Ask Me Mondays: All about Acne

A healthy follicle

Our body produces sebum(oil) in order to protect and moisturise our skin. Sebum is produced in sebaceous glands (small glands attached to our hair follicles) and travels along the follicle to our skin surface. Along the way, sebum picks up dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria, bringing them out of the skin. Sometimes dirt and dead skin cells accumulate and forms a clot that blocks up our pores. As this happens, our sebaceous glands are still producing sebum, which gets trapped beneath the skin, causing further blockage.

Acne occurs when our pores get blocked. When sebum gets trapped beneath the skin surface along with dirt and dead skin cells, it creates an excellent environment for the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. This bacteria feeds on fatty acids present in sebum and is a part of our skin makeup, While this is not usually a problem, when pores are blocked, excess sebum builds up and creates an excellent feeding ground for Propionibacterium to thrive. To combat this bacterial buildup, our immune system starts sending white blood cells to defend against the infection,a process which causes an inflammation that is commonly known as a pimple. There are different stages of acne, from non-inflammatory whiteheads and blackheads, to inflammatory acne like papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Non-Inflammatory Acne: Whiteheads and blackheads

Whitehead

Whitehead

Whiteheads (closed comedo) are formed when sebum and bacteria are trapped beneath skin. They can sometimes be so small that they can’t be seen by the naked eye.

Blackhead

Blackhead

Whiteheads become Blackheads (open comedo) when the pores open to the surface and the trapped sebum oxidises, turning a darker color.

When blackheads and whiteheads are removed, the passage in the follicle is cleared and normal sebum secretion resumes.

Inflammatory Acne

Sometimes the trapped skin and sebum extends the follicle so much that the follicle wall ruptures, attracting the attention of the immune system and causing the red, inflamed bumps we know as acne. These vary in severity, and come in the form of papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Papule

Papule

A papule occurs when the follicular wall ruptures. White blood cells are sent to stop the infection, causing red raised bumped on our skin.

Pustule

Pustule

A pustule happens several days after a papule is formed. White blood cells rise to the surface, forming a pus-filled lesion that we commonly call a pimple.

In more serious occurrences, an inflamed lesion can collapse, spreading infection to the surrounding follicles. This will cause large painful bumps known as nodules or cysts.

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Click your way to a slimmer silhouette

Try LPG for $48

Good news for those feeling the bloat after 3 straight months of festivities and feasting! We’re having a limited time promotion for our LPG Lipomassage Body Shaping Treatment.
Lipomassage by LPG is a technology from France that helps stimulate lipolysis (release of fatty tissue) from your body. This treatment feels like a massage and can be used to reshape your body. It’ll help you to lose inches in difficult-to-target areas like the waist, abdomen, hips and thighs, as well as reduce cellulite.
Our $48 trial is limited to first time customers only and will end on 13 March.

Click here to purchase your trial vouchers, or simply call us at 6738 6108 to make an appointment by 13 March to enjoy the offer.

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Are you getting your beauty sleep?

Are you sleep deprived? Then take note: results from a recent Swedish study shows that our need for ‘beauty sleep’ isn’t just a myth.

The study asked untrained observers to rate photographs of 23 participants taken after 8 hours of sleep and after a night of sleep deprivation.

In their subsequent paper published in the British Medical Journal, the authors noted that

“Sleep deprived people are perceived as less attractive, less healthy and more tired compared with when they are well rested.”

Food for thought indeed: Perhaps the best basis for beautiful skin is a good night’s rest! Of course, if you don’t have a choice to how much shut-eye you get, at least dull the onset of tiredness with a good eye-cream!

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Festive Makeovers now Available!

makeover

We’ve joined forces with our favourite Makeup & Hair Artisan, Ms Joy Tan, to provide mineral makeup makeovers at our premises! If you’ve ever been frustrated by the thick cakey look of other makeover sessions, you’ll be glad to know that the radiance inducing properties of Color Minerals, paired with the makeup expertise of Ms Joy Tan, will deliver a naturally glamourous look that’s suitable for any party! No ‘Getai’ face, guaranteed!

