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    Hormonal Skin Articles

    Why toner is a must in your skincare routine

    Thursday, July 1st, 2021

    When it comes to healthy, balanced and glowing skin, facial toner is an important part of your skincare ritual – though it’s an easy step to overlook if you’re not entirely sure how it works, or how to use it.

    Below we’ve shared a little more on why, when and how to use Atopis Revitalizing Toner for bright, balanced and energised skin. It truly will make a difference to your skin!

     

    Balance, hydration and protection!

     

    One of the things that makes Atopis Revitalizing Toner so unique is that it’s a toner + serum in one. This seriously hard-worker gently cleanses away excess oil, grime and impurities, closes and tightens pores, restores your skin’s pH balance (without stripping skin), boosts skin hydration and freshness, all while restoring a protective lipid barrier to protect your delicate skin cells from environmental and oxidative stress.

    Atopis Revitalizing Toner:

    ✓ Calms and diffuses redness and protects skin.
    ✓ Balances the skin’s microflora with prebiotic and probiotics.
    ✓ Preps skin to help moisturizer and face oils soak in.
    ✓ Works in synergy with Atopis face creams.

    What’s in it?

    A synergistic fusion of nourishing ingredients including: skin-plumping gold kiwifruit bioactive; intensely hydrating hyaluronic acid; astringent witch hazel to help tighten pores; hydrating watermelon for thirsty skin; potent antibacterial Manuka and healing Harakeke gel infused into soothing aloe vera hydrosol to prepare and protect your skin.

    Which skin types does it suit?

    Our toner is scientifically developed for sensitive skin types, making it perfect for rosacea, eczema and acne-prone skin. It also works beautifully on mature skin!

    How to use it: (for best results!)

    1. After cleansing with Atopis Thoroughly Gentle Cleanser spritz 1-2 pumps of Revitalizing Toner directly onto your face (or onto a cotton pad first, if you prefer), then pat it gently into your skin. Use morning & evening.

    2. In the morning: apply Radiant Balance Day Cream or Intensive Restore Day Cream to skin, followed by your SPF50+ sunscreen.

    3. In the evening: After toner, apply Rosehip Renewal Face Oil and/or Radiant Balance Night Cream or Intensive Restore Night Cream – and wake up with the Atopis glow!

    Your night cream questions answered

    Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

    Our hard-working all-in-one night creams have been flying off the shelves and we’re loving all your feedback and questions.

    From start to finish, these products have been scientifically designed, developed and tested to deeply repair, nourish, plump and firm your skin, restoring that youthful skin radiance you dream of.

    If you’ve already purchased a night cream, or you’re thinking of trying one for the first time, have a read over our Frequently Asked Questions below to make sure you get the best results for your skin!

     

    Q: Can I use my Atopis night cream during the day as well?
    A: No. Atopis night creams are formulated with potent active ingredients that do their best work while you sleep and while your body is in repair-mode. Using them during the day-time will make your skin sun sensitive and the UV exposure will degrade the cream’s active ingredients. You may also find your makeup smudges with night cream underneath it.

    Q: Which cream should I use?
    A: If you’re using Atopis Radiant Balance cream during the day, then use Radiant Balance Night Cream at night, and follow the same principle with the Intensive Restore range. Radiant Balance is designed for younger skin (20s onwards) and is especially efficacious for skin that’s prone to rosacea or acne flare-ups. Atopis Intensive Restore Night Cream is designed for mature skin that needs a deeper dose of plumping power and cellular rejuvenation.

    Q: How much should I use?
    A: These creams are mega concentrated so you only need to apply a thin layer each use.

    Q: Why does my night cream feel slightly runny?
    A: Atopis night creams contain sphingolipids and phospholipids, which give them a serum-like textural quality and allow them to be deeply absorbed into your skin cells. This is where the magic happens! Our creams are also enriched with ceramides which are lipids (fats) and contribute to the cream’s slightly runny texture.

    Q: Can I use the night creams with my other Atopis skincare?
    A: Yes, they’re designed to work in synergy with other Atopis products. So if for example, you’re using our Rosehip Renewal Face Oil or Acne Prone Skin Cream, simply massage in your oil or cream first, then apply your night cream over the top. Remember to just use just a small amount of rosehip oil each time to prevent it from drying out your skin. And always remember to wear a SPF50+ sunscreen – even on cloudy days!

    Q: Do the night creams contain retinol?
    A: Yes! We’ve used the highest quality pure form of retinol in synergy with our patented ingredient Myrecil®. The two ingredients work together to enhance and strengthen each other – boosting collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and softening skin. They’re all-natural ingredients with no nasty side effects. These creams are very concentrated, so just use a thin layer each time.

    Q: Will the night cream help with my pigmentation?
    A: Yes! Atopis Night Creams contain the highest grade of German Vitamin C to help banish age spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

    They also contain seaweed gel (which gives them their gel-like feel), which helps to lock in vital moisture and powerfully hydrate ageing skin. We harvest the seaweed, extract the gel and combine it with ceramides and phospholipids to create a lipid gel matrix. Similar to aloe vera gel, seaweed gel has incredible healing properties, targeting skin in need of intense nourishment and repair 🍃 For normal skin this seaweed matrix gel is non-comedogenic and ensures your skin remains supple and hydrated.

    Q: Do I need to use a serum as well as my Atopis night cream?
    A: No! Just the one night cream is all you need. All of the big anti-ageing ingredients (think ceramides, Vitamin C, Myrecil® and hyaluronic acid) are combined in the one night cream for ultimate skin repair, hydration and rejuvenation at the cellular level.

    Q: What’s the fragrance of Atopis night creams?
    A: The lovely aroma you can smell is the combination of the creams’ natural ingredients. We haven’t used much natural fragrance (only a teeny, tiny amount) as the product itself has its own unique aroma.

