Beauty
Embrace the beauty inside and invest in the beauty on the outside. Makeup can be a form of self-expression and skincare is a form of self-care. I love educating readers about the best products and services for their hair and skin.
Read a few of my beauty and skincare articles below.
The Top Vitamin C Serums on Dermstore
If there’s one skin-care ingredient that everyone should add to their routine, it’s vitamin C, a one-stop-shop for achieving a bright and even complexion.
So, what makes a good vitamin C serum? Davie, FL dermatologist Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD has a few tips for finding the best of the best in the game: “The most potent and stable form of vitamin C is ascorbic acid,” she says, adding that the skin-brightener is most effective at a concentration of about 20 percent. “The more concentrated the vitamin C is, the more it can throw off the skin’s pH. So, sensitive skin individuals should try a lower concentration, or use it more gradually several times per week.”
Dr. Blyumin-Karasik recommends using Vitamin C in the morning to take advantage of its protective and repairing properties, and for an added boost, ferulic acid and vitamin E are the perfect pairing.
There’s no need to snack on extra oranges to get your vitamin C fix. Instead, give skin the boost it deserves with the below serums, all of which are available on Dermstore and have an expert seal of approval.
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SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Acid Serum ($166)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.76/5
SkinCeuticals’ vitamin C is a dermatologist go-to, and its unanimous love boils down to the product’s ingredient profile and potency. “Alongside a 15-percent concentration of vitamin C, this serum has two key ingredients that advance the potency of the antioxidant: vitamin E and ferulic acid,” says Dr. Blyumin-Karasik. With just a few drops of this award-winner, your skin will be protected and hydrated.
Dr. Blyumin-Karasik regularly recommends this medical-grade serum to her patients as it helps fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation and gives skin an irresistible all-over glow.
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Obagi Medical Professional-C Serum 20% ($137)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.75/5
This serum has a highly effective formula that penetrates deep into the skin and protects from the inside-out. At a concentration of 20 percent, New York dermatologist Jody Levine, MD says this serum “helps counter oxidative and sun damage, banish early signs of aging and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.” Pumped with ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid, this serum also keeps the dermis feeling soft and hydrated all throughout the day.
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Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster ($52)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.55/5
A luxury formulation at a lower price point, Paula’s Choice vitamin C contains all the ingredients needed—soothing vitamin E and formula-boosting ferulic acid are among the top players—without breaking the bank. “Together, these three main ingredients provide a powerful antioxidant system for the skin,” Dr. Levine says. Additionally, this serum includes peptides to give skin’s collagen production a much-needed boost.
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Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($85)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.36/5
Sunday Riley’s vitamin C has a formulation that differs from the rest. Formulated with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate instead of L-ascorbic acid—the standard form of vitamin C in most serums—this product is more stable and great for sensitive skin, and New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD agrees. “Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is fat-soluble and is a more stable form of vitamin C,” she says, adding that it’s excellent for those who are sensitive to L-ascorbic acid but still want antioxidant protection.
Another stand-out ingredient in this serum is glycolic acid, which is known for its skin-sloughing, oil-absorbing capabilities. The combination of all the ingredients together makes for a skin-care essential that not only brightens and treats discolored skin, but prevents acne production, too.
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BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner ($80)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.33/5
The patented encapsulation method, which protects the particles in the serum to stop the vitamin C from oxidizing and losing efficacy, in this barrier-mender provides users with almost-immediate results. According to Dr. Day, “It works well with other ingredients, like squalane and green tea, for added brightening and skin rejuvenation.” The Universal C Skin Refiner also fights against aging with the inclusion of EGCG and evens out skin texture with tartaric acid.
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La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Serum with Salicylic Acid ($40)
Overall rating on Dermstore: 4.1/5
La Roche-Posay boasts a vitamin C serum that leaves skin radiant, soft and hydrated. At a concentration of 10 percent, this heavy-lifter gets underneath the skin’s surface to brighten while staying gentle on sensitive skin.
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As an added bonus, the salicylic acid and neurosensine within the formula help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and attack skin impurities—think blackheads and whiteheads—right at the source. It also includes hyaluronic acid in two forms: sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid. Together, they draw moisture into the top layers of the skin, helping to plump and hydrate.
