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There is a saying that when you are young, you have the skin you were born with, but as you get older, you have the skin you deserve. Taking good care of your skin throughout your life is the best way to have the beautiful skin you deserve.
A basic preventative routine, that protects the skin you have, is one of the best places to start your great skin care habits. This means starting with a gentle cleanser and appropriate moisturizer. The cleanser and moisturizer that are best for you will depend on your skin type.
I recommend cleansing both in the morning and the evening. Your evening cleansing is the most important, because that’s when you remove any make up, dirt, and environmental toxins that you have accumulated over the course of the day.
The best way to prevent signs of aging is to use a moisturizer with a sunscreen included or to use a sunscreen after you’ve applied your daily moisturizer. Using a sunscreen is one of the most important things you can do for your skin, as wrinkles and age spots are caused and worsened by sun exposure. For the maximum benefit, make sure you use a sun protection product that protects against both UVA and UVB or indicates that it is a broad spectrum product.
While there may be some confusion about what kind of moisturizer to use when, a simple rule of thumb is that day creams are for prevention and protection and should be applied every morning. Night creams are use to hydrate and nourish your skin. It’s important to replenish the natural oils and water that you lose daily. It’s also important to select the appropriate moisturizer for your skin, as night creams tend to be heavy, and can cause breakouts if the wrong product is chosen.
I also recommend an eye cream because your eye area has fewer oil glands. This is also where wrinkles first appear. Hydrating around your eyes will prevent fine lines. When purchasing, look for hydrating humectants such as glycerin and aloe. For a little more protection, look for products that contain peptides and retinols.
To keep your skin glowing, you will want to exfoliate. Exfoliation sloughs off the dead skin cells, smoothes the skin’s texture, and promotes circulation. There are physical exfoliators (scrubs) which contain ingredients such as seaweed, ground apricot seeds, or some sort of granulation. Chemical exfoliators, typically a cream or in a cleanser, dissolve dead skin cells allowing your skin to breathe better. For the best results, I recommend exfoliating once to twice a week.
To bump up your basic routine, you can add products that will address sun damage or that boost collagen production. Beyond basic sun protection, you can add in a product, often called a serum, that contains antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent damage and work to repair any environmental damage you may have from the sun and pollution. These serums include ingredients like green tea, reversatrol, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. In addition, retinoic acid, a Vitamin A derivative, can be helpful. It penetrates deep into your skin to stimulate collagen production and cause cell turnover. Retinoids are typically available by prescription, but a more gentle over-the-counter form is available. This over-the-counter option is referred to as retinol and poses less chance of causing irritation.
Another option to revitalize your skin is the use of peptide in creams or serums. Peptides are protein-based and work as a messenger in your skin sending signals for it to produce collagen. They can be used in conjunction with retinoids.
Coming up next…Advanced Skin Care Practices!
Posted in Forty Something Skin Care, Ingredients, Seasonal Skincare, Summer Skincare, Sun Protection, Teenage Skin Care, Thirty Something Skin Care, Twenty Something Skin Care, Uncategorized, Winter Skincare
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Tagged Facial Cleansing, facial treatments, healthy, nourishing, oil based moisturizer, protection, rays, Skin Care, sun exposure, sun protection, sunblock, Tips Skin Care, water based moisturizer, When to moisturize
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Good Morning Bloggers!!
It’s been a long time since our last blog as we’ve been going through some changes here at Skin Therapease/PSScherven. But we thought we’d ease our way back into regular blogging with some simple tips!
- Super-tight, dry skin isn’t a sign your skin is clean!! Rather, that feeling usually means that you’ve stripped your skin of important oils or haven’t rinsed properly.
- Stress doesn’t just cause acne — it can actually affect your skin’s texture. Undue stress can cause skin to become thin and reduce its ability to regenerate.
- Regular exercise can increase toxin removal in your skin and help you look younger by boosting collagen production while diminishing wrinkles.
- To keep your skin smooth without Botox, minimize your intake of sugar and dairy products. Instead pile up your plate with legumes, vegetables and olive oil. These foods have been shown to lead to fewer wrinkles as we age.
- Sleep doesn’t just refresh your body and mind — it also helps to replenish your skin.
- Drinking enough water is key to keeping your skin healthy. Not only can water make wrinkles less noticeable, but it also increases blood flow and reduces toxins.
- Sunscreen is so important to saving skin that experts recommend you slather it on for any outdoor time –from driving to work to running to the grocery store.
- Smoking takes a big toll on skin, robbing it of oxygen and nutrients by slowing the flow of blood. Puckering your mouth around a cigarette and squinting your eyes against smoke can also lead to extra wrinkles.
