Gary's Blog

Your Questions Answered – 9/28/07

My gold toner loses its color, what is the problem?

The pink colorant that is used in this product is a natural colorant that is UV/light sensitive. If exposed to sunlight, the product can start to lose its color over time. This does not affect the efficacy of the formula and should be no reason to return the product.

If the Platinum Plus line is fragrance free, then what am I smelling in the products?

It is important to note that there is not an added fragrance in this line. The smell that you notice is the natural ingredients which we call our Floranutritive complex. This is a natural blend of oils that are known to help treat post-menopausal skin conditions.

If you say that your products are alcohol free, why do I still see alcohol in the ingredients?

There are hundreds of types of alcohols that are used in cosmetics for various reasons.  When a consumer has a concern with alcohol, it is the drying effects of alcohol that are undesirable and are often avoided by consumers who are concerned with skin drying.  This is the alcohol (SD alcohol 40) that is referred to when we make the claim “alcohol free”.   In other words, free of drying alcohols.  There are other alcohols that simply cannot be avoided in formulations for their moisturizing and surfactant qualities.  These alcohols are classified as “fatty alcohols” and are used for moisturization benefits.  Attached is the legal description of a fatty alcohol:
Fatty Alcohols 
Fatty Alcohols are used as emollients in numerous types of cosmetics. They are valuable as co-emulsifiers and are employed to increase the viscosity of emulsions, shampoos, and other products.

Fatty Alcohols vs. Drying Alcohols
Most alcohols that deliver benefits to the skin are known as fatty alcohols and range in function as well. Some alcohols, like panthenol and propylene glycol, enhance a product's moisturizing qualities because they are humectants, binding water to the skin. Stearyl alcohol acts as an emollient and an emulsifier. Tocopherol (also known as vitamin E) is well known for its antioxidant and moisturizing properties. Actually, several vitamins, including vitamin A and vitamin B5, are alcohols. 

Some alcohols are not beneficial for daily skin care. Drying alcohols, including rubbing alcohol or ethanol, are extremely drying, but serve an antibacterial function. SD-alcohol 40 is a blend of ethyl alcohol (drinking alcohol), specially denatured to make it unfit to drink. When used in skin care products, these alcohols can dry the skin because of their high evaporation rate.

Alcohol-free
You may read on a label that a product is "alcohol-free." According to industry standards and regulations, this means that the product does not contain ethyl alcohol, which is known for its harsh, drying effects. However, that same product may contain fatty alcohols, which have much different effects on skin. 

The majority of our skin care products are alcohol-free although there are a few exceptions when a drying form of alcohol is needed to enhance the product performance

I will be leaving tomorrow for a week long conference in Paris, so there may be a slight delay in response times to your emails sent to product@beauticontrol.com. I will, however, be posting my blogs next Monday and Friday as usual, so be sure to check back to hear all about the fabulous new products for October.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

How Does BeautiControl Compare to Other Cosmetic Brands?

This is a question that comes up quite frequently. Of course, this is not always an easy question to answer as I really don’t view other companies as competition. Call me a snob, but it is my educated opinion that there aren’t many companies out there that have what we have to offer.

There are many things that make a successful company, in my opinion…integrity, quality, technology, a history of success and an exciting, compelling selling situation are all the ingredients that make a company successful in this industry, or any industry for that matter. BeautiControl has it all, and there are thousands of long time Consultants and customers who would agree 100%.

Integrity – this is, without a doubt, one of the most crucial aspects of any business. My father once told me that the greatest gift that he would ever be able to give me is my name, but it is up to me to maintain the integrity of my name for future generations, and once it is lost, it is gone forever. WOW! That was powerful for me as a young man, and continues to be the driving factor that carries me through my adult years. This is one of the things that I most admire and respect about this great company that I have been a part of for over 15 years.

At BeautiControl, we stand behind every one of our products and strive to create products and provide a tremendous career that allows women to live the life that they love. We are in the business of changing lives. Nothing is more powerful than knowing that you made someone’s skin look better, or helped treat a skin condition that has caused a woman to not feel as good about herself as she would like to. Knowing that through this career you have helped women change their NOW to build a future that is filled with success and personal rewards. That is the driving force behind BeautiControl and it is what keeps all of use here at the home office doing what we do, allowing us to live the life that we love as well.

