8 Tips for Sensitive Skin

Does your skin rebel whenever you try a new product or scrub too hard? Learn how to pamper your skin and avoid common irritants and you’ll have a healthy glow in no time.

1. Test First, Apply Second
When using a new product, always, always do a test run on a small, inconspicuous patch of skin (like behind your ear) before applying. Wait at least 24 hours for signs of irritation, redness, or other skin freak-outs. If your skin is hypersensitive, repeat this test run on a patch next to your eye. All clear? You’re safe to apply with abandon.

2. Don’t Buy “Hypoallergenic” Hype
Hypoallergenic products and sensitive skin are besties, right? Not necessarily. Since there are no federal standards to govern the word “hypoallergenic,” products bearing this claim are not always suitable for sensitive skin. Don’t buy the hype blindly. Refer to tip number 1 before slathering away.

3. Moisturize with Vigilance
Sensitive skin is even more vulnerable to the elements and will benefit from a proper skin-care schedule. Dutifully moisturize both morning and night to protect skin from water loss and to maintain a healthy barrier from the daily onslaught of environmental factors, including pollution and wind.

4. Always Read Labels
Knowledge is power—arm yourself by reading labels. Look for products free from fragrances and paraben preservatives, two common causes of irritation and flare-ups. And the shorter the ingredient list, the better: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using products with less than 10 ingredients for sensitive skin. The more complicated a formula, the more likely you are to introduce an irritant.

5. Wash Wisely

Keep pores clear and surface debris scarce by washing twice a day (any more can be too much for sensitive skin). Choose a cleanser that is formulated for sensitive skin but isn’t so gentle that you need to scrub really hard to remove makeup or residual grime. Be gentle: blot dry (no rubbing, please) and apply moisturizer straight away for maximum absorption.

6. Go With Less
Sensitive skin is easily overwhelmed so it’s best to keep your everyday skincare products simple: All you really need is a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

7. Choose Cosmetics Carefully
Just because your skin is delicate doesn’t mean you have to go sans makeup. Follow these four tips: 1) Use a mineral powder—most of which are free from preservatives and artificial dyes—or a silicone-based foundation to lessen the likelihood of irritation, 2) avoid waterproof mascara as harsh cleansers are required to remove it, 3) use eyeliner in pencil form, not liquid, as the latter often contains latex and may cause a reaction, and 4) toss old cosmetics, which can go bad or become contaminated over time. And don’t forget to clean your brushes regularly.

8. Exercise SPF Smarts
Irritable skin is often extra-sensitive to the sun. Wear sunscreen year-round with SPF 30 or higher to protect delicate tissue from aggravating rays. Look for sunscreens with physical active ingredients—such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—which are less likely to cause a reaction than chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone, octylcrylene, and octinoxate.

Products for Sensitive Skin:

Decleor Aromessence Rose
D'Orient Soothing Serum

Decleor Aromessence™ Rose D'Orient Soothing Concentrate is an elixir of 100% pure and natural Essential Oils specially formulated for the daily care of sensitive, reactive skin. Thanks to its natural affinity with the skin, this unique skin care product penetrates skin upon application for soothing, healthy results and offers immediate softness and reduces irritation.

Sothys oomfort Lotion

Sothys Comfort Lotion (Sensitive Skin Types) is a melting emulsion that soothes sensitive skin with Cotton extract. It has a delightful scent while restores, calms, protects, nourishes, and softens the skin.

Sothys Micro-Gel Peeling

Sothys Micro-Gel Peeling (For All Skin Types except Sensitive Skin) - Sothys has created a new emulsion technology exfoliant, a magical textured peel containing white tea extract and exfoliating particles. Its gel texture melts on the skin and transforms into an oil when applied to the skin and massaged, then becomes a creamy milk when water is added, gently exfoliating as it cleanses. This easy-to-use skin polish is designed for all skin types except for sensitive or infected skin. Use the superfine Exfoliating scrub prior to Desquacrem or Morning Cleanser to combine exfoliation with deep action cleansing.

