BC Skin Journal
BC Blog
INFLAMM-AGEING: the new buzz word in skin health and ageing
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 16 2019
Have you heard of the term before? It’s as scary as it sounds! It relates to chronic, long-term, inflammation that negatively affects our body and has been linked to numerous diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, macular (vision) degeneration and now, skin ageing! As if we don’t have enough to worry about!How does it affect the skin?There are two types of skin ageing, internal and external. Internal ageing affects the density of the skin, thinning it as we age and results in lines and wrinkles.External factors such as UV exposure, poor lifestyle, or injury, cause inflammatory reactions in the skin, as well as oxidative damage. This oxidative stress injures cell membrane proteins and fats, and the genetic blueprint of the cell (DNA), which cause premature ageing and can even increase skin cancer risk.And what about age spots? These result from oxidative stress (free radicals) on the pigment-forming cells within the skin, leading to many inflammatory and immune reactions in the cell, which eventually causes tissue damage. A solution: ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFAs)These are fats that our bodies can’t create for themselves so we need to acquire them through diet. They include omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. EFAs are important for the cell membrane’s structure and function and can cause positive changes both outside and inside the cell. They also play a very important role in your body’s natural inflammatory response.However, not all omegas are equal! For example, too much of the omega-6 called arachidonic acid that you’d find in grain-fed beef, chicken, eggs, and pork, can lead to a higher chance of developing inflammation than a diet that contains equal amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. When we achieve this ratio, our bodies are better able to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.EFAs also very important when it comes to how our bodies control inflammation. So when you have an adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, it can help to reduce the production of substances that are known to promote inflammation.From a skincare perspective, when our skin becomes irritated, this triggers the release of chemicals that can cause inflammatory damage and destruction of the skin’s support proteins including collagen and elastin, which leads to wrinkles. EFAs reduce this inflammation. They also help maintain your skin’s barrier function to prevent water loss and protect your body from microorganisms that can cause infection and disease, control the growth of collagen and elastin, increase the skin’s resistance to sunburn, and promote tissue repair. All this leads not only to enhanced skin function but also to healthier appearance!Unfortunately, a typical western diet is lower in fish and other foods rich in omega-3’s, so it increases the risk of various inflamm-ageing related conditions. While making the proper dietary changes can be helpful in reducing inflamm-ageing, supplementing with a fish oil containing 1000-2000mg of combined EPA and DHA can really help.So eating a healthy diet and supplementing with a fish oil supplement can definitely reduce the risk of inflamm-ageing, and add to this few simple preventative skin care ingredients such as anti-oxidants and sun protection and it can go a long way for the health of your skin!To help prevent inflamm-ageing we recommend incorporating Vitamin C into your skin regimen and using the best possible sun protection you can find.Our favourites; Vie Collection - Vita C Concentrated Solution and Phytomer - Sun Solution Sunscreen SPF 30 Face & Sensitive Areas.
