SKIN 411 (Information)

Your skin, the largest of your organs, has many functions like regulating temperature, protecting your body's internal organs, protecting you from moisture loss and harmful UV radiation, and producing Vitamin D. But perhaps the most underrated function of the skin is it's ability to fight off infections and harmful bacteria that you may come in contact with. It has three main layers, the epidermis(top), the dermis (middle) and the subcutaneous (bottom) layer.

 The epidermis is an elastic layer on the outside that is continually being regenerated. It includes the following:   

• Keratinocytes - the main cells of the epidermis formed by cell division at its base. New cells continually move towards the surface. As they move they gradually die and become flattened.
• Corneocytes - the flattened dead keratinocytes that together make up the very outer layer of the epidermis is called the stratum corneum or horny layer. This protective layer is continually worn away or shed.
• Melanocytes – produce the pigment melanin that protects against UV radiation and gives skin its color.

The dermis is the inner layer that includes the following:

• Sweat glands – produce sweat that travels via sweat ducts to openings in the epidermis called pores. They play a role in temperature regulation.
• Hair follicles – are pits in which hairs grow. Hairs also play a role in temperature regulation.
• Sebaceous glands – produce sebum (an oil) to keep hairs free from dust and bacteria. Sebum and sweat make up the 'surface film'.

 The subcutaneous layer under the dermis is made up of connective tissue and fat (a good insulator). 

Our founder, and proud nutrition student, wrote a very informative eBook 'What's Your Secret?' that details the way our skin works and what promotes natural collagen production to give us that youthful glow.

One way to understand the barrier function of the stratum corneum (  the outermost layer of the epidermis) is to consider it as a brick wall. The corneocytes (made of tough protein) form the bricks and between these a double layer of lipids (fatty materials) and water make up the mortar. Some lipids have a hard crystal-like structure and are impermeable to water. Others lipids do not have this structure and they allow water to percolate through. So, the barrier is semi-permeable.

The elasticity, firmness and correct functioning of the stratum corneum depends on its moisture content. Retention of water is aided by substances in the skin called natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). If the moisture content is too high or too low, it can affect the skin's barrier properties.

If the skin becomes overhydrated, for example from prolonged contact with water, from wearing gloves that prevent sweat from evaporating, or excessive moisturizing, it causes NMF production to stop.

If the skin dehydrates, for example in an air-conditioned environment with low humidity, the corneocytes are not shed as normal and the skin becomes rough, thickened and flaky, eventually leading to cracking because of loss of elasticity. Since our hands tend to get the most contact with water, they tend to dry out the most due to the skin reacting to the excess moisture and turning off the natural moisturizing factors (NMF's). This is why it's common to see that skin on our hands is much more wrinkly than any other part of our body.

The 'surface film' on the epidermis also acts as a barrier, to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from penetrating the skin. It is made up of ceramides, cholesterol, and  antibacterial fatty acids. The film is slightly acidic and can help to neutralize the contaminants that are typically alkaline in nature. Excessive use of harsh alkaline soaps can destroy the acidity of the film and hence the protection it offers.

Problems occur when the skin's barrier is breached. This can happen when:

• a material/agent penetrates the barrier layer or alters it so other materials/agents can penetrate it;
• a material/agent enters sweat ducts or hair follicles, by-passing the barrier layer.

When the skin's barrier is breached, infection can occur, triggering the skins natural response- inflammation. Our hands can be the most common carriers of bacteria to our face. That is why it is extremely important to NOT touch your face. An excellent way to cleanse your skin without stripping its natural lipid barrier is with Apocotia's Olive Oil Let It Bee Skin cleanser. It is rich in oleic acid, which helps strengthen the protective barrier, plus, it contains manuka honey which has been known to help it fight off bacteria.