Thalgo Age Defence
Sunscreen Cream SPF 50

An indispensable sun protection cream for use after the Controlled Micro-Dermabrasion Treatment carried out with or without the machine.

This sun cream is indispensable when using and for at least 7 days following the last application of micro-dermabrasion products either in a beauty salon or at home, because they contain hydroxy acids or aluminium oxide micro-crystals that can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn.

Thalgo for Dry Skin

Dry skin looks dry, sometimes flakes, and often feels tight, especially if you have washed it with soap and water. Sometimes it is lacking some of the protective sebum and so it reacts to very hot and very cold weather by tightening up. One benefit of dry skin is that it is less likely to develop acne than oily skin, but it is easily chapped in a dry atmosphere. Always use mild, alcohol-free make up and toner, and a rich, creamy cleanser. Moisturize your face every day, including the throat and the skin around your eyes. When you wear makeup, use a moisturized foundation. You will need little or no powder. When you wash your face, use a liquid or a cleansing bar. Use warm water to lather and rinse it with cold. 

Thalgo Cocooning Cleansing Milk

Cocooning Cleansing Milk very gently sweeps away impurities and makeup. It softens, soothes and moisturizes the skin for a velvety and supple feeling.

Thalgo Cocooning Tonic Lotion

Cocooning Tonic Lotion toner sweeps away the last of impurities and makeup that is left after cleansing. It softens, soothes and moisturizes the skin, leaving it feeling supple and velvety soft.

Thalgo Softness Exfoliator

Softness Exfoliator removes dead skin cells and impurities while preserving the natural protection of the skin. This facial scrub also stimulates epidermal cellular renewal, soothes and reveals a fresh, luminous complexion.

Thalgo Waterproof Make-Up
Remover Eyes & Lips

A thorough eye and lip cleanser designed to remove all traces of makeup. Thalgo Waterproof Makeup Remover Eyes and Lips works to dissolve tough makeup, even stubborn water resistant formulations, quickly and effectively for a fresh complexion. Free from parabens, mineral oil, propylene glycol and animal by-products.

Thalgo Reviving Marine Mist

Reviving Marine Mist has been formulated to reinforce the effectiveness of your skin care treatments and creams. This seawater concentrate stimulates the energy and activity of your skin, offering the ultimate boost in marine beauty.

Thalgo Delicious Comfort Cream

Delicious Comfort Cream is a highly nourishing cream that is enriched with hydrating and restructuring Shea Butter. A true delight for your skin, it instantly restores suppleness and comfort. This full-bodied cream is also rich in vitamins and minerals that provide comfort and nourishment to dry skin.

Thalgo Extreme Comfort Cream

This double-action cream nourishes, hydrates and re-balances skin and is highly recommended for use in extreme climate conditions.

Thalgo Melt-Away Mask
Instant Comfort

Melt-Away Mask Instant Comfort melts into your skin to offer it a true nourishing bath. As soon as it is applied, skin is perfectly nourished and recovers suppleness and softness. Sensations of tightness and discomfort are instantly eased away. This soft setting mask is also rich in vitamins that remineralize and brighten your complexion.

Look younger with these skin care and beauty tips

To fight wrinkles and other signs of aging, you need to keep your skin protected and hydrated. Though you can't turn back hands of time, these anti-aging skincare tips will help keep your skin smoother and younger looking.

Eat for skin health

What we eat has a huge impact on how we look, especially when it comes to achieving that much-coveted youthful glow. Expert recommends getting plenty of what is called "smart" fats - omega-3s and monounsaturated fat - which help regenerate skin at the cellular level, improve texture and tone and help ensure skin looks supple. Get these smart fats from fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut, sardines), avocado, olives and olive oil.    
Expert also suggests choosing foods rich in lutein - a carotenoid that may help protect your skin from the inside out. The best sources of lutein are egg yolks, leafy dark green veggies and fresh corn. Some studies have found that lutein may also protect skin from UV damage.  
Foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries, broccoli, leafy greens (kale, spinach) and tomatoes are also great for your skin. We need antioxidants to help protect the skin from free-radical damage (rough texture, wrinkles, sun spots). Vitamin E is another must for skin health, Spano says, and suggests adding vegetable oils, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and olives to your diet for healthy, glowing skin.

