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Skin Health Tips for LA Living
Marie Veronique products are designed to repair, restore, and protect the skin from unavoidable stressors in the environment that everyone experiences. In LA, that typically includes photodamage (damage from the sun and other sources of UV light), arid climate, and pollution.
Organic, whole food diets are a way of life in LA — and smart skincare requires a similar approach.
Most skincare products are heavily laden with preservatives that are harmful to your skin’s microbiome, that collection of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that help keep us healthy. Our products are made with microstatic preservatives, which promote healthy microflora on the skin instead of destroying it.
Most health-minded Angelenos know to avoid processed foods to keep their gut function healthy. The same approach is helpful for the skin. Your skin doesn’t need exotic ingredients or a lot of additives and preservatives to function optimally. What it does need is the replenishment of the naturally-occurring components of the skin that we provide in our products: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and lipids. Similar to what happens when you eat a diet rich in organic foods and vegetables, our products provide micronutrients to give the skin what it needs to help itself.
Some things for LA residents to keep in mind when considering skin care.
- Sun Protection: Los Angeles averages 329 days of sunshine a year. In general, Californians are more UV exposed than most due to their active, outdoor lifestyle. Additionally, spending excessive time in cars and on computers — which cause photodamage due to blue light and UV penetrating glass — can result in worse than direct exposure to UV. It's important to use a mixture of antioxidants such as Vitamin C and a broad spectrum zinc oxide sunscreen every day to prevent skin damage. Our Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum and C-Therapy Serum are excellent choices, as is our Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30. We also recommend our Gentle Retinol Night Serum for reversing sun damage.
- Pollution: Last year alone in LA County there were 228 days of “moderate” air quality days, which are only considered “acceptable.” Studies show that air pollution can contribute to inflammatory aging and skin conditions associated with barrier dysfunction, such as dermatitis and eczema. Living in an urban area with a depleted ozone layer, smog, and particulate matter in the air due to fires, car pollution, etc. can result in major negative effects on skin health. Using topical micronutrients that contain Vitamins A, B3, and C are critical parts of a skin health regimen for anyone who lives in a polluted urban area. We recommend Pure + E.O. Free Oil Cleanser, Soothing B3 Serum, Vitamin C: Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum (for normal/stable/aging skin), and C-Therapy Serum (for sensitive/breakout-prone skin).
- Dehydrated Skin: While LA is not strictly classified as a desert climate, it is generally warm and dry with a whole lot of sunny days. And that means many Angelenos experience dehydrated skin. Hydrated skin = healthy skin, so hydration should be a daily focus. Use Balancing HypoTonic and Soothing B3 Serum to regulate and increase moisture levels in the skin as well as reduce inflammation from external influences such as hot, dry air and UV exposure.
- Breakouts/Congestion: Having breakouts and congestion doesn’t always mean you have a true acne condition. Bumpy or congested skin or even the occasional breakout may be a result of dehydrated skin, a depleted barrier layer from over-exfoliation, invasive procedures, and heavy makeup/sunscreen wear. What we call “Small bumps” condition should be treated by proper cleansing, and barrier balancing to restore moisture levels and regulate oil production.
- Sensitized/Post Procedure Skin: LA is home to many cosmetic dermatologists — and therefore lots of lasers, peels, and procedures that disrupt the skin’s barrier. Using our Balancing HypoTonic + Barrier Restore Serum + C-Therapy Serum will help with barrier recovery by establishing a healthy acid mantle, microbiome, and balanced hydration/moisture levels.
- Heavy Use of Makeup and Sunscreen: These increase the risk of congestion. We suggest prioritizing cleansing in your routine to remove makeup/SPF/pollution from the day. However, we do not want to strip the skin and remove its protective oils. Instead, we want to penetrate the pores to remove deep debris and contributors to congestion. Our Pure + E.O. Free Oil Cleanser thoroughly removes anything unwanted from the skin while maintaining barrier integrity, leaving the skin feeling clean, supple, and smooth.
Note that Marie Veronique’s ColorFree Zinc, a colorless non-nano zinc oxide-only sunscreen for all skin types and tones, will be launching this winter. This product provides a protective shield with a weightless, dewy finish. An anti-inflammatory that naturally occurs in the body, zinc oxide should be the only active ingredient in your sunscreen.
Additional guidance for product selection:
- Products beneficial for all skin types:
- Products specifically formulated for hyperpigmentation/melasma:
- Products specifically formulated for breakouts/congestion:
- Products specifically formulated for UV damage/protection:
- Products specifically formulated for collagen/wrinkles/anti-aging:
- Products specifically formulated for dry skin due to arid climate:
- Products specifically formulated for pollution:
- Pure + E.O. Free Oil Cleanser, Soothing B3 Serum, Vitamin C: Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum (for normal/stable/aging skin) and C-Therapy Serum (for sensitive/breakout-prone skin).