#dermis is a word that goes too hard to just be. skin

[yourfaveeatsdrywall]

Charlie Guiteau from the musical Assassins eats drywall

CHARLIE GUITEAU from Assassins eats drywall!

[nightmarefuele]

His plastic skin squeezes under Paul mua deeb's tap-tap, tap-tap. Then exhales, long as the word. Things happening under the dermis. Curious reptilian response.

He's almost hinged on a—

—

—flat line. Watching his pulse breed itself from an unexplored angle, far enough off to tilt his jaw and chew. And peer apart the nutrient stir of what a heartbeat is, fingertip-toe the flaps there. Give it some company.

He's walked Arrakis' equator all the way around by the time he nictitates the other way. Slow, because high is so up. Paul mua deeb eclipse. The membranes slide back in place under Feyd-Rautha's paper lids.

How many times have we greeted each other? This is a second first.

The underline decides it. The bridge line that's Paul mua deeb's breakable elbow, which Rautha finds through the narrowest, last of three.

A hum unspools from his hard palate, for himself. It rumbles down the dead sleeve weight saddled up to him. His fingers are situated like Paul's. She becomes a sounding board for the rough spot in his cheek, where he's—

—.

His mouth's only been this wet circling over carrion. It twitches, unkindly.

But atreides . . . is curious. Curiously behind. Where's your Eye, Cousin? Decapitated. Left behind? Feyd-Rautha peer-parts deeper, and lucky for them, Paul's the softest fruit out of all their names.

Softest voice, too. Feyd-Rautha turns in as far as the pillared, lax thigh doesn't need him to. Girl is sleeping like a babe that feels like theirs. Feyd-Rautha could call that sharing. He heightens his jugular instead, curling Paul's shirt up into ribbed curtains with a pyrexic palm. He opens his mouth to Paul's navel.

And pulls in skin. The top-lip curve, where Paul's mother was cut off him. It'd be easier to hook and leave himself here, one black piece, than the other places whereon he's enforced exercises in cellular memory. So far.

He doesn't. Paul goes grape-dark on the insuck, then Feyd-Rautha lets him go, chain-linking upward to unearth goosebumps from moles.

His eyes work on Atreides' just fine.

Not like this he hasn’t.

The hounds back home had lesser thinking; none, beyond what next they would swallow. A strip of meat was enough to make them sit.

Feyd-Rautha’s back doesn’t end. Somewhere behind—in front of—its range, Laare disappears at a meltwater trickle burying back into the earth it sprung out of.

The overhead pinch of light mythologizes Feyd-Rautha, caping and shawling his beastly edges with shadow in places it can’t reach.

The mountaintop of his spine triangulates to focus, where Paul’s been and has by which possessed him close as a secret. Thicker than sweat and as easy to slide on, despite himself, his hand had inched from the thumb toward the clay-damp bleeding cuts he’d chipped into Feyd-Rautha’s inviolable skin.

He wanted to slip himself inside.

Paul circles the thought like a rabid animal he’s afraid to touch. He knots up with a bellyache. His mind bends its way—- keeps bending to accommodate just what it is he wants without dirtying himself.

Nothing about it is voluntary. Hasn’t bending of the self always been the mark of a great leader?

When suspended in a would-be future, he’s never alone. Its potential offshoots neighbor around in cushions he can fall back on should he need.

There are none here.

He dreamwalks to this one’s end, where the perpendicular lines of action and inaction make a corner, and realwalks toward Feyd-Rautha. It’s bold of him to have his back turned.

Stupid, any of Paul’s mentors would say.

Or strangely curious, like a door left ajar.

Still tall, two of his fingers pad down to the back of Feyd-Rautha’s neck. You can paralyze from here. Paul feels a difference in temperature and not. This confusion shows up on his face. He’s not once touched Feyd-Rautha for nothing, so he should remember what he is; how he feels at any given moment.

He commits the whole of his palm, winding himself belly-near, but not low like them, by the magnet of his own choice. He sees what he can of Feyd-Rautha’s jaw when he tests a push into the spinal bone.

[thesightstoshowyou]

Timing is Everything

Jesse Cromeans x F Reader x Asa Emory (NSFW)

Summary: Trapped between a predator and a hard place.

Warnings: All the warnings! Dubcon/noncon, daddy kink, Dominant Asa, possessive Asa, creampie(s), anal play, heavy degradation, slapping, manipulation, knife use, blood, torture, “aftercare.” Safe word? What’s that?

 ~~

             When the penthouse elevator dings, you think it’s Asa. It’s after five, Asa’s typical time to return home and recharge before heading out into the night. Jesse’s been gone for days to who knows where, but this isn’t unusual.

             So, when you peek under the cabinets from your spot near the stove and see soft lights glinting off chrome, you’re surprised. He strips out of his black suit jacket, kicking off his boots as he goes. You frown at the blood that drips off the soles onto clean marble. Asa’s going to be pissed.

             But, maybe that’s the point.

             “Hey, you. Back already?” you ask casually as Jesse stalks behind the counter. He drags his fingers leisurely along the sleek granite as he strolls over to you. There’s promise in the way his hips sway as he approaches, a hint of impatience in his swagger. Immediately, you’re on edge.

             Uneasy, you meet his shadowed gaze as well as you can through the darkened eyeholes of his mask. He doesn’t stop, doesn’t pause, just keeps slowly pressuring you until you’re backed against the sink. You gulp when his arm slides around your waist, one huge hand grabbing a handful of your ass.

             “Asa’s not here—

             Jesse claps a hand over your mouth and shakes his head. He bends down to your level, nudges your cheek with the chilly teeth of his mask. The hand on your ass disappears, resurfaces clutching one of those heinous blades. Dried blood flecks off the handle as he twists it, brings cold steel under your chin.

             You’re afraid, yes, but not of the knife. Asa doesn’t like Jesse to touch you if he’s not there. The Collector is the sole orchestrater of your pleasure and pain, and Chromeskull is an extension of Asa’s knife. Usually, Jesse is more than happy to take instruction on how best to pull you apart and put you back together.

             Usually.

             Not tonight, apparently. The last time this had happened, you hadn’t been able to walk for a week. You wonder what Asa said to Jesse to set him off.

             “Daddy, please,” you mumble behind his hand, hoping the pet name will give him pause. Jesse’s gaze snaps back to yours. He brings the knife in front of your face and shakes it back and forth. ‘No, no, no, little girl,’ it says with its movement. You plead with your eyes and Jesse’s shoulders shake in silent laughter. He’s enjoying the way your lips tremble in trepidation.

             Jesse seizes you around the waist, tosses you over his shoulder, saunters to the bedroom. You let yourself be towed, racing mind wondering what the hell you’re going to tell Asa when he inevitably walks in on the both of you. You nearly scoff out loud; as if Asa’s going to let you speak. You’re so, so fucked.

             Literally.

             When Asa does finally return home, you don’t hear him enter. The only things you can hear are the rustling of bedsheets in your ear, the fervent slap of skin on skin, and your muffled groans and screams. Jesse has your cheek smashed into the mattress, drooling mouth stuffed with your panties, arms pinned behind your back, two, thick fingers speared into your ass, and your hips in the air as he pummels your sore cunt. No hole left unfilled.

             You’re dripping cum and your own fluids, the sheets a wet mess beneath you. Whatever Asa said to him, it really, really set him off. Deliriously, you wonder if you’ve ever seen him so pent up.

             You yelp around the underwear between your teeth when Jesse tugs his fingers from your ass. His hand flies to your hair, gripping your messy locks and turning your head the other direction so you’re looking at the bedroom doorway. Your eyes widen in horror when you see Asa leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, dark eyes intently focused on the arch of your back.

            Behind you, Jesse hisses and hilts himself, spilling another load of sticky cum into your abused cunt. You grunt and wriggle against the hand keeping your arms pinned. He’d timed that perfectly, hadn’t he?

            Deliberately, Asa pulls a pair of black, nitrile gloves from his back pocket. He snaps them on, one at a time, intertwining his fingers to achieve the snuggest fit. Your chest heaves, your limbs trembling at the methodical way he flicks open the sheath on his hip and produces a slim knife, the blade glinting maliciously in the low light.

            Jesse slips from your cunt with a sigh, releases your arms, crawls up beside you so he’s resting against the headboard. You flop over, yank the panties from your mouth, push to your knees with shaking arms, drop your chin to your chest submissively.

            What do you say? He’ll hurt you more if you talk out of turn. Fuck, this isn’t fair.

            Jesse will emerge from this ordeal unscathed. He’d never allow Asa to punish him, no, not without a bloody, vicious fight. That’s not what this twisted relationship is about, but Asa will have to punish someone.

            And that someone is you.

            A normal relationship would have a predetermined word, a phrase, a hand signal, something that would bring this nightmare to an end, but when you’re the obsession of both the Collector and Chromeskull, there is no safe word. There is pain and there is pleasure and no relief from either, ever.

            Gloved fingers brush your cheek, grip your chin and tilt your head so your eyes meet black. His face is blank, utterly expressionless, but this is when he is most dangerous. You don’t know what he’s planning. Again, you beg with your eyes, hope he’ll take pity on you. There was nothing you could do to stop Jesse, he must know this.

             Asa hums thoughtfully, pulls down your bottom lip with his thumb, “I know this wasn’t your idea, Cricket.” He shoots Jesse a petulant glare and the bed wobbles under you with what you can only assume is more unheard laugher. Your heart lifts slightly. Could you be this lucky…?

             His eyes return to yours and you blink until tears slips down your face. Instantly, your stomach plummets and you gasp in shock when he delivers a stinging slap to your cheek. You whimper, clutching your face and shuddering when he sighs heavily.

             “Unfortunately, that’s not enough to save you, silly girl. If you weren’t such a desperate whore, he wouldn’t have broken my rules, would he?” You visibly tremble, nod your head, because what else can you do now? Submit, take the punishment like an obedient pet, learn to run faster than Jesse.

             “On your back.” Instantly you fall back. You try not to glare up at Jesse when he pulls your head into his lap, fingers carding through your sweaty hair in mock sympathy.

             “Look at me.” You do, “How many times did he cum? Tell the truth, Cricket or I. Will. Hurt. You.”

             “F-Four, Sir,” you stammer, your heart fluttering in your chest like a panicked bird. Asa’s eyes flick to Jesse’s and the skull mask nods once in affirmation.

             “Four? Christ, Jesse,” Asa murmurs with a chuckle, that ominous rumble that never fails to send a thrill of fear through your bloodstream. Jesse shrugs and motions to your naked body as though that should explain everything. Asa shakes his head and addresses you, “Four cuts for the four times you let him defile my cunt. Understand? Speak.”

             “Y-Yes, Sir,” you whisper, bracing for the bite of steel. Asa spreads your thighs wide, pushes your knees to your chest. The point of the knife trails down the inside of your knee, comes to rest on the soft flesh of your inner thigh. Your gasping breaths are so loud they echo off the high ceiling. You grit your teeth, hiss when Asa drags the blade along your thigh, your dermis parting under steel and spilling crimson onto the bedsheets.

             “Count,” he orders.

             “One,” you snivel, hands fisting the sheets as blinding, brilliant agony sears through your leg. The second cut makes you groan through clenched teeth. Your muscles pull taut as you desperately try to remain still.

             “T-Two.” Asa moves to your other leg. These are going to scar so bad-no don’t think about it—

             “Three!” you scream, a high wail that Jesse immediately muffles with his fingers. One more, one more, you can do it, one—

             “F-F-Four,” you sob around the digits in your mouth. Spit drips past your lips as Jesse removes his fingers and smears the saliva across your quivering lips. The clink of a belt buckle and the drag of a zipper reaches your ears. You gasp, meet Asa’s heated gaze. His predatory gaze is fixed on the way your blood drips down your thighs and mixes with the cum leaking from your puffy slit.

             You speak without thinking, too desperate to be given a break, “P-Please—

             He’s lightning fast, shocking you with his speed more than how roughly he grips your jaw. He spits, “I don’t remember giving you permission to speak.” You scream again when he slams into your aching cunt, burying his cock into slick, cum drenched muscles. The pants that hang off his hips catch on your lacerations, agonizingly irritate your throbbing flesh

             “Anything going on in that empty head?” SLAP, “Answer me, slut.”

             “Y-Yes—

             SLAP

             “’No’ is the word you were looking for.”

             “N-No, Sir—

             SLAP

             “Shut. Up. If I wanted to hear your simpering voice, I would tell you to, ‘Speak.’ Did I say that?” Furiously you shake your head, anything to get him to stop smacking your burning cheeks. His voice drops to a low purr and he leans over you to murmur, “That’s right. I didn’t. Open your mouth.” Immediately your jaw falls open, “Jesse, give the little whore something to do with that disobedient tongue.”

            Three of Jesse’s fingers return to your mouth and languidly count your teeth. His other hand falls to his half hard cock, fist rolling up his girth until he’s fully erect. How he can have the stamina is beyond you, but that thought goes as quickly as it comes when Asa’s fingers find your swollen clit.

            You twitch and keen, bewildering pressure building in your gut with every stroke of his deft fingers. How? How does he have the uncanny ability to bring you to the edge even after everything he’s done?

            “Jesse, take your fingers out. Cricket, you are going to cum for me. Me. As it should always be. Speak.”

            “Ye-Yes, Sir, yes, yes, please, please, I want to—

            “I want to hear my name when you cum. Speak.”

            “Yes, Sir, yes, I-I will, I w-will, fuck, fuck, I-I-I—

            “Cum, now, do it, cum for me.”