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 16 2019
It’s a reality. And if you thought that hormones were a nightmare to contend with now the air we breathe every day is causing our skin to prematurely age, erupt in breakouts and might even be the cause of annoying skin conditions such as eczema. Pollution is a real problem, so real that the World Health Organisation now considers it a major skin health issue.Sadly, even if you are a beacon of good living: eat a healthy diet, drink your bucket of water each day and exercise like a boss, yet your skin isn’t glowing like an Instagram selfie, you are most likely suffering the effects of toxicity from urban living.Know your enemyOur skin is our largest and most exposed organ and it struggles to cope with the constant onslaught of chemicals in the atmosphere. The end result is skin that becomes sensitive, hyper-pigmented, acne-prone and unbalanced and of course, prematurely aged.So why is pollution your enemy? You’ve no doubt heard of free radicals, these are atoms or molecules that contain unpaired electrons making them unstable and are considered to be associated with a wide range of illness and disease. They can evolve from natural reactions in the body (in food and drink). You can also find them in the air we breathe, the exhaust we inhale, in smoke, industrial waste, pesticides and many other processes in every day life.And sadly free radicals don’t like to be alone, these “Billy no mates” are always on the lookout for friends, they break through cell barriers and steal an electron from our healthy cells. This oxidization process creates another free radical and does untold damage to your skin at a cellular level.Ultimately the result of all this destruction is unhealthy skin cells and unhealthy cells lead to loss of elasticity due to collagen breakdown, unbalanced oil levels and overall dullness that no amount of exfoliating and massage will overcome.Thankfully, as we learn more about free radical damage we are also learning ways to prevent it! One the easiest way is to pack your diet and skin care routine with anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants neutralise free radicals by generously donating a spare electron (friend) before it can steal one from your skin.But there’s more you can do…Firstly, cleansing your skin properly (not aggressively) each night. While pollutants can be like cell munching monsters that stick to the skin like Velcro a great cleanser, used gently will help remove them and still maintain your skin’s natural barriers.While all anti-oxidant ingredients have benefits, research has shown that there are some other ingredient discoveries that used in combination with anti-oxidants yield even better results! Cue PHYTOMERMore than 15 years ago, PHYTOMER discovered the powerful anti-pollution action of Armeria maritima, the only seaside plant that survived the Erika oil tanker disaster, capable of filtering and depolluting the contaminated water. PHYTOMER then launched its first anti-pollution product, Souffle Marin.Since then PHYTOMER researchers have created an advanced solution that comes in the form of an amazing sorbet cream, CITYLIFE Face and Eye Contour Sorbet Cream. CITYLIFE sweeps away toxic micro-particles and repairs skin damage caused by pollution. Its prowess comes not only from its sorbet texture, in perfect affinity with the skin, but also from its high-tech formulation composed of: CITYSAFE complex, a trio of anti-pollution biotech marine sugars. OLIGOMER®, an emblematic ingredient of the brand, providing true mineral replenishment for the skin. And what is great about it, is it’s also, suitable for the eye contour, CITYLIFE re-oxygenates tired eyes while it diffuses mineral water into dehydrated skin.Fast forward to 2018 when they launched another award winning product: CITYLIFE Ultra Cleansing Flash Peel. This is the first of its kind, a pollution defense deep cleanser. Power packed with a high concentration of exfoliating enzymes, it leaves the skin healthy, purified and with an incredible glow.So, the long and the short of it is: pollution bad, antioxidants good. Until we find a way to remove these nasties from our environment, it’s essential to maintain a good skincare regime that protects your skin from chemicals in the air and prevents them harming your health. Urban living will always be full of things to stress you out, but, thankfully, damaged skin doesn’t have to be one of them.Now, where did I put that glass of red?
How screen time is affecting our skin and how to counteract it
by Jo Boyden
on Apr 10 2019
We all know about ‘light rays’ such as UVA and UVB and how damaging they can be, but very few are aware of another harmful ‘light’ taking centre stage! A light that is not only emitted from sunlight but scarily also from all our devices - now labelled the silent anti-agers of our generation! This light is known as ‘blue light’.Research has shown that blue light can damage our skin, accelerate the visible signs of ageing and even cause dark under eye circles. Eek! And with the amount of time we spend on our phones, computers, tablets…we really should be doing something about it and we are here to tell you what! How exactly does blue light affect our skin?We are all guilty of staring, bleary-eyed at our screens (hell I’m doing it now as I type!), having that last minute flick through facebook or late night scroll on instagram, in fact with the amount of time we spend on our devices, we are now getting significantly more blue light exposure than we get from the sun alone! Blue light also has the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin compared with both UVA and UVB light - it can penetrate all the way to our dermis where our collagen and elastin live! Terrifying!Not only does that extra 10 minutes watching our favourite Netflix show eat into our precious zen time, it can also disrupt our natural circadian rhythm (our handy internal body clock