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VIE COLLECTION

Just What The Doctor Ordered

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It’s great to have the wisdom of the ages, but that doesn’t mean you want your skin to reflect it. And with a relatively new branch of topical skin-care products, perhaps it doesn’t have to.

Called “dermaceuticals,” these products spur the repair of sun-damaged skin, effectively making skin look years younger and luckily, dermaceuticals such as Vie Collection don’t require a prescription!

Introducing VIE COLLECTION

What makes it so unique?

Working very closely with the VIE COLLECTION development team is Dr. Laurence Richier,  a respected leader of medical aesthetics based in Saint-Malo, France with over 20 years’ experience as a surgeon.  The collaboration between Dr. Richier and the Vie team resulted in the first ever line of products that mimic the results of Botox, injectables, mesotherapy, and skin resurfacing.  The results of this union is in a word, revolutionary!

But Vie Collection is not limited to just one star ingredient.   The laboratory selects and combines the most powerful ingredients used in aesthetic medicine. Using optimal concentrations, and playing with molecular size has enabled them to achieve results for a range of skin conditions from ageing to acne and hyperpigmentation to rosacea.

What You’ll Find In VIE COLLECTION

ENCAPSULATED RETINOL. Encapsulation limits tolerance risks and boosts the effectiveness of retinol which is released gradually and in a controlled way deep within target cells.

ANTIOXIDANTS. Such as vitamin C or coenzyme Q 10 to rebuild collagen and stop free radicals from interfering with the body’s own natural repair process.

EXFOLIANTS. These compounds-glycolic, alpha hydroxy and salicylic acids-slough off aged, dead skin to make room for new, healthy skin.

LIGHTENING AGENTS. These agents block pigment cells from producing freckles, age spots, and melanoma.

ADVANCED SUNBLOCKS. These contain aggressive blockers that protect against both UVA and UVB rays and they are very effective in repairing the damage to DNA done by ultraviolet light.

HIGH AND LOW MOLECULAR HYALURONIC.  A benchmark ingredient that literally “plumps” out lines and wrinkles.

So don’t fret about frown lines. Instead, give your skin a dermaceutical boost-and yourself a confident smile in the mirror.

Beauty Collective - Post Summer Skin Detox

Post Summer Skin Detox

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Whether you are mourning the end of bright, balmy days or doing side-kicks now that cooler weather is on the way, we all need to give our skin love much-needed love after a season of summer indulgences.   Think salty or chlorinated water, a little too much “Yes way, Rose” or even a beautiful bronze glow that’s starting to look more like a pigment patchwork quilt. Time for repair!

So what are we dealing with now that autumn has arrived?  More often than not, clogged pores, dehydration, hyper-pigmented patches, and of course chapped lips. Luckily, all it takes to reboot skin is a few tweaks to our current skincare routine.

Exfoliate

Those dry dead skin cells that sit on the surface of your skin are not only dulling it, they are blocking the hydrating ingredients from getting in.  We shed approx. 30,000 skin cells a day naturally but this slows down dramatically with age.  It can also slow down in summer as oil, sweat, and makeup join together and act like mortar for the skin cells, binding them tightly together and creating an impenetrable wall.

There are so many ways to exfoliate but the gentlest method is with fruit acids and enzymes, instead of forcing the cells off and causing possible damage to the skin these ingredients gently loosen and digest cells to leave skin softer, smoother and more refined.  Try Phytomer – Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes.

Deep Pore Cleansing

No matter how well you cleansed your skin in the last couple of months, deep down, where none of us can see, makeup, impurities, old sweat, and toxins are having a party in your pores. The result?  Skin texture that looks coarse and spongy and never feels clean.  To help clean them out detox your skin with a clay-based mask, or several if you are not afraid to be a multi-masker! Our go-to for deep cleansing is Phytomer Oligopur Flawless Skin Mask with Kaolin Clay.

Rehydrate

Seriously pack it on!  Summer leaves your skin depleted of moisture and not only is this uncomfortable it’s also ageing.  So up your moisturiser game by adding some concentrates beneath and get out the hydrating masks.  Don’t forget your body too!  After your shower, smother your damp skin from neck to toes with rich balms and body oils.  Did you know the skin’s outer layer swells open when it’s damp allowing products to penetrate better?

We love Phytomer – Hydra Original Thirst-Relief Melting Cream and Hydrasea Thirst-Relief Rehydrating Mask for the face and the heavenly texture and aroma of Phytomer – Trésor Des Mers Beautifying Oil for the body.

Check the damage!

Unfortunately, you can’t undo the damage that UV rays cause, which is why a Broad Spectrum sunscreen is your most important skin care product.   And, it’s important to keep your eyes open for any changes to your skin.  A visit to a dermatologist for a skin cancer check should be a priority for every Australian and while it may seem a nuisance could be lifesaving.

You can however help minimize the visible appearance of sun damage on the skin’s surface with little effort. To help fade the look of dark spots and even skin tone, use a hyperpigmentation formula such as Vie Collection – Laser Light Concentrate.

