Question: Hi Val, there has been so much talk about peptides and anti-aging skin care products. I wonder, what do peptides do and do they really work?

Valentina: You are right, anti aging Peptides are a popular subject, and for good reason.  Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins and many other different types of organic molecules. They are easily absorbed by our bloodstream, and for this reason, they have become very popular and effective in anti aging skin care products.

Anti Aging- How Do Peptides Work?

There are many different peptides, and each peptide works in a different way to provide an anti-aging effect on your body.  Some help relax facial wrinkles while others help increase collagen production which can plump up fine lines and wrinkles.  When we age collagen is destroyed and is not naturally replaced.  As a result skin becomes thin and wrinkled over time.

One strategy to improve winkles and to make you look younger is to replace lost collagen. When certain peptides are applied to the skin, they act as a signal to tell your skin it was damaged and to make new collagen.

The most popular single peptide for cosmetic use is palmitoyl pentapeptide (Matrixyl). It can be found in many peptide skin products and might be effective in improving the appearance of fine lines.

You can find this active ingredient in many common drug store/department store products like Strivectin and much less expensive products like Regenerist by Oil of Olay.

How to Get the Best Anti Aging Results From Peptides

Remember, peptides are easily absorbed, but not if you have a buildup of dead skin cells on your face.  This can block absorption of your most expensive beauty products.  Protect your investment.  Remember to exfoliate and have a professional microdermabrasion performed 1x every 3 months.  This way you can be sure that your products will perform as promised.

Follow more of Valentina’s advice at http://valentinachistova.com

Email your own question to Valentina: info@dayspaexpert.com

Question: Hi Valentina. I just turned 50, but I don’t want to look it!  What is Microdermabrasion and can it help turn back the clock??

Valentina: Microdermabrasion is a treatment that is performed to obtain a deep exfoliation of the outer most layer of skin.  Some spas use a wand that has little bits of crushed diamonds.  The diamonds brush across the skin’s surface blasting away dead and dehydrated skin cells.  At the same time, a powerful vacuum sensation quickly inhales the crushed diamonds and dead skin cells after they make their way across your skin’s surface.  Other spas use a crystal free method, where a wand is used with a powerful suction force that lifts dead skin cells and impurities right off your face.  I prefer the crystal free as it is less abrasive to the skin.

 This is an excellent skin re-surfacing technique that reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and sun damage over time.

Why Microdermabrasion?

There are numerous benefits to microdermabrasion. The procedure is a quick and painless way to rejuvenate and refresh the overall appearance of your skin.  One of the most noteworthy advantages is that there is no downtime after treatment. 

Think of how a snake sheds its skin.  We need to do the same.  When we remove the outer most layer of skin that has become clogged with impurities and dead cells, our complexion instantly looks brighter and more vibrant.  Although you may not realize it, impurities within the skin have a grayish tint.  Once you remove them, you will see a big difference. 

If you are serious about beginning an anti-aging regimen, consider alternating between microdermabrasion and a gentle chemical peel.  Both treatments work in conjunction to help shed old layers of skin that have become creased with wrinkles and damaged by the sun.   You will be amazed at the results!

Stay connected!  Follow my blog at www.dayspaexpert.com or email me at info@dayspaexpert.com for more advice.

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients. Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical

Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.Follow Valentina’s BLOG and TWITER 

See for Yourself: Don’t take our word for it, take a virtual tour of Aquamedica online and see why we are the #1 spa destination in NJ.

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Our Spa covers the following New Jersey Counties and Cities: Central and South NJ Monmouth County Middlesex County Ocean Shrewsbury Asbury Park Deal Fair Haven Freehold Little Silver Brielle Colts Neck Elberon Fair Haven Highlands Holmdel Keyport Lincroft Long Branch Locust Manalapan Marlboro Manasquan Matawan Middletown Monmouth Beach Red Bank Rumson Sea Bright Sea Girt Belmar Sea Girt Spring Lake Tinton Falls Union Beach Tinton Falls Wall Old Bridge Eatontown

Question: Hi Valentina, I am a 45 year old woman with sun damaged skin. I have heard that using Vitamin C can help reduce wrinkles.  Is this true?

