Tag Archives: breakouts

Five Minutes to a FLAWLESS Face!

When you’re short on time but need to look flawless, here’s a super easy and fast way to get the job done in five minutes or less!

After cleansing and toning, apply our Acne-Safe Tinted SPF40 + Primer all over your face. This product serves as a substitute for a light foundation, SPF and primer all-in-one!
Tip: Be sure to wash your hands right after you apply this product as it may stain some fabrics.

Next, apply concealer to any areas that need some extra attention such as under the eyes and blemishes. You can use PRIIA’s creme concealer right out of the tube and blend with your fingers or you can use our loose mineral foundation with our Wet/Dry Concealer Brush.

Third, apply a light dusting of our Behave Finishing Powder in Tinted or Untinted all over the face.  If you’re prone to excess oiliness during the day, use our HydraPrime Oil-Control Powder instead.

Fourth, apply a little bit of our Vacation In a Jar Loose Mineral Bronzer to areas where the sun would naturally “kiss” your face. Or use the bronzer just on the apples of your cheeks in place of your regular blush.

Next, apply our Lip Treatment Balm in Tinted or Untinted to keep your lips protected and feeling baby soft all day.

Lastly, apply one to two coats of your favorite mascara.

Voila! You’re done in five minutes or less!

How To Make A Custom Finishing Powder

At PRIIA, we have our BEHAVE Finishing Powder. It’s a wonderful product for setting your makeup look and mattifying your overall look. It’s perfect for balancing combination skin types. BEHAVE Finishing Powder is currently available in 6 shades. However, five of these six shades are being discontinued. The only shade we will continue manufacturing is the one called UNTINTED. It’s actually our best-selling “un-shade” finishing powder because it’s semi-translucent and won’t change the color of your foundation.

But, we know there are die-hard PRIIA fans who are going to miss our tinted finishing powder options.  Don’t fret!  If you really want a tinted finishing powder, it’s so easy to make a customized one.  All you need are a few things:

  1. BEHAVE Untinted Finishing Powder.
  2. Your perfect PRIIA minerale-derm Loose Mineral Foundation.
  3. A tray for mixing such as our Minerals Mate Tray.
  4. Our Deluxe Powder Buffer Brush.

Simply take a little BEHAVE Untinted Finishing Powder and put it into one of the mixing wells in the Minerals Mate Tray. Sprinkle a few crumbs of your PRIIA minerale-derm Loose Mineral Foundation on top of the BEHAVE Untinted Finishing Powder. Gently stir the two powders together with a cosmetic spatula or even a Q-tip. Lastly, dip your Deluxe Powder Buffer Brush into your mixture and apply. Voila!  It’s that easy! You can make your creation as dark or as light as you want by simply adjusting how much PRIIA Loose Mineral Foundation you sprinkle into the BEHAVE Untinted Finishing Powder.

If you have leftovers of your customized finishing powder creation, simply cover it with one of the Minerals Mate Tray lids. BAM! You’ve got finishing powder for the next day!

Breaking Out During Seasonal Changes

*Article posted with permission from Blooming Skin Care & Acne Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana.

Autumn Means Acne Flairs for the Blemish Prone
Acne flares seem more common in many of my clients during late September and October. Research surrounding seasonal changes done by French Endocrinologist Alain Reinberg supports that the lessoning length of daylight can trigger hormone fluctuations that contribute to acne flares. My theory, a little too much fun this summer has resulted in a delayed flare.
How could that be? It takes as little as 14 days or up to 90 days for a clogged pore to turn into a pimple. Realistically the stuff you’ve been doing or NOT doing for the last few months, (like you are using your customized home care) are probably contributing.

Think back to all the things you were doing just a few weeks ago.
Summer sun burns and tanning of all kinds can result in acne. They usually pop up several weeks later after those sundried dead skin cells have become trapped, yet again, in the pores.
Summer Heat & Humidity causes the stratum corneum to swell. This puts pressure on the fragile follicle walls.

A high carbohydrate diet – basically, processed foods like bread and refined grains that are quickly broken down into sugar – can have a terrible effect on skin. The theory is that refined carbs cause your insulin levels to spike, which in turn leads to increased sebum production and clogged pores.