            “ASA!” Despite the pain ravaging your inner thighs, you bring your hips up to meet his, muscles clenching, pressure in your belly releasing in a flurry of wet heat and rolling pleasure. Asa grunts, thrusts, exhales forcefully, buries his cock in your heat to paint your insides with his own release. Distantly, you hear Jesse hiss through his teeth, see him spill into his fist out of the corner of your eye.

            Asa’s body heat disappears from between your legs. You let them fall to the bed, boneless, useless, ready to let unconsciousness claim you then and there, but he returns a moment later with a warm, wet cloth, antibacterial ointment, gauze, and bandages. Meticulously, he cleans the wounds he inflicted, making sure the dressings are well secured before climbing into bed. You crawl into his open arms, turning away from Jesse and burying your face into the crook of Asa’s warm neck.

            Asa waits until your chest rises and falls rhythmically before signing to Jesse, ‘Four times? Seriously?’

            Jesse shrugs again, lifting his hands and signing, ‘Jealous?’ Asa snorts.

            ‘I’m not the one that’s going to be in the doghouse.’

            ‘She’ll get over it.’ Jesse motions to your bandaged thighs, ‘Those are going to scar up good and pretty.’ Asa lets a smirk pull at the corner of his mouth.

            ‘That was the intent. You timed that last one perfectly, by the way.’ Jesse’s shoulders shake again at that.

            ‘Honestly, I got lucky. I was so fucking close for a good ten minutes before you walked in. Took your sweet time.’

            ‘Had to be sure you wore her out. She doesn’t make mistakes when she’s alert.’ Asa winks and Jesse shakes his head, rolling onto his side.

            ‘Sadist.’

            ‘Pot, meet kettle.’

            ‘Touché.’

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

QueenCorp, Pt 4a: Homelander's Revenge

Content Warning: torture, graphic violence, gore, severe bodily injury

----

It's impossible to remain vigilant forever. Especially when your ward is Lena Luthor, who answers to the world and yet no one but herself. The safe house lasts only as long as she can stomach it, and when no attempts are made, Lena insists on returning to work.

And of course, Homelander has enough supes still under his thumb that it's only a matter of time before Lena's snatched right out from under their noses by A-Train, who delivers her to Blink, who then apparates Lena across the world to where Homelander waits at an undisclosed location.

Lena isn't afraid. As soon as she gets her bearings and recognizes Homelander she draws herself up and levels her very best boardroom smirk at him.

"That desperate, huh?" she taunts, her eyes calmly following Homelander's slow pacing before her. "You know, it's kind of funny. All this time you've painted yourself as a god among men, the divine chosen... and you don't even have the sense to realize it's the most common shtick out there. I've spent my entire life around entitled pricks who walk around like their god's fucking gift, and you know what? Some of them pull it off better than you..."

It's not long before she gets under his skin, and she waits for him to silence her himself-- permanently. But it's not his hands who force her into a chair and bind her to it. It's not his powers that sear her skin, making it blister, crack, and char. Nor is it his hand that gently rests at the base of her throat hours later, when the only thing keeping her from begging for death is the lack of functional vocal cords, burned away, and slowly pours cool healing over her skin, restoring skin and muscles and bones to pristine condition.

"I'm sure you've heard of Lamplighter," Homelander says when Lena's senses return and she's struggling to breathe against the horror of what she suddenly realizes is in store. "But Resurrectionist is probably new. Say hi, Rez."

A hand plops on her shoulder, and Lena flinches, new skin sensitive to the touch.

"We like to keep him under wraps. Our secret weapon, if you will. Truly remarkable-- he can heal any injury. Completely. So long as you have a heartbeat that is-- and maybe even a little bit after. We haven't had a chance to play with that. So-- settle in Miss Luthor. You're not going anywhere anytime soon."

Now Lena is afraid. She does her best not to show it. "What do you want?"

Homelander smiles, and bends close. "Why... nothing. Well-- you begging wouldnt hurt. But it won't change anything, so... yeah. Nothing."

He straightens, and shoots Lamplighter and Resurrectionist his best and brightest grin. "Take good care of her boys," he instructs. "I'll be back after I take care of a few things."

He launches into the air, and smiles as the screams serenade his trip home.

---

Meanwhile, Supergirl and Maeve are frantic. They've stormed Vought, searched it top to bottom, and every site they find records of, but nothing. There's no sign of Lena-- not that they thought Homelander was that stupid anyway, but they had to try. And after they're done, they have nothing else to go on.

There's been no ransom, no corpse. Maeve's only hope lies in Homelander's sadism-- a mixed blessing that might just keep Lena alive.

It's weeks later when Maeve receives an email with a subject line that reads "have you seen me?"

Attached is a video, which she plays immediately with Supergirl close over her shoulder.

The first thing they see is a grinning face Supergirl doesn't recognize, but turns Maeve's blood to ice.

"No," she whispers in horror as the face waves cheerfully, then moves behind the camera to take control. "No, no, no, no..."

"Who is that?" Supergirl asks, curiosity superimposed against her own fear.

On the screen, the camera walks towards Lamplighter's silhouette, which steps aside to reveal Lena bound to a chair. For a moment, Meave and Supergirl breathe a sigh of relief to see her still alive... a relief that's shortlived when the camera zooms in on Lena's right arm.

It's been burned to the bone, and suddenly the rustling behind the camera quiets enough to hear the low constant keening that pours from Lena's throat.

"Hi Maeve," Lamplighter greets as the camera lifts to him. "Turns out retirement sucks ass, so when Homelander offered your pretty lady to have fun with, I jumped at the chance."

He pats the top of Lena's head-- she doesn't even seem to feel it. When Lamplighter bends to press his cheek to Lena's in a parody of a selife pose, Lena is barely conscious. Though her eyes are open, they're drowning in agony. So much so that nothing of Lena remains in them.

"She's a good sport," Lamplighter assures them. "And hot as fuck, too. Is this the ex you mentioned? Goddamn queenie-- how the fuck did you ever say no to this piece of ass?"

The camera then shifts back to Lena's arm, grotesque and inhuman in its bonds. Her whole body jerks when the cameraman reaches out and places his hand on her bicep, just above the elbow.

"No," Lena moans. "No, don'tdon'tDON'T--!"

She screams when flesh begins to rebuild itself across her bones, muscle and fascia and nerves forming before layers of dermis knit themselves together until there's nothing but unblemished skin.

The process is long, drawn out, and Lena's screams give out barely halfway through. It's not until the hand pulls away that Lena slumps in the chair, sobbing faintly.

"I'm sure she misses you, too, Queenie," Lamplighter assuages. "But we're having the time of our lives here." He shakes Lena roughly, rousing her. "Anything you'd like to tell your friends, Lena?"

Lena blinks into the camera, through tears and the haze of agony. For a moment, it seems as though there's nothing of Lena left to say anything.

Then she coughs, blinks through her tears, and coughs out two words.

"Sebastian... Melmoth."

The camera sees to freeze, and then jerks up towards Lamplighter with an incredulous giggle. Lamplighter tilts his head, then grins with a hard pat to Lena's shoulder.

"Well, you heard her. Sebastian Melmoth, Maeve. Not much for last words, but I'm sure they came from the heart."

The camera narrows on Lamplighter's face, which curls into a cruel smile as flames seem to form in his eyes.

"If Homelander lets us kill her, we'll be sure to send you the body."

All we see of the flames that pours from his hands is the unnatural glow from off camera, and the shriek of Lena screaming is the last thing they hear before the screen goes dark.

Maeve's tear-stained face reflects in the dormant screen, and Supergirl's jaw is clenched tight, her fingers curled deep into the surface of the wooden desk. Its several long minutes before either of them can speak.

"His name is the Resurrectionist. Vought's ace in the hole."

"That-- that's good. They'll keep her alive."

"You don't understand," Maeve gasps, sobs catching in her chest. "They-- The Resurrectionist can heal anything. They'll torture her to the brink of death-- or even past it-- and every time he'll just... bring her back for more."

Supergirl pales, but her tears don't fall. "Then we go get her."

"How?!? We don't know anything more than we did five minutes ago! We have no leads, no way to track them!"

"Yes, we do. Lena just gave it to us."

Maeve blinks. "Sebastian Melmoth?"

"The name came up recently when her brother escaped from prison. It was a pseudonym of Oscar Wilde's that Lex liked to use."

"How does that help us find her?"

Hope crawls up from the pits of Maeve's despair, and takes root when Supergirl's features curl into the barest of smiles.

"We found Lex in Kasnia," the hero replies. "And that's where we'll find Lena."

[derma-essentia]

Dry, Oily, Acne-Prone Skin: which Sunscreen Gel should I choose?

Oily and acne-prone skin, I am very much familiar with and we all because we can hide Oily and acne-prone skin in shades weather but under the sun, Oily and acne-prone skin is visible.

It's hard for oily and acne-prone skin type people to choose sun protection cream that can stay on their oily skin and can be good for your acne-prone. 

Trust me I have tried so many Sunscreen Gel, Sunscreen Spray and I know what kind of Sun Protection is Best for you.

In This Article

Which sunscreen to choose according to the type of skin?

What Sunscreen for oily skin or dry skin?

Problematic and acne-prone skin

Combination skin

The key criteria for choosing the right Best Sunscreen for oily skin, Dry, Acne-Prone

How to choose sunscreen according to skin tone and hair color?

Which sunscreen gel to choose according to the skin type?

If it is impossible to leave your home without your cell phone and keys, the happy owners of problematic skin (oily, acne) know that the same goes for their Sunscreen Gel! 

A little tan without suitable protection from the sun's rays (UVA, UVB) is enough to invite pimples and blemishes on your face in summer… not only. 

This is why, just as with everyday moisturizer, it is essential to find the one that will best protect you from the UVA, UVB sun rays, the one that is most suited to your complexion, your skin problems, and needs. To give you a little helping hand, the editorial staff gives you their best choices in terms of Gel Sunscreen. There is something for every skin type. Focus!

What Sunscreen for oily skin or dry skin?

In the event of dry skin, the creamier the formula chosen, the better the dermis will be. If this is the case with you, it is better to invest in a sunscreen that is both moisturizing and creamy rather than a “dry touch” gel, which is generally more suitable for oily to normal skin. 

Oily skin, on the other hand, suffers the most in summer, when sweat forms pretty shiny patches on the forehead, cheeks, and chin. So, this is the case that we opt for a light and mattyfying oil-free formula - best Sunscreen for oily skin with SPF 50.

Oiliness on your skin can easily rip off the Sunscreen Gel so try to find a sunscreen with water-resistant formula.

Problematic and acne-prone skin

Those of you who have struggled or still struggle with acne are probably aware of the pain that follows after applying sunscreen to inflamed skin. 

So if you have an acne-prone face, know that choosing the right Sunscreen Gel is of crucial importance to prevent your pores from clogging. The wrong sunscreen will not only clog them but can also trigger serious rashes. The same goes for the wrong anti-acne facial treatment! The word "non-comedogenic" is therefore the small detail to look for before going to the cash desks. 

Here are some pointers that you must keep in mind before choosing Sunscreen Gel:

Look for Products Labeled Oil-Free - Best Sunscreen for oily skin

Fluids, Gel Sunscreen Are Good for Extra Oily Skin

Get Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Protection

Choose SPF 50

Buy PABA Free Gel Sunscreen

Combination skin

In addition to limiting the risk of skin cancer, sunscreen also protects you from the first signs of aging, just like exercises for the face. It is therefore important to choose an SPF 50 Sunscreen product rich in antioxidants which will help you immensely in repairing damage caused by UV rays and protect your skin against urban pollution.

The key criteria for choosing the right Best Sunscreen for oily skin, Dry, Acne-Prone

So, which Best Sunscreen for oily skin index to choose? Spray/Gel sunscreen, milk, oil, homemade sunscreen, mineral, chemical or organic, the range of sun products is truly impressive. 

Among the well-scented formulas, the more or less high indices and the extremely complete offer, one gets lost and does not know which cream to choose. 

In the din of key criteria to remember to ensure a vacation without the sun damage, there is one particular that should not be spared: the protection index, better known by the English abbreviation SPF ( Sunburn Protection Factor). The different indices (or levels of protection) are therefore as follows:

from 6 to 10 (low)

from 15 to 25 (week)

from 30 to 50 (medium)

from 50 to + (best protection high)

And the higher the index, the more protection of the sunscreen will be. This criterion becomes all the more important to take into consideration when choosing a sunscreen for babies and children. But be care full, if you have sensitive skin then never use a sunscreen with SPF 100. It could react to your skin. That's why it’s highly recommended by dermatologist to apply mineral sunscreen from 30 to 50 SPF to get the best protection with 0 risks.

How to choose sunscreen according to skin tone and hair color?

Which sunscreen to choose according to your skin tone? To find the best Best Sunscreen for oily skin for this summer, you need to know yourself well! Oily, combination, dry or acne-prone skin ... in addition to the different types of skin, there are also 6 phototypes. 

Phototype 1 is the most sensitive to light. It includes white skin with redness that tends to burn and systematically sunburn. For this, you must use SPF 50 even in UV index of 3 to 6

Phototype 2 is characterized by a slow and light tan. So if you have a face and eyes that are too light, you often get sunburned and you tan too slowly, you must protect yourself from UV rays by wearing glasses, a hat and, of course, using sunscreen with SPF 50+.

Phototype 3: You with fair skin, dark eyes, and hair? Do you get sunburned from time to time, but you tan well? It also requires high protection (SPF 30-50).

Dark skin that tans easily is part of phototype 4, but in case of intense or prolonged exposure, the risk of burns is always present. An SPF 30 - 50 is recommended.

Phototype 5 is characterized by dark hair, black eyes and brown skin that tans super easily without burns are rare. In this case, it is permissible to opt for an average SPF (15-30).

