In partnership with the French Institute (FIAF), L’Oreal USA recently presented The Science of Skin: Aging and Beauty, part of a wellness series that I hoped would teach me some new tricks on reclaiming some bow chicka wow wow! back into my deprived pores. The results? Just plain shadiness. (I’ll elaborate on this further down.)
The evening’s guest speakers were Peter Foltis, director of Scientific Affairs and Skin Care at L’Oreal, and Dr. Diane Berson, an expert in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.
A Couple Things I Didn’t Expect
-My sudden aroused hatred for PowerPoint presentations.
-To have seen so many 40 to 60 year-old gingers (fake and real) under one roof.
All jokes aside, I was a bit disappointed with the presentation. I was hoping to learn a few new, innovative skincare tips that I hadn’t heard before, but for any beauty junkie, it was Skincare Maintenance 101 material: 1) Always slather on SPF (best to use sunscreens with the ingredient mexoryl SX since it’s known to be the most photostable out of all other sunfiltering ingredients); 2) Antioxidants (i.e. polyphenols, CoQ10, Vitamins A, B, C, & E) are great ways to protect your skin from oxidation and free radicals; 3) Smoking is a no-no 4) Exfoliate (as you get older, the turn around time for your system’s natural ability to slough off dead skin cells becomes slower); 5) Rejuvenate by using prescription retinoids, cosmeceuticals, or take it a step further with a procedure (i.e. peels, microdermabrasion, IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment, and/or lasers.); 6) And if you want to go even further, injectables like Botox, wrinkle fillers, and volumizers, are non-invasive options.
L’Oreal Innovations
Every major beauty company has specific technology it hopes to bank on and/or patent exclusively. Here are three breakthrough innovations that L’Oreal is paying attention to:
1) Phloretin. Found in the skins of apples, it’s a natural antioxidant that quenches free radicals, protects cellular components, and complements sunscreens.
2) Pro-Xylane. A compound originating from the sugar of the Beechwood tree, it leaves minimal waste (meaning its eco-friendly) and helps synthesize collagen and proteins to go into the epidermis and dermis.
3) LHAs. Stands for lipo hydroxy acids, which are part of the hydroxy acid family. Known as the “the smart molecule,” it preserves cell integrity, has balanced physiological exfoliation (meaning it exfoliates your skin safely and wisely), which in turn, aids in fighting acne and dandruff. LHAs also helps repair fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues.
The Shadiness Factor
The central issue that kept getting recycled–both by the ladies in the audience and by the speakers–was sun protection. “How high of an SPF should I go?” “What products would you recommend?” “Do I really have to reapply my SPF every couple hours?” These were a few of the many questions surrounding what seemed to be an “anti-sun/fear the rays campaign.” The speakers encouraged this by telling everyone that whatever you do, wherever you go, you must always slather on some protective cream. Their slideshow presentations repeatedly showed extreme cases of decrepit sun-weathered leathery female bods and obscenely wrinkled faces (of sharpei-like magnitude).
Okay, I get that we definitely need to cover up–especially during the hours when the sun’s rays are at their strongest (10 am-3 pm), but isn’t some sun actually good and vital to our bodies? Hellooo, has anyone thought about the need for Vitamin D? The need for a strong immune system?
The Best Part of the Night: Picking Dr. Foltis’s Brain
When the discussion and the way-too-short Q&A came to a close, the vast majority of gals flocked to the champagne and twisty bread sticks. Only the die-hard, committed skincare freaks like moi scurried over to the experts to get more questions answered. Since the Santa-esque Dr. Foltis was the closer of the two experts, I chose him to be my victim! After biting a few ankles and pulling out some tufts of hair to get to him, I managed to pick his brain and get his opinion on a few things. The following are my questions, his answers:
Q: You guys have been really selling mexoryl SX as the ingredient to have in an SPF. How about other ingredients and formulations, such as Neutrogena’s helioplex?
A: Mexoryl is great. But look, honestly, I don’t care what you put on your face, as long as you put on some kind of sunscreen every day.
Q: Don’t we need some sunlight every day so our bodies can make Vitamin D?
A: Well, sure. I mean, sunlight makes you happy. Going out on a sunny day changes your mood so it’s a good thing. But you don’t need that much at all to get the Vitamin D you need. You can always use supplements, too, because they’re exactly the same. (I don’t know if agree with the doc on this last part. Getting Vitamin D from sunlight vs getting it through supplements has been a controversial issue. I’m going to bet more on what Mama E provides.)
Q: Do you feel that organic/green products are just as effective as those that lean more heavily on science?
A: Actually, I think they can be. We’re [L'Oreal] working on some green products right now, but it’s been difficult getting the right textures. But you must remember: Just because something comes from nature, doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
Final Thoughts
-I’ll probably always be a guinea pig to new scientifically and naturally sound skin innovations so I’ll keep an eye out on L’Oreal’s breakthroughs.
-Once I have some extra cash to burn, I’d be open to trying the IPL procedure. How I’d love to zap my sun freckles to oblivion!
-I’ve always been a fan of mexoryl, and the seminar was a good reminder for me to hop on that band wagon again. However, I’m still going to go with my gut and give my skin a few minutes of sun every day on off peak hours–everything in moderation, right?
-I’ll always hate PowerPoint presentations.