Digital Aging: What It Is and How to Prevent It

How much time do you spend in front of a screen? 

Well, a study done in America might help us discover the answer to this question. The study reveals that the typical person spends four hours and 30 minutes watching TV, four hours and 33 minutes looking at a smartphone, over three hours using a gaming device, and nearly five hours on a laptop.

This amounts to a total of 17 hours per day spent in front of technological devices. So it comes as no surprise that this excessive exposure to digital devices is harmfully impacting our health. 

Most of us would think that our eyes are the ones that suffer the most and that’s definitely true. We’ve all experienced digital eye strain, which usually comes with irritated and dry eyes, migraines, and an inability to focus. 

But the eyes are not the only ones that are affected by digital devices. In fact, the blue light coming from digital screens also has a big impact on your skin. 

You might be asking yourself, how does blue light affect my skin? Let’s find out:

What Is Digital Aging?

As the name suggests, digital aging is the premature aging of the skin caused by blue light. But why does long exposure to blue light accelerate the aging process of your skin?

The Impact of Artificial Blue Light 

The main natural source of blue light is the sun, but we managed to create artificial blue light that can be used indoors. Within the household, the blue light comes from TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. 

Now, we all know by now that a long exposure to the sun is not at all good for the skin. Of course, the sun is an important source of vitamin D, but staying in the sun for long periods of time can cause:

• Premature aging

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Lower immunity

• Pigmentation and discoloration

• Skin cancer

Then, if having access to too much natural blue light can trigger these effects, it’s obvious that long exposures to artificial blue light will do quite a lot of damage as well. Just to get an idea of the consequences of artificial blue light, a study shows that 30 hours of exposure to blue light from smartphone or laptop screens can increase the inflammation level in skin cells by 40%.

Not only that, but blue light from digital devices exposes skin to oxidative stress (or free radicals). These free radicals can damage collagen and lead to obvious signs of aging.

Blue Light Affects the Circadian Rhythm

Blue light also disturbs the circadian rhythm, which practically governs our sleeping patterns. The presence of blue light tricks the brain into believing that it’s daylight. And during the day, our skin fights to protect itself. 

Once nighttime comes and we are asleep, our skin goes into recovery mode, which is a time of intense regeneration and repair. This is when the skin absorbs topical treatments best, cell production increases, and DNA repair is boosted. 

If you don’t get enough sleep, then your skin’s recovery processes will be slowed down. And obviously, melatonin will not be produced as efficiently if the body comes into contact with a constant source of blue light. 

How Can You Prevent Digital Aging?

The best thing to avoid digital aging would be to reduce screen time. But this is not exactly a possibility if you are working in an office and have to be in front of a computer for at least eight hours a day. 

Luckily, there are a few methods by which you can prevent digital aging. Let’s start with the easier things that you can do. 

Don’t use your digital device one hour before bed. Try doing other activities, like doing your skincare, taking care of some chores, or reading a book. 

When it comes to your skincare routine, you should try the following:

• Products that are high in antioxidants (vitamin C). These antioxidants prevent oxidative stress from damaging the collagen within the skin. 

• Products with vitamin C, E, and peptides to help with skin inflammations

• Collagen boosting/generation 

• Rich moisturizers  

All in all, having a good skincare routine can really save you from digital aging, so it’s recommended that you Contact us to see what fits your skin.

Bottom Line 

Finding products that work for your skin might not always be easy. Everybody’s skin is different, which means that what works for somebody, might not work for you. This is why getting in touch with a professional can help you figure out your skin condition and what skincare routine would suit you best. 

If you want to get to know your skin, let one of our professionals help you. Contact us today and let’s see how we can make your skin shine.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph, including a link to www.thebeautyjourney.com

"Information is courtesy of www.thebeautyjourney.com, a website with skin care tips, products, treatments and advice from skin care expert and licensed esthetician, Kristina Trinh."

Steps to Aging Gracefully!