Phototype 6 classifies women with brown hair, dark eyes, and black skin who enjoy a super-fast tan without sunburn. Ladies of this phototype can also afford medium protection (15-25).

[gldngrl7]

Karamel Fic: Edging Toward Sychronicity (4/8)

Author: gldngr7

Rating: Explicit

Began: March 11, 2017

Chapters: 8

 Feedback:  Encouragement and constructive criticisms are always welcome.  Flames are destroyed with my freeze breath.

 Author’s Notes:

 THIS I NOT BETA-ED.  I will replace it on Ao3 and FF.net with the beta-ed version when I get it from my beta reader.

SMUT CHAPTER AHOY!  If it gets too much for you, skip to the last 1000 words or so.  Just to reiterate: this is smut, this is Dom/sub, this is DD/lg or commonly known as Dadd-kink.  Kiss the kid-gloves goodbye.

Dedicated to my fam member @mon-kai-el and the dirty bitches squad (aka The Dark Side) whose dirty talk showed me that I could take the kid-gloves off.  Stay thirsty, my friend.

There’s not a lot of plot in this chapter.  You’re welcome.

PSA:  If there are any Babysubs out there who read this and think, ‘this is me’ and you don’t know what to do.  It’s important that you know this:  THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU!  Not a damn thing, and don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.  Especially the faux-feminist posers who don’t have a clue what feminism is all about, or what owning your power really means.

       You are not the single type

             So baby, this the perfect time

                   I'm just trying to get you high

                            And faded off this touch

      You don't need a lonely night

              So baby, I can make it right

                      You just got to let me try

                            To give you what you want

 --The Weeknd – “I Feel it Coming”

  Chapter 4/8

  Kara laughs as he crosses the room with one hand on her thigh, the other wrapped tightly around her body, her legs locked around his waist.  Both of their bodies are slick with water. “We should dry off first,” she comments, a hint of protest in her voice.  Craning  her neck to glance at the bed behind her, her lips form into a pout, “We’ll get the sheets wet.”

 “Don’t care,” Mon-El replies, as he tosses her on the bed. Leaning over, he shakes his head like a wet dog, sending water droplets spinning in all directions, many of them landing squarely on Kara.  She holds up her hands to ward off the spray, but laughs maniacally, belying her flimsy attempt at lodging a complaint.  “Too late to worry about it now,” he grins, his smile a hybrid of incredulous happiness and evil glee. Surreptitiously, while she wipes at the droplet of water on her face, he withdraws a condom from the bedside table and tosses it on the bed within easy reach.

 Her laughter, and the abandon with which she wields it, entrances him.  Only an hour ago his entire world was falling apart, and now he can feel her laughter, her beauty, and her openness knitting it back together, like sutures applied to an open wound.  As her laughter begins to fade, Mon-El feel its deficit like a gaping hole opening up inside of him.  Unwilling to play party to her laughter’s demise, he does the only thing he can think of on such short notice.  So, despite the rather urgent state of his arousal, Mon-El curls his fingers slightly and goes on the attack.

His fingers digging relentlessly into her ribs, have the astonishing effect not unlike that of detonating a bomb – with a devastating yield of shrieking giggles.  A large portion of her brain shuts off instantly, becoming a slave to instinct only, while the tiniest sliver of it, the part no longer in control, speaks of logic and caution – its pleas largely unheeded.  Her back bows against the bed, logic and caution wondering why she’s laughing, but instinct scrambling to get away from the assault and find a way to gain the upper hand.

Her legs kick out, instinct seeking connection, while logic and caution prays she finds none.  Despite her vigorous laughter, it’s inexplicably unpleasant, this feeling of being tickled; his fingers finding the most sensitive parts of her dermis and exploiting them ruthlessly, and yet uncontrollable laughter is its outcome.  Reason cannot reconcile it.

Truthfully, Mon-El didn’t expect her reaction to be quite so bombastic, but it made sense in a way.  She’s been so responsive to his touch in every other way they’ve experimented, why not this one?  His laughter joins hers as he relishes the sound of it, the ultimately fruitless attempts she makes to escape, her gasps for air between peals of giggles, and the way her body contorts beneath the relatively innocuous pressure of his fingers.  She no longer controls her body, any more than when she’s in the throes of an orgasm.

He wants to taste her while her laughter rings in the air.  One hand continues tickling her while the other travels downward, fingers toying with her navel before gliding down to the nest of silken hair between her legs.   Dipping into the seam there, he finds her already wet, a smile of undeniable satisfaction spreading across his face.  Mon-El adds a second fingertip to the first, widening them to spread her open before him.

It’s too much to withstand, the tickling (though lessened now) and then his fingers stoking an even more primitive blaze within her.  It’s as if he’s crossed all the wires in her brain; reason no longer computes and now instinct feels like higher thought. “Oh!” she cries, but it’s not a word with any real meaning, just a syllable, a sound expressed only out of necessity.  A sound riding a burst of air right out of her lungs, like it was the last bus out of town.

Suddenly it stops, the sensory overload, and there’s no time for her to catch her breath before his mouth is on her, the tip of his tongue dipping into her warm honey, overwhelming her with new sensations.  Mon-El places his palms on her inner thighs, stroking her gently, seductively with his thumbs before spreading her further apart. When his mouth finds her clit, alternately sucking and licking at, electricity shoots through her, causing her temperature to rise, her nipples to tighten painfully and her clutch to beg for the solid heaven of his thick cock.

Her tongue snakes out to wet her dry lips, before they press tightly together, the edges around them turning white.  “Mmmmm,” she moans when his lips begin suckling her swollen bundle of nerve endings, building her need to a frenzy with each seductive draw.  Kara sits up, struggling to her elbows, watching his head move between her thighs.  Sensing her observance, Mon-El opens his eyes and tilts them up to meet her rapt gaze. He has her in his thrall (or maybe it’s the other way around), so he doubles down on his efforts.

The power of the sensations streaking through her body, lighting her skin on fire, turning her nerve endings into stinging nettles and melting her insides to lava, has her losing control over the muscles that hold her head aloft.  Her neck succumbs and her head falls back, leaving her staring at the ceiling through a half-lidded slit of vision.  “Mon-El,” she moans, sighs.   She isn’t sure how it sounds or even how it is intended, only that she wants more and hopes he understands.

With one last draw, Mon-El withdraws his mouth, causing Kara to lodge a non-verbal protest in the form of an entitled huff of frustration.  He chuckles, a little too self-satisfied for her liking, but transfers his mouth to the satiny sensitive skin of her inner thigh.  He kisses the skin there like it is the answer to his prayers, moving all around, from one side to the other, from near the juncture of her knee all the way down to the musculature that strings her thigh to her pelvis.  Cruelly, he studiously avoids returning to her weeping, begging core.

Kara spears a hand through his hair, hoping to subtly steer him to her center-most point.  He tosses her a steely glance, well aware of what she’s doing, and she reconsiders her tactic.  Carding her fingers through his hair, she strokes him, massaging his scalp but not directing him.  Only rewarding him for the care he shows her by returning it in the only way she is currently capable.

But she’s so needy—in need—for him, her desire pulled taut like a bowstring preparing to let loose an arrow, that despite her best efforts she can’t stop herself from begging.  “Please,” she whimpers.

Lifting his mouth completely from her (not even remotely her aim), a slow, drowsy grin crosses his face, the dimples in his cheeks deepening.  “I love it when you make that sound,” he slurs, as though drunk on her plea, and her taste.  Perhaps to prove it, or perhaps to reward her, he puts his mouth on her as last, fully committing to providing her pleasure.  His lips mesh with hers, his tongue slipping into her soaking slit determined to discover and conquer every vulnerable nerve ending.  He uses every available means to tease and cajole sighs of pleasure from her; his lips and his tongue, even angling down to tease her with the tip of his nose.

“Ahhh,” she pants, unable to contain the tension that steadily builds within her.  “Mmmmm.” Her breasts are heavy, aching for his touch, but since his hands are otherwise occupied at the moment, she offers her own instead.  In part because the ache is intolerable and requires relief, even if it is less satisfying, and in part because she knows he likes to see her touch herself like this.

She cups her breasts in each hand, squeezing the nipples, already flush with arousal, until the sensations she evokes ride the thin line between pleasure, and the erotic pain she’s learning new ways to appreciate.  With a mewling cry, Kara surrenders to the overload of stimuli; the clenching, burning need he elicits from between her legs, and the sting of frozen needles her own hands can’t seem to alleviate.

She’s so wet for him and he wants to make her even wetter.  He wants to hear her scream like never before, and fall apart like she can never be put together exactly the same way again. Forgoing the simple orgasm he had planned on driving her towards, Mon-El abandons her clit and looks up.  The view from this position is better and more wondrous than hovering over the rainbow lakes of Havania.

Mon-El rests his head on her inner thigh and waits for the abatement of orgasmic tension he worked so hard to build and watching, appreciatively, as she pinches and tugs her nipples to granite peaks.  Kara heaves a long sigh as the orgasm she chases slips irretrievably out of reach, and Mon-El knows that she’s ready to hear him.

“Trust me?” he asks.

“Mmm-hmmm,” she nods, gazing at him beneath heavy lids, entranced by the way her juices on his face catch the light.  She’s learned in the relatively short time they’ve been together, that when he withholds from her it’s because he wants something more for her—something better.  He’s never left her unsatisfied, and she suspects by the gleam in his eye he’s not about to start now.

Mon-El’s lips brush against her labia, kissing them with the same practiced technique he employs on her lips.  Vacillating between gentle, frustratingly chaste pecks to calculatedly incendiary kisses, his wet tongue stoking the fire rather than dousing it. Like a finely aged Thoronthian Ambrosia, her flavor is a perfectly balanced mixture of sweet and salty, with the barest hint of the coconut oil she slathers on her skin during her morning ritual. It seems her arms and legs aren’t the only places she massages the fragrant and flavorful oil.

“Really trust me,” he qualifies, whispering against her inflamed skin.  He teases her slit with the tip of one finger, before sliding down to her opening and pressing into her core up to the second knuckle.  “It will take more trust than you’ve bestowed before,” Mon-El warns.

“I thought…you said…no games,” she gasps at the promising feel of his forefinger sinking into her heat.  Her fingers clench at the duvet cover beneath her.

“No games, sunshine,” he vows, adding a second finger to the first and testing her tightness by gingerly plunging in and out.  She grows wetter around his fingers, her body answering the call for more lubrication while her hips gyrate sensuously in time to his torturous rhythm.  “Just pleasure.”

“Okay,” she nods frantically, ready—willing—for anything he wants to give her.  As long as he would just give it to her already.  Her body has sprouted a fine, glistening sheen of sweat, dampening her tingling hairline, her chest between her breasts, down to her fluttering belly.

“You might want to grab ahold of something and hang on tight,” he suggests, allowing her the choice.  He scissors the two fingers inside of her, just to provide a new sensation, as his thumb brushes her clit like an afterthought, with no real intent to explore its possibilities further.

Without taking a moment to wonder why, Kara reaches up, behind her head, to grabs onto the edge of mattress but is unable to find any real purchase.  “Grab onto what?” she asks.

“Okay,” he answers, placing a last kiss on her folds and withdrawing his fingers.  “You’re right.  Preparation is key.”  Sitting up on his knees, he backs up until he’s standing next to the bed, palming the waiting condom before he begins tearing the comforter from the bed.  Forced by his actions to move, Kara scrambles to the head of the bed.  When the duvet and the top sheet are on the floor, he grabs the pillows.  Mon-El sends them to join the rest of the linens with a flick of his wrists, leaving only the fitted sheet and a square foil packet on the mattress.  In responds to the confused expression on Kara’s face, he smirks and says, cryptically, “You’ll thank me later.”

With a slight bow, made all the more ridiculous by the sight of his rather insistently jutting cock, he instructs her to re-assume her previous position.  Kara complies, while he does the same, climbing back onto the mattress and positioning himself between her long legs.  Barely time to reach up under the solid headboard to grasp its base before he’s laying siege to her mound once more, stealing her breath with long, graceful fingers.  The base of the headboard, usually hidden by a sea of pillows, is bolted into the bedframe and should, therefore, provide some decent leverage.

Mon-El grins, an interesting thought occurring to him.  Something to file away for later.  “We should borrow a set of Nth metal shackles and cuffs from the DEO.  For later,” he qualifies, his eyes gleaming as he imagines a whirlwind of scenarios.

“Mmm-hmmm,” she nods, barely hearing a word he says.  His fingers move within her greater purpose now, and her hips follow their every move.  “What are you…going…to do?” she inquires, biting immediately down on her bottom lip as a streak of electricity sears through her.

“Show you what a supernova feels like,” is the only answer he supplies. Questing fingers delve deeper, all the way down to top knuckles as his fingertips search for a rough jewel in the heart of her slick, polished clutch.  He watches her face for the change he knows will come when—

“Rao!” she gasps, gulping for air, her hands gripping tightly to the headboard.

There it is.  He smiles, practically salivating like a predator facing a succulent meal he knows he will have the distinct gratification of earning.  His need to pleasure her consumes him, and he consumes it like nourishment far more self-sustaining than the air he breathes, or the yellow-sun radiation that makes him extraordinary.  Mon-El strokes the hidden jewel of her passage with the pads of his fore and second fingers, curling them back towards him a few times, watching as her breathing intensifies.

She feels her clutch grow wetter with each maddening stroke of his fingers, her own pleasure magnifying until it mirrors pain, sending bursts of white hot shudders from her core, first causing her toes to curl.  A rush of blood then fills the vessels beneath her areolae, causing the dark pink circles of skin to pucker tightly, profoundly, the tender tissues there becoming further enflamed with unquenchable need.  Her fingers clench uncontrollably and the upholstered headboard emits a threatening creak. Kara bites down on her lip, attempting to hold in the riot of sensation he meticulously builds within her, but that doesn’t stop the groan that rips through her as she tosses her head from side to side on the mattress.

