The Best Ingredient for Skin Protection

By Leslie Baumann, M.D.

I went to check out the new Canyon Ranch spa in Miami Beach as soon as they opened since I always want to know what skincare lines the high end spas are carrying. As you know, if you routinely read my blog, I am always a skeptic about skincare products. I was stunned to see that Canyon Ranch's "Your Transformation" skincare line contains my favorite ingredient, Pro-NAD, which is a form of niacinamide that penetrates better than the type found in the Olay Regenerist products.

(As a disclaimer, I have always been a fan of Canyon Ranch. I have stayed at the one in the Berkshires and thought that it was a great experience. The new one that just opened in Miami Beach is gorgeous and has great food, but I have no financial relationship with them.),

A relative of niacin, and part of the vitamin B family, topical niacinamide is best known in the dermatological community as an anti-inflammatory and an excellent ingredient for fighting hyperpigmentation. Studies have shown that niacinamide prevents the DNA damage caused by sun exposure.

I think that the skin care professionals at Canyon Ranch realized that their location on the ocean on Miami Beach made it vital to include an ingredient to reverse some of the deleterious effects of the sun. Of course, do not forget to apply your sunscreen and wear a hat in addition to using the Pro-NAD containing products.

Why is Pro-NAD such a great ingredient for skin protection?

• Hyperpigmentation
  When it comes to reducing areas of excess pigmentation, Pro-NAD inhibits the transfer of melanosomes (vesicles filled with melanin, or skin pigment) to skin cells, which improves existing dark spots and helps prevent new ones from forming.
  
• Anti-Aging
  Pro-NAD is a powerful anti-aging ingredient. For starters, it helps decrease inflammation in the skin, which is thought to play a role in collagen-loss and, ultimately, aging. Moreover, Pro-NAD helps fuel the enzymes needed to repair damage to skin's DNA caused, for example, by sun exposure.
  
• Moisture
  Niacinamide is an excellent moisturizer -- it increases skin's ceramide levels, helping the skin barrier to naturally renew itself and retain moisture. Niacinamide is available in several easy-to-find skincare lines like Olay's Regenerist, Definity, and Total Effects products. However, only the Canyon Ranch line and Nia24 products contain niacinamide that has an important side group added to increase its penetration into deeper layers of the skin.

If you can't visit Canyon Ranch on Miami Beach, the new line is also available at the other Canyon Ranch locations as well as at Skinstore.com, Saks.com, Nordstrom.com and select locations of both department stores.