Tag Archives: skin

How To Handle Your Skin

While washing your face, you’re probably focusing on achieving a fresh, clean complexion created by the physical cleansing of the skin. But have you ever focused on exactly how you’re cleansing the skin? How you go about washing your face, applying skincare products, and the way you ultimately choose to handle your skin will make a difference in your complexion and overall skin health- including how your skin ages. Remember that the goal of skincare is to achieve a glowing face while also promoting longevity, treating current skin issues, and preventing future damage.

What To Use- With such a large array of skincare products to choose from it can be difficult to find the right everyday facial cleanser. It is critical to use a gentle, non-irritating face wash that will effectively cleanse your face with every use. I personally use Face Reality’s Ultra Gentle Cleanser for everyday use. I follow up with Face Reality’s Calming Facial Toner, 8% Mandelic Serum,
Hydra Balance Gel and Clearderma moisturizer- in that order. Using both a hydrating gel and a moisturizer may seem a bit over the top, but it is an incredibly overlooked yet powerful step in the skincare regime. This is because the gel and moisturizer work as a dynamic duo to 1) first hydrate the skin and then 2) lock in that hydration with the moisturizer. To finalize my routine and lock in all the products I applied, I quickly spray my face with our Hydrating Skin Spritz, which provides an antioxidant boost and immediate moisture drench to the skin for up to 72 hours!

How To Use- It may seem silly to explain how to properly touch your face while applying skincare products, but in reality, many people are unaware of the answer. First, approach your face with clean hands: make sure that there is no dirt, oil, or debris on your hands or under your nails. Then you should gently wet your face using lukewarm water followed with the use of your cleanser. It is important to use the tips of your fingers while gently massaging in an upwards fashion. Being diligent about this step will get circulation going and encourage your skin to always stay tight and naturally lifted. Finally, be sure to dry your face by patting it with a gentle microfiber face towel, as opposed to rubbing it against any regular bath towel (as this can cause irritation).

When To Use- Though it is important to keep a clean face, it is equally as important to avoid provoking skin irritation. Only wash your face once in the morning and once at night, or if you have experienced heavy perspiration such as after working out, then cleanse your face immediately afterwards. Follow up each cleanse with the application of your other skincare products, such as the toner, serum, gel, and moisturizer I listed above. To purchase Face Reality products or find a Face Reality Certified Acne Specialist in your area, go here: www.FaceRealityAcneClinic.com

REF: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101

The Sad Cycle of Skin Picking

At some point in your life you’ve heard or been told first hand “Don’t pop pimples” or “Don’t pick at that!” but did you really listen? The act of skin picking is not unknown, however, the truly disastrous effects which it creates are. While skin picking can range from occasionally popping a pimple to an actual disorder (Excoriation disorder) its effects are always negative. Skin picking can be brought on by stress, anxiety, boredom, disorders such as BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) or just out of habit. Regardless of the cause of it, it is counterproductive and damages the skin.

I decided to write this article because I personally have dealt with compulsive skin picking for years and I have finally put an end to the vicious cycle that it is. For me, skin picking meant spending hours of unintended time in front of a mirror scrutinizing what was on my face and attempting to pick it away. By this I mean extracting every possible blemish that met my eyes, even if it was extremely unnecessary. I referred to skin picking as “counterproductive” because while the goal is to ‘perfect’ imperfections, you only exacerbate the problem. This is because a pimple is basically a little ‘sack’ under the skin that contains oil, bacteria and inflammation. Squeezing or touching it can result in the ‘sack’ rupturing and these contents being spilled out and pushed into surrounding skin, ultimately multiplying the problem. *Apart from the cosmetic impact of recurrent skin lesions and scarring, skin picking can lead to serious infections, anxiety, shame, and depression (Lisa Zakhary MD,PhD). These results are what makes it so vicious; you start by trying to eliminate an issue and find yourself creating so many more- on your face no less!

Once I realized I was the cause of my clearly worsening skin state, I developed some skills that would help to manage the urge to pick, pop, or squeeze. I began to make it harder for myself to be in an environment that allowed me to act on my impulses, meaning staying away from mirrors as much as possible. Standing in front of a mirror with the intention of quickly washing my hands or brushing my hair turned into a face examination analysis every time, without fail. This inevitably would lead to a session of skin picking that would last from minutes to hours and leave me feeling worse than I initially did. By forcing myself to look away from the mirror and focus on/think of anything else I created a different environment for myself, one where my skin picking urges could not thrive off of my trigger(s).

Aside from mental fortitude, some physical skills to use as an alternative to picking include handling your blemishes in the proper and safe way such as using ice. You can use an ice cube or a sanitized ice pack (I personally use a Soothie Q) and ice the blemish for about a minute or so. This helps to alleviate inflammation and sometimes can even stop a pimple in its tracks. After this, I apply a spot treatment such as Face Reality’s Sulfur Spot Treatment followed by an application of PRIIA’s Calm Down Anti- Blemish powder.

