Professional Beauty Tip:

Using mineral makeup gives your skin natural UV protection and also antioxidants to help slow down the aging process.

Apples may have anti-ageing effect

The adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ may no longer apply to apples having the ability to keep just the flu bug away.

The discovery of phloretin, an antioxidant derived from apples, means that the fruit may also help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

‘Phloretin is a powerful antioxidant found to be effective in protecting human skin from the effects of the sun when applied topically,’ said Dr Sheldon Pinnell, founder of SkinCeuticals. He was the leader of the scientific team that made the discovery after five years of research.

The United States-based skincare brand is the first to combine phloretin with other well-known antioxidants like vitamin C into a single anti-ageing serum called Phloretin CF.

Early clinical studies showed that phloretin – found both in the flesh and skin of apples, as well as in the root bark of apple, pear and grapefruit trees – effectively fights the effects of photo-ageing.

Photo-ageing refers to the ageing of skin by ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a result of repeated exposure to the sun over many years.

A 2006 study published in the Biological And Pharmaceutical Bulletin found that phloretin reduces DNA damage caused by UV radiation by 80 per cent.

In addition, the compound also inhibits the enzyme elastase, which causes wrinkles and sagging skin.

Excessive exposure to UV rays causes skin cells to weaken.

The worst outcome of this damage is skin cancer, where skin cells start to multiply abnormally.

Resisting this process are chemical compounds called antioxidants.

Antioxidants guard against photo-ageing by transforming unstable molecules, called free radicals, into unreactive compounds.

The tricky part, when using antioxidants in skincare products, is combining them with other chemicals such that their efficacy will not be lowered. Vitamin C, for instance, is unstable and disintegrates after some time.

The development of the patent-pending technology in the formula Phloretin CF, now sold as a skincare product containing a cocktail of three antioxidants – vitamin C, ferulic acid and phloretin – is the cumulation of over 20 years of work, said Dr Pinnell.

However, this breakthrough does not mean that antioxidants can replace sunscreen entirely, he said.

‘At this point, I wouldn’t say that you can eliminate sunscreen,’ he said. ‘Maybe in the future, as antioxidant technology gets better.’

However, Dr Pinnell recommends the use of antioxidants in addition to the application of sunscreen in a daily skincare regimen.

‘Sunscreen contains a lot of synthetic chemicals,’ he said. ‘It works only on the outside, absorbing UV rays.

‘Antioxidants, on the other hand, work inside the skin and provide long-term protection.’

Having said that, it is important not to overdo things, added Dr Pinnell. This is because UV rays help our skin produce vitamin D that is vital for calcium absorption.

‘You can be relatively vitamin D-deficient if you use sunscreen and antioxidants very religiously,’ he said.

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BEST OF BEAUTY Continued

When you want to know the best, you go to the experts. We consulted four beauty professionals, who shared their favorite products. Now you know their secrets to getting the look.

The beauty industry never stops trying to lure you into buying new primping products. With each season comes a slew of new lip glosses, eye shadow palettes and hair products that promise to do the kind of things miracles are made of. Consumers find themselves swimming in a sea of claims and cures. The never-ending dilemma seems to be which to pass up and which to convert to.

We’d like to ease the stress of such life-altering decisions. Here, we provide you with opinions from industry professionals. These are the people who know the products inside out and have cut out most of them to provide clients with superior service. Take a look at the products that make their best of beauty lists.

Barbra Jo Batterman professional makeup artist

• Lip Gloss: Clinique Long Lasting SPF 15, $14, Dillard’s at Meadows mall. It is not tacky and a nice shine.

• Lip Liner: MAC Lip Pencils, $12.50, Nordstrom at Fashion Show mall. They are wonderful. I use them all over the lips, blot, reapply with a lipstick, and they tend to keep your lipstick on longer; not drying.

• Lip Conditioner: Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15, $9.50, Kiehl’s at the Forum Shops at Caesars. It seems to be everybody’s favorite; I mix with lip liner and apply all over.

• Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipsticks, $25, Macy’s at Galleria at Sunset mall. They tend to stay on and don’t run. I love the creamy feel.

• Blush: Nars Cream Blush, $24, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. It has a smooth and silky consistency. Even on oily skin, it lays smooth.

• Eye Shadow: MAC Eye Shadow, $14, Macy’s at Meadows mall. It has been my favorite. They have a huge color range and I think they are reasonably priced. I love that you can buy them with magnets so you can just replace what you need from your pallet.

• Eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes, $16, Sephora at Town Square. It stays on!

• Mascara: Shu Uemura Fiber Xtension Mascara, $23, Sephora at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Says and does it all. One coat is plenty, but if you choose to build, you can and your length will appear double!

• Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, $22, Saks Fifth Avenue at Fashion Show mall. It gives a nice coverage without falling into lines. A great consistency without looking heavy.

