A new year is the perfect time to make yourself over, and SkinDirect.com has everything you need to make your dreams of a fresh, new you a reality. We offer quality lines of skin care products that treat everything from acne and fine lines to dry skin and under eye problems.

This may be the year you decide to rid your face of those unwanted wrinkles and fine lines. You can cleanse your skin completely to give it a vibrant appearance with the right product for your specific skin type. SkinDirect.com offers a full line of proven, quality products that can help you reach these goals and can give you better results than you may have thought possible.

Getting rid of dry skin or starting an exfoliation plan to rid your skin of old, dead cells should be on everyone’s list. We offer exquisite creams, treatments, and serums from around the world that have given our customers smoother, healthier skin.

If your skin is already in the best possible shape, we have moisturizers, cleansers, and toners that will help you maintain its look. We also carry a great mineral makeup line to accentuate your features and make your eyes, lips, or cheeks really stand out.

It’s time to show the world a new you, and SkinDirect.com is your first step in achieving your new look!

Winter weather treats our skin harshly, but there’s no need for your skin to suffer its effects. We have many products available to combat the cold, dry conditions that this time of year can bring, and now is the perfect opportunity for you to begin a skin regimen that will have you looking your best.

Just because the sun isn’t shining brightly every day now, that’s no reason to ignore your skin. We have a full line of products designed specifically to relieve the effects of aging, to help remove dark circles and wrinkles, and to answer every need your skin has. This may be a great time to treat yourself and your skin to the luxurious benefits our creams, lotions, and cleansers will produce, and our full line of high quality products will have you looking your best for the holiday parties!

Our products will be the best hostess gift you can give, or even an indulgence for yourself. You will be delighted with our eye and lip treatments, antioxidant filled products, and our skin care products formulated to treat acne, rosacea, or other unsightly conditions. We carry numerous products for dry, sensitive, and intolerant skin so you can have soft, silky skin during this cold, dry season.  

Your skin doesn’t take the winter off, and neither should your caring for it. This is the best time to prepare your skin for the any type of weather to come. Start 2010 right with fabulous skin!

Acne? Keratosis Pilaris? Wrinkles? Lines? Acne scars? Uneven skin tone? Then it might be time for you to talk to your dermatologist about using Retinol. Retinol is used to treat numerous skin conditions and even out the color of your skin. These products can be found online at SkinDirect or prescribed by your doctor.  The latter is usually a higher percentage of retinol, which is why it needs a prescription.

Retinol is used to treat many things, as mentioned above. It increases the cell turnover rate which is why dermatologists recommend it for the treatment of several different skin conditions and signs of aging. Common skin conditions, such as Keratosis Pilaris, can also be treated with the use of Retinol. It is usually comes in 2%, 5%, and 10%, depending on the severity of what you are trying to treat.

Retinol products work great with hyperpigmentation and sun spots because of the increased cellular turnover rate it causes. By helping stimulate new cell growth, old cells will diminish and a new layer of skin can appear. It also increases the production of collagen which works great in filling in lines and wrinkles. Continuous use will reveal newer, softer skin without certain problems you had before.

It is usually best and safest to start with the lowest percentage of retinol if your skin is not accustomed to it. After using the entire product of low strength retinol, you can then proceed to increase the percentage if your skin handled it fine with no negative reactions. Your dermatologist will recommend the best percentage for your specific skin and instruct you on how to use retinol skin care products.

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance found in your body and in animals. It serves as a lubricator in between joints and even inside of your eye. It’s a component of your connective tissues, serving as a barrier and cushion between your joints and limbs.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a very popular ingredient used within many skin care products. It is usually paired with vitamin C to assist in the penetration of your skin. It’s effective for reducing the appearance of aging symptoms and damaged skin on the face and has been regarded as the “key to the fountain of youth.” This is because of its natural properties found inside our bodies.

As you age, you begin to lose significant amounts of this important substance. Smoking and certain diets can also alter the amount you have over time. With the loss of hyaluronic acid, more wrinkles begin to appear and your skin may get dry. This is why many anti-aging products formulate their mixture using HA to restore hydration and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. But what started the hyaluronic acid revelation and its use in skin care products?