End the skin picking cycle and treat your skin like the fragile, beautiful, organ that it is.

*REF: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/author/lzakhary

A Good Night’s Rest Means More Than You Know

Prepping our skin for the day is something that most people view as a key component in achieving healthy, fresh, and overall glowing skin. However, not many people understand the importance of completing night time skincare and keeping a steady routine for it. Depending on how you handle your skin, sleep can either improve your skin or damage it, let’s look into how we can use sleep to our skin’s advantage!

Sleep Schedule- Judith Hellman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist says “As far as the skin is concerned, lack of sleep causes the stress hormone cortisol to be released, which in turn encourages inflammation in the skin, causing flare-ups in conditions like acne, psoriasis, and even eczema.” The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults. Sleeping less than that can play a big role in the development of wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles under the eyes. This happens because throughout sleep your body delivers fluids to organs and tissues that need replenishing, while removing excess fluids from other areas. Cutting the sleep process short can also increase levels of inflammation and stress hormones, which can destabilize your immune system, ultimately aggravating skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

Nightly Skincare- A lot of people excuse themselves from accomplishing their nighttime skincare regime due to being exhausted. I have undoubtedly been a culprit of this myself; nonetheless it is critical to avoid this lazy excuse at all costs. Allowing your skin to breathe while you sleep is a vital part of achieving a healthy, youthful looking glow. Removing your makeup at night is not optional because pore-clogging cosmetic products will seep into your skin throughout the night and cause or exacerbate an array of skin problems. Take five minutes out of your time to remove any makeup, cleanse your skin, hydrate, and moisturize before bed. And yes, even PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup needs to be removed before you go to bed! We recommend our best-selling acne-safe makeup remover to make taking off your makeup a breeze!

How To Sleep- When is the last time you washed your sheets? Probably a lot longer than two weeks, which is the longest recommended amount of time you should go without washing them (sheets include your comforter and any other blankets you may sleep with). It is also highly important to wash your pillowcase weekly, if not every three days or so in order to remove any residue left on it. Something most people overlook is the type of pillowcase they’re using and the effects which it will have on their skin. Simply choose a silk case over a cotton one. Natural silk pillow cases, like BLISSY, are less absorbent. Your skin and hair will stay moisturized because the pillowcase isn’t absorbing all of the natural oils from your skin. Silk also naturally contains amino acids that are easily absorbed into the skin. Not only is silk a good choice for skin purposes, but hair benefits as well. Sleeping on silk prevents less irritation, drying, friction, and any overall damage from affecting the skin or hair.

Turn bedtime into your skin’s radiation rejuvenation time!

Sources: https://www.sleep.org/how-sleep-improves-your-skin/

How to Knock Out a Zit

Ah the joys of being almost 46 and STILL being acne-prone. Yes, I’m nearly middle-aged and I can still manage to get a zit. Most of the time this happens when I don’t pay attention to what I’m eating (i.e. acne-triggering foods) and/or or when I’m testing out competitors’ products. I can truly be my own worst enemy at times.

Lately I’ve been craving peanut butter. Specifically peanut butter spread on a banana. I have no idea why (no, I am NOT pregnant). I really try to stay away from peanut products because peanuts are high in androgenic hormones which can cause acne flareups. The proof is in the pictures in this article. As a result of my peanut butter and banana debacle, a big ‘ol zit reared its ugly head right on my chin. I played and therefore, I paid.

This zit hurt- it was raised, very inflamed but there was no ‘head’ on it so I wasn’t able to try and extract anything.  For the record, I do NOT advise anyone to try and ‘pop’ their own zits. I’m a licensed esthetician and a certified acne specialist of over 12 years. I know exactly what to do and how to extract pimples properly so as not to cause scarring or further infection. I also know when NOT to try and extract a zit.  In this case, I had to use a great spot treatment ASAP otherwise this zit was going to get big enough to have its own zip code. Yikes!

How I Knocked Out This Zit

First, I removed my makeup and washed my face with PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup remover. I LOVE this stuff. My skin is left feeling clean and soft- not tight and stripped. After I cleansed, I used PRIIA’s Hydrating Skin Spritz as my toner. Both our makeup remover and Hydrating Skin Spritz are pH balanced. Yay! Then I applied ice to the zit for about a minute. (keep that ice cube moving so as not to cause any ‘ice burns’ on the skin).

Next, I sprayed one pump of Hydrating Skin Spritz into the palm of my hand. I then sprinkled some of PRIIA’s Calm Down Anti-Blemish Powder into my palm and I made a thin paste. I applied this paste to my zit and went to bed. I only slept about 5.5 hours (my cats woke me up waaaay too early) this night but you can see in the picture how the inflammation was significantly reduced. The zit was no longer raised. It no longer hurt. It had basically just turned into a small flat light red spot. I did the same treatment the following night before bed and by the next morning it had faded away almost completely.  I’m thrilled with the results. A bonus was that the skin surrounding the zit did NOT get dry, flaky or irritated from the Calm Down Powder paste. Winning!!!!

