Fitness for Your Skin

Everyone’s Skin Care Dream: all we have to do for our body and skin to look tight, toned and amazing with less fine lines and wrinkles is apply one of the hundreds of miracle skin- tightening elixirs, salves, serums or balms available on the market. Is this just a dream … or can it come true?

The truth is that, clinically speaking, there are quite a few natural essentials, peptides and vitamins called active ingredients that can drastically improve how the skin looks; but since our skin is a living organ, it is constantly exposed to many daily stressors like pollution, allergens, weather and free radicals. Plus, as we get older, we produce less collagen and elastin, which are like the “fabric” of our skin that keeps it firm and supple. Then, there are those despised fat deposits that collect under the skin’s surface called subcutaneous fat, AKA cellulite. Because your skin is always changing, the results you can see from topical treatments are a temporary fix.

So, the great news is that these skin-improving topical actives can and DO work. I don’t know about you, but at 53 years old, I will take temporary over never anytime! The trick is to find the botanicals that deliver the most results the quickest and use them consistently as part of a regular skin care regimen.

From a beauty business perspective, when you can help your salon guests discover active ingredients that make them like how their skin looks, temporarily or otherwise, they will love you and buy lots of it from you.

What are Active Ingredients?

In OTC (over the counter) products, active ingredients are those that deliver the benefits proposed on the label. The quality and strength can vary greatly depending on the type, potency and brand of the product. These active ingredients are what makes each product effective at delivering the results.

The Most Effective Active Ingredients for Skin-Firming

• Caffeine – A powerful vasoconstrictor and diuretic, it can make the skin appear tighter and smoother by dehydrating fat cells and dilating blood vessels. In addition, many chemists agree that caffeine can help stimulate enzymes that help reduce the storage of fat lipids on top of the muscles (subcutaneous fat).
• Hyaluronic Acid – A naturally occurring substance in the body and a major component of the connective tissues found in your skin, cartilage, joints and eyes, it helps lubricate and support skin formation by filling in structural gaps while delivering nutrients and hydration. We lose hyaluronic acid as we age, so when applied to the skin, it helps maintain your natural levels while preserving visible elasticity and moisture levels.
• Retinol – Part of the drug family known as retinoids, retinol is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A and is recognized as one of the most powerful skin tighteners and also can help minimize visible signs of aging. Retinol works by helping to increase collagen production while stimulating blood vessels to improve skin’s tone and complexion.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid – This powerful natural substance offers many benefits including energy production in skin cells, reduction of cellular inflammation, and protection from free radical inflammation. Soluble in both water and fat, it helps provide benefits to both the interior and exterior of the skin cell’s structure, helping to smooth and firm overall appearance.

Homework Assignment: There are many more botanicals that tighten, tone and firm. Find them, learn about them, and teach your tanners how amazing they are!

The trick is to find the botanicals that deliver the most results the quickest and use them consistently as part of a regular skin care regimen.