Enzymes in Skincare

Enzymes is one of the words that you often hear about when talking about skin care and one that we know we love. Do you actually know what they are, where they come from and what they do though? Here we will break it down for you, so you know why having enzymes in your skin care is so beneficial.

What are Enzymes and what do they do?

Enzymes are biological molecules that speed up chemical reactions that occur within our cells.   You would have heard of the word enzymes being used when talking about our digestive system. Enzymes are not living things, they are a protein, and with the help of acids, they break down large molecules into smaller molecules that can be then absorbed by our body.  There are different enzymes to break down different things.  Some to break down carbohydrates into sugars, some to break down proteins into amino acids and some to break down fats into fatty acids.

Some enzymes bind molecules together to create a new molecule. A good example of this is the enzymes in saliva.  When combined with a starch, it creates a chemical reaction that when mixed with the water in your saliva, turns it into malt sugars.  Amazing, isn’t it?!

So with the knowledge that enzymes speed up a chemical reaction to break things down, it is obvious now that you will find them in skin care products such as cleansers and exfoliators.

 

Dead Skin Cells:

Dead skin refers to the dead cells that our bodies are continuously shedding and replacing with new cells.  They make up for the first 18-23 layers of our skin.  Between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells are shedded each and every day (remember to vacuum your mattresses!!).  Every 30 days or so, our normal cell turnover takes place.  New cells are being made, old ones are being replaced and pushed to the top, where they shed off.  Dead skin cells don’t always shed off naturally though.  Keratin, which is a protein, is used to create a strong barrier between the environment and your skin cells.  Enzymes can be used to help break down this barrier and remove more stubborn dead skin cells.

 

Enzymes in Skin Care:

The enzymes found in skin care typically come from fruit such as pineapple, papaya, cranberry, goji berry, kiwi, banana, grapefruit and passion fruit.    

The enzymes found in these fruits work in  the same way as the enzymes found in our digestive system – they work to create a chemical reaction to break down molecules.  This means that when you are using a product containing enzymes, the keratin is effectively being ‘dissolved’ and the dead skin is able to be removed.

 

Who would benefit from using enzymes in their skin care?

Everyone would get great benefits from using enzymes in their skin care, even if it’s just in the cleanser that you use.  Those with sensitive and reactive skin love enzyme based products as it allows their skin to be free from dead skin build up without having to use harsher methods such as AHA’s, granular exfoliants or in-clinic peels.

 

 

Recommended Enzyme based products

Cleansers:

• Osmosis MD Purify
• CosMedix Elite Gentle Clean
• Societe AHA Cleanser (this uses both enzymes and AHA’s)

Exfoliators:

• Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask
• Aspect Dr Lanazyme Peel
• CosMedix Pure Enzymes
• Osmosis MD Polish
• Dermalist Ultra Smoothing Facial Exfoliant
• Societe Superfruit Enzyme Peel
• Aspect Illuminating Polish
• SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator

Enzymes are a wonderful addition to anyone’s skin care routine to gently remove dead skin without causing irritation.  You will feel smoother, cleaner, less congested and your makeup will go on a lot smoother.  Our therapist Meagan, who is also a makeup artist, swears by using Osmosis Polish before a special occasion for a flawless application.

Enzymes are also a good choice for teens or pre teens who may be suffering from thick, congested skin.  If this is the case, I would start with something like Societe Superfruit Enzyme Peel or Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask, coupled with Osmosis MD Purify for a cleanser.

 

In-Clinic Enzyme Treatments:

If you are in the Hobart area and you would like to experience a truly amazing enzyme facial, you can book online or by calling us at the clinic.  We offer the following enzyme treatments;

• CosMedix Pineapple Enzyme Mask
• Societe Lactic and Enzyme Peels
• Aspect Dr Lactic and Enzyme Peels
• CosMedix Lactic and Enzyme Peels
• Osmosis MD Enzyme Masks

All these treatments are delivered by our wonderful therapists who can guide you in choosing the perfect skin care for you!  Winter is notorious for adding to dry flaky skin, so come in out of the cold for one of our relaxing facials soon!

 

Best Selling Enzyme Skincare

If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.

 

 

 

 

 

Still not sure?

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