I highly suggest giving this blemish spot treatment a try!

*Medical Disclaimer: The contents on this site are for informational purposes only, and should never be a used as a substitute for seeking the advice of a medical professional.  No content or products on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition.  PRIIA® Cosmetics assumes no liability for any claims arising out of the misuse, allergic reactions, or any injury suffered with the consenting use of the products offered/suggested on this site.

 

The Right Way to Apply PRIIA’s Best-Selling Loose Mineral Foundation

Applying loose mineral foundation?  Well all you need to do is ‘swirl, tap, buff’, right?  WRONG.  PRIIA’s loose mineral foundation is applied differently. It’s a better application process that is more kind & gentle to your skin (especially if you’re acne-prone) AND gives you better results!

PRIIA’s loose mineral foundation is already formulated to adhere really well to the skin so there’s absolutely no need to do any crazy swirling and buffing. All you need to do is our easy-to-learn 3-step ‘Stamp & Blend’ technique!

  1. Dispense a few sprinkles of foundation into the lid of your jar OR into your Minerals Mate Tray.
  2. Dip the head of our synthetic Flat Top Brush into the dispensed minerals making sure to really press the brush head into them. You want the minerals to be loaded well into the brush head.
  3. Starting at the outside edges of your face, gently ‘stamp’ the brush head onto your skin and then go back and blend downward in one direction. Go back and repeat this process working toward the inside of your face until you reach your desired coverage. PS- blending  downward also helps to lay fine facial hair flat giving the skin an overall better appearance!

That’s it!  It’s so easy!  Here’s a few extra tips to help with you this application method:

  • Before applying your loose mineral foundation make sure that any skin care products you’ve put on your skin have had a chance to fully absorb. If not, your minerals will adhere to spots making the end result look patchy and splotchy.
  • Apply our Acne-Safe Foundation Primer BEFORE loose mineral foundation application to increase the longevity of your foundation.  All you need is a pea-sized or less amount of primer to get the job done.
  • Got large pores? Make sure to really press the foundation into the areas of your face that have enlarged pores (generally this is in your T-Zone). Basically, you’re “filling in the holes”. Don’t worry- our products will NOT clog your pores so press away!

How to Stop Makeup Slide

Every so often we have a customer contact us to say that no matter what they do their PRIIA makeup seems to ‘slide’ off within a few hours. The first questions we ask them are: “What skin care products are you using?” “What is your skin care routine?” “Which PRIIA minerale-derm products are you using?” We ask these questions because PRIIA’s formulas are made to adhere to the skin.  We have thousands and thousands of customers who successfully use our products without incidence so we know that 9 times out of 10, makeup slide is due to ‘user error’.

More than 99% of the time we find out that customers are using inappropriate products for their skin type and/or they’re layering one product after the other and not letting those skin care products absorb properly.  When you’re using skin care products that are too ‘heavy’ for your skin type or you haven’t given the correct products a chance to fully absorb, your makeup can’t adhere properly.  This goes for ANY makeup- not just PRIIA.

Here’s how to correct the situation…

  1. Make sure you’re using skin type appropriate products. Heavy, oily-based skin care products don’t absorb properly and tend to just sit on the surface of the skin. Likewise, skin care products that are too harsh can adversely affect the skin barrier causing an over-production of sebum throughout the day. When using appropriate skin care products don’t use too much. Use only the recommended amount. Too much of a good thing isn’t good. You’re simply wasting product AND money.
  2. Before applying primer and/or foundation, wait AT LEAST 10-15 minutes for your moisturizer/SPF to fully absorb. Your skin should NOT feel wet or overly tacky. It should feel soft and mostly dry to the touch.  While you’re waiting for your products to absorb go brush your teeth, get dressed, have breakfast, etc.
  3. Once your skin care products have absorbed properly apply your makeup in light layers. Remember that you can always go back and add more but you can’t take away if you’ve applied too much to begin with.
  4. When using our acne-safe primer only use a pea-sized amount (about a half pump’s worth) for the entire face and use less around areas of the face with a lot of creasing (i.e. the sides of the nose). We’ve had customers tells us that their using a couple pump’s worth at one time! WOAH…don’t do that! Again, too much of a good thing isn’t good.
  5. If you’re an oily-skin gal, consider using our HydraPrime oil-control powder to ‘set’ your makeup and to help absorb oily breakthrough during the day. If you have combination skin, our BEHAVE Finishing Powder is a great product to help balance your complexion and complete your look.
  6. Give your complexion a refreshing hydrating boost during the day with our Hydrating Skin Spritz! It instantly delivers moisture while helping to lock down makeup.

