Author Archives: Nicki

Are High SPF Sunscreens Safe?

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Dear Nicki, I’ve been reading a lot of reports lately that high SPF sunscreens contain too many chemicals and are unsafe.  Is this true? -Robin Dear Robin, It is well-known that over 80 percent of the visible signs of aging are attributable to sun damage.  So it’s no wonder that the U.S. sunscreen market has been growing at a rate of 30% a year, to $650 million in 2011 (Mintel Sun Care Report, 2011). Unfortunately, the sometimes overly alarmist Environmental Working Group said high SPF sunscreens can “penetrate through the... read more

Hydroxy Acids Part II: The Differences between Glycolic Acid, Salicyclic Acid, Lipohydroxy Acid, and Gluconolactone

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About the author:  FutureDerm.com is proud to introduce John Su on our staff as a Contributing Writer.  John is an established skin care expert and aspiring dermatologist.   He also runs a blog, The Triple Helix Liaison, dedicated to providing unbiased, meaningful, and insightful information about skin care. For his full bio, please visit our About page. Last week, in Hydroxy Acids Part I:  What are Hydroxy Acids?, we differentiated the various types of hydroxy acids (HAs) that one can encounter in the cosmetic and medical industries. I... read more

How to Get Rid of Acne: 6 Treatments You Haven’t Tried!

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acne by epidenver
acne, a photo by epidenver on Flickr. People typically think of acne as a typical teenage problem.  However, a University of Alabama at Birmingham study of more than a thousand adults revealed that acne doesn’t always end with the teen years, even if you have a skin care routine. Adult acne affects the following demographics: 50% of women and 42% of men in their 20s 35% of women and 20% of men in their 30s 25% of women and 12% of men in their 40s 15% of women and 7% of men in their 50s and up Obviously, not a teenage issue at all! Social... read more

Are Herbal Supplements Better than Skin Care?: ShroomTech Supplements Review

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Herbs
Herbal medicine is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of treatment.  For centuries, it has played a major role in the medicine of Africa and Asia; in recent times, it has reached the shores of America and Europe to become one of the fastest-growing methods in the world.  With recent research published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology suggesting that eating certain antioxidants may be even more beneficial than topically applying them, it’s no wonder were turning more and more to herbs for anti-aging skin care. Unfortunately,... read more

Should I Use Soap, Body Wash, or Shower Gel?

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Decorative hand soaps
Dear Nicki, Which is better for the skin – soap or shower gels? -Bree Dear Bree, Our great-grandparents had no choice but to use a bar of soap in the bath or shower.  Yet like so many other improvements – horses to cars, landlines to cell phones, air mail to e-mail – shower gels and body cleansers are often an improvement to soap.  Take, for instance, a 2004 study in Dermatologic Therapy which found cleansers with a high pH (like many soaps) can strip skin of lipids and proteins, leading to dryness, irritation, redness,... read more

Which Fruits and Vegetables are Best for Your Skin?

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futurederm icon
Now that I’ve hit my mid-twenties, suddenly I’ve realized that I can’t eat the way that I used to, even though I’m an avid runner.  With that said, I’ve started to invest in a lot more fruits and vegetables recently, which got me wondering:  Which fruits and vegetables are the best for your skin?  After all, you’re going to be grazing like a rabbit, you might as well get the biggest benefits! Thankfully, numerous studies have come in on this topic, and I’ve highlighted a few below. Best Fruits for... read more

The Ugly Truth about Makeup and Moisturizers with SPF!

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Surprising Lady by KobenP
Surprising Lady, a photo by KobenP on Flickr.   Everyday, we make the conscious choice to trust all kinds of people, places, and things. We trust our best friend with our deepest, darkest secrets. We don’t second-guess that our bus or car or plane will get us to our destination safely. But when it comes to our beauty products, one time we should be skeptical when we are not is with makeup and moisturizers that contain sunscreen. It turns out that your average SPF 15 powder is giving you a true SPF of 1.1, and your SPF 15... read more

How Do You Use CoffeeBerry with Other Antioxidants?

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Revale Skin CoffeeBerry
Dear Nicki, I’m a new fan of your blog! I came across it in my searches for reviews and insight on coffee berry. I’ve read many favorable reviews for Skinceuticals CE Ferulic [and other antioxidant treatments], can (and how) would you use that along with Revaleskin products with Coffee Berry? -Melissa   CoffeeBerry Extract, found in Revaleskin products, currently has the highest antioxidant potential of any ingredient.  This assessment is based on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Score (ORAC) — a method developed by the... read more