Pleased to see pleasure overtaking her, coursing through her body like a raging wild fire, Mon-El grins and licks his bottom lip.  He’s nowhere near done with her yet.  Having brought her clutch to the peak of sensitivity, he sets about taking advantage of that, using every method in which he was trained. He had only ever done this twice before, during his training in the pleasure arts, and only with a training artist. He had never attempted this with one of his innumerable partners back then; he had never cared enough to put in the effort, or stall his own pleasure long enough to see it through.

But now he could give a squat about his own pleasure, if it means watching her writhe beneath his touch and listening to her fight the urge to give in to a full throated scream.  When he is finished, she will no longer have the self-control to hold back.  Rather than instructing her to let loose, Mon-El accepts the challenge of bringing her to the breaking point.

He bears upward onto the hidden gem with greater force, alternating his technique; tapping, pulling, swiping as well as pressing upwards until he can hear her struggle for breath.  He retreats and plunges back in repeatedly, increasing the speed until he’s hand-fucking her mercilessly, fingertips strumming her as though she is the instrument and he, the master musician.  The music she makes, a combination of tenacious groans, pained whimpers, and breathless panting, offers a masterpiece of sensuality and carnal nirvana.

He’s driving her toward something new and terrifying and, despite her uncertainty, her hips oblige his efforts by rising to meet his tireless hand. Her stranglehold on control is slipping with each plunge and retreat of his fingers, and Kara feels her internal temperature skyrocket until she’s certain that she will combust into open flames at any moment.  Kara slams her eyes shut, petrified that her body will use her eyes as a release valve in an attempt to normalize the unprecedented heat and pressure building within her.  But despite the attempt to maintain, her control slips another notch.

“I can’t,” she whimpers, attempting to bring her knees together in a less than full-throated attempt to stop what’s happening inside her.  But his body is in her way and the best she can do is clasp at his hips.  What is he doing to her?  Pressure builds to an unparalleled peak, and not just in the usual places.

“You can,” he insists.  Using his free hand, Mon-El grasps for one knee, holding it down against the mattress, while adjusting his body position to pin her other leg down with his own knee, spreading her wide, his toiling hand not skipping a beat.  “You can,” he promises.  “You just have to let go.”

“It’s…too much,” she sobs, drowning in a room full of air.

“Trust me,” he whispers.  His hand is covered in her honey, as he relishes the obscenely wet noises her body plays for him as he works her.  He can’t wait to taste her, to lick his fingers clean like he’s just brazenly gorged his way through a Daxamite banquet table.  

When it happens, she understands what he meant when he said he was going to show her how a supernova feels.  She is the supernova.  Everything inside and outside of her contracts and seizes, like freezing a moment in time, before exploding outward.  If she didn’t know any better she would believe that her skin had flown right off of her body, like a blanket of atomically charged particles.

As her clutch clamps ruthlessly down on him, his hand doesn’t stop moving, in fact it speeds up, applying the pressure to her secret jewel even harder than before.  “Gods of Val-Or,” he groans, overwhelmed by the stunning sight of her flushed skin, and her lithe, perfect body quivering with release.  “You are so beautiful.  Give me everything you have, my love.”  

It’s too much.  Too much to feel all at once.  Too much sensation for her mind to process.  His relentless siege, too much for her meager fortifications to withstand.   There is no air left in her lungs for screaming, and yet her body attempts it anyway.  Her neck bows back and her mouth opens, a sound that’s both groan and sob issuing forth as her grip on the headboard splits the thing in two pieces and tears it from the frame.  Her eyes glow red beneath their closed lids, tendrils of heat spreading outward like tributaries radiating from their source.

Finally, as his hand pistons, Kara’s body repays his efforts with interest, a gush of nectar jetting from her, splashing onto his cock and belly. Her clear and odorless ejaculate bathes him like an aspergillum of holy water, and Mon-El feels suddenly as though he’s been blessed and cleansed by her, by her God, filling him with a sense of sexual peace he’s never before experienced.  Withdrawing his hand, he swipes at her clit coaxing another, equally powerful stream from her, soaking him again, as well as the sheet beneath her.

Stars.  Into the stars, far beyond the sun and the moon, and rocketing into the deep black void of dark space – that is where Mon-El sends her with his devotions.  The release sweeps everything away, short-circuiting her brain until it becomes overloaded with the need to process sensation – complex thought now a long-lost memory too deep within her fried brain to recall.  He leaves behind nothing but the minimum of involuntary autonomic responses for her; a heart that still beats (races) and lungs that yet breathe (pant), but little else. Except the pleasure.  There’s more of that than she ever knew could possibly exist, and Kara floats weightless upon it, with no desire to drift back down to earth.

Watching her insensate body swim in the pleasure of the most staggering orgasm she’s ever experienced, Mon-El keeps the promise he made to himself just a few moments earlier.  Licking the nectar of his goddess from each finger deliberately and with great relish, he takes a few moments to savor her unique flavor – a flavor perfectly suited to his tastes.  

After removing the last of her cream from his hand, Mon-El caresses her body, soothing her tremors to quiet stillness.  Bending over her, he takes turns sucking each of her nipples into his mouth, soothing the ache he couldn’t before. Switching back and forth he pays them and her beauty reverent homage.  Her teeth chatter uncontrollably from her release, puffs of chilled breath hitting the air around her mouth.  Following only the demands of her purely carnal state, Kara presses upwards into his mouth as he suckles her breast while using a hand to tug on the nipple of the other.  

When it’s safe to open her eyes again, and she gains control of her freezing breath, Kara’s eyelids lift a fraction.  Just enough to see him admiring her, to see his belly and chest and cock, glistening with her release, which he makes no effort to clean.  Kara hadn’t known her body could do that.  In truth, she’d thought female ejaculation was a myth that girls whispered about, but never actually experienced for themselves. But Mon-El knew better.  

She feels changed, somehow, and realizes that she always feels that way after being with him.  Making love with Mon-El is a transformative experience for her each and every time. “Where…where did you learn…to do that?” she asks, her teeth still clacking periodically together.

Mon-El’s brow knits together.  He doesn’t like to think about that time, or any time before her, really. He doesn’t wish to be reminded of his training in the pleasure arts by court instructors.  They had been severe and exacting teachers when it came to technique and mechanics, but mentioned nothing of the connection that can happen when the heart joins the game.  He hadn’t known it then, but his pleasure had been shallow and empty, clinical and repetitious.  His life then had been little more than assisted masturbation, especially when compared with the unexpected fulfillment that came when sharing the art with Kara.

“I told you,” he replies, stroking the outside of her thigh.  “I spent years under the tutelage of royal court instructors of the pleasure arts.  For which I will be eternally grateful…if for no other reason than it has given me the means to bring you to such heights.  Are you alright?” he asks, his forehead wrinkling with concern.

 “Uh-hmmm,” she nods, her pink tongue snaking out to moisten her dry lips.  “I made a mess of you.”

“Do you hear me complaining?” he chuckles.  “And I assure you…it won’t be the last time you shower me,” Mon-El vows, his smile transforming into a delicious leer.  Were it not for the remaining rosy tint of her orgasm-flush, Kara’s skin would, no doubt, be prettily blushing for him.  He loves her sweet blush, since shame is never the cause of it, but rather desire.

“But what about you?  You haven’t come yet,” she points out.  “This was supposed to be about you—about what you need, baby,” she says, a hint of resigned complaint in her tone.  “But all you’ve done is pleasure me.”

“That is what I need,” he counters. “That is always what I need.  Seeing you fly apart at my touch is all the balm my soul requires.”

But still she needs to feel him moving inside of her, to make him a part of her as mates should be.  Turning her head, she spies the condom at the edge of the mattress and rescues it before it can fall off the edge, catching it between two fingertips.  Before she can hand it to him, Mon-El’s hand covers hers and slides the condom from her tenuous grasp.  She chews on the fingernail of her forefinger as she watches him tear open the package and slowly roll the condom into place, her entire body vibrating with anticipation.

Holding the base of his cock, he repeatedly slides the shaft up and down over her tender, pink folds causing her to hiss, her clit and labia raw and enflamed.  “Does that feel good, sunshine?” he teases.  Leaning down he flicks her taut nipple with the tip of his tongue, swirling around and around the dark pink puckered tissue of her areola, before sucking it all into the warm cavern of his mouth.

“Yes,” she shrieks, encouraging.  “That feels good.  It all feels so good.”

He tilts his hips against her soft, wet patch just to tweak her a bit, but he manages to tweak himself as well.  His cock, throbbing with need and as hard as stone screams to be heard, but Mon-El is not quite ready to oblige.  An obscenely wet, but supremely satisfying, popping sound accompanies the act of his mouth uncoupling from her breast.  “Do you want me inside you?” he asks.

“Yes,” she begs, her hands gripping at the hair on his head, refusing to allow him to move away.  “Yes!”

It hits him then, like a meteor slamming into the planet’s crust, that this intimacy they share will never be simple.  Their attraction—the games they play to dig deeper into each other—will never be…vanilla. So an encounter where their true natures are denied would be entirely hollow, not unlike all his encounters before her.  And if there’s anything he knows, it’s that he doesn’t want what he has with Kara to remind him of his past.  “Do you need it?” he presses.  

Kara nods frantically, loving how he pushes her to participate; how he won’t allow her to simply be passive in their lovemaking.  “Yes,” she nods frantically.  “I need it.  I need you to stick your cock in me—“

“Daddy,” he interrupts, instructing her.  It’s a risk, he knows; but it’s what he wants, and he knows deep down, she wants it too.   They had a word for this dynamic on Daxam—Dexaris—and through his cultural research he discovered, to his delight, that it was not uncommon here on Earth.  The dynamic itself is already very real between them, it lacks only the correct terminology to make it official.

Her eyes widen with surprise.  She was an innocent before he took her virginity, but she wasn’t that innocent.  Kara always did her research in advance of making big decisions, especially when they might veer in the direction of her heart.  Her readings had delved into the some of the tamer underbellies of the BDSM lifestyle, and she can confess she’d felt some intrigue while reading up on leather restraints (too breakable), piercings (impossible), and jewelry chains (drool).  She could certainly now see the draw to the Dominant/submissive lifestyle, but she’d be the first to admit that she closed the book when it began educating her about these types of roleplays.  She did not want to know that there were people who did…that, and had even tried to scrub the thoughts away with mental bleach.  Like videos of kittens on the internet.

But that was then, and this is now.  Kara understands now that it’s not meant to be some barely veiled allusion to a secret desire to commit incest.  It is instead, a metaphor, for sexual caretaking.  He’s telling her that, by being her ‘daddy’, he’s committed to caring for her in every way possible, no matter her need.  And as his ‘princess’ she will do the same for him when called upon, and she will do so without question.

Kara feels a rush of even more nectar between her legs.  It is everything she wants—has wanted—Kara realizes. As if she’s been waiting, on the edge of a razor, to make him her daddy since the moment she first felt the hot slide of his skin against hers.  It thrills her in places she once would never have dared talk about.  She spends every moment of her life, out there, maintaining an ironclad control on her powers and on her choices, but here with him, she can completely let go of all of that.  Rao gave her exactly what she needed when he brought Mon-El to her.

“I need you to stick your cock in me, Daddy,” she gulps nervously, this time adding the moniker.

His hips compress involuntarily, the very sound of her capitulation, and the subtle, sweet shift in the tone of her voice, sending his cock nearly to the breaking point.  “There’s my good girl,” he groans with approval, sighing with relief.  She could have been disgusted by the idea but, once again, she surprises him at every turn, stirring him without end.  “Tell me what you want.  I want to hear the words, see your pretty pink mouth say them, Princess.”

Kara smiles at his term of endearment.  “I want you to fuck me until you come, Daddy,” she tells him, the word shockingly easy to say, and so…right.  “I love it when go all stiff and growl at the end.”

“Do you?” he smiles, lining up his cock with her wet and waiting folds, teasing her with just the tip.  She’d never mentioned it before, and he loves that she’s sharing this special piece of knowledge with him, opening up to him in every way possible without provocation. Intimacy freely given has the sweetest taste of all.

“I love it,” she says.  “It makes me feel….” Her voice trails off.

“How does it make you feel, Princess?”  He presses the just the head of his steel against her clit, circling it around and around. He wants to keep the conversation going just a little while longer and isn’t sure he’ll be able to while he’s fucking her.

Kara’s teeth clamp down on her lower lip in response to his torturous teasing of her clit with the head of his penis.  Her clutch instinctively cramps as though calling out for its other half, the only thing that can make it whole.  “It makes me feel…like…like…unnghh, Daddy please,” she fusses beautifully and so much to his liking.  She slides her hands further down his body, to his waist, hoping to pull him inside of her. “There’s nothing in the whole world…but you and me…when you come.”  Her hips rise in response to his tease, but he holds back from her.

“Just you and me, Princess?  You like it when the world falls away?”

“Uh-huh,” she nods.

“Will you have me now?” he inquires, per his usual protocol.  Mon-El already knows her answer, has utter faith in the answer, but asks anyway.  It’s important that in her desire to please him she doesn’t lose herself and her own pleasure in the process.  He values his goddess not just for the powerful body that submits to his, but for the strong mind that knows her own will.  Were her mind weak or easily manipulated, he could not savor her submission with quite the same relish.  “Will you take me inside of your hot clutch?  Say it for me.”

“Yes,” she replies.  “I’m so lonely without your giant cock inside of me.  Push it in deep where I’m aching, Daddy.”

