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What Vitamins actually do for your skin
Antioxidants are naturally occurring vitamins and minerals—like vitamins A, C, E, and green tea—that protect your skin against free radicals. Free radicals are pesky little molecules in the environment that damage your skin by clinging to your collagen and weakening elasticity. They come from air pollutants, chemicals and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants neutralise those free radicals to protect your skin from damage. Some antioxidants also brighten your skin, calm irritation, and even smooth fine lines. We've rounded up the best ones and where to find them. Best for Soothing: Green Tea Green tea is filled with polyphenols that not only scavenge free radicals, but also work as an anti-inflammatory to accelerate wound healing. Try Environ Vita Enriched Colostrum Gel or Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Booster Serum, a bi-phase formula loaded, antioxidant-rich formula, to help leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. Best for Anti-Ageing: VITAMIN A Vitamin A or Retinol is a miracle worker because it does so much for your skin: smooths fine lines, fills in wrinkles, improves skin texture, brightens skin, fades scars and dark marks, and drastically reduces acne. Try Dr Grandel Retinol Ampoules or Environ Retinol Concentrated Serum 1. Best for Moisturising: VITAMIN E Vitamin E is a natural anti-inflammatory, a strong shield against free radicals and premature ageing, and keeps skin soft and supple, which is the key to preventing scar formation. Try Skin Affair Organic Illuminating Hydrating Serum with Acmella (natural botox) and Vitamin E, Dr Grandel Elements of Nature Nutralifting Moisturiser or Environ Vita-Enriched Antioxidant Gel. Best for Brightening: VITAMIN C Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is pretty much the ultimate antioxidant for perking up dull, tired-looking skin. Just like green tea, it can calm and hydrate your skin, and similar to retinol, it boosts your collagen production to tighten fine lines and improve skin texture. Try Dr Grandel Vitamin Infusion Serum with Vitamin C, Pomegranate Flower and Mango Complex or Skin Affair Organic Glow Serum with rich antioxidants to protect against free radical damage. Get a free Skin Affair Glow serum valued at R399 with all orders over R750 until Monday 27 September 2021.
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Protect your skin from Photoageing at different ages
Get the lowdown on photoageing and a free retinol serum valued at R399 when you spend R750 until 16/09. Overexposure to the sun is the main cause of premature skin ageing - also known as photoageing. UVA rays from the sun are primarily responsible, but high-energy visible (HEVIS) light can also cause oxidative stress that damages cellular DNA. As a result, skin starts to form wrinkles, sag and develop pigmentation issues prematurely. Ensuring skin is properly protected year-round, using superior sun care products and the correct skincare products, at different ages, can help to prevent and tackle photoageing. In your 20-30s Early signs of photoageing start to show in your mid to late 20s, such as fine lines and mild blemishes. It’s important to start applying sun protection on a daily basis at a young age, to prevent long-term damage. We also recommend that you look out for suncare products that include protection from blue light such as Skin Affair’s Organic SPF15 Moisturiser which provides the ultimate prevention against sun damage and UV rays whilst moisturising the skin. Also look for skincare containing vitamin B3 to get ahead of sunspots. Skin Affair’s Brightening Serum visibly brightens, helps revive dull skin and targets dark spots caused by pollution & harmful UV rays. In your 30-40s Mild photoageing, smile lines, prominent pores and early age spots are common in your 30s. Protect skin against further photoaging with Dr Grandel’s UV LSF 30 Serum. Without having to forget the usual care products. This product comes into action when UV protection is needed and contains Vitamin E which protects the skin against free radicals. Look at skincare that contains Hyaluronic Acid which plumps up the skin and visibly reduces signs of ageing such as Skin Affair’s Hydra-Boost Serum. This serum consists of hyaluronic compounds for multi-depth hydration while plumping and smoothing the appearance of wrinkles. 50s and over Advanced photoaging, deeper wrinkles, visible age spots and dilated capillaries are some of the skin concerns we can expect in our 50s and onward. Products containing peptides and retinol are amazing for skin of this age. GRANDEL Renew III rich is a regenerating cream protecting collagen fibres and improving elasticity. The cream contains peptides and nourishes and rejuvenates tired skin. Skin Affair’s Anti-Aging Serum contains retinol and stimulates collagen synthesis for plumper looking skin. Get a free Anti-Aging serum valued at R399 with all orders over R750 until 16 September 2021.
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Look the age you feel with Retinol
Most of us have heard of retinol, a hot topic in the skincare world right now. It's on every dermatologist's top shelf and has even made its way into every skincare serum on the shelves being that it’s widely regarded as one of the most effective topical treatments available. What is retinol? There are a number of different types of retinoids and they are available in different strengths. All of the different types are derived from Vitamin A - the difference between them lies in the concentration. Retinoic acid (also known as Retin-A or Tretinoin) is the strongest, prescription-level retinoid that's used for acne and ageing. In general, if you're using a retinol, you want to start off at between 0.1 and 0.2% strength and build up to 1%. How do you use it? You can't use a retinoid product like any other skin serum or moisturiser, you first have to build up a tolerance and gradually add it into your skincare regime in order to avoid unwanted side effects. Always read the packaging to see the best directions for use but keep in mind that It's always best to introduce a retinoid slowly but surely. Limit your initial use to once or twice a week, gradually increasing the frequency as your skin acclimatises. At night-time only, apply a pea-sized amount of retinol to clean and dry skin, avoiding the eye area. For optimal results, wait at least 30 minutes before applying other skincare products. Always apply loads of sunscreen the following day. Retinoids increase cell turnover, so can make skin temporarily thinner and therefore more fragile. What are the benefits? Among the many benefits of retinol, it can increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen and elastin production. It can increase the appearance of firmness by plumping up fine lines and wrinkles. It can improve uneven skin tone, treat pigmentation and smooth the surface of skin. It can even help with cystic acne and blemishes. When should I start using it? While there is no set time to use retinoids, most dermatologists advise introducing the ingredient into your skincare routine in your mid-twenties, particularly if you suffer from breakouts or pigmentation. It's best to start with a retinyl palmitate or retinol, and to try it for 3 months and then have a 3 month break. This is due to research that suggests cell turnover is no longer increased after 3 months of use. Is retinol for every skin? Retinoids don’t work equally well for every skin type. If you suffer from skin sensitivity, rosacea, eczema or psoriasis, it's probably best to avoid retinol since it can be too powerful on sensitive skin and can increase inflammation or dryness in already delicate complexions. Are there side effects? Redness, dryness and flaking are some of the side effects that come with retinol use. Normally, the side effects only last for a couple of weeks while the skin adjusts to the ingredient. If you're using a retinoid, you can skip other exfoliators like AHA’s & BHA’s as you will have already done the work. Doubling up can compromise the skin, because combining acids and retinol can cause irritation. So stick to one or the other. Also avoid all of these products if you are pregnant. Some studies have shown that taking high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy can be harmful to an unborn child. We've rounded up some of the best retinol products below… Dr Grandel Timeless Retinol Balm, R995. Shop now. Skin Affair LAB Series Ani-Aging Serum with Retinol, R399. Shop now. Dr Grandel Retinol Ampoules, R225. Shop now. Environ Focus Care Youth+ Retinol Serum 1, R435. Shop now.
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