Zelens Power D High Potency Provitamin D - the one you didn't know you needed

Describe the brand in five words.

Doctor. Clinical Trials. Quality ingredients.

What is it?

'Supercharged and vitamin-rich, this treatment serum is potent and deeply penetrative – delivering high concentrations of age-defying nutrients to your skin’s lowest levels.'

A hugely fortifying serum/oil.

Who is it for?

Everyone, but especially those with compromised/ageing/exposed/sore/extreme skins - more of which below. 

What’s in it?

Provitamin D (7-Dehydrocholesterol), Phospholipids, Sterol Complex, Sphingolipids, Omega-3 And Omega-6, Soybean Sterols, Glycolipids, Proprietary Botanical Complex, Tripeptide, Chondroitin Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid, Yeast, Vitamin E, Corn Oil, Geranium Oil

What's not in it?

mineral oil, parabens, silicones, fragrance

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

No. It's the opposite, if you have those problems, this is made for you.

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Natural and man-made

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No

How does it smell?

Like good quality oils, slightly smelly, in a reassuring way. 

How does it feel on the skin?/Absorption rate?

Depending on the quality of your skin, it either absorbs gently or gets completely sucked in almost on contact.

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?

Use it as a serum/oil, either after acid toning, or on its own after cleansing, or on top of moisturiser as a protective barrier.

I use as a serum under moisturiser.

How long before you should see results?

Depends on your skin. If you suffer from a compromised skin barrier, i.e. eczema, severe dry skin, allergies, rashes, acne, thin skin etc, you'll notice a difference immediately. If you have a 'normal' (I hate that word) skin, the effect won't be as obvious straight away, but the protection will be there.

How long did I test it for?

I've used this since they launched in March, but more importantly, I've used it on clients the entire time I've been doing facials and the results are brilliant.

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?

£110.00/£185.00 for 30ml. Hard to give an exact cost per usage, as it depends on dose and frequency of use. If you have a really compromised skin, I would use it generously day and night making it last around 5/6 weeks. If you have better skin than that, use it during the day and it should last around 3 months.

What’s good about it?

Literally everything, for a multitude of reasons.

Firstly, it's like a coat of armour for the skin, protecting against all environmental aggressors. It's extremely rich in bio-mimetic lipids, helping maintain optimum moisture balance and thickening the skin.

The key ingredient is the ProVitamin D (7-Dehydrocholesterol). Naturally present in the stratum spinosum and stratum basale of the epidermis as a precursor of Vitamin D. When triggered by sunlight, 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis is converted to vitamin D3. It literally adds vitamin D to your skin. 

That sounds like a lot of science, but in essence it's a brilliant fortifying, strengthening, soothing, softening, calming protective serum. 

By strengthening the epidermis it protects against bacteria infection, which helps prevent acne, perioral dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis from becoming infected. I would absolutely say to check this out if you are going through chemo - I don't say that lightly. If you have ageing skin, especially peri-menopausal onwards, it helps your skin maintain a healthy lipid barrier, something you lose the ability to do yourself as you age. The result is immediately revitalising, plumping out lines and producing the glow and 'oomph' that you may have lost.

It does something for everyone - and heading into winter, it's like walking around with a cashmere blanket on your face and an SAS security team in front of you.

What’s not so good about it?

It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Not always, but in this case, absolutely.

Works well with?

Anything. Moisturisers, slightly more active serums, pretty much most products. Used under the Zelens 3T moisturiser it feels like silk.

What’s the website like?

Great. Tons of information, all ingredients listed and alongside them, a description of what they actually do.

Would I purchase/repurchase?

Yes. And I recommend it to my clients every week.

Zelens Power D High Potency Provitamin D is £110/$185 and available from: 

Zelens.com

Cult Beauty

Barneys NY

*This post contains some affiliate links. If you are happy to click on them and support the blog, thank you very much. If you would rather not, just google the product. It's all good. I have no business affiliation with Zelens.

See my full disclaimer here:

http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq

The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

The Experts. The Nutritionist. Caroline Farrell - and the chance to win a consultation.

