Epicuren Blog
Dehydration Lines Vs. Wrinkles
Did you know that the skin on your face is particularly sensitive to changes in your overall hydration? Your body can be classified as dehydrated when it has lost only 2% of the amount of water needed for homeostasis. This can happen before you even feel thirsty in some circumstances and can lead to your skin looking either less voluminous than normal or even wrinkled. We’re here to help you find out if the signs of skin aging you might be seeing are due to your skin being dehydrated or if a few fine lines and wrinkles might be the result of premature aging, as well as how to help your skin look its best in either scenario. CAUSES OF DEHYDRATED SKIN Your skin becomes dehydrated when it doesn’t have the internal moisture required to keep it plump, elastic, and healthy-looking. This can happen for three reasons that can compound the effect of dehydration, leading to dehydration lines. DIET OR LIFESTYLE CHOICES Certain compounds readily available (and desired) by people can cause them to become dehydrated. Alcohol, caffeine, and salt are among the chief causes of dehydration, especially when consumed without water to offset their diuretic properties. As the skin loses moisture to both the external and internal environment after consuming substances like these, it loses the appearance of elasticity and can exaggerate facial wrinkles or issues like flaky skin. LACK OF WATER Obviously, the leading cause of skin dehydration is when people don’t drink adequate amounts of water, which can vary in amount based on their circumstances. On a normal day spent mostly in a climate-controlled environment, people need about 64 ounces of water a day. Being in the sun, in hot, dry weather, or in excessively cold environments can dehydrate a person further, as well as ingesting certain compounds as discussed. AGING SKIN As the skin ages, it naturally loses supporting structures at the cellular level, including compounds like hyaluronic acid that help draw moisture to the skin, helping it appear youthful and smooth. While it's impossible to stop aging in its tracks, there are many products and procedures to help increase hydration despite these downward trends in your skin tone as you age. WHAT CAUSES WRINKLES? The aging process will inevitably cause wrinkles to form in various places on your face. Depending on how you’ve treated your skin and the type of lifestyle you’ve led, these visible signs of aging can appear in different places at different times. Frequently, the first few wrinkles to set in are those in areas of skin that are frequently crinkled by muscle activity, such as crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes. Unprotected sun exposure can hasten wrinkles of all kinds, especially those formed with facial expressions. You can minimize the appearance of wrinkles by employing a high-quality anti-aging skincare routine with ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and topically applied collagen. Our products range from instant action formulas to those that are best paired with long-term solutions to help your skin from the appearance of sun damage, chronic dehydration, and congestion from environmental factors and dead skin cells. SIGNS OF DEHYDRATED SKIN Anyone’s skin, regardless of skin type, can become dehydrated in the right circumstances. Being aware that your skin – and therefore your body – is dehydrated can help you take action against the main causes to protect your skin and your overall health. Here are the main signs you might be dry and dehydrated: Itchy skin – the drier your skin is, the more itchy it can feel. Even those with oily skin types can experience this issue when staying out in the sun too long. Dehydrated skin has lost the lubricating barrier on the surface and between skin cells that can cause it to become irritated and itchy. Sensitive skin – Without proper protection and lubrication with oil and subdermal moisture, skin becomes more sensitive to the elements. Sensitivity can arise as tenderness, redness, or increased breakouts if dehydrated for too long. Dull skin – Looking in the mirror may be all you need to tell your skin is dehydrated. Dull skin is often a subtle but noticeable sign that you’re lacking the proper moisture in your skin that can lend itself to your normal dewy glow. FOR DEHYDRATED SKIN In the moment, the right thing to do for your dehydrated skin is to give it a natural moisture boost with a product like our Moisture Surge Hyaluronic Acid Gel. Moisturizing occlusive products can help protect your skin barrier while giving you visibly hydrated skin. Our top recommended occlusive product is the Soothe Dermal Repair Balm. For people who may be struggling with chronically dull and dry skin, we also recommend our Strengthen and Rebuild Vegan Serum Concentrate, which can easily become part of a quality skincare routine. Finally, our Pro Collagen + Serum Amplifier, formulated with a concentrated amount of science-backed ingredients that can also benefit your skin in the long run. HIGH-QUALITY SKINCARE PRODUCTS FROM EPICUREN DISCOVERY Help quench dehydrated skin and restore the youthful-looking radiance you want with cruelty-free formulas you won’t feel guilty about. Epicuren Discovery has your skin in mind, which is why we developed our Skin Quiz to help people find the specific formulas and products that are right for their unique skin type and skincare regimen goals. Browse our catalog and learn more about our mission by checking out our website.