Keep up protection

Even though it’s not summer anymore it doesn’t mean you should stop using your SPF.  Reach for it every day and ensure your skin care is always loading with anti-oxidants.  The combination of both will decrease skin ageing by a whopping 90%.  Our go-to is Vie Collection – Vita C Concentrated Solution.  You can put a few drops in your regular moisturiser or apply it beneath for a brighter complexion.  It also has the added benefit of fading hyperpigmentation and stopping ageing free radicals in their tracks.

Eyes and Lips

Our lips lack melanin so they are especially susceptible to sun damage and after several months of hot weather are also prone to deep dryness.  Squinting, sweating and the sun can also cause damage to the fragile eye area.  So give these areas some TLC.  Reach for nourishing lip colour instead of drying mattes, apply SPF over your lips and at night offer some much needed repair.  Phytomer – Youth Contour Reviving Wrinkle Correction Cream – Eye and Lip is our favourite because it is formulated to calm, soothe and replenish delicate skin.

SKIN STRESS ELES VIE COLLECTION copy

The effects of stress on your skin and how to reduce them

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Stress happens to all of us, fact, but what we often don’t realise is the effect it can have on not only our mood but our skin too!

Daily stressors such as insufficient sleep, an unhealthy lifestyle, a demanding job…can unfortunately manifest as blemishes, wrinkles, and skin inflammation.

Below are 5 ways stress can affect our appearance but also 5 ways to reduce it! Phew I hear you say….

  1. Under-eye bags

Who hasn’t been blessed with those delightful under-eye bags many a morning!? We all know how important beauty sleep is but sadly late/sleepless nights due to work commitments or stress can lead to dark circles and under-eye bags when we awaken.

Prevent dark, puffy peepers

  • Say no to that extra glass of vino, or another catch up episode of MAFS and get yourself to bed stat! Giving yourself as much shut-eye as possible will only stand you in good stead.
  • Forget climbing into bed and reaching for your phone! (Guilty as charged!) Instead, opt for a book or simply unwind and relax in preparation for peaceful slumber (think meditation, soft music, dim lights)
  • Try elevating your head (so no tummy sleeping with your face on the bed unsupported by a pillow please!) this will reduce fluid naturally draining to the skin under your eyes.
  • Finally arm yourself with a good eye cream and concealer. Our current favourites are Vie Collection Chrono Eyes Puffiness – Dark Circles Wrinkle Cream and ELES Dual Action Concealer

 

  1. Premature ageing

When you’re stressed your body releases cortisol (the stress hormone). Sadly it’s infamous for breaking down collagen, the protein which keeps your complexion supple and firm! If like me, you’ll also be guilty of frowning, which unfortunately can lead to deeper, permanent wrinkles in these areas over time. Eek.

Minimise lines and wrinkles

  • Use anti-ageing products specifically targeted at your problem area. Products rich in Retinol and Vitamin C will help boost collagen production. We are in LOVE with Vie Collection’s Retinopur Wrinkles Imperfections Fluid
  • Eat a healthy balanced diet rich in superfoods as these really do assist in counteracting premature ageing. Think green veggies which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and oily fish which induces telomere growth.
  • Oh and regular exercise increases levels of endorphins which effectively fight the effects of cortisol (the darn stress hormone we mentioned earlier!)

 

  1. Dry skin

As well as breaking down collagen, Cortisol also decreases the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturiser we all need, so skin becomes dry and damaged.

Maintain hydrated skin

  • Firstly (yes we’ve all heard this before!) drink plenty of water, every single day! The more you drink, the more hydrated your skin will look and feel! Set this as your daily mantra.
  • Secondly, ensure your skin care routine includes product rich in hyaluronic acid to deeply nourish the layers of your skin. We are currently lusting after the Vie Collection Mesoforce Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin Mask
  • Also using gentle products rich in antioxidants and soothing ingredients can support the skin during stressful times.

 

  1. Breakouts

Dealing with a sudden breakout? You’ve awoken to a chin full of pesky pimples? Chances are your body is producing the dreaded cortisol at a mighty rate which in turn tells your sebaceous glands to produce more pore-clogging oil! Stress can also cause an imbalance of good bacteria versus bad bacteria in your gut which can present itself in acne.

Reduce spots and blemishes

  • Exfoliate: This will unclog your pores, drawing out any oil or congesting reducing spots. It’ll also remove dead skin cells resulting in clearer skin while increasing blood circulation for a brighter, radiant complexion. But be careful not to over exfoliate! A couple of times a week it plenty otherwise you can risk stripping your skin of its natural healthy oils! We recommend Phytomer Marine Scrub Creamy Exfoliant.
  • Moisturise: There is the misconception that moisturising oily skin will make spots worse but this is definitely not the case! By not moisturising daily, skin will become dry which in turn can stimulate excess oil production to compensate for the loss of moisture. Clever but not helpful!
  • Conceal: If you want to cover blemishes try using a mineral concealer which is formulated with skin protecting ingredients that allow the skin to breathe freely.
  • Eat a well-balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins like grass-fed meats are also crucial (they keep a balance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut), as is cutting down on sugar.