    Q: Can I use Atopis night creams during pregnancy?

    A: Atopis Night Creams contain high quality retinol. Although there is no scientific evidence to date that shows that topical retinol is unsafe during pregnancy, we would urge you to err on the side of caution and use another Atopis product instead. Oral retinols are not considered safe during pregnancy.

    Please note: The foundational ingredient Myrecil® in Atopis creams has been fully tested and proven safe in two clinical trials focused on safety and efficacy, and is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

    Why are some people more prone to Acne?

    Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

    Part Two: Why are some people more prone to acne?

    Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that involves lots of pimples and redness. It’s usually seen on the face, but can also occur on the back, chest, and neck – and it can really impact your self-esteem and self-confidence!

    We typically associate acne with teenagers, but it can also occur in adults, either persisting from adolescence or beginning later. This is called adult-onset acne, and it can be very frustrating because there is a perception that acne is a problem exclusively for teenagers.

    What causes acne?

    The causes of acne are not well understood, but we do know a few things. From twin studies and family studies, we know that there is at least some genetic component to acne.

    Unsurprisingly, however, genetics cannot take all the blame. Environmental factors like lifestyle and diet also have an effect. You may have noticed this in your own life – certain foods or even stress may trigger break-outs.

    Think of it like this: there are certain genetic factors that can make you more or less resilient to acne-causing environmental factors. Someone who is very resilient might be able to eat whatever they like without getting any acne, while someone who is very prone to acne will have acne no matter what foods they cut out.

    This graph illustrates how one person might have a lot of genetic factors that predispose them to acne and only have a small amount of control over environmental factors (Person A), while Person C has lots of room to change their environment before they will trigger an acne breakout.

    A short version of how acne pimples work is that your pilosebaceous unit (what you might think of as the hair follicle) becomes clogged by over-produced keratinocytes (skin cells), forming a plug in the shaft of the pilosebaceous unit. This leads to a build-up of sebum and dead skin cells in the pore, which in turn feeds some “bad” bacteria. This is a whitehead or black head. When the build-up leaks out of the hair follicle into the lower layers of skin, this triggers an immune response to the bacteria, which causes inflammation and redness. For more information, see Part One: Understanding Acne.

    The speed at which keratinocytes (skin cells) in the pilosebaceous unit grow is determined by hormones. Androgens, including testosterone, stimulate faster production of these cells, and affects the way they develop and die, which is what leads to the aforementioned “plugs.”

    Hormones are funny things, though – because they interact with cells through a signalling system, many different factors within the body and the cells’ environments can influence the “strength” of their signalling, and even the content of the message.

    Think of the cell (the keratinocyte) as a pond which a pebble (hormone) is dropped into to make ripples (the message). If the pebble is big, it will make bigger waves. If the pebble is a large, flat square, it will make a different pattern to a small, round pebble. The conditions in the pond will also affect the ripples – if there are lots of other ripples, the message will interact with them. So even the effects of the same hormone can vary from person to person and day to day.

     

    Many things in our life can affect our hormones and the effects of our hormones on our body.

     

    Stress is a big one. Of course, puberty affects hormone production, which is why acne is associated with teenagers. But for adults, starting or stopping hormonal contraception, pregnancy, peri-menopause and menopause can all change hormone production – so it’s no surprise that some adults get hormonal acne.

    Our diet can also influence hormone production – the things that our body converts to hormones usually come from our diet, and sometimes molecules that we ingest are analogous to hormones and can simulate them in our body. One dermatologist suggests that dairy can sometimes simulate an androgen, which is why cutting out dairy can improve acne symptoms for some people.

    Maybe acne seems like an insurmountable problem – but it doesn’t have to be. By using skincare products and making small lifestyle changes, we can control acne and reduce the symptoms.

    As acne is triggered by hormonal changes, trying to reduce these hormone fluctuations in your life can help reduce the symptoms. Reducing stress will influence hormone production, and by eliminating common inflammatory foods to test whether they influence your acne, you may be able to pinpoint some specific triggers.

    As mentioned above, dairy is a common culprit. Some other hypotheses relating to diet suggest that increasing consumption of omega-3 fats to balance the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio can improve acne, because it may trigger a change in sebum composition, which can help control acne. It has also been suggested that eating a low glycaemic index diet may help, as it reduces insulin resistance and insulin, as a hormone, affects the way that other hormones function in the body.

    But of course, for whatever reason, many people can’t change their diet drastically, so addressing acne directly on the skin is a great option.

    That’s where Atopis comes in.

     

    Instead of killing all the bacteria, Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream introduces beneficial bacteria (probiotics) to the skin to help regain the necessary balance in the microbiome. It also contains prebiotics, which are food for these bacteria, to help them establish themselves in the microbiome.

    Additionally, Dr. Iona Weir’s patented Myrecil® extract is a potent mixture of plant botanicals that helps to regulate the immune response and reduce redness and inflammation. All this goodness is suspended in a rich, moisturizing cream that will leave your skin feeling clear and fresh.

    When used in combination with Atopis Thoroughly Gentle Cleanser, which gently clears comedones and allows them to restore to their natural processes, and our Revitalizing Toner, which stimulates the skin to repair itself and helps to rebalance the skin microbiome, our acne treatment cream can help to control nasty acne outbreaks and help your skin return to a naturally healthy state.

     

    Cravings before your period? Here’s why

    Thursday, January 16th, 2020

    In the week before your menstrual cycle begins, the hormonal activity begins to fluctuate causing intense food cravings, breakouts, and mood swings. 

    When you experience food cravings, it is actually a sign that your body is telling you it needs nutrients! Food cravings spike due to a hormonal imbalance occurring; what’s happening is that progesterone and estrogen levels are decreasing, and this is inducing your hunger. 