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How To Get Rid Of Chest Acne From Home Quickly
The skin on your face isn’t the only part of your body that can suffer from acne breakouts, especially stubborn ones. Body acne, including chest acne, neck acne, and acne on the decolletage, can all be annoying or embarrassing experiences. If you’ve got blackheads, cysts, or pimples on your lower neck and chest, it’s no wonder that you want a way to get rid of them quickly. For active breakouts, there’s not a lot we can do, but by stepping up your skincare routine with professional formulas, you can help even the worst or most unexpected breakouts from ruining your day. What Causes Chest Acne? The same process that causes breakouts on your face causes acne on your chest, back, or anywhere else you have hair follicles, which is pretty much everywhere on your body. Clogged pores lead to buildups of oil, dirt, grime, sweat, and other compounds that bacteria thrive on. The bacteria multiplies in the pores on your chest and shoulders and can cause the inflammation and redness that’s indicative of acne breakouts. The leading cause of breakouts is often a lack of regular cleansing of whatever area you’re experiencing the breakout in, including the chest. Faces tend to be more delicate areas of skin that can require more complicated solutions, but people have unpredictable skin types that can make the chest or other areas more susceptible to breakouts, requiring a concentrated response. Best Ways to Get Rid of Chest Acne Shower Regularly The number one way to help fight breakouts of the chest and back is to make sure you’re cleansing yourself with a gentle but effective body cleanser, like our Tropical Lave body cleanser. Formulas that are gentle but that rid the skin of oils, dead skin cells, and sweat are highly effective at cleansing bacteria that causes acne and without drying your skin out too much. Overly dry skin, whether due to an aggressive cleanser or too-hot shower, can lead to an increase in your skin’s oil production, which can make the breakout worse. Choosing The Right Body Wash Although not necessarily marketed as such, some body washes naturally help fight acne. Formulas that include salicylic acid, like our daily Clarify Cleanser, selectively dry out highly oiled or blemished areas that are susceptible to acne, helping clear up the appearance of breakouts and help prevent them from coming back. Exfoliate Regularly Regular exfoliation isn’t necessarily the solution for everyone, but it’s helpful for people with hard-to-remove chest acne who may have an oily skin type. For congested skin on the chest, we recommend our stimulating Mint Renewal body polish that’s sure to invigorate your senses while scrubbing away the dead skin cells and excess oil from the surface of the skin. Use High Quality Body Lotion Just as people with oily skin types can overly dry out their skin, so too can people with dry skin scrub it clear of all the helpful, natural lubricants and protectants your body needs to keep your skin looking moisturized. A high-quality lotion, like any of our After Baths is formulated not to clog pores with heavy cream-style lipids, but rather to help the skin appear nourished in a way that keeps pores clear and allows the skin to breathe naturally. There are a variety of After Bath scents to choose from. Use Spot Treatments For truly noticeable breakouts, there’s nothing wrong with using a professional-grade spot treatment like our Clarify Blemish Eraser. This formula, ideal for overnight treatment of your worst breakouts, is packed with essential oils and salicylic acid to reduce the appearance of chest acne when it matters most. Be sure to follow it up with a hydrating moisturizer. Try Different Fabrics Finally, if you still haven’t found a great blemish-reducing skincare routine, make sure you’re not wearing shirts or accessories that are worsening your breakouts. People can be allergic to metals, wool, and countless other compounds that rub against your chest on a daily basis. Pay attention to what you’re wearing and make sure that nothing feels itchy, causes hives, or clings too tightly to your skin if you want to make sure your chest will be acne-free in the long run. Preventing Chest Acne From Coming Back Preventing acne on your chest should be as easy as continuing the solution you discovered when you experimented with skincare products, lifestyle choices, and clothing options. Ensure to continue showering or bathing regularly with gentle formulas, wearing breathable, loose fabrics as often as possible, and keeping regular dates with yourself for exfoliation if necessary. Professional-Grade Skincare From Epicuren Discovery We know that acne can be a stubbornly troublesome part of your daily life long after you expected it to stop being something you thought about every day. That’s why our products are professionally formulated with proven active ingredients, cruelty-free practices, and natural oils. Find more products that your skin will love by browsing our complete collection online or by taking our Skin Quiz to find products that are tailored to your unique skin type and concern today.
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Why And How To Exfoliate Your Lips
Your lips are some of the most sensitive surfaces on your entire body, and anyone who’s ever had a cut or crack on their lip knows how painful something so small can be. This means that they deserve special attention. See below for the best for the healthiest-looking pout all-year-round. Benefits of Lip Exfoliation The lips can quickly create a thick, excessively dry layer of dead skin cells when the weather turns dry or you simply don’t take good steps to hydrate your lips on a regular basis. This is because your lips don’t secrete oil like your skin does to help lock in moisture. When your lips become dry, the skin cells at the surface die off more quickly, building up in ways your facial skin cells don’t, and leading to increased dryness when not remedied quickly. This is especially prevalent in dry, hot, or windy environments. The benefits therefore, of exfoliating your lips, is to ensure no dead skin cells have built up that could lead to more excessive drying. Besides your environment, licking your lips frequently can cause them to dry out by removing moisture-locking oils from the skin. With regular exfoliation, you constantly reveal fresh, healthy lip cells and allow moisturizers to act quickly and provide the appearance of long-lasting hydration. Exfoliating even helps lipstick look better and can help reduce the uneven pigmentation that can occur throughout the lips over time. Regularly sloughing off layers of skin cells allows new skin cells to grow and replace pigmented ones. How to Exfoliate Your Lips The Right Way As we mentioned earlier, the skin of your lips is highly sensitive, so it’s important to be gentle and aware of how your lips feel through the exfoliation process. We recommend our rich and aromatic Cinnamon Vanilla Brown Sugar Polish, which isn’t so harsh that it could hurt the lips, but abrasive enough to give your lips the scrub they need to appear fresh and youthful. Epicuren exfoliants can be used up to 4 times per week as directed. Wash and Dry As always, before exfoliating anywhere, cleanse your skin of dirt and debris that could inhibit the exfoliant from working effectively. This also means removing lipstick and makeup around the lips. Follow up by gently patting your lips dry. Exfoliate (Gently) Dampen your lips slightly before using an Epicuren exfoliant. Using a pea-size amount or smaller of your scrub, make small circular motions across your lips, making two passes to ensure full coverage. Rinse with warm water. Moisturize Quickly follow your exfoliation routine with a moisture-locking lip balm to help preserve the revealed skin underneath. Professional-Grade Exfoliants By Epicuren Discovery Our catalog of cruelty-free, vegan, and solar-powered skincare products are here to help you have the best-looking and best-feeling skin of your life, free from dry, chapped lips any season. If you struggle with dry lips, a regular lip exfoliation routine is just the thing to help reveal fresh, even skin as long as you protect your lips with proper care. To find more solutions to your skincare goals, take our Skin Quiz to be matched with products that are perfect for your skin type and concern.
