Pharmacymix.com, Skin Care Pharmacy and Blog Specializing in Anthelios and Mexoryl Sunscreens

What Is Mineral Makeup (And Does It Work)?

One of the latest skin care trends to take the cosmetics industry by storm is mineral makeup. The concept is that, by applying a special “all natural” makeup, you can look great while improving your skin. Allegedly, mineral makeup is free of chemicals and instead, uses natural minerals to nourish your skin. As you may imagine, there is a fair amount of hype in the claims. Like many beauty and skin care products, brilliant marketing has a way of directing attention away from obvious flaws. 

Separating Advertising From Truth 

First, mineral makeup does use natural minerals as primary ingredients. These include titanium dioxide, mica, and zinc oxide. What manufacturers do not proactively mention is that these same minerals have been used as main ingredients in makeup foundations for many years. While mineral makeup does actually use them, the fact that they do is not noteworthy.  

Second, cosmetics companies have either directly communicated, or allowed others to do so in their stead, that mineral makeup does not use chemicals of any kind. In fact, that is not accurate. Technically, every ingredient used in a cosmetics product is a chemical, regardless of whether it is considered natural or not. What’s more, some ingredients that are used in most mineral makeup products, such as bismuth oxychloride, are decidedly unnatural. Bismuth oxychloride is a chemical compound that results from mixing lead, copper, chloride, and bismuth.

 A Closer Look At Active Ingredients 

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are often used in sunscreens to offer protection from UVA and UVB rays. Their inclusion in mineral makeup (which cosmetics companies are happy to point out) can be beneficial. However, the role they play in offering protection against sun damage depends upon the concentrations in which they’re used. A sprinkling will not do - you need to check the listing of ingredients to make sure they are included as active ingredients. If they are not, they won’t provide significant protection against UV rays.

Mineral Makeup Is Not A Skin Care Solution 

There is a noticeable lack of unbiased data that proves the efficacy of mineral makeup as a skin care solution. While useful as a foundation for those who suffer from rosacea (because it covers blemishes without using fragrances or preservatives), unless formulated in concentrations required to afford sun protection, there is little evidence that it will provide sufficient protection from sun damage.

If you enjoy the results of applying mineral makeup, and many women do, then continue using it. But, don’t consider it a replacement for a well formulated broad spectrum UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen like to reduce signs of premature aging caused by sun damage.

Despite what beauty product manufacturers claim, mineral makeup isn’t a magic solution. Let the buyer beware!

What Are Dermal Fillers?

*photo Restylane.com

The formation of fine lines and wrinkles is part of the skin’s natural aging process. The older we become, the more pronounced these lines and wrinkles are. This is due to the breakdown of collagen fibers and the loss of elastin as we grow older. However, the problem can be worsened by sun damage, smoking and other external influences. Dermal fillers are used to augment the tissue by injecting one of a number of possible filling agents and thereby reducing the visible signs of aging. Below, I’ll describe the types of dermal fillers commonly used and factors to consider should you decide to use them.

Types Of Dermal Fillers

There are several types of dermal fillers, but most are categorized within two different classes: temporary or permanent. Most permanent filling agents are silicone-based. While silicone has not been FDA-approved as a dermal filler, it has the advantage of not requiring continuing treatments over time.

Temporary dermal fillers include collagen, hyaluronic acid, fat and other agents. Collagen fibers are strands of natural proteins that intertwine to support the texture and shape of the skin. Collagen injections are a common dermal filling agent that can be applied quickly with minimal recovery time. But, they often last as little as three months.

Restylane and Hylaform are hyaluronic acid-based filling agents that last from six to twelve months. Both have been approved as dermal fillers by the FDA. Restylane is a natural filler that comes from streptococcus bacteria while Hylaform is animal-based.

Fat is another common dermal filling agent. Through a process known as lipotransfer, fat can be taken from one part of the body and injected into wrinkles and other areas. As a dermal filler, fat has been known to last from a few months up to three years.

Things To Consider

While most individuals tend to be satisfied with the results achieved from dermal filling, it’s important to remember that aside from silicone, most dermal fillers will require continuing treatment. Also, there is the potential for side effects. Dermal fillers can result in allergic reactions, initial bruising and even bacterial infection (though the likelihood of each is relatively small). Finally, the effectiveness of a dermal filler to improve the appearance of your skin is based upon how skilled the dermatologist is in applying the filler. Different skin types have varying reactions to filling agents and your dermatologist should be adept at identifying them.

Slowing The Aging Process

While dermal fillers can improve the texture of your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, you should also be doing everything you can to help protect your skin from damage. The daily use of a photostable, well formulated UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen should not be underestimated. Sun damage can accelerate the aging process by breaking down collagen fibers under the dermis as well as contributing to age spots and rough skin texture. Consider the Anthelios line of sunscreens. Formulated with Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL plus other effective sun filtering agents, it delivers protection against UV rays that can hasten the aging process.