If you’re like me, you want to turn back the clock on aging. Maybe you don’t actually want to be 30 again, but you sure wouldn’t mind looking as if you were. I’ve got one of the word for you: collagen.

Collagen is the protein responsible for giving us smooth, firm skin that comes effortless in our youth. The bad news is that as we age, our bodies slow down the natural production of collagen. If you happen to have any sweatpants from your twenties, think of the elastic band in the waist of those pants, which is by now permanently stretched out. They don’t snap back like they used to anymore. This same thing happens to our skin. As our collagen depletes through time, our skin loses its elasticity and starts to sag.

Luckily, there are some secret techniques that you can integrate into your life in order to naturally boost collagen production. And you needn’t start any fad diet or uproot your life in any crazy way. These tips are surprisingly simple to take part in your daily routine.

Check out the list below:

• Sip Water Consistently – You have to have been living under rock not to know that water is extremely beneficial for your skin. But it’s not just about moisture so that your skin doesn’t end up dry and flaky. When your skin is hydrated, it creates the perfect conditions for collagen to form and grow. How much water is enough? You should be drinking half of your body weight in water. If you weigh 120 pounds, you need to be consuming 60 ounces of water or more per day. No exceptions.

• Get Your Beauty Rest – It’s not just an expression; it literally is beauty rest. When our bodies go to sleep for the night, it is our cells’ chance to repair all of the damage that was done to the body throughout the day. When you shave off hours of sleep, you deprive your body of time that could be spent manufacturing collagen. Not only does it feel better to get a good night’s sleep, it literally helps your skin look better. Aim for at least seven hours per night, and you’ll be happy with the results.

• Eat Your C’s – Vitamin C is vital when it comes to collagen formation and when you integrate Vitamin C-rich foods into your diet, you are giving your skin the tools to become tighter and firmer. Obviously oranges are the most popular form of this important vitamin, but Vitamin C can be found in an array of other foods as well. Make room for red and green peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, papaya, brussel sprouts and parsley on your shopping list. Your skin will thank you.

**Don’t forget to apply Vitamin C directly to your skin. Applying Enlighten Serum to your face stimulates collagen production and helps fight free radicals. Get Yours Right Here.

• Exfoliate – As we age, our skin cells start to turn over less often. When we are in our teen years, our cells turn over about every 21-28 days, but by the time we are in our 50s, those numbers look more like every 45-84 days. Our skin needs a little helping hand in the exfoliation department. When you partake in some moderate exfoliation, it removes the dead cells and shocks them into producing new cells which simultaneously triggers collagen production. A good practice is to gently exfoliate once a week. Be sure to choose a good exfoliator that won’t compromise your skin barrier.

If you can manage to incorporate these four tips into your routine and partner with your Esthetician, you will be well on your way to firmer, more youthful skin.

A New Year - A Great Time To Remodel...Your Skin

RP is a Remodeling procedure based on the philosophy to Remove, Rebuild, Protect and Maintain. It’s all about revising the natural architecture of the skin while addressing the underlying conditions that are contributing to problems such as acne scar, aging management, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging and roughness.

These problems are not simply consequences of aging that you need to learn to be okay with. There are real architectural causes that you can absolutely do something about. You don't have to resign yourself to accepting your wrinkles and scars. You can do something about it! Our goal with RP is to reconstruct the skin and return it to a strong, healthy and youthful state. It works wonders in correcting the signs of photo damage like wrinkles, pigmentation problems, unsightly sagging and uncomfortable roughness.

It’s important to remember that this is an intensive procedure. After all, we are literally changing the architecture of your skin, just like how the remodeling of a building means big changes to the underlying structure. This is much the same. Luckily that also means big changes and dramatic improvements for your appearance. It’s just like watching that dramatic change when someone comes in and remodels a dilapidated building on one of those home-flipping shows. Because of this, you can expect excessive peeling as underlying pigments are brought to the surface. This can be uncomfortable and a bit of a nuisance to deal with, but we assure you that it's all worth it in the end. The results speak for themselves.

