What is a “Lifestyle-Friendly” Corrective?

Are you seeing redness, flakiness, itchiness, rough patches, fine lines, breakouts and rashes?  What you may actually be seeing is a compromised skin barrier.  Often mistaken for acne, rosacea or even photo aging, when the skin barrier is compromised, that top layer of skin is damaged, causing a whole host of issues.

Typically, the main cause of an unhealthy barrier is over exfoliation from aesthetic procedures, at home exfoliants, or overuse of prescription strength topicals. While increasing cellular turnover is important, if the barrier function is disrupted, the skin is more susceptible to bacteria and the elements, and ultimately becomes sensitive and depleted of resources. This results in a “compromised barrier”.

The term “correctives”, in aesthetics, means any product that is used to address and correct specific skin concerns like those seen in compromised barriers.  However, oftentimes these correctives contain ingredients that tend to over dry the skin and cause flaking and sensitivities. Which in turn, can just exasperate and actually worsen compromised barriers.

This is where “lifestyle-friendly” correctives come into play!

Strengthen the Dermis – but in a Non-Irritating Way!

Compromised skin needs correction and rejuvenation, but in a non-irritating, gentle way to strengthen the dermis and rebuild the epidermis. Corrective products containing ingredients like encapsulated retinaldehyde afford a more “lifestyle-friendly” alternative with less downtime and irritation than regular retinol. Another gentle rejuvenator would be one containing pyruvic acid, promoting a gentle exfoliation while restoring hydration.

With the application of lifestyle-friendly correctives containing encapsulated retinaldehyde and pyruvic acid, we can gently rejuvenate from the inside out and fortify the dermis without depleting or irritating the skin.

Encapsulated Retinaldehyde

Traditionally, individuals with compromised barriers haven’t been able to realize the rejuvenating benefits of retinol because it is often too aggressive for the skin.

Retinaldehyde is a stable precursor to retinoic acid - a gentle, yet effective, lifestyle-friendly corrective that can take  compromised skin to a healthy, normal place. Encapsulated retinaldehyde, as found in Compromised Barrier Retinal Repair, is similar to retinol in its ability to rejuvenate and strengthen the skin but produces the least amount of skin irritation of all vitamin A derivatives, making it a great choice for compromised barriers. Through this special encapsulation process, even sensitive skins may use vitamin A without the irritating side effects of most retinols.   

Pyruvic Acid

Another gentle, yet effective rejuvenating exfoliator is pyruvic acid. As found in Compromised Barrier Mandelic Repair Serum, it metabolizes rapidly in the skin. A key active to several metabolic pathways, it is often mistaken for an alpha hydroxyl acid but is actually considered an alpha-keto acid with a pH of 2.65.  As part of the Krebs cycle of respiration, it stimulates collagen production, elastin and dermal glycoproteins to a greater extent than even most AHAs.

It’s important to remember that the dermal layer of the skin is the precursor to a strong epidermal layer and a properly functioning barrier.

How to Incorporate Lifestyle Friendly Correctives

Adding these to skin-strengthening and repairing formulas into a regimen is as easy as 3 steps! 

AM Regimen

• Cleanse with Soothing Cream Cleanse
• Apply Vitamin Complex
• Finish with hydrator of choice, we recommend HA Hydration Cream
• Spritz with Hydra Soothe Spritz all day!

PM Regimen

• Cleanse with Soothing Cream Cleanse
• Apply Mandelic Repair Serum
• Introduce Retinal Repair Serum 3 weeks later
• Finish with hydrator of choice, we recommend Vital Replenish Serum

With a compromised barrier, we want to give the skin special attention by gently correcting from the inside out.  Check out the Compromised Barrier website for more information on this skin condition.