As a rule of thumb, you should only wash your face once at the end of your day. But, the best way to answer this question is, it depends. It depends on what your day is like. If you start your day by going to the gym and you sweat excessively, then it's best to wash your face right after you sweat to prevent reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions that could have mixed with bacteria on the surface of your skin, which may lead to acne, especially if you wear makeup to the gym. But if you aren't profusely sweating or running through dust storms, then once at the end of your day is enough to wash away impurities and bacteria, without stripping your skin from its natural lipid barrier. You shouldn't have to wash your face in the morning if your pillow case is clean (washed once a week). An excellent way to cleanse your skin without stripping its natural lipid barrier is with Apocotia's Olive Oil Let It Bee Skin cleanser. It is rich in oleic acid, which helps strengthen the protective barrier, plus, it contains manuka honey which has been known to help fight off bacteria.

My tía would always say, "Lávate la cara para que amanezcas fresca."(wash your face so you wake up fresh) just before bed. We've all heard that you have to let your skin breathe, but the truth is, you have to let it shed. There's actual science to this. During sleep, your skin is rejuvenating itself by shedding the stratum corneum and it has a harder time doing so if it's dirty or is covered in makeup. Imagine a snake shedding its skin but the snake is covered in a thick layer of dry mud. The shedding process becomes much harder or nearly impossible. Similarly, it's important to wash away makeup and impurities from our skin and allow our skin to make itself over or shed. You also lose more water overnight, when you don’t have a protective layer of natural oils on your skin. This is called TEWL (transepidermal water loss). Washing your face with a mild cleanser like Apocotia's Olive Oil Let it Bee Skin cleanser, will wash away impurities without washing away your skins natural oils. Plus, it has manuka honey which has been known to moisturize skin and fight off bacteria. 

Tía always loved to talk about reversing her wrinkles with aloe vera and some 'agua de limon' (Lemon water). So the short answer is yes. The long answer is, yes with some help from a few key ingredients. Our founder, and proud nutrition student, wrote a very informational eBook that helps anyone of any age reduce their fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to learning proven ways to do this, you can also use Apocotia's Frown Less Face Strips for a quick, but temporary, reduction of wrinkles. Our Gua Sha Lip Boost Stone is also a great temporary fix to fine lines and wrinkles and will give you a quick lip enhancement for a more youthful appearance. 

Exfoliating your skin is happening right now. Every minute of every day, your skin cells are turning over, making their way from the bottom layer of your skin to the top layer of your skin and shedding the dead skin cells off your top layer. These dead skin cells are flat and glued to our skin until new cells make their way up and release them. It takes approximately 4 weeks for your face cells to turn over and reveal new skin. As we age, this process takes a bit longer. That's a long time to see new fresh skin, isn't it? This is why most topical exfoliating products on the market today claim to decrease cell turn over rate. You can help your skin shed the ready-to-slough- off dead skin cells off of the top layer of your skin by exfoliating with a mild facial wash cloth. You may also try our Atáscate  Que Hay Lodo Clay Mask for your face to remove dead skin cells and not damage your protective layer. It really is that simple. Our body scrub, Cafe De Olla, is great for the body and helps reduce  the appearance of cellulite.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body or your skin. Some foods are way worse than others and should be avoided if possible. Our founder, and proud nutrition student, wrote a very informative eBook 'What's Your Secret?'  that contains a list of foods that are wrecking your skin, plus 16 all natural smoothie recipes to boost your collagen and give you a healthy glow from the inside out. You really are what you eat.

Our tias had the secrets to beautiful nurtured skin. All the ingredients that were used were either inside the cupboard or outside in the garden. We are extremely proud to say that  our list of ingredients are all earth derived and sourced from around the world from organic farms. Yes, only certified organic products are used in all of our products. If ingredients are not available due to seasonal shortages, the products won't be available in our shop either so we suggest you stock up. Our products will have a seasonal stamp in the description indicating a possible shortage so that you never run out.

We are not doctors and don't claim to know what your doctor knows. We highly recommend you share the ingredient list with your doctor and follow their recommendations for your particular diagnosis. If you have not seen a doctor and you have concerns, please perform a patch test on your forearm and wait 72 hours before using our all natural products to see if you have an allergic reaction.