Niacinamide- An anti-aging powerhouse ingredient!

I love reading about ingredients in the products that I use because I want to know what kind of benefits of that particular ingredient would do for my skin. Last week, I did a search on this particular ingredient called Niacinamide.

What is Niacinamide?

Known as Vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, niacinamide is a potent cell-communicating ingredient that offers multiple benefits for aging skin. Assuming skin is being protected from sun-exposure, niacinamide can improve skin's elasticity, dramatically enhance its barrier function, help erase discolorations and revive skin's healthy tone and texture. ( Source from here )

What It Does?

Topically applied niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin, prevent skin from losing water content, and stimulate microcirculation in the dermis.It also has a growing reputation for being able to treat uneven skin tone and to mitigate acne and the red marks it leaves behind ( known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation ). It is an excellent ingredient for those struggling with wrinkles and breakouts. Niacinamide is stable in the presence of heat and light. ( Source from here )

Yoghurt with Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder ) Mask

Those who read my blog regularly knows that I have this love affair with yoghurt mask. I have been consistantly using this as my mask and it has become a staple mask for me. My skin has reaped great benefits from it, both in moisturization and evening out my skin tone too.

On the other hand, I love the benefits of rice powder as well. I have read some site that recommended adding rice powder to yoghurt as it claims to reduce wrinkles, blemishes and helps in brightening. So I have decided to amped up my yoghurt mask with my bedak sejuk pastilles.

My Blemish Treatment ( Part 3 ): Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder )

Homemade Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder )

Concluding 'my blemish treatment' trilogy will be this tradional beauty product called Bedak Sejuk ( Cooling Rice Powder ). For me, I would fondly call it 'Sui Fan' ( literally translated to powder water ) because I remember when I was young, my mom would apply them all over my face.

Then, I wasn't sure how this product will do any good to my face because I looked ridiculously ghostly when applied at night. Now, being older and wiser *cough*, I really have to thank my mom for this because I think, it gradually helped me as I don't have severe acne problems when puberty hits. I am very blessed with good skin condition ( up until now ) and my friends would always praise me for my fair and glowing skin.

Read more to know how is it made, the benefits of it and my experience with it.

My Blemish Treatment ( Part 2 ): Lactic Acid



Last week, I have shared the multiple benefits of using Latic Acid for face. ( Highly recommended to all readers to read ). In this Part 2 of my experimental blemish treatment, I am going to share with you my experience in using Lactic Acid as a facial mask to combat my hormone related acnes.

In short, Lactic acid ( versatile alpha hydroxy acid derived from sour dairy products and fermented fruits and vegetables ):  

• Fight against Aging and Wrinkles
• It is a safe and natural Skin Lightener alternative
• Help against Acne

Read on to know whether this particular ingredient have helped me with my acne problems....

Lactic Acid: An All Rounder Natural Ingredient for Face

( Image Source: yoghurtstarter )

This is part of my continuation post of 'My Blemish Treatment'. What I have decided to do here is to write a separate page of the multiple uses of Lactic Acid as the benefits are too overwhelming for me to write :D

I first came to know about the benefits of Lactic Acid when I was reading a featured article posted on Marie Veronique's blog (http://mvorganicsblog.com/) To my discovery, it seems to do wonders for your face!

What is Lactic Acid? It is a versatile alpha hydroxy acid derived from sour dairy products and fermented fruits and vegetables.

My Blemish Treatment ( Part 1 ): Salicylic Acid Treatment and Benefits

( Image taken from getacnehomeremedies )



I had a series of breakouts for the past 2 months and most of it is due to hormonal breakouts. Sigh! My breakouts are not major... probably 1 pimple per week especially on forehead and chin area. Though it is little, I usually freak out and I would desperately find remedies to calm it down. ( I think anyone would )

This is the Part 1 of my 3 'experimental treatments' ( which I will share with you this week and next too ).

Before I move on, here is a quick look on my updated skin profile:

Normal to dry, sensitive.

( Slight oiliness on the forehead but normal to dry on nose and cheeks area)

Occasional breakouts at forehead and chin area.

Congested nose
 ( blackheads )

Pigmentation and freckles at cheeks area.