Quality – part of being a company of integrity is constantly assuring that you are providing the consumer with safe, high quality products. All of our products are rigorously tested and re-tested to assure the quality and safety that you have come to expect. In fact, we are a company that does everything in excess. We do more testing and have more rigid testing parameters than most companies in this industry.

We are affiliated with the CTFA, which stands for the Cosmetic, Toiletries, Fragrance Association. This is the self governing entity that was established years ago to work hand in hand with the FDA to establish safety guidelines and standards for today’s cosmetic industry. We are in the company of other members such as Johnson & Johnson, Lauder, Lancome, and many other companies that have helped pioneer this great industry of cosmetic and personal care products. One aspect of being affiliated with the CTFA is to constantly assess the safety of our ingredients and the accuracy of our claims. I will dedicate an entire article to this topic in the near future.

Technology – it goes without saying that this is one key area that can make or break a company. It is the same in this industry as it is in the electronics industry…you are only as good as your next big thing. This is one thing that has always set BeautiControl apart. More important than HAVING technology is CREATING technology. BeautiControl has always been a leader in this field. Taking the trends and turning them into real-life solutions has been our forte from day 1. With the BeautiControl Research Institute, you can be assured that your products are exclusively formulated with the latest advancements available. Since we are a product driven company, creating our own products is one thing that we are most proud of. To use a simple analogy, who would agree with me that most people would rather eat a dinner that was made from scratch, rather than poured out of a can or popped into the microwave? It just tastes better, right? But why doesn’t everyone make dinner from scratch every night of the week? Well, it takes time, it’s more difficult and it is usually more expensive. This is exactly the reason that a growing number of companies today do not create their own formulas. It is much easier to find formulas that have already been developed, put their marketing “twist” on it, and call it their own. They don’t have the time associated with developing a product from scratch. They don’t have the expense of paying the overhead of scientists, laboratories, machinery and manufacturing equipment, and they don’t have to pay for the know-how.

Creating and controlling the technology and exclusivity of our products is standard practice for us. It costs more, and it takes more time, but it is so worth it.

A History of Success – Founded in 1981, BeautiControl has a long-running history in satisfying consumer’s needs. Whether it was “Color and Image” in the 80’s, or Age Defying solutions of today, BeautiControl has always married the best of consumer trends with the most advanced products to address those trends. We offer solutions for today, tomorrow and always.

A Compelling Selling Situation – with the Spa Escape, we have what women want. Who doesn’t want to be pampered and learn ways to pamper themselves? With the Spa Escape, we offer a comfortable environment for men and women to learn how to take care of their skin, defy the aging process and find solutions for stress management.

As a conventional Party Plan company, we have a particular focus on building clients for life. We offer both products and a rewarding career through selling these products. We are a product focused company. We are not a “member club” company, similar to many of the network marketing companies that are out there who tout outlandish claims that come with an outlandish price tag. The only affordable way to enjoy these products is to become a “member” so you get the products at a reasonable price. Our mission is to offer you serious skin care solutions and honest, proven results without the high price tag associated with similar products which can be found at department stores, high end spas and dermatologist’s offices.

BeautiControl is more than a product, it is more than a career and it’s more than a company. BeautiControl is a destination. Coming from the retail world before BeautiControl, I can tell you that we didn’t really know our end consumer. Sure we knew numbers and demographics and all the statistical information about our clients, but we didn’t REALLY know them. At BeautiControl, I know my consumer. I know exactly who we are developing products for and how we need to formulate them to satisfy YOUR needs. I have seen your faces, I have met your families, I have watched many of your children grow up, and I have seen your lives changed. To me, BeautiControl is more than a brand – it’s a family!

I hope you all have a fantastic week!!!

Your Questions Answered – 9/21/07

Will we have a mineral makeup?

Oh, if I had a dime for every email that I had to answer about this topic…….

The short answer is, yes, we are working on a mineral makeup that will be available in 2008. 

Now, that begs the next question which is, “since we are always on the forefront of technology, why don’t we already have a mineral makeup?”.

This is a technology that I have been familiar with for quite a few years, since before the first mineral powder foundation was introduced to the US market.  Not only am I familiar with it, I have worn it…yes, I have worn it, just like all the other products that we introduce to you.  I could never, with all good consciousness, introduce a product to the market that I have not worn and tested on myself.  Like any product, mineral foundations have their pros and their cons, in my opinion.  Until recently, I have not been impressed enough with the technology of the various brands on the market to wish to duplicate this within our line.  When we do bring this category of product onto the market, I can assure you that it will be a step ahead of the competition.

