Skin Care Routine...

Holidays and Your Skin Care Routine

It’s that time of year again when the holidays are upon us. For many of us, that means a increase in three things: stress, the amount of makeup we put on and a “time out” from our normally responsible eating and hydrating habits. All of this can play havoc with your skin care no matter what skin products you’re using. Whether you have acne prone skin or are trying to combat the signs of aging, making sure you address the three areas of the holidays that can lead to less-than-lustrous skin will mean a happier New Year!

Stress and Your Skin

Stress can aggravate acne breakouts as well as contribute to the early signs of aging. We know it’s probably not reasonable to expect you to feel no stress this holiday season, but it’s important that you do what you can to minimize it. Not only so that you have beautiful skin all holiday season, but also for your personal mental health! Take breaks for yourself, shop during off-hours so you don’t need to battle crowds, enjoy herbal tea, early bed times and maybe even treat yourself to a massage! Don’t let the stress of the holidays get to you (or to your skin).

Holiday Party Makeup

You will certainly put on more makeup during the holidays. Some of this will be for the holiday parties that we all love! But you’ll also find yourself putting on more makeup because of family photos, visits from friends and relatives you don’t see that often and even possibly just because you feel holiday-special. If you’re wearing more makeup, particularly if you have acne prone skin, be responsible about removing it every night. Also, buy good quality makeup made with natural ingredients and with good online reviews. Cheap and poor quality makeup can clog pores, irritate your skin and even increase the depth and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Holiday Diet

We all do it! We all eat poorly (both because we’re often busy and in a hurry and because we’re tempted by all of the “holiday treats”), workout less and drink less water and more sugar-based and alcohol-based beverages. Perfect skin comes from the inside out, so it’s important to watch these habits. You’ll certainly be off your normal eating and drinking routine during the holidays, but make every effort to stay hydrated and eat foods that are good for your skin (you can learn more about these in Dr. Murad’s best-selling book, The Water Secret).

The holidays can be equal parts fun and frustrating. However, we all want to go into the New Year feeling good about ourselves. Be aware of bad holiday habits that can take the glow from your skin and make good decisions, and you’ll be the one with glowing skin on New Year’s Eve!

Know About Skin Care products !

Finding the best places to purchase your skin care products can take a little work. Some of the best skin care products found in the world is the ones without synthetic chemicals and ingredients that are hazardous to your health. They are also the ones that are fragrance free and good for you.

The place to consider when purchasing your products is the one that can offer it at a good price and guarantee what they provide to their customers. The ingredients in any particular product need to be of the highest quality.

Listed below are some (three to be specific) of the best skin care products found on the market not only because the work, they seem to become a best friend to those who use them.

Functional Keratin

This ingredient is created in Europe and is used in creams and lotions all over the world. It is one of those items characterized as a protein peptide. It contains amino acids and is recommended by top dermatologists because of how it raises you collagen levels and helps to fade wrinkles.

Research shows that it is also good for dermatitis treatment. It also helps to moisturize dry skin and keeps it soft for at least 24 hours after application.




Wakame Kelp

Wakame kelp or seaweed is among the list of ancient Japanese skin care products. Because of its lore and myth in how well it works, research was conducted to validate those theories. They discovered it helps to block enzymes on the skin that are known to break down the tight and elastic compounds of the skin.

Dermatologists tell patients to use skin care products with hyaluronic acid because it tightens the skin but found that the kelp helps it to stay tighter longer.




H-EQ10

This strange looking ingredient is a mix between Coenzyme 10 and Vitamin E. The mix is able to go through the tough layers of skin into the tissue beneath where it will do the most good to the damage caused by the UV rays of the sun.

It works to fight free radicals on the skin and will help to repair some problems that have already happened. It will help to reduce the visible signs of aging including wrinkles, lines, and age spots. It may be effective in reducing cancer of the skin. That, in itself, is worth the money you will spend on products containing this ingredient and the others above.

How to Avoid Wrinkles

Avoid Too Much Exposure To Sunlight
A few minutes of exposure to the early morning sun is important because this is where you get a good dose of Vitamin D. However, overexposure to sunlight, especially during the midday, could jeopardize the health of your skin. According to dermatologists, the harmful rays of the sun are responsible for the break down of elastin and collagen in your skin.

Thus, people who love to sunbathe for hours without protection are more prone to premature wrinkling of the skin. If you have to go out during the day, don't forget to wear protection, such as hats, sunglasses, and chemical-free sun block or sunscreen.