    So why is it that most women get a craving for chocolate?

     

    We crave chocolate just before our periods because at this time our bodies want zinc, and the easiest source of zinc is chocolate. Of course, you can get zinc from fresh veges and especially lettuce, but it’s actually easier for our bodies to get it from chocolate.  If you add some salads to your diet a couple of days before period is due, this will help provide the extra zinc your body needs. Or just eat the chocolate!

    Chocolate itself is a prebiotic and promotes the growth of probiotic bacteria in your gut. Moderation is the key though, and darker, lower sugar chocolates contain the most health benefits.

    Our hormone levels change throughout the month, and just before our period is when our serotonin ‘feel-good’ hormone levels dip, and our stress hormone ‘cortisol’ levels spikes. The higher-than-usual cortisol levels start affecting the sebum gland, which is responsible for maintaining oil levels on the skin. The rise in cortisol leads to an increase in oil production which is why just before, or during your period the skin can breakout.

    There are some foods which can have an almost immediate effect on skin.  These include probiotics and greasy foods.  If you eat either of these right now, within 2 hours your skin will feel the effects. Probiotics give your skin a healthy glow – and greasy foods can lead to breakouts.

     

    For other foods, it’s all about balance.

     

    Soy can actually help your hormones if you eat a little most days.  Soy boosts our estrogen levels, meaning that a little at a time can make us feel great and keep our hormones and skin balanced and healthy. On the contrary eating no soy for weeks and then indulging in a feast of soy protein in one meal can throw our hormones wildly out of balance.

    Drinking green tea regularly is really good for your skin. But if you’re not a regular drinker, and then sit down to a full teapot, the green tea will draw out toxins from your body into your skin, resulting in breakouts.

    Dairy products can affect hormones as they boost estrogen.  This can throw the whole estrogen/progesterone ratio out, resulting in mood swings, pimples, and inflamed skin. Anything containing sugar is considered an inflammatory food and can alter your hormonal balance and your skin health (as well as your gut health).

    Your skin is a living organism with its own unique microflora, so there are some other things you can do to support the health of it:

    • Drink plenty of water
    • Eat fermented foods like kefir
    • Include prebiotics such as yoghurts, kombucha or chocolate in your diet (they’re great for gut and skin health)
    • Exercise the lymph system
    • Cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin properly, morning and night. Your skincare routine is really important for managing skin conditions!

    If you have a genetic predisposition to acne or eczema, maintaining a healthy diet will help but may not solve the problem. Don’t beat yourself up if you eat something that causes your skin condition to flare up – we’re all human.

    Learn more about our skincare products here.

    Karen’s Journey to Healthy Skin

    Thursday, August 1st, 2019

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.74″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] “Hi, my name is Karen, and this is my journey to healthy skin.

    “I’d had acne as a teenager and in my 20’s, but things didn’t get really bad until I was about 34.

    “My hormonal acne was worse than anything I’d experienced before, and I set myself a mission to heal my skin and any hormonal imbalances that were contributing to my acne.

    “Many days I was so embarrassed by my skin with huge swollen red pimples all over my face that I didn’t even want to leave the house.

    “I tried everything.  I was swayed towards natural products at first but when I found that the products I tried didn’t work, I gave up on that and was prepared to try literally anything.

    “When I say I’ve tried everything, I really mean it.  I’ve tried the “no wash” method where you don’t touch you skin at all, not even with water, for at least 2 months.  I’ve tried the “oil cleansing” method for another couple of months.  I’ve tried lots of different natural products.  I’ve tried over the counter medicines and skin creams. I’ve been on prescription-only drugs, ranging from the Pill, antibiotics (big mistake!), and Accutane – the most hardcore acne drug around, according to my doctor.

    “I found all of the drugs worked in varying degrees, but with in some cases huge side effects.  I had no acne, but my lips and mouth were so dry I could barely talk, my eyes were always dry and red, and basically I hadn’t found a real solution – I’d only covered up one problem and created another.

    “I desperately wanted clear skin and to be honest when I first heard of Atopis from a friend I wrote it off as just another natural product that probably doesn’t really work.

    “It was only when I started to read more about their scientific discoveries and inventions that I became interested.

    “My husband, who has a science background finally had a look at the scientific stuff for me and told me that the Atopis products actually used really different science to any other product I’d used – the fact that he was really impressed with the science was enough for me to take the plunge and buy some products to try.  (It takes a real scientific breakthrough or something special to impress him when it comes to that kind of thing!)

    “When my first product arrived, the Acne Prone Skin Cream, I put it on my skin straight away.  I could actually see a difference in my skin within the first few hours.  Even my husband commented after a couple of days that my skin was looking a lot better.

    “A few days after starting the Acne Prone cream, I did experience the breakouts that they talk about.  My skin did apparently need to get rid of a lot of junk that was already in there, and I got a bit disheartened after a few weeks!

    “I’m so thankful I decided to hang in there though.  A few more weeks later and my skin was looking better than it had for years.  I was still getting the occasional pimple but it was way better than it had been in recent memory.

    “At this point I got an email saying Atopis had come out with a cleanser and toner, so I decided to go all in and got the cleanser, toner, acne prone cream, and radiant balance (I even got one of their packs with an anti-aging cream and I still use this as my eye cream – it’s lasted ages!).

    “It wasn’t until I started to use all the products together that my skin showed a really huge improvement.

    “It must be true that their products work in synergy with each other because that definitely seemed to be the case for my skin.

    “I don’t wear any make up any more except sometimes mascara or eyeshadow – nothing to cover up my skin.

    “I never believed this would have been possible before trying Atopis.