A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment with nutritionist Caroline Farrell. It was so inspiring and full of useful information that I asked Caroline to share her wisdom on here as part of my Meet the Experts section. If you have any concerns re nutrition or would like great, unbiased advice that never uses the word 'diet', Caroline is your woman. (Also: great name.)

How did you end up as a nutritionist? Was it something you always wanted to do and therefore a straightforward path? Or something you discovered you loved almost by accident?

I have always been fascinated by the effect the food we eat can have on our health. However, the key turning point for me was in my early twenties when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol.  Having lost my Dad to heart disease at a young age, I was acutely aware of the risks. I was advised that I would need to take medication for the rest of my life. However, I was keen to find an alternative. So, I developed my own nutrition programme aimed at lowering my cholesterol naturally. After just six weeks my cholesterol was back to normal. This reinforced my belief in the power of nutrition. I wanted to share this experience with others. I took the decision to quit my marketing career and retrain as a nutritionist.

I receive a lot of queries about training – some of them seem to be asking for the quickest route to a qualification. Where did you train and how important do you think the basic level of training is?
I did a 3 year Nutritional Therapy Foundation Degree at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London.  I chose this course as it is internationally renowned as the market-leading course for Nutritional Therapists. It was also the first course of its kind to be fully accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council.
The training provided me with practical clinic skills. It also taught me to understand and evaluate scientific literature so that I can make effective evidence-based recommendations.

Which do you think is more valuable? Experience or training?
While training is essential, I feel my clients are my best teachers. Through working with them I learn what is practical and effective. I also regularly attend seminars and lectures to ensure my knowledge is kept up to date, and to meet continuing professional development requirements.

What is your favourite part of what you do?
Nutrition is all about giving your body the tools to enable it to heal itself. This is much more effective and sustainable than simply addressing your symptoms. I am still amazed by the difference it can make – clear skin, successful pregnancies, weight loss, improved energy and lots more. The most rewarding parts of the job for me are the success stories where I have made a real difference to someone’s life.

What would you recommend to anyone trying to break into the industry?
To succeed you need to be very passionate about food and nutrition. You also need to have a genuine desire to help others. Make sure you chose a course that is accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council. Be prepared for hard work and study. It’s a tough course and building up a successful practice takes time and commitment. However, I can honestly say there that I have never regretted my decision to change career. There is nothing in the world I’d rather be doing!

What are your Top 3 tips for healthy living?
1) Eat real food. This means eating food that is as close to nature as possible – butter over margarine, sugar over artificial sweeteners, whole grains over refined carbohydrates.
2) Ditch the diet foods.  We've become a fat-phobic society. This has led us to opt for low-calorie foods, which are often filled with hidden sugars. These sugars are one of the key causes of weight gain and diabetes.
3) Enjoy your food. I tell my clients to adopt the 80:20 rule. Eat healthy foods 80% of the time, and allow yourself to indulge in your favourite treats the other 20%.

And your favourite 3 supplements?  
I prioritise food first but there are often instances where supplementation is beneficial. The three supplements I most often recommend are Vitamin D3, Omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics.
1) Vitamin D3. Most of us are deficient in Vitamin D in the winter. This is because vitamin D is synthesised in our skin on exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D has been shown to protect against several chronic diseases including cancer, depression, auto-immune diseases, heart disease, and skin conditions.
2) Omega 3 fatty acids. Good levels are critical for glowing skin, a healthy metabolism and overall health. However, it is hard to achieve optimal levels purely through our diet.
3) Probiotics. Our bodies are inhabited by a kilo of healthy bacteria. These bacteria can be depleted by diarrhoea, antibiotics or a high-sugar diet. This allows bad bacteria to take over, promoting bloating and digestive problems.  You can boost your levels of healthy bacteria by taking a probiotic.

More information on consultations with Caroline can be found at Essential Nutrition.co.uk.
I highly, highly recommend her.

Caroline has very kindly offered one reader the chance to win a Skype consultation with her in 2014. To enter, simply leave a comment below. This is open internationally due to the fabulous nature of Skype. :)
Appointment must be taken between Jan-Jun 2014. Giveaway closes 3pm on 5th December.

Good luck!