 

  1. Rosacea & Eczema

Whether you are prone to rosacea and/or eczema or not, stress can trigger skin irritation. When we are stressed our bodies release more neuropeptides and neurotransmitters than usual. This causes inflammation and dilates the blood vessels within our skin.

Redness relief

  • Invest in rosacea specific skincare products, formulated with skin nurturing and relieving ingredients which reduce flushing, erythrosis, couperose and rosacea while hydrating and soothing the skin. We highly recommend Vie Collection’s Rosa Control Relief Concentrate.
  • And to conceal use a CC Cream which will mask the redness while calming the skin.
Beauty Collective - 5 beauty myths debunked

5 Skin Care Myths Debunked

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It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed in the constant changing world of skincare, with new ranges hitting the market every day, telling us what is good and not good for our skin.

Skin science has moved in leaps and bounds as new delivery systems and ways to modify ingredients can make it seem more like a Star Wars battle than the exciting world it really is.  It’s like most things; sometimes a lot of choice is just too much!

So we are here to bust just a few of the common myths of this mystifying topic!

MYTH #1 – TREAT YOUR SKIN ACCORDING TO SKIN TYPE

For years we’ve been conditioned to believe that skin is oily, dry or combination and most of us have used skin care products accordingly.  However, your skin type is just a grain of sand on a beach when it comes to getting the most out of your skin care.

It’s very important to address the health of the skin and not just the external factors such as “not enough moisture”.  Sure we can the moisture however it’s going to be a short-term fix if we are not addressing the cause; i.e. dehydration of the body and compromised skin function.  Maintaining a good diet, getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated and looking after your health is an obvious fix, and when it comes to skin care, look for products that stimulate the bodies own healing processes i.e. stimulate collagen formation, sedate oil glands, repair cell mitochondria etc.  Ingredients such as AHA’s, Retinol, Anti-Oxidants, Hyaluronic and Sunscreens should be on the top of your list.

We recommend:  Vie Collection – Retinopur Wrinkles Imperfections Fluid, it stimulates collagen and elastin and helps rejuvenate skin cells.

MYTH #2 – I’LL USE ANTI-AGEING SKIN CARE WHEN I’M OLDER

Unfortunately there is no wonder ingredient that completely repairs the passage of time; prevention is No.1 when it comes to youthful skin.

Every day we are exposed to factors that damage our skin and cause skin ageing; the sun’s rays, pollution, stress, unhealthy lifestyles all work together like a super-villain team and attack our skin at a deep and cellular level.  It may not show immediately but it’s happening.

Keeping the skin deeply hydrated is important in our early years and ingredients such as Hyaluronic help our fibroblast cells (the ones that make collagen and elastin) to work more effectively and more collagen and elastin means less wrinkles and sagging.

Also make sunscreen application part of your daily routine, everyday! Not only to reduce your chances of skin cancer but to reduce about 90% of visible skin ageing.

We recommend: ELES – Luminous Defence Brightening Day Protection 50, its super light and gives the skin a lovely pearlescent glow!

MYTH #3 – THE ONLY WAY TO LOOK YOUTHFUL IS WITH BOTOX

Not true! There are so many effective products and treatments that will help to plump and firm the skin without a needle. As we age the lower layers of our skin lose volume.  By reducing cell build-up on the outer skin (this acts like a wall to great ingredients getting in where they are needed) and increasing the volume of the deeper layers of the skin on a daily basis with ingredients such as retinol, peptides and essential fatty acids you can enjoy bouncy, firm and radiant skin.  You’ll also find many skin care products contain neuropeptides (Botox substitutes) that do a wonderful job relaxing and softening wrinkles.

We recommend: Phytomer – Pionniere XMF Perfection Youth Cream, a firm favourite this exceptional cream adds density to the skin giving it volume and bounce.

MYTH #4 – WE ALL NEED TO PEEL AND EXFOLIATE DAILY

This will look amazing for the first week or even month, however you’ll soon discover the damaging effects of over-exfoliating as you remove your protective acid mantle.  This barrier protects the skin from moisture loss, from bacterial invasion and when it’s gone you’ll be left with dry, sensitive skin with breakouts.

Exfoliation is an important part of any good skin care routine, however moderation and gentle when it comes to peels and scrubs is always best.

We recommend: Phytomer – Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes a gentle but effective exfoliant that leaves skin fresh and refined.

MYTH #5 – DRY SKIN NEEDS RICHER MOISTURISERS

Quite often a super-rich moisturiser can exacerbate the problem.  The oils in rich creams can act like a glue to dead skin cells that prevent hydrating ingredients from penetrating the skin, so while it might feel soft and supple on the surface, deep down it’s drying out!

Layering is your best defence against dry skin.  Apply a hydrating serum that will sink into the lower layers and then seal it with a protective cream, something that contains shea butter or light oils is ideal.

We recommend: Phytomer – Hydrasea Ultra-Moisturizing Polarized Water Serum, it drenches the skin with pure moisture leaving it dewy and supple.