Tag Archive for: GOLDFADEN MD

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Clean Living: An Interview With The Goldfaden Family

Eating healthy is one thing, but a total rehaul of not only your kitchen products but also your cleaning and beauty habits? Now that just seems downright daunting, but we’re here to tell you it’s not as hard as you think. We’re not talking totally life overhaul. That can be overwhelming. We’re talking small steps and simple swaps to set the stage for living clean. Over the course of our lives, we have adapted a clean living effort that poured over into other areas of our lives and we want to share our go-to’s from beauty to cleaning and tell you why it’s important. Ready to come clean?

Why did your family decide to turn to all clean products?

Dr. Goldfaden has been formulating and researching plant based ingredients, natural alternative ingredients of over 25 years. He found that many people are even allergic to chemicals commonly found in conventionally produced products. Natural makeup, skin care products, and body products work with your skin instead of against it. The integrity and purity in plant and botanically-derived ingredients—the high level of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, natural sugars, and more—provide a vital spectrum of benefits for the skin without being compromised by fillers and inactive ingredients which allow for the treatment actives to provide the most abundance.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and studies have found that the skin can absorb up to about 60% of what we put on to it so it’s important to be familiar with what we are putting on our skin and stay away from harsh, toxic chemicals, colors, and fragrances. Chemicals, artificial colors, and fillers in skin care products and makeup can cause redness, irritation, and breakouts. Many people are even allergic to chemicals commonly found in conventionally produced products. Natural makeup, skin care products, and body products work with your skin instead of against it. The integrity and purity in plant and botanically-derived ingredients—the high level of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, natural sugars, and more—provide a vital spectrum of benefits for the skin without being compromised by fillers and inactive ingredients which allow for the treatment actives to provide the most abundant of its treatment benefits within topical formulas.

What benefits have you experienced since turning to clean products?

Overall, the skin is less reactive, appears clearer in tone and texture and is less comprised for fillers, artificial fragrances and silicones which means that the actives are able to penetrate the skin more effectively increasing the overall treatment. We experienced the reduction of redness, rash, irritation and milia.

What are some of your favorite clean products for the home? 

Mrs. Meyes, Kinn Living and Branch Basics. You don’t need harsh chemicals to clean your home! 

How has becoming a clean family affected the food you have at home? 

Being aware of what you put in and on your body is crucial as the skin showcases the nutrients from both an internal and external standpoint so what we put into our bodies is just as important as what we are putting on. Naturally sourced foods (meaning not processed, and free from pesticides or hormones) have the ability to offer a higher percentage of nutrients, vitamins and key antioxidants because there are no unnecessary preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics that can prevent the beneficial ingredients from leaving that specific product and also allows for maximum freshness of foods. Eating a diet of fresh, naturally grown or raised whole foods, is scientifically linked to decreasing risk of disease and increasing life span.  As a family we grew up eating organic food, lots of raw vegetables and good quality animal proteins and fats.

What makes Goldfaden MD products clean?

We do not formulate with silicones, mineral oils, parabens, Petrochemicals, PEGS, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes or alcohol. Learn more about our standards.

Which ingredients should be avoided in skincare?

The top skin irritants including; Silicones, mineral oils, PEGS, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, synthetic dyes or alcohol.

Which ingredients should be avoided in food?

High fructose corn syrup, gluten, artificial colors, and dairy in some cases. In general, adding in more healthy, plant-based foods that you actually enjoy eating!

What are some of your favorite clean makeup brands?

Ilia primer, Alima Pure mascara, PYT eye-shadow pallet, RMS

Who are some of your favorite clean beauty retailers to shop? 

Credo Beauty and GOOP.

What is the difference between the terms green, natural, and clean? 

All of these terms are used interchangeably within the beauty industry, which is confusing and at times misleading for some consumers. Our take on these words are as follows:

Green: An eco-friendly brand in packing, sourcing and brand messaging.

Natural: A brand that uses some natural ingredients and is free of certain ingredients (however, there is not a standard list used across the industry, so this is dictated by the brand’s credo).

