Products for Anti-aging and Sun Protection 

We have tried to select products best suited to prevent and/or reverse the ravages of time, too much sun or city living.  Each of the products has been selected for effectiveness, elegance and value.  While many function as antioxidants, these protective chemicals can do different jobs in different cellular locations so we try to provide a rationale for the use of each alone or in combination.  We can classify these products into Preventative, Reparative, or both.

Vitamin C is most important antioxidant outside the cell, and can protect against oxidative damage of UVA.  These wavelengths of sunlight produce pigmentary problems (melasma, lentigos), melanoma, and wrinkles.  Vitamin C can prevent UVA damage to pigment cells and dermal components and can repair by making new collagen production more efficient.

CITRIX CRS 15% and 20%-- effective formulations of vitamin C sting when applied to skin.  This product is L-ascorbic acid combined with growth factors in an airless pump.  Use once a day, AM or PM.  Start with 15% then move up to 20%.  A bottle should last approximately 3 months as a half pump is enough for and average face.  Avoid the eyes.

Green Tea with Caffeine—this combination provides tissue-firming and control of redness.  The combination also can prevent sun-induced non-melanoma skin cancer by preserving a protective mechanism (apoptosis) that otherwise is dismantled by sun, allowing abnormal cells to survive and divide.

Replenix Serum—green tea with caffeine.  Use twice a day summer months for extra layer of protection or all your skin-smoothing and anti-wrinkle effects.  One pump for one face twice a day.  Ok close to the eyes.

Replenix Serum with Retinol 5X and 10X—combines green tea, caffeine and Retinol 0.5% or 1%.  Retinol is converted to all-trans retinoic acid (Retin A) at a cellular level.  Retinol is reparative, fixing old precancerous and wrinkle producing damage.  Retinol is also protective, preventing accumulation of damage which can lead to skin cancer or wrinkles.  Use once a day.  One pump for one face worth, so a bottle should last 3 to 31/2 months.  Begin with 5X for sensitive skin.  Ok close to eyes.  Best of both worlds:  Replenix Serum in the AM, Replenix with Retinol in the PM.

MD Forte (glycolic acid) I (10%) and II (20%)—glycolic acids are reparative and are best used in combination with retinoids (vitamin A-like chemicals—retinol).  They repair ground substance, the dermal material that collagen is deposited into.  Using glycolic acid with retinol is symbiotic.  These acids can peel and therefore make you slightly more sun sensitive.  Do not get close to the eyes.  A small bottle should last 5 to 6 months at once a day.  Can sting initially.  Begin with I and advance to II.  Always apply to moist skin.

Revaleskin—coffeeberry extract provides potent antioxidant protection, produces smoothing of skin and helps soothe red skin.  People with dry skin love this.  Use twice a day.  One pump for the average face.  One bottle lasts 5 to 6 months.  Ok around the eyes.

Growth Factors—Neocutis Biorestorative cream and Biogel provide growth factors you made just before and after birth to support rapid tissue growth and change to allow quick adaptation to external environment once birth occurs.  These factors work on many levels in the skin and should be considered reparative.  The cream is extremely gentle and can be used even on upper eyelids (despite what the label says).

Cream—use twice a day on face.  Should last 4 to 41/2 months.
Gel—use twice a day on face.  Should last 5 to 51/2 months.

Lumiere—designed for use around the eye, actually has a higher concentration of the active ingredients.  Small BB size drop under each eye twice a day should allow the bottle to last 3 months.

Sun Protection

Anthelios—daily facial moisturizer with the European sunscreen additive Mexoryl.  This provides 6 to 7 hours of UVA and UVB protection even though it is rated only SPF 15.  This product is NOT WATERPROOF and will come off with sweat or swimming.  However, it is great under make-up and an essential for women with melasma.

1. Replenix Green Tea with Caffeine—helps firm skin, decrease redness and prevent incoming damage of the type which produces skin cancer.
2. Replenix Green Tea with Caffeine and Retinol—all the benefits of #1 plus retinol to prevent new and repair old sun damage of the type which produces wrinkles and skin cancer.  If sensitive, begin with 5X and advance to 10X.
3. Glycolic Cleanser—gently exfoliates and augments effects of retinol in wrinkle reduction.
4. Replenix scrub—warms up on contact with skin.  Use twice a week to remove dead skin layers and polish your look.
5. Sunscreen Pads—SPF 30.  Good for 2 hours of sun protection in a portable pad which allows application with minimal contact on hands.

Men’s Repair Kit Schedule (assumes AM shower):

AM:

1. Wash with glycolic cleanser in shower (2 days a week substitute Replenix scrub).
2. Apply Replenix Serum—1 pump to entire face.  Safe to apply close to the eyes.

PM:

1. Wash with glycolic cleanser.
2. Apply Replenix Plus (with Retinol), 2/3 pump to entire face.

Apply sunscreen 10 minutes before outdoor activity.  Reapply every 2 hours while out midday.