New Year, New Plans

2012 was an amazing year for me. For the first time in my life I made a list of things I was determined to achieve by the end of the year. It had 5 major things on it. I completed 4 of them before the Autumn and number 5 is in progress as we speak. 

I finally get the old saying 'Fail to plan, plan to fail.'

So I'm doing it again this year. I'm not making resolutions, I'm making plans. 

I'm not exactly superstitious - but I am (surprisingly I know) intensely private. When I passed my driving test last May only my Husband and Mum knew what I was up to. I didn't even tell my kids. Nearly everyone I know said 'Bloody hell you kept THAT quiet.' I do. I keep the big things under my belt.  This year's list has another 5 big things on it. I'll report back in a year.

What I don't mind talking about are the plans for healthier living. 

I'm pretty huge on the anti-inflammatory diet these days - I have a predisposition towards inflammatory diseases on my Mother's side and with every passing year I'm more aware of the importance of taking care of myself. Not just for me, but for my family. If I don't function at my best, my family don't function at their best. That's the reality.

I've already made quite a few changes progressively in the past few years:

When I do drink, I only drink red wine - and have done for years. I wouldn't dream of drinking beer (bloat city and sugar = inflammation and fat) and spirits are over-rated. 

No fizzy drinks. I may, once a month (you know!) have a can of fat coke - and enjoy it. But that's it. 

No chocolate. This one is easy - I'm not a big lover anyway so don't miss it. Ditto biscuits. Meh. 

So the changes I'm implementing/adding this year to my current lifestyle are: *deep breath*

No alcohol. I did this last year from Jan-Apr and didn't miss it. It's surprisingly easy. I drank at the end of April for my son's 18th birthday - he's 19 this year - I figure it's not a 'big one' so I'll be fine to carry on! I'm not sure how hard and fast I'll be - maybe until my holiday in July, maybe until the Summer gig season in June (Bon Jovi AND Bruce touring?!) maybe I won't fancy it at all - who knows? But drinking as par for the course during the week/weekends? No.

Ditto Champagne at events. Goes down easy, hits the head and stomach hard. No.

Also - a nice trick your body plays on you the older you get - that second glass of wine? Up. All. Night. I'm not kidding. I need my sleep.

Even less sugar. I'm already doing quite well but I'm going to be even more vigilant about it. Sugar = inflammation.

To continue drinking shedloads of water. I already do this. Consciously. I'm going to continue to do so.

Eat even less white foods. I'm doing ok cutting out pasta and now only have whole grain rice - but bread - I am still partial to hot buttered toast on occasion. Working on it.

The big one for me? Crisps. Wave a Ready Salted Kettle Chip in my direction and I'm up quicker than Westlife in a key change (2.19 into it) . They are my crack and have to go completely. I can't just have one. Impossible. Complete and utter salt addict and they are the one thing I can mindlessly pick at while watching tv/blogging/chatting. My name is Caroline and I am a crisp addict. 

No. They have to go.

Supplements. The big ones. I'm always asked what I take so:

Fish oil - I already take a minimum of 3000mg a day. I try and take anything up to 10,000mg a day. Working on maximising it as often as possible.

Zinc - I take 15mg a day. 

Vitamin D - I am a sun girl and undoubtedly suffer when it disappears - like now. I take 2000 iu units a day. 

Others to be thrown in when I feel I need them:

Floradix - I'm anaemic, so when I have a noticeable slump, I step it up.

Magnesium - in the evenings to help me relax and sleep.

B12 spray - I use this a LOT. I've escaped any winter cold thus far - coincidence? Maybe. I'm not taking any chances.

(Make sure you've done your research for what suits and won't suit you  if you want to start taking supplements)

And there you have it. (Some) of my New Year's Day rambling/plan/list.

Wherever you are celebrating New Year's Day I wish you the best of health and hope your plans come to fruition in 2013.

Oh! I forgot one last one. 

Wear sparkly, nicer shoes. I am a comfortable size 9 (11 US) and I live in trainers. Sod it. Bring on the nice shoes (sometimes).