Valentina:   I’m so glad you brought up this subject.  Vitamin C is one of the most widely used and promoted skin care ingredients.   The variety and amount of Vitamin C skin care products on the market today has exploded, making the situation somewhat complicated.

On one hand, topical vitamin C is scientifically validated for wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation.  However, that being said, not all C’s are created equal.

Topical Vitamin C helps the skin in two ways.  First, it helps your skin produce collagen, a key factor in keeping the skin firm and plump.  Second, vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help fight free radicals which damage the skin causing fine lines and wrinkles. 

Products that claim to contain Vitamin C may be insufficient for many reasons.  First, Vitamin C can become oxidized in the presence of air if not properly stored.  When the C becomes oxidized, not only can it not boost collagen production, but it can actually CAUSE free radical damage from the corrupted C.  Second, only high concentrations of fat soluble C can deliver enough vitamin C to the cells to be effective.  Most over the counter products either contain oxidized forms of C or do not contain high enough levels, rendering the product useless.

In the right form and dosage, Vitamin C can be highly effective in improving your skin’s texture, reducing fine lines and preventing further free radical damage. 

I recommend and use Skin Ceuticals Serum C10.  This serum combines ferulic acid with 10% pure vitamin C to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, neutralizes free radicals, defends against environmental damage, and stimulates collagen synthesis.  This is one of the most well known and effective Vitamin C products in the skin care industry. You can purchase this product from our store online by visiting by clicking on http://www.store-aquamedicaspa.com/detail.aspx?ID=58

Remember, before you invest your money in a Vitamin C product, check with a skin care professional to see if the product is even capable of delivering on its promise.  Most over the counter Vitamin C products are not manufactured to stabilize the Vitamin C (prevent the C from oxidizing) or they do not contain high enough levels.

I hope this answers your question, it was a great one!  

See for Yourself:  Don’t take our word for it, take a virtual tour of Aquamedica online and see why we are the #1 spa destination in NJ.

Sign up

for our email alerts and be the first to know about huge savings on your favorite spa services!

About Valentina Chistova

Valentina Chistova is a world-renowned aesthetician and beauty expert whose experience encompasses all facets of skin care and body treatments. Internationally trained, educated and certified, Valentina has devoted more than twenty years to her profession. Throughout her successful career she has provided services to many celebrities, including Mrs. Globe 2001, famous socialite and entrepreneur Ivana Trump, well-known KTU radio personality Michelle Vassage and Olympic figure skating champion Galit Chait Prior to opening AQUAMEDICA in Long Branch NJ, Valentina also consulted with leading dermatologists, providing skin care regimes for their patients.

Valentina is a member of the National Cosmetology Association and a CIDESCO candidate (Comite International Desthetique et de Cosmetologie Desthetique), which is the highest degree of beauty therapy certification available in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, Valentina completed a rigorous training program with the Spanish organization Wontersaf, one of the world's leading centers for trichology, capillary diagnostics and scalp and hair treatment to combat hair loss and other hair dysfunctions. Valentina also holds a Registered Nursing Degree from Kharkov State University and Cosmetology degrees from the Kharkov Medical Institute in the Ukraine and the Capri Institute of Cosmetology in New Jersey.

Read more about Valentina at http://www.aquamedicaspa.com/who_we_are.shtml

Our Spa covers the following New Jersey Counties and Cities:


Central and South NJ Monmouth County Middlesex County Ocean Shrewsbury Asbury Park Deal Fair Haven Freehold Little Silver Brielle Colts Neck Elberon Fair Haven Highlands Holmdel Keyport Lincroft Long Branch Locust Manalapan Marlboro Manasquan Matawan Middletown Monmouth Beach Red Bank Rumson Sea Bright Sea Girt Belmar Sea Girt Spring Lake Tinton Falls Union Beach Tinton Falls Wall Old Bridge Eatontown