which tells us when it’s time to be sleepy as well as time to wake up!) Our circadian rhythm is actually very important when it comes to many aspects of our well-being, ranging from metabolism to immune system function to most importantly good quality sleep!Sleeping is our body’s time to recharge as well as repair skin cells, however this blue light is known to be impacting the natural repair process overnight leading to an accumulation of skin damage – premature ageing, discolouration, inflammation, weakening of the skin’s surface, as well as dark under eye circles. How can we prevent blue light from damaging our skin?While we aren’t likely to give up our evening Netflix binge, switch off our mobile phones or give Facebook the heave-ho, we can do many a thing to reduce our exposure and in turn the effect of blue light on our skin; Switch your mobile to ‘night shift’ mode every evening Avoid devices as much as possible an hour before bedtime (read a good old fashioned book instead!) Instead of holding your mobile to your ear opt for hands-free every time. Purchase blue light filters for your devices Make sure you have a well-rounded diet with plenty of anti-oxidant and fatty-acid rich food to reduce or protect against inflammation. Try using makeup containing iron oxide, this can help neutralize and repair blue light damage Use targeted skincare products religiously. Antioxidant-rich creams and serums are really important to battle off cell-disrupting free radicals and inflammation generated by light pollution. We are obsessed with Phytomer’s Souffle Marine Energizing Oxygenating Serum – specifically formulated to protect against environmental pollution and free radical damage Scared? You should be! No, on a serious note, first port of call, if you're not using targeted products to protect yourself you need to start, ASAP.
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 26 2019
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.ExfoliateThose 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 CleansingNo 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.RehydrateSeriously 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 protectionEven 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 LipsOur 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.
Phytomer Pionniere XMF Perfection Youth Cream
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 26 2019
Imagine a moisturiser that feels light as a feather, is full of the sea’s most potent anti-ageing extracts and blended with the heavenly aroma of Rose and Jasmine…sighWe’ve all seriously fallen in love with this heavenly creation and the results of this magical cream that takes marine biotechnology to a new level!XMF (Extra Marine Filler) is a 100% sustainable marine extract derived from plankton. This unique ingredient replenishes lipids to make skin plumper and younger-looking within one hour, according to company testing. It works by depositing an invisible film on the skin’s surface, which fills and smooths wrinkles. Beneath the surface, the EPS (ExoPolySaccharides) increase production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid for long-lasting results.Key Ingredients:XMF EPS – Phytomer Advance Research’s exclusive discovery; smooths and firms skin.Morio Orchid – a rare, protected plant sustainably grown by Phytomer; protects against free radicals and complexion-ageing sugars.It’s loaded with amazing ingredients and feels unlike any other cream. Even though it’s very lightweight it packs in an abundance of hydration. From first use skin looks fresher and fuller without feeling greasy, after several weeks you’ll see the real results; a noticeable firming and softening on wrinkles.If you like a richer texture there is a new addition to the range; PIONNIÈRE XMF PERFECTION YOUTH RICH CREAM. This one has the added benefits of Schizochytrium Oil – 100% natural oil derived from micro-algae; rich in acids (including Omega-3 fatty acids) that protect, strengthen and lock in moisture, and a great solution for very dry skin!PHYTOMER means “plants of the sea,” and every one of their products contains seawater, seaweed or seaside plants. All natural ingredients. No animal testing. Yes it’s a little pricey for these two creams but with results like these, we think it’s worth the splurge! Also….this March, if you buy either one of these cult favourites, you’ll receive a full size XMF Rich Cleansing Cream for FREE. Now that’s what we are talking about!
PEVONIA BOTANICA wins PHYTO LINE OF THE YEAR at ASIA Spa Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong
by Jo Boyden
on Jul 20 2017
Pevonia Botanica is proud to announce the news that we have been awarded Phyto Line of the Year for the “Stem Cells Phyto-Elite” Line at the most recent prestigious Asia Spa Awards.Pevonia Botanica beat seven other finalists in the shortlist including Biossentials and John Masters Organics to win the award presented by Asia Spa magazine, Asia’s most recognised spa and wellness publication.Rainer Scior, Managing Director of Pevonia Australia said, "This is another great achievement for Pevonia. We are very proud of the brand and all the recognition it deserves.”Pevonia was also finalist in two other categories including, Anti-Ageing Product Line of the Year and Men’s Product Line of the Year.Celebrating the best in innovation, quality and service within the spa industry, a total of 24 categories were voted by 21 independent judges. Other categories included the best spas, resorts and treatments that set the benchmarks in Asia.Hosted in Woobar at W Hong Kong, this year’s Asia Spa Awards was attended by over 400 industry professionals.For close to three decades Pevonia has believed the most powerful ingredients in skincare comes from the safest source – nature.As a global leader Pevonia is proud to deliver multi-award winning, natural skincare solutions clinically proven to restore, rejuvenate and revitalise all skin types.
