New Actives C+E: to quench damaging free radicals from UV and sunscreens!

The healing and free radical protective properties of antioxidants are familiar. But here are facts that surprise almost everyone:

Sunscreens produce damaging free radicals in sunlight and popular antioxidants may not penetrate the skin.

Sunscreens absorb the solar UV energy on the skin's surface and prevent most deeper penetration and damage. That's very good. But in absorbing UV rays, sunscreens give off heat and free radicals.

Clearly, it is better if most free radicals are produced on or near the skin surface rather than deep amongst living skin cells where DNA is affected. But...

That is why sunscreen is only one part of the sun care answer. Sun Steps includes these two core ideas:

1. Sunscreen to prevent burning, to absorb UV rays and keep free radicals near the surface.

2. Deep antioxidant preconditioning to stop penetration of free radicals, to heal any damage as it may occur within the skin, and to help prevent hyperpigmentation.

One step without the other leaves you increasingly exposed to UV generated free radicals and sun damage. personal program to repair and control the cycle of sun damage to your skin - while you enjoy the sun.

So, the Sun Steps plan recommends pre-conditioning of your skin with a reservoir of long lasting antioxidant protection. Combined with sensible sun exposure and recommended screens, our "Actives C+E" antioxidant gives you an active buffer between your living cells and the unseen melee of free radical activity occurring at the sunny surface of your skin. It enhances healing of any stray damage as it occurs. When you prevent UV - free radical damage and inflammation, you reduce potential hyperpigmentation (brown spots, patches, melasma) and aging.

We extensively reviewed the jungle of antioxidant ingredients and formulations available for a way to protect your skin from surface free radicals. We simply had to make our own - for reasons you will see below. Our "Actives C+E" formulation incorporates proven antioxidant action with the unusual ability for deep penetration and long acting stability. Based on patented research from laboratories in Melbourne Australia (2004) and the USA. When you review the reasons for our choice of ingredients, and the cost compared to inferior products, we think you will be pleased with our efforts.

Click here to order Actives C+E - $40.00

Actives C+E : the unique benefits

• Bioconvertible reservoir of antioxidants neutralizes free radicals from screens and UV
• Stable: phosphate antioxidant vitamins retain their effectiveness longest
• Penetrates skin better than other phosphates to form an underlayer of protection
• Helps even. lighten skin tone, retains moisture with hyaluronic acid
• No fragrance or color, of course
• Economical: priced far below many inferior antioxidant serums
• Essential to a complete sun care program

The big differences in Actives C+E antioxidant? Penetration, long stability, moisture retention and much, more ... Actives antioxidant formulation is extremely effective, long lasting and kind to the skin. A superb protectant, Actives also has a long list of wonderful skin healing and anti-aging benefits that leaves us simply addicted to this literally wonderful formulation.

Applications: How to use Actives C+E Antioxidant

Basic: To maintain a protective reservoir of antioxidant, to replenish the loss of natural antioxidants, and to get the benefits of more even skin color and smoothness, apply a light layer of Actives C+E daily after cleansing and exfoliation and before applying any AHA products or treatments. Allow a few minutes for undiluted penetration before applying a moisturizer, sunscreen or makeup.

Before sun exposure (normal skin): precondition (see above) exposed skin areas with an application early in the day provided you will not be exfoliating or bathing again before exposure. The more penetration time without additional cosmetics, moisturizers etc. the better, but try for at least 10 minutes. If the day's UV exposure level calls for the strongest possible protection, apply a light layer again a few minutes before applying sunscreen and make up. Again allow a few minutes for penetration if possible.

Skin lightening objective: if your goal includes reducing hyperpigmentation, you want to stop any free radicals before they can increase melanin production. Melanin is the natural response to skin damage from UV and other sources. Actives antioxidant interrupts free radical action and therefore reduces potential melanin production. Skin lightening also demands the minimum possible UV exposure and possibly the use of a lightener. Be aware that certain lighteners (hydroquinone and related) are oxidative. Choose a non oxidative lightener like arbutin if possible. Apply the lightener before Actives C+E for an enhanced lightening treatment.

Use with other treatments:

Acne: Acne is an inflammation of small skin areas. Antioxidants reduce inflammation very effectively. However the most popular acne treatment is benzoyl peroxide (BP) which is a strong oxidant ! It's job is to produce free radicals...which kill acne-causing bacteria, amongst other things. Unfortunately, benzoyl peroxide has been shown to damage DNA and promote tumors (it's free radicals again) and skin aging when used at high levels. So mixing benzoyl peroxide and antioxidants might produce plenty of free radical throw and catch at a cellular level, but we do not see any benefit to the skin. Each of these ingredients, in effect, "cancels out" the other.

We do not have a solution to this conundrum at the moment. Acne is troublesome and nobody will forgo an effective treatment. Although antioxidants are inflammation healers, we do not have evidence that antioxidants are an effective substitute for BP. If you use BP, we recommend that you keep the strength to 2.5% or less if possible and use only as often as necessary. Once the BP has done its job of killing bacteria, application of Actives will help stop further free radical cell damage. However, we do not have a good estimate of the time required for a BP treatment to be effective (we have seen instructions against washing or applying makeup for varying times after treatment). In theory, the active time for BP free radical production and effectiveness may be seconds or minutes unless there is some form of delayed action. You might be able to use antioxidants fairly soon after BP - but we are still investigating this. Look at your own BP instructions for wait times. Your experience and comments are welcome.