Noncompliance! Skipping home care, even if it’s just a few times at camp or at a sleep over, allows cellular debris to start piling up in the pores once again. You may not notice breakout immediately but in the weeks and months to come.

Stress, the BIG one! Doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad stress. Moving, starting a new job, going away to college… all rank right up there as some of the top acne contributors.

1. Swimming Pools-chemicals used to clean pools contain ingredients that aggravate the follicle.
2. Summer Foods-Vacations and BBQ’s are full of acne causing foods. Although certain foods do not cause acne they are a major factor on your acne occurrence and severity.
3. Summer Heat-Bacteria loves a nice warm environment and the heat of summer is like heaven to P.Acnes Bacteria. Your clogged pores have had all summer to “grow” bacteria and now they are manifesting into acne lesions. This is why we tell you to ICE!
4. Sleep Overs/Camps-It’s really hard to stay on track with your home care routines with all this fun stuff going on. Inconsistent product usage WILL catch up with you!

If you find yourself breaking out and would like some guidance, schedule a consultation to start with Christy at Blooming Skin Care & Acne Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana or with your local esthetician.

Acne-Safe Tinted Mineral SPF40 is here!!!

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new acne-safe tinted mineral SPF40!

It’s a 100% acne-safe physical sunblock that contains both Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which provides broad spectrum coverage from both harmful UVA and UVB rays.

This silky-smooth lightweight tinted SPF40 also doubles as a primer to help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and fine lines/wrinkles.

It’s also Water Resistant up to 80 minutes!

This product comes in one universal shade that is appropriate for most skin tones. If desired, you can mix a little of this product with your regular SPF to ‘lighten’ the tint.

Using a separate primer is NOT necessary after using this product since it already has a primer built into it.  So, if you have our acne-safe primer, you don’t need to use that on the days you choose to wear the acne-safe tinted mineral SPF40.

This is the PERFECT product to use when you don’t want to be bothered putting on foundation but you still want a “finished” look!

How to use: Dispense a nickle-sized amount of our acne-safe tinted mineral SPF40 into your hands and apply evenly all over the face. Be sure to blend well. You can apply our foundations over top and/or just our HydraPrime or BEHAVE Finishing Powder to complete your look. *Thoroughly wash hands after application as this product may stain some fabrics.

Both full-size ($44) and sample sizes ($3.50) are available. We encourage all customers to purchase sample sizes BEFORE committing to full-size products.  Get yours today at PRIIA.com!

Swimming and Acne: What’s the Connection?

I just love a nice dip in the pool. It clears my mind and I feel so refreshed when I’m swimming. Unfortunately, my skin doesn’t like the pool.  I breakout.  Maybe you do too. Here’s why there’s a direct correlation between swimming and acne breakouts.

Pools have to be disinfected in order to not be a public health hazard.  Unfortunately, those disinfectants are made up of chlorine and iodides.  Both of these materials are known irritants for acne-prone skin.  The same is true for salt water pools- the sodium chloride is an acne-aggravator.

Does this mean you should avoid swimming at all costs if you have acne? No.

This may sound strange but apply a very thin layer of Vaseline to your face (and body if you have body acne) before going into the pool.  The thin coating of Vaseline will act as an occlusive barrier to the pool’s chemical disinfectants. Despite what you may have read on the Internet, Vaseline will NOT clog your skin- it is non-comedogenic.  The molecule is simply too large to penetrate the pores.

Don’t want to use Vaseline on your face? Consider using PRIIA’s Acne-Safe Lip Treatment Balm. It will do the same thing as Vaseline: it will create an an occlusive barrier protecting your skin from those acne aggravating chemicals PLUS it has some pretty great skin soothing ingredients in it as well. 

After swimming, don’t forget to shower immediately! Use our acne-safe makeup remover first to breakdown the Vaseline or balm and then use a skin type appropriate cleanser to thoroughly cleanse the face and body.

Acne Cosmetica: Breakouts From Makeup

If you’re an acne-prone individual, you need to be careful with the cosmetic products you’re using as many contain hidden pore clogging ingredients.  When you breakout from makeup, this is a condition known as ACNE COSMETICA.

