Obagi skin care is a brand of medical grade skincare that is specifically designed to minimize the appearance of premature aging, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. Their products are primarily available through dermatologists, plastic surgeons and medical mahalo.
Their approach to skin health begins at the cellular level, and they’ve gained a deep understanding of how our skin functions at this level over the years. They then use this knowledge to develop transformational products that promote healthy skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and plays a critical role in the body’s immune function. It helps prevent cell damage and is an important component of collagen synthesis. It is best consumed from foods like citrus fruits and vegetables to maximize your intake.
Vitamin C has many skincare benefits including brightening, retaining moisture, calming inflammation and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to restore skin’s elasticity and firmness, and even out the skin tone.
Obagi offers several different serums that are formulated with vitamin C. They are available in various concentrations, so you should find one that works for your skin type and age.
The most common concentration is 5% ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid), which is the lowest percentage that you should start with and then work up to the higher percentages once your skin is ready. Some people have sensitive skin and may get irritation when using high concentrations of Vitamin C, so it’s best to begin with lower percentages until you can see what your skin is able to tolerate.
Most Vitamin C products also contain ascorbyl palmitate, which is a fat-soluble form of the vitamin that is often added to cosmetics and topical lotions for its antioxidant properties. However, research has not found that ascorbyl palmitate is more effective than natural ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate.
Other vitamin C ingredients are also commonly used in anti-aging skincare, such as ferulic acid, which can help to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of acne scars. This ingredient is also known to have hydrating and softening properties, but it can cause skin dryness in some people.
This is why it’s recommended to use a moisturizer or an oil-free sunscreen when you apply any Vitamin C product. A good obagi Vitamin C treatment will have a light formula that doesn’t leave your skin looking greasy or oily.
obagi Professional-C Serum 20% is a concentrated serum that contains 20% L-ascorbic acid to deliver multiple benefits for the complexion. It protects against damaging UVA and UVB rays, promotes collagen synthesis and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This Vitamin C serum is recommended for normal, combination and oily skin types. It absorbs quickly and helps to maintain your skin’s hydration levels without leaving your complexion dry or oily.
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that is naturally present in some fruits and vegetables and available as a supplement. It is a water-soluble vitamin that helps maintain healthy skin by acting as an antioxidant. It also promotes collagen synthesis and prevents free radical damage, promoting skin health.
Ascorbic acid, or L-ascorbic acid, is a highly active form of vitamin C that is stable and absorbed by the body. It is a potent reducing agent that readily donates electrons to recipient molecules, preventing oxidation and protecting the body from disease-causing free radicals. This means that it is also important for the immune system and healthy bones and muscles.
It is also a powerful enzyme cofactor, supporting the synthesis of proteins such as collagen and carnitine and neurotransmitters. It can also help with cell turnover and DNA repair. It is also needed for the synthesis of tyrosine, an amino acid that helps regulate sleep patterns.
For best results, consume a balanced diet to ensure that your body receives enough vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in a variety of foods, including oranges, red and green peppers, and kiwi. However, if you aren’t eating well, taking a supplement may be your best bet for ensuring that you get enough.
Obagi’s Professional-C Serum is formulated with stabilized ascorbic acid, the only form of vitamin C that can be absorbed by the skin. This serum is clinically proven to provide up to two times more antioxidant penetration than leading formulations, delivering optimal skincare results.
The serum is suitable for all skin types, except extremely sensitive skin, and provides deep penetration to the dermis, defending against damaging UVA and UVB rays and helping to prevent premature signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. The serum also boosts your skin’s natural collagen production for improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in firmer, smoother-looking skin.
The professional strength serum is also enriched with hyaluronic acid, which has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of Vitamin C. It also includes a peptide complex that can help improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally in your skin, eyes and joints that helps trap water molecules. It promotes hydration and can help wounds heal faster, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It also reduces joint pain in people with arthritis.
Unlike other moisturizers, hyaluronic acid is quickly absorbed into your skin. Moreover, it is non-irritating and safe for use by all skin types.
As it absorbs, hyaluronic acid can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also adds volume to areas that are naturally thin or lost volume over time, such as the lips and cheeks.
However, it’s important to note that hyaluronic acid is not a replacement for elastin. The two are essential for a smoother, firmer complexion and should not be substituted.
To help prevent wrinkles, hyaluronic acid helps fill in creases and folds of your skin, according to Dr. Magovern, the author of Skincare Secrets for Every Body. It also encourages collagen synthesis, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The best way to boost hydration is to apply a serum containing hyaluronic acid under a moisturizer, says Dr. Benjamin. She recommends choosing products with a maximum of 2 percent hyaluronic acid and using them under your regular skincare routine.
A hyaluronic acid cream or gel should be applied after washing your face with a cleanser that is free of harsh chemicals and fragrances. Ideally, these products should contain antioxidants and peptides that can help with skin cell turnover and promote the production of new skin cells.
It’s also a good idea to choose a product that is free of sulfates, parabens and dyes. Some brands of hyaluronic acid are derived from animal sources and can cause allergic reactions in some people, so be sure to check the ingredients list.
Another benefit of hyaluronic acid is that it helps protect the skin’s natural barrier, which prevents toxins and other irritants from entering your pores. As you age, this protective layer is weakened by everything from UV rays to environmental pollution to lifestyle choices like smoking.
Retinol
Retinol is a type of Vitamin A that is effective for many skin types. It helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and improves elasticity.
Retinol works by promoting cell turnover for those coveted skin rejuvenation results. When used over time, retinol also has the added benefit of maintaining a healthy skin barrier for sustainable results.
It has a lot of other benefits for the skin as well, such as reducing the look of sun damage and preventing premature aging by strengthening the skin’s natural defenses against harmful free radicals. This makes it a great addition to an obagi skincare routine, especially if you’re concerned about sun damage.
If you’re interested in using retinol for your obagi skincare routine, speak to one of our knowledgeable team members about which products will be best suited for your needs. Whether you have dry or oily skin, we can help you find the right product for your specific needs.
Another way that retinol can be beneficial to your skin is by helping with psoriasis. This is a condition where new skin cells grow too quickly and form a thick, scaly rash that is often pink or red in color. Topical retinol slows the overgrowth of new cells and reduces inflammation, which can help clear up the skin.
Depending on your skin type, you may also want to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to prevent sunburn and damage to your skin. The Obagi Sun Shield line is an excellent option for daily use as it contains both antioxidants and a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
Obagi also has a number of other products that can be used in conjunction with its Nu-Derm line to address your skin’s unique needs. These include scrubs that remove dead skin cells, moisturizers that hydrate the skin without leaving it feeling greasy, and sunscreens that provide a high level of protection against sun damage.