Clean: Similar to a natural brand, but more likely a brand that doesn’t formulate with certain deemed “dirty” ingredients ie: PEGS, mineral oils, artificial ingredients, petrochemicals Etc.

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Beauty report: What Natural, Clean and Organic Really Means

What constitutes a “natural” beauty product? There’s still no universally accepted standard, even though the market is growing at a rapid rate and the FDA is involved, making changes and will continue to set standards. The skin is the body’s largest organ and research proves it capable of absorbing up to 60% of the ingredients in the products we apply – that is a large number and we’ve become more aware of what ingredients are found in our products for this reason. There is a large majority of bath, body, hair, makeup and skincare products available today which contain commonly used synthetic ingredients such as Parabens, detergents, preservatives and SLS; these synthetic ingredients have been recognized to cause irritation in some people and may have damaging effects longer-term. Ultimately, brands are choosing their own classification and how they represent themselves.

The industry and consumers use the three words, clean, natural and organic loosely and interchangeable, when in reality they are all different.

Wikipedia’s definitions shed some light on the differences between natural and organic:

A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature.[2][3] In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life.[4][5]

An organic product is made from materials produced by organic agriculture. Most appropriately(,)organic beauty products can be explained as any products that is made or cultivated without the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GM), herbicides, synthetic fertilisers and more. In order to warrant if a product is organic, the USA uses USDA certification – NOP National Organic Program to define a cultivated product (or ingredient) as organic.

The term ‘clean’ when used in the beauty and wellness industry loosely refers to being “free of something” i.e. an ingredient, filler or preservative. The word ‘clean’ may also be used to refer to the sustainability of packaging or ingredients. The use of the word ‘clean’ is not mandated and is interpreted, demonstrated and used freely by individuals and brands as they see fit to further describe benefits (so it’s important to read the labels!). Therefore, there are many definitions of what clean means.

As a brand we identify as a clean, naturally inspired brand which utilizes a combination of natural and organic ingredients.  We do not formulate with silicones, mineral oil, parabens, alcohol, SLS, and artificial/synthetic dyes and fragrances – all of which can lead to skin irritation. We adhere to and are compliant with the EU’s banned list of ingredients.  Many retailers are deferring to the EU’s list of roughly 1400 banned ingredients, which are known to or suspected of causing cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm, as a standard of defining clean and natural. Join us in the clean beauty movement

Interested in what you can do to add to your clean movement? Check out our lean life swap tips:

  • Store your water in a stylish, yet totally functional (hello cold water all day) SWELL water bottle and feel good about eliminating plastic water bottles and going BPA free FOREVER.
  • The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags. One person using reusable bags over their lifetime would remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment. Nuf said.
  • Join us in a global movement to eliminate plastic drinking straws from our landfills, our streams, our oceans, and our beaches. Swap for paper, stainless or even bamboo straws.
  • Give a hoot – don’t pollute and pick up! The ocean is not a garbage can and neither is the street or the side of the road.

 

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Painless Injections: Alternatives To Needles

If you’re not ready for a lift, injection or overall tweak to your complexion, advancements in skincare formulations and ingredients mean that there are plenty of viable topical alternatives you can add into your skincare routine that rival in-office treatments geared for lifting, plumping and smoothing the skin. We sat down with Dr. G to learn more about how to obtain that youthful-glowing complexion without any needles.

If you don’t want to try injectables yet, what sort of effect will products alone have?

Anti-aging, plumping, filling serums will cause the skin to feel tight, fuller and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A topical serum is a great place to start of you’re unsure about getting an injectable.

Why do you think some women are still choosing to find results from their product over injectables? What are the pluses when it comes to products?

Many of my patients over the years have been afraid of needles or simply putting anything foreign into their bodies. This lead to creating our Needle-less serum. The pluses from choosing to use a topical product versus an injectable are anxiety, foreign ingredient in the body, price, bruising, possible over use of an injectable resulting in a frozen or, waxy or “overdone look”. In rare instances allergic reaction may be a deciding factor. However, for the most part injectables when performed by a professional are very very safe and allow people to look and feel their best. For optimal results in targeting fine line and wrinkles, I would recommend both anti-aging injectables and topical products. Topical products will help with maintenance between treatments and will allow the effect to last longer.

