Eight Reasons to Add Vitamin B to Your Skin Care Routine

There are a number of types of vitamin B, but one of them is a powerhouse for healthy skin. Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging benefits. Adding it to your skincare routine offers a number of benefits;

  1. Helps the skin create a lipid barrier that locks in hydration, which is important for mature skin or anyone with eczema.
  2. Regulates and prevents overproduction of oil/sebum.
  3. Minimizes pore appearance.
  4. Decreases melanin production thereby lightening pigmented spots and areas.
  5. Reduces inflammation, resulting in decreased redness and blotchiness.
  6. Increased cell turnover (exfoliation) thereby improving texture.
  7. Enhances immunity to help build keratin which is a protein that keeps skin firm and healthy.
  8. Prevents oxidative stress from UV light and environmental pollutants.

Niacinimide is a key ingredient in these SkinCeuticals products;

Both available in our clinic or from our online store.

Eight Reasons to Add Vitamin B to Your Skin Care Routine2020-10-21T14:36:26-07:00

5 Corrective Serums to Tackle Your Biggest Skin Problems

Why Serums?

Serums are powerhouses in your skin care routine. Typically, lightweight with a high percentage of active ingredients, they target the effects of aging and specific problems. Unlike cream formulations, serums allow concentrated amounts of active ingredients to effectively penetrate the deeper layers of your skin. The percentage of potent ingredients found in high quality serums means a little goes a long way and just a few drops is all you need. This targeted approach leads to impressive results within a few weeks of consistent use.

Skincare Buzzwords

You have likely come across terms like glycolic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients are often featured in skincare products, but do you know how they benefit your skin?

Glycolic Acid – helps to facilitate the skin’s natural exfoliation process to improve skin texture and tone while reducing the buildup of dead skin cells. It’s great for those with blemish prone and dull skin.

Niacinamide – also known as Vitamin B3, is ideal for those with unwanted pigmentation. It strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier and improves the appearance of discoloration.

Hyaluronic Acid – is a natural component of your dermis and soft tissues. It’s capable of holding 1000 times its weight in water. When applied topically, or transdermally through microneedling, it delivers long-lasting hydration. It is suitable for all skin types particularly those with dry or aging skin.

How to Use Corrective Serums

It’s best to apply serums before other products to allow them to penetrate the deeper layers of skin. After a minute or two apply cream or gel moisturizer.

AM/PM Skincare Routines

SkinCeuticals Corrective Serums for Common Skin Concerns

Blemish + Age Defense

 

 

Blemish + Age Defense – for acne prone skin

This oil-free serum contains a potent combination of acids to reduce excess oil, minimize blemishes and prevent acne formation. It contains 3.5% glycolic acid to facilitate exfoliation, 2% dioic acid which diminishes acne forming bacteria and evens skin tone, and 1.5% salicylic acid to refine pores.

H.A. Intensifier

 

 

H.A. Intensifier – for aging skin

A multi-functional serum used to amplify the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by 30%. The magic formula is 10% proxylane which restores water to skin, and 2.2% purple rice/licorice root extract which prevents the natural breakdown of hyaluronic acid. H.A. Intensifier also contains 1.3% hyaluronic acid. This corrective serum is essential for anyone who has had a lip augmentation or filler to help maintain their results. It improves the appearance of crow’s feet, eyelids, and fine lines around the mouth.

Discoloration Defense

 

 

Discoloration Defense – for melasma, stubborn brown patches, and post acne marks

Discoloration Defense is formulated with 5% niacinamide to reduce discoloration and blotchiness, 5% HEPES to exfoliate and even skin tone, and 3% tranexamic acid to minimize the reoccurrence of skin discoloration. A good option to Hydroquinone, which is a bleaching serum.

Retexturing Activator

 

 

Retexturing Activator – for uneven skin tone and texture

Dual-action serum that hydrates and gently exfoliates the skin. Ideal for individuals sensitive to acids and retinol, including patients with rosacea. Retexturing Activator can also be layered on top of retinol to reduce the flakiness that retinol causes. It contains 25% hydroxyethyl urea/aminosulfonic acid compound which breaks the bonds that bind dead skin cells to the skin’s surface and help promote the skin’s natural exfoliation process.

