Category: Sensitive skin

in 0by

Your spring beauty routine for sensitive skin

Here we are, winter is now over and spring has already started…. A new season means a new beauty routine… Do you have a dry, damaged or sensitive skin ? Discover our advice to make your skin even more beautiful!

A beauty routine for dry, irritated or sensitive skin

Sunny days are back, and it is time for sensitive skins to change their routine. Say goodbye to rich and comforting skincare from the winter season, and say hello to light textures and a tanned skin! And this year, choose a face and body beauty routine without silicone or paraben!

  • Morning beauty routine:

In the morning, you need to refresh and protect your skin. After a good nights sleep, start by waking up your skin. To do so, try the Skintifique Cleanser P ! It will tone your skin and refresh it. With only 5 ingredients, this Cleanser P is specially formulated for sensitive and reactive skins.

To protect your skin, use the Moisturizing Lotion HP which moisturizes and protects your skin against pollutants. In a record time, your skin is clean, protected and moisturized! You are ready to start your day!

  • Night beauty routine:

At night, you can take a little more time to take care of your skin. The key words are cleansing and moisturizing!

For the first step, use the Cleanser P to remove makeup and impurities. This micellar lotion is also particularly good at removing pollution and traces of metals (such as Nickel and Chromium…) of the surface of your skin. City dweller, this product is for you!

Once your skin is clean, use the Hydrating Gel Plus HS for exceptional and long lasting moisturizing. With its patented technology, the Hydrating Gel Plus HS gradually releases its moisturizing and soothing agents.

And for your body, stick with the same strategy : a shower with mild soap to clean you skin, then hydration with the Moisturizing Lotion HP that contains 0% paraben, silicone, mineral oil, flagrance or EDTA. Clean, nourished and relaxed, your skin is ready for a good night sleep!

Healthy eating for a moisturized skin

Having a beautiful moisturized skin must also come from the inside. So adapt your way of eating. During spring season, it’s easier because fruit and vegetables are back on your market shelves.

  • Drink a lot of water

Your skin is moisturized thanks to the water you are drinking. But not only!

Water has also a key role in the elimination of your skin’s impurities. The solution? Drink a lot of water of course, but also eat fruit and vegetables which contain almost 90% of water. At spring, opt for big salads or smoothies.

  • Don’t let this water evaporate from your body

To avoid dry skin, eat foods which contain a high lipid level. Indeed, a lack of essential fatty acids means the creation of a bad quality lipid protective film, and thus water evaporates from your skin. To solve this, choose foods which are rich in Omega 3 like nuts, and in fat acids like oils (olive, colza and soya oils).

What is your own spring beauty routine? Don’t hesitate to leave us a comment to share with us about your beauty tips or about your favorite products!

Have a nice week and enjoyed the sunny days !

in 0by

Safety of skincare products

Many consumers wonder how the safety of skincare products is assessed. In this article, we give you a few elements to help you understand what is written on the packaging of your skincare products.

Is this product safe? How was it assessed? How much should I believe of what is written on the packaging? All these questions, as well as others, are legitimate, and sometimes the answers are not that easy to find. Here are a few elements that can help you understand what lies behind a moisturizing product.

The European cosmetic regulation, set up in the summer of 2013, has strongly restricted the number of cosmetic products released on the market. A certain number of criteria, which were relatively lax before, have been better defined in the interest of the consumer. The safety of the skin care products, and allegations on the packaging are part of these criteria.

To understand better the assessment of the safety of skin care products, it is important to understand how this product was elaborated: when the formulation is set, a first batch of the product must pass a series of tests so as to determine how safe this product is. There are three strictly essential tests: stability, skin irritation, and challenge test.

Stability test

It is essential to understand the behavior of a product throughout its life. Products can has very long life spans (several years for a non opened product), and it is not possible to wait three years before launching a product on the market, simply to know if it will start to shift phases during this period of time. Models of accelerated ageing have been developed, so as to speed up the occurrence of a shifting of phases or of an oxidation for example, and estimate how long a product can be considered as stable. There are many variations, but in principle, they all consist in subjecting the product to high temperatures for several months (three months in general, but it can be more). Low temperature trials, and temperature cycle trials can also give information on the stability of products. There are no standardized regulated tests, and the expertise of the laboratory in charge of these tests is therefore essential to lead the best possible tests.