“Whatever my princess wants,” he rewards her honesty by pushing into her until he bottoms out.  

Kara loves the way his eyes drift close and a tranquil peace takes over his face whenever he first enters her, like he’s finally been relieved of a chronic and persistent pain.  Her fingernails dig into his skin in response to the sudden but very welcome feeling of fullness his cock provides.  Unrepentantly, she scores his back with stinging marks that will heal all too soon for his liking.

Mon-El withdraws at once, rocking back into her gently, and then again in an attempt to turn her expression of bliss to one of eager urgency.  On reflex, her knees rise to grasp at his powerful flanks as he props himself above her, one hand resting on the bed beside her head, the other holding her hip, tilting it to meet his thrusts.  

“Yes!” she whines, but rather than complaint, he hears only exultation.  Kara’s hands roam freely, caressing his cheeks, his neck and down his chest, until heading back up to settle on his shoulders.  Mon-El responds to the primal sound of her urging by answering the call, dragging slowly out of her by half and sliding back in with a sigh and an answering groan of his own.  He finds a steady tempo of half-thrusts that meet his needs but promises to extend her pleasure as well.

He fills her so completely that each and every time they come to this place again, she’s discovers she’s forgotten how good he feels, how perfectly matched their bodies are.  Among Kryptonians an ancient tale is told: that eons ago, Rao gathered all of the stardust of the galaxy and created each couple as a single creature.  Then, one at a time, He struck them apart and scattered them to the cosmos.  As time passed, Rao took pleasure in watching and waiting for the perfect time, at last, to bring the stardust together again.

With everything she has, Kara believes that Rao played an instrumental role in bringing Mon-El to her and she wonders if He’s looking down upon them now, well-pleased by his efforts.  Her hands slide down Mon-El’s chest to his stomach and around his hips until she cups his ass, caressing the hard globes with gentle fingers, as though they could convey the words her mouth seems not quite ready to divulge. “You’re my stardust,” tumbles uninvited from her mouth in a cracking, panting voice upon another of his thrusts.  I love you.  You make me whole.  

Mon-El smiles, recognizing the reference.  On Daxam they were familiar with the Kryptonian fairytale of the matching stardust.  At length, they would laugh about it, snickering at the notion that a One True all-powerful God would care enough about such lowly beings as to handcraft a mate for each one of them, like a matched set of silver crowns.  Why wait for your silver crown when you could wear any of the jewels of your choosing?  That was the Daxam way.

But it didn’t seem so funny anymore, the idea of being tied to a person beyond words or even a shared predestination, but down to one’s atoms, the nuclei – the peta-quarks of their very existence.   Sinking down to his forearms, her whole body cradling his, he takes her mouth with his. She opens for him, taking his tongue into her mouth as she took his cock inside her welcoming heat.  The kiss is a leisurely and a thorough display of jubilation, their tongues sliding languorously as though getting to know one another again after a long separation.  When he retreats, as always more affected by their kisses than he expects to be, her mouth chases after him.  She gasps when Mon-El bites at her lower lip, before sucking it between his lips to sooth its tenderness.  Then he groans against her still-questing mouth, the thrust of his hips between her thighs still slow and measured.  “Everything feels right when I’m inside of you,” he says against her open mouth, before claiming it once more.

He can forget everything when her hot clutch is drawing him inside, demanding, insistent, and undeniable—undefiable—like sunrise or the morning rise of his need for her.  He can keep this steady pace indefinitely perhaps, driving her up to edge of fulfillment without ever allowing her to fall.  And it feels like bliss, her wet heat clutching at him when he tries to withdraw, like a frantic child gripping the leg of a departing parent.

Mon-El buries his face in her neck, consecrating it with hot open-mouthed kisses, nipping with his teeth before sucking on the tender flesh there until blood rises to just beneath the surface.  Kara turns her head to the side to give him better access, opening herself to him as much as possible as he fucks her slowly, sensually.  The muscles of his ass seize and release, seize and release over and over, his thrusts bringing her closer and closer to completion. Deliberately.  Incrementally.

They dance this dance until their skin grows slick with perspiration, their lubricated bodies sliding easily against one another.  With each plunge of his pelvis, his pubic bone bears down on her clit, not enough to drive her over the edge, but enough to have her emitting a high-pitched keen that’s music to his ears.

But more than the sweet sounds of her pleasure he wants to hear her voice, loves how raspy it gets when she’s nearing her peak.  “Is that good, baby?” he asks.  “Do you like it when I fuck you like this?”

“Mmmm,…yes, Daddy,” she replies, her teeth chattering slightly.

A tension he can no longer place on the back burner sparks in the lower part of his spine, wrapping around to settle in his balls with painful insistence. But he knows that this is where control is paramount, because the longer he denies his climax, the more intense it will be.  To Kara’s frustrated disappointment, Mon-El slips out of her heat and sits up on his haunches.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asks, her brow crinkling in confusion. “Are you mad?”

“No, baby.  You’re much too good to make me mad.”  Grasping his cock lightly between his fingers, he taps the bulbous head against her swollen clit.  Her hips gyrate in response to the continuing stimuli, but still her body cries to have him back inside of her.  She will happily go without though, if he has other means in mind to provide her pleasure, especially if it results in his own.

His praise exhilarates her, as does the rapid tattoo of his heavy steel slapping against the sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her folds. “Are you going to come in my mouth?” she perks up, her disappointment giving way to hope.

Mon-El considers her suggestion and then shakes his head. “I’ve already claimed you like that once today.”  Fondly, he recalls shooting his load on her belly during their illicit—and extremely eye-opening—sexual encounter at her place of employment this afternoon.

“Claim me again, Daddy,” she pleads.

“Kara Zor-El,” he sighs, his heart breaking with the fullness of it, “there is no act of heroism or selflessness I could have ever committed to be worthy of you.  Not in a thousand life times.”

For a moment, the game stops, her ‘good girl’ façade slipping until she’s there with him in the bubble of intimacy.  “Rao has been very good to both of us,” she replies.  “I believed I would never have anything like this.  I didn’t even know what I needed…until you showed me.”

“And what is it that you need?”

“Someone I can trust completely with all that I am,” she replies. “Even the parts I don’t know about yet.”

“Trust is only one of the many things that bonds us together,” he tells her.  He says it like a vow, and she can’t help but feel he wants to say more but holds back. Kara’s breath catches a little, in a way that has nothing to do with the electrical impulses that are running riot throughout her body, but especially below her belly-button.

This isn’t the moment to tell her he loves her, while she’s utterly compliant and he’s holding his hard cock in his hand.  Mon-El can be occasionally obtuse about the protocol involved in how emotions are shared on this planet, but he knows that confessing love for the first time during sex would come off as disingenuous at best, and emotionally manipulative at worst.  So for now…trust would have to suffice  

Soon though, he would have to work up the courage to bare his soul to her, and pray to Rao and all the gods of Val-Or that she feels the same. Or at least, is willing to allow him to remain her mate.  Mon-El takes her hand and kisses her wrist at the pulse-point before making his way down her arm, nipping at the soft skin on the inside of her elbow.   “How do you like it best?” he wonders, signaling a return to the game.

“I told you,” she answered, gasping at feel of his lips and hot breath on her elbow.  Who knew she was so sensitive there?  “I love it when you go stiff—“

“No, I mean…how do you like it best?”

“There isn’t a way I don’t like it.  But if I had to choose…I like it when you go deep, so deep it’s like you’re trying to smash our atoms together.  And I like it best when you go hard and fast, harder and faster than any human can go – hard like a battering ram.  I like it when you show me I’m yours and make me feel it, Daddy.”

Mon-El hooks his elbows under her knees and hoists her legs up until her calves are propped against his shoulders.  He leans forward until her ass lifts off the mattress, opening her even further to him.  With one hand, his guides his shaft into position and wastes no time ramming into her. Her entire body stiffens in response to his invasion, her hands reaching around her thighs grappling for any part of him she can touch as her hips rise to meet his thrust.  “You want it all?” he taunts, withdrawing and waiting at the rim of her entrance with just his tip inside.  Her clutch ripples, clasping its muscles around something that’s no longer there.

“Uuungghh, yes!” she frets, on the verge of boiling over.  “I want it all.  Give it to me, please?  Pretty please, Daddy?”

“How could I deny such a sweet request?”  He capitulates to her wishes slamming home until he feels like he might disappear inside of her.  Dragging slowly out of her, her body fighting his retreat with all it has, he pushes back in over and over again, using his own body weight to propel his forward motion. Harder and faster, her voice begs, so he obliges by speeding his thrusts outside the realm of human capabilities. With one hand he reaches for the ruined headboard, hoping to find some leverage.

“Yes!”  Kara’s cries are like worship, a voice praising his godliness, or at least that’s how it makes him feel.  “Just like that, Daddy,” she whimpers, unable to quite catch her breath.  “Fuck me so hard.”  

He can feel the flutters of her inner walls begin, so he scrambles to alter her position.  Sitting up on his knees, Mon-El places his hands on the backs of her thighs he pushes them forward until they’re pressed against her breasts.  “Hold your legs apart,” he demands, never breaking eye contact he uses ‘the voice’ that makes her impossibly wetter, “and don’t let go.” Kara complies by slipping her hands into the crooks of her knees to hold her legs.  Spreading them wider, she lifts her head to watch his dewy cock disappear inside of her as he returns to pounding her.

Hands now free, he fists one in her hair, roughly drawing her head up so that he can capture her open mouth with his.  Their heavy breath mixes as tongues tangle far more lazily than expected given the superhuman pace and power of his thrusts.  Gripping her hair to hold her body in place as he fucks her, his other hand reaches for the rickety headboard, using the leverage he gains to adjust his hips to a steeper angle of entry, striking the upper wall of her passage in just the right way.

“Rao!” she sobs, the muscles and tendons of her neck distending from the struggle of racing toward her oncoming climax.  She gasps for air as the electric shocks streaking through her give rise to a lump in her throat and sudden onset of inexplicable emotion.  Unbidden, tears slide down her temples into her hair. His cock ruthlessly and repeatedly strikes the spot his fingers had earlier primed to such great success.  

Her neck arches, the onslaught of sensation in her clutch so acute and so excruciating her body would attempt escape, were it capable of anything more complicated than feeling his rigid length fucking her into the mattress right now. Her nerve endings may be sending mixed signals, but her mouth knows exactly the message to send.  “Don’t stop,” she wails, everything below her belly button priming to explode like a coil wound to the springing point.  “It’s all tight, Daddy.”

At this signal, he pummels harder at her signal, recognizing that she’s just a few pumps away from getting him all wet again.  “Are you ready?”

“I’m going to come,” she gasps out.  Her skin is red, a fine sheen of perspiration giving her a glow that reflects the light, her breasts bouncing in time to his tempo.  He can see the pulse racing beneath her skin as though it’s attempting to beat its way out of her.

Drawn by the visible pulse, Mon-El slides his hand from her hair, past her cheek to her corded neck and settles his hand around it.  Her eyes widen slightly and a look passes between them, a non-verbal communication that consists of a plea for trust, answered with a blink of acceptance.  Surprising and delighting him once again, Kara’s head relaxes back, allowing him his way.

He deliberately places his thumb over the beating carotid artery and slowly adds pressure to his fingers as his thumb bears down.  Though her air intake is somewhat restricted, that is not his overall objective by using the choking maneuver.  By depressing her artery and temporarily decreasing the flow of blood to her brain, he impels a sense of lightheadedness that will give way to full-blown euphoria if he chokes her long enough.  In the hands of a neophyte, the untrained, or the well-meaning but overly enthusiastic, this technique of inciting pleasure can be dangerous, or even fatal.  But Mon-El knows exactly where to press and how, and he knows the signs of distress for which to be on the lookout.  Not that the life of Supergirl could be in danger from anything he could do to her.

She need only place a hand on his wrist to make it stop.  She does not.

It takes only a moment for the world to go white and fuzzy around the edges, bright pinpricks of light floating behind the screen of her sight, her vision turning to something like a movie dream sequence.  But she cares for none of it, because all she can process right now is the way her clutch tries to maintain a death grip on his retreating cock.  The agonizing tightness in the deepest pit of her lower belly is one permissive word from drinking him in, like her womb is a desert and his seed is the only glass of water for thousands of miles.

“Are you going to make a mess for me again, Princess?” his voice sounds like it’s coming through a tunnel.  Kara focuses on it, listening for the words her body needs to hear.

Despite his hand pressing on her neck, she croaks, “Yes, Daddy.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” he acknowledges, each word accompanied with a grunt of effort.  The room is an erotic symphony of panting breaths, sensual whines, feral grunts, and the bawdy sound of skin slapping relentlessly against skin.

“Please, Daddy?” she begs, sobbing.  She’s swimming in the tension of pleasure unfulfilled, on the precipice of coming to fruition but for want of his indulgence.

His fingers tighten around her neck, compressing her artery further until her eyes roll back slightly and finally he can release her, in every way. “Give it to me, baby,” he demands. “Give me everything you’ve got.”

It’s the spark she needs to incite the impending explosion.  Not anything like falling over a cliff, instead it’s like riding a burning rocket past the stratosphere into an unknown abyss. She goes supernova again, her clutch convulsing uncontrollably as she squirts a gush of fluid that soaks his belly and shaft, as well as the sheet beneath her.   For a second, as though the comms to her extremities have shorted out, she loses the full feeling in her legs turning them into a cushion for pins and needles.  

