Imagine a glass vase. Layered within the vase, from the bottom to the top, are the following: a thick layer of plump, juicy grapes at the bottom, followed by a layer of sticky raisins, tightly compressed, and finally, a thin layer of dry, flaky, cornflakes. The vase represents the structure of our skin, from the inside out. This is a pictorial of what happens during the lifecycle of our skin’s cells. They start out plump like grapes, then change to a withered state like a raisin, and then end up dry and flaky like cornflakes.
The grapes represent healthy cells which are born in the basal cell layer, or bottom of your epidermis, every 28 – 30 days. Once we hit age 30 this process begins to slow down, cycling to around 40 – 60 days in mature skin. In a normal cycle, the plump, healthy skin cell (grape) pushes up to the surface as part of its natural life cycle. In the process it becomes flat and sticky ( like the raisin) and eventually reaches the surface, dying (dry, flaky, cornflakes) and flakes off. As we get older this natural exfoliation process slows down and both the raisin and cornflakes layers get thicker, making it harder for the grapes to move up. As a result, we see an increase in the layer of sticky cells (raisins) and a large accumulation of dead skin on the surface (cornflakes), leaving less room for healthy, plump cells (grapes). I don’t know about you, but the mental picture of this is NOT ideal to me. This is where collagen and peptides come into play! Collagen works to keep your skin plump like the grapes.
Skin is made up mostly of collagen. It is the foundation that gives your skin its support and thickness. Young people have a large amount of collagen which leaves them with taut, smooth skin. In contrast, older people have much less collagen and have thin, wrinkled skin. Personally, I prefer the former.
Collagen is a protein and is made up of long chains of amino acids strung together, like chains of linked building blocks. When collagen is broken down, short segments of 3-5 amino acids form, called peptides. Peptides are active molecules and referred to as “mini proteins." So, a peptide is a portion, or a building block, of a protein. Got it?
All peptides influence or direct the cells of the body in some way. Different types of peptides influence different types of cells. What is a Peptide used for in skin care? The peptides used in skin care are ones that communicate with and direct the skin cells to behave in a certain way, such as producing more collagen or to thicken the skin. Because peptides are small, they can penetrate the skin’s protective barriers to get to the deeper layers for an effective anti-aging treatment.
Moral of the story here is that in order to find effective anti-aging skin care, make sure there are peptides in your products that focus on boosting collagen production! Wouldn’t you rather have the plump grape look than the withered raisin look? I sure would.
An exclusive cocktail of peptide technology, anti-oxidants and UVA/UVB protectants firm and protect as they replenish and repair. The REDEFINE products boost cell energy and brighten skin for a younger, smoother, more vibrant complexion. They also help protect against trans-epidermal moisture loss and environmental damage. The science behind the REDEFINE Regimen is dermatologist proven, the ingredients are tried-and-true and the formulations deliver optimal results.
Doctors’ Rodan and Fields research is cutting edge and the reason behind the smooth, firm faces of the users of R+F products.