In the month of April, my skin type was combination to dehydrated. ( Read HERE ) I am happy that after 5 months, my dehydrated skin type changed back to normal and my pigmentation problem is under control.:D

Due to my skin type, I am prone to acne scarring ( even though I do not pick on them ) and it would usually take 2 months for the scars to lighten. I am not sure if it is only me or it's normal for acne scars to take that long to clear or lighten.

In this post, my first blemish treatment that I've tried is using products containing salicylic acid. Here is a brief description on salicylic acid and other uses too.

My Reads: Three Common Skin Care Myths

I found this pretty interesting article on MVO's blog and thought that it's a good topic to share. Enjoy!

Here are some common notions about what we need to do to keep our skin vibrant and healthy. Just answer true or false, then see if your answers agree with ours.

1) High SPF ratings are your best protection against sun damage.

FALSE

The problem with a sunscreen with a high SPF rating is that, because it allows you to stay out in the sun longer without getting burned, you may feel that you have not incurred sun damage when in fact you may have exposed yourself to the more insidious damage caused by longer wave-length UVA rays. Risks from UVA over-exposure are potentially of more concern than the risks associated with simple sunburn occasioned by over-exposure to UVB rays. See #2 below for more discussion of UVA rays.

Two better ways to protect yourself are:
1) MAKE SURE YOU GET BROAD-SPECTRUM UVA/UVB PROTECTION.
2) Remember that sunburn is your natural alarm system–red skin tells you that you’ve had enough and it’s time to cover up.

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid



( Picture taken from stay-confident.com )

My skin is more skewed towards combination/dehyrdated and moisturisers just doesn't cut out for me. At my current skincare regime, oils are my current effective moisturisers now and I am incorporating products containing hyaluronic acid to increase skin hydration. Honestly, before I would venture into using new products, I would usually do a background check to understand certain ingredients and benefits. Here is a quick background of Hyaluronic Acid.

My question on Cleansing Oils

Recently, I purchased a bottle of cleansing oil because I have heard so much about Oil Cleansing Method ( OCM ) and since this method is relatively new to me, I have decided to post my question to Viva Woman, my favourite blogger. She posted my question on her blog and I would like to share with you her thoughts on my question. Read it HERE. I hope many will this helpful, just as much as it has helped me.

My Reads: Why Avoid Fragrances?

 

This is the continuation ariticle from My Reads, taken from my favourite Marie Veronique Organics blog:

Why Avoid Fragrances?

Most products, particularly body lotions, are loaded with fragrance, and most of the time it is synthetic fragrances, described on the label as either “fragrance” or “parfum”, or on occasion, both. It is best to avoid fragrances. Even if you are not concerned about potential neurotoxic or endocrine disruption effects, fragrances are also the number one cause of allergic dermatitis.

If you are plagued with skin rashes the first place to look would be your body care products’ label. Switching to a fragrance-free product may make a big difference. However, searching for a product that is truly fragrance-free can be problematic, since fragrances and trade secret formulas are exempt from the FDA requirement that all ingredients contained in a product be listed on the label.

A distinction also needs to made between “unscented” and “fragrance-free,” An unscented product may still contain a masking scent, so it is important to read labels carefully in order to avoid harmful chemicals found in synthetic fragrances.

Some companies use essential oils (volatile liquids extracted from plants that retain the smell and taste of the original plant) and/or hydrosols (the liquid obtained from the steam-distillation process used to extract the oil) to obtain a pleasant scent. Essential oils are not hazardous to health, some of them in fact have beneficial properties for skin.

However, essential oils are not for everybody. Some people are allergic to certain essential oils, with some of the most common allergens being chamomile, lemongrass and lavender. If you know you are allergic to a certain essential oil by all means avoid it. Citrus essential oils and bergamot can photo-sensitize skin and should be avoided.

My Reads: Guide for Selecting Skin Care Products for Body



I've grown to love Marie Veronique Organics a lot and I just love reading her blog. From her blog, I've learnt quite a number of things regarding our skin conditions, ingredients and even articles like this one. I thought this is informative and would like to share the pointers from this article to those who are following my blog.

Look for Safe Scents:

1) Avoid fragrance or “parfum”.
Some products will describe their fragrance as “natural,” or “derived from natural sources.” If the sources are not listed it may contain synthetic fragrance.