    “Thank you so much to the Atopis team and especially Dr Iona who came up with it all – I don’t know where I’d be without you guys, probably still hiding out in my house!”
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.24″]

    Take a look at the Atopis skin care products that Karen used to get healthy skin:

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    Recovering A Clear & Clean Complexion: Jo’s Skincare Journey

    Wednesday, March 20th, 2019

    Could you please give us some background on your skin and the journey you’ve been through with it? As a teenager I had great skin, I’m probably the opposite of most people! It only started to cause me problems as I got older actually, in my late 20’s really. I would constantly have a few spots that (I felt like) I needed to cover up, and my skin would occasionally flare up and get worse without a pattern. It’s always been an issue for me as I never felt like I could confidently go make-up free, and I always took concealer with me in my handbag. I ate well, drank loads of water, didn’t smoke, and did all the things you’re supposed to do to have good skin, but nothing worked.

    How did you discover Atopis, and why did you decide to give it a go? I actually found it on Facebook and checked out the website, and thought it would be worth a shot as some of the success stories from their customers sounded just like me.

    What product do you use? I use the Acne Prone Skin Cream.

    Please describe how your skin was before Atopis and how it looks now. I always had spots around my chin as well as the occasional ones on my forehead and around my nose if I was having a really bad streak. They were always red and painful and not easy to hide, they would take days to calm down but by then I’d have more! Not fun when you’re in your mid 30’s and everyone else has finished with their acne stage. Now, I only get a spot or two occasionally but for the right reasons like if I eat badly or if I’m hormonal or even if it’s a super humid day – like ‘normal’ skin!

    What changes have you noticed since you started using Atopis? My skin is clearer, and just seems generally happier if that makes sense? I have less fine lines too, which is a nice bonus, and my skin is firmer but soft at the same time.

    When did you start noticing your skin changing, and how has it changed since? It took until I was halfway through my second tube to see real improvements. When using the first tube I had a solid few weeks of bad skin and I thought to myself ‘man this is just another product that doesn’t work for me’. Then I went back to read the reviews, and people were saying the same thing and said just to keep using it and it eventually improves. So I did, and it worked; they were right!

    How does your skin feel? Happy!

    How do you feel about your skin now compared to before? Also happy!

    What is your current skincare routine? Exfoliate twice a week, wash face in the shower with goats milk/sensitive skin soap. I Moisturise my skin with the Acne Prone Skin Cream in the morning and on most nights.

    What advice would you give to someone who is at the beginning of their skincare journey? Just keep going! The results will happen and they will be worth it!

     

    Struggling with Breakouts?

    Our Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream is a 100% natural and safe way to clear pimples, enhance skin health, and help you to break out of the pimple cycle.

    Getting treatment deep down into the pores is what our Acne Prone Skin Cream formula does, as it needs to break down the built-up dirt and slowly bring it to the surface so it can cleanse the pore with help from our immune system.

    Once you have started with your Acne Prone Skin Cream, it may take up to two or over three weeks for the skin to restore its normal functions. The Acne Prone Skin Cream ensures that bit by bit bacteria comes to the surface, which is removed by your restored skin microflora and stops future bacteria build-up.

    It’s better to have small amounts of the bacteria release over time, so your skin microflora has time to respond and heal the skin.

    Everyone’s skin is unique, so depending on your skin type and amount of blocked pores, it will take a different amount of time.

     

    Learn More About Acne Prone Skin Cream

    How to Pop a Pimple the Right Way

    Thursday, January 17th, 2019

    When a pimple forms it can be painful, it can ruin our day, and we just want them to get off our face!

    Even though it’s tempting – popping pimples makes the skin worse than it already was, therefore not touching our pimples is the best way to avoid worsening the situation!

    Looking for a solution to your pimple popping? The Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream goes beyond managing the signs and symptoms, and helps address the causes of Acne – for breakout-free skin.

    What makes up a pimple? 

    Pimples contain bacteria called Acne Propionic Bacterium. 

    These bacteria are anaerobic, which means they can grow rapidly when there is a lack of air and can live on the surface of healthy skin without causing infection.

    Pimples form when excess sebum oil is produced by the glands in the pores – too much sebum oil makes the acne-causing bacteria multiply out of control.

    These fast-multiplying acne-causing bacteria produce enzymes that break down our skins proteins which causes the immune system to react and become inflammatory (and causes the pimple).

    Because this new pimple contains acne-causing bacteria that inflames and breaks down our skins proteins, it should always be kept contained!

    Have a read of our What Causes Breakouts blog to learn more about how and why acne occurs.

    What happens when you squeeze a pimple?

    Squeezing pimples can release these acne-causing bacteria onto the skin. 

    Once released, the bacteria thrives on our skin and doubles in numbers quickly.

    Our immune system is immediately disadvantaged when overrun by these acne-causing bacteria even popping just one pimple.

    Doing it yourself can also cause an infection or darkening of the skin, so it’s best to just not go there!

    Squeezing, poking and picking our pimples can cause the bacteria to dig deeper within the pore. This worsens the pimple and can make it stay on the skin longer than it would have – which can lead to permanent scarring.

    Permanent Scarring happens when the blocked pore becomes swollen and infected, which starts stretching the pores follicular wall and causing it to break. When the skin eventually heals over, it makes too much skin tissue and which how skin scarring occurs.

    Our fingers also carry a variety of bacteria, and when introducing this to the skin’s surface it can infect the pimple with new evil bacteria, causing the pimple it to become even more inflamed and bigger than before.

    But what’s worse than that, is other bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus infecting the inflamed pore, aggravating the touched pimple and making new pimples form on the skin – thus the acne cycle continues!

    To avoid this happening, try not to touch your face, and if you have to, wash your hands first!

    How to Safely Pop A Pimple:

    If you have to pop the pimple, here’s how to do it without the bacteria-party starting:

    Yes – there is a proper way to do it!

