Benzoyl peroxide: Derma-Friend or Foe?

Benzoyl peroxide: it might sound like a term from freshman chemistry, but I can almost guarantee that you have used it before. It may even be lurking in your medicine cabinet as you read this post. 

"BPO" is an ingredient in many—forget that, in most—anti-acne facial cleansers. So why the hype? What is it about Benzoyl peroxide that earns its prominence in the skincare world?

First, it promotes "skin turnover." By making your surface skin peel, Benzoyl peroxide allows new cells to replace the old ones. Additionally, it reduces bacteria counts, specifically the propionibacterium varieties, which are responsible for acne flare-ups.    

Ready to go stock up? Not so fast. Just because BPO is the current "go-to" ingredient doesn't mean it is without risks. For starters, that "turn-over" process can be quiet irritating, especially if you already have sensitive skin. It also increases sun-damage susceptibility and can raise your risk of hyper-pigmentation—those dreaded "brown spots." But the biggest problem with BPO is tolerance. After about a week of use, your skin becomes acclimated; you'll soon need higher doses of BPO to match that initial efficacy.  

Ok—so maybe tolerance isn't quite the "biggest" problem. Some studies link extended BPO usage with increased risk of skin cancer. However, many medical professionals privilege its acne-fighting benefits over this danger.

Our perspective? 

An A+ for Vitamin A!

Want to know the secret ingredient to great skin?

Maybe "magic" is the wrong word. There is nothing mysterious about Vitamin A, but that doesn't prevent it from providing all kinds of epidermal benefits. Operating on the level of DNA, Vitamin A reinvigorates damaged cells (hello sunburn!), to help your skin in countless ways. Here are a few benefits that interest me the most.

So how do you get some of this "secret ingredient"? No need to quest through the dense jungles of the Amazon to find it. Vitamin A is hiding in plain sight: try the produce section of your local grocery store. Cantaloupe, squash, carrots, and dark, leafy greens like kale all pack an "A+" dosage of this vitamin. 

Not into veggies? (Shame on you!) That's ok, too, because you can supplement Vitamin A externally--through the skincare products you choose. Read labels and look for ingredients like Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinol and Retinal Aldehyde. These are all face-friendly forms of Vitamin A.

Don't know where to find reliable products? Try the GR8SKN line; we're a bunch of Vitamin A groupies.

Shop GR8SKN here! 

Spring Cleaning!