If you’ve tried the above suggestions and you’re still experiencing problems, consider making an appointment with a licensed skin care professional. They can examine your skin properly and assist you in choosing the correct products for your skin type and skin condition.

PRIIA minerale-derm Loose Mineral Foundation: Multi-Tasking Makeup!

loose mineral foundation

Our loose mineral foundation was the first product we ever formulated and it’s still our number one seller after almost 10 years!  In 2014, it underwent a re-formulation to not only be 100% acne-safe but also beneficial to acne-prone skin types. We get raves from customers about how this one product has made such a huge difference in the appearance of their skin as well as their confidence in how they look. The best part of PRIIA’s minerale-derm loose mineral foundation is that it’s actually 3 products in one!

  1. It’s a foundation. It’s main purpose is to even out the skin tone and provide coverage for facial imperfections such as blemishes, redness and hyperpigmentation/PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). When applied with our Jumbo Flat Top Brush, you can achieve a beautiful full-coverage look.  When applied with our Jumbo Powder Buffer, the coverage is medium but still buildable. Our signature ‘Stamp & Blend’ technique will give you a finish that is flawless. It’s not heavy-feeling and doesn’t look ‘cakey’. Plus our loose mineral foundation contains our DERMA-CBI complex; a proprietary botanical cocktail powerhouse containing green tea, licorice root and olive leaf extracts that are immensely beneficial to acne-prone skin types!
  2. It’s a concealer.  Simply by using a small brush, such as our Small All Over brush, you can turn our loose mineral foundation into a concealer.  You can use your brush wet or dry depending upon how much concealing you want to achieve. Since you’re using the foundation as a concealer, you also have a perfect foundation/concealer match! After doing a layer of foundation, simply dip your small brush into a few sprinkles of the same loose mineral foundation and begin to spot conceal the areas that need more coverage.
  3. It’s a liquid foundation.  Use PRIIA’s Boosted Coverage Technique to turn our loose mineral foundation into a liquid foundation!  This technique is for those who want the ultimate coverage without looking like they’re wearing a makeup mask! It’s perfect for stage makeup and for those with severe acne.

Have you tried PRIIA’s minerale-derm loose foundation yet?  If not, pick up a sample today.  We currently have 33 colors.  We’re pretty confident we have your match!  If you’re not sure what color you should try, please visit our Foundation Matching Page.

Hydrate Versus Moisturize: What’s The Difference?

When we hear the words ‘hydrate’ and ‘moisturize’ most people tend to think that the two terms are interchangeable.  This would be incorrect.

A hydrating product is something that helps to increase the moisture/water content of the skin. Hydrating products tend to be in a water-based formula such as PRIIA’s Hydrating Skin Spritz or a gel-type of product such as Face Reality’s Hydrabalance.

A moisturizer is a product that helps hold moisture/water already in the skin and prevents this moisture from leaving the skin which is called TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Moisturizing products tend to be in a more emollient formula such as Face Reality’s Clearderma moisturizing creme or DermaTruth’s gel/creme antioxidant moisturizer.

Which skin type for which product?

Well, I think both are great for all skin types!  Use a hydrating product product FIRST and then seal in that moisture with an actual moisturizer!  Just make sure they are acne-safe if you’re an acne-prone individual. (the products mentioned in this post are all acne-safe)

 

 

Acne Mechanica: Breakouts From Working Out?

Do you play sports?  Do you exercise?  Are you wearing sports and exercise clothing and equipment?  Have you noticed that you’re experiencing breakouts happening where your sports bra or helmet touches?  If you answered “yes”, you are experiencing something called ACNE MECHANICA.

When you’re working out or playing sports, pores that are clogged are being subjected to pressure and friction from your clothing and/or workout gear. The debris and bacteria trapped inside the pores will then erupt into a papule or pustule. Sweating during your activities and not washing it off afterwards also aggravates the follicles which can lead to breakouts.

So, what are you supposed to do?  Stop working out? Stop playing your favorite sports activities? NO. You need to prevent the pores from being clogged in the first place. First things first: Immediately shower off after your activity using a non-comedogenic cleanser for the face and body such as the Ultra Gentle Cleanser.  Then, apply an exfoliant such as Mandelic Serum or Salicylic Serum to keep the dead skin cells from building up. Lastly, use a Benzoyl Peroxide acne medication to kill the bacteria inside the pores so pimples don’t have the opportunity to form. Acne Mechanica is preventable.

PS! Don’t forget to put on some loose fitting clothing after showering- nothing too tight on your body AND becareful- wear white clothing when using Benzoyl Peroxide as it will bleach fabric.

When you know how to properly cleanse pre and post workout/sports, you won’t need to choose between having clear skin or being physically active.  You can have the best of both worlds!

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