2) If you are looking for an unscented product, buy products marked “fragrance-free”.
An unscented product may still contain a masking scent.

3) Buy products made with essential oils.

Products containing essential oils are a good alternative to those made with synthetic fragrances. The product should list should list all the essential oils it contains. If you have an allergy problem don’t settle for “Brand X’s proprietary oil blend.” This is not enough information. Citrus essential oils can photosensitize skin and should be avoided.

Moisturize Safely and Effectively:

1) Look for a good proportion of oils to water.
If you like lotions, look for products containing a reasonable number of oils in addition to water content. There are a number of good oils to choose from that are stable and high in essential fatty acids. Some good are: sunflower seed, avocado, apricot kernel, coconut and jojoba.

2) Look for cold-pressed or expeller-pressed oils.
Solvent extractions can leave traces of contaminants in the end product.

3) Avoid products containing mineral oil and petrolatum.
Mineral oil, aka petrolatum, is a by-product of petroleum. It can clog pores and eventually dry the skin rather than moisturize it.

In the following week, I will continue with the articles of " Why Avoid Fragrances" and "Water, Wax and Oils in Skincare"

So, whenever you are purchasing a new product, use this guide to ensure that you are choosing a safe product for your skin.

So many products to choose from, which shall I buy?

I am sure many of us have been through that, or occasionally still is, as there are so many new offerings in the market right now. Some claim to have all the ingredients you ever need in the bottle to solve all your skin condition. Well, I am skeptical about those 'all in one' product claims though. My personal thought is that, the more ingredients added in the bottle, the more 'diluted' each ingredient is and the efficiency of each ingredient, ie vitamin E, will be less pronounced to your skin. These few days, I have been bombared by many product offerings which left me being fickled, and seems that I will be spending more money than I usual. I realised that we need take one step at a time:

• Identify what you need to treat your skin. These days, I know that I needed to find something to treat my scars( due to insect bites ) for my skin. After much research, I know I need Vitamin E for scar healing, or Rosehip oil, that promises lightening for scars and overall healing. I chose topical Vitamin E at the moment so to treat the scars first. If your concern is treating pigmentations, invest in a product have topical ingredients ie: Vitamin C that to treat your skin first. From my side, I try to look for products that are more 100% natural or organic so that they do not contain any harmful ingredients.
• Treat your skin and give your skin time for healing. Don't be tempted to try other new things during this time of treatment and healing. Give your body the nurturing it needed and patience to see the healing comes.
• Maintainence comes after healing. From my personal experience, I know that my skin is very dehydrated and skin renewal process is slow. Once I have completed healing the scars, I know I need something to maintain it and keep it healthy. I have heard so much about the benefits of pomegranate oil, their anti-oxidant properties that fight free radicals and skin aging. It is used to heal, protect, moisturize dry or irritated skin, as well as for ezcema. Now I know that is what I would prefer for my skin and now it is a good time to do some research on products that offer this.

During this journey, I've learnt to know what you need for your skin. We are always tempted to buy other things with many good reviews but it may not be necessary for your skin at this point. Invest in something ( may not necessarily be expensive ) to first treat and then followed by the sequence as I've written above.

Safe and Harmful Ingredients in your Products

As you know, I am actively looking for a better alternative to my current skincare product. During the last 3 weeks, I have approached 1 or 2 brands and requested samples to try out first before I make a haul. Why we need to do this because we may be allergic to certain ingredients, even though some may assure you that it is 100% natural. Please keep in mind that even if they tell you they are using all natural ingredients, they may contain certain preservatives like methylparabens or propylparaben, that may be harmful to  your skin.

I am slowly learning how to read ingredients from the back of the product and try to learn the properties of an ingredient. I came across this website Skin Deep, a safety guide to cosmetic and personal care products. It has become a very useful website or tool for me to check the ingredients before I make a purchase and check if my current skin care products may contain harmful ingredients. ( Lo and behold, my current ones does have )

Through this experience, it have changed my views on certain brands. My skincare quest now evolves to using non irritant products, safe and effective natural ingredients( could be plant based or organic ) and sharing with others on my journey.