Tips For Reading and Understanding Product Labels, Dr. Goldfaden Reports:

Reading a skincare product label can be daunting and almost like trying to decipher a foreign language, leaving you confused and frustrated. Worse, you end up buying an ineffective or inappropriate product. We enlisted Dr. Goldfaden to help us navigate our way through determining what’s important to look for, how ingredients work and tips for us to understand reading labels.

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How do percentages of skin-care products work? 

“Percentages are listed to explain the amount of active ingredients in a particular product. They will dictate how active or not active a product can be. For example a vitamin C serum can have 12% Vitamin C or a more aggressive serum maybe contain 17%. Not all customers can tolerate high percentages of aggressive ingredients, so there are choices in the marketplace.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

Is there really such a thing as “the highest percentage/concentration available” or is that marketing hype?

“Yes, This is a real thing. This usually means exactly what it says. Some brands choose to use the highest and some use less. This usually dictates the quality of a product and the consumer can see this within the labeling order of the product. The first ingredients listed are the most active and they decrease as they move down the ingredient listing” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

What makes “active ingredients” in a skin-care product different from the other ingredients?

“Active ingredients are in the product to deliver a results. Inactive ingredients help to deliver the active ingredients, they also help to stabilize, deliver hydration, fragrance, color etc. For example in a moisturizer Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid could be the active ingredients and the inactive could be emulsified wax or even glycerin.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

Do you have any easy tips for a consumer to really understand how to read product labels to make sure they are getting effective ingredients/products?

“The largest concentration of ingredients is usually listed first on the label. It is also imperative to know what agrees and doesn’t agree with your skin, for example fragrances, mineral oil etc. Looking for products that contain very few ingredients is the best way to keep your skin and body healthy. A good rule of thumb is to stay clear of artificial fragrance, color, mineral oil, alcohols, sulfates and silicones.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

How do natural ingredients work, as it relates to effectiveness and when compared to synthetic ingredients?

“Ultimately this becomes the consumer’s choice. In the world we live in, we cannot avoid all synthetic ingredients all the time. Choosing to use natural skincare products can reduce the risk of allergic reactions and other skin problems from developing. Since skincare products are not considered ‘drugs’, they are not absorbed onto the blood stream. However, after years of using synthetic products(hair, skin, makeup) some people may develop anything as treatable as an allergy to a form of immune disorders and certain cancers. This continues to be an ongoing debate in the medical and cosmeceutical world. “Synthetic” ingredients may start as a natural ingredient but they are then chemically modified on some level. “Natural” ingredients come from the earth and are not modified chemically when being formulated into products. A good example of this is the ingredient petroleum. Petroleum is a naturally occurring liquid extracted from rock. However when used in products it is chemically modified and cause more harm than good. Petroleum can clogs pores, slow down cellular regeneration and contain PAH which has been linked to cancer.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

Do you have any skin-care tips for making your products work better—such as exfoliating, swapping them out?

“Exfoliation will always allow other skincare products ie serums, treatment and moisturizers to be absorbed more throughly.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden

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Face Oils 101

Now that you’ve mastered the act of daily moisturizing, it’s time to move on to the next new potent treatments on the block. MEET OILS. These golden elixir treatments act like liquid gold for your skin, now who wouldn’t want to divulge in these secret amazing treatments?!?

Our skin naturally produces oils and when we’re running low, replenishing with other natural oils (particularly plant-based) is a ideal for obtaining healthy-looking skin. If you’ve never tried facial oil because of all the “no oil!” marketing that we have heard forever, here’s how to use facial oils properly without clogging pores or looking greasy and how to select the “right” oil for your skin type.

Screen Shot 2015-01-27 at 9.37.51 AMWhy We Love Them:

We know what you’re thinking, oil on your skin!? Think again – Oils certainly pack a punch when it comes to their potent treatment benefits (think on a serum level). The concentrated blend of active ingredients coupled with the textures work to penetrate the skin up to 25% more efficiently than moisturizers, sign us up! Plus, the range of oil blends and products on the marketplace offer such a diverse offering to select the “right oil” oil for you. Not all formulas are greasy, sticky and heavy on the skin.

Goldfaden MD just launched their much talked about oil, Fleuressence, that is rich in powerful Omega fatty acids and Vitamins A, C & E, the botanical actives work to diminish the appearance of fine lines, discoloration, inflammation, and reduce pore size. Added powerful oils – Kalahari Oil, Mongongo Oil and Baobab Oil – protect and shield the skin against environmental stresses, support the rejuvenation and renewing of skin cells, improve skin elasticity and promote accelerated skin cell turnover.

Benefits:

Oils are making a huge impact among the skin-savvy customers due to their multi treatment benefits that they offer including hydration, resurfacing, reducing the appearance of scars and discoloration and targeting those unwanted fine lines and creases. Plus, the multi-functionality makes them ideal. Place a drop into your moisturizer to beef up the hydration, apply as your serum or add a drop into your foundation for the ultimate glow.

Multi-Uses:

Dry Skin: Speaking to the obvious here, but oils offer that much-needed hydration that we are all in need of during the Winter months, especially for those who suffer from chronic dry skin.

Spot Treatment: Do you suffer from eczema or dry skin patches? Try applying an oil onto the areas of concern to help treat the targeted area.

Makeup Remover: A trick that we learned from some of the most prominent Hollywood makeup insiders…Apply a few drops of oil onto a cotton pad to take off that stubborn eye makeup.

What do you love about oils?  

 

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Jump Start Your Daily Overall Health With These Simple Rules

We know how crazy the mornings can be, but in order for all of us to stay and look healthy, these are three things that we NEVER forget to do before walking out of the house. By taking 10 minutes in the morning, you can ensure that you always start your morning off right.

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#1: 25 second skincare prep 

Practicing a simple skincare morning regimen helps wake your skin up and prime it for makeup, ensuring that your features radiate and your makeup lasts throughout the day.

Cleanse: Dissolve nightly impurities and remove your nightly treatment in one step. Skin is left clean, clear, smooth, and energized.

Treat: Help protect your skin from daily free radical damaged caused by UVA/UVB rays and environmental damage by applying a potent anti-oxidant serum. Our top picks for anti-oxidants include, Organic Red Tea (50X more potent of an anti-oxidant that green tea), Pomegranate and Cherry extracts.

Moisturize: This is two-fold as we need to also de-puff our eyes (look for eye-products that contain Vitamin K + Arnica which help to reduce puffiness and dark circles) and prep our overall complexion for makeup.

#2: Don’t skimp on breakfast

According to Livestrong: While a recent human clinical trial reported that eating breakfast isn’t necessary for weight loss, there are plenty of other studies that suggest otherwise. In the largest sample of successful dieters, 78 percent reported eating breakfast every day. Still, nearly a quarter of U.S. adults skip their first meal on any given day — and that increases your risk for other chronic conditions. What’s more, a Harvard study reported that men who skipped breakfast were 27 percent more likely to develop heart disease and that female breakfast skippers had a 28 percent higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Eating breakfast may also give you more energy: One study found that breakfast eaters burned 400 more calories during a day through increased daily activity.

Our favorites include: Steel Cut Oatmeal with raisins and fresh berries and egg whites mixed with spinach and a side of sliced avocado.

#3: AM Detox 

Add a slice of lemon to a warm cup of water in the morning. By adding lemon to your water, it has been shown to promote fresher breath, realigns your bodies pH balance and improves digestive function to name a few. And don’t forget to get your daily dose of recommended water intake of 8 full glasses daily.

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