Redness Neutralizer

 

 

Redness Neutralizer – for rosacea and flushing

A lightweight gel-cream formulated with NeuroMed complex, a combination of palmitoyl tripeptide-8 and eperua falcata bark extract which combat environmental triggers. It also contains bisabolol which calms skin and soothes the feeling of irritation, stinging, and burning. It reduces redness, flushing and blotchiness and reinforces the skin’s protective barrier to improve texture and radiance.

You can purchase any of these corrective serums along with other SkinCeuticals products at our office.

Not sure which serums are best for you? Call our office at 250-372-9995 to schedule a consultation.

5 Corrective Serums to Tackle Your Biggest Skin Problems2020-08-21T13:57:11-07:00

Visible Light Protection

Spending hours in front of your computer or mobile phone screen? That blue light isn’t just damaging your eyes, it may be damaging your skin as well.

Protecting your skin from solar radiation, specifically UVA and UVB, is no longer enough. We need to protect our skin from visible light as well. As many of us spend extra hours in front of computer screens, which emit blue (HEV) light, we need to be more aware of the risks from this visible light. Blue light, also called high energy visible (HEV) light enters the skin the same way UV radiation does. The energy from this HEV light is absorbed by light absorbing molecules in your skin. These molecules, such as water, melanin, hemoglobin, bilirubin, B carotene and riboflavin, each absorb different wavelengths of light.

While visible light may seem innocuous, it can cause “free radicals” which (1) damage DNA, (2) breakdown collagen and elastin, (3) stimulate hyperpigmentation. Excessive blue light exposure can lead to cell abnormality and cell death.

How frequent is your exposure to blue light? One study estimated that visible light accounted for 33% of free radicals in skin (UV 67%).

So how can you protect your skin from the dangers of visible light? Industry research suggests two ways to reduce free radicals produced by visible light;

  1. Antioxidants – Vitamin C serum – neutralizes free radicals from all causes/sources
  2. Iron Oxide

Conventional board-spectrum sunscreen alone does not protect from visible light. Sunscreen containing Zinc and Titanium provide some protection however the addition of Iron Oxide and/or Antioxidants to our skin care routine can protect from visible light.

Iron Oxide itself is not an approved sunscreen, but it is often added to sunscreens to reduce the white cast from zinc, and to provide a tint or more natural look. It is especially good when combined with zinc oxide, as the combination dramatically reduces the amount of UVA able to penetrate the skin. Notable, is that iron oxide is often found in mineral makeup.

To optimize your photoprotection from UVA, UVB and that blue HEV light, we recommend a two-step process.

  1. Topical Vitamin C serum followed by
  2. Sunscreen that contains Zinc, Titanium and Iron Oxide

This will give the most robust protection. Unfortunately, Vitamin C mixed into some sunscreens is not formulated to maximize its effectiveness. Sunscreens need to be reapplied if there is sweating. Vitamin C does not.

The easiest solution? SkinCeuticals’ Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 (with Zinc, Titanium, and Iron Oxide) layed over SkinCeuticals’ Vitamin C serum.

Visible Light Protection2020-06-24T10:24:51-07:00

Choosing the right Vitamin C Serum

Protecting your skin from sun damage is the absolute starting point in medical aesthetics. It’s about skin health. Everything else is secondary.

Incorporating a vitamin C antioxidant serum into your morning skincare routine is the best way to protect your skin against environmental pollutants and free radical damage which cause visible signs of aging. All of SkinCeuticals’ antioxidant products provide equally powerful protection from the sun to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, restore radiance and uniform skin tone, and improve skin laxity. They also increase wound healing.

Vitamin C serums should be used in the morning only and applied to clean, dry skin. Layering your antioxidant under your sunscreen will give you a more robust UVA/UVB protection and unlike sunscreens, it doesn’t need to be reapplied throughout the day. It won’t come off with sweating.

However, how do you know which serum is right for you?

C E Ferulic Serum

C E Ferulic is the best choice for those with dry, combination and normal skin.

