3 Routes to Clear Skin
It’s our mission to ensure that every single person feels empowered and beautiful in their own skin. Blemishes have a tendency to shake our confidence, especially when they emerge the night before a special occasion or event. But at Medik8, we strive to make this feeling a thing of the past. We understand that blemishes are caused by a myriad of circumstances – this is why it can often be quite difficult to manage.
AGAINST THE GRAIN
Traditional remedies tend to draw their focus on just one cause of blemishes; employing harsh actives to eliminate their chosen factor. But this approach can leave skin imbalanced and irritated. We know that obtaining clear skin is also about regaining skin health. A blemish-free complexion that is dry, flaky and red isn’t on anyone’s wish list, so we’ve taken the time to formulate a range that uses 3 major routes to obtain a clear, balanced complexion that radiates health.
AHAS & BHAS
Exfoliation is an essential step in the fight against blemishes. If the skin is not regularly renewed, dead skin cells can become lodged within the pores, stopping the natural flow of sebum. This blockage serves as the precursor to all types of blemishes. AHAs and BHAs work by dissolving the ‘glue’ that binds dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. This allows them to shed naturally.
AHAs like glycolic acid are water soluble, meaning they work predominantly on the surface of the skin to melt away dead skin cells. You can find glycolic acid alongside Balance Moisturiser™ in our Glycolic Acid Activator™. Simply apply a few drops to the skin once or twice a week for gentle yet effective exfoliation.
BHAs like salicylic acid are oil-soluble. This means they can penetrate the pore and dissolve deep-seated sebum and impurities. In other words, they can diminish existing blemishes as well as preventing new ones. For this reason, salicylic acid is the key ingredient across our entire Blemish solution. You can find it in Clarifying Foam™, Blemish Control Pads™ and Blemish SOS™.
MICROBIOME
The surface of the skin is home to a delicate ecosystem made up of billions of living microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye. Formed from a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria, this natural microbiome (or microflora) acts as our first line of defence against environmental aggressors and other harmful pathogens. In clear healthy skin, the balance is usually tipped in favour of the good bacteria. This is because friendly bacteria will often overpower blemish-causing bacteria (P. acnes) reducing their presence on the skin.
Probiotics and prebiotics can be used to boost good bacteria within the microbiome. Probiotics are live bacteria, similar to the ones found in our microflora. When they are applied to the skin, they mix with your natural flora, modifying the make-up of the microbiome to create the perfect environment for good bacteria to flourish.
Prebiotics are nutrients that act as food for the microbiome. They feed the bacteria on our skin (including topically applied probiotics) to make them stronger. Prebiotics are essential for microbiome health.
Both prebiotics and probiotics can be found in Balance Moisturiser, a lightweight mattifying moisturiser that delivers all-day hydration and shine control while promoting clear, healthy skin.
ANTIOXIDANTS
It is a common misconception that free radicals are responsible for skin ageing alone. In actual fact, these damaging molecules are the main culprits behind a number of skincare issues – blemishes included. When free radicals come into contact with sebum, they trigger a process known as lipid peroxidation. This alters the molecular structure of sebum so that it becomes a suitable environment for blemish-causing bacteria (P. acnes) to thrive.
Breakout Defence + Age Repair™ utilises the unparalleled antioxidant performance of copper PCA to effectively protect the skin from free radical damage. This helps to reduce levels of P. acnes on the skin, while shielding collagen from environmental damage. The result is a clear, balanced and youthful-looking complexion.