How long do you need to use them for to see results?

Topical products generally take 6-8 weeks to see the result. These products have a cumulative effect and need to be used very consistently, usually twice a day. I always recommend using these in conjunction with exfoliation as the newer the skin the better the results.

Is there a type of delivery system that’s particularly effective?

There are many wonderful products/delivery systems on the market, but Needle-less serum is a water based serum which delivers Acetyl Hexapeptide and Hyaluronic acid directly to the surface of the skin. With continued use, your skin will reap the benefits of looking younger, feeling smoother, and appearing more radiant. Ideal for all skin types.

What ingredient should you look out for if you want lifting/firming/smoothing/plumping?

  • Acetyl hexapeptide-3 is a powerful wrinkle-reducing peptide that works by hindering a signal protein called catecholamine that triggers muscle contraction, thereby relaxing your facial muscles.
  • Hyaluronic Acid helps skin to  feel plump, appear firm and diminish the appearance of fine lines and deep creases. Both found n Needle-less serum. CoQ10 is another powerhouse ingredient which helps protect skin from free radical attack and damage and my help the skin appear fuller and balanced.
  • Vitamin B3 is one of the most effective ingredients in reducing collagen breakdown while simultaneously increasing fibroblast production. Vitamin B appears in just two main forms: nicotinic acid (also known as niacin) and nicotinamide (also called niacinamide).
  • The ability of vitamin C to revitalize aging skin is largely due to its beneficial effects on collagen. Collagen is a tough, fibrous protein that is relatively inelastic and very strong. It supplies the basic framework that gives your skin its form, firmness, and strength, while elastin provides flexibility. Fortunately, topical vitamin C has been scientifically proven to help stimulate collagen synthesis. It also helps block the production of enzymes the break down collagen, making it one of nature’s most effective anti-aging nutrients.
  • Plant-based stem cells contain high levels of active proteins, which work topically to regulate the stem-cell division in our skin cells. They essentially act as a massive protective barrier for the skin to allow our cells to regenerate at a healthy speed without being compromised by external factors including pollution and UVA/UVB rays. They aid in the reduction of the appearance of wrinkle depth, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, an even complexion, plumper appearing skin and the longevity of healthy human skin cells. Some of my favorites to formulate with (found in our proprietary PURFLORA complex) are Raspberry Leaf Extract, Comfrey Stem Cells, White Tea Leaf Extract, Garden Crest Sprouts and Birds of Paradise extract.
  • Retinol is a form of Vitamin A. Retinol can improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles and increases collagen production. Retinol delivers an overall tighter, firmer, plumper appearance to the skin.

Is there anything especially preventative you can do instead of filler/Botox etc?

  1. Protect your skin. The Sun is the number one environmental damage for skin.  Both UVA/UVB rays are harmful. Protect yourself by wearing a hat and sunglasses. Shielding your skin, head and eyes can help with sun damage and pollution-based aging. Always wash you face to remove the residue and makeup from the day.
  2. Eat a diet high in anti-oxidant rich foods such as leafy greens and berries and foods high in essential fatty acids (salmon and almonds). Stay away form foods that can encourage and cause Glycation. The Glycation process, which is basically, sugars (from food and alcohol) breaking down the collagen fibers in the skin and therefore speeding up the aging process. Foods that feed Glycation and cause inflammation in the body and the skin are carbohydrates, fried foods, sugar, fatty meats and alcohol.
  3. As you grow older, the rate of skin cell turnover slows down dramatically. Dead cells on your skin’s surface hang around much longer, a fact that tends to accentuate those fine lines and make your complexion look dull and lifeless. By removing these dead skin cells, exfoliation helps make up for the gradual slowing down of your natural skin renewal process, improving the tone and texture of your skin.
  4. Facial massage, gua sha, micro current, lymphatic drainage all can help the skin’s appearance.
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