- While exfoliation is beneficial to get rid of dead skin, exfoliating too frequently can exacerbate acne.
- “Noncomedogenic” is a good term to look for in your skin care items, meaning that they shouldn’t clog your pores.
Not all estheticians are created equal, but it can be hard to know what you’re getting when you book a first appointment. Here are a few questions that you should be asking that will help finding the right esthetician a little bit easier.
What is your training and experience? While estheticians need basic training, some have additional certifications and have taken courses in areas of special interest to them. You may not know about these unless you ask.
What products do you use or recommend and why? The person working on your skin may opt for all organic products, or choose a particular line of skin care products based on your skin type. What you’re looking for here is that they’ve at least thought about the products they’re putting on your skin.
What are your thoughts on exfoliation? There are a number of ways to remove the top layer of dead cells from your skin. Find out where your esthetician stands on how frequently and what methods they recommend.
What chemicals do you think are best to use in peels? The wide variety of chemicals and strengths of peels available make this an important question.
Can you tell me about sun protection and application? This is a moment for your esthetician to be an educator. One of the most important things you can do for your skin is to use a good, effective sunscreen.
What are your recommendations for my specific skin type? We all have different skin types, but what’s important in this instance is you. What recommendations does your esthetician have for your problem areas?
Do you have any recommendations for fall skin care? The health of your skin changes with the seasons. Your esthetician should have information and recommendations for your particular skin type for maximal results during each season.
Posted in Seasonal Skincare, Skin Care Industry, Uncategorized
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Tagged Beta Hydroxy Acid Peels, chemical peel, education, esthetician, exfoliation, facial treatments, organic, products, rays, skin, skin type, sun exposure, sun protection, sunblock, type
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New Rules on Sunscreens
If you’re like most people, shopping for sunscreens can be confusing. What’s the difference between UVA and UVB? Which chemicals are effective? Which ones should I avoid? Am I getting enough protection?
Relief came at last on June 14th , after 30 years of debate and research. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new guidelines that will govern sunscreens sold in the US. These guidelines will go into effect in the summer of 2012.
New rules:
·Labeling
Only products that protect you from both UVA and UVB sun rays can be labeled as broad spectrum. In addition, products that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of less than 15, must carry a warning that the product does not diminish the risk of skin cancer or prevent premature aging.
Furthermore, the FDA has banned exaggerated claims about sunscreens’ strength and durability. Manufacturers are no longer allowed to use the term “sunblock” as there is no lotion that entirely blocks the sun’s rays. Sunscreen products can not be labeled as waterproof or sweat proof, but they can be labeled as water or sweat resistant. And finally, sunscreen cannot claim to provide more than 2 hours of protection without reapplication.
SPF Rating
The FDA weighed in on SPF ratings too, by establishing uniform criteria that must be followed for testing SPF ratings. For testing to be valid, two milligrams of lotion must be applied to every square centimeter of skin. Most people use only half that amount, which means you’re not getting the full protection advertised. The FDA has also recommended an SPF upper limit of 50 plus, unless the manufacturer can show that a higher number is justifiable.
The new labeling was created to help protect your skin from sun exposure. Regular and proper use of sunscreen has the potential to reduce the rates of skin cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers.
A few things to remember:
- ·Sun products should be stored in a cool, dry place and replaced every year for best efficacy.
- ·Be sure to apply at least two ounces of sunscreen on exposed areas, including the back of your neck, ears, feet and hands.
- ·Remember to protect yourself and your little ones!
Posted in Sun Protection
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Tagged cancer, chemicals, melanoma skin cancer, protection, rays, skin, Skin Therapease, spf, sun, sun exposure, sun protection, sunblock, sunburn, sunscreen, sunscreens, uva, uvb, waterproof, wrinkles, zinc oxide
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When choosing skin care products, it’s so much easier to focus on which ingredients to avoid than those that are good for you. This has been true for me, in that so much of my research on ingredients has been about which ones are harmful.
The sad truth is that the cosmetic and toiletries industries are basically unregulated, and there are no industry standards or established meanings for terms such as natural, organic or safe. For the most part, organic has referred to farming and food production, not personal care products. In addition, manufacturers are not required to prove the claims they make about their products or to test a product’s safety.
While we can sit around and bemoan the fact that there are some truly funky ingredients in our skin care products, I see the glass as half-full. This is a great opportunity to be proactive and learn about all ingredients–both good and harmful. It’s important to be responsible for not only what you put in your mouth, but also what you put on your body.