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Four Ways to Smooth And Soften Your Eyelids
The skin around your eyes is about the most delicate and thin skin anywhere on your body, which means it requires special care when it comes to your skincare routine and protecting your skin in general. When the eyes are irritated, they can become puffy, red, and cause annoying symptoms. There are many potential causes of eye and eyelid irritation, and many strategies to help calm the appearance over time and reduce the chance of irritation. Common symptoms of eye irritation include: Itchy eyes Burning sensation Crusting in and around the eyes Dry eyes Excessive tearing Gritty feeling in the eyes If you’ve ever experienced one or many of these types of symptoms, this post is for you. What Causes Eyelid Irritation? While some eyelid inflammation and irritation are caused by things like seasonal allergies or even simply rubbing your eyes too much, other symptoms may be a sign of a more legitimate medical condition, such as the following: Blepharitis: When the oil glands in your eyelids get clogged, they can inflame and cause redness in the area. Mites: Tiny lice can live in your eyelash follicles and cause inflammation. Allergic dermatitis: This condition can be caused by eye care and makeup products that react poorly with this delicate area of skin. Infection: The body’s natural response to infection is inflammation in the affected area. Chronic symptoms of irritated eyelids should be addressed by a medical professional, who can diagnose the underlying condition and find the prescription medication you need to experience relief. At-Home Ways to Soothe Eyelid Irritation Wash Your Eyes The first step in trying to help your eyes feel better is to wash your eyes and/or face with a mild cleanser. If you think you have an irritating substance or particle in your actual eye, rinse out your eyes before applying soap to try to dislodge or flush out the substance. Dry your eyes by dabbing with a soft, dry towel. Avoid Eye Makeup As mentioned, a key contributor to eye irritation can be heavy eye makeup or the adhesives associated with false lashes. If you’ve been using a new or intense product for your makeup, consider switching to a different style or type and see if the irritation goes away. Although contact lenses rarely cause irritation and inflammation, you may want to switch to glasses as you transition away from certain products just to avoid potentially making the issue worse. Use Warm Pads For immediate relief, some skincare experts recommend applying a lightly warmed eye mask to your eyes when they feel irritated. A warm pad or compress helps stimulate circulation, which can reduce the inflammation by improving blood flow. Just make sure you sanitize whatever you’re using first to avoid infection. Adjust Your Skincare Routine Sometimes, products you use on a daily basis can get in your eyes or cause irritation due to their harsh formulas. If you have sensitive skin, try gentler formulas and specific eye creams with natural ingredients. Best Eye Care Products by Epicuren Discovery The eyes are often the most sensitive areas on our body to inflammation and irritation, and often the first to show the signs of aging. If you want a dedicated eye-centered routine, Epicuren has the products that are right for you, regardless of skin type. Try our Eye Alive Serum for a visibly brighter, more refreshed under-eye areas. Or take our Skin Quiz to find products tailored to your specific goals and unique skin type.