Ok. That's it.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm a Leo. In case that wasn't glaringly obvious - but nonetheless, I love the sun. A lot. I don't do well in the cold. Makes me moody. Grumpy. Kind of how I feel right now truth be told in case that also isn't glaringly obvious.

So if, like me, you pray for the day when you see the crocuses starting to show themselves in the ground - here are a few of my friends that carry me through until the clocks go forward.

Water
Sounds simple enough - but I don't know anyone that drinks enough. I drink at least two pints an hour throughout the day (more in the Summer). When I don't drink enough, I get headaches, dry skin and moody. *pauses to go get water* *no, really*

Vitamin D
I have posted previously about the importance of Vitamin D here. Read it. Make your own mind up. But it does make a difference.

Moisturiser
Top-to-toe, every day. I have listed some of my favourites for the body previously, but some facial must-haves for me now are:

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream

The fact that I first received this cream back in the Summer and still find it hydrating enough when it's snowing is a testament to its regulating properties. I love an intelligent cream that allows your skin to take what it needs when it needs it. It works for all skin types in all weather and is a feast of sea minerals, essential fatty acids and peptides along with ylang ylang, arnica and peppermint. I use it AM and PM and it is a fabulous base for makeup. This is around the £30 mark and is worth every penny.
 
Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream

I'm enjoying this at the moment - a little goes a long way and it's incredibly light yet still moisturising. The essential oil scents are not overpowering which makes a refreshing change for a natural/organic product. Contains aloe vera, shea butter and grapeseed oil - suitable for all skin types and frankly at £7.99 it's an absolute bargain. Albeit a luxurious one.

Trilogy Age Proof Replenishing Night Cream

Smooth to the touch, fabulous texture, lovely smell. Contains evening primrose, marula seed, olive and avocado oils along with rosehip and hyaluronic acid. Leaves the skin feeling plump and really soft in the mornings. Around £31.50

Balms

A good balm is an absolute essential year round must-have but especially in Winter.

My favourite is Neals Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

You cannot go wrong with this. Although it is multi-purpose - you can use it as a cleanser, a mask or the way I use it, a super emolliating, nourishing balm.  I LOVE this balm. It contains high levels of rosehip oil which is an antioxidant that helps firm and repair the skin - along with jojoba, hemp, starflower, beeswax, rosemary and frankincense. It's around £36 and will literally last you over a year if you use it occasionally as a night time treat. When my skin is having a particularly bad flare-up (acne rosacea - welcome to 41 and the land of the Raging Hormones) I give it a really good double cleanse and then smother my face in this. Works wonders.

Important: Don't think that if you are oily/combination you must avoid oil. Just avoid bad oils (mineral etc). Stick to oils that you could call edible (or could take as a supplement) and you'll be fine. If you starve your skin of oil it will make more and you'll never break the cycle.  I rub the Wild Rose Balm all over my face - spots and all. It softens the skin and not only aids the swift removal of the spot (if you're a popper) but takes down the redness.

Wake Me Up

Getting up at 6am in the pitch black when everyone else is still asleep is not my favourite thing. I need help. These shower gels give me a kick up the backside or a full on slap in the face depending on my needs:


Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Wash

Aromatherapy Associates are experts in their field. Always copied, never bettered.  This is the gentler option of the shower gels, refreshing with neroli, pink grapefruit and bergamot. Has a lovely gentle cleansing action - SLS and SLES free so you don't get that really 'Fairy Washing Up Liquid' foam. Derived from oat and coconut so really softening on the skin. A little goes a long way. 1-2 pumps does the whole body, I also use it on the younger kids in their baths.

Kneipp Shower Washes in Juniper or Rosemary

Sleepless nights? Late nights? Need an extra boost in the mornings to go to work/do the school run? The Kneipp products are like blow torches to the nasal cavity. In a great way. In the middle of winter I prefer the Rosemary or Juniper versions. Invigorating and stimulating, they really clear your head as well as cleaning your body. If you like a bath you have to try their bath salts too, especially in Eucalyptus and Spruce. A-ma-zing. You'll never look back. This is also great for smelly teenagers.

What are your Winter Essentials???