So who can benefit from RP?

Anyone who is struggling with conditions that are directly linked to the skin’s architecture. This includes those looking for good age management solutions, and anyone with hyperpigmentation or acne scars.

What do I need to do to prepare for RP?

You need to prep your skin for this treatment for at least 14 days in advance. 4-6 DMK enzyme treatments are the perfect way to prep the skin for this intensive treatment. You’ll also need to commit to a full DMK Home Prescriptive and DMK EFAs.

Is there any downtime involved with this procedure?

Yes, on day 3, your skin will start to go through an excessive peeling stage. This is unavoidable and an important part of the process, but it could interfere in your life. It’s best to plan this treatment around about 3-5 days of downtime so you’re not stressing about appearing in public and forcing the peeling process to move along faster. Look at this time as part of the rejuvenation. As your skin sheds its old cells, you can use the time to mentally shed old thoughts and ways of being. It's the perfect way to start off 2019.

What’s included in the RP package?

The RP package includes Pre Prep, True Oxygen Therapy, RP, and Lift Off after the procedure.

What does something like this cost?

Due to the differences in an individual's skin conditions and personal health, pricing will vary. Please call us for custom pricing.

Stop Aging in Its Tracks

It’s just little things at first. Instead of ID-ing you at the liquor store, the cashier actually suggests a brand of wine that is similar to your regular brand. Every now and then, someone refers to you as a “ma’am” as you walk past. In your business meetings, you start to notice the eyes of the men in the room linger a little longer on the young new executive when they used to linger on you. And gradually and more often, you start to get waited on second at the deli counter or the bar or even the DMV as the younger women start to slip into your place. Eyes aren’t stopping on you anymore; they are passing right over you.

At first, it’s not quite so alarming. You probably don’t feel much different on the inside. After all, in our minds, we all feel perpetually 35 well into our years. It’s not until one day, when you suddenly see your reflection in the mirror, and it tells a different story than the one you were narrating in your head, that the panic sets in. You can see the tiny wrinkles outlining your eyes and small creases hovering over your upper lip. Your temples and cheeks have a hollowness that never used to be there. And your coloring suddenly looks dull and bland.

Then it hits you. You’ve become the older woman in the room. It’s not just a bad day after a restless night or the result of a stressful week. The lines you’re seeing aren’t going away after a good rest. This is the trajectory you’re now on. And it’s a one way train to irreparable old age. These are not just bumps in the road; this is a downhill slope and you’re slipping down the rocky face of it.

So then comes the dilemma about what to do about this conundrum. Because of course, there is a little bit of stigma that comes with anti-aging and the means we resort to so that we can hold onto our evasive beauty. Going overboard with surgeries that make you look fake or over-worked might reek of desperation and vanity, but you also don’t want to age gracefully by NOT doing anything and start getting mistaken as your mother’s sister instead of her daughter either! So where is the happy medium?

In essence, we feel a bit damned it we do, and damned if we don’t. How can we take care of and care about our reflections without feeling like we’re focused on fleeting superficial ideas?

There’s got to be natural solution. Something that can soften and reduce the effects of aging without making you look like you’re trying impossibly hard to hold onto the fleeting days of youth. How can you look your best AND make it seem to those who haven’t asked your secret that you’re simply slipping into your later years gracefully? The ideal solution is a treatment that flatters you, something that boosts your skin’s ability to maintain and prolong your youth and radiance rather than invasively re-creating it with surgery or paralyzing muscles with injections.

Luckily there is a solution that can do exactly that, all without the needles and without breaking the bank. The Sculplla Facial firms, tightens, smoothes, brightens, plumps and protects. It’s a Korean treatment that utilizes the same ingredients as the Sculptra injections that you’ll find dermatologists administering, but it’s done topically. The effects of this amped up facial are immediate, and the treatment is a simple 30-45 minute experience. You’ll see a brighter, younger, firmer complexion as you leave the salon, even after just one treatment, but that’s not where the positive effects stop.

