Protecting our Skin

Restoring moisture

Emollients reduce water loss from the epidermis by covering it with a protective film. How much moisturisation you need depends very much on your skin type and natural level of skin oil content. Emollients do not get absorbed through the skin into the body. Generally, the higher the lipid content the greasier the emollient and the shinier it looks on the skin. Consequently, it is preferable to choose an emollient that does ‘just enough’ to relieve dryness. Snowberry Nourishing Lite Day Cream has ideal moisturising characteristics for combination skin, whereas our Rich Day Cream is better for normal to dry skin.

Stimulating collagen production

Where emollients moisturise, advanced skincare products can also help the skin to regenerate the essential protein collagen. Collagen is the main structural element of the living layer of skin (the dermis) that lies below the keratin-rich epidermis. As we age, collagen production tends to diminish, one obvious result of which is an increase in the depth and length of wrinkles.

Snowberry’s serums and our Cellular Regeneration Night Cream in particular, have been specifically designed to stimulate the skin’s natural collagen renewal processes.

Anti-oxidants

Anti-oxidants are nutrients commonly found in fruit and vegetables that neutralise free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or molecules in which an electron is missing – an unstable state most often caused by excessive exposure to the sun. Free radicals are extremely damaging to the skin and especially to collagen and elastin (the protein that gives skin its elasticity). Free radicals also damage melanin production, resulting in blotching and discolouration. The best way to minimise free radical damage is to include lots of fruit and vegetables in your daily diet, and to minimise exposure to direct sun light. But bear in mind that the body’s main source of Vitamin D (a critical nutrient for bones, teeth and skin) is produced in the skin in response to sunlight!

Snowberry creams and serums contain several effective anti-oxidants designed to counter free radical activity and peroxidation.

Sun barriers

The sun is essential for the production of vitamin D. However, prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays causes the formation of free radicals (mostly oxygen derived) that attack skin molecules. Anti-oxidants are effective in countering free radicals, but the best form or defence is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Make sure that your sun screen works as a barrier to both UVA and UVB.

Snowberry is currently developing a sun screen based entirely on natural herbal extracts.

Cleansing

Though it may be ‘dead,’ the skin’s outer layer is a highly active zone! Sweat, uric acid and sebum (the skin’s natural waterproofing agent) are excreted continually through the epidermis, and dead keratinocytes and keratins are continuously sloughed away. So rapid are the changes occurring in the epidermis that the skin completely renews the epidermis over a period of three to five weeks.

Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser and Gentle Remineralising Toner are superb cleansers with anti-aging properties also, and the Nourishing Exfoliator provides gentle but effective exfoliation while contributing essential skin nutrients.