Clients are continually aiming for a more youthful skin, searching for the perfect products and state-of-the-art treatments to help them minimize lines and wrinkles, soften uneven pigmentation, regain firmness, and create a healthy radiant glow. As an esthetician for almost 50 years I understand that the fountain of youth just doesn’t exist and there isn’t one miraculous cure-all treatment that does everything. However, having healthier, happier skin is achievable for everyone no matter their age. Maintaining a youthful look, at any age is our goal! In regards to slowing the signs of aging, what it comes down to is prioritizing and protecting the health of those cells that make up your skin.
Cell Function and Aging
As the largest organ in your body the skin is affected by a wide range of internal and external factors that contribute to the signs of aging. How well the skin fares against these aggressors depends on the health of your cells and more specifically, the health of your mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles found inside our cells known as "the powerhouse of the cell", kind of like the engine that runs your cells. The mitochondria produces chemical energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is like the gas that runs your engine. Mitochondria have their own DNA which means they can replicate themselves to create more fuel sources so cells can stay healthy and function efficiently. Just as your car depends on fuel to operate, cells rely on ATP to transport chemical energy. This chemical energy is what skin cells are dependent on to perform critical tasks like synthesizing collagen and elastin, replicating DNA and communicating with other cells. When this energy is functioning properly the cells work efficiently, and the skin reflects that with a healthy glow and slower visible aging.
Our ATP energy begins to slow down in its ability to transport energy thus causing a domino effect internally with our cells. Studies show that by age 60 our ATP is performing by less than 50%. The number of healthy skin cells begins to drop. If mitochondria stops functioning the cells can become starved of energy causing damage and potential death of the cell. This affects normal DNA replication. When too many errors occur or not enough energy is present to perform replication, cells start to degrade causing an array of concerns. Think of it this way: skin cells require energy to maintain the skin’s health and happiness. The mitochondria and the process of ATP regulates the intake and breakdown of nutrients to create energy for the cell. Internal and external triggers damage the mitochondria, slowing the process of ATP and speeding up the signs of aging.
Protecting mitochondria hinges on identifying what causes this damage. Increased DNA damage from free radicals is a major cause. ATP energy tries to compensate for the damage taking place. Long-term acceleration of damage leads to a depletion of energy. Basically, it just can’t keep up and begins to slow down. Most clients have heard about free radicals over the years and may already recognize them to be harmful to their skin, but do you really understand why? Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause harm to healthy cells by stealing an electron to make themselves more stable. This creates a domino effect, as molecules continue to steal electrons. These free radicals start to damage cells which accelerates aging. Sources that increase free radical damage include pollution, UV rays, stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, smoking and alcohol. Topical and internal antioxidants are the skin’s best friend to help fight free radical damage.
PROTECTING THE MITOCHONDRIA
An excess of mitochondrial damage slows the energy of the cells, increasing DNA damage. With this in mind, how can we protect our mitochondria? This can be broken down into four major categories:
Adopt good lifestyle habits.
Find a proper skincare regime rich in antioxidants and ATP boosters.
Get spa treatments designed to boost your ATP energy production.
Focus on getting plenty of powerful free-radical fighting antioxidants abundant in food.
LIFESTYLE AND DIET
Adjusting your lifestyle to promote healthy skin is not a temporary change, it’s a life long habit you must embrace. Dietary sources high in damaging free radicals include processed foods, unhealthy fats, foods high in preservatives and additives, and added sugars and sweeteners. Increasing your diet with antioxidant-rich foods, include brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Include fruit and veggies that have deep hues of blue, green, orange and red. Consider increasing dark leafy greens in your diet. Dark chocolate, walnuts and red wine do provide helpful antioxidants, and should be enjoyed in moderation. These fruits and vegetables aren’t just nutritious; they pack a punch of effective antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E, as well as antioxidants like bioflavonoids and polyphenols. Pesticide intake will work against these efforts, which is why it’s ideal to eat organic as much as possible. Please start avoiding the very damaging UV rays from the sun and excessive pollution and toxic chemicals while prioritizing physical health. Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to increase mitochondria as long as it isn't done to the point of exhaustion. Find ways to manage stress, avoid burnout and maintain a healthy body weight.
ANTIOXIDANTS FOR MITOCHONDRIA PROTECTION:
This formula combines18 of the top superfoods that include high levels of skin-protecting antioxidants to fight age aggressors. This serum is often combined with our C & E Antioxidant serum and applied in the morning under sunscreen.
The combination of three different versions of stabilized antioxidant vitamins C & E. This offers potent antioxidant protection while gradually brightening the skin. Vitamin C is essential for boosting collagen production. After all these years it is still our #1 product.
Ageless contains optimal amounts of niacinamide, a multitasking antioxidant which helps protect against oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals as it boost reparative energy (ATP) and brightens the skin. Red Algae is an antioxidant that provides protection against Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). This type of aging, due to an over consumption of carbohydrates, allows sugar molecules to attach to collagen fibers - triggering a rigidity that leads to dullness and wrinkles.
This is our most advanced serum created for re-energizing dry/mature skin. Designed to up-regulate cell metabolism by boosting ATP, which declines with age. It provides needed energy from niacinamide and two other effective antioxidants: Astaxanthin - a potent antioxidant that helps improve skin health by reducing inflammation, protecting against sun damage, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. And Resveratrol - an antioxidant that helps restore skin by stimulating autophagy; a way of eliminating damaged cells that spreads damaging inflammation to adjacent cells.
This growth factor serum is based on stem cell technology that provides molecules to increase your skin's ability to repair itself while boosting continual cell maintenance. These proteins help the skin repair and regenerate itself. They can help with fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and texture. They are not technically antioxidants but the Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (stabilized Vitamin C) is an antioxidant that helps boost collagen production.
This soothing serum for sensitive skin or skins prone to redness contains many botanical antioxidants like polyphenols and anthocyanins that help reduce inflammation and protect sensitive skin. New studies suggest that anthocyanins may help with DNA damage from the sun.
Antioxidant ingredients like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, L-ascorbic acid, D-alpha tocopherol, grape seed oil, heart of green tea, resveratrol and L-glutathione are powerful.
Another key element for protection against free radical damage is applying a sunscreen daily over antioxidants. This extra protection is essential in fighting harmful UV rays and defending against the elements. 90% of photo-aging is due to UV exposure from the sun.
SPA TREATMENTS THAT BOOST ATP ENERGY
Red light therapy (RLT) uses red and near-infrared light to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy that cells use to function. RLT can help cells repair themselves and rejuvenate.
Microcurrent therapies utilize low level electrical currents on targeted muscles to mimic those in the body. They stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, lift and tone the muscles, and repair damaged tissue. They have also been proven to stimulate the body's production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) energy.
Remember that without the ATP energy running efficiently, everything else will slow down and aging is accelerated. When we think about protecting and repairing DNA, look for formulations with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media, a source of the growth factors, cytokines and peptides that induce a repair response. Ceramides, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine are skin-identical barrier lipids that rapidly revive skin’s own protective barrier that gives skin a supple, healthy glow.
The skin is a complex organ, and not everyone will have mitochondria health on their radar. By taking the time to understand the skin’s powerhouse you’ll learn to build better lifestyle and dietary habits which will keep your skin at its optimal level of happiness.
Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. LONGEVITY is a science - based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.
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