Unlike filler treatments that work because they inhibit natural functions of the muscles, the Sculplla facial increases your skin’s natural collagen production. So your skin is improving and getting stronger in the weeks after your visit. You’re not constantly waiting for the treatment to wear off as time goes by, wondering if the next time you look in the mirror, the wrinkles will be back. You can rest assured knowing your body is creating collagen, just the thing that is typically disappearing as you get older. When you invest in Sculplla, you’re giving your body the tools it needs to be your best self.

Plus one of the best parts of the Sculplla facial is that it’s so non-invasive. It’s a facial after all, so it’s a relaxing and cleansing experience. It starts with a peel so that the formula can get in direct contact with the skin and start working. Then the mask is applied. While it’s sending the nutrients into your skin and inspiring collagen production to happen, it’s also purifying and cleansing your skin - An extra bonus. So you leave your session feeling rejuvenated and refreshed AND looking better with more benefits to come.

You can immediately go back to your life, whatever that consists of, knowing that your body is working for you, not against you. You’ll need to avoid showering or sweating for 12 hours, but that’s a great excuse to skip the gym for a day. Instead of leg day, it’s face day! Maybe you only have a couple of hours in between work and picking up the kids from practice. That’s more than enough time to stop in for a treatment. Your skin is getting brighter as you’re driving, as you’re working, as you’re watching your kids’ soccer games or relaxing with friends. Investing in you has never felt better.

What you’re basically doing is treating the source of the anti-aging problem rather than just dealing with the symptoms. When your body is consistently making its own collagen, it is going to naturally have a younger, smoother more radiant look. The Sculplla treatment is also packed with skin-saving peptides that have an anti-inflammatory effect. So your skin can finally relax. Picture your skin being on high alert because there are so many things in our world that are out to damage it. These peptides give your skin the resources it needs to defend and protect itself from these influences. Free radicals are neutralized.

Not only are the results of this facial instant, but the effects accumulate with each treatment. After every treatment, your skin is able to produce more and more collagen. So you can be happy and satisfied with your immediate results, AND you get to enjoy knowing that without any effort on your part, your body is producing collagen that’s helping create even more results.

For more information about this cutting-edge facial or to book your first appointment, call our salon today and speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members.

You’ve truly got nothing to lose and only benefits to gain. After all, there’s a little something else that comes with age aside from just fine lines. Wisdom is knowinghow to appear as if time has no effect on your appearance. A Sculplla facial is the wise woman’s secret to aging gracefully.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph, including a link to www.thebeautyjourney.com

"Information is courtesy of www.thebeautyjourney.com, a website with skin care tips, products, treatments and advice from skin care expert and licensed esthetician, Kristina Trinh."

A Single, Smarter Solution to Anti-Aging

Restore Youth Serum/Cream

This innovative serum/Cream formulates with technologically advanced ingredients that work synergistically to activate skin to function as it did in its youth. This multifaceted super serum helps minimize the appearance of expression lines and wrinkles, supports thin, fragile skin and increases elasticity as it regenerates, and restructures. With regular use, it also works to firm, fortify, and re-density, while providing nutrition by delivering vital support for healthy skin. Although it only takes a few drops to do the job, these products are powerful yet gentle and effective. Here's what it can do for you:

• Accelerate your skin's own self-regenerative technology

• Stimulate collagen production for younger-looking skin

• Protect the skin cells at the epidermal layer

• Reduce wrinkles around the eyes

• ·Firm and tighten the skin

• ·Improve elasticity and skin tone

Restore Youth Serum/Cream absorbs easily into skin without leaving any residue behind. It can be integrated into your current skin care routine and used with other Beauty Journey Studio products. Whether you're dealing with fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, uneven tone, or all of the above, this product can help you see real results and achieve the beautiful skin you've always wanted.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph, including a link to www.thebeautyjourney.com

"Information is courtesy of www.thebeautyjourney.com, a website with skin care tips, products, treatments and advice from skin care expert and licensed esthetician, Kristina Trinh."