The truth about Vitamin C

Too many young people are using topical Vitamin C products on their own skin without a valid reason and then wonder why their skin reacts negatively. Why is this so?

And why are vitamins good on top of the skin? What does Vitamin C really do for skin? And who is the best candidate for Vitamin C?

Well, first, let me explain a few things...

The two most important amino acids in the skin, proline and lysine need the presence of Vitamin C to create collagen, this makes topical Vitamin C an invaluable anti-aging ingredient. So...

Lesson #1: Vitamin C can assist in stimulating collagen synthesis; but young skin does not need collagen stimulation 1, and 2, most retail Vitamin C is very acidic and unstable which can create some minor irritation on some sensitive skins. How can we solve this problem?

Lesson #2: Ascorbic Acid is not the most user friendly version of Vitamin C available. In order to stabilize an acid, you add SALT. Yes salt. So Vitamin C in mineral salt versions/vehicles is MORE stable, less acidic, and skin friendlier than ascorbic acid. Remember the more often you use a skin product, the better the cumulative result. If your Vitamin C is stabilized, you will use it longer and thus, reap the benefits!!

Lesson #3: Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) is the most stabilized form of Vitamin C with the most researched and proven clinical benefits. Also, studies show that when coupled with Vitamin E, you get a synergistic and accelerated effect of both vitamins. Pevonia uses MAP in the C Complexe with Oxyzomes. The MAP is encapsulated in a small capsule of Soy Bean Lecithin and Vitamin E. WOW! Superb results! Less irritation than most formulas out there!

Lesson #4: Who benefits the most from topical Vitamin C? Sun damaged skin with pigmentaion issues, skin over 30-40+, very oily skin, and heavy smokers see the most results from Vitamin C products. Skin younger than that needs to consult with a professional therapist before using vitamin C products.

Lesson #5: Smoking depletes your skin of Vitamin C! It also deprives your cells of oxygen. It damages your skin from the inside out. Don't do it!!!!!!

What if your skin is very dry and dull and you also want a Vitamin C cream to use over your C complexe concetrate? Do Vitamin C creams have a different form of C in them? Is it too much?

Lesson #6: Creams use the calcium form of Vitamin C called Calcium Ascorbyl Phosphate. This is ideal in a cream form and because of natural oils (lipids derived from corn) called Epaline, it seals in your concentrate beautifully. Try Pevonia's Optimal C Care Creams

Lesson #7: Is there such a thing as a Professional Vitamin C Treatment in the salon or spa that I can receive for intense anti-oxidant, skin toning, and lightening effect? Yes!!! It is called The Luminous C and Sea Facial Treatment.

Lesson #8: How can Vitamin C lighten my skin? Well Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate is not only a collagen stimulator and powerful anti-oxidant, but it also functions as a TYROSINASE inhibitor! Tyrosinase is an enzyme that brings about a cascade of reactions in the skin that stimulate melanin production, the protein skin pigment that gives you color, or in excess can give you hyperpigmentation, or dark spots. MAP works to inhibit (slow down/block) that enzyme.

So, in conclusion: Look for stabilized vitamin C formulas, do not use C products if your sensitive or too young and for 50% better results, go to the spa and receive a professional treatment!

To find your nearest spa visit our search a spa page on www.pevonia.com.au

A Spa Revolution in Teen Skincare

It really seems that skin care for teens is either too aggressive or completely ineffective in clearing blemishes. Ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide, while great for snuffing bacteria often leave the skin red and irritated. The problem is the Benzoyl Peroxide required to control the bacteria is too much of a hit for most teen skin.

When you consider 85% of teens suffer from a form of acne which can lead to reduced self esteem and scarring you can understand why Pevonia's developer, Dr Sylvie Hennessy felt the need to come up with a solution for this age-old dilemma. And, as a result of her innovative way of thinking now teens can truly benefit from this revolutionary range comprised of two effective lines; SpaTeen Blemished Skin for acne-prone skin types and SpaTeen All Skin Types, both of which will help teens achieve the healthiest and most radiant skin possible, whatever their skin type and concern.

The Pevonia Teen Line difference?

Instead of hitting the skin with the high % of BP it needs to control breakouts, deliver the dose slowly over the course of a day with a unique gradual release formula.

The result:

Skin remains soft, supple and bacteria is controlled all day instead of just one hour in the morning.

Pevonia’s SpaTeen™ marries technologically-advanced ingredient delivery systems with natural and soothing botanicals and organic phyto-extracts to keep every type of teen skin healthy and balanced. A unique Micro-Matrix delivery system of micro particles entrap active ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid to allow for a controlled, 12-hour time released delivery that evenly disperses ingredients for maximum effectiveness.

Each product in the SpaTeen™ line is formulated with the best quality natural and organic ingredients to ensure a gentle formula that is non-irritating to young skin.

Seriously effective and unlike any other teen acne program, the SpaTeen Blemished Skin Line counteracts acne and clears breakouts, blackheads and clogged pores. The line includes;

• Blemished Skin Cleanser - foaming citrus cleanser which delivers effective dual exfoliation
• Blemished Skin Toner - Alcohol-free toner which works to remove impurities & excess oil
• Blemished Skin Moisturizer - hydrating moisturizer with Micro-Matrix time release system
• Blemish B-gone - Radically effective spot treatment which heals blemishes & counteracts bacteria
• Blemished Skin Mask - Calming & healing antiseptic mask for deep pore cleansing
• Blemished Skin SpaTeen Kit (includes all above products)

Key ingredients in SpaTeen Blemished Skin:

• 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide – reduces ongoing inflammation, helps clear existing blemishes and clogged pores, and prevents new breakouts from forming with minimal irritation.
• 2% Salicylic Acid – helps clear existing blemishes, exfoliated dead skin debris, and prevents clogged pores with minimal irritation.
• Sulfur – heals and prevents breakouts, while soothing irritated skin.


A truly, unique and effective concept, the SpaTeen™ All Skin Types line properly addresses dry, sensitive and combination skin by deeply hydrating skin while balancing oily T-zones, unclogging pores and healing and preventing blemishes. The line includes;

• All Skin Types Cleanser – Refreshing, strawberry scented cleanser which removes impurities
• All Skin Types Toner - Alcohol-free strawberry toner which removes impurities & excess oil
• All Skin Types Moisturizer -Delivers continuous & gentle exfoliation & hydration
• All Skin Types SpaTeen Kit (all above products)


Key ingredients in SpaTeen™ for All Skin Types:

• Hyaluronic Acid – bonds moisture to skin to keep it supple and hydrated.
• Lactic Acid – helps regulate pH levels, while brightening skin’s overall tone.
• Kava – a member of the black pepper family that has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Pevonia also offers three professional in-spa treatments designed specifically to treat teens’ biggest skin concerns such as controlling blemishes, boosting moisture, and repairing skin from over-exposure to the sun. The treatments include:


Blemished Skin In-Spa Treatment

This intensive treatment helps to heal existing blemishes and prevent new ones from forming. A gentle, yet thorough cleansing exfoliation is followed by Clear-O-Zym™, a Pevonia-exclusive enzyme peel to gently remove blackheads and dead skin cells. The treatment is concluded with the application of a highly antiseptic blemished skin mask to leave skin refreshed and deeply cleansed. Six sessions are recommended.


Strawberry HydraBoost In-Spa Treatment

This soothing treatment counteracts environmental aggressors and helps relieve the effects of a teen’s hectic schedule. A gentle, yet thorough cleansing exfoliation is followed by Clear-O-Zym™, a Pevonia-exclusive enzyme peel to remove blackheads and dead skin cells. The treatment is concluded with the application of an antioxidant delicious scented strawberry mask to leave skin cool, energized, and hydrated.


Papaya Sun Repair In-Spa Treatment

This restorative treatment helps teens replenish essential moisture that can be stripped away by over-exposure to sun. A gentle, yet thorough cleansing exfoliation is followed by Clear-O-Zym™, a Pevonia-exclusive enzyme peel to remove blackheads and dead skin cells. The treatment is concluded with a deeply hydrating, scrumptious smelling and desensitizing papaya mask to leave skin replenished and soothed.


Pevonia’s Teen Line is available in selected beauty salons and day spas nationally to find out more or find your nearest spa visit http://www.pevonia.com.au/

Is your pregnancy causing skin woes?

Worry no more! There are solutions to keeping beautiful skin during that very special time in your life. During gestation (pregnancy), your skin becomes susceptible to hormonal influxes. Some women have said they have never had such healthy looking skin, while others say it has never looked worse! So, for those of you with the latter, listen up.

You have probably been told that practically nothing is safe during pregnancy and that you should wait until after breastfeeding… but with Pevonia Botanica there’s hope for a quick resolve. Your skin may become extremely sensitive, as well as all of your other senses, so even when a product could be safe to use throughout your “condition” maybe its aroma and feeling suddenly become too strong for you.

Your skin still needs good care, and aside from obviously forbidden-to-use products, you can have a safe and effective option with many formulations from Pevonia. The first trimester is the most delicate as the baby is just forming. Later on the baby starts growing, but during the initial formation anything doubtful or unproven can have a negative effect that will have a lifelong repercussion. It is wise to avoid anything that may contain acids, dubious synthetic or inappropriate chemical ingredients, most medical prescriptions unless approved by the doctor, and recently discovered ingredients. To this list you add no electrical currents through your body (as those produced by certain devices for therapies), no smoking, no drinking, no drugs…

Now, in terms of what you can do for your skin, I’d recommend using a gentle cleanser like Pevonia’s Sensitive Skin Cleanser and Lotion. If your skin has an oily or thicker texture you could use the Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser (but be really gentle –remember the skin may feel over-sensitive). If your skin has breakouts, do not use anything meant for acne management. Instead use the Propolis Concentrate to keep the lesions at bay.

To ward off your skin from UV damage and to prevent and curb possible discolorations during pregnancy, use the Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30. Do not attempt to use any lightening product!

Are you worried about belly stretch marks? Use the Micro-Emulsified Massage Oil – “Anti-Stress” and combine with Marine Elastin Cream There are more home care options of course, for both face and body depending on your concern, and a few professional treatments that can improve your complexion in a completely safe manner.

Contact us for professional advice or visit a Pevonia Spa near you.

You may also visit and contact us through Pevonia.com.au for more information.

Till next time! =)

Spa Feature: Mineral Spa @ Peppers Springs Retreat

If you are looking for a place to escape for a day or more in Victoria you must try the Mineral Spa at Peppers Springs Retreat...

Mineral Spa is an idyllic rural restorative haven… Australia’s only true healing waters destination spa. Tucked in the heart of Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges, Mineral Spa embeds the healing qualities of the region’s naturally nutrient-rich mineral water into every aspect of the spa experience. Pampering, healing, purifying, detoxing, de-stressing and nurturing clients back to life.

Tucked in the picturesque grounds of Peppers Springs Retreat, you will float through time cocooned in lush, plush, comfortable luxury with pre-heated treatment rooms, natural light flooding the lounge and Retreat, gentle caring staff and the naturally restorative effects of being in picturesque native Daylesford countryside.

Treatments are mineral-based, using the region’s mineral water and natural botanicals, because of both their proven healing and relaxing properties. Hepburn Springs has been the source of 80% of Victoria’s mineral water for over 100 years, and has deservedly gained the international reputation of being the spa and mineral water capital of Australia.

Their therapists, each with their own area of expertise, have been personally selected for their healing hands and calming spirits. They are highly skilled in exceptional results-driven treatments using products by Pevonia exclusive to prestigious spas around the world.

Book today for a wonderful spa treat, it's an experience you'll never forget!

www.mineralspa.com.au

How To Series: Removing Eye Makeup

Exfoliate your way to luminous skin

Every year, about this time, clients tell us their skin is going "crazy". Some complain of excess oil and clogged pores while others suffer sensitivity and dehydration. If you are one of the unlucky ones, you may experience a smorgasboard of all these skin problems.

Seasonal change has a strong impact on how your skin behaves. Certainly some of it is lifestyle; sun exposure, exercise and diet may all vary according to the season, however the bodies innate balance can alter dramatically with temperature change.

DEHYDRATION
There's no doubt that Summer in Oz is harsh, high temperatures, humidity and madly fluctuating temperatures all take their toll on your skin. But there are two factors that are the main contributors to dehydration of the skin: excess sweating and air conditioning. So its not unusual to find your skin parched and dehyrated at the end of Summer!

SOLUTION
Dose up on moisture binding ingredients such as Hyaluronic and Collagen, these ingredients attract and bind moisture to the skin and help maintain healthier skin cells. Healthy skin cells = Healthy gorgeous skin.

We recommend: Phyto Aromatic Mist and Collagen Concentrate and Care Cream

SENSITIVITY
When your skin becomes excessively dehyrated it also becomes sensitized. The acid mantle that protects your skin becomes more alkaline and hence less protective. Fluctuating temperatures also contribute to damage of the capillaries which sometimes become slack and distorted; a condition known as telangiectasia.

SOLUTION
Rehydrating the skin is part of the solution, and reducing inflammation is another. Use soothing and calming products that help reduce "heat" in the skin and inflame and stretch the delicate tissues. And finally protect your skin with non-clogging, yet embalming products to help restore the skins pH.
We recommend: Propolis Concentrate, Sensitive Care Cream and Reactive Care Cream

EXCESS OIL AND BREAKOUTS
We find this is one of the most common skin complaints Post-Summer. Skin cells build up during Summer as a result of sun-damage and sweating which acts like a "glue" to the cells, preventing them from shedding at a normal healthy rate. Consequently the skin becomes tough, rough and clogged.

SOLUTION
Gentle exfoliation provides a dramatic improvement to Post-Summer skin because it helps to shed the excess cells which create a barrier for the soothing and hydrating ingredients. By exfoliating once or twice a week your skin will normalise in very little time and give you back that vibrancy and glow. Note: it is important not to over-exfoliate which can lead to the reverse effect: stimulating cell buildup, keep it gentle and only a couple of times a week.

We recommend: Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, Enzymo-Spherides Peeling Cream, Silky Skin Body Scrub and Tropical De-Aging Saltmousse

Finally if Post-Summer skin blues are getting you down speed up results with a professional skin care treatment at your local Pevonia Spa. For spa listings visit our "Search a Spa" page on http://www.pevonia.com.au/

Welcome

We are finally getting with the times and engaging in some "social media" for our beloved brand: Pevonia Botanica.

If you don't know Pevonia products, they were created in Switzerland by Dr Sylvie Hennessy, a well respected Biochemist with a degree in dermatology. Her goal was to create the most effective skin care line in the world utilising all that science has to offer from nature's own pharmacy.

Which is why Pevonia products are so natural. In fact, the purity rating of the line is one of the highest in the world.

Pevonia products are free of parabens, artificial fragrance and colour and are not tested on animals. They are however abundent in rich botanical and marine extracts that not only maintain healthy skin, they help correct and balance skin problems.

We hope you love the products, to find out more visit our website www.pevonia.com.au

So why are we here?

To share information, tips, special offers, to answer any questions you might have and to find out what you like and dislike.

This site is not created to just "sell" products, sure we recommend our own products for specific issues, but its more to share information with you. Its our way of saying "thanks" for being part of our community.

We hope you enjoy the posts, we welcome your comments and questions and look forward to getting to know you all better :)