Microdermabrasion

In the world of microdermabrasion, the options and equipment seem to be endless and to many, it can be a costly ongoing treatment. But what is it, how does it work, why use it and which treatment should I use?

Microdermabrasion is a combination of three words: 'micro' (meaning on a microscopic level) 'derm' (meaning skin) and 'abrasion' (meaning rubbing down).

As you can see in the picture on the left, there are many layers of skin. The top layer is actually called the epidermis, with the very top being a layer of dead skin cells.

The layer of dead skin cells is both good and bad, depending on your point of view. The good thing it does is protect the new skin forming underneath from damage, from things like environmental pollution, UV damage and dehydration.

In healthy skin, once the new skin is mature enough, the dead skin cell layer will naturally fall away during daily activities (adding to all the lovely dust in our homes). However, most people don't have fully healthy skin (I know I don't!) and that's when the layer of dead skin cells becomes a problem.

Often due to many varying factors such as diet, sun damage, stress, dehydration or even genetics the dead skin is almost trapped to the surface causing blocked pores, blemishes, oily skin and even wrinkles (there are also a host of other problems with skin such as the skin cells reproducing too quickly, allergies and sensitivities; however there are usually other underlying problems that may cause this, and microdermabrasion would not be the recommended treatment).

Microdermabrasion works by using an abrasive tool or medium to remove the top layer of the skin - the dead skin cells; like special sandpaper just for your skin. The abrasive tool or medium simply rubs off the dead skin.

There are three standard abrasive materials used as the tool or medium for microdermabrasion, these are diamond, quartz and aluminium.  Diamond is the most expensive option for microdermabrasion, and is more frequently used in a tool rather than in a medium. Quartz and Aluminium are most common in the medium based microdermabrasion kits, with aluminium being the cheaper of the two options.

Nutrimetics uses micro-fine quartz crystals in their microdermabrasion medium, which allows you to carefully and effectively polish away tired and dead skin cells, without stripping the skin, to reveal a more radiant complexion. It also contains lavender flower extract to soothe and calm the skin.

The Nutrimetics Microdermabrasion Kit contains two parts: the Resurfacer and the Rehydrator. The resurfacer is the microdermabrasion part, and the rehydrator is a light, soft and silky lotion with micro-encapsulated Sea Buckthorn Oil to rehydrate the skin, combine with SPF (sun protection factor) 25 to help protect against further damaging effects of the sun.

The rehydrator step is important, as resurfacing your skin can increase it's sensitivity to the sun; therefore it is important that you rehydrate after resurfacing, to ensure you having continued sunscreen protection.

Microdermabrasion allows you to effectively resurface the upper layers of the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; smooth imperfections to reveal a more radiant complexion and even the skin tone and refine the skin texture. Its what we all want isn't it? Lovely smooth, creamy and radiant skin.

Just a word of warning, don't use this product more than twice a week as it is so effective that, instead of leaving your skin soft, smooth and radiant, it will be red and raw!

You can order online from my shop now!

The Importance of the Toner

• Do you know the value of your toner?
• Do you use a toner?
• Do you know toning before moisturising saves you money?

Lets have a look at the three things a good toner does...

Rinses
The toner should be used to rinse away the last traces of cleanser and dirt from your skin however, if you are a good rinser when cleansing, the toner can be applied as a spray or applied by hand (ie splash a bit of toner on the palm of your hand, spread between both hands and then wipe over your face).

Balances
This is actually the most important job of a toner.
Cleansing changes your skin's pH (it's acidity/alkalinity) and it effectively becomes 'unbalanced'. The pH of your skin is actually naturally acidic, as a form of defence from different bacteria which we encounter everyday. If you don't tone after cleansing, your skin has to work to balance itself again. This can typically take a couple of hours, making any moisturiser you put on after cleansing ineffective as the skin  basically rejects everything until it is balanced. The moisturiser then just sits on top of the skin and can be easily brushed off while it's waiting to be absorbed.


The moisturiser is the most expensive item in any skin care set, yet if you're not toning, you're basically washing it away. Toning allows the moisturiser to be absorbed immediately into the skin and because it's immediate, your skin actually receives the moisture it needs; so you'll actually use less of it, thus saving you money.

Refines
Typically all toners should refine the pores in your skin. Refining is important, because it's in your pores that the dirt gets trapped or the pores themselves become blocked which causes blemishes to form. Toners also refine by softening the structures of the pores (as do moisturisers) to enable them to reduce in size.

Warning!
A toner should NOT contain alcohol!!
Even though alcohol is an astringent (a substance that causes the contraction of body tissues - usually used for wounds) it has more of a negative effect on your face. This is because it also has a drying effect, but when the skin is dried, it produces more oil to help compensate for the dryness and prevent further moisture loss.

That being said, none of Nutrimetics' toners contain alcohol! Yay!! So do your face and your pocket a favour and use a toner!

Check out what toners Nutrimetics has for your skin type here.