Health & Wellness

Beauty Defined

Your guide to the trendiest beauty buzzwords.

Adaptogens: Botanical extracts that, when ingested or applied to skin, claim to help regulate and get the body back to its baseline, as well as protect the body from the toxic effects of stress, fatigue, and anxiety.

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Collagen: A naturally occurring structural protein that is already in your skin, bones, and teeth. It provides elasticity to the skin, helping it appear more vibrant and youthful. Your natural production of collagen starts to dwindle in your late 20s and early 30s.

Microblading: A tattooing technique where pigment is implanted into the top layer of skin with a handheld tool. Hair-like strokes are drawn to mimic natural hairs in your brows to help with filling and shading.

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Jade Roller: A handheld mini face massager made of green jade. It is said to reduce inflammation while stimulating the lymphatic system and improving blood circulation, which helps to brighten your complexion, tighten pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Microdermabrasion: A minimally invasive procedure where a special applicator with an abrasive surface is gently sands away the outer layer of skin to rejuvenate it, resulting in skin tone and texture improvement.

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Dermaplaning: A method of exfoliation that uses a 10-gauge scalpel to gently scrape away the top layer of dead skin cells and vellus hair to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion.

Botox: A drug prepared from the bacterial botulin toxin that is used cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. It is most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.

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Hyaluronic Acid: A naturally occurring substance in our skin that works to draw in water. It decreases as we age, so using products with hyaluronic acid will prevent the skin’s tendency towards dryness.

Glycolic Acid: An alpha hydroxy acid derived from plant sugars that serves as a chemical exfoliator. It gently resurfaces the skin by removing dead layers to reveal the more luminous skin beneath.

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Retinol: A derivative of vitamin A, it is most commonly used in anti-aging products. It has been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne.

Kybella: An FDA-approved injectable treatment made from deoxycholic acid that aids in destroying fat cells in the area under your chin.Salicylic Acid: A beta hydroxy acid that works well with oily skin to unclog pores and combat acne.

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Microneedling: A process that uses a tool called a dermapen with tiny needles at the end of it to make little holes in the top layer of the skin. This can generate new collagen and skin tissue for smoother and firmer skin. It also allows for products to absorb into skin more easily.

Illustrations by Danielle Dernoga