WHY SHOULD YOU USE SULFATE-FREE SHAMPOO FOR YOUR CURLY HAIR?
Embracing your natural curls is a long journey. From learning how to care for your curls to choosing the right products, the process requires some dedication to get positive results.
One of the many changes you can make for your curls is to use a sulfate-free shampoo. This simple switch can mean the difference between lifeless curls and beautiful bouncy ones.
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Why choose no sulfates? Here is why you should make the switch and other questions answered.
So, What Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo?
Scientifically, sulfates are chemicals included in shampoos considered as cleaning agents. Almost all shampoos contain wither sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, known as SLS and SLES, respectively.
Unfortunately, the satisfying lather that comes with shampooing your hair is attributed to sulfates. The rich lather is part of the cleaning process that removes dirt and oils from your hair.
Sulfates can cause damage to your hair, which has led many brands and companies to formulate products that don't have sulfates. Sulfate-free shampoo is one of the most popular sulfate-free products on the market.
A sulfate-free shampoo is simply a shampoo without these damaging ingredients. It still cleans your hair, only now with less lather. However, this still removes the dirt as well as a lathering shampoo.
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Are Sulfates Bad in Hair Products?
While sulfates can be damaging to your hair, the good news is that they aren't dangerous. They won't cause any health side effects, and they're safe to have in your home.
Sulfates have gotten a bad reputation for being a danger to your overall health, but there's no evidence to back up those statements. So you don't need to rush to throw them out for fear of your safety.
Rather, sulfates in hair products are bad because of the damage they can cause your hair. Some people may not have issues while using shampoos or products with sulfates. But many people do have problems with sulfates.
Those with dyed, curly, or kinky hair or anyone with dry scalp should consider switching to sulfate-free hair products more. People with a tendency for dry hair or scalp will reap the benefits of sulfate-free products more than anyone.
Using a shampoo with sulfates can cause dryness and breakage. So if you're having these issues, a product switch to sulfate-free might be what you need.
Not everyone needs a sulfate-free shampoo, but everyone can benefit. So you should make the switch to sulfate-free because it will be better for your hair, not because it will be better for your health.
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Top Reasons Why You Should Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Everyone wants a head full of beautiful, healthy hair. That's directly affected by the ingredients in the products you use. One ingredient that many people are debating about in hair products is sulfates.
Now that you know what sulfates are in your shampoo let's discuss the benefits of staying away from them. Why is sulfate-free shampoo good for your hair? Here are the top reasons and why you should consider switching.
Maintain Natural Hair Oils and Retain Moisture
Sulfates can strip away natural oils and moisture from your hair with every wash. Sulfates are very strong anionic surfactants that kind of make the cleaning job too well. Sulfates remove very efficiently dirt and impurities, which leaves your hair deep clean. But this process can also remove some natural oils along with it.
Removing these oils can make your hair dry, frizzy, and dull. The lack of moisture can even lead to dandruff, breakage, and split ends. This stripping leads to curls that aren't bouncy and hair that isn't shiny.
Preserve Your Hair Color
Many people color their hair nowadays. Whether you're covering a few grays, wanting to try a new look, or going bold with your style choices with a vibrant new shade, hair color is a common part of the beauty routine.
Unfortunately, your dyed hair color doesn't always look as amazing a few weeks later as it does the day you color it. But because sulfate-free shampoos are more gentile, you can extend the color life, avoiding dullness and fading.
Curl Enhancement
Of course, you had to know that one of the benefits of sulfate-free shampoos is better curls. Anyone who has naturally curly locks should switch over as soon as they can.
The moisture-stripping properties of sulfate products are making your curls look dull and lifeless. Continued use can make curl maintenance feel like an uphill battle with consequences like losing your curl pattern.
Sulfate-free shampoos help retain the moisture and oils that make your curls bouncy, shiny, and beautiful.
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Good for Sensitive Scalps
Sensitive skin can be a fight all on its own. Anyone with a sensitive scalp knows how important it is to choose the right products for your hair and your skin.
Itchy, irritated skin, dry scalp, and dandruff can be exacerbated with sulfates. A sulfate-free shampoo can be more gentle for anyone with a sensitive scalp. Say goodbye to flaky, red skin when you say goodbye to sulfates.
