The FAQs You're Too Afraid To Ask

We understand that you might be a bit shy of asking your questions face-to-face sometimes, so we took the liberty of compiling your fearful FAQs. We can guarantee you weren’t the only one wondering, so take a gander and get educated!

Is it dangerous to take Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Accumax indefinitely? Anytime I stop taking them, my skin breaks out worse than it ever was prior to starting Accumax. How would you wean yourself off them?

Advanced Nutrition Programme suggest a course of 4 Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Accumax capsules a day for 14 weeks as their own trials suggest that this is the optimum. After this, reduce to 2 a day for a month, and then 1 a day for the following month … Forever and ever, Accumaxmen, if recommended by your Nerd or Nerdette. You could then switch to a vitamin A supplement, such as Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit A+, for maintenance of the dosage of vitamin A.

The six month guideline is suggested in order to address a concern. If you’re having skin difficulties when attempting to lower your dose, get in touch with your Nerd or Nerdette. Every individual is different, and your skin consultant would be the best person to suggest a course of treatment tailored to you personally. 

It’s possible that your breakouts are a sign of a deficiency, particularly as they occur when you cut down on your Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Accumax. This is a supplement which contains vitamin A, C, E, and DIM, a hero that ANP take from broccoli heads. Vitamin A is one of the building blocks of skin health, and must be taken in through diet or applied topically as our bodies don’t produce it! It helps our skin heal, reduces inflammation and helps to protect from hyperpigmentation. Regular supplementation of DIM (or to call it by its full name, diindolylmethane: and yes, this will be on the test) supports a more favourable metabolism of estrogen, and this is a key element of Skin Accumax. 

As we said earlier, however, our team of Nerds and Nerdettes are eager for more details so they can help you out as best as possible, so if you’re struggling with your supplements, do get in touch!

What Environ products are safe in pregnancy or when trying to conceive?

We’ve got a host of Environ products available from the Nerdie Store, but as you’ve rightly guessed, not all of them are pregnancy-friendly, or suitable if you’re planning a pregnancy. This is because these glycolic acids and salicylic acids are deeply exfoliating active ingredients, and could irritate sensitive pregnant skin. It’s always a good idea to check with your Nerd, Nerdette, or importantly, your GP if you are feeling any doubt at all.

Environ has provided a list of the products which they deem safe for use during pregnancy:

When it comes to cleansers, Environ Skin EssentiA Dual Action Pre-Cleansing Oil, Environ Skin EssentiA Mild Cleansing Lotion and Environ Focus Care Clarity+ Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser are all pregnancy-safe. The Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser contains salicylic acid, but such a low level that it’s cleared for use while pregnant.

It’s important to note that AVST (standing for Advanced Vitamin Skincare Therapy - a bit more nerdie knowledge for your brain) levels 1 and 2 are pregnancy-safe, but 3, 4, and 5 are not recommended in pregnancy due to the higher levels of vitamin A. If you’re pregnant and unsure whether or not to continue use, we recommend you get in touch with your Nerd, Nerdette or GP. 

Environ Skin EssentiA Botanical Infused Moisturising Toner, Environ Youth EssentiA Vita-Peptide Toner and Environ Derma-Lac Body Lotion are also pregnancy-safe. Derma-Lac comes highly recommended from our in-house Nerds and Nerdettes for use during pregnancy. Your skin can easily lose hydration during pregnancy and lactic acid as found in these products help to gently exfoliate whilst drawing moisture into the skin. Pigmentation problems, such as chloasma or melasma (dark patches on your face, or other areas which are exposed to light frequently), are more likely to occur during pregnancy so make sure to diligently wear your SPF!

The Environ Tri BioBotanical Revival Masque is also cleared for use during pregnancy.

When it comes to moisturisers and rescue solutions, there are plenty of options. You could use Environ Focus Care Colostrum Gel or Environ Youth EssentiA Antioxidant Defence Creme, depending on the recommendation of your Nerd or Nerdette. You’re also clear to use Environ Skin EssentiA Vita-Antioxidant AVST Gel or Environ Focus Care Moisture+ Vita Complex Super Moisturiser, with AVST 1 and 2 still pregnancy-safe. 

When it comes to supplements, although Advanced Nutrition Programme has cleared these for use during pregnancy, it’s always wise to consult with your healthcare provider before taking them!

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit C, Skin Omegas +, Probiotics and Advanced Nutrition Programme Digest Pro are all deemed pregnancy-safe by Advanced Nutrition Programme. Skin Vit C are 500g - it's good to make sure you speak with your GP about vitamin C supplements!

You should take a max of 2 Skin Omegas+ per day. This is because of the vitamin A content of Skin Omegas+. Be sure to keep well hydrated when you’re taking them. Digest Pro can work wonders for breakouts during pregnancy. You should be aware that ANP Probiotics is pregnancy-safe, but not suitable for those with dairy intolerances

You can learn a little more about pregnancy-safe skincare from our TSN blog - it’ll give you some more detail specifically about what treatments or products from our wider range that we do or don’t recommend during your pregnancy! 

Is the Skingredients Skin Protein similar to IMAGE VITAL C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum?