In case you aren’t familiar with this type of product, let me give you some information that will allow you to understand this category of powder foundations a little better and be able to separate fact from marketing hype.

First of all, it is important to realize that most pressed and loose powders, whether they are called “mineral makeup” or not, are made of minerals.  Talc, which is the key ingredient in most foundations and powders on the market is a natural mineral and has been proven to be safe and effective despite any negative publicity that has been generated by competitive brands.  Unlike other base ingredients, talc is also more oil absorbent and mattifying to the skin, while allowing the formula to blend beautifully, so it is more appealing to women who are looking for a less shiny look.  With that being said, one could easily classify our wet/dry foundation as a pressed mineral makeup, since the majority of ingredients are technically minerals.  In fact, our Tuscan Sun Bronzer is IDENTICAL to formulas that are being marketed as “mineral makeup”.

I keep hearing people say that they love mineral makeup because it is “all natural”.  Well, this is marketing hype at its best.  The key ingredient in mineral makeup is bismuth oxychloride, a synthetically manufactured colorant (according to the CTFA Ingredient database), this would disqualify these products from being marketed as “all natural”.

Here are some pros and cons to consider when choosing to use a mineral type foundation, whether it is a competitive brand or ours when we bring this product to the market:

Pros:
• Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (which is found in most foundations) provides broad-spectrum sun protection.
• Provides a sheer, natural looking medium coverage for normal to slightly oily skin types.
• Leaves a shiny luminescence on the skin (which can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it).
Cons:
• Looks muddy on oily skin and dry/cakey on dry skin.
• Because the particle size is so finely micronized, they can sink into the pores and cause them to become clogged unless a rigid cleansing regimen and masks are used to keep the pores free of pigment debris.  Can make the skin “dirty” with continued use if skin is not properly cleansed.
• Can make the skin oily due to the heavier nature of the base ingredients. 
• Can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles on the face as well as accentuate any fine facial hairs that may be present on the face.
• Typically more difficult to blend than other types of powder foundation that have a talc base.

So, that is my basic synopsis on this type of foundation.  The bottom line is this – mineral makeup formulas are great, but not intended to be used by everyone.  These types of foundations are not best suited for those who exhibit moderate to more advanced signs of aging, or skin that is oily or dry.  If you have very few visible signs of aging and have combination to slightly oily skin, then this is a great type of foundation for you. 

What are parabens and do they cause cancer?

Parabens are a class of preservatives (ingredients that help to prevent microbial contamination) that have been used in a wide variety of foods, drugs, and cosmetics to keep products safe. Parabens have a long history of use in these products, and have been specifically recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed their use in cosmetics and concluded that they were safe.

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that cosmetics and non-prescription drugs and their individual ingredients must be safe and that labeling must be truthful and not misleading. The FDA can take immediate action to stop the sale of any product that does not meet its high standards.  Given FDA regulation, commitment of the industry, and long history of safe use, consumers can have confidence in their cosmetics and non-prescription drugs.

As a member of the CTFA, we follow strict guidelines that restrict us to adhere to guidelines established by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review board.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 by the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association (CTFA) with support of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. Although funded by CTFA, CIR and the review process are independent from CTFA and the cosmetics industry. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review thoroughly reviews and assesses the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics in an open, unbiased, and expert manner, and publishes the results in the open, peer-reviewed scientific literature.

The CIR Procedures established an Expert Panel to set priorities and review and assess ingredient safety data.  The seven CIR Expert Panel voting members include physicians and scientists who have been publicly nominated by consumer, scientific and medical groups, government agencies and industry. Three liaison members serve as non-voting members representing the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Consumer Federation of America and Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association (CTFA).  By uniting industry, consumers and government, the Expert Panel creates a unique environment for discussions affecting public safety.

Working on the high priority ingredients, CIR staff conduct extensive literature searches, compile data and prepare draft reports.  CIR staff organize the literature into chemistry, including physical properties and manufacture; use, including cosmetic and non-cosmetic; general biology, including absorption, distribution, and metabolism; animal toxicology, including acute, short-term, subchronic, and chronic studies, as well as dermal irritation and sensitization; and a clinical assessment, which may include epidemiology studies along with classic repeat insult patch tests.  In vitro test data are also gathered and incorporated into the review.
If the open, scientific literature contains insufficient information, the Panel will call on industry or other interested parties to undertake specific studies or to provide previously unpublished data.  After completion of a development process that includes multiple opportunities for public comment and open, public discussion of the report, a Final Report is issued.   These final reports are available from CIR.  Eventually, CIR final reports are published in the International Journal of Toxicology.