Key Indications:

Fine lines

Wrinkles

Loss of firmness

Ingredients:

15% Pure Vitamin C

1% Vitamin E

0.5% Ferulic Acid

Optimal for replenishing lipids, stimulating collagen synthesis and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Phloretin CF Serum

Phloretin CF is for oily, problematic and normal skin.

Key Indications:

Fine lines

Discoloration

Uneven skin tone

Ingredients:

10% Pure Vitamin C

2% Phloretin

0.5% Ferulic Acid

Optimal for diminishing age spots and other forms of hyperpigmentation, accelerating cell renewal and retexturizing skin. 

Serum 10

Serum 10 is the antioxidant of choice for those with sensitive skin.

Key Indications:

Fine lines

Wrinkles

Ingredients:

10% Pure Vitamin C

0.2% Ferulic Acid

Optimal for patients on Accutane.

AOX+ Eye Gel

AOX+ Eye Gel is an antioxidant gel specifically formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes. It protects against atmospheric aging, helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness, and contains caffeine to combat under-eye bags and other visible signs of fatigue.

Antioxidant Lip Repair

Antioxidant Lip Repair restores lost moisture and helps to protect against environmental damage. This emollient lip treatment contains an antioxidant complex and hyaluronic acid, to smooth, soften and refine the appearance of lip tissue. This product is great for relieving dryness associated with prescription therapies such as Accutane.

Choosing the right Vitamin C Serum2020-05-08T12:57:43-07:00

Introducing Secret RF

A Novel Fractional Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling System

The Secret RF is the latest technology in “Collagen Induction Therapies” (CIT). This device is designed to stimulate and remodel collagen and address the common signs of aging.

It’s a combination of microneedling with fractional radiofrequency. This non-invasive, high-tech computerized device created micro punctures in the skin, then delivers precisely controlled heat (energy) into the deeper layers, stimulating collagen growth and remodelling, ultimately firming the skin. The SYNERGISTIC effect of using two treatments simultaneously created a more dramatic response. It will improve mild wrinkles, reduce stretch marks, diminish scars and improve skin tone and texture on both the face and body.

Treatments are usually completed in less than 2 hours; 1 hour dedicated to application of a topical anesthetic and approximately 30 minutes for the therapeutic process. Patients report minimal discomfort during treatment and limited downtime, averaging 1-2 days.

These radiofrequency microneedling treatments are especially effective for treatment of lines around the mouth and eyes (crows feet), sun damage and post acne scarring / pigmentation.

Kamloops Skin Solutions offers the latest in safe and effective therapeutic applications to achieve your health and aesthetic goals. Under the direction of Dr. Maureen Leia-Stephen, it now also offers Secret RF radiofrequency microneedling.

According to Dr. Leia-Stephen, this unique equipment maximizes both service and results for her patients. “We see an increasing number of patients looking for ways to revitalize what aging and sun exposure has done to their skin. While their conditions are common, each patient is unique. Because this new microneedling equipment is so versatile and so precise, we can customize our dermal revitalization treatments to our patient’s unique concerns, events in their lives, time of year and budget.”

Secret RF Microneedling System – NEW at Kamloops Skin Solutions!

Introducing Secret RF2020-04-20T16:45:00-07:00

Listen Up Lips!

Your mouth deserves more than a swipe of lip balm as the weather changes.

At Kamloops Skin Solutions, the lower face and mouth are a common focus of rejuvenation inquiries. Its one of the first places that people notice the signs of aging. The marionette lines (from corner of mouth to jaw) and the nasolabial folds (from nose to corner of mouth) are often the main identifiable changes.

These changes are due to a combination of factors; general loss of volume and lengthening of the upper lip with decrease in thickness. The lips themselves become smaller and thinner. This loss of volume in the lip area can further accentuate the vertical lines from around the mouth (smokers lines). And as the chin recedes with age, it can make the lower lip slip back and look smaller.

Ultimately, the goal of any rejuvenation therapy is to have balance and harmony of the lips and face.

To correct and improve this area, a combination of therapies is often needed. These may include;

BOTOX

Tiny amounts of Botox can reduce the lines above the upper lip, lift the corners of the mouth, evert the upper lip and correct a smile where too much gum tissue shows above the top teeth, known as a ‘gummy smile’.