Need to take your look up a notch for X’mas, New Year or any other events? Call us at 67386108 for an appointment :)

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Treats for teachers

We loveFree Back Bliss Spa treat with any Face/Body treatment (teachers only) our teachers at Chez Moi De Beaute, which explains why we always try to reward our hardworking educators each year in September!

This year is no different – we’re offering free Back Bliss Spa Treats (worth $100) to all teachers who make an appointment for a facial/massage or body treatment. If you’re a teacher who’s also an existing package holder, you’ll get to enjoy this treat when you come for your regular treatment this month! Just call us to make an appointment!

Happy Teachers Day!

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A Sun Protection Primer Part III

Last week, we explained the different standards to measure sun protection – mainly SPF and the Japanese PA system. This week, we’ll touch on the difference between Sunblock and Sun Screen. And the ingredients that can guarantee safe coverage in sun protection products.

The most common types of sunblock are the physical block and the chemical block.

Chemical blocks usually have the words “sun screen”, or “sun filter” in their names, while physical blocks often have the word “sun block” in their name. The key difference between these 2 types of sun protection are the way they work to prevent sun damage.

Chemical blocks work by absorbing UV rays and then changing these rays to thermal energy via chemical conversion. Many of these sunscreens work well against UVB, but are less effective against UVA, especially against longer UVA wavelengths. However, recent innovations like the chemical avobenzone works against all UVA wavelengths, so do look out for that in your sunscreen to ensure maximum protection. The one downside of chemical blocks (especially those with a high SPF rating) is that they might irritate sensitive skin – due to the chemical conversion process.

Physical blocks work by creating a physical barrier on skin to deflect UV rays when they reach the skin. Because the UV rays are scattered when they come into contact with physical block ingredients, they do not damage skin. Physical blocks often contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, good ingredients that provide broad spectrum protection against UVB and all UVA wavelengths. Although poor quality sun blocks can feel thick and blend poorly on skin, new formulations have emerged containing finely blended ingredients that feel light and comfortable when applied, and also look less conspicuous on skin.

Endogenous Sun Essence

Endogenous Sun Essence ($83)

If you are looking for a good sunblock, why not consider Faith Cosmetic’s EndogenouS Sunprotector? This made-in-Japan product (PA+++, SPF 40) is an additive-free physical sunblock that contains both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. With 11 active ingredients like CoEnzyme Q10 (anti-oxidant), Rice Bran (soothing properties for sensitive skin) and Sodium Hyaluronate (moisturising), this product not only works to protect against sun-damage, but is also good for your skin! Best of all is how silky smooth and light it feels on skin – due to the double silicon coating – making it a wonderful make-up base. It’s reflective qualities also ensures that skin looks more flawless and even!

Priced at $83, a small bottle (50ml) can last for a long long time, making it a great investment in  your anti-sun damage toolkit!

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A Sun Protection Primer Part II

Last week we explained the different implications of sun exposure and the danger of UVA and UVB rays. Do you still recall the formula to differentiate between A and B rays?

That’s right – UVA Ages Skin, UVB Burns skin.

This week, we’re moving on to the types of Sun Protection Standards and what they mean – an important thing to note when we’re choosing our sun protection!

SPF: SPF stands for sun protection factor. This measures the amount of time a product protects your skin from reddening due to exposure to UVB rays. For example, if it takes 20 minutes before your skin starts to redden when exposed to the sun without any protection, an SPF of 15 will prevent your skin from burning for 15 times longer. (20×15=300 mins) This means you can be in the sun for 5 hours with an SPF 15 product, before your skin starts getting damaged.

If you’ve taken note of the above, you’ll realise that contrary to popular belief, a higher SPF doesn’t mean stronger protection, just a longer period of protection. So if you work in an office all day and are only exposed to the sun for only 30 minutes each way when commuting to and fro, you probably won’t need a product with SPF 45. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you use products with at least SPF 15, a minimum that should work for most people, unless you work in a mainly outdoor environment.