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What Order To Use Skincare Products
To some people, the idea of using a serum before applying toner is taboo, but to others who may not be as experienced in how to use high-quality skincare products, it might seem like something that doesn’t really matter. At Epicuren Discovery, we’re laser-focused on creating products that will truly enhance the way your skin looks and feels on a daily basis, no matter what your skin type is or skincare concerns are. Part of what makes your routine effective is the order of your skincare regimen, which is why we’re here to help clarify when and how to use your favorite products. Why Your Skincare Routine Order Matters A lot of the basics of taking care of your skin make intuitive sense: you use a cleanser before applying moisturizer because the opposite approach would just wash away the product you just used. However, when you’re looking to really get the most of your products, the precise order starts to matter more because of how the ingredients interact with your skin and with each other. Typically speaking, thinner, lighter-weight, or more watery products are more likely to absorb onto the surface of the skin compared to those with richer formulas and more oils. By putting heavier products on you won’t get as many of the benefits from those products. Day Routine As most people are aware, there’s a difference between what you need at the start of the day compared to what your skin wants at the end of the day. Here’s how we recommend you should structure your daily skincare routine. 1. Cleanser The obvious first place to start is to get your skin clean of built-up oils that accumulate during the night. This provides a fresh start to your skin and clears away the compounds that could clog pores and prevent your nice, high-quality products from reaching the depths of the skin at which they work the best. We recommend our daily Herbal Cleanser for normal skin types or our Clarify Cleanser for those who may be concerned about blemishes. 2. Toner Toner not only prepares the skin to receive potent products you’ve got ready to go in the morning, but can also promote the appearance of hydration after cleansing. Our Protein Mist Enzyme Toner can help your skin feel both relaxed and alive with a quick spray after cleansing in the morning or anytime throughout the day when you want a pick-me-up. 3. Serums Serums are a great way to give your skin the boost it needs for the specific concerns you may have about your complexion. Whether it’s dry skin (Moisture Surge Hyaluronic Acid Gel), aging concerns (ORAC Age-Protect Serum) or under-eye rejuvenation (Eye Alive Serum), Epicuren Discovery has solutions for your goals. 4. Spot Treatment We’re well aware that not everyone is blessed with flawless, blemish-free skin. As part of your routine, whether when you see a breakout or when you want to prevent one, try our Clarify Blemish Eraser to help stop the appearance of acne and keep your skin looking flawless. 5. Moisturizer To help prevent the products you’ve just used from drying you out too much, make sure to use a skin-type-appropriate moisturizer to lock in the benefits you’ve just given your skin. Our popular Nourish Daily Antioxidant Moisturizer is perfect for compounding the benefits of your final daily step: sun protection. 6. Sunscreen The leading cause of facial aging is undeniably sun damage. Protect yourself whenever you spend time outside with a high-SPF and broad spectrum sunscreen, like our X-Treme Cream Propolis Sunscreen, with a SPF 45+. Night Routine Your skin needs similar things in both the morning and evening, but what you’re likely doing after applying your products does have an impact on what you need to use at the end of the day. 1. Cleanser (Makeup Remover) Depending on whether you wear makeup every day and/or have a dedicated makeup removal formula, you may want to use your daily cleanser twice to truly wipe away the foundation and debris your skin has taken up during a busy day. Only once your pores are free from clogs should you move on. 2. Toner A lot of people enjoy our relaxing Soothe Repair Dermal Mist at the end of the day. Whether their skin is irritated or not, this mist is formulated with aromatic essential oil, to help the appearance of irritation and keep your skin feeling fresh, clean, and smooth. 3. Specialty Treatments Twice or more per week, many people benefit from exfoliants and other specialty treatments like our purifying masks. With a variety of different directions, make sure to use as directed, which is often after cleansing but before applying your nightly moisturizer to help the ingredients sink onto your skin from either the product itself or future steps. 4. Eye Cream Our delicately formulated Eye Cream is a perfect way to enhance the lift and color of the skin around your eyes. Use at night before final moisturizing to really enhance the natural hydration your eyes need. 5. Moisturizer Just as in the morning, your skin deserves a nutrient enriched moisturizer to help your skin look more refined. Give your skin professional care with our Evening Emulsion Enzyme Moisturizer. Professional-Grade Skincare By Epicuren Discovery Find your new favorite skincare routine by browsing our complete collection of professional-grade formulas, devised with decades of pharmaceutical research and natural, cruelty-free ingredients. Since we know not everyone has identical skin types and concerns, we’ve also created a way for you to quickly find new products that are matched to your unique situation. Take our Skin Quiz today to discover how your skin can look and feel its best.
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The Best Cruelty-Free Skincare Routine Morning And Night
If you care about animal rights and the environment, you’re likely committed to finding cruelty-free products in your makeup and other skincare products. With the same passion and commitment, Epicuren Discovery’s cruelty-free products can be easily worked into your daily routine, and here we’ve curated an entire morning and evening skincare routine completely using cruelty-free products. Why is Cruelty-Free Skincare Important? Beyond the animal rights implications that product testing on animals has, there are several benefits for both the planet and your skin for using cruelty-free products. First, it ensures you’re supporting businesses and products that practice humane research and testing. Next, it lowers the demand for animals to be raised purely for testing, which takes up land, water, and resources that can negatively harm the environment. Cruelty-Free Morning Routine Cleanse Start your day by setting a good foundation for your skincare products and makeup. Our best-selling Clarify Cleanser is both cruelty-free and vegan, which means no animals or animal byproducts of any kind were used to