Mr. Skin Care Guru's Blog

  Many consumers feel that Silicones in skin care products and primers do more harm than good. However, quite frankly that couldn't be any further from the actual truth. Most commonly used is "dimethicone", plenty feel they suffocate the skin and trap bacteria from within.The molecular structure of Silicones are quite porous and leaves widened gaps in between actually for the skin to actually "breathe" so to speak. The ingredient actually does that & much more, it helps to retain moisture within the skin and is helpful to keep it soft & velvety smooth.   It also provides its' emolliency to products to condition the skin as well as filling in fine lines and minimizing pore size. As mentioned previously, the ingredient is in fact porous and does allow for product absorption & penetration of other active ingredients within the formula as well as preventing moisture loss at the same time. With it being a synthetic ingredient, in no shape or ...

  Tranexamic Acid is a synthetic amino acid but not a very well-known ingredient and I'm very surprised, there has been studies shown to work as well as Hydroquinone with its' skin-brightening properties. It works amazing with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, acne scars and even very stubborn melasma when formulated correctly with other skin brightening ingredients, such as Vitamin C, Arbutin, Kojic acid and most definitely with SPF! The SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense seems to be a pretty popular product with inclusion of this acid, there are a few others out there in other serum and moisturizer formulas. The inclusion of this ingredient is sure to be a powerhouse with a formulation that's targeted for hyperpigmentation & brightening. I was not too familiar of this ingredient until very recently, again not very well-known but definitely worth a try. Sensitive skin users should do a patch test first to see if their skin can tolerate this. Make sure again... to ...

  Bakuchiol is a new ingredient of the market that works and mimics the same benefits of Retinol without the side effects of irritation that sometimes comes along with it, like redness and peeling that could come from using a topical Retinoid. Very beneficial for those who have sensitive or dry skin as well, however it's great for all skin types! It has the same skin-smoothing & anti-aging benefits that Retinol does. However, this ingredient is a plant-derived, which makes it for a more "natural" and gentle option for consumers to use. It promotes collagen production to diminish the signs of aging such as line-smoothing, brightening & improving the elasticity of skin. It's an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory & antibacterial properties as well, the antibacterial aspect works great for acne-prone skin. Bakuchiol is found in the seeds and leaves of the babchi plant, with its' original term being psoralea corylifoli (shown in the picture above). ...

  The ingredient Vitamin B3 in the form of Niacinamide has been gaining some very big recent attraction and momentum as of lately. Which I don't quite understand exactly for the simple fact that it's an ingredient that has been around for the LONGEST time and has already been one already in many moisturizers and serums for years. Its' benefits have been more laser-focused. When in moisturizers and serums, it has tremendous skin care benefits in terms of helping diminish fine lines/wrinkles, minimizing pores size, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), uneven skin texture, acne, redness and individuals who are prone to rosacea,and even helping with skin hydration & as well as regulating oil production! Its' multi-benefits are astounding actually. Similar to Vitamin C and most of their benefits with brightening and anti-aging.   It is also a good ingredient for protecting your skin, from free radicals and further sun damage and it's known for being its' anti...

  These ingredients that I'm going to discuss about the essentials of healthy & and all things anti-aging. They are imperative for youthful & younger-looking skin as well to maintain healthy skin.  Ceramides are comprised of lipids that our skin naturally makes itself but decline as we age, they ate the building blocks of protein and maintaining collagen synthesis & a supporting the stratum corneum (the outer most layer of skin). Ceramides maintain a healthy moisture barrier for skin, they also make up 50% of the outer skin layer and helps to repair skin texture and as well... with added anti-aging benefits as well! (Which is also super helpful as well for us!).   Peptides are the building blocks of collagen and are chains made out of 2 or more amino acids, there a wide variety of magnificent different peptides out there, that help with concerns of anti-aging such as lines/wrinkles, firming, brightening, texture. Things we all do look for. Peptides are a ...

  Expensive Cleansers that cost $20 or higher are really such a waste of money, and as I mentioned in my title is truly money going down the drain. The actives in certain cleansers such alpha hydroxy acids/beta hydroxy acids or other touted ingredients from the formula don't remain on the skin long enough to make a difference or take into effect. However, an ingredient such as Salicylic Acid purpose of as an antibacterial in a cleanser can be helpful though in cleanser. The purpose of "cleanser" is just to simply cleanse and balance your pH level. Spend more money on your products that are leave-on products, such your essences, serum, & moisturizers. Those are the most important, they have contain the most benefits for your skin & stay on to repair & treat your skin. Having consistency with your skin is also the golden key for healthy skin & results! Yours truly always, Mr. Skin Care Guru

  You may have heard many things about the all-star ingredient Hyaluronic Acid, its' benefits exceeds anything imaginable. It is also the same ingredient in facial dermal fillers that practitioners use to increase volume definition in the cheeks to replace hollowness as well as used for lips and under the eyes. However, topically applied this ingredient has great benefits though & it's in MANY ingredients lists for skin care moisturizers & serums out on the market. It holds 1000x its' weight in water and in other words locking that moisture in and pulling it from the air as well, so it won't escape. The ingredient can be found under as Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, and Sodium Hyaluronate (mostly these 3 anyways) on ingredient lists.   "Sodium Hyaluronate" is the most commonly used one however, it is the salt-formed version of Hyaluronic acid and absorbs and penetrates easier into the skin than the others do. There are low, medi...