    You’ll need:

    • Alcohol wipes or alcohol to sterilize
    • A pin or needle
    • A Lighter
    • Tissues

    Steps:

    1. Wait until the white head forms on the top of the pimple. The white shows that the pus has collected under the surface.

    2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and scrub your nails to avoid spreading bacteria.

    3. Get the pin or needle and use a lighter to sterilize it, then dip it in alcohol once it has cooled down.

    4. Swab the area you are popping with alcohol, and apply some to your fingers.

    5. Dry the fingers and apply tissue to the fingers that you will place on either side of the pimple when squeezing the pus out.

    6. Gently push the pin to pierce the top and of the Whitehead.

    7. Using the tissue covered fingers, gently squeeze either side of the pimple, pressing around the whitehead but avoiding contact with the whitehead.

    8. If pus comes out, good! If it doesn’t, then leave it alone as it is not ready to be popped.

    9. Finish by applying alcohol to the open pimple to disinfect it – be careful as it might sting!

    All the best with your pimple popping endeavours! But just remember, leaving them alone and using suitable a skincare product that enhances the self-cleaning process is the best way to go.

    [convertful id=”13842″]
     

    Struggling with Breakouts?

    Our Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream is a 100% natural and safe way to clear pimples, enhance skin health, and help you to break out of the pimple cycle.

    Getting treatment deep down into the pores is what our Acne Prone Skin Cream formula does, as it needs to break down the built-up dirt and slowly bring it to the surface so it can cleanse the pore with help from our immune system.

    Once you have started with your Acne Prone Skin Cream, it may take up to two or over three weeks for the skin to restore its normal functions. The Acne Prone Skin Cream ensures that bit by bit bacteria comes to the surface, which is removed by your restored skin microflora and stops future bacteria build-up. 

    It’s better to have small amounts of the bacteria release over time, so your skin microflora has time to respond and heal the skin. 

    Everyone’s skin is unique, so depending on your skin type and amount of blocked pores, it will take a different amount of time.

     

    Learn More About Acne Prone Skin Cream

    Hormonal Acne & Mature Skin Breakouts? Here’s Why.

    Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021

    Both men and women are consistently asking: “Where am I going wrong?” so I decided to shed some light on the acne-creating cycle we can all get caught up in.

    Once you understand what’s causing your breakouts, you can start changing your habits, and clear up your skin.

    If you’re looking for a Hormonal Acne solution – we’ve created the Atopis Radiant Skin Bundle – our 4 products work in perfect synergy to give you a clear and hormonally balanced complexion.

    First, What Causes Acne?

    Short on time? Here’s a 30-second intro video on What Causes Acne.

     

    We’ve done a whole blog post on What Causes Acne – but for now, it’s important to remember there are 3 main causes of Acne:

    1. Hormones

    One of the biggest culprits of acne is fluctuations in your hormones (which is what we’ll be talking about today).

    Across a variety of ages, hormones and hormonal imbalances can lead to detrimental effects on our skin. Read more about how your acne can vary as you age here.

    For women, acne usually appears in the later stages of the menstrual cycle, so a week before or even during your period.

    It can also appear after starting a new form of birth control, hormone replacement therapy through menopause, or as a result of fluctuating hormones and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

    Androgens (male sex hormones) can fluctuate in level when compounded with stress, fatigue and lack of skin care.

    Androgens are the worst perpetrators for causing bad skin because they stimulate the growth of the sebaceous glands and increase sebum levels, making skin oily and causing severe congestion (known as hyperkeratinization).

    This condition means dead skin cells don’t slough off naturally and instead clog the skin’s pores.

    Cue the entry of bacteria and acne appears as the star of the show.

    2. Lifestyle

    Though less of a factor than genetics and hormones, your lifestyle can certainly be reflected in your skin.

    Poor cleansing (or over cleansing), dehydration, stress, smoking, poor diet and abrasive product use can all be detrimental to your skin.

    3. Genetic Makeup

    Studies suggest that you’re more likely to struggle with breakouts if your direct relatives have suffered from acne.

    Skin types are passed down through your genes and play a key part in how your skin responds to your hormones and how well it deals with sebum (oil), bacteria, anti-inflammatory properties and the regeneration of skin cells.

    4 Stages of Hormonal Acne Development:

    1. Hormonal Changes

    When increases in testosterone or estrogen occur, this increases the production of sebum (oily or waxy matter that lubricates and waterproofs the skin and hair) at the base of the hair follicle.

    Over-cleaning the skin, over-exfoliation, or use of astringent cleansers can also lead to the sebum gland overproducing sebum as these actions send the wrong message to the skin that its over dry.

    Unlike teenage skin, where cells are being actively renewed causing the greasy appearance due to the increased sebum, with dry, mature skin, the sebum gland produces too much sebum to compensate for the skin’s dryness.

    2. Blockage

    Too much sebum results in the hair follicle becoming blocked (clogged pores).

    Excessive cleaning of the blocked pores then causes the sebum gland to produce more sebum and the pores block again.

    This means gentle cleaning is critical.

    3. Over-cleaning

    Over-cleaned skin and pores blocked with sebum unbalance your skin’s microflora (your unique mix of good and bad bacteria) as the bad bacteria is fed by the sebum.

    This results in what is effectively skin infection.

    4. Immune system reaction

    The immune system then reacts to the bacteria imbalance and tries to counter the bad bacteria by turning on defense pathways, which can result in an allergenic response on the skin’s surface and pimples appear.

    If infection worsens, then a full-blown immune system response occurs and the skin becomes inflamed, hair follicles are blocked, the site contains pus and the sebum gland produces even more sebum creating a severe outbreak.

     

    Why Antibiotics Don’t Work for Hormonal Acne Long Term:

    Some of you might have been prescribed antibiotics to kill the acne-creating bacteria, but this also kills the good bacteria, leaving the acne sufferer with no defense against the next bacterial attack.

