Sun exposure is something everyone needs to stay healthy. Soaking in the warm sun is a relaxing way to enjoy a vacation, but how much sun is too much? With summer in full affect, it is time to consider the truth surrounding the old wives' tale of sun exposure being beneficial for acne. Read More

Bar soap is often summarily judged and misunderstood as the villain that hijacks skin's natural moisture factor, leading to signs of aging. However, many bar soaps have undergone a metamorphosis due to formulations that make them anti-aging heroes for many skin conditions. Read More

Fresh lemon juice has been known for decades as a household remedy for lightening the skin. Many clients may be wondering, however, if it truly works. The basic answer is yes, but the lightening process does take time. Read More

The use of paraben preservatives, such as alkyl esters and p-hydroxybenzoic acids, goes back over decades to when they were first introduced in the 1920s.1 Nowadays, synthetic parabens are found in 80 percent of all personal care products, including cosmetics. These preservatives are widely used because of their antimicrobial impact. There are various types of synthetic parabens, such as methylparaben, ethyparaben, proplparaben, and butylparaben. Read More

High energy visible (HEV) light is high-frequency and high-energy light ranging from approximately 380 to 500 nanometers in the blue band of the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and is also referred to as blue light or near ultraviolet light. Sources of blue light include the sun, full spectrum lighting, flat screen monitors, cell phones, and tablets. Additionally, reflective surfaces, including sand, snow, water, glass, and even concrete, are sources of HEV light. Read More

Facial skin is thinner and behaves differently than the skin on the rest of the body. The skin around the eyes, however, can be up to 90 percent thinner than the rest of the already delicate facial skin. Furthermore, the ocular area contains significantly fewer oil glands, which can cause dehydration and premature signs of aging. The eyes are sensitive to internal expressions and external environmental factors that escalate collagen breakdown within the skin. Habitual facial movements, like squinting, smiling, winking, looking surprised, and frowning, have a dramatic effect on the eye area. These expressions and other influences, including smoking, sun exposure, lack of sleep, and alcohol consumption, cause wrinkles around the eye (crow's feet). Read More

The bottom layer of the epidermis, the stratum basale or basal cell layer, has column-shaped basal cells that divide and push older cells toward the surface of the skin. As the cells migrate upwards, they flatten out and become the stratum corneum and, together with the acid mantle, form the first line of skin defense and the barrier system. Read More

Vaseline is 100 percent pure petroleum jelly, which is a blend of mineral oil and waxes, and has been around for over 140 years. It has been used in a variety of ways, such as the moisturization of dry, chapped skin. However, should a skin care professional suggest that clients use Vaseline to plump up their eyelashes for volume and shine or is that idea an old wives' tale? Technically speaking, Vaseline does give the eyelashes a shine and it does plump them up because it is coated. Read More

Most clients want a desirable golden glow and the quest to get one safely is never-ending. Questions continue to rise about the safety of tanning beds, specifically beds that only emit UVB rays. Most tanning beds emit UVA and UVB rays however, beds with only UVB rays are being touted as a healthy alternative to mainstream beds and have been popping up in tanning salons and day spas. Read More

Throughout history and across cultures all over the world, people believe that they get what they pay for. In a competitive market, goods are priced a certain way because there is a correlation between what the consumer gets and what the consumer pays for. There is a lot of competition in the skin care market; there are many large and small brands, none of which are dominant. For the most part, the market forces set pricing for skin care products.   Read More