Gods, he can’t take it!  The crush of her heat around his cock, the grasping, clutching paradise of it, is more than he can bear.  More than he wants to.  The dense and unrelenting pressure amassed in his balls screams for release and Mon-El obliges.  He pushes that pressure into her, sharing it with her, joining her in bliss with three short but powerful strokes, each one bringing him another plunge closer to the gods. With each release of his seed, as her muscles ripple around him, he is certain that his own death is just one thrust away.  She will drain the life from him and he will have no complaints on the matter.  With the last of it, his body goes stiff as a board, while behind closed lids, his sight goes white and gray.  He feels the rumble in his chest before he hears it—that sound she waits for—a deep, barbaric growl that falls somewhere between the roar of an un-muffled motorcycle and the sultry purr of a contented tiger.

For him, the climax is over in a matter of seconds and he collapses atop her, forcing her legs to flop uselessly on the bed like a ragdoll’s. For Kara, the orgasm continues, her clutch still convulsing and rippling around softening steel, her entire body shuddering as electrical impulses besiege her central nervous system at random intervals, like mini-lightning strikes.  As though unaware that he is done, her hips unwittingly continue to cant upward into his, still tamed by a cock that is no longer thrusting.

Kara’s hands grapple at the wide expanse of his muscular back which is no longer stiff, but now malleable to her kittenish clasping as her fingertips dig in deep.  Mon-El purrs mindlessly at the feel of her fingernails scoring his skin.  When she opens her eyes, her vision is fuzzy and golden, and an all over warmth suffuses her entire body.  Sensation beyond tingly waves hasn’t yet returned to her legs, as though there’s a disconnection of some kind at the base of her spine.  Yet, she feels like she’s caught a glimpse into the core of Rao’s Light.

“I think I died,” she muses, her voice barely above a whisper.  “Am I dead?”

“If you are…then we went together,” he answers, his voice like a slow, drunken slur.  “If my fate is to spend eternity in your arms, I’ll try not to complain…much.”

Smirking, Kara summons the strength to pop him on the side of his artistically toned ass.  How he can joke while still recovering from a mind-shattering orgasm is something she will never understand.  But…somehow…she loves him for it.

“If we were dead, I could stay right here,” Mon-El laments, lifting his head from the crook of her neck and sipping at her supple, responsive lips. “Buried inside you…where I belong.”

Sensing his withdrawal even before he moves, she pulls a disappointed face and tightens her grip on his waist.  “I hate this part,” she whines, on the cusp of bursting into tears.

Holding onto the condom, he drags himself away from the warm haven of her, his legs still quivering from his exertion.  “I know, sunshine,” he says, caressing her naked flank as he slides to the edge of the bed.  “I don’t like it any more than you do.  I would prefer there be nothing between us when we make love.”

He disappears into the bathroom to dispose of the condom and returns a few moments later with a warm washcloth and a glass of water.  He hands her the water to rehydrate and she sits up just enough to comply as he wipes her down, first the mess he transferred to her belly, and then lower down.  Sipping her water, Kara opens her thighs for him again to provide the access he needs to bathe her.

When she hands the glass back to him, he sets it on the bedside table and turns back to her.  “The sheets need to be changed,” he declares, noting the large wet spot between her thighs. His own body shielded the sheets from much her ejaculate, but she still left a sizable reminder that will make sleeping there uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry,” she blushes, averting her eyes.

Mon-El grabs her jaw and lifts her face until their eyes meet. “Don’t ever be sorry for taking your pleasure, in whatever manner suits you. It is yours and you deserve every bit of it.  No shame, remember?”

“No shame,” she agrees.  Her expression changes in a microsecond from embarrassment to sultry self-satisfaction.

“Good girl,” he smiles, rewarding her with a sultry kiss.  “Now let’s get this sheet off the bed.  I don’t know about you…but I could use some sleep,” he confesses.  He’s gone without for so long he feels like he could sleep for a week or more.

He tears the wet sheet from the bed, along with the mattress pad and carries them to the washer, while she places the top sheet on the bed along with the comforter.  She’ll make the bed with a new set of sheets in the morning.  For now, this will be enough, especially if he’s holding her. “Good thinking…stripping the bed,” she says, as she climbs back into the bed.

“Told you you’d thank me,” he winks, tossing the pillows on top of the bed.  Mon-El climbs in next to her and she rolls right into arms, molding her body against his side like it was always meant to be there.  He tugs her even closer and snakes both arms around her, using one to cup the back of her head while the other strokes up and down the hourglass curve from her ribs to her hips.

Snuggling her head into his chest, she wonders, “Do you really think you’ll be able to fall asleep?”

“Well…someone wore me out,” he shrugs, “so I have every reason to hope.”

“I hope so too,” she says, her fingers toying with the patch of hair in the center of his chest.  Tangling one of her legs with his, she giggles, turning her face into his chest.

“What is it?” he asks, already halfway to laughing simply from the potent contagion of her giggle.

“One of these days we might actually wear pajamas to bed.”

“Not too soon, I hope,” he replies.  “I prefer having you naked and ready for me at any given moment.  If I had my way…you wouldn’t wear a stitch of clothing while you’re in this apartment.”

The thought intrigues and excites her, and maybe even arouses her a little.  “I’d just be naked…all the time?”

He considers the thought, imagining it in his head as a lazy lopsided smile forms on his lips.  “Yeah,” he sighs.

“And what would you do if I was…say…writing a story, naked?”

“Well, I might watch,” he answers.  “Intently.”

“Just watch?”

“I supposed there’s a chance I might tell you to bend over and put your forehead on the counter.”

“Then?”

“By then you’d be ready, because I’d be using the voice that makes you wet.”

Kara gasps.

“You thought I didn’t know?” he chuckles.  “Adorable.  Anyway…you’d be ready so I’d take out my cock and—“

“Wait a minute!” she interrupts.  “You’re not naked too?”

“No!  Where’s the fun in that?”

Kara scoffs and pouts a little, but she doesn’t pull away from him.

“Trust me, baby, you’re going to feel so much sexier if I have to take my clothes off to get to you.  You want me to have to put in the effort.”

Kara considers this notion and is surprised to realize it’s a logic she can’t refute.

“The power of your body—not  your super powers—but your shape, your form, the glow of your skin, your pretty blush, the blue of your eyes—is all the power you need over me,” he confesses.  “When we’re together you can say no—you can always say no—but you don’t and that’s more intoxicating than the finest Zakarian ale.  Ask for the heart that beats in my chest and I will tear it out for you with my bare hands, Kara.”

A silence falls over the room and Mon-El knows that in his sex-stoked stupor he’s perhaps revealed too much of his heart.  Offering to remove is heart at her word?  That wasn’t at all metaphorically apt, was it?  And she just let it hang there unanswered or commented upon. Kara breathes deeply and opens her mouth to speak, while Mon-El holds his breath.

“We’re going to need some curtains.”

 TBC

[sending-the-message]

Tales from the Gas Station (part 3) by GasStationJack

Link to part one Link to part two.

There are times when this world drifts so close to the fabric of reality that I can hear something calling me from beyond that veil. I’m always careful not to get too close because I can feel that thing on the other side tugging at the corners of my mind.

I’m worried about Carlos. He doesn’t seem to be taking this so well.

In case you don’t know, I work at the shitty gas station at the edge of our town, and weird things have been happening there for as long as I’ve known about it. I’ve been attempting to tell some of my stories, and if you haven’t caught up yet, I would invite you to read part one and part two.

When I returned to work yesterday, I was happy to find a stack of receipt papers sitting on the counter with notes written in my own hand-writing. I don’t remember writing these notes, but then again, I don’t remember a lot of things these days. It is possible that I’m working too hard, or maybe the fumes coming from beneath the gas station are playing tricks on me, or perhaps it’s just another effect of my condition.

My handwriting isn’t the best. And at times, the writing on the receipt paper becomes less and less legible, but this is my best effort at a transcription:

7:00 – It’s getting dark earlier these days. I found a note when I got to work that simply says, “I’m in the walls.” I don’t know who wrote it, but the paper smells like oranges and plumeria.

7:30 – Farmer Junior came into the gas station today, asking about the hand plants. I told him that they weren’t there anymore. He left his phone number scribbled on the back of a coupon for fifteen-percent off bulk pig feed from an online retailer. I think he’s trying to send me a message.

9:00 – I think maybe some kids are playing a prank on me. I found a lawn gnome behind the pork rinds. I didn’t think much about it, and put him in a box behind the counter. Then, I found another matching lawn gnome in the soda case. I added this one to the box as well. It wasn’t until I noticed the third and fourth lawn gnomes that I started to suspect something. I took a bag of garbage out back to the dumpster and found them on my way inside, perched on top of the roof, staring down at me like gargoyles. I used a chair and broom to knock them down, and I put them in the box with the other three.

10:00 – There is a strange scratching noise coming from the tiles above the cash register. I fear Rocco and his brood may have infiltrated the building again.

11:00 – Farmer Junior called the store. He asked about the hand plants. I assured him that they weren’t there anymore and if they ever showed up again, I would call him. I think he’s beginning to suspect that I’m lying.

12:00 – One of the cultist recruits wandered in from the community in the woods. They hate it when I call them cultists. I know they aren’t supposed to interact with the outside world until they graduate to senior cultist, but from time to time the junior cultists will sneak into town, never any further than this gas station, and buy cigarettes. They aren’t supposed to try and recruit new members until they reach senior cultist status, but this one isn’t a very good cultist. I know the cultists aren’t supposed to have names, but I’m going to call this one Marlboro. I’ll let you guess why.

Marlboro stayed in the store for half an hour, trying to convince me to go back to the compound with him. They hate it when I call their home a compound. He tried to appeal to my logical side, but I kept insisting that I was not interested in logic. I can’t remember when he left, but I don’t see him now.

2:00 – I found myself digging again. Sometimes, on slow nights, I let myself drift. My mind goes somewhere and when I come to, I wonder: where was I just now? Who was that controlling my body while I was gone?

My body did those things I’ve done so many times before that I guess it’s learned how to do them without me. My body restocked the cigarettes, my body rotated the frozen drink machine, my body scraped the mold off the bottoms of the ice buckets, my body emptied the rat traps, and somewhere along the way, my body found a shovel, went out back, and started digging a hole.

Actually, I shouldn’t say my body “started” digging. I have been, or rather “my body” has been digging this hole, off and on for the last few months. Usually, I come to after a few shovel-fulls. This time, I added another foot deep before I snapped back to reality and asked myself, “what the hell am I doing?”

3:30 – I just noticed a door at the end of the hallway past the walk-in cooler. How long have I worked here and never noticed that door before? It seems disappointingly ordinary as far as doors go, except for the fact that it’s warm to the touch and feels like it’s vibrating. I tried the handle, but it’s locked.

When I got back to my register, I noticed a man in a trench coat standing outside beyond the gas pumps, just outside the reach of our lights, dangerously close to the road. I can’t tell if he’s looking at me, or if he’s looking past the building at the woods on the other side. I wish he wouldn’t stand there like that, stoic and still, with his arms reaching down past his knees.

The scratching against the tiles in the ceiling over the counter is getting louder.

3:45 – A man came into the store, rolling a large white ice chest behind him. He had sunken blue eyes, wiry hair coming from his nose and ears, long boney fingers, and paper-thin skin revealing every blue and green vein beneath the translucent dermis. He wore a bowler cap and smelled like milk. I had definitely never seen him around before. He asked if we would be interested in partnering up with him. He sold ground meat at discount prices, but I told him that our store doesn’t do well with the “fresh foods” category, recommending he try his hand at making jerky. Before he left, he scooped about a pound or so of raw ground meat from the ice chest onto a piece of parchment paper and gave it to me as a “sample.” Once he had left, I took the meat into the cooler, where I found another lawn gnome waiting for me. I put the gnome into the box with the other seven.

4:00 – Carlos just told me something strange about Kieffer.

4:30 – There was a kid named Spencer Middleton who went to the same high school as me and Kieffer. Spencer was just a year ahead of me, but looked much older and acted much younger. I live in a small town, and small towns get bored. For entertainment, some turn to gossip, some turn to more sinister pass times. The latter often fueled the former. There were rumors around town that Spencer liked to torture and kill animals. Rumors that Spencer’s parents and siblings always locked their bedroom doors when they went to sleep at night. The rumors didn’t slow down any after the fire at Spencer’s house, where Spencer was the only one to escape unscathed.

I once saw Spencer gleefully stomp on a lizard, throw his head back, and laugh.

Some short time after his house caught fire for the second time, Spencer left town. The story went that he had gone off and joined the army. I didn’t know what to think about that, so I simply didn’t think about that. I would have been perfectly happy to never think about that, but after all these years I’m forced to. Because Spencer Middleton just came into the store and ordered a cup of coffee. He’s sitting in one of the booths, talking to Kieffer.

The cultist, Marlboro, is back. He asked if I could spare him some time to talk about his fake religion. They hate it when I call it a fake religion. I told him he had to leave. He seemed upset.

4:45 – Spencer and Kieffer sat around for a while and didn’t buy anything but two cups of coffee. When they finally left, I let Carlos know. He had been hiding under a blanket in the walk-in cooler, although I can’t really understand why.

Carlos explained to me exactly what happened. He had finished his shift a couple nights ago and just left the gas station when he saw Kieffer’s SUV pulled over in a ditch at the bottom of the hill. Carlos, being the good guy he is, decided to check and see if Kieffer needed any help. He says that when he pulled up and got out of the car, he could hear what sounded like a loud crunching noise coming from just beyond the tree line.

Carlos went to investigate. That’s when he saw something. When I asked Carlos what he saw, he just started speaking Spanish in a fast, panicked sort of way. I don’t speak Spanish, but I nodded along empathetically. The only word I could pick up was “Strega,” which is the name of a liquor we carry.

