I have been learning so much about skincare, both from work and on my own. Over the past year I have really come to realize how important it is to take care of your skin. It is your largest organ!! You have to treat it well. If you have real skin concerns please see a dermatologist. I am not an expert, however I think these four suggestions are a great step towards healthy skin. Every person has different needs and concerns about their skin. These are things which work for me, and I thought sharing them, would help someone along the way. If I am at all incorrect on anything please let me know, I don't want to be giving wrong information! I will have future posts regarding what to look for and what works best per skin type, if you have questions please leave me a comment below!
Suggestion #1
Practice Safe Sun!!
Sun damage builds up overtime, which causes your skin to become thick. In order to treat other concerns, your treatment needs to be able to absorb deep into the skin. If your skin is too thick or has hardened due to sun damage, it can cause other problems. Problems could include; clogged pores (which could lead to acne), uneven skin tones, sun spots, dullness, early signs of aging, and you increase your risk towards major skin concerns such as skin cancer.
Using suncreen every morning, even if you only go outside for 5 min a day, is crucial to avoiding sun damage. There are a lot of moisturizers out there which contain sun screen. Not only should you put it on in the morning, but also if you are about to walk out the door at any time through out the day.
From what I understand from my new knowledge is; having SPF 15 doesn't mean you have 15x the amount of protection. It means you could last 15x longer before you burn. This includes time not in the sun. Here is an example...
If it takes you 5 minutes to burn, and you put on SPF 15, it would now take roughly 75 minutes to burn. However, if you put on your sunscreen, and didn't leave for an hour after application, you now only have 15 minutes of sun protection. So reapplication is key to sun protection. Usually most people only last two hours with an SPF of 30 on.
Suggestion #2
Have a Skin Care Routine
You hear a lot of beauty gurus on youtube, and a lot of retailers suggest having an extensive skincare routine. I've heard from six-thirteen steps, which is a bit excessive. You really only need three key steps to have a successful routine.
1. Cleanse: Get a gentle water soluble cleanser to remove any debris, oil and makeup. This allows all your other products to do their job better, and to prevent breakouts.
My favorites are: Philosopshy-Purity Made Simple, and Simples-Moisturizing Face Cleanser
2. Exfoliate: You need to remove any sun damage and any built up dead skin cells. If you declog your pores you are preventing acne, uneven skin tones, dullness, and deep wrinkles. A lot of exfoliants help build collagen and improves the appearance of your skin.
3. Moisturize w/ Sunscreen: Moisturizers doesn't mean to add water to your face, you need to add moisturizers because they have benefits which help enhance the function and structure of your skin. Moisturizers repair and replenish all of the ingrediants which the sun has taken away and ingrediants which don't repair on their own. (Antioxidants, cell-communicationg cells, and skin repairing cells.
All skin types benefit from moisturizers. If you have oily skin, try a serium or a toner, which penetrate deeply and doesn't leave any oily residue on the skin.
Curious about what is in your skin care? Here are a couple of great sites which determine if you are helping or hurting your skin. I found them to be very eye opening, some items were irritants which I didn't even consider. You can also figure out if the products you are using have any toxins in it.
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Suggestion #3
(Please consult your physician if you are considering a diet program)
What You Put into Your Body Matters!
1. High Blood Sugar: Avoid a lot of sweets. Sugar makes your body create the hormone insulin. Hormone inbalances can lead to acne problems.
2. Eat Vegetables: Natural antioxidants are found in a lot of veggies. These help with any damaged cells and naturally help inflammation. However, be careful about some veggies which contain high levels of sugar. It's a balancing act.
3. Avoid Dairy or Meat with Growth Hormones: These hormones have been found to stimulate oil production which sets the stage for acne. Again, hormone inbalances in the body could really cause some skin issues.
4. Avoid fatty foods: Some fats support inflammation which could effect oil production. Oils to avoid: Vegetable, safflower, corn or canola. Good Oils include, sunflower, olive, and fish (Omega 3)
Gaining and loosing weight too fast can affect your skin in other ways and can cause stretch marks, sagging, or wrinkling skin.
Here's a great post about skincare and great foods to help
http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/best-worst-skin-foods
Suggestion #4
Stay Hydrated
Insuffient water intake can cause tight, dry, or flaky skin.There are conflicting views on this last one. Some think drinking water doesn't effect the skin directly, for it would go to other organs prior the skin. However, it has significant results in detoxifying the body, promoting healthy cell growth, and circulation. If you feel better on the inside, you are most likely going to feel a bit on the outside. You will have more energy, which will help you look less ragid. Better circulation can also help your skin look more flushed and glowy.
These are my first four suggestions on acheiving healthy skin. Please stay tuned for weekly skincare advice and information. If you have concerns or questions please let me know!!!
Bibliography
www.paulaschoice.com
http://www.wikihow.com/Establish-an-Effective-Skincare-Routine
http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/best-worst-skin-foods
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20616602,00.html
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