Since SPF measures the reddening of skin, this universal standard is mostly useful for gauging the protection against UVB rays (The rays that burn skin! Remember?). Currently there is no worldwide standard for UVA protection, so you’ll need to check the ingredients in your product to ensure that there are also UVA resistant products in there to safeguard your skin against the effects of photo-aging, caused by those UVA rays! (What ingredients? Look out for part III…)

PA: In the meantime, you can look to the PA system for a better gauge on UVA protection. PA is a Japanese sun protection standard based on the PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) reaction readings. PPD measures the damage to our pigment cells after every 2 – 4 hours of sun exposure. This reading helps to determine the PA (Protection level of UVA) of a product.

There are currently 3 levels of PA:

PA+ : Some UVA protection with a PPD of 2-4 (meaning our pigment cells will start getting damaged after 2-4 hours of sun exposure)

PA++: Moderate UVA protection with a PPD of 4-8. (Skin is protected for 4-8 hours)

PA+++: Good UVA protection with a PPD of >8. (More than 8 hours of sun protection)

So again, you can use this standard to match your sun protection product to your needs. Since UVA works on an invisible level compared to UVB, they’re more dangerous, so a higher PA factor might be a safer bet.

Next Week: The difference between sun screen and sun block, and the types of sun protection ingredients to look out for!

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A Sun Protection Primer Part I

The most direct answer to keeping skin fair is probably to stay out of the sun. This however, would prove nearly impossible for people like us living in a tropical climate, so the next best option is to apply suitable sun protection.

But what exactly is suitable sun protection? What do all the terms like SPF, UVA, UVB, PA actually mean? And is exposing our skin to the sun really so bad?

Fret not, read our guide to become an expert in a jiffy!

Why Sun Exposure can harm our skin

Sunlight contains solar rays, which can penetrate skin and damage it. Besides sunburn, these rays are the main cause of wrinkling, weathering (think of how the leathery skin of folks living on highlands and mountains, areas closer to the sun) and most signs of photo-aging. Of course, problems like pigmentation or melanoma that appear as we get older can also be caused by unprotected sun exposure. So the moral of the story? Sun protection! Apply it and start early if you want to stay younger longer!

UVA

UVA stands for Ultra Violet-A, these are long wave solar waves that are less likely to cause skin darkening, but which are more dangerous as they are the main cause of photo-aging symptoms like wrinkling and leathering. And because they work so silently, and penetrate so deeply, they’re even more dangerous than the pigmentation causing UVB. At least UVB gives us a hint when it’s harming us! Studies also show that UVA not only increases UVB’s cancer-causing effects, but may even directly cause some skin cancers.

UVB

UVB stands for Ultra Violet-B. These short wave solar rays are the main cause of sunburn, skin cancer and pigmentation. So if you’re looking to keep your clear, even complexion – remember to keep those UVB rays at bay!

And here’s the Chez Moi formula to differentiate between UVA and UVB:

UVAAges skin, UVB - Burns skin. Easy enough?

Look out for our second instalment of this primer to learn about all those confusing sun-protection standards. SPF, PA, what? You’ll find out soon enough!

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A forty-five-tastic August

NDP 2010 Show Rehearsal Pictures!

From NDP 2010 Show Rehearsals on Flickr

It’s going to be August again, a month we always look forward to because of the festivities leading up to National Day. Yes, Singapore turns 45 this year, and we’re looking forward to the pomp and glamour leading up the the big day this year – with the tanks rolling in the military parade, and the fireworks at the Padang! Anything that involves fireworks is a winner in our opinion!

Here at Chez Moi, we’ve decided to welcome this fiery August (fiery also because of Hungry Ghost Festival and incense involved anyone?) with a dousing of body pampering treats.

So you’ll find lots of great promotions on our BIOTONE Spa product range, as well as a delish back-treatment package to keep your back view as gorgeous as your front!

Click over to our promotions page for details!

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20% off Vitamin C and Whitening Products in July

Whitening Products Promo

Get fairer skin for July with our great whitening deal!
Any purchase of regularly priced products from our Whitening and Vitamin C range will get a 20% discount!

Products include: Phyris Vitamin C Complex, Refining Serum, Refining Cream, SkinScience Silky C, Silky C Plus, Vecteana Lotion W, Essence W, White Powder and Pack W.

Valid in July 2010 only. Whilst Stocks Last

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