Whatever it was that Carlos saw, it made him race back to his car as fast as he could and back out quickly, without looking. And that’s when he ran over Kieffer.

Carlos is a good guy. But here he was in a bad situation. He stopped, checked on Kieffer, and confirmed that he was definitely dead. There was nothing he could do that would change that fact. It was an accident. Carlos was on parole. There was that thing in the woods, and Carlos had to make a decision, and quickly. So, Carlos heaved the body into the trunk of his car and drove off, trying to figure out exactly what he should do.

Carlos took me to his car and showed me the body. I can confirm, one hundred percent, that it was Kieffer in the trunk of his car. Not just because of his unmistakable face, but also because of his phone and wallet that were in his pockets.

5:00 – I finally got tired of the scratching and pulled our ladder out of storage to see what the racoons were doing in the ceiling, but when I pushed back the tile, the only thing up there was another gnome. That makes one dozen so far.

6:00 – The man in the trench coat is still outside.

The cultist came back in, demanding an audience with me, insisting that if I would just listen to him I would see that his reasoning is superb and flawless, and that I would be a fool not to join him in the perfection of logic and nirvana that is his belief structure.

I agreed to listen to his pitch if he would agree to ask the man in the trench coat to leave. Our hasty verbal contract in place, I steeled myself to listen. Honestly, he did make a few good points, but I suppose that’s to be expected from a viral thought experiment strong enough to convince perfectly normal people to abandon their real lives and go live in a commune in the woods past the shitty gas station on the edge of town.

They call themselves “mathmetists.” They believe that humankind exists to fulfill two moral imperatives: to decrease suffering, and to increase happiness. A successful life increases happiness more than suffering. A decent life decreases suffering more than happiness. How good a person is can be determined by the spread between the happiness increased and the suffering decreased. Obviously, if the individual has a negative spread—that is, if they’ve increased happiness less than they’ve increased suffering, or if they’ve decreased suffering less than they’ve decreased happiness—then that means, very simply, that the individual is bad. Therefore, if an individual causes a tremendous amount of happiness and suffering, one can simply determine which was higher, and use this perfect rubric to determine whether that individual was good or bad. Simple, right?

The mathmetists believe that the world has been going about good and bad in the wrong way. For eons, we’ve been attempting to increase happiness, when instead we should have been focusing on decreasing suffering. As happiness is a fluid concept, and the more happiness you create, the harder it is to sustain, as happiness has a clear set of diminishing returns. Suffering, however, is consistent. Suffering results from happiness coming to an end. Suffering is pure, and eternal. For a mathmetist to be supremely good, they must simply end all suffering. That is why the mathmetists are working on a bomb to destroy the entire planet.

By ending all life on earth, they end an infinity of suffering into the future. With every life they avert, an entire lineage of people that would be born into a life of suffering will no longer. Every death is a preemptive mercy-killing. Every happy moment that will no longer occur pales in the face of all the sad moments that are likewise prevented.

And so, as Marlboro explained, their murder cult believes that killing is a kindness.

I told him that his ideas were stupid and he was stupid and that now he now had to go tell the man in the trench coat to go away.

6:30 – The phone rang.

This is strange for two reasons. First, because it was not the land line. It was the cell phone, even though we do not get cell phone service way out here. And second, because it was the cell phone. The one that I took off of Kieffer’s body.

I’ll admit, I was stuck in a bit of a moral quandary ever since Carlos confided in me. On the one hand, Carlos had killed someone. On the other, it was an accident and Carlos’s parole officer may not see it that way. I thought I would have more time to figure this out, but when the cell phone started ringing, I knew I had to make a decision.

I answered it.

I didn’t speak first. The voice on the other line was one I recognized.

“You have something that belongs to my boss.”

It was Spencer Middleton.

“His cell phone and his wallet,” I answered.

“What? No! We don’t care about that shit! We can buy more phones. We can get more wallets. You know what we want.”

He was right. I did.

“It was an accident,” I explained.

“We know. We want to make a deal. You give it back, and we pretend this whole thing didn’t happen.”

“Can we do that?”

“Absolutely.”

7:30 – Carlos came in for his shift at seven and I explained the deal to him. He wasn’t thrilled, but as I laid it out very clearly, he didn’t have a choice.

We parked Carlos’s Camry behind the gas station near the growth of handplants and made a point to stand far enough away to not get grabbed. Kieffer’s SUV drove up a few minutes later. Spencer was driving. He and Kieffer got out, sized us up, and opened the back of their vehicle.

Carlos popped the trunk.

Kieffer and I stared at each other while Carlos helped Spencer transfer the body from one vehicle to the other. Spencer had a tarp and blanket ready to wrap everything up. Kieffer put a hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “You done good.”

Then they left. Carlos started crying and I left him to go back inside the store. It was almost day time, and that’s when the new part-timer was scheduled to take over.

8:00 – The new part timer is late. I’m overdue for a lunch break. I made the best of my extra time here by putting price stickers on all the lawn gnomes. We’re ringing them up as “miscellaneous grocery” for $9.99 each, and I’ve already sold a couple. I’m a really good employee.

8:30 – I went to the bathroom and saw a man standing there with his pants at his ankles. He wore checkered boxers and a cowboy hat. He smiled when he saw me and simply said in a somewhat sing-song voice, “Come on man. Come onnn with it.”

I took the opportunity to ask him something that has been bothering me.

“Do you know, is everything going to be ok?”

The bathroom cowboy took a second to think, then he pulled up his pants and walked past me, spurs clinking against the bathroom tile. He stopped for a second when he was right next to me and said plainly, “I appreciate it.” Then he left.

I honestly have no idea what that means.

These are the entirety of the receipt paper notes, but I did make a point to continue keeping a journal. I think this will be a healthy way of chronicling the weird events at the gas station. Maybe this will even help with my condition, I don’t know. The next time something strange happens, maybe I’ll come back and write more. Until then, I guess this is to be continued…

[cristinajourdanqp]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

[watsonrodriquezie]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

[fishermariawo]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

[milenasanchezmk]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

[cynthiamwashington]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

The post Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits appeared first on Mark's Daily Apple.

Article source here:Marks’s Daily Apple

[theglowingbunny-blog]

SSSUN 101 (Summer, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen) - Sun’s Up, Guard’s Up! #1

On the Northern Hemisphere like the US, summer 2017 will hit them around mid June. While us who lived in Indonesia, which crossed by the equator, summer hits us pretty much all year long. Although it’s been raining quiet a lot lately from noon and above, the sun is still quite intense at times, at least that what’s been going on here in Bandung for the months. The sky might be cloudy or that the sun is less blazing than how it normally does, doesn't mean we should neglect the importance of using sunscreen, ever. Because the UV rays might still peek through those cloudy sky and we just didn't see it, the next thing you know you’ll be presented by sun spots, wrinkles or even skin cancer. Yup! Skin. Cancer. I’m here not to scare you or anything, but I am here to tell you things that I know and share it with you guys and hopefully these things that I share today could be beneficial for all of you, Bunnies ♥

So to welcome the coming of summer of 2017 in the Northern Hemisphere and Indonesia’s all-year-long ‘summer’ and also to celebrate May’s Skin Cancer (Melanoma) Awareness Month, I will be posting a 3 part blog post related to skin cancer, sunscreen 101, sunscreen review and a TGB’s top pick sunscreen for 2017 called the SSSUN 101 (Summer, Skin Cancer, Sunscreen) - #SSSUN101. I will be posting 1 blog post each week until the end of May and make sure that you guys keep an eye on my Instagram for updates. Now let’s begin the first part of #SSSUN101 - Sun’s Up, Guard’s Up!

As I have mentioned above, according to the American Cancer Society the fifth month of the year is the month of skin cancer (melanoma) awareness month. There are three major types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. The first two skin cancers are grouped together as non-melanoma skin cancers. Melanoma is usually, but not always, a cancer of the skin. It begins in melanocytes – the cells that produce the pigment melanin that colors the skin, hair and eyes. Melanocytes also form moles, where melanoma often develops. Yes, moles. Some signs of a cancerous melanoma include: (1) A change in size, shape, color, or elevation of a mole, (2) The appearance of a new mole during adulthood, or new pain, itching, ulceration (koreng), or bleeding of an existing mole. Melanomas are more common in younger people, especially in people ages 25 to 29. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most commonly from sunlight, is overwhelmingly the most frequent cause of skin cancer. You can start self-educating yourself by reading this in depth web post about skin cancer or simply pay a visit to your neighborhood dermatologist for monthly check up (and I probably need to do that too in the near future). There are simple things that you can do on daily basis to prevent the encounter of skin cancer/melanoma like limiting sun exposure. Try to avoid intense sun rays between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or apply sunscreen every day, not only when your about to hit the beach, like what I used to and opt for sunscreen that has both UVA and UVB protection. Start reading the label!

(source: COOLA®)

But what is UVA and UVB anyway? As you can see from the picture above, there are several sun rays that reached us, two of them could be classified as harmful rays that is: long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wave ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, skin’s thickest layer. UVA itself could cost us several skin issues like collagen lost, hyperpigmentation, photo-aging (wrinkles) even skin cancer. While UVB would caused us an impact that might not be that threatening at first but could easily elevated to a severe level if we’re not cautious about it a.k.a sunburn.

When buying sunscreen you want to look for sunscreen that has both UVA and UVB protection. For instance, UVA protection in a sunscreen marked by the presence of a PA (The Protection Grade of UVA) or with the sentence of ‘broad spectrum’ which used by mostly Western brands, while Asian brand tends to use the word of PA instead. The ’+’ sign after the word PA indicates the amount of strength that the PA give us upon application, + means light protection, ++ means medium and +++ means high protection against the UVA. While UVB marked by the presence of a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Speaking of SPF the number beside the word SPF means of how long the sunscreen that you’re using will able to protect your skin. Basically, SPF 5 means 50 minutes protection. Multiply your current SPF to find out how long your sunscreen really last, for an example my Klairs Mid-day Blue Sun Lotion SPF40/PA++ means that my sunscreen will last for 400 minutes or roughly around 6 hours before I need to reapply my sunscreen, while the PA++ means that I have a medium protection against the UVA rays.

Reapply my sunscreen? Is it necessary? Unless your sunscreen is waterproof than you might don’t really need to do so and if it's not waterproof than we definitely need to reapply it then. Because what happen is when you are out and about in the real world, under the sun, most probably we will definitely sweat, the sweat that we produced could really dilute the ability of the sunscreen protection itself. Some says that it is better to reapply your sunscreen every 2-3 hours or at least once a day. Few years ago I remembered quiet vividly that one of an exchange student from South Korea, the currently beauty trendsetter country, standing in front of a bathroom mirror reapplying her Skinfood Tomato Sunscreen onto her face after a class around lunch time. Either she forgot to wear it on the first place or just being thoughtful to her skin, that moment hits me. How sunscreen could be a possible priority for her to the point that she carries around her sunscreen, using it around lunch time assuming that is an act of a reapplication or just using sunscreen in the first place anyway. Because that just wasn't me. 

Before college, I've never wear sunscreen on day to day basis, I only used sunscreen whenever I’m going to a pretty intense sun exposure activity like going to beach or playing softball. Upon doing my sunscreen research for #SSSUN101 - I found out that there’s a few suggestion that really do suggest we should reapply our sunscreen throughout the day. It could be quite handful but this DIY Cushion Sunscreen might do the trick for you (and me), haven’t done this before but will definitely trying it soon!

There are two types of sunscreen: physical/mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreen penetrates into our skin, while physical sunscreen only sits on top of our skin just like makeup. Chemical sunscreen gives you a better application, texture, layers well under makeup and generally doesn't feel heavy. However, there are also several cons upon using chemical filters like heated skin, heated skin could cause us excessive sebum production which could clogged our pores and eventually might present us the existence of an acne. On the other hand, physical/mineral sunscreen use zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide that is much more stable than chemical filters and would not penetrates into your bloodstream. It is also great for those who has sensitive skin. The issues with physical filters is that the texture might be thick and quiet hard to work with, might leaves white cast and does not layers well under makeup. However, as time went by I feel like there’s more and more product that will work for each one of us, we just need to explore our options and be patience about it. All and all I still prefer the physical/mineral ones as for me the pros still overcome the cons.

Try to avoid sunscreen that contains Ozybenzone (Benzophone-3) as it able to penetrate deeply into our skin then into our bloodstream and eventually disrupt our hormone stability. Retinyl Palmitate is also an ingredient that you want to avoid because it has the potential of causing us skin tumor. So again, start reading your product label, kay?

Never skip your sunscreen even when your bb cushion or foundation  for instance says that they contains SPF30/PA+++ because they will not give you the real UVA and UVB protection.  The same goes with moisturizer, instead of trying to find a moisturizer that doubles up as a sunscreen, opt for sunscreen that could also moisturize your skin that is enriched with ingredients that able nourish your skin. According to gossmakeupchat who has asked three different dermatologists said that we generally need to apply 1.25ml of sunscreen (roughly around the size of an almond) to get the perfect sunscreen protection, face only. Crazy right? So imagine how our face will look like after using an almond sized foundation, everyday. Nope not gonna happen.

Well, that last paragraph wraps up #SSSUN101 first series - Sun’s Up, Guard’s Up. I hope I am able to give you one, two or maybe a few enlightenment about skin cancer, sun rays and sunscreen in general (or perhaps confusing you? kkk). Note to yourself though, remember that I am not a dermatologist or an expert in any possible way, so I might be wrong and please do correct me if I’m wrong, I would really love to know/learn and you can always ask a real dermatologist for more deeper understanding about all of the things above.

Thanks for dropping by. I’ll see you on my next post, but until then I wish you a happy and healthy skin. Toodles!  ♥

Kalian punya pertanyaan? Klik aja disini.