    On top of this, the use of alcohol-based astringents open the pores, clear the blockage but leave the skin dry and inflame pores.

    This can take you frustratingly back to step one of the acne cycle.

    [convertful id=”13797″]

    Break Out of the Hormonal Acne Cycle with Atopis Radiant Balance Cream:

    Atopis Radiant Skin Bundle gives you 4 products, including the Acne Prone Skin Cream and The Radiant Balance Cream, that all work in synergy to balance the skin’s response to hormonal fluctuations.

    These 4 products create a skincare routine that cleanses, clears, moisturizes, and tones the skin, so you can say goodbye to hormonal acne, and hello to healthy and glowing skin!

    When choosing your skin care products, we highly recommend sticking to natural and non-abrasive products – rather than harsh antibiotics.

    Based on award-winning international research and successful clinical trials, Dr. Iona Weir has formulated safe, natural products to help unlock the skin’s own immunity and assist self-repair.

    Meanwhile, the probiotic peptides in Atopis, work to restore your skin’s friendly bacteria microbiome, just like probiotics in the gut.

    Learn more about the Atopis Radiant Skin Bundle

    Learn More About The Radiant Skin Bundle

    How To Naturally And Effectively Restore Menopausal Skin

    Sunday, November 18th, 2018

    One moment you’re enjoying a healthy and youthful complexion, the next minute, you’re breaking out in all manner of rashes, hormonal acne, dry patches, and skin coloring unevenness – distressing, to say the least.

    Are you starting to notice the signs of aging? Our Atopis Intensive Restore Cream has been scientifically developed to hydrate, reduce wrinkles and restore skin using 100% natural ingredients. 

    How To Balance Menopausal Skin

    “You don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone” rings particularly true when it comes to mature or menopausal skin. 

    But it doesn’t have to be like this. If there’s a time when a little TLC is needed, it’s now.

    You can’t turn back the clock on your skin’s health – however, you can take care of the present, and start treating your skin with the utmost care from now on.

    Learn How To Combat Aging Skin in this video below: 

    Nourish your skin with natural products

    Menopause causes many changes to your skin, meaning your current skincare routine may no longer meet its changing needs.

    Most standard moisturizers are plain water-based and packed with tonnes of fillers, parabens, and alcoholic substances, which dry your sensitive maturing skin even further. This damages it and strips it of its unique microflora. Our article on Always Reading The Label investigates what a majority of beauty and skincare products contain, and what they do to your skin. 

    By making the switch to high-quality, all-natural products, these products will carry out the much-needed intricate repairs to your skin.

    This includes; regenerating and reprogramming the epidermis at the cell, as well as at surface level, to give you the best skin possible for your stage of life. 

    However, keep in mind that all skincare products are not created equal. As with any scientific breakthrough, there are an increasing number of companies that claim that their products contain ‘all natural’ ingredients. 

    It’s important to remember that evidence of effectiveness and non-toxicity is very important before you part with your money and put them on your precious skin.

    Think of how you’d treat a baby’s skin and what ingredients you would and wouldn’t use on it – that’s how you should treat your own skin.  

    The Science Of Maturing Skin: The Plant Phenomenon

    From birth, our cells are programmed to die and be replaced – it’s how we grow.

    But, once we hit menopause, the replacement of cells slows down, and the texture and quality of skin is no longer that of a younger person.

    In the plant world, the phenomenon of programmed cell death is called Apoptosis. In my research, I discovered that, not only was the process in plants reversible, but it could also be manipulated and used in skincare for humans, particularly for the needs of menopausal skin conditions.

    In my extensive study of New Zealand and Australia’s indigenous plants, I’ve identified and isolated four main natural substances that can be extracted to work together in synergy to reprogramme and repair human skin.

    These substances can help repair skin that’s suffering from the effects of menopause, as well as other conditions such as acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

    Working from within

    First and foremost, we use unpasteurised coconut water – a plant’s equivalent of colostrum (milk produced by mammals during birth), with its rich combination of vitamins and minerals.

    Then, we add peptides from biotic reactions of bacteria and insect components in New Zealand native plants, bound with lipids from coconut oil to form the patented Peptilipids™. These have the unique ability to penetrate skin-cell plasma membranes and work from within.

    Then, there’s honeydew – a bioactive anti-microbial from beech trees in the Southern Alps of New Zealand – with similar properties to Manuka honey – created by the tree’s natural efforts to defend itself against microbial attack.

    Next, bee pollen, which is gently handled using enzymes to destroy all allergens.

    Finally, a special combination of selected essential oils: coconut oil, with its Myristic acid to modulate the immune system, protect and heal, and Myracetin for its anti-inflammatory properties, plus kiwifruit seed oil, canola, avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, sweet almond oil, safflower oil, camellia seed oil and jojoba seed oil.

    Once extracted, these elements are all fused together to form the patented Myriphytase™ extract, incorporated in the Atopis™ skincare range, safe for everyday use, offering a unique solution to the trials and tribulations of menopausal skin conditions.

    Key Ingredients

     

    How We Can Help Restore Your Aging Skin 100% Naturally

    Our Atopis Intensive Restore Cream utilizes these indigenous plant and essential oil extracts as ingredients to formulate a cream that naturally revitalizes your aging skin, restoring your healthy and youthful glow. 

    The natural ingredients in our product work together to: 

    1. Intensely hydrate – peptides, lipids, and antioxidants work at the cellular level to hydrate skin.

    2. Repair skin – reduces redness from sun damage on face and decolletage and fades age spots, evening skin tone.

    3. Plump skin & reduce wrinkles – stimulates collagen production to smooth out wrinkles and lines.

    Learn More About Intensive Restore Cream

    What Causes Breakouts?