by Jo Boyden
on Sep 06 2016
Which skincare do you prefer to use, cream or serum, and why? Some will be quick to say it's CREAM because it's what they've been using for the longest time and it works. They're right. Some will instantaneously say SERUM because it's the trend these days and it's really, really effective. They're right too! What's the difference between a cream and a serum? Which one is more effective? Do you need both in your skincare regime?
A serum is a high concentration of active ingredients. It contains the most potent dose of antioxidants and peptides. A serum is formulated liquid-like to be easily absorbed into the skin and because it's lightweight, it suits all skin types.
Cream is still the most popular skin care product. Because creams contain oil, it's nourishing and moisturising. It may contain specific actives that that address specific skin concerns.
Which is more effective? Cream and serum do different things. A cream is better at moisturising while a serum is better at immediately delivering specific treatment actives.
Do you need both in your skincare regime? Definitely! Apply serum first to let the antioxidants and peptides work its way deep into your skin for immediate skin therapy. Apply cream after a few minutes to infuse your skin with more moisture.
Some use either of the two but we strongly suggest you use both for maximum results!
View Pevonia's Creams and Serums
Check out our SPECIAL OFFER for the month of September 2016.
by Jo Boyden
on Mar 30 2016
[caption id="attachment_2006" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Brightening musts from Pevonia[/caption] Sometimes your skin just needs a little "pick me up" to get back into balance. Seasonal temperature shifts, lack of sleep or just when hormones aren't behaving are just some of the reasons why our skin can become tired and lack-lustre. Which is why we need to add a few more items in our skin care wardrobe that do more than the old "cleanse, tone, moisturise". Two of our favourites (and apparently yours too as these are two of our best-sellers) sure to get you out of the skin care blaaaaaaahhhs and into the skin care aaaaahhhhhhh's! ENZYMO-SPHERIDES PEELING CREAM There's something so wholesome about this peeling cream that smells so delicious you could eat it! Papaya and Pineapple have been selected for their enzyme peeling action, in other words, an action that gently digests away the dead skin cells instead of abrading or burning them off. So it's gentle, really gentle, and it's effective too! Nothing makes skin feel cleaner, lighter or more purified than this jar of goodness and it's easy to use; simply apply a thin layer on cleansed skin, wet the fingertips with warm water, this will help to "wake up" the enzymes, then leave them to do their thing for 5-10 minutes, then rinse away. What you are left with is skin that looks reborn and with a lustrous sheen that says "I am fresh and I am rejuvenated!". "C" COMPLEXE WITH OXYZOMES How can we describe a serum that smells like a fresh orange, is silkier than silk and once applied leaves your skin looking as though you've just returned from a tropical island holiday? A bit over the top? Ok, maybe... but seriously, this is an addictive product and when applied beneath your regular moisturiser offers a vibrancy and luminosity rarely seen without a pound of makeup. Many clients comment that it has in fact helped eliminate the need for foundation! Pretty serious claim but true nonetheless. What's more is every time you apply this product full of anti-oxidants, you know you are defending yourself from the most harmful free-radical of the them all; the hydroxyl-radical which results from solar exposure. So if dullness and tiredness and generally sadness are your skin woes, try these two miracle workers for the most "alive and happy" skin you ever experienced. Want to find out more simply visit our website on www.pevonia.com.au and be sure to check out our search a spa page for your nearest stockist.
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