Stay hydrated

If you want skin to look younger and more supple, drinking enough water is a must. Dehydrated skin looks wrinkled and rough. Aim for eight glasses of a day, which will also help you lose weight, aid digestion, improve your energy and concentration and flush toxins from your body. Keep a reusable bottle in your purse for easy, on-the-go sipping. 

Anti-aging skin care

Cleanse: Gently wash your face both morning and night, but steer clear of cleansers that have high alcohol content and other drying agents. Try Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk ($27), which leaves skin clean, soft and free of pore-clogging debris.
Exfoliate: Exfoliate your skin weekly with a gentle facial scrub, which will get rid of dead skin cells and keep skin smooth, healthy and fresh. Try Sothys Gommage Exfoliant ($34), a granule-free product refines the skin's texture and eliminates dead surface cells to soften the skin..
Moisturize: Apply moisturizer over your entire face and neck twice a day. Dry, aging skin loses its elasticity, which is when wrinkles start to form. Try Erno Laszlo Luminous Intensive Cream ($125), Illuminate your skin with this rich daily cream that deeply moisturizes, increases clarity and brightens.

What to shop for

Look for skincare products with effective anti-aging ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E, retinol, peptides, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and glycolic acid. Decleor, Sothys, Erno Laszlo and Thalgo offer products with these anti-aging ingredients, and these products will help reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, as well as help slow the aging process.  
 Best anti-aging products for every budget.

Protect your skin

No matter your age, you need to protect your skin from the sun. Not only can sun exposure lead to skin cancer, it will also cause dryness, sun spots, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Always use a moisturizer, sunscreen and cosmetics that contain SPF 15 or higher. If you spend a lot of time in the sun each day, wear both sunglasses and a hat.

To fight wrinkles and other signs of aging, you need to keep your skin protected and hydrated. Though you can't turn back hands of time, these anti-aging skincare tips will help keep your skin smoother and younger looking.

Eat for skin health

What we eat has a huge impact on how we look, especially when it comes to achieving that much-coveted youthful glow. Expert recommends getting plenty of what is called "smart" fats - omega-3s and monounsaturated fat - which help regenerate skin at the cellular level, improve texture and tone and help ensure skin looks supple. Get these smart fats from fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, halibut, sardines), avocado, olives and olive oil.    
Expert also suggests choosing foods rich in lutein - a carotenoid that may help protect your skin from the inside out. The best sources of lutein are egg yolks, leafy dark green veggies and fresh corn. Some studies have found that lutein may also protect skin from UV damage.  
Foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries, broccoli, leafy greens (kale, spinach) and tomatoes are also great for your skin. We need antioxidants to help protect the skin from free-radical damage (rough texture, wrinkles, sun spots). Vitamin E is another must for skin health, Spano says, and suggests adding vegetable oils, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and olives to your diet for healthy, glowing skin.

Stay hydrated

If you want skin to look younger and more supple, drinking enough water is a must. Dehydrated skin looks wrinkled and rough. Aim for eight glasses of a day, which will also help you lose weight, aid digestion, improve your energy and concentration and flush toxins from your body. Keep a reusable bottle in your purse for easy, on-the-go sipping. 

Anti-aging skin care

Cleanse: Gently wash your face both morning and night, but steer clear of cleansers that have high alcohol content and other drying agents. Try Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk ($27), which leaves skin clean, soft and free of pore-clogging debris.
Exfoliate: Exfoliate your skin weekly with a gentle facial scrub, which will get rid of dead skin cells and keep skin smooth, healthy and fresh. Try Sothys Gommage Exfoliant ($34), a granule-free product refines the skin's texture and eliminates dead surface cells to soften the skin..
Moisturize: Apply moisturizer over your entire face and neck twice a day. Dry, aging skin loses its elasticity, which is when wrinkles start to form. Try Erno Laszlo Luminous Intensive Cream ($125), Illuminate your skin with this rich daily cream that deeply moisturizes, increases clarity and brightens.