Stop Smoking

Did you know smoking cigarettes robs your skin of nutrients and oxygen? Since this habit is not really doing anything for your looks and health, it may be wise to ditch it now. According to experts, the mere act of smoking a stick can already produce vertical lines in the area on top of your upper lip and lines on the sides of your mouth.
Minimize Alcohol and Coffee Intake

Coffee is actually not bad for you because it contains antioxidants that can help repair cell damage. However, drinking too much of it can deprive your body and skin of much-needed nutrients and water, causing the formation of wrinkles. The same is true with alcohol. In fact, for some people, even a little amount of alcohol can already take its toll on the skin.
Eat A Rainbow Everyday

If you want to make sure that you get a daily dose of all the vitamins and minerals that you need everyday, think of the rainbow. Ensure that you eat fruits or vegetables that represent all the colors of the rainbow, such as red, orange, green, yellow and blue. Moreover, it would be best to eat raw natural foods because those that have been processed are usually low in nutrients that you need to keep your skin soft, smooth and line-free.



Drink Plenty Of Water

Water is essential not only in flushing out wastes and toxins out of your body, it is also important in making sure that your skin is hydrated and moisturized from within. Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily is advisable. Drink more during hot days or when you are exercising. However, be warned that too much water may also be bad for you.

Stop Using Soap For Your Face

Regular soap strips your face of moisture because soaps usually contain chemicals and ingredients that are not skin-friendly. If you want to maintain your beautiful skin, better invest in a mild facial wash or cleanser. There are many such products available in the market and you can surely find one that is suited to your needs and skin type.





Moisturize

Simply washing with a cleanser and water is not enough to minimize formation of wrinkles and fine lines. You need the help of moisturizers to ensure that your skin is hydrated. There are also different types of moisturizers in the market. If you already have wrinkles, it would be best to buy a moisturizer that is specifically designed to help you get rid of the lines and wrinkles on your face. One product that you can rely on to assist you in getting a line-free face is Dermaxin. Visit http://www.dermaxin.com/ for more information.

Get rid Of Freckles!!!

Millions of people around the world have freckles. However, there are those who wish that a full freckle remover existed. Why? There may be different reasons; it could be a matter of aesthetics (very important in a teen; freckles can be the source of great unhappiness) or health Freckles can pose a risk to our lives if they aren't adequately supervised and treated.

So, if you are interested in freckle removal, remedies for freckles and freckle treatments then it is in your best interest to continue reading this article and find out what can you do with them.

What Are Freckles?

Freckles are marks that appear in our skin as a consequence to our exposure to the sun. They are usually present in people with pale skin, blond or red hair. However, what causes freckles? The active ingredient for the production of freckles is the melanocortin-1 receptor MC1R gene variant.

When a person has this gene variant, and spends time under the sun, freckles will start to make their appearance, especially in the face. When the sun rays penetrate their skin, they make contact with the melanocytes, activating them. As a reaction, they will create new freckles or increase the size of the older ones.

Different Types Of Freckles

There are two main types of freckles, known as ephelides and lentigines. Ephelides comes from the Greek word for freckle: ephelis. The principal characteristic of this form of freckle is its color (red or light brown). Usually, they appear during the summer months and tend to disappear through the winter.

In the case of lentigines (the word comes from Latin, lentil), things are a bit different. Most of the times they appear in children and their skin develops a spot of darker colors (brown to black). Finally, they don't disappear during winter. Although they may not be very attractive in appearance, they don't pose any type of risk.

Although these are the two main types of freckles, there are some variations that need to be considered. For example, when an adult develops lentigines, they are usually called "age spots" or "liver spots". However, you shouldn't be deceived by these names. They are the manifestation of overexposure to the sun in a skin that has a genetic tendency to develop freckles.

Sweets – Overeating Sugars Becomes Dangerous for Skin

Here’s some news that isn’t too sweet: Experts believe a lifetime of overeating sugar can cause wrinkles.

A natural process called glycation is the culprit. With glycation, sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called “advanced glycation end products,” or AGEs. (How appropriate!) The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. The more AGEs you develop, the more they damage adjacent proteins in a domino-like fashion, according to Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist and author of “10 Minutes/10 Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and Youthful Appearance” (Free Press, $24).

Besides damaging collagen, a high-sugar diet also affects the type of collagen you have — another factor in how resistant skin is to wrinkling. The most abundant collagen types in the skin are I, II and III, with type III being the most stable and long-lasting. Glycation turns type III collagen into type I, which is more fragile, making the skin look and feel less supple. It also leaves you more vulnerable to sun damage. Diabetics can have up to 50 times the number of AGEs in their skin than non-diabetics. Another good reason to cut out sugar and eat your veggies.

If your sweet tooth does kick in, you may want to reach for some fresh watermelon. Besides being loaded with fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, B6 and potassium, new findings suggest that watermelon may help in lowering blood pressure. Researchers at Florida State University found that two amino acids found in watermelon, L-citrulline and L-arginine, had powerful heart-protecting effects, able to help keep blood pressure at a healthy level.

