Frequently Asked Questions about Sensé Products

I've heard of some safety concerns with hydroxy acids in skin care products. Are these ingredients safe?

Lately, there has been some concern about the safety of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and of commercially available alpha hydroxy acid products. Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration commissioned a safety study on AHAs and concluded that these materials and products containing these materials could be considered safe and effective, if very careful criteria were followed. These criteria were not enacted into legislation; rather, it was a recommendation based on clinical research.

Basically, the study has shown that AHAs are active materials that require limitations on their concentration and acidity and that they should be used with professional supervision; in other words, with the supervision of a licensed esthetician or physician.

In 1997, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel - the cosmetic industry's self-regulatory body for reviewing and addressing safety of cosmetic ingredients - concluded that the AHA's glycolic acid and lactic acid and their related chemical compounds are safe for use in products intended for consumer use when:

• The AHA concentration is 10 percent or less;
• The final product has a pH of 3.5 or greater (lower numbers indicate greater acidity) and
• The final product is formulated in such a way that it protects the skin from increased sun sensitivity or its package directions tell consumers to use sunscreen products.

Sensé's products meets all the criteria outlined by the Food and Drug Administration. We do not espouse the use of higher and potentially damaging levels of AHA and, unlike some commercially available hydroxy acid products, the pH of Sensé products are buffered for maximum efficacy and safety at 3.6 - 4.1.

Throughout the development of our products, Dr. Wentz has always maintained that Sensé must be safe and effective - in that order. We have not - and will not - sacrifice any level of safety for a high-risk benefit. The skin is subjected to far too many external assaults on a daily basis, and your skin care should be exactly that: skin care. Usana and Sensé will always follow FDA guidelines and produce only the highest quality products, tested to ensure safety and the absence of toxicity.

Alpha hydroxy acids work by loosening the "glue" that binds our cornified skin cells together. By dispersing this matrix, our skin cells exfoliate or fall off quicker, and our skin is left with a radiant, more translucent appearance. The appearance of fine lines can be diminished. Sensé's Serum Intensive is also specially formulated with a combination of four highly effective alpha hydroxy acids: glycolic, lactic, malic, and tartaric. This combination allows for a type of timed release into the skin, due to the differences in the size of the molecule - thus further minimizing any irritation potential. An active beta hydroxy acid is also used to enhance the efficacy of this superb treatment.

Finally, Serum Intensive contains calming ingredients such as licorice, chamomile and green tea, and Sensé's products have been rigorously tested by one of the finest independent laboratories in North America. These test results have been remarkable in every category, which clearly demonstrates that Sensé's Serum Intensive, as well as all the other Sensé facial and personal care products, delivers superior results that you can easily see without worries and safety considerations.

--Contributed by John Garruto, Senior Scientific Advisor, Sensé

I've noticed that my skin sometimes breaks out with Sensé products. Why is this happening?

The unique ingredients in Sensé Beautiful Science^TM products are powerful and help to stimulate and renew the skin. For the most part, you will begin to notice positive differences within the first few days. But sometimes, when introducing something new, your skin goes through an adjustment period. Initially, you may notice that the skin becomes temporarily pink (due to the action of the active ingredients). This short-term change actually suggests an increase in circulation. A slight skin breakout within a few days after use may indicate that your skin may be throwing off toxins in a very visual way, or that you may be experiencing hormonal changes due to your monthly cycle. Every skin type will tolerate products differently, and your skin changes daily, even if you don't notice. It actually takes about 21 days for the skin to adjust to a new regimen. So don't give up.

Skin breakout is, in fact, an action that begins within your own follicles. Hormones may also affect your skin's condition, depending on the time of the month, including women in their late 40s and early 50s who are experiencing mid-life changes. During certain times of the month, more oil is secreted in the sebaceous gland inside the follicle due to hormonal shifts. Hence, you may experience some clogging. If you have never used any skin care products, or were a soap-and-water user, the introduction of an advanced skin care program like Sensé may actually begin a process of deeply cleaning your skin.

When beginning any new skin regimen, we automatically become more conscious of what is happening to our face and keep daily watch over our newly acquired investment. After all, our face is a billboard for expression and for what we are thinking, and we want it to look flawless. We are aware of how our make-up appears, how our hair looks, and whether we are getting our point across. This happens very subtly.

If someone has an allergic reaction to an ingredient, it will normally occur within the first 48 hours. And you will indeed know that it is an allergy, since the skin may break out in hives or show other dramatic reactions. In such cases, discontinue the use of the products.

Very few breakouts are actually caused by products. And when you consider how many thousands of lotions and creams consumers buy each year, for the most part, we tolerate them very well. Our skin is highly resilient and protects us from the outside environment.

People with allergies may be sensitive to just about anything that is newly introduced to their bodies, internally or topically. In the case of skin care products, always introduce a new product at a gradual pace. We also recommend that you do not incorporate too many other branded products into your regimen, simply because they may be too confusing to the skin.

If, at the beginning of your program, you suspect that you are very sensitive, try gradually introducing the products into your skin regimen. Here is a suggested a simple routine:

Don't forget to take your supplements.

--Contributed by Alexandra Zani, Licensed Esthetician

Many questions have arisen about the Sensé policy on animal testing and what has been done to ensure the absolute safety of our products in the marketplace. First and foremost, USANA Health Sciences has never tested the Sensé line of products on animals. However, they were tested extensively in several other ways to ensure the absolute safety of the line.

First, these products have been clinically and dermatologist tested by one of the finest independent clinical laboratories in the country. Sensé products were tested with people for irritation and allergy potential, and all Sensé products were found to be non-irritating and non-allergenic. In addition, the Eye Nourisher was tested under the guidance of a board-certified ophthalmologist and found to be safe for use in the eye area. In short, you and your customers will find that Sensé products will be very well tolerated.

Furthermore, Dr. Wentz felt that he could not release a line of products under the banner of USANA Health Sciences without going the extra mile in safety testing. Unlike most other cosmetic companies, Dr. Wentz subjected the Sensé products to a cytotoxicity study to determine, at a microscopic level, if the potential for irritation and cell damage existed. In a world of products that contain many allergens, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and other substances that may compromise cell viability, Dr. Wentz felt that he could not support any skin care product that did not withstand the rigors of such a study. This cell culture study is performed in-vitro and is evaluated microscopically for signs of cell damage. Every Sensé product performed extraordinarily well and received a clean bill of "cell" health.

You would expect nothing less from Dr. Wentz and should not expect anything less from Sensé - now or in the future.

--Contributed by John Garruto, Senior Scientific Advisor, Sensé