Actually, there are many personal care products that have excellent ingredients. Much like organic produce, these products are likely to cost more because of the care taken in producing and purchasing good ingredients. Factors such as where and how the ingredients are grown, soil content, environmental stability, lack of pesticide use, how the ingredients are collected or harvested (time of day, by hand versus machinery), temperature, how they’re processed, preserved, and exposure to chemicals. The point here is that there are many variables to take into consideration in maintaining the integrity of the ingredients to achieve the highest quality and efficacy.
A great place to start is understanding a little about good ingredients. All ingredients in your skin care products have a purpose, and are included for their effect on your skin.
There are three basic ingredient groups in your skin care products:
• Oils. These carrier oils may include olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, etc.
• Water-based ingredients. These include such things as distilled water, aloe, witch hazel, etc.
• Essential oils. This includes aromatic oils such as rose oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil, etc.
Nourishing your skin is an important component to its health and immunity function. Here are a few ingredients from the essential oil group that are considered particularly beneficial:
• Neroli or Orange Blossom. Extracted from the flower blossoms of the orange tree or in some cases, the orange peel itself. Different varieties have different properties, but in general, this essential oil has an uplifting citrus and floral fragrance. Neroli or Orange Blossom generally comes from Spain or France and can be a little pricey. It’s good for all skin types and can soothe mature skin and hormonal acne.
• Lavender. This moderately priced essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the Lavender plant. The finest Lavender comes from France, and has a gentle, relaxing fragrance. Lavender is good for all skin types and conditions. including rosacea and coupe rose conditions. It promotes cell regeneration, helps prevent scarring and stretch marks, and is known for it’s wound healing properties. Lavender is great for soothing sunburns when mixed with Aloe Vera.
• Rose. Extracted from rose petals, this essential oil has an aromatic floral fragrance and was originally produced in the Middle East. As a cell rejuvenator, rose oil is good for all skin types. While rose oil is expensive, it has many uses. It’s used as a soothing agent for blood vessel problems including varicose veins.. Rose oil also has strong antiseptic properties and can be used on bacterial and viral skin infections.
• Rosemary. This moderately priced essential oil is extracted from the flower tops and leaves of the Rosemary plant and has a fresh, herbal fragrance. Originally from the Mediterranean area, Rosemary is very antiseptic, and is used as a potent antibacterial, antiviral and anti fungal agent for the skin. It’s great for sluggish skin as it boosts circulation, reduces cellulite, and decreases inflammation and dermatitis.
These are only a few or the many fabulous skin care ingredients available. Look for more about ingredients in future blog post.
Posted in Ingredients
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Tagged based, essential oils, healthy, ingredients, lavender, neroli, nourishing, oils, organic, rose, rosemary, water
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Forty Plus Skin Care
When you’re in your twenties and thirties, it doesn’t take much to maintain youthful and healthy looking skin. However, during your forty’s caring for your skin can be summed up in one word: defense. As you get older, the cells in your skin turn over at a slower rate, so nourishment and protection are essential to your skincare regimen.
As you approach forty and beyond, you may experience hormonal changes that can affect your skin. The coming of menopause causes a decline in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This loss of hormone activity causes a slowdown in the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and other components of your skin matrix. The decrease in hormones also reduces sebum (skin oil), which causes thinning skin, dryness and sensitivity. For men, the loss of testosterone can have similar effects on the skin, but not as dramatic as for women.
As you age, your mature skin may be more prone to inflammation, which is not always visible to the eye. This inflammation is related to the aging process and the accumulation of harmful free radicals, leading to cell damage and further degradation of the skin matrix. As you get older, your immune system, including that of your skin slows down considerably so it takes longer to recover from or repair damage to your skin.
Some changes you may notice in your skin as you approach age forty and beyond:
• Uneven skin pigmentation
• Deeper wrinkling
• Thinning skin
• Less firmness and resiliency to your skin
• Thickening of your epidermis (outer skin layer)
The good news is that it’s never too late to repair and protect your skin! There are a number of things you can do to have the healthiest skin possible.
Healthy skin starts from the inside with a well-balanced, healthy diet that includes plenty of darkly colored (especially green!) vegetables and fresh fruit. Proteins from both animals and plants are essential to build and maintain strong muscle tissue, which is the structure underneath your skin. Carbohydrates provide the necessary complex sugars and glucose you need for energy. All of these nutrients are high in vitamins and minerals that help support your immune system and fight against free radical skin damage. Staying well-hydrated is essential to both your overall health and the health of your skin, so make sure you’re getting about eight glasses of fluids a day.
Both rest and exercise are important components to healthy skin. Make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep, because if you’re not, the first place it will show up is on your skin.