What to shop for

Look for skincare products with effective anti-aging ingredients such as vitamins A, C and E, retinol, peptides, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and glycolic acid. Decleor, Sothys, Erno Laszlo and Thalgo offer products with these anti-aging ingredients, and these products will help reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, as well as help slow the aging process.  
 Best anti-aging products for every budget.

Protect your skin

No matter your age, you need to protect your skin from the sun. Not only can sun exposure lead to skin cancer, it will also cause dryness, sun spots, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Always use a moisturizer, sunscreen and cosmetics that contain SPF 15 or higher. If you spend a lot of time in the sun each day, wear both sunglasses and a hat.

Sothys Hydrate

The Hydradvance™ program was born of the Sothys’ advanced research team’s latest technological discoveries in gene science. This advanced hydration GENerating program is a tailor-made solution providing incomparable moisturizing power with immediate and long lasting results. SOTHYS’ boletus mushroom extract, the active ingredient in this collection, acts on two fundamental mechanisms of hydration – hydric flow, the transfer of water from the dermis to the epidermis, and barrier function, the strengthening of the surface layer to restrict moisture loss.

Hydradvance™ Intensive Hydrating Serum

This intensive rapid-action serum is perfect for dehydrated skin, as it immediately moisturizes and stimulates the formation of the skin’s barrier function. The Serum works in tandem with the Hydradvance Hydrating Creams to boost overall results. This formula features Sothys’ exclusive H2CR® Complex – a combination of natural peptides and powerful plant antioxidants – to restore, detoxify, repair and reconstruct the epidermis.

Hydradvance™ Hydrating Cream

This cream provides a balancing action that maintains skin’s hydration day after day. It contains Ophiopogon plant extract which regulates water transfer; this Asian evergreen is known for its ability to resist drought and capture water.

Available in Comfort and Light Texture

Hydradvance™ Hydra-Nourishing Mask

An essential moisturizing mask to restore suppleness and radiance. The unique formula features jojoba and rice bran oils to soothe skin and provide immediate comfort. Perfect for travelers, over-sun exposure, post peel procedures.

How to select anti-aging skin care products

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Shopping for an anti-aging skin care product can feel like hit-or-miss experience. With so many choices, it can be difficult to know which products to choose. These dermatologists’ tips can help you shop with confidence.

1.     Start with sunscreen and moisturizer: Dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using these every day can make a noticeable difference.

When shopping for sunscreen, select one that offers all of the following:

• Broad spectrum
• SPF 30 (or higher)
• Water resistance

An anti-aging moisturizer helps to minimize fine lines. It is so effective that moisturizer is the secret ingredient in many anti-aging products.

Using a moisturizer with sunscreen is fine. Just be sure that the product offers broad-spectrum coverage and an SPF of 30 or higher.

If you will spend time outdoors during the day, you should apply a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 (or higher), and water resistance. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours while outdoors.

 Sunscreen is one of the most effective anti-aging products you can buy.

2.     Treat your #1 aging-skin concern: Give sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks to work. Then look at your skin. Is there still a sign of aging that bothers you?

By focusing on one concern, such as wrinkles or dark spots, you’ll get the best results. Look for a product that targets your concern. There are two reasons for this:

• No product can treat all signs of skin aging.
• Using more than one anti-aging product in a few days or weeks can irritate the skin, making you look older.

3.     Buy a product formulated for your skin type: Your sunscreen, moisturizer, and other anti-aging skin care products will work best if they are formulated for your skin type. For example,if your skin tends to be oily, select a moisturizer made for oily skin. If you have sensitive skin, you want to see the words “sensitive skin” on the label.

This is important because no one product works for everyone.

4.     Read product labels and select a product that offers all of the following:

• Hypoallergenic (The product can still cause an allergic reaction,but there is less risk.)
• Non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic (does not cause acne)
• Consumer hotline (to contact for questions)

5.     Have realistic expectations:Exaggerated promises, such as look 10 years younger overnight or quickly reduces all signs of aging, are too good to be true. It’s important to remember that anti-aging skin care products deliver modest results. You cannot get the results of a face lift from a cream.