Challenge test

This test is essential to determine the security of the product preservation. It is based on the deliberate introduction in the product of a known quantity of bacteria, mold and yeast, and on the follow up of how they disappear in time (during a month). If the preservation system is effective, almost all micro-organisms must have been eliminated during the first week. Different parameters can influence the disappearance speed of the micro-organisms, but in all cases, they must have disappeared so that a product can be sold.

Skin irritation test

Also called patch test, it involves applying a product on the skin of a volunteer, and leaving it under an occlusive layer during 48 hours. At the end of this period of time, an exam under medical control is done to determine if there has been a skin reaction.

A last test, the eye irritation test, is also necessary for all products that can be in contact with eyes. Typically, moisturizing products enter this category. Animal testing is now strictly forbidden to test the safety of skin care products. New in vitro models have therefore been developed. They consist in putting cellular models in contact with the product, and determining the level of irritation induced by this contact.

Other tests

Other tests are available, and can be used by the manufacturer to add specific allegations on his packaging. For example, if the competent authorities request it, he must supply proofs demonstrating a moisturizing or soothing effect, or that the product is hypo-allergenic…

Currently, there are no defined regulated tests, and many are based on the experience of the different actors of the sector.

Conclusion

Once all these tests are done, a file is handed to a toxicology expert, who is generally independent. This document describes the exact composition of the product, and also includes different attestations (purity and origin of raw materials, dosage of certain molecules…). From the exact formulation of the product, and the quantity generally applied on the skin (quantity of the product, surface of the skin on which the product is applied), the toxicology expert is able to determine the dose which is absorbed by a person, and to compare it with doses which are generally accepted. A safety factor is applied to this equation, a factor which depends on the target of the product (for example, this factor is clearly more important if the product is intended for a child, compared to the norms applied for an adult).

The toxicology expert is therefore able to determine the safety of the product for the population for which this product is intended, and is also capable of emitting an opinion on the adequacy between the allegations on the packaging of a product and the proofs brought by the laboratory to support these allegations.

All these elements are deposited in a document called the cosmetic file. A laboratory must not transmit this document before a product is released on the market, but it must be available if competent authorities request it.

in 0by

What are the effects of glycerin on skin quality?

What are the effects of glycerin on skin quality?

Glycerin is one of the most used ingredients in skincare products destined to hydrate the skin.

Glycerin is a small molecule that includes three alcohol functions (or trialcohol). Very often used in skincare products, glycerin has an essential physiological role.

Indeed, it is the framework on which can be fastened one, two or three fatty acid chains and thus form mono, di or triglycerides, which compose the main part of animal and vegetable fats. Besides, these glycerides participate in the cell organisation and are part of the structure of biological membranes.

In addition to the constitutive role of glycerides, glycerin has intrinsic properties which make it a major ingredient in dermatological skin care products.

Its most known property is its hygroscopic potential, in other words, its capacity to draw water. This property makes it one of the most effective humectants, if not the most effective, in skincare products. It allows to attract water in the layers of the skin and fight against dry skin. This ability to draw water is all the more effective if glycerin is applied in a wet atmosphere.

If the relative humidity rate is superior to 70%, then the water which is attracted to the skin comes from the environment. In a drier environment, the water can be captured from the deepest layers of the skin. In any case, it it necessary to ensure a sufficient contribution in water to optimize the action of the glycerin, by being in a wet environment (a bathroom after a shower is a good place to optimize the action of the glycerin during its application), and by ensuring an optimal skin hydration (drinking water will help skin moisturizing in any case).

Glycerin also has emollient properties: it softens the skin and gives it a better aspect.

Besides, recent studies have shown that glycerin may have a role in the maturation of corneocytes, which could have an important role in the control of skin cell renewal. This could influence in a very positive way the evolution of pathologies like psoriasis, which is due to a too quick renewal of skin cells.

The Hydrating Gel Plus HS includes several new technologies which allow having a quantity of glycerin superior to most hydrating products, without having the usual sticky or prickly effects, and also to prolong its action over time. It is one of the reasons which explains the hydrating efficacy of this product, which has been felt by people suffering to dry or very dry skin, as well as psoriasis, eczema, or other rare but severe skin conditions. You can here read the testimonials of Xavier or Nathalie on psoriasis, of Fanny on eczema, or of Alexia on epidermolysis bullosa.

in 0by

What is your skin type ?