Understanding that parabens continue to be the subject of negative publicity, we have made efforts over the past 2 to 3 years to avoid using them in our products.  The majority of new products that have been introduced over the past few years (with the exception of color products) have been paraben free and we will make efforts to incorporate paraben free formulas in every existing product as we re-formulate them.

Why don’t all of our products contain an SPF?

It is a well publicized fact that everyone needs to incorporate some form of UV and antioxidant protection into their skin care regimen.  The days of walking outside without sun protection are over.  In fact, it is estimated that over 85% of the visible signs of aging are caused by the sun.  It is also estimated that the majority of the damage that you see in your skin today is the result of damage that occurred before the age of 20.  So, needless to say, sun protection is crucial.

There are two types of ingredients that provide UV protection (SPF).  There are chemical sunscreens and physical block sunscreens.  Chemical sunscreens are typical sunscreens that you see on the market, Parsol 1789, being one of them.  Physical sunscreens are comprised of natural ingredients – titanium dioxide and zinc oxide – that help put a physical barrier on the surface of the skin to protect from UV exposure. 

Chemical sunscreens have a higher rate of allergic response in clients and cannot be tolerated by those with more sensitive skin or sun screen allergies. 

Physical sunscreens are gentle to the skin, but can leave a white or gray glow to the skin (although much is being done to create invisible physical barrier sunscreens).

We do not include SPF ingredients in all of our products due to the fact that it would limit your client base if they were among the over 25% of the population that have a sunscreen allergy.  In addition, there are studies that are being conducted that are linking extended exposure to high levels of SPF ingredients to sensitive skin conditions, such as rosacea.

We assume that all of our clients are using an MRP regimen, which would include Cell Block C SPF 20.  With this assumption, your clients will get the UV protection that they need for normal daily wear. 

We are currently working on new products that contain physical sunscreens, which will open the door to allowing us to put SPF benefits into more of our products.

WHEW!  That was a lot of information!  I will give you guys the weekend to absorb all of that information and will be back again on Monday with another topic for the week.  Next week, my topic is How does BeautiControl Compare to Other Competitive Brands?.

Have a great weekend!

Choosing the Right Eye Care Products

For this week’s topic, I wanted to address an issue that can be somewhat overwhelming and that is choosing the correct eye care products to address your specific needs. Yes, I know that our line of products is extensive. We do not have all these products to make things more difficult! We simply have choices! My job is to help you understand how to choose the correct products for your needs.

First of all, everyone needs an eye cream…EVERYONE! This part is easy:
• If you are under the age of 30, you primarily need an eye cream product that moisturizes and protects, to help prevent the development on lines and wrinkles around the eye area. Eye X Cel is the eye cream for you.

• If you are between the ages of 30 & 40, you need an eye cream that is formulated to both protect and repair, with moderate moisturizing properties. Regeneration Gold Eye Repair Cream is the product for you.

• If you are over the age of 40, you have special needs. Not only do you need extra moisture around the eye areas, you need ingredients that help repair the appearance of damage…lines and wrinkles, and ingredients that help to dramatically improve the tone and elasticity of the skin. Platinum Regeneration Advanced Eye Repair Cream is the product for you.

Another product that I really like to see every client incorporate into his or her regimen is Time to Go Time Capsules. Time Capsules contain a potent strength of retinol, a Vitamin A derivative that penetrates to the lower layers of the epidermis to help stimulate the rate that new skin cells are produced. So, while your Regeneration eye repair products work from the outside-in, Time to Go Time Capsules work from the inside-out to help create a “sandwich” effect that dramatically repairs the appearance of damage.

Now, this is important…while I like to see everyone use the Time Capsules, this is a very aggressive product and every person will have to experiment with this treatment to determine the skin’s level of tolerance. Some people will be able to wear it every night, with no problems while others may experience some redness or initial dryness (common with retinol) after using this product for several consecutive days. If you start to feel your skin become tender, red or slightly irritated, stop using for a few days until your skin calms. You can resume the use of this product after you determine the frequency of use that is best for you. Also, this DOES NOT replace the use of an eye cream. This treatment is used WITH an eye cream, to add moisture and protect the skin. Use this product at night, after your Regeneration repair product and before your eye cream.