How to Tell if Shampoo Is Sulfate-Free
Many sulfate-free shampoos will have a label that boasts that it doesn't use sulfates. However, the only way to be sure is to check the ingredient list. Not all sulfate-free shampoos advertise it on the bottle.
Luckily, sulfates can be easy to spot in the long ingredient list when you know what to look for. Often they're early in the ingredient list and don't have complicated scientific names.
The most common sulfates are sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate and sodium coco sulfate.
If your shampoo has any of these listed as ingredients, it's not sulfate-free. But if it doesn't, you should be good to go. It's good practice to read the ingredient list of your products if you want to know how it will affect your hair.
Your Prettiest Curls Yet
Maintaining your curls can sometimes feel like a full-time job. You have to research the right products, find the best care routine, and, overall, be much more careful about how you treat your hair.
But that extra effort often pays off in beautiful, bouncy twists: your prettiest curls yet. Choosing to switch over to sulfate-free shampoo can be a big difference in your curly hair care routine.
And if a simple swap can yield such good results, the change is worth it. Ready to see your prettiest curls? Check out more advice, reviews, and products on our website today!
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BOTOX VS FILLERS: USES, RISKS AND RESULTS
Botox injection sand derma fillers are two of the most popular cosmetic procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were nearly 7.4 million Botox injections and 2.6 million derma filler injections in 2018.
Both procedures are minimally invasive and performed with a needle, but that’s where the similarities end. This guide will discuss the differences between Botox, Dysport, and derma fillers, including the uses, risks, and results.
Know the facts before scheduling a Toronto fillers, Botox, or Dysport treatment.
Botox
Botox is one of the most well-known cosmetic procedures that targets wrinkles and skin creases. It’s derived from a toxin made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Don’t let the toxin or bacterium make you nervous; botox is safe and has been used for years to treat severe sweating, migraines, shoulder and neck spasms, and many other conditions.
Botox works by blocking the nerve signals to muscles, preventing them from contracting. Botox is often used to soften wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes, and frown lines between the eyebrows.
Being a quick procedure is one of the advantages of Botox. Since it only takes a few minutes, you can get the procedure at lunch and finish out the rest of your day. You’ll see the full effects in 7-14 days.
The results last for about 3-6 months, and at this time, you’ll have to schedule another appointment. Some people may see temporary side effects such as bruising, headaches, mild pain at the injection site, and eyelid drooping.
Dysport
Since Botox is the most well-known treatment, you may be wondering what is Dysport. Dysport was often considered the European counterpart to Botox before being approved for use in the United States.
Both treatments use Botulinum Toxin A as the active ingredient to disable the nerves at the injection site to limit muscle movement and smooth out wrinkles. However, there are some differences.
One of the benefits of Dysport is that it diffuses faster, which means it can spread over a larger area faster than Botox. This injectable works better on areas like the forehead and frown lines.
But an experienced doctor or aesthetician can use a combination of Dysport and Botox to treat different areas on the face.
Derma Fillers
While derma fillers can help reduce facial lines, this procedure is often used to restore volume to the face. Over time, faces lose subcutaneous fat, bringing muscles closer to the skin surface and making lines and wrinkles more apparent.
Derma fillers help to bring a youthful fullness back to the face. You can use derma fillers to plump thin lips, reduce the appearance of recessed scars, and reconstruct the contours of the face.
This is a minimally invasive procedure requiring injections at a few sites on the face, depending on what areas are being treated. The entire process can last between 15 minutes to an hour.
You may see bruising or have temporary numbness, but these can improve in less than a few days. Risks are low, though visual disturbance and pain or weakness on one side should be treated immediately.
Toronto Fillers, Botox, and Dysport Treatment
Everyone wants to look and feel their best. As you age, you want smooth skin and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. To achieve that, sometimes, you may need a little help from cosmetic treatments.
Toronto fillers, Botox, and Dysport treatments can all help you achieve the younger-looking skin you’re looking for. But before treatment, it’s important to review your options to know which is best for you.
Our expert aestheticians at Pearl on King can help suggest the cosmetic treatment that will best target your concerns. Book a consultation or appointment with us today!