3 - 2024 - Scenturie

Exfoliation: The Key to Achieving Smooth, Radiant Skin

Our skin is a remarkable organ, often taken for granted despite its incredible capabilities. From protecting us against external threats to serving as a canvas for our expressions, our skin stands as a steadfast companion, accompanying us through every triumph and tribulation.

A natural marvel of our skin is that every 28 days the skin’s natural renewal process occurs bringing forth fresh, healthy, glowing skin cells. However, as we age, this process slows down, resulting in a buildup of dead skin cells that can make the skin appear dull, rough, and dry.

We can assist our skin in removing the build-up of dead skin cells with regular exfoliation. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, typically through the use of a scrub or chemical exfoliant. Exfoliating is an important part of a good skincare routine, and it offers a wide range of benefits for the skin. By removing dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and promoting cell regeneration, exfoliation helps to reveal smoother, brighter, and healthier-looking skin.

The Benefits of Exfoliating Your Skin

1. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells

The outer layer of our skin is composed of dead skin cells that have accumulated over time. These cells can make our skin look dull, dry, and flaky. Exfoliating helps to remove these dead skin cells, leaving our skin looking smooth, soft, and refreshed. By getting rid of the dead cells, you can also help other skincare products penetrate better, giving you better results from your skincare routine.

2. Exfoliating unclogs pores

Our pores can become clogged with oil, dirt, and dead skin cells, leading to acne, blackheads, and other skin issues. Exfoliating can help to unclog pores, allowing the skin to breathe and preventing the formation of blemishes. Regular exfoliation can also help to reduce the appearance of pores, making your skin look smoother and more even.

3. Exfoliation promotes cell regeneration

Exfoliating stimulates cell regeneration, helping to promote the growth of new, healthy skin cells. This can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging, as well as improving the texture and tone of your skin. By promoting cell turnover, exfoliation can also help to improve the appearance of scars and sun damage, giving your skin a more youthful and radiant glow.

4. Exfoliators improve skin texture, tone, and radiance

By removing dead skin cells and promoting cell regeneration, exfoliation can help to reduce the appearance of rough, dry, or uneven skin. This can be especially beneficial for people with dry or mature skin, as it can help to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture and prevent the signs of aging.

5. Exfoliating enhances product absorption

Exfoliating can help to enhance the absorption of other skincare products, such as serums, moisturisers, and masks. By removing the dead skin cells that can block the pores, exfoliation can help to improve the penetration of active ingredients, allowing them to work more effectively. This can help you get better results from your skincare routine, and make your skin look healthier and more radiant.

6. Exfoliating boosts circulation

Exfoliating can help to boost circulation, which can improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. By increasing blood flow to the skin, exfoliation can help to deliver vital nutrients and oxygen to the cells, helping them to function better and stay healthy. This can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and other signs of fatigue, giving your skin a brighter, more refreshed look.

7. Exfoliating improves makeup application

Exfoliating removes flaky patches, resulting in smoother skin that enhances the application of makeup. This helps prevent foundation from appearing splotchy, cakey, or settling into fine lines, leading to a more flawless makeup finish.

How Often Should I Exfoliate?

The frequency of exfoliation really depends on your skin type and the type of exfoliant you’re using. For most people, it’s recommended to exfoliate once or twice a week, but those with sensitive skin should stick to once a week or even less frequently. If you’re using a physical exfoliant, such as a scrub or brush, be gentle and avoid over-exfoliating, as this can damage the skin. If you’re using a chemical exfoliant, such as an acid or enzyme, follow the instructions and start with a lower concentration, gradually increasing as your skin becomes accustomed to it. It’s also important to listen to your skin and adjust your exfoliation frequency as needed.

It’s also important to note that exfoliating can be drying to the skin so always follow with a moisturiser immediately afterwards to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Also, never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds, or if your skin is sunburned.

In conclusion, exfoliating is an important part of any skincare routine offering a wide range of benefits for the skin. By removing dead skin cells, unclogging pores, promoting cell regeneration, improving skin texture and tone, enhancing product absorption, and boosting circulation, exfoliation can help you achieve your skincare goals and make your skin look healthier, more radiant, and more youthful. Whether you prefer physical exfoliants, such as scrubs and clay masks, or chemical exfoliants, such as acids and enzymes, incorporating exfoliation into your skincare routine can help you achieve your best skin ever.

Scenturie Natural Skincare Exfoliating Solutions

Our Scenturie Natural Skincare range offers a natural solution for gentle, effective exfoliation. Select from our award-winning Expresso Facial Scrub, Men’s Charcoal Coffee Scrub, or Clay Face Mask, and enjoy smoother, healthier, and more radiant healthy skin today.

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Espresso Facial Scrub
$42.99
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Mens Charcoal Coffee Face Scrub
$43.99
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Clay Face Mask – Calm
$44.99
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The Dangers of Parabens in Skincare: What You Need to Know

Skincare / Tania Cibulskis

What Are Parabens?