Below are some Q&As that will help you determine which products offer solutions to specific problems:

What do I do for dark under eye circles?

There are many causes of dark circles, making them very difficult to treat.  Because the skin is so thin, the capillaries are easily damaged.  This damage causes blood to seep into the surrounding area.  The hemoglobin oxidizes and turns dark in color, enhancing the appearance of dark circles. 

There are 3 products that I recommend to help address this concern:

• Platinum Regeneration Eye Cream contains Haloxyl, the latest technology in treating the appearance of dark circles.  One component of Haloxyl, N-hydroxysuccinimide, binds to the iron in hemoglobin, making it soluble for elimination.  Another component, chrysin, works by eliminating the by-product of hemoglobin degradation.  Haloxyl also contains a blend of peptides that reinforce the firmness and tone of the eye area for a more youthful appearance.  Platinum Regeneration Eye Cream also contains Vitamin K, which plays a key role in blood clotting, and Licorice Extract, which naturally brightens the skin.  Microcirculation and capillary permeability also play a key role in reducing the leakage of hemoglobin.  Platinum Regeneration Eye Cream contains Eyeliss, which addresses these issues, as well as the problem of puffiness.  Eyeliss is a combination of three active molecules that work synergistically help to decrease capillary permeability, encourage lymphatic circulation, improve firmness and elasticity and help decrease inflammatory phenomena.

• Time to Go Time Capsules are also great to help with this problem. This product will stimulate new cell production with retinol and help improve dark circles with Vitamin K.

• Platinum Regneneration Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Patches. This is one of our newest products that can be used to help with a multitude of problems around the eyes, including dark circles. This product is not a long term repair product, but produces dramatic immediate results and will offer continued relief for dark circles and puffiness when used regularly.

What do I do for sagging or loss of firmness above my lid area?

This one I take very seriously. This is one of my own personal demons, so trust me, I am going to find the very best solution possible so we can all avoid the knife!

A good rule of thumb is this…the area from your brow to the crease of your eye is still part of your face….use the same products on that area of the face as you would on other parts. Your Regeneration face and neck serums and eye creams, as well as your Cell Block-C products contain ingredients called “peptides”. Peptides are designed to penetrate to the lower levels of the epidermis to help improve elasticity, this improving the resiliency of the skin. Another great product for this are is your Sculptique facial contour cream. This product contains peptides, as well as other ingredients to help improve the tone of the skin.
Here is a key point. One of the key reasons that we experience loss of firmness and crepey skin in this area, besides genetics, is sun exposure. Years of sun exposure on this typically unprotected, yet delicate skin, can cause it to age more rapidly than other part of the face or body. Always make sure you are using your Cell Block-C AM to help protect this delicate skin from both UV and oxidative damage.

What products can be applied to the eyelids?

This is one of the questions that I answer most frequently. Any of your eye creams can be applied from the brow to the crease of the eye. You don’t want to put products directly on the eyelid for fear of getting product into the eyes. The movement of the eyes will pull the product onto the lids, helping to moisturize and condition.

What do I use to help relax the expression lines and help soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles?

This is a category of products that has gained much attention since the discovery of Botox(TM) as an age defying skin treatment. Several years ago, physicians discovered that by injecting minute amounts of a poison into the wrinkles that you could numb the muscles of select areas on the face to relax the appearance of lines and wrinkles for several months at a time. This is GREAT if you don’t mind that somewhat frozen look that your skin gets after treatment. Listen, I never say never…..don’t think I haven’t considered this one!! In the meantime, we developed the best cosmetic alternative to this expensive, painful and questionably dangerous procedure – Platinum Regeneration Line Reversal Cream. This product helps to cosmetically relax the lines and wrinkles to offer visible results for up to 24 hours. This is a great treatment around the eyes, to soften the appearance of “crow’s feet”, those horrible little vertical lines we get between our eyebrows called “the 11’s”, or the brow area.

What do I use to help immediately plump and fill lines and wrinkles?