make this formula. This is best used for more oily skin types and for those who struggle with blemish-prone skin. Tone To ensure your pores are prepared to take in the rejuvenating and hydrating products in the rest of your routine, we recommend another vegan and cruelty-free product, our Rebalance and Rewind Vegan Collagen Toner. This is perfect for people looking to improve the look of fine lines and other visible signs of aging with vegan collagen ingredients. Serum If you’re not already using a serum, this is a great way to take your skincare to the next level with a simple step each morning. Our potent serums, including our cruelty-free Bio Peptide Complex, absorb onto the skin to help with your skincare needs and goals. Specialty Products At this point in your routine, you can move straight to your moisturizer or apply specialty products for added benefits. Some cruelty-free examples of these types of products include our CX Vitamin C Complex, or our Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex . No matter what concerns you have about your skin, we have a solution for you that’s cruelty-free. Moisturize Our best moisturizer, Hydro Plus Moisturizer, is cruelty-free and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, while feeling lightweight for all-day comfort. Protect Our vegan and cruelty-free sunscreens include the very popular Zinc Oxide Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 27, which is essential whenever you’re expecting to spend time outside. Cruelty-Free Evening Routine Remove Makeup Do you struggle to find a makeup remover that’s both effective and cruelty free? Try our luxurious, fragrance-free and cruelty-free Makeup Remover that’s especially effective at removing stubborn mascara and eye makeup. Cleanse Rinse the day away and brighten your senses with our Citrus Herbal Cleanser, powered by potent natural ingredients and essential oils. This cleanser opens up your pores and helps cleanse the skin with a pleasant foaming action. Tone Prep your skin for a good night’s sleep by dissolving all the day’s oils and debris that built up with our Refresh Aloe Cucumber Mist. This cools and revives the skin for better absorption of evening products. Serum One serum we recommend for you to get the most out of your nightly routine is our Strengthen and Rebuild Vegan Collagen Concentrate serum. This vegan and cruelty-free product is designed to rejuvenate the skins appearance with plant-derived collagen and soften fine lines as you sleep. Specialty Eye Products We love our hydrating and strengthening Eye Cream, especially for overnight moisture benefits to help you look alert and awake in the morning. Formulated with our cruelty-free Metadermabolic® Protein Enzyme Complex this potent eye cream hydrates and revitalizes the delicate skin around your eyes. Moisturize As you should each night, lock in the benefits of all your other great products with a hydrating moisturizer that helps your skin’s protective barrier. As a perfect end to your nightly routine, use our Evening Emulsion Enzyme Moisturizer that’s also formulated with our powerful Metadermabolic® Protein Enzyme Complex. Professional-Grade Skincare Products from Epicuren Discovery Get the most from your daily routine by using high-quality, professional-grade products that are cruelty-free and highly rated by our customers. Find skincare products that are right for your specific skin type and goals by taking our Skin Quiz today!
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What Does Cruelty-Free Mean For Skincare Products?
You may have seen labels, icons, and marketing slogans aimed at informing you that a certain moisturizer, cleanser, or exfoliant is from a cruelty-free beauty brand. Most people know this means the formula is created without harming animals, but what exactly does that mean for the type and quality of the ingredients? What is cruelty-free skincare? What is the difference between vegan and cruelty-free? We’ll answer all your questions about cruelty-free skincare today. What is Cruelty-Free Skincare? Certified cruelty-free products are never tested on animals for efficacy or safety. You can find cruelty-free mineral oil, hair products, essential oils, and more. These products can include animal byproducts in some cases, meaning products can be cruelty-free, vegan, or both. What you can be assured of is cruelty-free skincare reduces the dependency on livestock and other animals to use in the cosmetics industry. Cruelty-Free Can Mean Better Ingredients In some cases, taking the time to research a product can result in finding formulas that resonate better with your concerns and goals. This isn’t to say that all cruelty-free skincare products are created equal; the cosmetic industry has many options to choose from when creating a product, so doing your research before purchasing is recommended. Taking the time to research the ingredients that will help your specific needs is a better approach than buying the cheapest beauty brands. Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan Skincare Vegan and cruelty-free skincare is not the same. Both cruelty-free practices and vegan formulas involve avoiding the use of animals to create the product. However, the key difference is that vegan products also avoid animal ingredients and byproducts for those who want to practice a truly vegan lifestyle. However, ingredients such as colostrum, can be cruelty-free as well, even though it is not vegan. These certifications help you know the story behind your skincare, ensuring you support brands with manufacturing processes you value. Epicuren is a family-owned and operated business and we pride ourselves on the sustainable procurement of ingredients and adhere to a strict code of environmental, social, and economic best practices. It's our corporate responsibility to provide the highest quality ingredients available to us. What is leaping bunny certified? Epicuren takes cruelty- free to the next level. Not only are their products cruelty free Epicuren has an additional certification called Leaping Bunny. Leaping Bunny means that no ingredient, formulation, including the finished, product can be tested on animals nor can any manufacturer or supplier the company does business with. High Quality Cruelty-Free Formulas By Epicuren Discovery If you want the most from your professional skincare routine, you deserve science-backed formulas with potent natural ingredients from a quality, cruelty-free skincare brand. Browse our cruelty-free skin care products by searching our website or find tailored results for your skin type and concerns by taking our Skin Quiz today. Our professional-grade products can be tailored specifically for sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, and all skin types.
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What Does Retinol Do For Your Skin?
