Kiss These Skin Sins Goodbye!!!!

Bad skin care habits can increase your risk of acne, premature aging, wrinkles, and more. Some are habits you’re totally aware of and others are seemingly innocent things you do every day that can impact the health and beauty of your skin. Here are a few skin sins to shed, starting today:

Sun sins - Indoors or out, tanning is considered the number one skin sin no-no. Always, always use sunblock when you go outdoors and if you simply must have a little color, consider alternatives like sunless tanners and bronzers.

Lifestyle issues come to the surface - Too much alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate your skin and give it a dull appearance. Smoking has been reported to contribute to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. If you sleep less than 8 hours a night, you’re shortchanging your skin, which could mean dark circles under your eyes.

Don’t be picky - Resist the urge to pick that blemish. This quick fix can be nothing but trouble for your skin. It may look like you’re getting rid of the problem, but you’re actually pushing the bacteria deeper into your skin, which could lead to the formation of even more acne spots. Long-term picking can also create the possibility of scars—so stop picking, pronto. If you have acne-prone skin, make sure to be vigilant about skin care with monthly facials and good home care products. (A Licensed Esthetician can help you with this)

Put this bad habit to bed - Going to bed with your makeup on is a skin sin that can leave the entire day’s accumulation of dirt, grime, and oil on your skin to seep into pores, clogging them and putting you at risk for acne. Make a clean break with this habit by creating a healthy evening routine where you cleanse, tone, and moisturize.

Some like it too hot - You may enjoy a long hot shower, but your skin can’t take the heat without being stripped of its natural oils. This can result in dry, flaky, itchy skin. Eliminate this skin sin by turning down the heat and lingering less in the shower.

Let’s talk about your phone - Holding your phone against your cheek creates a warm and moist environment where bacteria can thrive, which can lead to skin irritations. Make sure to lightly wipe your phone off daily and alternate which side of your face you hold your phone against to minimize the risk of developing skin problems.

The 8 Reasons Why Your Skin Is Aging

Is your skin aging faster than you are? Its probably safe to say that your skin's greatest foe is NOT time but environmental and lifestyle factors.

Your facial skin is specially vulnerable to these factors as it is constantly exposed and bombarded by them.

Watching out for these factors can improve the performance of your skin care routine and dramatically improve your skin's texture, tone and clarity.

If the answer is no, you can still do something about it now, and if you answered yes, keep it young and glowing by knowing what ages your skin. And by taking the proper precautions and timely care for it, you can slow down the natural aging process of your skin.

Here are 8 environmental and lifestyle factors that can speed aging skin:

1) Sun Exposure (this includes tanning beds)

2) Cigarette Smoke (inhaled or second-hand)

3) Pollution or Environmental Toxins (car exhaust or household cleaning products)

4) A Poor Diet (fast foods or processed foods) and Not Enough Fruits and Vegetables

5) Excess Alcohol Consumption

6) Stress

7) Harsh Skin Care Products, Soaps or Detergents

8) Sleep Deprivation

Additionally, the idea behind the list is not to frighten you or never to have you use cleaning supplies or to become a recluse and never leave your house. The idea is to find ways to manage them and still live a full life.

10 Skin Health Tips

Healthy skin enhances your beauty. Here are 10 great tips to healthy skin, healthy skin is central to good looks. Whatever is the complexion and facial feature, a well kept skin enhances your beauty. Skin health tips are crucial to everyone who wants to look attractive.

A clear skin and a glowing complexion are integral to our looks. It is a myth that only women should take care of the skin. Men and women both need to pamper their skin in order to look good. Women have more sensitive skin and so they need to be more careful, but when it comes to maintaining a skin health regimen, it is important for both men and women.

Here are 10 skin health tips that will work for all:

1. Wash your face: Washing the face at least twice a day helps in removing dead skin and also balancing the oil contents of your skin. One should definitely wash off the pollution as soon as one gets back home.
   Heavy make-up should also be avoided for long hours and washed off as soon as possible.
   
   
   
2. Eat healthy: Your skin simply reflects what you eat. If your intake of spicy food, sweets, and non-fibrous food is more then your skin’s health will deteriorate day by day. Include a lot of fruits, green leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits, in your diet to have a glowing and healthy skin.
   
   
3. Maintain good digestion: If a person is suffering from bad digestion, or constipation then he can suffer from skin problems like acne, pimple, etc. In order to maintain digestion one should eat fibrous foods and drink plenty of water.
   
   
4. Drink plenty of water: Drinking water does not only improve digestion but also results in detoxification. Toxins are the biggest cause of unhealthy skin.
   
   
5. Avoid chemicals: With so many cosmetics available in market now-a-days and false promises advertised by many brands, people are lured to use different products. There is no harm in using cosmetics but one should be prudent while choosing the product.
   
   
6. Avoid stress: Stress and tension can cause freckles and pre matured wrinkles. Thus if you want your skin to glow please keep the tension at bay. When you are happy from inside your skin will also look beautiful.
   