Jangan malu ya, pasti aku usahain jawab kok!

with ♥, FARICA

[orlandoskincare-blog]

Fillers, For Broke People

OK, first things first: There are no injections happening over the course of the next 1000 words or so. No carnage, very boring, I know. Fillerina's Replenishing Treatment comes with two syringes that are useful for reasons I will get to, but they do not pass through your epidermis at any point-unless you are extremely clumsy. Mostly, the syringes are cute. A little joke, from a Swiss chemist to you. Fillerina the actual product is no joke, however. If you can't afford biannual Juvèderm, allow me to show you something that's going to change the whole game.

My introduction to Fillerina happened when Ashley Weatherford mentioned it in her Top Shelf interview. Ashley has gorgeous skin that is the result of a devoutly scientific approach to skincare-her recommendations are as good as smooth, poreless gold, and my daintly little boyfingers could not have Googled about them quickly enough. When the box finally arrived, it contained two very clinical bottles of Replenishing Gel (1) and Nourishing Film (2). Plus the aforementioned syringes. It's a chic white box of grade A hyaluronic acid molecules-they put the "fill" in "Fillerina."

The competitive landscape for fillers is astounding. Juvèderm, Restylane, Perlane, etc. are brand names of the same thing: hyaluronic acid. Those shopping for fillers are looking at a few things: molecule size, placement, and price, obviously. If you've ever wanted to kill 15 minutes, google "Types of dermal fillers". It's like comparison shopping for laundry detergent.

There are topical hyaluronics too, which are good and fine, but something of a different product. Hyaluronic is a popular humectant and on the surface of your skin, it helps preserve that moisture barrier thing you've got going on. When it gets underneath the skin, that's where the plumping and volumizing happens, but topical hyaluronic doesn't get there-the most common hyaluronic molecule is too big to go deep enough, and it ends up rinsing off sooner or later. Fillerina doesn't. It's got six (6!!!!) different types of hyaluronic that are all small enough to get underneath your skin. Unlike other topicals, this one is getting HA where it belongs.

At this point, my cynicism meter is beeping like crazy. The smaller-sized molecules are proprietary, which in the beauty world, is something I don't necessarily trust. ("Rare Turkish White Mud?" Bye.) But Fillerina just secured the patent for its particular cocktail of hyaluronic-"A Swiss patent, actually, which is a hard patent to get because it covers most of the world." said Melissa Peverini, Fillerina's Director of Education, over the phone. "I saw a beauty brand's website which had a campaign about their 'three kinds of hyaluronic acid,'" she said. "And I laughed. We have six!"

They have six. Imagine the Apollo 11 charging through the atmosphere and shedding equipment as it goes, becoming more nimble along the way. That's kind of what's happening here-each molecule reaches deeper and deeper into the skin, finally landing at the innermost dermis and depositing skin-plumping HA. Injectables will take the big molecules (the ones that can't penetrate the skin topically) and put them right into the dermis for maximum plumpage, which'll give you visible and lasting results. Fillerina operates on the smaller scale. The effects last almost as long as injectables, but the payoff is subtler. A natural lift, instead of an administered one. It just depends on your filler style, I guess.

Oh, and I tried it! I buckled down for the Grade 1 treatment over my Christmas holiday. It was grueling-14 days of drinking a festive six glasses of wine, going to bed, waking up because I remembered I forgot to do it, cordoning myself off in the bathroom in the middle of the night, the moonlight glinting off the metal prick of the syringe...

This is where I tell you why the syringes are important! They make it insanely easy to measure out the product and they're also great for precision placement-in your nasiolabial folds, on forehead lines, etc. I focused on my undereyes, where my skin is so thin and dark, you can see through to my brain. Then a little on the cheekbones, because why not? Draw 2mL from the Replenishing Gel, apply it only to the areas you want it, and then pat it in. This is the pure hyaluronic stuff. Wait for 10 minutes, and look! It's Kylie Jenner!

Just kidding-it's only you, wine drunk in your bathroom on Christmas. After 10 minutes, follow up with 2mL of the Nourishing Film, which is an all-over moisturizing serum of sorts. This goes everywhere and kind of locks it all in. The process repeats itself every day for two weeks and can be customized according to what you need, but here's the wonderful thing: Injectable fillers will give you 20mg of product per session (which in turn run upwards of $500). The maximum daily Fillerina dosage is...

...are you even prepared?

OK, here it is:

170mg!!!!!!

Wild, crazy, an embarrassment of riches. The molecules are smaller than brand-name injectables, so the effects are subtly lifting and volumizing, as opposed to instantaneous and dramatic. Fillerina's treatments are tiered-Grade 1 (starter HA, my choice), Grade 2 ("visible"), and Grade 3 ("severe"). They start at $150, which is not cheap. But considering how expensive fillers are and how well the product works, it's an investment I have no trouble making every two years. Skip two facials; buy this instead.

To this day, Fillerina remains the only thing that's treated the dark circles under my eyes. They're not gone-that would be dramatic-but they've noticeably improved and have stayed that way. The rest of my face has a newfound plumpness I no doubt attribute to the six sexy molecules in Fillerina. Others report decreased wrinkling, increased cheekbone volume, and even bigger lips, according to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 98% satisfaction, guys. That's a good product.

-Brennan Kilbane

Photographed by Tom Newton.

More product reviews: Read everything ITG hearts, over here.

[cristinajourdanqp]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

[watsonrodriquezie]

Collagen for Skin: The Truth Behind the Benefits

It’s easy to get into the habit of assuming that certain things “just happen” as we get older. As the years pile up, we brace ourselves for brittle bones, expanding waistlines, failing eyesight—and a propensity for falling asleep in front of the T.V.

Statistically speaking, they do loom largely. This is what we often see around us after all. But, of course, we know it’s not the whole story. We certainly can resign ourselves to a common fate, but that’s probably not why anyone is reading today. Most people who visit this blog (and definitely those who frequent it) want more. They want something better, and they’re willing to learn, move, and eat to get it.

And as with our bodies, so with our skin…

Collagen Basics

The body’s most abundant protein comprises around a quarter of your overall protein makeup and as much as 80% of the protein in your skin alone. Of the more than 16 different types of collagen, an estimated 80-90% of collagen in the body is types 1, 2 and 3.

The premise of collagen is simple: keep the skin elastic, the hair strong, and the connecty bits nice and stretchy. Without it, your muscles, bones, connective tissues, GI tract and even blood cells would be in a tough spot. 

But that’s not always easy.

Collagen is comprised of 4 amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. When the collagen protein is digested, these are the individual elements left over for uptake. But in order to produce collagen within the body, we need to have good levels of glycine, proline and lysine, along with a decent amount of vitamin C as a cofactor.

Of these three, lycine is an essential amino acid, meaning the body is unable to produce it intrinsically—it must be obtained from protein-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy and legumes. Glycine and proline, on the other hand, are considered “conditional” amino acids: the body can produce them to a small extent, but most people argue that this isn’t near enough for our daily collagen needs.

Glycine, for example, is synthesized from serine and threonine at a rate of around 3 grams per day. This, in addition to between 1.5 and 3 grams glycine per day from the average diet, doesn’t quite add up to the estimated 10 grams/day required for metabolic purposes. That 4-5.5 gram gap in your daily glycine stocks is bound to hurt collagen production, and in turn undermine healthy skin, joints and musculature.

So. More collagen consumption means elevated levels of circulating amino acids, laying the foundations for healthier skin (among other things). But just how much healthier are we talking here?

What’s Really At Work Under the Surface

As the external manifestation of our health, the condition of our skin is kind of a big deal. Needless to say, the cosmetics industry has been cashing in. 

While those topical skincare products offer little effect (being that collagen molecules are larger than our skin pores), their messages at least bring our attention to the role of collagen itself. 

Wrinkles and Aging 

As we age so, too, do the mechanisms behind collagen synthesis within the body. This means a steady decline in epidermal collagen—that same compound that makes up (or used to) 80% of the protein in your skin. And with falling collagen levels, one can expect to see a loss of smoothness, firmness and buoyancy in their skin.

Happily, several of the amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body can be supplied via consumables—in particular hydrolyzed collagen (aka collagen peptides) and gelatin. A 2014 study, for example, demonstrated a 20% reduction in eye wrinkles from just 8 weeks of collagen peptide supplementation, with the anti-wrinkle effects extending at least a month after supplementation was discontinued.

Another study using a different hydrolyzed collagen formulation found that daily collagen supplementation over the course of 12 weeks led to a 76% reduction in skin dryness and a 13% reduction in wrinkles. Researchers were also able to show a notable increase in collagen within the skin dermis from the supplementation—a sure sign that the collagen is being distributed where we need it most.

So far, these studies have largely focused on middle-aged to elderly females, but there’s no reason why the same results wouldn’t be seen in men and in younger members of both sexes. It’s also worth noting that there’s almost certainly a strong positive association between collagen supplementation and certain vitamins – particularly vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E. Considering vitamin C is a cofactor for collagen synthesis and regeneration of collagen in the skin, it’s not hard to see why.

As an aside, a slightly more invasive – but apparently quite safe – method of restoring collagen to the skin is via percutaneous collagen induction therapy – a roller with tiny needles that puncture the upper layer of the skin and thereby (purportedly) trigger the production of new elastin and collagen. I’ll admit the thought makes me personally mildly nauseous, but if you’re comfortable with acupuncture then it might be worth giving a try.

Skin Elasticity

Arguably, elasticity goes hand in hand with wrinkles – you can’t have one without a deficiency in the other – but it’s still worthwhile highlighting just how beneficial collagen supplementation can be for skin elasticity.

Research conducted by the same folks who gave us those anti-wrinkle studies also shows that hydrolyzed collagen given at different dosages has a similarly significant impact on skin elasticity. Sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 were given either 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, with the results showing a marked improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo.

Another study used a “nutricosmeceutical” (say that ten times) composed of collagen peptides and antioxidants to produce a similar result in 120 healthy volunteers across 90 days of supplementation: “Overall, we demonstrated a significant increase in skin elasticity (+7.5%)…and an improvement in skin texture after daily oral consumption of the nutricosmeceutical.” (I think I’ll skip the fancy title and just stick to calling it my daily shake.)

And as unpleasant as it sounds, apparently getting more collagen in your diet should ensure a lower risk of skin cracking. That’s a relief.

Cellulite

An estimated 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. While not life-threatening or even health-compromising, many consider it a bane for  an otherwise flawless (and even fit) physique.

Admittedly, what allows fat deposits to push through and cause the wavy appearance is weakened collagen fibers. And as we know, collagen supplementation can help with that….

In a longer term clinical study, 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were given either 2.5 g collagen peptides or a placebo over the course of 6 months. In normal weight women given the peptides, there was a decent decrease in the degree of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness,” along with improved dermal density. Interestingly, however, this beneficial effect of collagen on cellulite was less pronounced in overweight women. All the more reason to clean up your diet and get moving, too. Collagen isn’t a miracle. It’s a tool—and an effective one, especially in the right context. 

Sun Damage

There’s two ways in which the skin ages: chronologically and photologically. I may have made that last word up, but you get the idea – our skin ages whether we go out into the sun or not, but that process can be accelerated somewhat the more sun we get.

Which isn’t to say that you should cringe every time a ray of sun comes your way That would be depriving your body of essential vitamin D (along with a whole lot of enjoyment). The trick is to avoid overexposure, ensure antioxidant protection, and make your collagen intake sufficient to maintain healthy collagen levels in the skin.

The mechanism by which UV light can damage the skin is largely pinned down to a decrease in certain key antioxidants with increasing sun exposure, and a corresponding rise in malondiaidehyde—a biomarker of skin damage. Happily, both gelatin and collagen supplements have shown an ability to increase activity of the skin-protecting antioxidants and block the formation of skin-degrading malondiaidehyde.

Increasing Dietary Collagen

There’s a myriad of other ways in which higher collagen consumption can promote better skin – sleep, gut health, digestion and tissue repair are all critical for healthy skin, and collagen can in its own way enhance all of these functions. But let’s cut to the chase and talk 

Clearly, then, you need more of the stuff. Stat. But where to get your hands on the finest, most skin-supporting collagen? Let’s find out.

Bone Broth

You’re Primal, or at least Primally-inclined, so you know about bone broth, a source rich in gelatin. Gelatin contains the same amino acid makeup as collagen peptides (the amino chains just haven’t been broken down as much), making it your natural go-to for increased collagen synthesis.

If you’ve got the time, make your own bone broth from bones and meaty offcuts, or find a well-respected company that’s already made it for you. Just make sure that said broth is thick and jiggly when it’s cold.

Skin and Stringy Bits

The skin and connective tissues of any animal – land or water dwelling – contains a hefty amount of collagen (just like us humans). This means that the more crunchy cartilage bits, stringy bits, chewy bits and flappy bits you eat from that cooked animal carcass, the more collagen you’re ingesting.

Collagen Peptides

As I discussed earlier, collagen peptides are just a different name for collagen hydrolysate and hydrolyzed collagen. The Primal Kitchen® Collagen Fuel, our collagen hydrolysate powder, provides the full amino acid profile in an easy to digest form, making it even more effective than gelatin for folks who have trouble with digestion. I made it to use it myself, but I’m happy to share. 

Vitamin C

Yes, yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it’s important enough to bear repeating. Vitamin C, while not a source of collagen per se, is critical for synthesizing collagen in the body – so if you’re not getting enough from the food you eat, you need to get on that. There’s no sense wasting good collagen’s benefits. 

Thanks for reading, folks. Have you noticed any changes in your skin or otherwise after upping your collagen intake? What’s your go-to source? Be sure to share your thoughts below.