Moving your body is also an essential part of your daily routine, as it boosts circulation and relieves stress. Yoga, Pilates, or stretching are most beneficial for keeping your body limber. Raising your metabolism through more vigorous exercise is good for burning calories and overall conditioning.
A daily skin care program is essential, for both women and men. When selecting the best suited skincare products always consider the time of year and where you live, as both will impact your particular choice.
Using a product that contains AHA’s(alpha hydroxyl acids) is recommended as it helps to slough dead skin cells. Also, for men, shaving helps do the same thing. AHA’s and shaving are considered exfoliates, which speed up cell turnover. Topical vitamin A repairs abnormal cell production and accelerates healthy cell turnover while bringing collagen production back to some level of normalcy. Using vitamin E will help to protect and nourish your skin, and for added moisture hyaluronic acid is perfect. Look for peptides in the ingredient listing, as these help to nourish your skin and improve cell turnover. In addition, Rose oil is considered regenerating is particularly good for maturing skin.
A basic skin care regime for those of you in your forties and beyond includes the following components:
• Cleanse your skin both morning and evening
• Exfoliate at least three times a week
• Use a toner appropriate for your skin type
• Moisturize both morning and evening
• Apply a mask once or twice a week suitable for your skin type
• Use products that contain Vitamin C and /or nourishment as needed
• Apply sun protection containing Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide in the morning and reapply frequently during the day, especially if you’re going to be outdoors.
Posted in Forty Something Skin Care, Uncategorized
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Tagged aging, collagen, defense, diet, dry, elastin, estrogen, facial treatments, hormones, microdermabrasion, nourishment, progesterone, sebun, sensative, skin, sleep, sun protection, wrinkles
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When it comes to skin care, not all products are created equal. Some contain ingredients that can actually damage your health if used regularly. It’s important to become a label reader when purchasing personal care products and to avoid those products that contain harmful ingredients. It pays to do a little research and know the ingredients in the products you’re buying.
The following list describes some of the ingredients that are commonly found in skin care products that can be harmful to our health:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Also known as sodium laureth sulfate, this is a harsh chemical cleanser that is frequently found in body washes, shampoos, facial cleansers and tooth paste. It can be the culprit behind dry, flaky, or itchy skin.
Lead. Ugh! Who wants to be putting lead on their body? Unfortunately, it’s found in some lipsticks. It can accumulate with frequent use and cause lead toxicity.
Parabens. These offenders are also known as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, and are used as preservatives. Parabens are considered to be hormone disruptors because they can alter the estrogenic activity in your body and have been linked to breast cancer. Parabens can be found in body washes, shampoos, conditioners, eye creams, make up, deodorants, and body and facials moisturizers.
Synthetic Dyes and Fragrances. These can increase your risk of allergies. In addition, manufacturers can hide various chemicals under the heading of “fragrance”. Most frequently, synthetic fragrance contains phthalates, which are hormone disruptors. Whenever you find “fragrance” on a product label, know that it is likely adding to the chemical content of the product.
Formaldehyde. This nasty is harmful on a number of levels. It’s a known carcinogen, can be toxic to your immune system, and can cause irritation to your respiratory tract. Formaldehyde is found in a number of products from baby bath soap to nail polish.
Fluoride. When used in excess, fluoride may alter thyroid function, can cause irritation and toxicity. It’s found in most tooth pastes.
DEA and Cocamide DEA. Found in shampoos, lotions, and moisturizing creams, DEA is a possible hormone disruptor, and has shown evidence of being toxic and carcinogenic.
Imidazolidinyl Urea. This one is frequently used in combination with a paraben ingredient as a preservative system. It can cause allergies and is harmful to your immune and nervous system.
Propylene Glycol. Classified as a toxic ingredient with restricted use in many countries, propylene glycol is a cosmetic form of mineral oil. Found in antifreeze and brake fluid, propylene glycol can irritate your skin, eyes or lungs and can cause liver or kidney damage. It’s used to hold moisture on the skin and is found in skin care products such as lotions and moisturizers.
Paraffin and Petroleum Distillates. Made from petroleum (yuck!), these can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Considered possible carcinogens, petroleum distillates are restricted for use in cosmetics in Europe, but are often found in body and facial lotions, creams and moisturizers in the US.
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are many more ingredients found in personal care products that are potentially harmful. For more information and to check out the products you use, go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
We often think of Estrogen as a single substance, as well as powerful sex hormone and a player in how we experience menopause. However, there are actually three different hormones that fall under the estrogen umbrella: Estradiol, estrone and estriol.
