The Power of Natural

The skin is the largest organ system in the body responsible for thermoregulation, waste removal, and protection. To perform these functions, skin needs to be healthy and by being healthy, it in turn also will look its best. Skin is the outward expression of our inner health and we cannot discount the importance of a healthy lifestyle which should include a balanced diet, exercise, plenty of sleep and minimizing stress.

However the most important thing that we can do to achieve healthy skin is to use powerful natural ingredients topically. Dr. Lester Packer, of the Packer Lab at UC Berkeley, California has proven that the very best way to provide essential vitamins and nutrients to the skin is to apply them topically.

Yet, are natural ingredients really that powerful? The answer is an undeniable “Yes”. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries in Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and many Western drugs are derived directly from plants. A good example of this is Salicylic Acid from White Willow Bark. One of the main reasons that natural ingredients are so powerful is their complexity. One ingredient may contain a mixture of antioxidants, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, volatile oils, and even more. The body responds better to this complexity and many natural compounds work synergistically so that the total effect is greater than either one alone.

Natural ingredients often are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antiseptic yielding a vast array of benefits. They can stimulate the body’s own healing powers, restore balance, fight inflammation, and sooth irritation to mention a few.

Of course in the fight to maintain young, great looking skin, there is nothing as powerful as super antioxidants that can counteract free radical damage. The key to anti-aging is the wide array of amazing natural antioxidants.

So look to the power of natural for young, healthy and great looking skin!!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L. Ac., D.O.M.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Ingredients in the News

Recently, Oprah and Dr. Oz have recognized some of my favorite natural ingredients that help reduce the signs of aging and promote radiant, youthful skin. These key natural ingredients include powerful anti-aging antioxidant Astaxanthin, wrinkle-fighting peptide Argireline and skin-firming DMAE, all of which I use to formulate some of our best-selling products here at derma e^®.

Featured on The Oprah Winfrey show by best-selling author and dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, and the Dr. Oz show by Joseph Mercola MD, Astaxanthin is becoming well known for providing benefits to the human body. This anti-aging nutrient is harvested from micro-algae and is reported as the most powerful antioxidant yet discovered, 500 times more powerful than vitamin E.

Applied externally, this powerful antioxidant is reported to help protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight and premature signs of aging, and reduce the look of wrinkles. Astaxanthin has long been a featured ingredient in some of my favorite products such as derma e^®’s signature Age-Defying Day, Night, and Eye Crèmes.

Recognized on Dr. Oz for fighting crow’s feet, Argireline^® is a powerful peptide that helps relax facial muscles and diminish the look of deep lines and wrinkles. Clinical studies demonstrate that Argireline^®reduces wrinkles by 17% over 15 days and 27% after 30 days of treatment. Inspired by the anti-aging effects of peptides derma e^® combined powerful peptide Argireline^® with powerful peptide Matrixyl^™ to create our Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Crème, Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Serum and Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Eye Crème.

Also featured on Dr. Oz by Dr. Perricone was skin-firming DMAE. Highlighted to help “stop the signs of aging”, DMAE was recognized for its ability to help increase radiance and tone. DMAE (an abbreviation for the compound known as dimethylaminoethanol) has been touted as a “face lift in a jar.” Youthful skin is firm because the muscle fibers under the skin are short, thick and taut. With age, these fibers lengthen and loosen. Skin sags, and becomes thinner. As a natural, gentle solution, research shows

DMAE increases tensile strength of skin, reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for healthier, youthful skin. Here at derma e^®, we feature this ingredient in our DMAE – Alpha Lipoic Acid – C-Ester Cleanser, Toner, Crème and Serum to visibly improve skin tone and elasticity for vibrant, younger-looking skin.

I will continue to stay ahead of ingredient trends, and at derma e^® we will continue to develop natural anti-aging skincare formulas that contain optimal levels of scientifically proven effective antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and botanicals that promote healthy, beautiful and youthful skin.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Salon-perfect Skin for Spring

I recently visited my Mom in Springfield, MO. Spring is definitely around the corner as the grass is greening, the birds are moving back and the crocus flowers are blooming everywhere. Her birthday is in March and I decided this year to surprise her with something fun, so I took her to have a facial. She is 76 years old and had never had one. We went to a local salon/spa, had the best time, and emerged looking 20 years younger (not really, but the experience was terrific).

The spa facial consisted of seven steps: cleansing, a mask, hot towel wrap, another cleansing, a second mask, another hot towel, and finally a serum-type moisturizer was applied along with a shoulder, neck, arm, and scalp massage. Our skin definitely looked brighter and more vibrant and I was reminded how essential cleansing and exfoliation really are for great looking skin.

Aging skin, and problem skin (acne and other issues) experience a slowing down in the natural exfoliation process. It is very important that we encourage this vital function with either physical or chemical exfoliation. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA Beauty Fluid) are chemical exfoliants that dissolve the lipid bonds between the surface cells and reveal younger, plumper and healthier looking skin. Physical exfoliants are scrubs with different types of abrasive materials.

derma e® makes several excellent scrubs that feature some favorite skin-pleasing ingredients such as the: Vitamin A Glycolic Facial Scrub, Fruit Enzyme Facial Scrub, Tropical Solutions™ Facial Scrub and the Very Clear® Cleansing Scrub. And finally, I think the best facial scrub is the Microdermabrasion Scrub, which is based on a crystal-blend system featuring magnesium oxide crystals from Dead Sea salts for the most effective exfoliation possible. If you haven’t tried this amazing product before, I invite you to ask for a sample from your favorite store and then use it on only half your face (to begin with). The results will be visible and immediate. (Of course, then do the other side so that you won’t appear lop-sided.)

So if you too would like to look like you just stepped out of the spa, make sure you cleanse, exfoliate and use a nutritious moisturizer for great looking skin.

Yours in health,

Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.