The researchers found that the amino acids led to improved arterial function, which resulted in lowered aortic blood pressure in every single one of the participants.

Skin Products for summer

We’ve previously talked about the unique types of skin products that are needed during the harsh, dry winter months in climates with four seasons (or, if you’re unlucky enough, one very long winter season!). However, for those of you with seasonal weather patterns, summer is just around the corner. That means it’s time to evaluate what types of skin products you’ll need for the the sunnier weather ahead. Here are some tips on what to stock up on.

Sun Block: A Year-Long Commitment

We told you that you needed sun block for the harsh winter rays, and we certainly are about to tell you that you need it for the increasingly sunny summer as well. However, you may want to look for some different qualities in your summer sun block. In the summer, you tend to spend more time in the sun, and you also tend to be more active in the sun. Therefore, you may want to look for a slightly higher SPF in your moisturizer, makeup and body sunscreen. You’ll also want to look for waterproof or “active” solutions that stay on your skin longer!

Moisturizer: Don’t Dehydrate in the Sun

Though the winter air is dryer and dehydrates your skin because of that dryness, the summer sun can dehydrate you even if the air is moister than in the winter. Use a moisturizer in the morning to protect your skin (preferably one that includes an SPF). Then, in the evening, use a night cream or wrinkle cream to rehydrate your face and skin while also providing antioxidants or anti aging nutrients to battle against the damage that the sun’s rays may have done.

Eye Cream and Lip Protection

The sun can also damage and dry your lips as well as the sensitive skin around your eyes. We recommend Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 to not only provide protection from the sun and other summer environmental damage around your eyes but also to provide a Vitamin C boost to repair existing and daily sun damage. Make sure that you also protect your lips with a rich, SFP enhanced lip balm or lip treatment!

Know About Olive Usage on Skin

Here are some of the uses of olive oil for skin care:

• Antioxidant: delays aging of skin

• Moisturizer: maintains skin elasticity, smoothness and hydration (Try making a mask by mixing olive oil, egg yolk and honey. Apply on your face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.)

• Tonic for the hair: keeps hair moisturized and shiny (Try making a hair mask by mixing olive oil with two eggs. Keep it over the hair for 30 minutes before washing.)

• For the hands: add two spoons of sugar to olive oil, and rub the mixture on your hands before rinsing with warm water.

• For the nails: soaking your nails in olive oil and lemon juice for 5 minutes, or leave it overnight, but use gloves; this strengthens the nails.

• Mascara: add one or two drops of olive oil on mascara that has dried up.

• 

• Body massage add on to any of the usual skin care product.

• Homemade recipe: to moisturize and rejuvenate skin (Mix a few drops of olive oil one egg yolk and one spoon of honey. Apply over the face and neck, and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Splash a little bit of cold water in your face and apply a moisturizer.)

Skin PigmentationTreating Methods!!!

This Summer has been immense for me from the standpoint of minimal sun exposure…we have had so much rain that it has only been in the last month that the sun has really had a chance to make an impact. I do sun myself in the early morning and late afternoon – I need the vitamin D and the emotional “shine” that come from sunshine. But really, I am mostly freckle and sun-damage free. Good news for me however, I have had so many people ask me about skin brightening and preventing pigmentation – what works, is there anything natural, how long it takes and what to do to prevent dark spots and sun damage next Summer?

Skin Pigmentation

In this blog I am going to review 3 skin-brightening products and discuss how they are best used. I will just note that I use the terms “lightening” or “brightening” with orientation to pigmentation only as opposed to lightening the natural skin tone.

Prevention/Sun Damage: La Mav Brightening Complex – this product is more effective for evening out skin tone rather than lightening specific pigmentation areas. It is effective for helping to prevent sun damage and inhibiting melanin formation. Use this to prevent damage or for evening skin tone.

Melasma/Sun Spots/Small Area Sun Damage:

Devita Skin Brightening Serum – this product is specifically designed to help fight the appearance of Hyperpigmentation that is primarily caused by hormones, birth control pill use, chemical peels, waxes etc. SBS works using the natural skin lighteners Kojic acid and Arbutin which work synergistically to help break-up hyperpigmentation, along with Emblica fruit extract, a proven skin lightener, all which help give the look of a balanced skin tone. SBS is applied to small areas or for spot application. One bottle will last up to 6 months.

Chemical Peel Discoloration/Large Facial Area Sun Damage:

Devita Complex KBA – this is from the Devita professional Rx range. It has been formulated to lighten the appearance of skin, which has been discolored from chemical peels, age spots, sun-spots and freckles. A cream rather than a serum, it spreads over the entire face rather than being used for spot or area application.