Like many of you, I am glued to the television every four years during the summer Olympics, rooting for the amazing athletes as they go for the gold, silver & bronze. The games are a culmination of many, many years of training and dedication to their sport, and the performances are truly inspiring.
In true skincare fanatic fashion, which products would I award medals to if given the opportunity, I wondered? Effective skincare that makes an impact on the health and appearance of our skin is also a culmination of years of research, testing and tweaking of formulations to strive for optimal benefits.
Although other judges may shuffle around their own favorites, here are my top three “personal best”:
GOLD: No question, top marks have to be given to retinoids. Backed by years of research and scientific evidence, retinoids work by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, increasing cell turnover and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The ultimate in anti-aging, retinoids also takes on the role of antioxidant by fighting free radicals, but where it really shines is as cell-communicator, essentially telling cells to behave like younger, undamaged skin. When used by more mature skin, benefits include a brighter complexion, fading of discoloration from sun exposure and exfoliation of dead skin cells. However, the use of retinoids need not be limited to just those who are concerned about signs of aging: we’ve got three teens in the PhaMix family who use Apothekari’s A is for Anti-Aging retinal serum for facial acne. Retinoids have been shown to shrink oil glands and reduce break outs by removing dead skin cells that clog pores. Magic.
SILVER: An effective skin care routine wouldn’t be complete without antioxidants to prevent damage. Antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and E, ferulic acid, pomegranate seed oil, astaxanthin and green tea are backed by sound science to support their efficacy in aiding the prevention of skin damage associated with free radicals and UV rays. Vitamin C has earned a reputation for being a standout star amongst antioxidants, and deservedly so. When used in conjunction with other active ingredients to stabilize and boost its powers, vitamin C protects from photoaging, pollution and other external factors that assault the skin on a daily basis. Although existing in several forms, vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid is backed by the most research to support its use to successfully treat many skin concerns. Our top pick in this category is Apothekari Bespoke Vitamin C Serum, a made-to-order serum in 10% or 15% concentrations that delivers stable, active and potent ingredients to literally feed your skin. Like a young athlete who has been nurtured and primed for performing at her best, all the components of our Bespoke serum were chosen for their ability to deliver, resulting in a product we’re incredibly proud to offer.
BRONZE: Our top pick for bronze is no also-ran. We take our sunscreens seriously so choosing just one sun protection product was no easy task. As we each have our personal favorite, we decided to let the people speak, and judging by customer inquiries, popularity and recommendations by dermatologists, we have to give the bronze to perennial top-seller, Anthelios XL SPF 60 Comfort Cream. There’s no doubt that it’s the inclusion of Mexoryl XL that puts this one over the top. Mexoryl XL offers considerable broad spectrum protection from both UVB and UVA rays, is highly photostable (so it doesn’t break down and lose effectiveness when exposed to sunlight), and maintains the majority of its sun filtering capabilities even 24 hours after initial application. When combined with other effective sun filters, Anthelios XL SPF 60 Comfort Cream is recognized as the one to come back to time and again. As one of our customers recently told us, “I’ve tried many sunscreens from all over the world; this one has never let me down.”
Now, back to the Games.