At this point, pretty much everyone who’s into skincare, especially those looking for a high-quality anti-aging routine, knows the term retinol and knows it means a premium product. However, with more advertising and marketing efforts churning out information about retinol, it can get unclear what it actually means for your skin and your goals from your daily routine. Here we’ll break it down and offer our recommendations for how and when to use retinol in your skincare products. What is Retinol? Research has shown that Retinol is a chemical compound that can change the way the skin functions by helping speeds the regeneration process by exfoliating the surface layers of skin when used topically in a skincare product. Because of these properties and proven benefits of the ingredient, retinol is a popular additive to skincare products of all kinds, especially hydrating serums and moisturizers. Retinol vs. Retinoid vs. Vitamin A When looking into retinol and retinol-based products, you may come across other similar terms such as retinoids and other compounds like Vitamin A. Here’s how they relate to each other: Vitamin A is an essential compound that your body uses in multiple ways to maintain the function of your organs, circulatory system, and, of course, skin. It can be broken down or synthesized to create similar yet distinct chemical compounds that have different functions throughout the body, some of which are called retinoids. Retinoids include retinol and other specific types of molecules that can be used as active ingredients in over-the-counter or prescription products. Retinoids have various potencies, with retinol being more mild and safe, which is why it’s the one that’s readily available. Other retinoids are available after visiting a doctor and receiving a prescription for the specific compound. 4 Main Benefits of Retinol As a convenient way to experience the benefits of retinoids in your everyday skincare routine, retinol can be a great addition to your skincare products. Clears Acne One of retinol’s main benefits is that it clears out your pores and dissolves oils that would otherwise clog them and cause acne outbreaks. If you’re struggling with trying to find a non-comedogenic moisturizer or want an extra step of cleansing that also stimulates your skin, retinol is a great place to start. Fight Aging Perhaps retinol’s most famous effect, it’s great for individuals concerned with tightening skin and reducing the appearance of pigmentation caused by sun damage. Multiple studies confirm the various benefits retinol has on anti-aging signs. Even Your Skin Tone People who use retinol products regularly experience the appearance of brighter, more even skin tone, especially those who struggle with melasma. Melanin has less ability to build up in any given area. Affordable, Effective Skincare As mentioned, retinol is available without a prescription, which lowers the cost and complication of introducing it into your skincare routine. For such a potent ingredient, it’s well-worth the cost for the benefits it can obtain for you. Start with a small container of a product so you don’t spend a ton of money up front and see for yourself how this investment in your skin can pay for itself in how good you look and feel. Best Retinol Skincare Products For You At Epicuren Discovery, we’re passionate about sourcing scientifically proven and sustainable ingredients to use in our professional-grade skincare products, including, of course, retinol in our potent serums and creams. Get started with a simple and convenient source of retinol with our Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Complex or try it as part of our highly popular Prevention and Correction Duo. These products may be your ticket to the appearance of smoother, more vibrant skin. And for people who have different goals in mind, don’t forget to take our Skin Quiz to find products paired perfectly for your unique skin type and goals.
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Imaan Hammam Joins Harper's BAZAAR to Reveal her Nighttime Skincare Routine.
If given the chance to ask anyone their skincare secrets, who would you ask? For many, that person may be a supermodel, perhaps a woman so beautiful she has graced the cover of Vogue more than twenty times! Imaan Hammam, she is beauty defined and her skin care routine is on point. Pre-Cleanse She begins with a pre-cleanse and uses Epicuren’s Silk Radiance 3 in 1 Cleanser. This is a wonderful choice! This cleanser has a refreshing and relaxing aroma that sets the stage for self care. It dispenses like a gel but turns quickly to an oil cleanser. The oil attracts dirt and makeup. You then add water and it rinses off dirt and debris as a cream cleanser. Once Imaan completes her cleansing process she uses a toner/mist, Epicuren’s Colostrum Hydrating Mist. This mist is packed with nutrients and helps you to maintain moisture in your skin. Imaan even mists her iconic hair with it! Healthy and Hydrated This super skin care regimen is focused on keeping the skin healthy and hydrated. She uses not one but two hydrators, Bulgarian Rose Otto face oil and Moisture Surge. Bulgarian Rose Otto gives an incredible glow to the skin without your skin feeling greasy or clogging your pores. It has a beautiful aroma and you gently massage it into the skin. Moisture Surge is a hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid is a hydration booster. This is a gel consistency that you can press and roll onto the skin or it can be mixed with other products. It pulls moisture from your serum or moisturizer and puts it into your skin.As if this skin care regimen could get any better Imaan adds in Colostrum Luminous Glow Cream. This is a fan favorite and celebrity go-to moisturizer. It is the “sister” product of the Colostrum Hydrating Mist. This leaves the skin feeling soft, hydrated, and you guessed it glowing! Don't Forget The Hands Lastly, Imaan uses Peptide Rich Hand Cream to finish off her nighttime routine. This recently launched hand cream is a game changer. It has a light grapefruit aroma. It’s not greasy at all but is rich and creamy. Did I mention it is also packed with peptides to help with those pesky age spots? This has everything one would be looking for in a hand cream. This regimen is outstanding and great for almost all skin types. Imaan said it best, “...I use a lot of Epicuren products because they are just so great for my skincare.” With this skincare it is no wonder Imaan glows from every runway she walks!
