeup tools with cool to warm (not hot) water and gentle shampoo (Lytic Gel Cleanser is ideal for cleaning makeup brushes), then air dry on a clean towel. Makeup brushes need to be thoroughly cleansed preferably once a week – but more likely, at LEAST once a month.

Instead of Milky Lotion Cleanser, try carefully cleansing the eye area with Lytic Gel Cleanser (just as we would cleanse an area of seborrheic dermatitis). Keep the eyes tightly closed, so the cleanser does not get into the immediate eyeball area. Then apply a thin layer of Medical Barrier Cream to soothe and calm irritation. Seborrheic dermatitis comes from oily areas of the skin, and is usually found in areas on the scalp, along the hairline and around the eyebrows.

The red, flaky eyelid question tends to be more common around this time of year, and more than likely, it is caused environmental allergies and not the products you are using. If the irritation persists, refer to a dermatologist for further consultation.

Epionce 201. Sensitive Skin Type Adjustments

trish — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:51 +0000

Ok, so you’ve figured out your skin type to be either Dry, Normal to Combination, or Oily in our previous blogs (http://www.epionce.com/2011/12/epionce-101-what%e2%80%99s-your-skin-type/). And we’ve given you basic recommendations to get you started with Epionce at home. But what about the special needs of sensitive skin types?

If you are a sensitive skin type, you probably already know it, but let’s review some of the characteristics of sensitive skin:

Your skin often reacts to topical products with burning, stinging, itching or redness.
You may be cautious when trying new products as many new products make you “break out.”
You may be prone to rashes when you wear certain types of jewelry.
You or someone in your family may be diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, eczema or contact dermatitis (allergic skin rash).
You may have visible blood vessels on your face or nose, and/or your skin tends to look red or “sunburned” in photographs.

No matter if you are Dry, Normal to Combination or Oily; sensitive skin types have a much compromised barrier. This is where Epionce fits perfectly into any regimen to help calm inflammatory factors that contribute to skin sensitization and to help fortify the skin barrier to provide better protection against harmful insults.

The most basic step in modifying your Epionce regimen is to dial down the Lytic strength. When you are unsure where to start with a Lytic – even if you are an Oily/Sensitive skin type prone to moderate or frequent breakouts, instead of Lytic Plus start with Lite Lytic first. Once your skin has adapted to and tolerated the gentle yet active formula, increase the strength to regular Lytic after the first tube is finished. Once your skin tolerates regular Lytic, go ahead and bump up strength to Lytic Plus or Lytic Sport Tx. If you are exquisitely sensitive, try using just your Epionce cleanser and follow with your Renewal Facial product for skin type for the first 1 to 2 weeks. Gradually begin PM application of the Lytic, first alternating nights and then increasing application to every night for the next 2 weeks. Finally add your AM application if you haven’t experienced sensitivity.

Remember, your skin care professional is an invaluable resource to help you reach your skin care goals, after assessing your skin type and conditions. See your skin care professional to help you determine which Epionce products are best suited to your needs, especially for sensitive skin types.

Epionce 101.Oily (to Problem-Prone) Skin Type Recommendations

trish — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:19 +0000

After cleansing your face in the morning you notice shine at about noon or earlier, you are likely an Oily skin type. Oily types have medium to larger visible pores, with possibly moderate to frequent break-outs either monthly or all through the month, and less visible wrinkling than Dry or Normal skin types. To start your Epionce regimen, look for products that are labeled with three dots for Oily (to Problem-Prone) skin types.

As an Oily skin type, your goal is to maintain balanced hydration in your skin without adding extra oiliness, while calming damaging inflammatory factors and keeping your protective barrier strong. Lytic Gel Cleanser, formulated with date, willow bark and zinc pyrithione, is the best cleanser to use to help kill surface bacteria and deep clean the skin without leaving it feeling overly stripped or causing barrier disruption.

Your treatment product depends on your individual skin conditions. For overall anti-aging and to help control moderate to frequent break-outs and/or hormonal flares, Lytic Plus or Lytic Sport Tx are both formulated with azelaic acid, salicylic acid, meadowfoam, date, bisabolol and flax to help reduce visible redness, smooth rough skin texture and keep pores clean. For acne with unwanted pigmentation, instead of Lytic try MelanoLyte Tx, formulated for all skin types with crithmum maritimum algae extract, licorice root and undecylenoyl phenalalanine to
encourage cell turnover and skin lightening.

Even oily skin types need light hydration that calms damaging inflammatory factors and helps keep the skin barrier intact. Follow your Lytic Plus or Lytic Sport Tx application with Renewal Lite Facial Lotion, best-suited for Oily (or Problem-Prone) skin types. It is made with a blend of safflower, meadowfoam, apple, date, flax and avocado to stimulate the skin’s natural healing process, which strengthens your skin barrier.

Remember, this is just a primer for getting started with your Epionce regimen. Your skin care professional is an invaluable resource to help you reach your skin care goals, after assessing your skin type and conditions. See your skin care professional to help you find the Epionce products that are best suited to your needs.