  Microneedling is a very big trending treatment at moment also which helps with almost every skin concern imaginable, in terms of fine lines/wrinkles, scarring, acne, discolorations, sun damage, some skin elasticity and even enlarged pores. Which it has included new things that can be added into the mix of this treatment as well & which in fact I will also go over... How it works is with a pen with a few fine needle points on the end that gets dragged onto the surface layer of skin, almost like stamping the skin (which is pretty neat! LOL) creating microscopic tears or pricks you can say into the skin, creating wounds for then the skin to be able to notice "injury", which is automatically telling itself to heal... (think wound healing) which in return produces more collagen & elastin and making skin healthier and in reducing the signs of aging, scarring, acne, and more.    With this treatment you can use your skin's very own platelet rich plasma, as...

  Acne is a struggle for most in society & even as adults as well. Women sometimes experience acne due to hormones. There's still so many treatments out there but I feel there could be so much more for many who struggle with it, and there's honestly so much you can do for the clogged pores and bacteria on the outer surface. There are certain ingredients that have been considered to be tried-and-true for treatment of acne. Benzoyl Peroxide (best used temporarily and every once in a while in segments to treat acne), Salicylic Acid, Sulfur... as well as natural ingredients such as Honey (which has antibacterial properties) and Tea Tree Oil. Many of these formulas are in rinse-off cleansers, they can somewhat help with the cleansing process, however the ingredients don't stay on long enough for them to "activate" or have much effects on the surface. Sulfur is mostly used tho in Spot treatments and Acne facial clay masks. Acne ingredients can be quite dryin...

   I'm able to discuss one of my favorite topics! This topic is constantly ever-evolving, it gives me pride in knowing that it's always taking further & newer technological advances. Unfortunately, we can't become anti-aging unicorns... 🦄 (As much as I would like to be! LOL! 🤣) There are however ways to turn back the clock... Retinoids: The gold-standard ingredient for lines/wrinkles, dark spots, texture. Also, it's OTC form "Retinol", they both convert into retinoic acid, however as mentioned in a previous post, OTC formulas just takes a bit of longer to see results. Other Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid (also listed on lists as Sodium Hyaluronate as its' salt form, for better penetration) is a wonderful skin plumping ingredient for fine lines & wrinkles, it's in the same ingredient in dermal fillers, however it can reap incredible benefits topically, also for some can even promote firmness. Not such a bad to addition to have. ...

  Hyperpigmentation & dark spots are such a buzzword right now. They are largely cause by sun and damage accumulates over time and show up on the surface as time goes on. If you see your skin under ultraviolet light, you can see all the sun damage and spots that haven't even reached the surface yet! An interesting thing to see, when I was in Esthetics school, I was able to get to do this using a device called a "wood lamp". It was really fascinating for me to see as well! There are ways to treat it tho and before it even surfaces to start treating and so the visual effects aren't as harsh or troubling for what it may be for someone.   Hyperpigmentation is also cause by post-acne scars and melasma that can be caused by pregnancy, the widely used term for that is the "pregnancy mask".There are different kinds of pigmentation issues and their causes for it. Acne will leave post-acne marks behind. There's plenty of OTC (Over-the-counter) treatme...

     The one thing many Dermatologists recommend and your first line of defense and the most "anti-aging" (think lines/wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity) thing you could for your skin is wear an SPF! Preferably an SPF 30 or higher up to 50, maybe even to a 60. Any higher than that is truly a waste (of money as well!), since there's no evidence that anything higher will protect you more after that point. Sunscreen in reality should be used 365 days of the year, the UV rays penetrate through even dark clouds, rain, and even snow! Even when it snows the flakes and snow on the floor reflect off the UV rays and can be more intensified. Which is why you may hear of certain people who go on Ski trips that get sunburned, they are on high altitudes and with the sun possibly beaming and with the snow reflecting off the those harmful UV rays. Although, many people feel it's just to be used only during the summertime, which is a false perception, the ch...

  I'm a huge fan of J-Beauty skin care for many reasons but where should I start first? First and foremost, this wouldn't be considered a debate but more of a comparison and contrast between the two latest trends as well that made recent big headways in the Western world. As opposed to K-Beauty, J-Beauty is considered to be more for the more sophisticated client, where K-Beauty likes to meet the latest trends... J-Beauty has certain time-tested ingredients that have been used for years beyond years of time that have worked towards for facial skin benefits. Rather than a 7-10 Step regimen with K-Beauty, Japanese Skin Care is more minimalistic towards their approach with very science-driven formulations.   I personally feel that the formulas are much more technologically advanced and can be considered to some "ahead of its' time" to many skillful practices done in Japan. The several brands I have tested are far more cosmetically elegant in texture than...