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The Complete Guide To A Pregnancy Skincare Routine
Pregnancy changes everything about your world practically overnight. Your diet is both restricted and sometimes highly crave-driven, your hormones begin fluctuating in ways only experienced during pregnancy, and many expectant mothers scan their daily products to avoid those that aren’t safe for them both now and during breastfeeding. We’ve put together a day and night routine for pregnant people who want help with certain skin concerns that arise during pregnancy. When making the decision for a new skincare product in your routine while pregnant, it’s always best to ask your doctor if a certain product or active ingredient is safe for you, and we recommend doing a skin patch test of any new product to ensure you won’t react negatively to its formula. Daytime Pregnancy Skincare Routine Cleanse Start your day with our Herbal Cleanser, a gentle foaming cleanser that’s free from harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide that aren’t recommended for use during pregnancy. Exfoliate Not necessary to be done every day, having an exfoliator around can help keep your skin looking clear of dead skin cells that can clog pores and dull your complexion. Our Fine Herbal Facial Scrub is gentle yet potent, which means we recommend you don’t use it more than three times per week. For people with specific skin concerns like pigmentation or blemishes, there is a more comprehensive exfoliation method we’ll go through later. Toner Toning your skin is a great way to ensure your skin barrier is cleansed thoroughly and helps with the appearance of both excess oil and dry skin, both of which can occur due to your ever-changing hormones and your environment. We recommend both day and night use of our Protein Enzyme Mist Toner complex which helps to promote the look of refreshed, hydrated, and healthy skin. Moisturize Lock in day-long moisture with our Nourish Daily Antioxidant Moisturizer that’s packed with potent antioxidants like Vitamin C to help your face and body from environmental stressors like free radicals and dehydration. We’re proud to offer this vegan and cruelty-free option for your daily moisturizing needs so you can feel good about the way your skin looks and feels. Sunscreen Depending on your daily routine and health during pregnancy, we always recommend using good sunscreen to assist in protecting you from the invisible harm of ultraviolet radiation that’s nearly always present outside. Our top-performing moisturizing sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection with the benefits of Brazilian Propolis for SPF 45+ protection when you need it. Nighttime Skincare Routine For Pregnancy Cleanse Whether or not you’re wearing makeup on a regular basis, our Herbal Cleanser is still an effective and gentle cleanser for your nightly needs. Toner Our Protein Enzyme Mist toner is a refreshing way to end your day. This toner leaves skin looking hydrated and radiant. While its fresh apricot aroma helps to relax the senses. Moisturize Specifically blended for use during sleep, our Evening Emulsion Enzyme Moisturizer contains hydrolyzed collagen and elastin to give your skin the nutrients it needs overnight. Pregnancy Skincare Routine - Extra Steps A pregnancy glow might be welcomed, but not all pregnancy changes are. Pregnancy can cause unexpected skin changes in nearly anyone, so we wanted to address our recommendations for a few common concerns that arise during pregnancy. As always, talk to your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist before committing to a specific pregnancy skincare routine. Pigmentation Melasma is a commonly encountered issue during pregnancy or even while on birth control caused by the overproduction of melanin in certain regions of the face. If you’re struggling with dark spots in the cheeks, nose, or forehead, try these steps: Along with regular exfoliation, use our CXC Vitamin C Complex in the morning before moisturizing. In the evening, up to three times per week, use our Himalayan Superfruit Enzyme Polish as directed before following with toner. In combination, these products gently exfoliate the skin to encourage turnover, helping the appearance of hyperpigmentation in the areas they’re used. Pigmentation is different from the red skin tone that arises from stretch marks, which typically do not respond to topical products. Acne-Prone Skin With comforting formulas and clean, effective ingredients, our Clarify products can help with active breakouts as well as help reduce the chances of future breakouts. Substitute our Fine Herbal Facial Scrub for our Clarifying Polishing Mask and use it as directed. For active breakouts, try our Clarify Blemish Eraser with salicylic acid in addition to your normal routine. It can be used during the day but may be visible when dry. The best results are usually found when used overnight. Dehydrated Skin If you develop or already had dry or sensitive skin, pregnancy can make the symptoms associated with it worse. Add our Moisture Surge Hyaluronic Acid Gel after your daily or nightly toner before your moisturizer and sunscreen for an added boost of hydration. If your skin is dry and red, our Defy Age Corrective Facial Oil softens the appearance of the skin. High-Quality Pregnancy Skincare Products For best results, talk to your doctor or dermatologist before beginning any new or potent skincare product while pregnant or breastfeeding. When you know what ingredients and types of products to avoid and look for, come take our Skin Quiz to find professional-grade formulas for all your skincare needs during this tumultuous but joyful time.
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What Does Lactic Acid Do For The Skin?