    Thursday, March 8th, 2018

    What Causes Breakouts?

    Breakouts can be annoying, painful and damaging to our self-esteem. Most of us have had the pleasure of experiencing them at some point in our lives, but for those of us who struggle with prolonged bouts of acne, the problem can be even more frustrating.

    It’s important to understand what type of break outs you’re experiencing and what’s causing them, so you can find the most suitable and effective treatments. We’ve explored the key causes and triggers below so you can begin your journey to healthy, clear skin.

    Causes and Triggers

    Genetic Makeup

    Studies suggest that you’re more likely to struggle with breakouts if your direct relatives have suffered from acne. Skin types are passed down through your genes and play a key part in how your skin responds to your hormones and how well it deals with sebum (oil), bacteria, anti-inflammatory properties and the re-generation of skin cells.

    Hormones

    One of the biggest culprits of acne is fluctuations in your hormones. Across a variety of ages, hormones and hormonal imbalances can lead to detrimental effects on our skin. Read more about how your acne can vary as you age here.

    For women, acne usually appears in the later stages of the menstrual cycle, so a week before or even during your period. It can also appear after starting a new form of birth control, hormone replacement therapy through menopause, or as a result of fluctuating hormones and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

    Androgens (male sex hormones) can fluctuate in level when compounded with stress, fatigue and lack of skin care. Androgens are the worst perpetrators for causing bad skin because they stimulate growth of the sebaceous glands and increase sebum levels, making skin oily and causing severe congestion known as hyperkeratinisation. This condition means dead skin cells don’t slough off naturally and instead clog the skin’s pores. Cue the entry of bacteria and acne appears as the star of the show.

    Lifestyle

    Though less of a factor than genetics and hormones, your lifestyle can certainly be reflected in your skin. Poor cleansing (or over cleansing), dehydration, stress, smoking, poor diet and abrasive product use can all be detrimental to your skin.

    Types of acne

    Some spots can be more troublesome or obvious than others, most appearing on our face while some appearing all over our body. It’s important to identify your acne type so that you can ensure you’re not mistaking it for other potential skin conditions.

    We’ve put together a list of common offenders below:

    • Blackheads – Small dark spots
    • Cystic Acne – Usually painful, larger pus-filled spots.
    • Nodules – Hard and under the surface of your skin.
    • Whitehead – Small white raised bumps.
    • Pustules – On the surface red pimples with pus.
    • Papules – Pink, smaller bumps on top of the skins surface.
    • Body Breakouts – Any of the above descriptions but outside of the facial area, with
      typical places including back, neck, chest and shoulders.

    Preventative Measures

    It’s important for people to understand that acne is a skin disease, and it needs to be treated as one. Our skin is an effective barrier against dirt, infection and pathogens, which is designed to beat skin disease at its own game. We’re born with our own unique skin microflora of bacteria that builds our immunity and keeps skin healthy.

    Just like our gut microflora, the good bacteria and matter that make up our skin microflora, known collectively as your microbiome, needs to be preserved.

    There are many lifestyle changes that can be made to improve your skin’s health and enhance its ability to self-heal.

    These include:

    • Keeping your gut balance and microflora healthy through fermented foods and Kefir which helps replenish beneficial bacteria. These naturally combat the inflammatory effects of antibiotics, sugar, alcohol and processed foods which reduce your immunity.
    • Stimulating your lymph system through exercise, drinking more water and avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
    • Experimenting with cutting dairy out of your diet and try to incorporate Evening Primrose Oil, zinc and vitamin B6.
    • Limiting stress and getting more sleep.
    • Quitting smoking – this will enhance your skins ability to heal.
    • Avoiding touching your face.
    • Keeping your hair out of your face to avoid it from touching your face.
    • Using water based, nonalcoholic cosmetics.
    • Taking off your make-up every night and using a gentle, natural cleanser and moisturizer. Stay clear from abrasive, artificial products that could aggravate your skin.

    How Atopis Can help

    Some of you may be all too familiar with the hopeless feeling of having tried everything and failing to see any improvements to your skin. Try to remain patient through this process, your skin requires around 8 weeks to fully respond to new treatments or products.

    When choosing your skin care products, we highly recommend sticking to natural and non-abrasive products such as our all Natural Acne Cream. Based on award-winning international research and successful clinical trials, Dr Iona Weir has formulated safe, natural products to help unlock skin’s own immunity and assist self-repair.

    Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream helps treat acne by limiting overstimulation and moderates the hormone receptors of the skin’s sebaceous glands. It rebuilds your skin through moisturising, controlling sebum levels and preventing that old villain, hyperkeratinisation.

    Meanwhile, the probiotic peptides in Atopis, work to restore your skin’s friendly bacteria microbiome, just like probiotics in the gut.

    [convertful id=”13842″]

    To find out more about our products and how they work click the links below.

    How to Manage Hormonal Breakouts

    Thursday, April 27th, 2017
    As we go through pivotal changes in our lives, breakouts are common but it doesn’t make the pain and embarrassment any easier. Sufferers are not just teenagers, but include women enduring the hormonal rollercoaster of pregnancy or menopause, and some men who can find their back, chest and shoulders have literally become acne fairgrounds. But there are choices you can make to assist in blemish-free skin, especially when it comes to hormonal acne. 

     

    acne treatment

    Have you been trying everything to manage your breakouts?

    Most people learn the basics about acne at school, and it’s normally attributed to four main causes:

    1. Oil production through the skin’s sebaceous glands
    2. Dead skin cells
    3. Clogged pores
    4. Bacteria

    But hormones, most prominently considered to be a ‘teenage thing’, continue to be a root cause of other breakouts as we age.

    Stars of the show

    In adults, Acne is usually caused by hormones, and it often appears in the lower half of face, cheekbones and jawline. It may look cystic, big and red, and can be very sensitive.