Parabens are synthetic chemicals used as preservatives in many beauty and household products worldwide. They appear on ingredient lists with names such as: isobutylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparabens. Added to many formulas to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria, parabens are what help prolong the shelf-life of cosmetics. Parabens have been around since the 1920’s, but unfortunately, in more recent years, science has linked parabens to a host of serious health and environmental issues.

Why Should You Avoid Them?

Contact Dermatitis

Parabens are known to be potential allergens, and repeated exposure to them can lead to contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals. Contact dermatitis is characterized by redness, itching, swelling, and sometimes blistering of the skin. It can occur shortly after exposure to products containing parabens or develop gradually over time with continued use.

Disruption of the Skin Barrier

Parabens can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier function, which serves to protect against external irritants and pathogens. This disruption can lead to increased skin permeability and susceptibility to irritation from other ingredients in skincare products or environmental factors.

Hormone disruption

Research has shown that parabens can penetrate our skin barrier, enter our bloodstream, and cause disruption of our endocrine system by mimicking hormones like oestrogen. This disruption of our body’s natural hormone signals can cause chemical imbalances within our body that can affect fertility leading to reproductive and developmental issues. Studies have also suggested that parabens could play a role in the development of human breast, ovary, and testicular cancer, with parabens having been detected in breast tumours, which has led to concerns about their potential role in the development of breast cancer. For these reasons, many countries have banned the use of some parabens in personal care products.

Environmental impact

Parabens can enter water bodies through various routes, including wastewater discharges from sewage treatment plants, runoff from land applications of personal care products, and direct disposal of unused products down drains. Once in water, parabens can accumulate and spread through aquatic environments, potentially affecting ecosystems downstream.

Parabens have the potential to bioaccumulate in living organisms, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Studies have shown that parabens can have toxic effects on aquatic organisms, including fish, algae, and invertebrates, even at low concentrations. These effects can include reproductive abnormalities, developmental defects, and disruptions to hormone function, which can ultimately impact ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Accumulation in the body

While limited quantities of parabens are considered harmless and are not regulated by the FDA, the problem lies in repeated exposure with daily use of certain formulas. Studies have shown that parabens can accumulate in the body over time and may have a cumulative effect. This means that even small amounts of exposure over a long period could potentially be harmful. Parabens are easily absorbed into the skin, being introduced into the system even after just one application. This is a cause for concern considering they are very often used in products that come into direct contact with the skin such body lotions and deodorants. One 2018 study found teenage girls who regularly wore makeup tested positive for 20x the normal amount of propylparaben compared to those who did not or rarely wore makeup.

Why are parabens still used?

You may ask: “Why do companies continue to use parabens if they are so bad for us and the environment?”. One major reason is because they are cheap to manufacture, which ultimately means bigger profits!

Given the damage that can be caused to the endocrine system, reproductive system, and the environment, long-chain parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, butyl-, isopropyl- and propylparaben) should not be used in personal care or cosmetic products.

Are preservatives needed in skincare products?

While ‘preservative-free’ may sound appealing, the reality is that it can actually be quite problematic. If a product is oil-based, then it may not require preservatives as oils typically do not provide the conditions necessary for bacteria, yeast, and fungus to grow. However, if a product is water-based, then it is highly unlikely that it can be preserved without the use of some kind of preservative. If a brand claims that their water-based product is 100% preservative-free, it may be a sign that they are not being entirely truthful, or that they lack knowledge about preservatives. Without a preservative, a cream can quickly become a breeding ground for mould, bacteria, and other forms of microbial growth, which can be harmful to the skin and your health. This is especially true for natural products, as they can be particularly attractive to bacteria. In fact, an unpreserved cream can be even more dangerous than a cream that contains the worst preservatives.

Overall, preservatives are needed in skincare products to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that can cause skin infections and other health issues. Without preservatives, skincare products would have a very short shelf life and could become contaminated quickly. However, it is important to choose preservatives that are safe and effective and to use them in the appropriate concentrations to ensure that they do not cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions.

What can be used instead of parabens?

There are several natural ingredients with preservative properties that are commonly used in skincare formulations and are effective in preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi in skincare products.

Two such ingredients we use in several of our Scenturie Natural Skincare products are benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid. These two ingredients are often used in natural and organic skincare products to provide broad-spectrum preservative protection against bacteria and other microorganisms. Benzyl alcohol is a natural ingredient derived from various plant sources, including jasmine, ylang-ylang, and cinnamon. Dehydroacetic acid is permitted by Ecocert as a synthetic preservative in ecological and organic certified cosmetics. Benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid are safe for use in cosmetics and skincare products and approved for use by regulatory bodies such as the FDA, EU, Ecocert, Cosmos, and Bio-Gro worldwide. Benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid have antimicrobial properties that prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms in skincare products, which helps to extend the shelf life of natural and organic skincare products. They are effective at preserving skincare products while also providing additional benefits for the skin.

It’s important to remember that everything we put onto our skin is either absorbed by our bodies or washed down the drain back into the environment, so it makes good sense to buy products that don’t cause harm to either. Always patch-test new products, especially if you have sensitive skin, and consult with a dermatologist if you have any concerns about specific ingredients.

The Dangers of Parabens in Skincare: What You Need to Know Read More »

March 2024