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Six Beauty Questions about Skin that Affect many Women

Written by Margit RĂŒdiger on . Posted in Cream.

As a research doctor in cosmetic dermatology with a Skincare Center in Rotterdam and her own skin care line, Dr. Jetske Ultee has the right answer to every beauty question. Her background: studied medicine at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Then assistant doctor and researcher in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with a doctorate in 2010. Here, Dr. Ultee insightful answers to beauty questions that interest a lot of women: Beauty question: Can lemon juice really help to lighten pigment spots? Dr. Ultee: You should be careful with self-treatment tips such as citric acid bleaching. This dries out the skin quickly. Citrus extracts can also cause unsightly stains in combination with sunlight. You can even get blisters or burns. So I advise against it. Here’s what you can do to reduce pigment spots:CREAM UV PROTECTION AND WEAR A HATFew of us have pigment spots on our buttocks. After all, it doesn’t get that much sun. If you want to prevent pigment spots, you need to protect yourself from the sun. Put some good sunscreen on, stay in the shade, and wear a hat on hot days. And it’s really never too late to start using sun protection. Treating the pigment spots, however, makes little sense if nothing is done at the same time to prevent them from worsening.CHECK THE CONTENTS OF YOUR MAKE-UP CASE AND MEDICINE CABINETIf you are affected by pigment spots, take a critical look at the ingredients of your cosmetic products. In particular, fragrances and plant extracts or oils such as citrus, orange, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lavender and rosemary can promote the development of pigment spots. It is also essential to take a look in the medicine cabinet, because medicines can also cause unsightly stains in combination with sunlight. Taking these tips to heart is important for everyone, whether you have pigment spots or not. Beauty question: What types of pigment spots are there and can they be treated to disapear? It is important to find out what kind of stains the person actually has. We doctors differentiate:Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – This type of pigmentation is caused by small injuries to the skin. These can be insect bites, abrasions and acne, for example. In people who are susceptible to this, it can also be caused by irritation after peelings, wax treatments or aggressive cosmetic products. These unsightly pigment spots usually fade by themselves. This process can, however, be supported with soothing substances and antioxidants such as liquorice root, niacinamide, vitamin C or azelaic acid.… weiterlesen

The Top 10 Natural, Scientifically Tested Skincare Ingredients

Written by Margit RĂŒdiger on . Posted in Cream.

If you’re like most of us, your skin isn’t just one way all the time. Sometimes it’s oilier, sometimes it’s drier, and it likely also changes with the seasons. In addition, you might be increasingly curious or concerned about buying “clean” skincare and cosmetics, which adds another wrinkle to the product-selection process. A quick note about natural products: they are not necessarily better than—or even any different from—the synthetic alternatives made in a lab. You also need to bear in mind that the term “natural” isn’t regulated. Any cosmetic company can make this claim, unfortunately, so it’s important to read labels and ingredient lists carefully (rule of thumb: natural products should not contain any artificial ingredients or fragrance.) “Natural is a classic marketing word,” says pharmacist and Truth Treatment Systems founder and formulator Benjamin Fuchs. “To a chemist, there’s no such thing as natural. The distinction the body makes is not between natural and synthetic; it just looks at the molecular structure. If I take vitamin C (from nature) or I create it in my lab, it’s the same molecule. I look at ingredients to see whether the body will recognize them.” That recognition is what translates to real results in your skin. To simplify your search, we’ve found ten of the most effective, scientifically tested, naturally occurring skincare ingredients. Many of these are also synthetically produced, which (as explained above), is just fine. Below, we’ve noted the natural origin of each ingredient, along with how and why it’s effective in skincare. Top 10 proven-to-work natural skincare ingredients: Hyaluronic acid It is a substance that occurs naturally in our bodies, and it’s effective because it holds a thousand times its weight in water. This not only helps skin retain moisture, but also prevents that moisture from evaporating into the air. It’s one of the best moisturizing agents available for both oily and dry skin types. A hyaluronic acid serum is a great addition to many skincare routines, especially during the summer-to-fall and winter months, when plummeting temperatures and humidity levels (not to mention indoor heating) can really dehydrate your skin. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)n (AHAs) Glycolic acid and lactic acid are both members of the AHA family. Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane, while lactic acid is derived from milk. The acids allow dead skin cells to slough off, revealing newer skin beneath. They also act as humectants, meaning they draw water from the environment into your skin.… weiterlesen

On Reunion with a Perfumist

Written by Margit RĂŒdiger on . Posted in Culture.

Home of vetiver and vanilla To be honest, Reunion (French: La RĂ©union), France’s overseas island located in the Indian Ocean, would not have been on my list of travel destinations. If it wasn’t for Marie Le Febvre. Over the years, the French perfumer, who lives in Berlin with her husband and child, has formed a special bond with the island. Her brother Yann and his Creole wife (Creole being native-born inhabitants) live on the paradise island between Madagascar and Mauritius with their three children. And whenever she can, Marie spends time in her turquoise-colored wooden house on Yann’s property in Saint-Gilles. She has also reinvigorated something on the island that had long been forgotten: the cultivation of vetiver. “Veti… what?” is a question she is asked a lot. People generally haven’t heard of the tropical bunchgrass, which grows between 0.5 and 1.5m tall. Fragrance experts, however, are more than familiar with it: Its essential oil is a popular ingredient in perfumes, because it gives fragrances a deep, citrusy, woody note. From rainforest to sand beaches Vetiver originated in Asia (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India), but is cultivated in many tropical areas—especially because of its practicality: the tall-growing, hard grass stabilizes the ground against erosions. The roots keep the soil moist and act as detoxifiers, which improves soil quality. The long leaf blades are used in roof thatching like we use reed. Additionally, it is used to make sturdy ropes and as a home remedy for fever and headaches. The fragrant essential oil of highest quality used by perfumers can only be extracted under optimal conditions. When the soil is as fruitful as it is on Reunion. The island offers everything imaginable when it comes to vegetation and climate: from the volcanic inland covered in rainforest to the kilometer-long black sand beaches in L’Etang-SalĂ©-les-Bains on the west coast, or the white sand of Saint Pierre in the southwest. On the island, you can find various microclimates. While the east coast sees a lot of rain, the west coast sometimes has a steppe climate. On the coast, temperatures can reach 30 degrees Celsius during summer (December to March); in higher regions they can sink down to 15 degrees. Fun fact: Since August 2, 2010, the island has been a UNESCO world heritage site. Our arrival Arriving at the airport of Saint-Denis, the capital in the north with 143,000 residents we experience a modern city with theaters, museums, markets and the old flair of Creole houses.… weiterlesen