• Foundation: LaPrairie Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF 15, $170, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. It is the Creme de la Creme of foundations. It is silky, smooth, beautiful, and expensive. It does include a concealer on top of base.

• Loose Powder: Kryolan Anti Shine Powder, $36.55, www.ShowFace.com. I use it either with a brush or a puff and it is silky enough that you don’t get powder build up. It is colorless so it is not necessary to change colors for the seasons.

• Pressed Powder: Lancôme Color Ideal Pressed Powder Precise Match Skin Perfecting Pressed Powder, $31, Dillard’s at Galleria at Sunset mall. Does not feel heavy but it does give you a nice coverage. It doesn’t feel thick.

• Brow Product: Kevyn Aucoin Precision Eye Brow Pencil, $24, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. It goes on smooth, stays on, and I love the brush at the end to brush through your brows leaving a very natural look. You can roll it up or down so you don’t lose anything in sharpening.

• Brushes: Trish McEvoy brushes, $20 to $53, Nordstrom at Fashion Show mall. She makes beautiful brushes. It is worth the investment. They are your tools and should last you for years. I especially like her shadow brushes. They work with a lot less work and they wash up beautifully.

• Brush Cleaner: Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner, $24, GetYourBeauty.com. It’s the one and only one. In a matter of seconds, you witness the make-up being dissolved from your brushes and leaves them with a fresh, clean fragrance.

• Facial Cleanser: Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $35, Ulta. It is great for normal to dry skin. Although it exfoliates, it removes all traces of makeup and leaves your skin feeling refreshed.

• Eye Makeup Remover: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Yeux Eye Makeup Remover, $28.50, Spa Bellagio. One swipe and it is gone. No rubbing and pulling necessary.

• Eye Cream: La Mer The Eye Balm, $130, Saks Fifth Avenue at Fashion Show mall. Helps to diminish appearance of lines and wrinkles. Your under eyes feel smooth and soft. I use day and night. Use sparingly!

• Facial Scrubs: YSL Instant Pur Gommage, $44, www.yslbeautyus.com. Granule-free exfoliate, nonabrasive and leaves skin feeling smooth and soft.

• Wrinkle Treatment: Guerlain Intenserum 14 night treatment, $205, Guerlain at the Shoppes at Palazzo. By day seven, you see a difference in your complexion. Works well on your neck too!

• Facial Moisturizer: Eckstein Biocor Moisturizer. Rich enough for the dryness in the desert. Hydrating and concentrated.

• Face Mask: Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, $53, Ulta. Helps to remove dead skin without creating more oil.

• Body Lotion: Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter, $23.50, Macy’s at Galleria at Sunset mall. It works well on younger skin. It can also help eczema.

• Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder, $42, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. Great pigment.

• Self Tanner: Guerlain Teracotta Sunless Tinted Self-Tanning Gel, $50, Sephora at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Immediate tint within two hours.

• Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock SPF 85, $9.94, Target. Nongreasy!

• Nail Polish: OPI is long-lasting and has a great color selection and great price. OPI Paint & Go nail lacquer, $6.99, Ulta.

• Products I can’t live without: Guerlain Orchidee Exceptional Complete Care Eye & Lip Cream, $180, Guerlain at the Shoppes at the Palazzo. It’s concentrated, hydrating and dual purpose. Artificial eyelashes. They are fast, easy and look very natural if so desired.

• Products I wished were in Las Vegas: Madina Milano — they make a product called cheek sculpting fluid that holds your blush on. … I love it! Maybe soon…

• Best Beauty Secret: When you are in a rush and don’t have time or choose not to do your eye makeup, with your blush brush, brush a bit of blush over your eyes and you will pull your whole look together.

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Beauty Tips / Spa Experience

When it comes to outward signs of aging, there’s no shortage of theories about the causes. In recent years, several beauty products containing hyaluronic acid (HA) have been introduced into the market, ranging from vitamin supplements to Hyaluronic acid gel injections. However, most people are looking for better ways of keeping a youthful appearance without invasive procedures.

So what is hyaluronic acid exactly?

Beauty is not just skin deep; in fact, the health and beauty of your hair, skin and nails is directly affected by the nutrients that you provide your body with internally and externally. One of these exciting nourishing ingredients is called hyaluronic acid. HA is capable of holding 1,000 times its weight in water. Since it is one of the most hydrophilic (water-absorbing) molecules in nature, HA is often described as ‘nature’s moisturizer,’ providing the body with essential moisture and a viable way to erase wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid is a key component of our collagen structure, including the joints, skin, veins and eyes. Hyaluronic acid’s lubrication abilities have made it one of the best anti-aging beauty secrets available on the market today. HA’s major role in the skin is to help regulate moisture levels by absorbing water and slowly releasing it as the cells in skin become dehydrated. By drawing in and holding onto water in the outer cell layers, HA enables effective skin hydration, delivery of nutrients and removal of toxins. Without an adequate amount of HA, nutrients cannot be moved into skin cells and waste cannot be eliminated from cells. When HA is taken as a supplement, it moisturizes from the from the deepest layers of the skin to the outer layer, helping to maintain smooth, elastic skin.