Years ago, in a small Japanese village by the name of Yuzurihara, Connie Chung set out to discover what the secret was for the villagers’ long lives and youthful looking skin. They lived very long lives, well into their 80s and 90s. Very few of them wore glasses and most of them still had a full head of hair and great, flawless skin.

She found out that the villagers’ diets are full of root vegetables, fish, and low iron foods which allow their bodies to retain more hyaluronic acid levels, which other people around the world tend to lose as they age. The villagers’ bodies had much higher levels of HA than the average level humans tend to have. This was the reason for their wrinkle-free faces, no age spots, and beautiful hair. So make sure to eat healthy, incorporating certain vegetables and iron in your diet, in order to maintain your hyaluronic acid levels. It just might be the real “key to the fountain of youth.”

Hydroquinone, pronounced hī’drō-kwĭ-nōn’, is a white crystalline substance used in skin care products to decrease the formation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment within your skin that gives you color and a tan.

It is used topically to lighten darker areas of your skin where there might be uneven skin tones and hyperpigmentation. It can also be used to lighten freckles, age spots, chloasma, and melasma. Over exposure to the sun can create sun spots in your skin, causing certain areas to appear darker than the rest. Hydroquinone can be used to treat such conditions and to help even out the color of your skin.

You should always discuss the types of products you want to use on your skin with your doctor and tell her or him about any allergies or sensitivities you have. Hydroquinone products should not be used on skin that is sunburned, windburned, chapped, dry, or irritated. You must wait until these conditions have healed completely and there are no open wounds or sores before using hydroquinone.

It can also make your skin very sensitive so avoid sun exposure and wear the proper SPF sunscreen when going outside. Hydroquinone is a very powerful bleaching agent so it must be used carefully and as advised by your dermatologist. There are other alternatives to hydroquinone, if your skin is too sensitive to its effects, such as ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C.

There has been a lot of FDA controversy over the use of hydroquinone in skin care products so discuss this with your doctor and see if it is safe for your skin.

You read and hear about this word all the time. Its in our foods, skin care products, and in tons of anti-aging remedies and treatments. But what exactly do antioxidants do and why are they great for our skin and body?

An antioxidant is a molecule found in many natural resources such as fruits and vegetables. It can slow and even prevent the oxidation of other molecules from occurring. Oxidation produces free radicals which starts damaging healthy cells in our skin and body. By consuming antioxidants or using them topically, they can slow this process down and save our cells from corruption.

Many health problems are linked to free radical damage such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. By consuming certain fruits and vegetables every day, you can lower your risk of getting these diseases. Foods that are rich in vitamin C and E are very important for your diet and health. They can be found in citrus fruits, broccoli, green leaf veggies, strawberries, whole grains, nuts, seed, vegetable oil, and liver oil. Other common antioxidants can be found in soy, red wine, certain grapes, pomegranate, cranberries, tea, and tomato products.

Many topical skin care products are also formulated with antioxidants. Using these will help your skin and face from free radical damage and damage from the sun. The sun is an oxidizing agent and over exposure can burn and age your skin. Certain products, such as Vivité Daily Antioxidant Facial Serum contains a blend of green tea, pomegranate, and licorice, which are all high in natural antioxidants. They’ll work with your skin’s natural defense system to keep your skin firm and prevent aging symptoms such as fine lines and wrinkles.

Use this chart as an example of other types of antioxidant rich foods:

Summer is right around the corner and the same skin care products you’ve been using all year might not be the best choices for June. This summer, the best makeup picks are lighter and softer colors. A natural glow will be perfect for those warm summer days no matter where you go. Keep your skin hydrated and clean throughout the day to prevent oil build up and break outs. And always remember, less is more!

Summer or not, you should always make sure to apply sunscreen before you leave your home. A moisturizing sunscreen, or a moisturizer with a good SPF, is your best option for the harsh summer sun. Apply it after you shower or cleanse your face in the morning. Hydrating your skin will keep it looking youthful and firm, and can later help in the prevention of aging symptoms.