Vitamin D & SPF

 BRITS AS SOON AS THE MERCURY HITS 20 degrees C

Gone are the days of my youth basting on a foil suntanning sheet with baby oil.
These days the sun hits and the spf gets dragged out of the cupboard quicker than you can say 'Lobster'. Well that could be your first mistake. Check for an expiration date - if it doesn't have one - assume it will only last a year - you may need to buy a fresh batch. Painful if it's still half full I know!

And then how much do you apply?? And how high a factor? And WHICH one to use?

Some very brief and general rules of thumb for sun-bunnies and the not-so-keen!

• Use broad spectrum sunscreen - UVA and UVB (A for aging, B for burning)

UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, gradually destroying elasticity and causing premature ageing. UVB rays cause skin damage and can alter the structure of skin cells, and ultimately lead to possible skin cancer.

• Consider not going higher than a factor 30

New research and medical advice says that using higher than a 30 gives you a false sense of security - all sunscreen needs to be applied every 2 hours - regardless of the factor. Studies show that you are much less likely to reapply if you are using a high factor. So much so, that in Australia, on the advice of the Cancer Council - the rules are now that if you have anything over a 30 in your product you can only call it SPF 30+.

•  Use enough

Most people apply too little sunscreen. This results in sunscreen users achieving an SPF of between 50-80% less than that specified on the product label. You need at least a teaspoon full for each body part - arm, leg (tablespoon for me thanks!), front, back and face - don't forget your ears and neck.

• Avoid oxybenzone

Common in a lot of suncreams AND skincare products with SPF - known as a hormone-disruptor - so much so that the EU makes companies put 'contains oxybenzone' on all packaging where it is present

http://bodylogicmd.wordpress.com

Vitamin D

I love a bit of vitamin D.  I rant to anyone who will listen about all number of supplements - but vit D has been my obsession for a while.  So below is a rant, I'm not your GP - this is food for thought - not a prescription folks.
As much as too much sun can be bad for you - really bad for you - so too, can too little sun.  In the northern hemisphere where most people living modern life spend a larger proportion of their time indoors and with most of their skin surface covered by clothing or sunscreen when outdoors, there is a growing deficiency in vitamin D.  Vit D needs to be present for the intestines to absorb dietary calcium - so much so in cases where children have been sheltered and covered up since birth, this has lead to an increase in non-nutrition related rickets in Australia. 

Vitamin D is actually in its truest form, a hormone - and is essential for our well-being, yet the use of sunscreens prevents the development of Vit D in the body.  Vitamin D also degrades as quickly as it generates - giving another stumbling block to retaining it in our system.

No lecturing - just some facts - a nice little list of what vit D actually does for you...

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of the flu and complications of flu.
Vitamin D contributes to lowering the incidence of infections and inflammation during the fall-winter flu season. The Canadian government has recommended increased Vitamin D intake as part of their flu prevention strategy, including prevention of Swine Flu.

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of depression. 
Better than prozac surely?!  

Vitamin D can reduce chronic muscle aching and pain.
Vitamin D helps to normalize blood calcium which is required for tight shortened muscles to soften, lengthen and relax out of spasm. When calcium is available to the muscles, menstrual cramps lessen!

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of cancer.
Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with increased incidence of many cancers.

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis (build up of fat in the arteries - high cholesterol!).

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes by 80 percent.

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of getting autoimmune diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBS and Lupus.
Low levels of Vitamin D are associated with increased auto- immune attack, breakdown of your own tissues and loss of normal functions. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis by 40 percent.

Vitamin D can reduce your risk of bone fractures, bone loss and osteoporosis.

Dark skinned people make less Vitamin D than those with light skin.

Aging skin makes 75 percent less Vitamin D than young skin.


Vitamin D rich foods include cold water fish such as wild salmon, wild cod and sardines and cod liver oil. However, you would need to eat mammoth amounts of these foods to build up your Vitamin D stores.
If you decide to supplement - Lambert's is my personal fave - high quality and uber-affordable - make sure you use the correct biologically active form of Vitamin D which is Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), not Vitamin D2!

So cover up - just don't cover up TOO much ALL of the time!



P.S. - Lambert's know nothing about my recommendation - I'm a long time customer.