Though the aging of our skin is a normal process of growing older, using a sunscreen daily, year round can help to slow its pace.�

Can Facial Exercises Improve Your Skin?

Growing older means that our skin loses its elasticity and eventually begins to droop or sag. Over the past several years, there has been a surge of interest in facial exercises. The idea is that, by “working” the muscles throughout your face, your skin becomes tighter and in due course, fine lines and wrinkles disappear. Giving your facial muscles a good exercise goes beyond merely making funny faces; it can include donning a mask that sends electric currents into the muscles to stimulate contractions.

Do facial exercises truly work? Are they really a viable solution to the drooping skin that comes with age? In a word, no. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at facial exercises and the reasons why they’re not effective.

Why Your Skin Sags With Age

The main reason why your skin begins to lose its tight appearance as you grow older is because of the breakdown of collagen fibers and loss of elastin. While it is normal for this to happen as we age, the deterioration can be accelerated by excessive exposure to the sun. Along with that, the layer of fat that rests underneath the dermis begins to diminish as years pass. At the same time, fine lines and wrinkles are made more prominent by repetitive frowns, smiles, and other movements. It is important to understand how these things happen in order to appreciate why facial exercises do not work.

How Facial Exercises Are Supposed To Work

Enthusiasts claim that performing facial exercises develops the muscles throughout the face, revitalizing the skin and pulling it taut. In doing so, lines and wrinkles disappear, giving the skin a younger, tighter, and more supple appearance. In truth, the skin does not work that way. Exercising the facial muscles will not build collagen fibers, nor will it create elastin or replace the lost layer of fat. Also, keep in mind that Botox, which is a proven solution to giving the skin a smoother look, works by inhibiting the very muscles that facial exercises stimulate.

Proven Skin Care Solutions

The natural breakdown of collagen fibers and the loss of elastin that comes with age is made significantly worse by sun damage. Making funny faces to stimulate the facial muscles will not help rebuild the collagen or elastin under your dermis. The most effective way to protect your skin from premature aging is to use a well formulated broad spectrum sunscreen and formulations designed to improve your skin’s elasticity while stimulating collagen production. Here are 3 solutions to consider:

Anthelios Sunscreens - formulated with Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX plus other effective sun filtering agents, Anthelios offers photostable broad spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays.
La Roche Posay Active C XL - Vitamin C is an active ingredient that helps to stimulate collagen production in this anti-UVA formulation that counteracts wrinkles.
Neostrata Wrinkle Repair - A skin care solution that stimulates the production of collagen, and helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

Cataracts: Protecting Your Eyes From UV Rays

Cataracts are more common than most people realize. While they can potentially affect people of any age, they’re most prevalent among those who are over 60, manifesting as a clouding of a person’s vision. This can have a dramatic impact on a person’s quality of life. For example, it can impair the ability to read, drive and even watch television. While cataracts are occasionally caused by genetics, most experts consider long-term exposure to UV radiation to be the primary cause. Today, I’ll explain how the sun’s UV rays can cause cataracts and how you can protect your eyes to avoid developing them.

How The Sun Can Cause Cataracts

Cataracts form as a result of a chemical change that occurs within the eye’s lens. When a person endures long-term exposure to sunlight, the UV radiation from the sun causes the formation of free radicals. These free radicals can disturb the fragile composition of the lens and result in cataracts. They can form so gradually that most people won’t realize it’s happening until their vision becomes significantly impaired. Because UV rays are considered the primary cause of cataracts, people who spend inordinate amounts of time in direct sunlight are most vulnerable to developing them.

How To Protect Your Eyes

While using a powerful sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays is essential for your long-term health, you should take steps to ensure your eyes have adequate UV protection, too. The most effective way to shield your eyes from UV exposure is to wear protective sunglasses. They should be worn throughout the day whenever you go outside (even if you only plan to be outside for a brief time). UV rays are most intense (and are potentially the most damaging) during the early afternoon, the summer and at high altitudes. Also, keep in mind that UV rays can damage your eyes even when it’s cloudy outside. Most people neglect to wear protective eyewear on cloudy days, not realizing that the sun’s UV rays can still penetrate the eyes and form free radicals.

UV Protection For Your Eyes

Most sunglasses that offer protection from UV radiation will be labeled. Choose a pair that provides protection from 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. The sunglasses should also filter as much visible light as possible. For example, skiing and boating are conditions in which the sun’s glare can be particularly irritating. A good pair of sunglasses should block most of this visible light. Also, try to buy from a reputable manufacturer. Often, the labeling on unknown brands can be misleading and unreliable. Fortunately, large sunglasses are all the rage these days so you’ll look fashionable while looking after your health.

While cataracts can be resolved through surgery and other means, taking preventative measures can help to stop them from forming in the first place. By choosing a good pair of sunglasses that block most UV rays and filter the majority of visible light, you can protect your eyes when you’re exposed to the sun.