'C' WHAT WE DID THERE?

Puns aside, topical Vitamin C is Critical (yep, with a capital C) for optimum skin health. That’s because it does for skin all the things that regular Vitamin C does for your body (reducing inflammation, boosting resilience and increasing overall well being) — plus a whole lot more, since ingested Vitamin C generally does not  generally reach the topmost layer of skin.   

Adding this amazing antioxidant to your regular skincare routine can therefore work wonders: 

• Brightens skin’s appearance, giving it a youthful glow

• Fortifies skin against sun damage and environmental pollutants

• Evens out skin tone

• Reduces hyperpigmentation

• Minimises the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of premature ageing

• Boosts collagen production and repairs damaged skin

From hydrating skin to improving the look of dark underage circles, these are the four cardinal points of SkinCeuticals’ Vitamin C serums… 

CE Ferulic

This daytime-use Vitamin C serum offers unparalleled environmental protection, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boosting skin’s firmness, and brightening your complexion. A superhero in the battle against free radicals (think sun damage and environmental pollutants), it will help keep your skin strong and resilient. 

Phloretin CF

Another daytime antioxidant serum that delivers superior environmental protection for your skin, it’s also great at minimising the appearance of wrinkles and instances of skin discolouration, such as hyperpigmentation and age spots. 

Silymarin 

This oil-free serum is a lifesaver for acne-prone, oily or combination skin, improving clarity and refining texture. It also shields against those pesky free radicals. 

Serum 10

A wonderful choice for sensitive skin, it offers similar benefits of environmental defence and protection against premature ageing. It also works wonderfully well on mature skin, which is often thinner and more delicate. 

Want to find out more or schedule a consultation? Just give us a call — and check out our April specials, where you can get 15% off our Picoway full face pigment treatment with the purchase of any two SkinCeuticals antioxidant products. 

RETINOL TO THE RESCUE

You know how they say the devil is in the details? Sometimes, the littlest things are the ones that make skin appear dull: fine lines, discolouration, brown spots. But fear not! Like your skin’s guardian angel, retinol can swoop in and put things right. This Vitamin A derivative works hard to keep skin healthy by making DNA repair more robust and focusing on rejuvenating skin’s topmost layer, making it look and feel younger. 

If you want to be ahead to the ageing curve, you can start using retinol as early as your 20s and if you think you’re late to the party, rest assured that there are still discernible benefits to be derived — but you’ve got to do it right! 

While there are over the counter configurations, retinol is a very powerful serum and should ideally be used under the supervision of your dermatologist.

Retinol should not be applied in areas where skin tens to be thinner, like around the eyes and mouth.

For example, retinol doesn’t belong anywhere near sensitive areas where skin tens to be thinner, like around the eyes and mouth. It’s best to pair it with a good moisturiser and sunscreen, as retinol can make your skin more sun-sensitive. You also need a concentration that’s right for your skin, so we definitely recommend having a consultation with us in order to be safely guided. Unless used properly and in combination with the right supporting products, retinol can actually be the cause of hyperpigmentation, especially in darker skin tones. 

That said, it’s also quite effective and therefore worth looking into if you want to keep your skin healthy for the long haul. Our SkinCeuticals retinol range comes in three different strengths and is suitable for most types of skin, visibly reversing some of the most common signs of ageing and making skin appear smooth, even, and supple.  

Is retinol right for you? Book a consultation with us and let’s find out! 

TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL WOMEN...

Happy International Women’s Day!

It is difficult to fathom that a year has come and gone since we did our last IWD greeting in March 2021, which highlighted some of Trinidad’s most treasured women. It’s been a tough year to say the least, but therefore even more important to praise the women in our lives — the hardworking mothers, the believers, the researchers, the survivors. When I reflect on what being a physician and mother during the last year of this pandemic has meant to me, the word “empowerment” keeps resonating.