The most frustrating part about Acne Cosmetica is that you may be using products that say: “won’t clog your pores”, “hypoallergenic” or “oil-free” yet they are actually what’s causing your breakouts or making your existing acne worse.

Another frustration many acne sufferers experience is that the products they’re using may have been orginally safe for acne but now the formula has changed and it’s comedogenic.  There is no way to know if a formula has changed unless you check the ingredient decks with every purchase. Let’s be honest- most consumers don’t check ingredient labels with the FIRST purchase nevermind with subsequent purchases. Plus, the large cosmetics manufacturers CONSTANTLY change their formulas.  At the end of the day, the acne-prone consumer is left feeling confused, frustrated and defeated when breakouts occur and yet they haven’t changed anything within their routine.

What should you do?  BE YOUR OWN ACNE ADVOCATE.

But how do you become your own advocate to avoid Acne Cosmetica?  Use PRIIA’s PORE CLOGGERS LIST to check your products’ ingredient decks.  In all honesty, this is an arduous task and this list is by no means the “be all end all” of pore clogging ingredients but it’s a good start. Your best bet?  Switch out your cosmetics to our line, PRIIA minerale-derm.  Our formulas are not only 100% acne-safe but they’re also beneficial to acne-prone skin.  They are non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic which means they won’t clog your pores OR contribute to acne breakouts. Our products have helped thousands of acne sufferers.  Give us try today.  It’s a step in the right direction on the path to having clear skin!

#prettyinpriia

Supplements: Good Choices for Acne-Prone Skin

The following supplements have been found to be useful in aiding your recovery from acne; especially inflamed and cystic acne.

Zinc Monomethionine

This form of zinc is the most bio-available form that acts directly as an anti-inflammatory. Many people with acne have low levels of zinc in their body. Supplementing with zinc has been shown to reduce the severity of cysts and inflamed lesions.  OptiZinc is the brand we recommend.

Important Information about Zinc: These supplements can upset your stomach. To prevent nausea, always take OptiZinc with food. Zinc is an essential trace element for humans and there is evidence that it is similar to antibiotics in improving the condition of inflamed acne. The effective dosage is not clear. However, most studies indicate 50-100mg (The OptiZinc tablet has 30MG). We advise you to not take any more than 100mg because excessive zinc may lead to deficiencies in other vitamins and minerals. One of the reasons that we like OptiZinc is that it contains copper and copper is one of the minerals that can be depleted by taking zinc supplements. We are also recommending that you discontinue taking the zinc once you are completely clear. We are not recommending this as a preventative.

Omega 3 Fish Oils

Fish oil is a great anti-inflammatory and helps to alter sebum production; HOWEVER, only if it’s molecularly distilled or pharmaceutical grade. Unfortunately, many fish oil supplements are oxidized which actually creates more inflammation.

Instructions for taking fish oil capsules for your acne: Research and anecdotal evidence suggests that many of us who suffer from chronic inflammatory acne may benefit from taking relatively higher doses (1000-1700mg) of purified omega- 3 oils present mostly in wild ocean fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod and herring. Omega-3 oils are anti-inflammatory and the body utilizes them in many ways. Of particular relevance to acne sufferers, they may help regulate hormones and in addition help to shorten the intensity of your breakout.
*Please note: Although there is no known toxicity associated with using fish oils over long term, you should check with your physician particularly if you have a chronic underlying illness or are pregnant. The fish oil capsules we recommend are OmegaVia and are of therapeutic quality and are enteric coated to help assimilate the omega-3‘s in the most efficient way possible. In addition they are formulated not to have a fishy after taste and are guaranteed burp free. Consider taking 1 capsule/2 capsules with the lightest meal of the day.

Probiotics

These are good bacteria that colonize the digestive tract and the skin. They can help people who have been on long-term antibiotics (both oral and topical). These good bacteria compete with the pathogenic bacteria and can help improve the incidence of breakouts.  A good over-the-counter brand is Align Probiotics.