This is another category of products that has gained much attention in the past few years. Another popular procedure inspired by vanity is the injection of an ingredient called Restylane into the lines and wrinkles to immediately plump the skin, eliminating its visible appearance. Restylane is an alternative to collagen injections that were made popular in the 80’s. Restylane is comprised of hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer that is produced by our own bodies. This ingredient has also been used as injections into joints in hopes to avoid joint replacement procedures. Again, to avoid this painful and costly procedure, we have perfected the cosmetic application of hyaluronic acid with Platinum Regeneration Line Arrest. This product delivers these deeply penetrating ingredients into the wrinkle to temporarily plump the lines and wrinkles around the eyes, between the brows or anywhere else on the face.

Another product that has shown superior results for immediately plumping and toning the skin around the eyes are is the Platinum Regeneration Regjuvenating Eye Treatment Patches. These are little miracle workers and will offer temporary results in excess of 24 hours.

What can I use to immediately firm and tighten the skin around the eyes?

There are two products that serve this purpose:

Platinum Regeneration Eye Patches, like I said earlier, are amazing! I literally use these every morning while I am answering emails prior to work. They have made a huge difference in the youthful appearance of my eyes.

Another product that offers temporary cosmetic benefits for tightening the skin around the eyes is Tight Eyed. This product contains a polymer that shrinks as it dries to tighten the appearance of the skin prior to makeup application. While this will not have the same depth of penetration as the Platinum eye patches, this is a great product to use under makeup to prime and perfect the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

What can be used to help reduce puffiness under the eyes?

Puffiness is caused by two separate issues - fluid retention due to lack of rest or allergies and lack of firmness.  We have three different formulas that address puffiness under the eyes:

• Eye X Cel, is a moisturizing eye cream that is meant to offer skin moisturization, and antioxidant protection.  While it has green tea to help with fluid retention, as well as squalene, algae extract, and locust bean extract to aid in skin firmness, the main purpose is not to address "bags".

• Tight Eyed contains Methylsilanol Carboxymethol Theophylline ( a very aggressive topical diuretic) and green tea extract (a mild topical diuretic to help reduce puffiness) as well as many other ingredients to aid is tightening the skin's tissue.

• Platinum Regeneration Eye Patches. We already know that these are great for dark circles, immediately plumping lines and wrinkles, but we have to add reducing puffiness to its list of benefits, making this one of our most comprehensive quick fix products in our skin care line.

Hopefully this will address you’re your questions as it relates to which products to choose for your individual eye care concerns. As always, I you have questions, please be sure to email me at product@beauticontrol.com.

Make it a great week!!!!
P.S. Only 2 more weeks until the full size Skinlogics Platinum Plus will be available….WOO HOO!!!!!

Your Questions Answered

First of all, let me say “Thank You” for reading my blog. The response has been incredible and it is currently averaging over 7,000 hits a week. That is incredible.

Ok, I am off to Canada today where I will be speaking at the Canadian Connection meeting in Edmonton this weekend. It should be a blast. They are an incredibly energetic group and their growth has been unbelievable!!!

Before I left, I wanted to post this week’s most frequently asked questions. Oddly enough, this was the week of health concerns. It seems like every one of the questions that I answered had to do with some health related concern or another:

I have been reading a good deal of negative comments about aluminum in cosmetic products. Should I be concerned about the aluminum oxide crystals used in the Microderm Abrasion buffing cream?

First of all, don’t believe everything that you read on the internet. If you do, you will be running to the doctor every time to have an itch or not going outside for fear of a U.F.O. invasion. The internet is full of a lot of information – some of it good, much of it, well, not so good.

Aluminum is the 3rd most abundant natural minerals on earth. You cannot avoid it! It is in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, etc. Without a doubt we should avoid external and internal ingestion of free aluminum when at all possible as it has been linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

In our Microderm Abrasion Buffing Cream, we use a very large particle of aluminum oxide crystal. This crystal is large enough that there is really no way for it to be penetrated into the skin, causing any possible health concern.

I have Celiac disease and want to avoid products that contain gluten. What is gluten and how do I find out what products contain gluten?

I get this question A LOT!

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, vitamins, etc. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine.

Seeing that this is a digestive disorder, rather than a topical allergy to these ingredients, I decided to call the Celiac Disease Foundation in Studio City, California. I learned a good deal of information that I wanted to pass along in case you run into clients who have a gluten intolerance.

Generally speaking, Celiac disease is a digestive disorder and the ingestion of gluten (wheat, barley, rye and oats) should be avoided. The topical application of these ingredients would not be a problem with the exception of products applied to the lips.