If you can’t take your sunscreen or moisturizer with you when you leave, or you don’t want to apply it over makeup, many skin care companies have your solution. They have created great spritzers and misters that you can take with you anywhere you go. Not only will they keep your skin moist and soft during the day, they’re safe to use over makeup. They won’t wear your skin or makeup down and they’re a great alternative to washing your face in the middle of the day. Just apply whenever your skin needs a quick mist of hydration.

When it comes to cosmetics, it might be time to toss out some of the makeup you’ve been using during winter and spring. Read about makeup expiration so you’ll know which products you can keep or which ones you should throw away. Soft colored eye liners and eye shadows will give your eyes a natural pop. Be careful with choosing some of these colors because you don’t want to choose something with too big of a contrast. A subtle, light shade will accent your eyes naturally and enhance their size and beauty.

Don’t neglect your lips when you’re applying sunscreen or moisturizers to your face. Your lips are still skin, too, and need hydration just as much as the rest of your body does. Wear a protective spf lip balm or lip moisturizer before you apply lipstick or gloss. This will keep your lips soft and fresh underneath the color. Pinks and nudes are great color choices for the summer because they’ll bring out your lips natural tones. Darker shades will work great for the evening, but nudes will still keep your lips fabulous, too.

Be careful not to fall asleep with your makeup on. Cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and toner before bed. This will keep your pores unclogged and oil free. If your skin gets dry during the night, a night creme will work great but make sure to choose the right one for your type of skin.  SkinDirect.com carries all of the types of products mentioned above, so browse through the site to choose the best kinds for you and your skin.

RevaléSkin has a new key ingredient within their skin care products to treat your skin to the max. CoffeeBerry is a powerful and natural super-antioxidant ingredient that fights the signs of aging and protects against free radicals.

Taken from the fruit of the coffee plant Coffea Arabica, CoffeBerry has “one of the highest antioxidant scores ever recorded.” Used to make your skin younger and smoother, the CoffeeBerry extract is exceptionally rich in polyphenol antioxidants that help protect your skin from free radical damage. It does this by neutralizing the free radicals before they can damage and age your skin with fine lines and wrinkles.

There are many environmental stressors that damage your skin and CoffeeBerry can help protect against them. RevaléSkin Night cream uses this powerful antioxidant while you sleep. It penetrates deep inside your skin to treat fine lines and wrinkles and give you a more even skin tone.

RevaléSkin Eye Cream is specially formulated for your more sensitive and thinner eye area. This eye cream can reduce the amount of concealer you use by delivering antioxidants to the skin underneath your eyes. Although gentle, the powers of CoffeeBerry are still hard at work, giving you results and restoring the youth back into your skin.

SkinDirect.com carries SkinCeuticals’ line of skin care products because of their advanced formulas, backed by science. They developed their skin care line through science and advanced technology to treat and prevent certain skin conditions brought by aging, sun-damage, or acne.

SkinCeuticals is used by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, medi-spas, and other skin care professionals worldwide. These professionals trust SkinCeuticals because they work with scientists in chemistry, biology, and medicine to develop products aimed towards a wide variety of skin conditions. They strive to treat the source of the problem rather than just cover them up.

Their years of knowledge and research has earned them several grants to pursue more innovative formulas and develop new skin care technology. SkinCeuticals also funds clinical trials at large medical institutions such as Duke University Medical Center and the National Institute of Health.

With products ranging from eye creams, toners, retinol, and cleansers, SkinCeuticals has everything your skin needs.

We’ve all heard about it and read about its supposed wonders. Whether it’s another celebrity who had it done or it’s advertised at your doctor’s office, Botox seems to be everywhere these days. But, is it really worth the hype or can you get similar results with topical skin care products?

Costing a few hundred dollars per region can get very costly, so is Botox really worth getting done? Especially if you’re not a fan of needles, you might want to consider other options. But many women, and even men, rave about their Botox treatments and say they can’t live without it. They end up going back to their dermatologist’s office every few months to maintain that firmer, smoother look.

If you can handle the needle injections and the high cost, talk to a dermatologist to see if Botox is right for you and consider the risks and possible side effects that come with it. If you’d rather skip the office visit and possibly painful procedure, you have a variety of options to consider to get similar results in the comfort of your own home.