Next blog: Sensitive Skin Type Adjustments.

Epionce 101.Normal to Combination Skin Type Recommendations

trish — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:58 +0000

After cleansing your face in the morning you notice shine at about 3:00, or just in specific T-zone areas during the day, chances are you are a Normal to Combination skin type. Combination types may also notice more dryness or even flakiness on the cheeks. Normal to Combination skin has small to medium visible pores, and minimal to moderate break-outs during monthly cycle along jawline/chin or neck, or in T-zone. To start your Epionce regimen, look for products that are labeled with two dots for Normal to Combination skin.

Your focus is on maintaining a sebum balance in your skin, while calming damaging inflammatory factors and strengthening barrier protection. One of my favorite products to recommend for Normal to Combination skin types (that actually works well for all skin types) is Gentle Foaming Cleanser. It is a lightly foaming cleanser that gently yet thoroughly cleanses the skin without leaving it feeling tight or sensitized.

Your treatment product depends on your individual skin conditions. For overall anti-aging and to help control occasional break-outs or hormonal flares, Lytic is formulated with azelaic acid, salicylic acid, meadowfoam, date, bisabolol and flax to help reduce visible redness, smooth rough skin texture and keep pores clean. For anti-aging with unwanted pigmentation, instead of Lytic try MelanoLyte Tx, formulated for all skin types with crithmum maritimum algae extract, licorice root and undecylenoyl phenalalanine to encourage cell turnover and skin lightening.

Renewal Facial Lotion is best for providing moderate hydration to Normal to Combination skin types. It is made with a blend of safflower, meadowfoam, apple, date, flax and avocado to stimulate the skin’s natural healing process, which strengthens your skin barrier. If your skin needs more moisture, add Balancing Toner (Rebalancing Clarifier) with humectant properties to attract and hold moisture within the skin. If your skin needs extra attention with break-out treatment, add Purifying Toner (Purifying Lytic Toner) to spot-treat blemishes, or use all-over to control excess sebum activity.

Next blog: Oily Skin Type Recommendations.

Epionce 101.Dry Skin Type Recommendations

trish — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:00:04 +0000

After cleansing your face in the morning you “Never” or “Rarely” notice shine during the day, chances are you are a Dry skin type. Dry skin types tend to feel tight all day, have small, nearly invisible pores and possibly flaky skin. Because your skin lacks sebum, Dry types may appear more visibly wrinkled than other types. Dry skin may also be Sensitive skin types – a future blog post will address sensitive skin needs. To start your Epionce regimen, look for products that are labeled with one dot for Dry (to Sensitive) skin.

Due to the low sebum content in your skin barrier, look for products that boost moisturization while strengthening barrier protection and calming damaging inflammatory factors. Non-foaming Milky Lotion Cleanser is recommended for a Dry skin cleanser; if you prefer a foaming cleanser, your next best choice is Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Both cleansers have a creamy, elegant consistency, and are pH-balanced to your skin.

Your treatment product depends on your individual skin conditions. For overall anti-aging and to help control rare-to-occasional break-outs, Lite Lytic is formulated with azelaic acid, meadowfoam, date, bisabolol and flax to help reduce visible redness and smooth rough skin texture. For anti-aging with irregular pigmentation, instead of Lite Lytic try MelanoLyte Tx, formulated for all skin types with crithmum maritimum algae extract, licorice root and undecylenoyl phenalalanine to encourage cell turnover and skin lightening.

Renewal Facial Cream is wonderful for providing emollient hydration to Dry skin types. It is made with a blend of safflower, meadowfoam, apple, date, flax and avocado to stimulate the skin’s natural healing process, which strengthens your skin barrier. Very Dry types may prefer Intensive Nourishing Cream, which also contains ursolic and azelaic acid to realign and firm collagen while upregulating natural skin lipids with potato and yeast peptides.

Next blog: Normal to Combination Type Recommendations.

Epionce 101: What’s Your Skin Type?

trish — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:20:56 +0000

Once you know your skin type, it is relatively easy to pick which Epionce products are best to start with. Most Epionce products are marked by recommended skin type, known as the “Dot System.” One dot indicates a product that is best suited for Dry or Sensitive skin. Two dots designate a product that is best for Normal-to-Combination skin. Three dots are suited for Oily to Problem-Prone skin. A product with no dots is great for all skin types

Sometimes just one simple question will offer your skin type answer: After you cleanse your skin in the morning, when do you usually notice you have a shiny face? If it’s before noon, you are likely an oily skin type; if it’s around 3:00, you are probably a normal skin type. If you never notice shine, you are probably a dry skin type. Combination skin types notice shine in just certain areas of the face, namely the “T-Zone,” which includes the forehead, nose and chin. Pore size can also indicate skin type: Larger, more visible pores designate oiler types, while smaller, invisible pores are found on drier types.

If you are unsure, ask your skin care professional to help you determine your correct skin type, and tell her which skin conditions concern you the most, so that she can recommend the best Epionce home regimen to suit your specific needs.

*Next post: Recommended ingredients for Dry Skin Types.