HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT EXFOLIATORWe don’t have to tell you that exfoliating your skin on a regular basis is extremely important. But which method of exfoliation you should choose? Should it be a scrub or an acid-based product? Should it sting and burn (so you can tell that it is working) or can you achieve the same results without pain and discomfort?

Should you go for one of those miraculous lunchtime peels, which promise fast and furious exfoliation or should you look for a less damaging approach that takes much more time? Let’s work together to find out what would be best for YOUR skin type and skin care goals!

WHY EXFOLIATENow is a good time to go back to the first lesson and review the structure of your epidermis. As you remember, the skin has many layers. The epidermis is an upper layer of skin and it itself consists of many layers. The upper layer of the epidermis (the stratum corneum) does not have any living cells. Instead, it is composed of many layers of dead cells, which look like thin, transparent scales.

In healthy, young skin the upper layer of flattened scales undergoes constant renewal. And it has to. Since this thin layer of keratinous scales protects the skin from all kinds of external damage, it sustains a great deal of damage itself and soon gets worn out. When the upper layer wears out, the scales peel from the surface and fall off. As old scales slough off, the new ones take their place. However, as you age, this process slows down. Also if your skin is oily, the scales may become glued together by oil and remain on the surface.

When keratinous scales fail to exfoliate, your skin soon begins to lose its luster. If you do nothing to encourage exfoliation, your skin will soon start looking dull, grey and lifeless. You may also notice that you look older. If your skin is oily, you will notice more clogged pores and a dull, uneven skin tone.

The solution? Exfoliate! It is that simple. If you want to have glowing, smooth and younger-looking skin, you have to make sure that all the worn-out and damaged scales (otherwise known as dead skin) are properly and timely removed.

WHAT DOES AN EXFOLIATOR DO?An exfoliator removes dead skin cells—either mechanically or chemically. In other words, an exfoliator either scrubs old cells from the skin (imagine polishing a diamond to reveal its shine) or dissolves the glue that holds the cells together so they can more efficiently “fall off” by themselves.

Your 7th Lesson in inteLLigent skin Care Continues! Learn why exfoliation should be a vital part of your skin care regimen for the long term health and glow of your skin. Have you had the opportunity to meet your “classmates” through our online chat forum? Please take a moment to introduce yourself and join the conversation.

Program highLights

Confused with all the exfoliators, hydroxy acids, skin scrubs, microdermabrasion cloths and brushes on the market? Where do you start? What is best? Let us explain and help refine what will work best for your skin.

Today let’s find out:

• Why Should You Exfoliate?

• Acids or Scrubs? What’s Best?

• Benefits of Gentle Exfoliators

Gently exfoliate your skin tonight!Use these tips

for better resUlts yoU can feel by morning!

SCRUBSExfoliating skin scrubs contain abrasive particles that remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Some scrubs contain soft polyethylene granules, which feel very nice on skin. Unfortunately, their scrubbing action may be too mild, especially if you have thick, oily skin. There are also scrubs that contain large rough and hard particles, which may actually damage your skin too much. This is a reason why you should never use body scrubs on your face. The abrasive action of body scrubs may be too much for thin and delicate facial skin. Some scrubs contain salt or sugar. Salt-containing scrubs may be too rough for the face; however, they are excellent for exfoliating your body skin. Choose scrubs that contain Dead Sea or ocean salt—they also help add minerals to your skin. Sugar scrubs help moisturize skin and are milder than salt scrubs. Another option is microdermabrasion cloths or sponges. Scrubs are ideal for exfoliating body skin and thick oily skin. However, if you want better renewal action and less clogged pores, you will need products with exfoliating acids.

EXFOLIATING ACIDSExfoliating acids remove dead skin cells by dissolving the glue that holds them together. Strong acids when used improperly can burn the skin, causing damage to the living cells as well. There are many types of exfoliating products and it may not be easy to decide what to buy. Here’s what you need to know:

There are two main types of exfoliating acids Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs). AHAs are glycolic, lactic, citric, malic, tartaric and phytic acids. There is only one BHA—salicylic acid.