Dry skin

Actives contains one of the most expensive and proven water retaining substances, hyluronic acid. It really gives your skin a "lift" and unexpected smoothness. If you exfoliate to remove dry, dead surface cells ( see our GiveME5 exfoliant) before applying Actives, you are likely to find your dryness, and the need for moisturizers greatly diminished. However, if you give Actives the necessary time to penetrate, there is no harm in applying a moisturizer as well.

Click here to order Actives C+E - $40.00

Actives C+E Antioxidant FAQ

Q: How long will a 2 oz. bottle last?
A: From 2 to 4 months. Six is probably too long unless you inhabit a dungeon, but C+E ingredients will still be active. It really depends on your lifestyle and your skincare goals. The more protection you want, the more area you treat, the more of that luxurious feel and smoothness you enjoy.... Well, we think you'll find yourself substituting Actives C+E for other daily or regular skin care products.

Q: My sunscreen has antioxidants in it. Why do I need more?
A: Antioxidants in sunscreens is a good idea in theory. Here's why it doesn't work too well:

• You need a reservoir of protection located deeper in the skin before applying screens
• Antioxidants in screens are diluted by many other ingredients, may interact with them
• The most often used antioxidants are unstable in air and sun
• The most used antioxidants do not penetrate adequately
  

Q: I read that there are newer antioxidants than C and E. Aren't these better?
A: There are a number of "newer" antioxidants with exciting lab results. We hope they are practical in the real world - and we'll use them if they are. We, and many knowledgeable researchers, aren't satisfied that they are proven safe and effective.

Q: Can I use Actives instead of a sunscreen?
A: Not recommended. Yes, some research suggests that these antioxidants alone help prevent UV damage, but there is still insufficient evidence to rely on them alone. Sunscreens do reduce the UV rays and free radicals reaching deeper skin levels. Using both is by far superior.

Q: I've used antioxidant serums that irritated my skin. Will Actives do this?
A: The L-ascorbic acid form of Vitamin C must be very acidic to penetrate the skin. Not so with Actives C+E - one of the most soothing experiences your skin can have.

Q: Why don't you manufacture and sell more. I sometimes have to wait for stock.
A: We custom manufacture laboratory amounts of Actives C+E.

Q: If sunscreens give off free radicals, aren't they dangerous?
A: Some researchers have suggested that they are dangerous and it is logical in theory. However, unrestricted UV light penetrating unprotected skin is far, far worse. Sunscreens keep most free radical production near the surface and a reservoir of antioxidants can trap radicals that manage to penetrate more deeply.

Click here to order Actives C+E - $40.00

Antioxidants are not equal. Learn to compare ingredients:

	Inferior antioxidants		Actives C+E Antioxidant
	degrade quickly and lose effectiveness in minutes....		Not Actives. This is a new phosphate type that remains active for days. This is not the case for L-ascorbic acid and most natural plant based antioxidants.
	Can not penetrate the skin.... so remain vulnerable to removal, dilution and are not in a position to protect living cells.		Unlike other vitamin antioxidants, new Actives C+E penetrates quickly and deeply to protect living cells and to minimize interaction with other products applied to the skin. Adding antioxidants to sunscreen cannot achieve preconditioning like this.
	are acidic and potentially irritating.... Vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid must remain acidic to penetrate at all - and is very short lived.		Actives antioxidant is formulated closer to a neutral pH and avoids irritation.
	are Vitamin C or E alone - a potentially harmful solution.... These powerful, well studied antioxidant vitamins interact together forming a much stronger antioxidant than either alone. Recent research suggests that either Vitamin C or Vitamin E, if not working with a "partner" antioxidant can actually become a damaging oxidant under certain conditions.		That's why we specified a formulation with an abundance of both C and E in long lasting form for Actives. It's important that these work together without degrading. C and E also support the action of other antioxidants in the body, notably glutathione and melatonin.
	contain low levels of antioxidants....or untested ingredients... Sunscreens and many antioxidant formulations contain diluting ingredients or ingredients without a history of positive in-vivo testing.		Actives is a single purpose product with additions only to enhance its action and provide an efficient but gentle treatment.
	are very high priced.... From just under twenty to over 200 dollars an ounce (that's worse than Chateau Margaux and you don't even drink it), from simple, unstable vitamin C acids (L-ascorbic acid) with a few peptides and uncertain natural antioxidants, to a complete stew: when you look closely at many antioxidant products, it's hard to relate price - to product - to benefit.		Actives uses proven, expensive and patented ingredients in a powerful, elegant formula. How we still manage to price Actives at just over $20 an ounce is for us to work hard at, and you to smile about.. Our 2 ounce pump (which can last four to six months) can justify a regular price of $79 but we currently price it specially at $44. That's under $22 an ounce, and we are very pleased about it.

Actives C+E Antioxidant Ingredients

Water, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates (Vit E), Sea Kelp Alginate (water retainer), Allantoin, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl phosphate (Vit C), Butylene Glycol, Laureth-3, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, PVM/MA Decadien Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyluronic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Benzophenone-4, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium EDTA

All exchanges or returns must be made within 30 days of purchase date