Dr. Zein Obagi disassociates himself from House of Obagi

MANILA, Philippines - Dr. Zein Obagi, the world’s leading expert on skin health, recently visited the Philippines to introduce his new “baby,” the ZO Skin Health System. He opened his talk at the Makati Shangri-La with this strong statement: “I have nothing to do with the House of Obagi or Obagi Nuderm.”

While Dr. Obagi admits to having developed the Nu-Derm line of products 30 years ago, he has sold it to a group of Chinese businessmen and cut all his ties when they had a disagreement on the future direction of the company.

Since then, Dr. Obagi has invested his own resources on further research and development on skin health. The results of all those years of hard work plus the latest advancements in skincare technology have now been incorporated in the new ZO Skin Health “Blue Line” skin system. This revolutionary skincare line is bursting with brand-new ingredients like growth factors, peptides, ultrasomes and roxisomes, among other things, that repair and restore skin at the cellular and DNA level. 

The ZO line: The latest in skin technology

The state-of-the-art delivery system also ensures that all these vital factors are delivered efficiently deep into the skin where they are most needed.

Ultimately, the new ZO Skin Health Blue Line is able to help users achieve optimum skin health with simpler steps, less redness and peeling, and less downtime.

Dr Zein Obagi has carved his name in the world of dermatology by being the first dermatologist to speak about maintaining skin health. Prior to this, people would only visit dermatologists when they had some form of skin disease such as acne, warts, fungal infections, psoriasis, or lupus erythematosus. Dr. Zein Obagi changed all that by introducing the concept of skin health.

He pointed out that we have the best skin of our lives during our childhood. At this time, our skin is smooth, firm, unwrinkled, vibrant, and blemish-free. Our skin starts to deteriorate as early as the age of 12 when hormones come into play: the age when women get their menstrual periods while men undergo voice changes and growth spurts. It is also when we develop oily skin, large pores and acne. When we reach our 20s, we then see the destructive effects of prolonged sun exposure, pollution, stress, junk food, bad sleeping habits, and damaging free radicals. Now that you know these possible effects on our skin as we age, Dr. Obagi has come up with a solution on how we can keep our baby skin by following these simple steps: cleanse, activate, stimulate, calm/nourish, and protect.   

Dr. Zein Obagi and Dr. Vicki Belo: True partners in skin care health.

1.  Cleanse.   For Dr. Obagi, cleansing is very important. He declares that if you can afford only one ZO product, buy the cleanser. He has formulated the Offects® Exfoliating Cleanser for oily skin and the Offects® Hydrating Cleanser for dry skin. Cleansing removes impurities, neutralizes free radicals and nourishes the skin with powerful anti-oxidants. Thorough cleansing with the ZO cleansers also enhances the penetration of the following steps.

2. Activate. Dr. ZO hates oil. He thinks it’s poison to our skin which may cause rosacea, inflammation, acne and large pores. A person can never achieve smooth baby skin if she is oily. Worst of all, the sebum interferes with the delivery of the “good guys” like growth factors, peptides and Vitamin A into the skin. The ZO line has two very effective products that combat oil: the Offects® Exfoliating Polish which polishes off dull dead skin and restores the skin’s glow, and the Offects® Te-pads that contain botanical herbs and two percent salicyclic acid to break the oil. 

3. Stimulate. When lines, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity are the problems, Dr Obagi’s main weapon is Retinol. Retinol wakes up the lazy and deteriorating cells of the skin. When they are stimulated, the damaged and dead cells are “pushed” to the surface, letting the new and healthy ones emerge and rejuvenate aging skin. This new active ingredient Retinol is present in all three of the following ZO Skin Health Blue Line:

The Daily Power Defense turns “so-so” skin to glowing skin by intensive DNA repair and antioxidant protection. With the Daily Power Defense, the skin thickens and becomes more resistant to UV damage. It is a daily “must” in the ZO regimen.

For sensitive skin with marked skin-aging problems, the Growth Factor Serum not only reduces the lines and wrinkles quickly, it is also a powerful collagen booster that increases skin thickness and elasticity using epidermal growth factors.

If you need faster results, go for more aggressive stimulation with the Ossential® Radical Night Repair Plus. This has ultra-high concentrations of Retinol (10 times the industry average) in an encapsulated time-release formula. Retinol 1percent achieves the same results as Tretinoin but without the irritation, redness and peeling. With Retinol, a very mild, almost imperceivable redness and peeling lasts for only two weeks.

4. Calm and Nourish. This step, represented by the Ommerse® Daily Renewal Cream, is an optional step that calms and nourishes the skin with hyaluronic acid and other natural extracts.

5. Protect. The Oclipse® Sunscreen and Primer SPF30 is unique because you only need to apply once a day for a 12-hour UV protection. Most sun blocks have to be re-applied every two hours to have the same benefit. The Oclipse® is the best-selling product of the ZO Skin Health Blue Line.

I’m sure this can all sound pretty confusing and overwhelming. Dr. Obagi recommends starting with the basic kit: the Offects® Exfoliating/Hydrating Cleanser, Offects® Exfoliating Polish, the Daily Power Defense, and the Oclipse® Sunscreen.

Dr. Obagi has yet again redefined skin health with his new line of ZO Skin Health. Which is why we have made it readily available here in the Philippines. It’s time that you moved on from your old skin care line and stepped up to a different level of skincare with the ZO Skin Health products.

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For more information on the new Zein Obagi products, visit your favorite dermatologist or any Belo Medical Group clinics. Make sure you ask for the new ZO Skin Health System. Call 8876385 or e-mail ask@zo-obagi.com.