*The above article is intended for information purposes only and should not be construed as or substituted for medical advice.  Always check with your physician before taking any supplements. 

*information source: Face Reality

Acne Safe Foods

In our last post, we discussed the top foods that aggravate acne and those are: iodides and foods containing high amounts of androgens, such as peanut butter.  In today’s article, we will discuss which foods are acne safe and better choices for overall health.

It’s understandable that you may feel a bit frustrated after looking over the list of foods that should be eliminated or reduced if you have acne.  Don’t despair!  There are some really wonderful substitutes for you to begin enjoying right now.

Instead of using iodized salt, use Sea Salt, Uniodized salt or Celtic Salt.  My favorite salt brand is Redmond’s Real Sea Salt.  Substitute cow’s milk with unsweetened almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk or rice milk.  *Be aware that some Almond Milk brands contain Carrageenan ( a seaweed derivitive used as a thicknener) which is a NO NO.  Always read the ingredient labels carefully! My favorite safe choice is Silk’s Unsweetened Vanilla Cashew milk.

If you enjoy fish, opt for fresh water varieties such as bass, trout and catfish.  If you like cheese, try a nut cheese instead.  For protein shakes, avoid whey and instead opt for pea protein, egg white powder and hemp.  Still check the ingredient labels though because sometimes manufacturers will add iodides and biotin.  A safe choice for protein shakes is: Vega Sport Performance and also Perfect Fit.

Stay away from the peanut butter and choose acne-safe nut butters such as Almond, Cashew, etc. My favorite non-gritty creamy smooth Almond butter is called ‘Barney Butter’.  It’s delicious!

For cooking & salad oils, swap out the peanut, canola and corn oil for extra virgin olive oil, grass-fed butter (Kerry Gold brand), coconut oil and avocado oil.  The best olive oil is California Olive Ranch brand.  It’s 100% real extra virgin olive oil.  Most olive oils on the market are actually cut with canola oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil- all of which are high in Omega 6’s and are very inflammatory!

It’s a really good idea to look at your diet and cut way down on wheat and processed foods in general. These types of foods cause a lot of inflammation in the body and negatively affect good gut bacteria. Instead, enjoy more fresh veggies and some fruits.  Fruits are high in natural sugars, so you’ll want to consume fruit in moderation so you don’t raise your blood sugar levels too high.

In general, a low-glycemic diet with fresh organic vegetables, organic/grass fed meats & butter (or other safe protein choices if you’re Vegan) along with reducing (or eliminating acne trigger foods) is always a safe bet for better skin health and overall well-being.

*the information contained in this article is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your physician before starting any new diet/food plan.

The Top Foods That Aggravate Acne

Many individuals with acne don’t even think to consider that the foods they eat may be contributing to their breakouts.  In actuality, what you consume plays a huge role in how your skin behaves- good or bad.

The biggest nutritional culprits for triggering acne breakouts are iodides (and foods that contain them) and foods that are high in androgens.  Iodides irritate the follicle lining prompting inflammation resulting in breakouts to occur. Androgens stimulate the hormone testoterone which signals the sebaceous (oil) glands to start working overtime.  More inflammation + more oil = more acne.

If you are acne-prone, you should consider reducing the following in your diet:

IODIDES
-Iodized salt
-Milk (including organic and especially nonfat)
-Cheese
-Whey or Soy protein shakes and bars
-Soy (tofu, soy milk, tempeh, edamame, soy sauce)
-Seafood, Shellfish (shrimp, scallops, cod, lobster, etc.)
-Spirulina, Chlorella, Blue-Green Algae (found commonly in Green Drinks)
-Kelp, Miso Soup, Seaweed, Carrageenan, Seaweed Supplements
-Vitamins with iodides, kelp, potassium iodide, Vitamins B12 & B7 (biotin)

ANDROGENS
-Peanuts, Peanut Butter (peanuts are also very inflammatory besides being high in androgens)
-Peanut Oil, Corn Oil, Canola Oil
-Shellfish
-Organ Meats including pate

 

 

In looking at these lists you may be wondering, “Well what CAN I eat???”  First, take a deep breath.  You don’t have to cut out these foods entirely.  However, if you have acne you should consider significantly reducing the intake of these foods in your diet.