DERMAL FILLERS

To create balance, often volumization and lift of the lateral face is needed to support the midface (similar to what you achieve when you pull your cheeks toward your ears). Dermal fillers can be used to elevate and soften nasolabial folds and add volume to the lips themselves.

Injecting a bead of filler along the entire outside of the lip (like a lip liner) defines the lip and stretches out the lines. Then a little volume would be added to the body of the lip itself. Sometime this process is staged. Deeper upper lip lines can be individually lifted or filled as can the corners of the mouth.

SKIN TIGHTENING

Fine lines above the upper lip are also reduced with collagen induction and skin tightening therapies such as laser resurfacing, radiofrequency and microneedling. Kamloops Skin Solutions will soon be offering a new technology which is a combination of radiofrequency and microneedling.

RETINOL

Retinol should be a weekly staple of your anti-aging regime as it improves the growth cycle of the skin and stimulates collagen production.

Listen Up Lips!2020-04-20T16:46:21-07:00

What is Pre-Juvination and How to Achieve it?

Shifting perspective related to aging and skin

By Dr. Maureen Leia-Stephen

I often think about the difference between Eastern and Western Traditions. The Japanese esthetic is a lifelong passion for ritualistic wellbeing and beauty. It is about prevention; proactive and pre-emptive strategies to enhance inner beauty and recognition of  the importance of inner peace and enriched lifestyle. When it comes to beauty, what North Americans consider luxury, Koreans consider maintenance. Facials are a part of their daily routine.

Our Western esthetic is to be casual about our skin and lifestyle. Unfortunately, we embrace tanning, alcohol, poor diet, and lack of sleep. We have a tendency to wait until the signs of aging are significant and then search for corrective strategies. At that point the treatments required will often be much more extensive.  Some skin changes may already be irreversible or “precancerous.”

The earlier you begin taking care of your skin, addressing the early signs of aging as they present – or even better, pre-empting them — the less corrective measures you will ultimately need.

Pre-Juvination means starting treatment before aging is evident and it is something most North American’s should be making part of our ritual.  It is about shifting our perspective and habits related to aging and skin.

Step 1: Create a Skin Routine!  Make skin your focus if you want to look naturally radiant. This means developing a daily ritual for cleansing, correcting, and protecting.  Find a good medical grade line of skin care products. Meet with a professional for a skin analysis to determine which products are best for your skin type. Use corrective ingredients (i.e. If you have pigment, something to lighten it. If you have acne, something to decongest.) Incorporate vitamin C and retinol into your daily routine. Most importantly, if you do nothing else, use a sun block!

Step 2: Address Fine Lines Early! They only get worse with time. Consider collagen induction therapies like laser resurfacing, micro-needling, thermage and neuromodulators like Botox and Xeomin.
Collagen induction therapy uses your body’s own healing response as a bio-stimulator to improve the quality of the skin. Neuromodulators will prevent the facial muscle movements from creating deep, permanent lines in areas that are dynamic.

Step 3: Take Corrective Steps Now.  Use corrective strategies for conditions that may get worse over time, such as Rosacea, Melasma, and Photoaging. Understand that you may need a number of different treatments to address the abnormalities. There are benefits to ‘stacking’ treatments, one on top of the other. The synergistic effect of the combination of treatments is well recognized.  These are the most common:  Thermafrax- Thermage immediately followed by Fraxel, and Microneedling immediately followed with Hyaluronic acid

Step 4 – Your Lifestyle Shows!  Habits like tanning or unprotected sun exposure, smoking, drinking, poor diet, insufficient sleep, and no exercise are what we call extrinsic aging factors.  They all  contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin and dermis. Modifying your lifestyle by cutting out these types of habits will inevitably help to maintain the collagen and elastin of your skin.

Step 5: Maintain, Maintain, Maintain!  We lose 1% of our collagen per year starting at age 25.  Healthy and vibrant skin requires commitment to a good daily skin routine.  Once you have achieved your desired treatment goals, maintain your skin care program to reverse collagen loss.

What is Pre-Juvination and How to Achieve it?2019-10-28T14:04:25-07:00

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