The creator of New York City’s famous “Fearless Girl" statue, artist Kristen Visbal, wanted to "call attention to the glass ceiling in the Wall Street community that so many women have faced. […] for promotion and for equal pay. I wanted her to be, essentially, a teaching tool.” She was meant improve diversity and increase the number of women sitting on corporate boards and she is doing so.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), which commissioned the statute, claims that since “Fearless Girl” was installed on March 7, 2017, the firm has identified 1,486 companies without a woman on their board, of which 862 now have a female director. I think this is truly fantastic.

Former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, put it perfectly when she said, “For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.”

Businesswoman Sara Blakely also hit the nail on the head when she spoke out in support of working mothers: “This struggle is real. The juggle is real. That's why everyone should hire working mothers. They are put in crazy situations all the time and are forced to problem-solve. They are some of my most resourceful employees.”

For me personally, I feel that I am teaching my kids a solid work ethic. We truly have to put in the effort and work hard for the things that are important to us in this life.

Tonya with her family

According to actress Angelina Jolie, “If you love what you do […] somehow that drives you forward to enjoy it all. Even the chaos, even the exhaustion of it, and even when it seems out of balance.”

Finally, it’s crucial that as women, we support one another. In the words of another very accomplished woman, Amal Clooney, “choosing to protect and celebrate each other instead of competing or criticizing one another […] is something we can practice every day, no matter where we are and what we do.”

ACNE & MOISTURISERS: CAN THEY COEXIST?

Sometimes, battling acne can feel like a merry-go-round (except way less fun). You get a pimple, and your instinct is to deny it any kind of hydration until it dries up and disappears. Why feed the beast, right? 

Well, yes…and no. The thing is, if your skin is too dry, its sebaceous glands often feel the need to produce oil more oil than usual in order to compensate for the moisture it needs. Cue the merry-go-round music, because — trust us — your breakout will likely recur. 

Too much oil = skin clogging up. Add that to the environmental pollutants, sweat and dead skin cells that also contribute to clogged pores, and you begin to see how crucial balance is. 

As Goldilocks might tell you, your skin needs to be just right (meaning not too dry and not too hydrated) in order to combat breakouts. The right moisturiser can make all the difference. This means gentle and soothing, because let’s face it: the problem with acne is that it’s angry and irritated. 

You need a moisturiser to calm the inflammation, and we’ve got some great choices, including SkinCeutical’s newest star, the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment. Once a reliable hydration barrier is in place, we can then treat whatever kind of acne you have, whether through a combination of proper diet, good products and a reliable skin care regimen, over the counter topical creams, laser treatments, or stronger and more targeted prescriptions.

TOP OF THE CLASS!

On February 22, SkinCeuticals launched one of its brightest ideas ever — the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment. 

This lightweight gel is a phenomenal moisturiser with three key ingredients:

• Alpha arbutin, which helps treat hyperpigmentation and those annoying age spots

• Azelaic acid, which reduces inflammation

• SkinCeutical’s soothing Phyto botanical blend, which gently counteracts outward signs of ageing

Put them all together, and Phyto A+ offers the added benefit of rescuing skin from a life of dullness, evening out skin tone, reducing irritation and infusing skin with much-needed moisture from its hydrating acids.

Perfect for daily use, Phyto A+ is suitable for all skin tones and excellent for anyone with sensitive, dry or acne-prone skin, as it’s both oil and fragrance-free. Clinical studies showed a 19% improvement in the appearance of rough skin, a 20% improvement in skin’s overall brightness, and an astounding 28% in skin clarity, meaning fewer clogged pores and a more luminous look and feel. 

One of the reasons Phyto A+ is such a breakthrough product is that bright, clear, even looking skin has traditionally been achieved with ingredients like acids and retinoids. Such treatments, though effective, tend to be harsher and can throw skin’s delicate pH balance out of whack. Skin might be red and irritated for a few days, some patients may experience breakouts or even discolouration, particularly in skin of colour. By pairing it with a daily use moisturiser that works gently on skin, Phyto A+ can achieve similarly visible results, but without the side effects.

Want to find out more? Just give us a call — and check out our March specials, which give you a chance to WIN the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment!