I am one of these people, the sensitive and oily kind. I’ve used the harsh cleansers and the “sensitive skin” ones, much to no avail. Although my face luckily doesn’t resemble a pizza, I do occasionally get pimples and blemishes but blackheads are truly my worst enemy! So, what do I do? Well, I just started using a range of skin care called Alpha Hydrox. Alpha Hydrox is all about making skin care simple and recognizing the need for skin care that really works for all skin types.

Alpha Hydrox has created a simple three-step system that addresses your individual skin type and its needs, whether it’s normal, oily, dry or break-out prone.  Start with a cleanser, then an exfoliant and end with a moisturizer. For my skin I use the Foaming Face Wash, 10% AHA Oil-free Formula and Sheer Silk Moisturizer with SPF 15 every morning and every night. All three of these products are gentle enough to use on my skin and I could definitely tell a difference after I used them, even after just the first day. The secret behind this amazing skin care and all Alpha Hydrox products are the AHAs or glycollic acids. AHAs gently exfoliate away the dead skin and residue on the face to allow your best skin to shine through. They don’t take off a layer of your skin by any means, but rather allow the skin to show it’s best, most fresh layer.

1. Low fat dairy products: These foods such as yogurt, milks, and cheeses contain Vitamin A which helps keep skin looking healthy. Beta Carotene (found in carrots) is converted to Vitamin A in a healthy diet. However, people who suffer from Diabetes or thyroid problems often cannot convert beta-carotene. So dairy is an easy source for this important vitamin.

2. Blackberries and other summer berries: These foods are rich in antioxidants. Research has shown that antioxidants help protect cells against free radicals, which can damage and even kill your cells. Give your skin the best defense with antioxidants. It is easy and tasty too

3. Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oils, and Flaxseed: Essential fatty acids protect your cell membranes, allowing waste to exit and important nutrients to enter. These fatty acids also help your cells to retain moisture making your skin look plump and fresh.

4. Healthy Oils: Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or other healthy oils to keep your skin lubricated. Healthy skin has a healthy glow. Not to mention, these good fats provide nutrients for you skin and body.

5. Whole-wheat bread, muffins, and cereals as well as turkey, tuna and brazil nuts: What could this wide array of food have in common with one another? Selenium. Research has shown that diets high in selenium yield less skin damage.

6. Green Tea: This ancient herbal remedy is a fantastic addition to your diet for your best skin. It’s anti-inflammatory properties help protect the cell membrane. Anti-inflammatory properties, like those found in Green Tea have been linked to healthy cell growth. And a reduced risk of cancer.

7. Water: Be sure to get your 8 glasses a day! Water hydrates cells, makes skin look plumper and younger, and helps remove toxins from the body. What more could you ask for in an 8oz glass?

These 7 secrets, can help your skin shine this summer. Try combining several of the above foods into a new favorite recipe. Have fun with health!

1. Cleanse. Alpha Hydrox has a few choices to cover your cleansing needs. Our Foaming Face Wash is great for all skin types and is by far our best seller. You may also want to try the Nourishing Cleanser for a more luxurious feel. If you want to think outside the box for your cleansing regimen, try Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Purifying Peel Off Masque .
2. Exfoliate. Alpha Hydrox Swipes are a great option for exfoliation. They have 14% glycolic acid, which will give you a gentle peel at home. Removing dead skin cells encourages new skin growth and radiant skin. For a spa quality exfoliation at home, try a delicious Montagne Jeunesse Cream & Honey Skin Polisher Masque.
3. Moisturize. Alpha Hydrox has a few options for moisturizers depending on your skin types. For oily to combination skin, your best pick would be Enhanced Cream. If your skin is on the dry side, try the Enhanced Lotion. We also have a tasty treat for your skin! Introducing the Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Soufflé Masque. Use often for purified, healthy skin.
4. Sunscreen. We’ve all heard about the damaging rays from the sun. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Sheer Silk Moisturizer contains SPF15 to keep your skin hydrated and protected.

So there are 4 easy ways to keep your skin looking its best. Alpha Hydrox is great for all ages and all skin types. Mix and match to customize our skin care products to best suit your needs. So get out there and put your best face forward.

An essential step in any healthy skin regimen is to moisturize. Try Alpha Hydrox Ultra Rich Hand Therapy Cream. At only $5.99 a tube, this little lotion is a miracle worker. If you live in a dry climate like we do in Colorado, you’re used to reapplying your moisturizer every hour or more. This lotion need only be applied once or twice. And you get smooth, satin hands all day!   With a few applications, your hands will be on their way to being ready to face that summer sun.

But what about those feet? You probably have fashionable new sandals you can’t wait to show off. To shape those feet up for summer, start by a gentle exfoliation in the shower with a foot scrub such as Montagne Jeunesse Watermelon & Balm Mint Foot Scrub, currently by one get one free. Immediately after you shower, apply Alpha Hydrox Foot & Problem Area Cream to your feet. This routine will have your feet looking their best in no time.

The third part of this routine involves Alpha Hydrox Cuticle Cream . You don’t need a costly mani/pedi to have great hands and feet. With this daily moisturizing routine, and an application of cuticle cream, your hands and feet will be ready to be shown off this summer.

Getting those hands and feet pampered is as easy as one, two, three. Just add a splash of color to your toes or hands, and you’ll be ready for your next barbecue.

The following is in response to a question from one of our Facebook friends.  She wanted to know what she should use to help with acne, large pores and scarring.

Let’s start with a good cleanser. Use one that is pH balanced, gentle and soap-free. This is important because you don’t want you skin to be left dry and tight. Dry and tight will not reduce the appearance of pores but can be the first step in over treating acne prone skin. The one we make that is best for you is Foaming Face Wash.  Wash twice a day, morning and night.

Next, use AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids). AHA’s are natural gentle exfoliants. Use them twice a day after cleansing. AHA’s do two things; remove the top layer of dead skin and trick skin into producing more new cells. They work by loosen glue-like bonds that hold dead skin to the surface. Removing this layer helps to open pores and release dirt and oil build up. Removing this layer also tricks your skin into producing new cells and increases cellular renewal.  Other ways to exfoliate, like scrubs and derma-brasion, are too harsh to use twice a day like AHA’s. Try 10% Oil-free gel for oily skin if you are just starting  to use AHA’s. They may tingle a bit. That’s okay;  it tells you they are working.

When using AHA’s in the daytime, also include a sunscreen. AHA’s remove the top layer of skin. That is the body’s natural protection from the sun. Using an AHA will not make you sun sensitive but removing the natural layer of protection (the dead cells) leaves you more vulnerable to sun damage. Sun exposure can make scarring more exaggerated too because of variations in skin tone.  Scars never “tan” like other skin.  So use a sunscreen when using AHA’s, especially during the day. Use Sheer Silk, a really lightweight daily moisturizer with an SPF 15. Even with oily skin, some moisturizing will help skin to feel soft and plump. Too dry is as bad as too oily.

Finally, for blemishes, use a spot treatment. Ours is Acne Spot Serum. It will dry a blemish without drying out your whole face.

1. Cleanse – morning and night

2. Use AHA’s – morning and night

3. Use a sunscreen everyday

4. Use spot treatments for blemishes

So that’s it! Skin care like exercise. It is accumulative. The more diligent you are the more benefits you will see. Thanks for your question.

There are ways to make aging hands look better. Have you heard of a hand lift?  It is a cosmetic procedure that takes fat from one part of the body and injects into hands to make them look fuller and less wrinkled. At a cost of $2000 to $5000, it is not a serious option for most women.  After all, for thousands of dollars, you could have hundreds of manicures!

Another possibility is to use a cream with niacin in it. Niacin gently firms and tightens loose skin. Alpha Hydrox makes a neck cream with niacin  that can be used to help firm and tighten the skin on your hands. At $11.99, it is a lot less expensive than a hand lift and doesn’t involve needles. Try using niacin on your hands during the day with a sunscreen. To reduce age spots and make hands softer and smoother, use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) at night. AHAs help to even skin tone and exfoliates dryness. For the cost of just one manicure, your hands can look and feel as young as the rest of you.  Your hands take care of so much. Shouldn’t you take care of your hands?

Visit www.alphahydrox.com for a full line of skin care products.

Most have heard the expression, “You get what you pay for”. To many, that means if something is cheap then it must be cheaply made. That may be true of some things like clothing, appliances and food but it is not true of everything.  Some products cost more because the packaging and the advertising are expensive. Skin care and cosmetics are known for using both. Who pays for the packaging and advertising?  You do. Unless you are a smart and savvy shopper.  Alpha Hydrox has always been a value brand but that does not make it cheap.  Three great skin care products only cost about $30.  The ingredients, however, are equal to and often better than department store brands. The packaging is simple yet suitable for each product and advertising is based on word-of-mouth.  No wasted expense there.

Keep your New Year’s resolutions in 2011. Spend less, look better. It starts with Alpha Hydrox.

As an exfoliant, the most effective pH level is 4.0. This is the level where AHAs begin to dissolve the glue-like bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. This stimulates cellular renewal and regeneration and allows newer, fresher cells to emerge.  Products with a pH level of 3.5 or below can be too irritating and may leave skin feeling dry and tight.  

Most people do not realize the importance of the pH level in skin care formulas.  AHAs are extremely effective ingredients  but it is important to know how they function in a product. Products like Alpha Hydrox put the percentage of AHA and the pH level on the box. Be a savvy consumer. Next time you are shopping for skin care products, be sure to look for the pH level. It will help you to know what products are best for you.

Here is the truth about AHA solutions and how the percentage of  glycolic acid is determined. A 100% glycolic acid (also known as AHAs) solution is not possible.  Most anti-aging  skin care formulations use a 70% glycolic acid  solution.  AHAs must be suspended in a base like a cream or lotion. That makes up the remaining 30% of the product.  When using a 70% glycolic acid solution, 20% of 70 equals 14. That means that the ACTUAL amount of AHA is really 14%, not 20%.  Misrepresenting the formula leads consumers to believe they are getting a higher percentage.

At Alpha Hydrox, we are honest and forthcoming about the percentage of AHAs in our skin care products.  We make a 10% lotion and cream, a 12% cream and a 14% AHA wipe. We list the percentage right on the front of the box.  We want to help consumers to know what they’re buying because the more they know, the more likely they are to buy Alpha Hydrox.

 www.alphahydrox.com has more information about all our skin care products.