Estradiol is the strongest and most prevalent of the estrogens and contributes to many critical functions in your body. It’s the primary hormone that regulates your menstrual cycle, including the thickness of your uterine wall. Estradiol stimulates the cells that build bones and supports your cardiovascular health by influencing the balance of insulin and blood sugar. This multitasking hormone assists in maintaining your memory, protecting your nerve cells, and keeping your eyes moist.
Estrone is the second most potent estrogen hormone, and it’s often labeled the ‘bad’ estrogen. An excess of this hormone can be harmful to your breast and uterine cells, as it’s thought to play a role in the development of cancer. The hormone is produced in your fat cells, so women with excess body fat are more likely to be estrone dominant. Estrone dominance can be further intensified by high alcohol consumption.
Estriol is the mildest of the estrogens. It’s referred to as the ‘good’ estrogen as it blocks the harmful effects of estrone on the breast and uterine cells. Recent research has indicated that it may have positive effects on your autoimmune system and provides significant benefits during menopause when used in conjunction with estradiol.
Estrogen plays a role in skin care in a couple of ways. First, estradiol plays a role in wrinkle prevention, because it has antioxidant properties that protect your skin from the aging process. The decrease in estradiol at menopause is one of the reasons your skin loses elasticity, dries out, and wrinkles after menopause. Second, many of the skin care products on the market are made with questionable ingredients that are considered hormone disruptors because they mimic the action of estrogen in your body. These substances may be harmful in that their prolonged use may play a role in the development of gynecological cancers, such as breast or uterine cancer. Scientists continue to study the role of the estrogen your body produces as well as the synthetic hormone disruptors on your health.
If you have ever read the label on your hand or body lotion, you’ll find that in most cases paraben in some form is an ingredient. Parabens are the most widely used preservatives found in personal care products, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, and food. They are found in about 90% of these products, and come in a number of forms, including methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, and isobutyl paraben. Paraben use in products has been around for about 70 years and are added to prolong the life shelf of a product.
The use of parabens was intended to protect the consumer from infection. They are generally considered less irritating than most other preservatives, and are primarily used for their anti bacterial and anti fungal properties.
Many plants produce parabens naturally as a defense mechanism against infection by microbes. Parabens are produced by blueberries, carrots, cucumbers, prunes, and olives, to name a few. Some parabens added to products are identical to natural parabens, and are often ingredients in beer, wine, fruit juices and jams, as they are easily metabolized.
Parabens have created some concern, as they are considered to be hormone disruptors. This means that they have demonstrated estrogenic activity in the body and may increase the risk of some women’s cancers, particularly breast cancer. However, some foods, such as almonds, apples, and cabbage also exhibit some amount of estrogenic activity. There’s a great deal of debate about the safety and use of parabens. Health Canada and the FDA approve the use of parabens as preservatives and classify them as GRAS(Generally Recognized as Safe).
Choosing the right sun protection can be be a confusing proposition. Do you need something daily? Should you apply a different product if you’re going to be out on the water or the golf course? What ingredients should you look for? All good questions!
Sun protection products can come in the form of creams, lotions, gels, or sprays. Some work by absorbing the sun’s rays; some work by reflecting the rays; and some work by simply creating a barrier (block) between the rays and your skin. For safety and effectiveness, I prefer products which block the sun’s rays. Those products contain the ingredients zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Both create an effective barrier and are often combined for the most protection.
My first choice is zinc oxide, as it’s a great block and is skin friendly. I also like products that contain aloe vera gel, because it works as a natural sunscreen, and helps heal a sunburn, if you happen to overdo it. Safe sun protection can also be found in your closet in the form of hats, umbrellas and protective clothing.
Some sun protection ingredients are safer than others. For that reason it’s important for you to be selective in choosing sunscreens and learn to read labels. There are 17 sunscreen chemicals approved for use in the US, however not all are considered safe for regular daily use.
Some ingredients to avoid;
• Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens are used as preservatives and are common in sunscreens. Parabens are considered to be hormone disruptors, which simply means they play a role in upsetting the balance of hormones in your body.
• Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 (2-ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid and avobenzone): These two chemicals have the potential to damage the DNA in your cells when illuminated with sunlight.
• PABA: Though rarely used now in sunscreens, beware of products that contain the ingredient. Forty percent of the population is sensitive to it, experiencing red, itchy skin.
• Benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate): These chemicals are of more concern because they’re also hormone disruptors, and have been shown to alter estrogen activity in lab tests.
Make it a habit to wear safe sun protection product daily, limit your exposure to the sun, and wear protective clothing. By doing so, you can limit the sun’s aging effects on your skin.
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