In my next blog post, I will share which foods you can use as substitutes for those high in iodides and angrogens.  Until then, try to begin reducing some of the acne triggers foods listed above.

 

Silicones: Do They Clog Your Pores?

siliconesSilicones.  They’re either loved or hated. They’ve been demonized and they’ve been praised. Most notably, they’ve been accused of being comedogenic; meaning that they will clog your pores leading to acne breakouts. But is this true?  Today we will separate fact from fiction and learn the truth about silicones and their role in the beauty and skin care industry.

Fact Versus Fiction:

Silicones are class of chemicals known as ‘polymers’. Two basic elements make up silicones: silicon and oxygen, chemically written as SiO.  Silicon is 14th on the periodic table and is the 2nd most abundant element on earth.

Silicones DO NOT clog pores or enter the bloodstream via cosmetics, nor do they bioaccumulate in humans and animals.  The molecule is too large to enter the pore just as in the case of petroleum jelly and is too large to pass through the cell membrane (necessary for bioaccumulation to occur).  However, silicones can INCREASE the penetration of other ingredients in a formula and if these other ingredients are pore cloggers and irritants, then those are the culprits for breakouts, NOT the silicone(s).  On the flip side, if a formula contains non-comedogenic ingredients that are extremely beneficial to the skin, silicones will help to penetrate them and this is excellent news. Time and time again, silicones in studies have been shown to actually INCREASE the healing of acne lesions and DECREASE the occurence of acne scarring.  Silicones also lessen the time it takes for wounds to heal.

Silicones are non-irritating, non-sensitizing and they are extremely resistant to oxidation (they won’t go rancid). They are hostile towards microbial and bacterial growth which makes them an excellent wound-healing agent. Silicones are non-allergenic as well-they do not react with the body’s immune system. They are now being used as a replacement for latex (a very allergenic substance) in a wide variety of applications and are also used in treating Atopic Dermatitis and Eczema.

Another rumour circulating via internet pseudo science is that silicones ‘act as a plastic wrap’ and do not allow the skin to breathe. Absolutely false.  Silicones do NOT suffocate the skin trapping bacteria and sweat, as most people have been led to believe via internet scare-mongering and fear tactics. Silicones actually allow for oxygen, nitrogen and water vapors to pass freely, also known as a ‘vapor permeable’ barrier.  What silicones DO do is to prevent TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss): a leading cause of dry and dehydrated skin.  The skin barrier is protected when silicones are applied topically.  Protecting the stratum corneum is critical to skin health.

Silicones do NOT trap sebum (facial oil).  They actually help to absorb excess oil and produce a mattifying effect to the skin.  Silicones can blur the look of fine lines and enlarged pores. This is highly desirable amongst cosmetics users who have oily skin, large pores and are frustrated by oily breakthrough and their makeup not lasting throughout the day.

Silicones ARE biodegradable.  They are not clogging up our environment, such as in the case of plastics.  Silicones will break down into water, silicic acid and carbon dioxide.  Low molecular weight silicones such as Cyclopentasiloxane will break down faster than higher weight silicones such as Dimethicone.  Nonetheless, ALL silicones biodegrade and studies have proven that no adverse effects were discovered to soil micororganisims or plant life that was treated with soil containing high levels of silicones.

As you can clearly see, silicones in the use of cosmetics have gotten a bad rap, and for no good reason and without a shred of scientific proof. Those individuals demonizing silicones are simply uninformed and they continue to perpetuate false rumours which only confuses consumers.

The bottom line is this:

  • Silicones are non-comedogenic & non-acnegenic.  They DO NOT clog pores  OR cause acne breakouts.
  • Silicones are non-irritating & non-sensitizing.
  • Silicones are non-allergenic. They DO NOT cause allergic reactions.
  • Silicones ARE breathable.
  • Silicones are biodegradable.

References:
1. http://www.educatedtherapists.com/dimethicone-in-skin-care-separating-fact-from-fiction/ 

2. http://www.skininc.com/skinscience/ingredients/12-Silicone-Myths-Exploded-269445911.html