Tips for treating your skin at home

The skin care ingredients you’re familiar with and a few you may not have discovered yet!

Whether or not you’re a skin care buff there are some essential ingredients that you should know about. Knowing how ingredients work can help you determine which products are best for your skin type—as well as when and how you should use them. What might be a miracle ingredient for one skin type could be aggravating for another. 

Gina’s Skin Care Experts are always available through email or social media to help you make the best product choice for your skin. 

The Acids 

While the term ‘acid’ can sound intimidating, there are many different kinds of acids that serve many different functions. We will help you to differentiate between them to help you determine which ones you should look for and which to avoid.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane. It has a smaller molecule than most acids which means that it works on the top layer of the skin, but also sinks deeper into the skin to stimulate collagen production. It is an exfoliant and functions by loosening dead skin cells to smoothen your skin, give you an even skin tone and help you better absorb other products. 

The lower the PH level the more peeling the product will be. It is important not to use products with another exfoliant or antioxidant like Retinol. Glycolic Acid can be neutralized with water. It is important to use Glycolic Acid with an SPF—we recommend the lightweight and highly protective Daily Protective Fluid SPF50 (Urban Life).

Who should use it? 

Glycolic Acid is best suited to normal, oily or combination skin. It can be reactive with dry or sensitive skin. 

Products that Contain Glycolic Acid 

Regenerating Exfoliating Tonic (Revivyl Resurface²), Whitelight Kit Even-White Intensive Face Program

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic Acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) which means that it is oil soluble and can get deeper into the pores to remove sebum for an exfoliating effect. If you have oily skin you may be producing excess sebum so this ingredient may be the right choice for you. 

However, Salicylic Acid can be very drying to the skin so it is important to use the product in the correct formulation and under the direction of your aesthetician in higher concentrations. Diego Dalla Palma pairs this ingredient with a hydrating base to protect the skin. 

Once again, when using Salicylic Acid it is crucial to use SPF! 

Who should use it? 

This ingredient is ideal for people with acne—however, some formulations could be aggravating for people with cystic acne as this type of acne occurs below the surface of the skin. High concentrations of Salicylic Acid are best avoided during pregnancy. 

Products that contain Salicylic Acid

Deep Cleansing Gel (purifying) 150ml, Sebum Normalising Day Cream (purifying) 40ml, Intensive Clearing Concentrate (Purifying) 

Hyaluronic Acid

Unlike Glycolic and Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic acid is not an exfoliator. It is a humectant which means that it adds hydration to the skin and helps to hold water. It is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin but it diminishes with age.

Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water so it will hold water from washing your skin or the air to keep your skin hydrated. It’s very restorative and pairs well with other ingredients--although it can be degraded easily which means that it is important that it is used in properly formulated products.

The Diego Dalla Palma line was developed around the 51+3 Hyalu Complex. This indicates that there are 51 active ingredients and three Hyaluronic Acids. The active ingredients include 20 Amino Acids, 16 Vitamins, 6 Trace Elements and Minerals, 3 Nucleic Acids, 4 Ceramides and 2 Cellular Osmo-Protectors. You can consider this a specially formulated multivitamin--specialized to achieve the best results in each product. 

Who should use it? 

Everyone. 

Products that contain Hyaluronic Acid 

The 51+3 Hyalu Complex is the base of all Diego Dalla Palma treatments.

There are many more key skincare ingredients. Stay tuned to learn more about Azelaic Acid, Retinol and Revivyl!