There are a lot of active ingredients in the skincare industry that are marketed as cure-alls or miracle products when their usefulness is likely overrated. While many of these ingredients are effective, they aren’t the end-all be-all secret to unlocking your skin’s radiant potential. The best skincare routine incorporates both the most well-known ingredients as well as those that are specifically tailored to your skin type and goals. If you don’t already know about how lactic acid can help your skin, here’s all you need to know and how to incorporate it into your daily routine. What is Lactic Acid? Lactic acid is a commercially available alpha hydroxy acid, a type of compound used in chemical peels as well as dairy products like yogurt. It adds a distinct “tang” flavor to dairy products and has been used for centuries in cultures throughout the world as a skincare treatment. These days, rather than taking a milk bath or yogurt facial, there are skincare products formulated with a synthetic form of lactic acid for convenience and compounded benefits with other high-quality ingredients. Benefits of Lactic Acid in Skincare As an acidic compound, lactic acid helps dissolve and remove old, dead skin cells that build up on the surface of your skin over time. In this sense, it’s a mild exfoliant that can be added to cleansers and moisturizers to amplify the benefits of cleaning your skin on a daily basis. Studies show that lactic acid also has a role to play in stimulating quicker cell turnover, which, when used regularly, over time, your skin will regenerate more quickly, leading to healthier-looking and smoother skin. In low concentrations, Lactic acid is a mild exfoliant and a gentle hydroxy acid, making it appropriate for everyday use, as opposed to other hydroxy acids, which can dry out the skin if used too often. In this sense, lactic acid is the opposite of other acids, as it has been shown to actually improve the moisture content of skin, helping skin to feel less dry and more hydrated. It’s also used to reduce the appearance of aging like very fine lines and mild pigmentation. Best Lactic Acid Products When we use lactic acid in products formulated for Epicuren Discovery, we use a low percentage of it as a way to boost or complement the benefits of other active ingredients, like natural essential oils and potent antioxidants. Some of our lactic acid formulas include: Brazilian Propolis Lotion – This rich, lightweight moisturizer is packed with nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants your skin needs to stay hydrated-looking all day long. Lactic acid helps deliver the ingredients as effectively as possible to the skin by helping clear away dead skin cells and balancing the formula’s pH. Noni Skin Elixir – When your skin is irritated by environmental factors like the sun and wind, reach for our noni fruit and aloe vera formulas to refresh and calm the appearance of sensitive skin. Facial Emulsion Moisturizer – With a formula engineered to provide the most potent moisture while stimulating the skin with our Metadermabolic Protein Enzyme Complex. Experience the professional-grade difference with this cruelty-free product. Professional-Grade Skincare By Epicuren Discovery Lactic acid is just one effective ingredient we use to formulate our high-quality skincare products. Using decades of pharmaceutical-grade skincare research, our team puts together synergistic formulas that have helped thousands of people deal with their daily skincare needs, for everything from simple cleansing to anti-aging products. Discover your new favorite product today by taking our Skin Quiz, which recommends specific products for you based on your skin type and goals.
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How To Exfoliate All Over Your Body
You probably already have a good understanding of how beneficial exfoliation can be for your skin if you’re into giving yourself the best skincare routine possible, but did you know other parts of your body may need specific exfoliants to help them look and feel their best? Here comes your complete guide to exfoliation from your head to your toes. How to Exfoliate Your Face The most well-known part of your body you should exfoliate on a regular basis is of course, your face. This is because the sensitive skin on your face is susceptible to clogging up due to the buildup of oil, debris, and specifically, dead skin cells that can dull your complexion. You have two options for how to exfoliate your face. First are the physical or manual exfoliants, like our Microderm Ultra Refining Scrub. The other choice is a chemical exfoliant, like our Glycolic Lotion Skin Peel, which comes in 5% and 10% strengths. Follow the directions for whatever exfoliant you have, which is often recommended only once or twice a week for the best results. Exfoliating Acne-Prone Skin Exfoliation for people with acne or blemish-prone skin is tricky because you don’t want to overdo it. Over exfoliation can lead to an increase in oil production over time, which can actually make acne breakouts worse. For oily skin, we recommend a slightly gentler method of removing dead skin cells, using our Clarify Polishing Mask instead of harsher chemical or physical scrubs. How to Exfoliate Your Scalp No matter how often you do or don’t use products in your hair and wash it with shampoo, residual oils, products, dandruff, and other dead skin cells build up between your hairs and in your scalp. If you’ve noticed your hair or scalp becoming increasingly itchy, dry, or flaky, it might be time to explore exfoliation your scalp. To exfoliate your scalp, first shampoo your hair, then use your chosen exfoliant. Popular DIY exfoliants include apple cider vinegar, products with activated charcoal, and salicylic acids. Gently rub the chosen product through your hair before rinsing and moving on to other products as needed. How to Exfoliate Your Lips You may notice during the winter that it can be hard to keep your lips moisturized with the same lip balm you were using during the warmer months. If you can’t beat chapped lips, they may benefit from exfoliation. Keep in mind that your lips are among the most sensitive areas of skin on your body, so be extra careful when exfoliating them. You can make a DIY scrub at home with gentle exfoliants like finely ground coffee or granulated sugar and a few drops of oil, or we recommend our Cinnamon Vanilla Brown Sugar Polish and an extra gentle circular application using your fingertip. How to Exfoliate the Body It may be obvious when certain body parts build up dead skin cells or even callouses due to a lack of exfoliation, especially around the elbows and knees. These areas, as well as other places of thicker skin, benefit from regular exfoliation from products like our Papaya Pineapple body scrub. Use as needed or as often as directed for smoother, more radiant looking skin that easily absorbs your body moisturizer during every season. How to Exfoliate Your Feet Perhaps the thickest, toughest skin on your body is on the bottom of your feet. Commonly an area toughened with callouses, the feet need frequent exfoliation if you want them to remain soft and supple. If you currently have callouses, your feet likely won’t respond to even a strong foot scrub, so look into removing callouses with instruments like a pumice stone or foot file first. Our best body scrub for the feet is likely our Mint Renewal White Sand Body Polish, with sugar and salt for heavy-duty exfoliation. Professional-Grade Exfoliants from Epicuren Discovery No matter the area or type of skincare concern you have, Epicuren Discovery has a high-quality solution for your exfoliation needs. With science-backed exfoliants no matter what your skin type, you can reveal the healthy looking glow you’ve been after and help your skin benefit more from the products you love. Find more professional-grade skincare products that are tailored to your skin type and skin concerns by taking our Skin Quiz today!
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