Shedding light on Sunscreens

Determining the proper sunscreen can be a daunting task for anyone, especially when faced with a jumble of scientific and medical jargon just merely on the box. But do not fret! There are basic words and key ingredients to scout for when selecting the type of sunscreen that will best protect and maintain the health of your skin.

The main purpose of sunscreen is to protect the skin from the light rays of the sun, overall decreasing the risk of skin cancer, visible damage, and signs of aging. UVB are short waves of light that tend to primarily do damage to the outermost layers of the skin (epidermis), which produces that “sunburn”. Long waves of light or UVA rays affect the innermost layers of the skin, (dermis), which houses our collagen, thus can cause textural damage. Therefore, selecting a sunscreen that is labeled “broad-spectrum” is ideal, indicating its comprehensive fight against both UVA and UVB light waves.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) indicates the duration of time at which you are exposed to the UVB rays protected prior to getting sunburned, as compared to unprotected sun exposure. Simply put, if you normally become red after 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure, then by using an SPF 2, you would have about 20 minutes of protection before you begin to sunburn. Usually, SPF 15 is a good starting point, as it offers 93% percent protection. If you are quite sensitive to the sun, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using at least an SPF 30, which offers 97% protection.

Keep an eye out for sunscreens that contain the ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These elements are also beneficial, as they both work to reflect the light rays, thereby prohibiting the production of free radicals, which overall contributes to negative signs of aging.

Kalologie provides a plethora of quality sunscreens, ranging from advance formulated broad-spectrum moisturizers like Anthelios 40 to water resistant tinted powders by Colorescience; all of which superiorly shield your precious skin from the damaging rays of the sun as well as cater to your individual style and preference.

The Economics of Laser Hair Removal

It was reported in the news a few months back that Vegas crooner, Tom Jones, had insured his chest hair for $7 million with Lloyd’s of London. Apparently, he didn’t get the memo. Recent years have shown a dramatic swing toward laser hair removal. Though laser hair removal is no longer a novelty, effective laser hair removal can be elusive. But it does exist and now is a great time to start the process. 

Many first-time laser hair removal clients often question whether long-lasting hair removal is too good to be true. They are concerned about efficacy and discomfort, both physically and financially. Because we want our clients to make educated choices, Kalologie offers free consultations for all our services. It is a great opportunity to gauge expectations and address concerns.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for the treatment, but many are who had previously assumed otherwise. Our highly trained medical professionals will also review our very valuable laser hair removal guarantee. Because hair grows in cycles, and is only treatable during its “active” growth phase, multiple appointments are inherent to the process. However, if you consider the numbers on the process, the argument is a compelling one; the sooner you start, the sooner you start saving money!

How Do Thermage Treatments Tighten Skin?

When it comes to skin tightening, body contouring and cellulite improvement, diet and exercise can only do so much. Many life variables such as age and genetics can contribute to sagging skin. Whichever the circumstance, the bottom line is the same; the skin’s resilience has been compromised. But now, there is a powerful new solution: Thermage NXT.

Thermage NXT uses radio frequency to target collagen fibers in the dermis, causing the fibers to contract, and resulting in tighter, firmer skin. While Thermage offers a noticeable, immediate benefit in skin tightening, body contouring, and cellulite improvement, it also creates new collagen over time. The full result is experienced six months posttreatment with benefits lasting anywhere from one to three years. A single, non-invasive treatment can offer a lasting result with no downtime.

Exfoliants: Scrubs vs. Serums

While we can all agree that exfoliation is an essential part of any good skin care regimen, there is more than one way to slough dead skin cells. Manual exfoliators, such as at-home scrubs and professional microdermabrasion treatments, remove dead skin cells by way of small, sand-like granules scraping against the skin. The friction caused by this scraping removes the surface skin cells. While manual exfoliators have the benefit of instantaneous cell removal, they can be harsh if overused. Some aggressive manual exfoliants can even cause broken capillaries over time or exacerbate rosacea.

Serum-based exfoliants such as Emerge by Kalologie Labs dissolve dead skin cells on the surface rather than scraping them away. While the benefits of an exfoliating serum are often cumulative, they often do more than merely exfoliate; for example, Emerge is also anti-bacterial and anti-aging. Any type of exfoliation increases sun sensitivity, however, so sunscreen is a must regardless of how you de-flake your face.

Winter Skin Tips

Though good skin care is a year-round job, few seasons offer as many solid excuses for facial treatments as winter.  Whether it’s overindulgence in holiday festivity fare, or the skin-taxing trifecta of travel, climate change, and stress, your skin-the body’s largest organ-has much to contend with.  Factor in consecutive months of decreased sun exposure, and the stage is set for a regimen of more aggressive skin-changing treatments.

Facials and peels are powerful tools in battling many skin woes; but they are especially effective against the season’s most common complaint: dryness.  Though it may seem counterintuitive, the sloughing of surface dead cells is an essential step in quenching thirsty skin.  If cells on the surface of the skin are dead, then even the most effective (and often most expensive) moisturizers cannot penetrate the skin to deliver much needed hydration-wasting good product and, therefore, good money.  So you see, winter facials and peels not only make good skin sense, but they also make good fiscal sense too.  Isn’t it nice when indulgence is also practical?