6.     Select a product within your price range: It’s human nature to think that the more expensive the product,the better the results. Effective anti-aging products come in all price ranges.

Maximize the results you see

Once you’ve selected a product, you can maximize its effectiveness by following tips that dermatologists share with their patients.

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Skin Type

There are three basic skin types, but you may find yours isn't exactly like any of those described here. Most skin is a mixture of these types and yours will be no exception. The basic skin types are dry, oily, and combination. Dark skins have a tendency towards greater extremes of dryness and oiliness than paler skins.

Oily skin
You can tell if your skin is oily because it usually has a shine to it. It may be prone to black heads and acne. Oily skin contains a lot of sebum which helps prevent the skin from drying out. However, oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin. It benefits from soap and water, so washing with a cleansing bar is an ideal way of caring for it. Use warm water to loosen the dirt, then use cold water to rinse. Use toners and astringents containing alcohol and always use a light, non-greasy liquid cleanser. Very oily skin needs no extra moisturizing at all while you are in your teens.

Dry skin
Dry skin looks dry, sometimes flakes, and often feels tight, especially if you have washed it with soap and water. Sometimes it is lacking some of the protective sebum and so it reacts to very hot and very cold weather by tightening up. One benefit of dry skin is that it is less likely to develop acne than oily skin, but it is easily chapped in a dry atmosphere. Always use mild, alcohol-free make up and toner, and a rich, creamy cleanser. Moisturize your face every day, including the throat and the skin around your eyes. When you wear makeup, use a moisturized foundation. You will need little or no powder. When you wash your face, use a liquid or a cleansing bar. Use warm water to lather and rinse it with cold.

Combination skin
Most of us have this kind of skin, with an oily center area or a T-zone across the forehead, nose, and chin, and areas of dryness on the cheeks, and around the eyes and neck. Ideally, you should have one product for the oily areas and one for the dry areas, but this is expensive and unnecessary unless the areas of dry and oily are very different. It's simpler to use a cleanser designed for combination skin. Use a skin cleanser for the central oily panel, diluted with water for the drier areas. The drier areas may or may not need moisturizing frequently. You may have to experiment a bit.

Acne Skin Care - Basic Skin Care Tips to Alleviate Acne Breakouts

If you suffer from acne, there are several skin care steps you can do to alleviate the outbreaks and help prevent future outbreaks. This article will give you information that will help you whether you are teenager or an adult suffering from acne.

One of the main daily routines to help with acne breakouts is washing your face or outbreak areas twice a day. It is vitally important to keep your skin clean. The way and the products you use to wash your face is also important.

Wash your face GENTLY at least twice a day and after any strenuous exercise that has caused perspiration. Do not SCRUB your face or skin. This actually can cause more harm than good and can even inflame your pimples.

Use a very mild soap like Neutrogena. Do not use anything that makes your skin feel overly dry. It is not necessary to use an astringent, yet if you do, only use it where your skin is very oily. If you visit a dermatologist, he/she should be able to recommend the best soap for your particular acne symptoms.

Do not excessively handle your skin. Your hands have bacteria on them and can cause the acne to get even worse. In other words, DO NOT pick at your pimples. I know that it is very hard not to do, yet it is very good advice. Only a doctor, with special instruments can effectively “pick” at pimples in a way that will not cause more inflammation and excessive scarring.

Use a special sunscreen that is at least spf15 and is non-comedogenic, non-oily, which means it does not clog pores. A good sunscreen for acne sufferers is Neutrogena SPF 45 Sunblock with Parsol 1789. You should always try to avoid tanning and sunburn because both could cause acne pimples and acne scars to become even more noticeable.

If you choose to use base makeup, it is recommended you choose a makeup that is oil free (and again) non-comedogenic. There are acne cover-ups that are available that also have acne medication. One product that is my favorite is Clinique's acne cover-up. It can cover up even the worst outbreaks.

Taking these few extra steps with acne skin care can make a world of difference in your flare-ups.