    For women acne usually appears in the later stages of the menstrual cycle, so a week before or even during your period. It can also appear after starting a new form of birth control, hormone replacement therapy through menopause, or as a result of fluctuating hormones and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

    The skin’s sebaceous glands interact directly with the hormones in our body. In fact it’s a particular trinity of hormones including estrogen, progesterone and androgens that make up the hormonal circus. Androgens are commonly called the male hormones and include testosterone for example. These three groups of hormones are naturally present in our body at all times but can fluctuate in level, particularly androgens, when compounded with stress, fatigue and lack of skin care.

    Androgens are the worst perpetrators for causing bad skin because they stimulate growth of the sebaceous glands and increase sebum levels, making skin oily and causing severe congestion known as hyperkeratinisation. This condition means dead skin cells don’t slough off naturally and instead clog the skin’s pores. Cue the entry of bacteria and acne appears as the star of the show.

    Men are particularly susceptible to breakouts because acne belongs to a grim troupe of hyperandrogenic diseases that are characterised by the excessive production of androgens. Other members of this merry band include male pattern baldness which can join acne as a misery double act.

    Treating the miserable circus

    It’s important for people to understand that acne is a skin disease, and it needs to be treated as one. Our skin is an effective barrier against dirt, infection and pathogens, which is designed to beat skin disease at its own game. We’re born with our own unique skin microflora of bacteria and viruses that builds our immunity and keeps skin healthy. Just like our gut microflora, the good bacteria and matter that make up our skin microflora, known collectively as your microbiome, needs to be preserved.

    Here’s some potential treatments for hormonal acne:

    • Keeping your gut balance and microflora healthy through fermented foods and Kefir which helps replenish beneficial bacteria. These naturally combat the inflammatory effects of antibiotics, sugar, alcohol and processed foods which reduce your immunity.

    • Stimulating your lymph system through exercise, drinking more water and avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
    • Experimenting with cutting dairy out of your diet and try to incorporate Evening Primrose Oil, zinc and vitamin B6.
    • Limiting stress and getting more sleep.

     

    • Seeking medical advice to rule out any hormone imbalance or disorder that may require further investigation.
    • Keeping the skin’s moisture barrier strong and healthy as this makes it more resilient and reduces the severity of acne. Don’t use soaps or cleansers that strip the skin, and gently exfoliate once a week. It’s also important to use a good moisturiser that doesn’t block the pores (non-comedogenic), and targets acne and hormonal skin complaints.

    How Atopis can help

    Based on her award-winning international research and successful clinical trials, Dr Iona Weir has formulated safe, natural products to help unlock skin’s own immunity and assist self-repair.

    Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream helps treat hormonal acne by limiting overstimulation and moderates the hormone receptors of the skin’s sebaceous glands. It rebuilds your skin through moisturising, controlling sebum levels and preventing that old villain, hyperkeratinisation.

    Meanwhile, the probiotic peptides in Atopis, work to restore your skin’s friendly bacteria microbiome, just like probiotics in the gut.

    [convertful id=”13842″]

    Drop the final curtain down on hormonal acne by trying Atopis Acne Prone Skin Cream.

    Treating Hormonal Skin: A Complex Journey

    Thursday, January 1st, 1970

    Hormonal skin affects most of us with nearly 85% of people getting acne at some point in their lives.

    It is an up and down, tumultuous journey. Often spending money on what feels like a million products, finding that nothing has quite done the trick yet. We have all been there, while most of us are still there. 

     

    But achieving completely clear, healthy skin doesn’t happen overnight as much as we wish it did. It requires perseverance and a good skincare routine. 

     

    Our skin is actually the largest organ on the human body and is able to reflect internal matters such as gut problems, anxiety, periods and so on. Not so surprisingly, this means that skin complaints can be managed by addressing the internal issue. 

    For hormonal skin, breakouts are first caused by fluctuating hormones. One hormone in particular that causes bad skin is Androgen. This hormone is triggered when we experience stress and fatigue. It signals the sebaceous glands (they produce oil) to go into overdrive which results in too much oil in the pores that turn them into clogged pores (congestion). 

     

    In hormonal skin that is past the teenage years, the sebum gland wants to keep hydrating the skin because it thinks it is dry. To counteract this, choose skin care products we highly recommend natural and non-abrasive products – rather than harsh antibiotics or chemical cleaners. It is essential that after washing you apply a moisturiser to let the skin know it does not need to produce more oil.

     

    If you use an exfoliator limit this to once a week if absolutely necessary. If practiced wrong, the skin is prone to drying out, and micro-tears from the exfoliator. 

     

    This leads us onto why exactly the way we clean the skin is so important for balancing the oil production.

     

    There is a bacterial issue that keeps hormonal skin stuck on repeat.

    What causes this is how the sebum gland works in harmony with our skin’s microflora (a mix of bacteria living on the skin’s surface).

     

    As mentioned before, the sebum gland which is responsible for producing a reasonable level of oil is over-producing. When we cleanse the face it strips away dirt, oil and bacteria lifting it from the pores. But what we need is for the cleanser to gently and only remove the bad versions of oil and bacteria because there are good versions that live on the skin that are necessary to the microflora’s stability.

    When the skin is over-producing oil, it is because it dried out too much, and this allows the bad bacteria to feed off the extra oil, increasing the chances of this nasty bacteria’s survival. 

     

    This key to avoiding this is to use a gentle natural cleanser and to moisturise morning and night. These are hormonal skin’s absolute survival essentials. 

     

    If you liked what you read and are ready to start your journey to clear skin then please learn more about our products designed specifically for balancing hormonal skin.

     

     

    These 4 products create a skincare routine that cleanses, clears, moisturises, and tones the skin, so you can easily achieve healthy and glowing skin!