Cleanse to remove daily build up of dirt and oil without stripping the skin

We all exfoliate naturally, shedding millions of dead skin cells daily. But cleansing is still necessary to remove the daily accumulation of dirt and oil. MVO cleansers wash away the grime while keeping the topmost layer of the epidermis—the stratum corneum—intact. Many other cleansers use surfactants or sudsing agents that actually strip the skin of its environmental protective barrier, exposing it to damage from the elements. And, unlike other cleansers, we never use glycolic acid that can dry and irritate the skin. Instead, we use lactic acid because it increases the water content of the epidermis so it doesn’t dry out.

When: In the morning, cleansing with tepid water is sufficient, unless your skin is blemish prone.

At night, wash with our Gentle Cleanser, Gentle Scrub or Exfoliating Cleanser.

• Use gentle cleansers nightly to remove the daily accumulation of dirt and grime.
• Use scrubs/exfoliators 2 or 3 times a week to gently remove excess dead skin cells that build up on the skin’s surface

Hydrate and prepare skin’s surface for optimal oil application and absorption.

MVO mists hydrate by delivering humectants to the skin. They create a moist surface that enables our replenishing oils to penetrate the skin more effectively. Hydration helps you retain moisture and avoid transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In non-science speak that’s the loss of water from skin through evaporation. TEWL is the result of exposure to the elements: UVA exposure, wind and cold. Preventing TEWL is accomplished in two ways: 1) keeping skin moist by using humectants containing polysaccharides that attract and hold moisture and 2) maintaining the integrity of the environmental protection barrier.

When: In the morning and at night, use our Gentle Mist or Anti-Aging Mist after cleansing.

Most people get a bit nervous when they hear the words oil and skin in the same sentence. But there’s no reason to get nervous. In fact, waxes, not oils, are the major cause of skin congestion. Applying oils to the skin, without the interference of a wax barricade, gives your skin the essential fatty acids it needs. These fatty acids, called lipids, form an environmental protection barrier that prevents the elements from assaulting our skin, keeping all skin types healthy. Research indicates that a compromised lipid barrier may be at the root of skin problems such as eczema, acne and wrinkles.

MVO oils maintain the integrity of the lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss and dehydration. At the same time they inhibit peroxidative and oxidative damage. The reason you should care about that is, in a word, wrinkles. Upon contact with light, lipids will undergo what is known as peroxidation. These peroxidized lipids lose their barrier ability and gaps occur in the lipid matrix, resulting in a loss of skin resilience and the formation of wrinkles.

A word (or two) about acne. Treating oily skin with oils may seem even more counter-intuitive. But think about this:

• Scrubs, harsh soaps and other drastic treatments that strip off your topmost lipid barrier do a number of things that may actually aggravate the problem.
• Oil-stripping actually prompts your skin to produce more oil, but it may be more of the oil that you’re trying to control.

Topical applications of fatty acids alleviate breakouts by re-stabilizing the lipid barrier, thus restoring anti-microbial activity on the skin’s surface. What’s more, because lipids dissolve lipids, MVO oils actually break up congestion at the source.

When: In the morning and at night, use our Anti-Aging Oil +, Anti-Aging Oil, Sun Protective Oil, or Treatment Oil after applying mist and while the skin is still moist.

Protect skin from UV exposure to reduce cancer risk and prevent unnecessary aging.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to sun protection. And the younger you start taking precautions, the better. Using SPF 15 during the first 18 years of life lowers skin cancer odds by 80%. Even though you’re probably well past 15, sun protection is still essential.

The most important anti-aging measure you can take is to protect against UVA exposure—every day, rain or shine, winter or summer. UVA comes through clouds and through glass, and is present from dawn till dusk. Which means there’s no time during the day when sunscreen is not required. For cancer prevention, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection is essential. MVO sunscreen products provide protection from both UVA (the aging rays) and UVB (the burning rays). Non-micronized zinc oxide, our active sunscreen ingredient (vs. nano zinc or nano titanium) is the safest and most effective sunscreen. It’s a physical sunblock that reflects UV rays without releasing free radicals (learn more about them below). The FDA gives non-micronized zinc oxide a category 1 rating, meaning that it’s safe even for sensitive and compromised skins. MVO’s proprietary non-micronized zinc oxide formulation absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy or ghostly white film, so it provides superior protection and looks good on your skin, too.

A word (or two) about free radicals. Some dermatologists say that as much as 95% of wrinkles are caused by free radical damage from sun exposure. Free radicals generated by UV light do damage at all levels of the skin. In the dermis, free radicals cause wrinkles by activating metalloproteinases that break down collagen. They also attack cell structures such as t-cells, keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts, causing visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, sun spots and keratoses. In addition, free radicals can cause cancer by changing the genetic material, RNA and DNA, of the cells.

When: In the morning—every day, rain or shine—use our Anti-Aging Day Serum, Moisturizing Face Screen + or Moisturizing Face Screen after applying replenishing oil to aid absorption.

Repair cellular damage and restore youthful texture.

At night our serums come to the rescue, repairing damaged cells and giving your skin a much-needed boost. While you’re sleeping, MVO serums are hard at work. Anti-oxidants fight a range of free radicals—the kind that attack the lipid membranes as well as those that damage cell structures and DNA. Vitamin-rich natural emollients provide protection, connection and renewal, conditioning your skin and preventing transepidermal water loss. Last but not least, humectants increase the epidermal water content so your skin retains moisture.

We believe that using natural ingredients to increase your skin’s water content and improve tone and texture is the best way to nourish the skin. Most other anti-aging serums use PEG (polyethylene glycol) ingredients, silicones and butylene glycol. Luckily, they’re not particularly harmful; their purpose is simply to provide lubrication and add that highly desirable slip and glide. However, like artificial flavor enhancers in food, they have way more flash than substance. In the long run, your skin benefits far more from natural ingredients with nutritive value than from artificial skin conditioning agents.

When: At night use our Moisture Serum or Anti-Wrinkle Serum after applying replenishing oil to aid absorption. For specific skin conditions, we suggest the following: Repair Serum for sun damaged skin; Eye Serum for dark circles, puffiness, etc.; Redness Remedy for rosacea; and Skin Lightening Serum for unwanted pigmentation. All of our serums can be combined with Vitamin C supplements for enhanced benefits.