It’s true that Skingredients Skin Protein has similar ingredients to those found in IMAGE Vital C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum, in that both contain vitamins A, C, and E. However, Skin Protein is predominantly a vitamin A serum, designed to normalise skin, and help it to become healthier. It’s full of antioxidants, and can help with pore laxity, as well as revitalising and protecting your skin - kind of like a full service for your face. Skingredients Skin Protein also contains Pro-Coll-One+, a patented peptide which promotes the skin's own synthesis of collagen. It helps to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and smooth out your skin.

If you’re pregnant, we don’t advise that you use Skingredients Skin Protein, so IMAGE VITAL C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum would be a good choice. If you’re not pregnant, you could always use both of these serums together in your routine. Sometimes we recommend using the Environ Skin EssentiA Vita-Antioxidant AVST range along with VITAL C Hydrating Antioxidant A C E Serum for additional benefits. Just remember - only AVST 1 and 2 if you’re pregnant.

How do I include Skingredients in my routine? I already use Environ AVST 4, a Probiotic Ultra Delicate Cleansing Milk and Murad Time Release Blemish Cleanser as well as Environ Focus Care Clarity+ Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser and IMAGE Ormedic Balancing Bio-Peptide Crème. 

Since you’re already on a high level of vitamin A with Environ Skin EssentiA Vita-Antioxidant AVST Moisturiser 4, we’d suggest sticking with the AVST range for your vitamin A serum, because if you’re using more vitamin A, then there’s no point reducing your dose as you’ve earned your stripes. Skingredients Skin Protein is the equivalent to AVST 1.8, in terms of the level of vitamin A within. 

We don’t think you need to swap anything that you love for Skingredients! However, Skingredients PrePreprobiotic Cleanse and Skingredients Sally Cleanse are comparable to your Murad Blemish Control and Biofresh Probiotic Ultra Delicate Cleansing Milk! Skingredients PreProbiotic Cleanse is a great way to give a little back to your skin, and Sally Cleanse can do wonders for congestion prone skin, if this is something that you’re struggling with. 

Using Skingredients Skin Veg as a pre-serum is a good idea. This will hydrate, soothe and brighten your skin, as well as prep your skin for maximum penetration of all the good serums that you’re using, and your Colostrum too.

If you’re a fan of the feeling of a night cream, you could also try out Skingredients Skin Good Fats as part of your evening routine! Skin Good Fats is a ceramide balm, so it protects and replenishes your skin, as well as being full of potent antioxidants. 

If you’re keen to try our Skingredients range, there’s plenty of ways to dabble while maintaining the routine recommended by your Nerd or Nerdette. 

I’ve been using supplements for two weeks and my skin is not improving! What should I do? 

The best thing to do if it’s been two weeks and your skin is not improving is - breathe. These things take time. Supplements in particular can take a lot longer than two weeks before you start seeing improvements, but it really is one of those cases where slow and steady most definitely wins the race, as it’s working hard from the inside out. The recommended time-range of Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Accumax is 14 weeks for optimal results, but with the results Nerd Networkers get from Skin Accumax, patience is definitely worth it. Remember - it takes two skin cycles to truly see the difference that your supplements are making!

If you really feel like you've been taking your supplements and dilligently working on your skincare routine with no results, it's definitely time to get in touch with your Nerd or Nerdette, who will have all sorts of good ideas about changes that you can make.

Can I use my exfoliating cleanser more than once every three days? I’m using Neostrata Foaming Glycolic Wash at the moment.

Unless specifically recommended by your Nerd or Nerdette - please don’t do this. Your exfoliating cleanser works by prompting dead skin to slough itself off. This exposes the skin underneath. If you over-exfoliate, your skin is exposed to the elements due to its compromised barrier, made up of the layer of keratinised cells and fats that were there before. Keratinisation is the process by which cells move up through the epidermis and gain keratin. Without this protective layers of keratinised cells, your skin can become sensitised. 

Be careful to monitor the acids in the other products in your routine, too (like a toner, serum or spot treatment) to make sure you’re not overloading your skin with acids - it’s a short-term gain, but a long-term pain. You can learn more about over-exfoliation here. 

SPF makes my skin too oily, what should I use instead?

Wellll - you still have to use SPF! You can’t skip it, we’re afraid - the benefits far outweigh any objections. However, it’s all about finding the right SPF for you! The most important thing (after making sure that your SPF is broad-spectrum, i.e. protecting you from UVA, UVB and HEV rays) is that your SPF feels lovely on your skin, otherwise you won’t want to use it! There are tonnes of options, depending on your particular skin type, but if you’re finding oiliness an issue, it might be worth re-examining the rest of your routine with your Nerd or Nerdette to see if it’s worth changing your serum or your cleanser to reduce oiliness throughout the day. 

When it comes to SPFs that might fit the bill, we can offer a few general suggestions. IMAGE Prevention + Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF 32 comes highly recommended for any oil-prone hoomans - so much so, that it’s one of the stars of our Nerdie Congestion Kit. This goes on tacky, dries matte, and helps to keep skin oil-free. Skingredients Skin Shield SPF 50+++ would be another option, and will leave you with a dewy instead of oily finish. It’s got a light cream texture, sinks easily into the skin and a very mild tint. It’s also a lovely base for makeup. 

See? That wasn’t so scary, was it? The takeaway lesson can be summed up quite nicely: if you’re in doubt, ask your Nerd or Nerdette! There are no stupid questions when it comes to skincare, and nothing you should be afraid of asking! We are all hooman, after all, and we’re a community.