Science and hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid supports healthy skin, as noted in a study published by the Journal of Cellular Physiology in 1998. The study showed that HA helped reproduce healthy skin cells. But as we age, the HA content of the skin changes due to two separate clinically proven factors: the body decreases the amount of HA it produces and begins to distribute it differently. So instead of the deepest layers sending HA to the surface layers of the skin, it reverses making skin look dehydrated and wrinkly.

Supplementation is one of the key factors in counteracting the body’s inability to produce HA. This new scientific evidence is paving the road for hyaluronic acid and other important nutrients like grape seed extract, Lutein and Lycopene to become the skin care of the future. Studies show benefits from oral supplementation within one to three months. In fact, the ABC program 20/20 aired a special on the small village in Japan known as Yuzuri Hara, where 10 percent of the population is 85 and older. The show attributed the people’s lack of cancer and heart disease, as well as their increased longevity, to a key component of their diet, hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring protein in the body. It has been used orally with no adverse reaction and incredible results. There is considerable evidence that the loss of HA is directly involved in the acceleration of aging. Nutritional supplementation of HA is an excellent way to help support and protect your body from the negative effects of aging. This ‘internal cosmetic’ breakthrough is allowing more and more people to feel younger and healthier as they age.

Industry Leaders Gathering at Natural Beauty Summit

Leaders of the natural cosmetics industry will gather at the second Natural Beauty Summit in New York, May 15-17th. This high-level summit will bring together founders, presidents, CEOS and senior managers of leading companies to discuss and debate the key issues the cosmetics industry faces in the areas of natural & organic products and sustainability.

High on the agenda for Natural Beauty Summit America is natural & organic standards. Analysts have tipped 2008 to be a defining year for the cosmetics industry. An industry shake-up is envisaged in which the adoption of private standards is to lead to a clear demarcation between pure natural / organic cosmetic and pseudo products.

The exact details of major standards like NSF and OASIS will be unveiled at the summit. The standards session will also feature the new Whole Foods Premium Body Care standard as well as give an update on the harmonized European natural & organic standards. Key executives involved in the development of natural & organic standards will chair a panel discussion that will look at the possibility of global standards harmonization.

Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, will kick off Natural Beauty Summit America with his opening address on ‘Sustainability, Ethics and the Greening of the Cosmetics Industry.’ Key topics in the first session of the summit will look at sustainable business practices in the cosmetics industry like ethical ingredient sourcing, ecological packaging and green marketing issues. Key speakers include Erk Schuchhardt, CEO and president of the global natural cosmetics brand Weleda; Ulisses Sabará, president of Beraca, a Brazilian producer of ethical cosmetic ingredients that was a finalist in the World Challenge 2007 competition; and Dr. Charles J. Bennett, Vice-president of Aveda.

The second day of the summit will start with an opening address on ‘Product Innovations in the Naturals Arena, by the CEO of a leading organic cosmetics company. The third session will focus on market and product developments. Daria Myers, global president of Origins, will look at the complexities of expanding a successful brand into the organic arena. Mike Indursky, chief marketing and strategic officer of Burt’s Bees, will share his experiences in developing a global naturals brand. Top New York-stylist John Masters, founder and president of John Masters Organic, will discuss the specific requirements of the hair salon market. Other presentations in this session will cover nutritional cosmetics, functional skincare, ayurveda, and the spa market.

Formulation and technical issues is the theme of the fourth session. Leading cosmetic ingredient and chemical companies like Cognis, Eastman Chemical and Sederma will share their experiences with natural & organic ingredients. Key speakers in this session also include Michael Bishop, president of Active Organics; Ido Leffer, CEO of Yes To Carrots; and Dr. Ellen Kamhi from Bio-Botanica.

Dedicated workshops on natural & organic standards and sustainable packaging will round up the three-day summit. Judi Beerling, technical research manager of Organic Monitor will give a critical assessment of natural & organic standards, highlighting the formulation and ingredient challenges to cosmetic manufacturers and formulators.

Co-organized by Organic Monitor and Beyond Beauty Paris, Natural Beauty Summit is a series of international conferences that focus on natural cosmetics and sustainability. The aim of Natural Beauty Summit is to create a forum to learn and discuss the key challenges the cosmetics industry faces in the areas of natural & organic products and sustainability. The conferences bring together key stake-holders like cosmetic manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging companies, retailers, industry organizations, and investors and create a forum to discuss and debate these critical issues.

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