Glycolic acid is the smallest of all AHAs and is able to penetrate deep into the skin. This is why it is so popular. However, it is also the most irritating of all AHAs. Do you want irritation? Probably not. And rightly so, since frankly you can have the same exfoliating benefits with much less irritation by using lactic acid. Lactic acid is naturally found in sour milk and also in human skin, where it serves as a natural exfoliator and moisturizer. It seems only logical to use this acid for exfoliation. If you apply something on your skin, you want it to be as close to your skin’s biology as possible. Even though lactic acid has many excellent qualities, it has one minor flaw. It is water-soluble and therefore cannot penetrate into oil glands. This is why if your skin is oily and has clogged pores, you may want to use salicylic acid in addition to lactic acid.

IS STRONGER BETTER?Do you enjoy stings and burns? The answer seems obvious. Yet, many would agree to burn their skin with strong acids if only it could make them look younger. In a typical at-home product you may find about 10% of AHA and no more than 2% of BHA. However, if you go to a beauty salon or to a dermatologist’s office, you may be offered procedures with 30-70% of AHAs and 20-30% of salicylic acid. You may also be offered medium peels such as TCA peels or even deep peels—phenol peels. You also may have the option to resurface your skin with laser procedures. All of those treatments go beyond the dead layer of the stratum corneum and burn right down into the epidermis.

As you can guess, the deeper the peel, the deeper the damage and the greater potential for something to go wrong. So if you decide to try one of those treatments, be aware of the risk involved. Medium and deep peels may leave scars, including keloid scars, hypo or hyperpigmentation, swelling, pain and even… worsening of wrinkles. For example, phenol is so toxic it can cause heart problems. Do you really want something that dangerous in your skin?

You’ve just read about the benefits of lactic acid mixed with salicylic acid. Ready to try it? All skin types can use our oil-free exclusive 10% hydroxy acid LacSal Serum daily which also helps unclog pores, clear up blemishes, and exfoliate dead skin cells and damaged proteins.

Lactic Power 10 (pure 10% lactic acid) is a cream with added lipids and antioxidants. Supply your skin with moisture as you gently exfoliate dead skin cells leaving your skin smooth, clear and beautiful.—For more suggestions, call 1-800-405-1912 today!

Part 7: Course Recommendation

LACSAL SERUM LACTIC POWER 10+ Microdermabrasion Cloth

LESSON 7: COMPLETED

Please take a moment to introduce yourself and join our classroom discussions at: www.healthyskin.infopop.cc/eve

If you want fast and noticeable rejuvenation, your safest option is a 50-70% glycolic peel. Of course one very important way to reduce the risk of complications is to strengthen your skin in advance. To strengthen your skin for a high concentration glycolic peel, start one month before the procedure:

In the morning: Copper-peptide based creams or serums.In the evening: Alternate between 5-10% lactic acid exfoliators, biological healing oils such as pure squalane or emu oil, and copper-peptides.

For example, one evening you can apply a lactic acid based product. The next evening you can combine a biological healing oil and a copper-peptide product. If your skin is sensitive, apply the biological healing oil first and use a copper-peptide product on top. If you need better penetration, apply the copper peptide first and then top it off with a biological healing oil.

LEARNING TO BE GENTLEThose who have used the above treatment have already discovered that by the end of the month their skin started looking so much better, that they really didn’t need to burn it with stronger acids. You may discover this too. The truth is that your skin, as living biological tissue, really doesn’t like any fast and furious treatments. What it does respond to is a gentle and slow approach. Therefore, at Skin Biology we are convinced that if you want your skin to appear healthy and young (not just for one night or a few months but for years and years ahead), you need to learn how to be gentle.

Yes, your skin needs regular exfoliation. But it really doesn’t need to be burned or poisoned. So what we suggest is to start rejuvenating your skin’s appearance using a natural and safe approach. Start exfoliating your skin with lactic acid (for oily skin—always combine it with salicylic acid) and treating it with copper-peptides and biological oils. Be patient as you follow this simple regimen (you can learn more about what will personally help your individual skin from our skin care consultants). We guarantee that if you follow these simple steps for a couple of months, you will be pleasantly surprised at how young, smooth, fresh and radiant your skin can become.

Your Review at a Glance T I P S T o P u T I n P r a c T I c e T h I S w e e k

• Exfoliation removes dead skin cells• For oily skin: combine lactic + salicylic acids• The deeper the peel, the greater the damage• When choosing stronger acids, prepare your skin in advance