There is a skin condition that is related to Celiac disease called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). It is a severe, itchy, blistering skin manifestation of celiac disease. Not all people with Celiac disease will have this skin problem, however some will. For patients with this skin condition, they should avoid topical use of gluten ingredients.

Now, there is a large population of people who have Celiac disease that choose not to use any form of gluten whatsoever, including their cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, etc. For this consumer, we have published a Gluten Reference Flyer” that can be downloaded on Beautinet which will help you inform your clients which of our products contain gluten so they can avoid these ingredients.

Realizing that this is growing concern, we have made efforts to replace the use of these ingredients in our products over the past few years. We do not intent to re-formulate to remove these ingredients, but if and when the formula is modified, we will remove the gluten based ingredients if at all possible.

I have a client with Vitiligo, what can be used to treat this condition?

Vitiligo (vit-ill-EYE-go) is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result, white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body.

The cause of vitiligo is not known, but doctors and researchers have several different theories. There is strong evidence that people with vitiligo inherit a group of three genes that make them susceptible to de-pigmentation. The most widely accepted view is that the de-pigmentation occurs because vitiligo is an autoimmune disease—a disease in which a person’s immune system reacts against the body’s own organs or tissues.

There are several medical treatments that can be pursued under the guidance of a physician to help get this condition under control, but there is nothing that we can do, with cosmetic products, to stop or correct this condition.

There are, however, things that I can recommend to offer a client who is experiencing the symptoms of vitiligo:
• Sunscreen - Sunscreen helps protect the skin from sunburn and long-term damage. Sunscreen also minimizes tanning, which makes the contrast between normal and de-pigmented skin less noticeable.
• Concealer – Secret Agent Maximum Coverage Concealer is formulated for more severe conditions, such as vitiligo, that require more extreme coverage.
• Self-tanning Lotions – Sunlogics Sunless Tanning Lotion or the Leg Apeel Self-Tanner will help to add color to the de-pigmented areas when used daily.
• Microderm Abrasion – our Microderm Abrasion Buffing Cream will not add pigment to the skin, but will help to minimize the areas of pigment demarcation that make the areas more noticeable.

What products can I use during pregnancy? What can be used to prevent stretch marks?

During pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid any product that contains a high % of Retinol.  Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A and is found in Regeneration Time to Go.  Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the body rather for an extended period of time.  Excessive levels of Vitamin A in the body have been linked to certain forms of birth defects.  It is best to visit with a physician regarding vitamin A in both topical and ingestible forms.

Different physicians have differing opinions on this issue.  It is best to consult your physician when you become pregnant and discuss what products you are using.

During pregnancy, the skin is prone to stretch marks. One way to help prevent this condition is to keep the skin highly lubricated to help maintain the hydrated and conditioned. We have had great testimonials from clients who have used the Therma Del Sol Olive Body Butter during pregnancy with great results. For stretch marks that have already developed, we have Demarkable, which is great for helping to improve the appearance of the skin and treating discoloration from stretch marks and scarring.

What products can be put on the eyelids?

We do not recommend that you apply any eye cream directly onto the lid area of the eye. There is a high risk of getting product into the eyes when eye creams are applied directly to the lids. In actuality, there is really no need to apply creams directly to the lids. Apply an eye cream from the brow to the crease of the lid. The natural movement of the eye will pull the cream onto the lid and allow just enough of the product to get onto the eyelid without risking irritation and eye exposure.

I use the Platinum Regeneration and noticed that the newer ones that I have opened have been a yellow/peach color instead of white and smells different. What’s wrong?

I get this one a lot, too. Last December, we reformulated the Platinum Regeneration face and neck serum. At that time, we dramatically improved the formulation, replaced the alpha hydroxy acids with the more advanced polyhydroxy acids, removed any added fragrance and modified the color from white to peach. There is nothing wrong with the product that you have. If you have not yet had the chance to learn about this amazing advancement in the category of age defying skin repair treatments, I encourage you to log onto Beautinet and check out my video called “Regeneration Presentation”, located in the Product Center. This informative workshop with walk you through the benefits of our repair products as well as help you understand the advancements that were made with the exciting Platinum Regeneration formula.

I hope you guys have a great weekend. Next week I will address the topic of choosing the correct eye care regimen for you. Be sure to check back in!!!