Your skin type can change depending on your age, your environment… It is very important to know your skin type so that you can choose the products which are most adapted to your skin. Here are a few tips…

You have a sensitive or reactive skin if...

you have a feeling of skin tightness, discomfort, even burning, especially after using a cosmetic product. Your skin is red and itchy.

Our advice for sensitive or reactive skin: don’t multiply skincare products. Sensitive skins are often allergic, and it is better to find products that suit your skin, and not change too much. It is recommended to use hypoallergenic products without fragrance, so as to limit risks of allergy. Soft cleansers (like the Cleanser P) and sprays of thermal spring water are recommended. For hydration, us hydrating, soothing and hypoallergenic skincare products (like the Hydrating Gel Plus HS or the Moisturizing Lotion HP for the body). All Skintifique products contain a minimum number of ingredients, all chosen with care, and 0% paraben, 0% silicone (dimethicone), 0% mineral oil, 0% fragrance, 0% EDTA. This is great for sensitive and reactive skins because it minimizes the risk of skin reactions.

You have a dry skin if...

you constantly have a feeling of skin tightness, especially on the skin of your cheeks.

Our advice for dry skin: your skin needs hydrating agents and fat to compensate what it is losing in water and lipids. Use hydrating and soothing skincare, like the Hydrating Gel Plus HS or the Moisturizing Lotion HP for the body, which has an exceptional long-term hydrating effect.

You have an intolerant skin if...

you feel every day some discomfort and your skin gets inflamed easily. Your skin is red, sometimes even with a burning feeling. It is tight, hot, and itchy.

Our advice for an intolerant skin: the goal is to hydrate and reduce the sensitivity of your skin. In order to do that, clean it softly, for example with the Cleanser P. A spray of thermal spring water can also help to complete this soft cleansing. After that, use a soothing and hydrating cream, like the Hydrating Gel Plus HS or the Moisturizing Lotion HP for the body, with a very pure formulation: only 8 ingredients, and 0% paraben, 0% silicone (dimethicone), 0% mineral oil, 0% fragrance, 0% EDTA.

You have an allergic skin if...

your skin reacts in an abnormal way to an irritant (it becomes red, irritated, itchy…). This allergic reaction can be immediate (for example an urticaria) or delayed (for example eczema, atopic dermatitis, dyshidrosis…). A very common skin allergy is the Nickel allergy, which affects 10 to 15% of the population. Nickel is found in earrings, watches, jeans buttons, leather accessories, or even keys, phones, tablets or computers.

Our advice for an allergic skin: hydrate your skin with a product that protects from the irritant, without blocking your skin’s pores (which happens with silicones). To protect your skin from Nickel, Chrome, or other metal irritants, you can use the Protective Cream HPS and the Moisturizing Lotion HP. In addition to that, the Cleanser P will eliminate not only the impurities on your skin but also Nickel, Chromium, and other metal irritants.

You have an oily skin if...

when you wake up in the morning, or very quickly after, your skin shines.

Our advice for an oily skin: it is important to clean your skin every day, but be careful not to be too brutal! To avoid making your skin produce more sebum, it is recommended to use a soft cleanser: for example a soap  with a neutral or acid PH, or the Cleanser P which is hypo-allergenic, and contains 0% paraben, 0% silicone (dimethicone), 0% mineral oil, 0% fragrance, 0% EDTA.

You have troubled skin if...

your skin is oily, and you suffer from acne, or you regularly have blackheads or spots.

Our advice for troubled skin: run away from aggressive products which will maintain the inflammation, especially if you have a medical treatment which can make your skin dry. Clean your skin every day with a soft cleanser (like the Cleanser P). After that, hydrate your skin, for example with the Hydrating Gel Plus HS, which contains only 8 ingredients, and 0% paraben, 0% silicone (dimethicone), 0% mineral oil, 0% fragrance, 0% EDTA.

You have a combination skin if...

your skin is dry and tight, but you regularly have blackheads or spots.

Our advice for a combination skin: makeup removal and skin cleansing must be soft, with a cleansing gel, or a micellar water (like the Cleanser P). Be careful not to rub your skin while cleaning it! You can also finish the cleansing with a spray of thermal spring water. Also, use a hydrating cream (like the Hydrating Gel Plus HS or the Moisturizing Lotion HP for the body) or a mattifying cream.