   
7. Go for yoga and meditation: Yoga and meditation is a good method to release tension and also improve your system.
   
   
8. Exercise regularly: Physical exercise reduces the fat content of your body and leads to perspiration. Sweating out is the best way to open the pores of your skin and let it breathe.
   
   
9. Do not touch acne and pimples: Almost all of us suffer from acne and pimples at some stage in life. These eruptions cause a lot of inflammation or pain as a result many people start squeezing or scrubbing these eruptions. Disturbing these eruptions can cause deep scars that stay on the face forever. So just control your hands and bear the pain as long as it is there.
   
   
10. Know your allergies: Your skin might be allergic to a particular product or its content. It is better that you avoid using different products especially if your skin is very sensitive and is allergic.

Following these tips will definitely give you a healthy & glowing skin.

Aging

Aging. Of course it’s something that happens to all of us, every day, and it can’t be stopped. The good news is, we have a bit more control over it than we may think! I’m not talking Botox injections or invasive plastic surgeries, but rather lifestyle habits that you can practice every day to keep you young, fit, and healthy. Try these lifestyle changes out, and see for yourself how much healthier you’ll start to feel and look!

Diet
Diet plays an important role in how a person ages. Fried and fatty foods, sugar (Advanced Glycation End-products, or AGEs), and fast foods speed up the aging process. Eat a balanced diet that is packed with antioxidants and minerals including raw fruits; vegetables; whole grains; seeds; nuts; fish – especially purple; red berries (flavonoids); red, yellow and orange veggies, (carotenoids, lycopene); iron and mineral rich green, leafy veggies and cancer fighting broccoli. Protein from fish and soy is preferable. Processed, artificial or toxic foods accelerate aging due to the harmful chemicals that need to be disposed of. It is also important to get adequate intake of pure, clean water. The average person should drink 6 to 8 glasses per day.

Exercise
One of the most important lifestyle habits to fight aging is regular exercise. Regular exercise promotes healthy oxygen levels in the body. Brisk walking is very beneficial for the brain and cardiovascular system. Other types of exercise are also beneficial, especially strength training, yoga and cycling.

Sleep
The body uses sleep time to do its internal housekeeping – process nutrients, detoxify, renew and recharge in general. If your body is chronically starved for sleep, the effects will eventually become both visibly and physically noticeable. Most people do best with about 7 hours sleep.

Skin
Protect your skin all the time from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not just while you’re in the sun. Don’t think of it as sunscreen, think of it as daylight defense! Protection from UV rays and the use of age-fighting ingredients is the secret to wrinkle free, younger-looking, healthy skin.

Avoid tanning and DO NOT Burn!
One blistering sunburn doubles your risk of melanoma. It is best to stay out of the midday sun (from mid-morning to late afternoon) whenever you can. Tanning beds are just as dangerous as the sun, if not worse! They produce 2-3 times the amount of UVA rays than the sun.

Beauty Sleep Benefits Skin

If you’re not getting enough sleep, the first place the signs will appear is on your skin.   At night, the skin is hard at work reversing the damage inflicted from the day.  A good night’s sleep is necessary for healthy skin.  During the hours of sleep, cortisol and insulin production peak, and collagen production is accelerated.  Growth hormones, which initiate cell and tissue repair, crest during our deepest stage of sleep.  But getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done.  Below are some tips on getting a better night’s rest:

• Wake in the morning and go to bed at night at the same time.
• Relax before bedtime.
• Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, dark, cool and quiet.
• Avoid eating, exercising and consuming caffeine within a few hours of bedtime.
• Don't smoke, and avoid alcohol just before bed.
• Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable.

Hydration is Key!!!!

Hydration: it’s something we all need. Whether you live in a warm climate or a cold one, you have dry skin or acneic, or you’re an athlete or an artist, your skin and body need water. Lack of hydration is often an underlying cause for many skin conditions, such as that stubborn oily skin that is somehow also dry. And drinking water alone is not enough for the skin. Skin is the last organ to receive nutrients that are consumed internally, and water is no exception, so it’s important to infuse the skin with hydrating ingredients on a daily basis to ensure adequate moisture levels at all times. For those celebrating the summer months, take these words of advice to keep that vital hydration in your skin:

Keep Your Skin Hydrated Adjust your skincare regimen to provide more hydration to your skin in the summer months. Look for light moisturizers, serums or boosters, spritz toners and gel masques. Layer your products to build moisture instead of using one heavy or rich cream. You can spritz toner whenever you feel like it: at your desk, in the car, at the gym, on a plane. Products should feel light and absorb easily; they should never feel greasy or occlusive on your skin.

Keep Your Whole Body Hydrated!
Higher temperatures and more time outdoors lead to internal dehydration, resulting in headaches and dizzy spells! We need to consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of plain, filtered water every day to maintain the critical moisture balance of the body and skin and to assist in detoxification. For every caffeinated drink you consume, you need to drink triple the amount of 8 ounce glasses of pure water. Consumption of more than eight alcoholic beverages per week will also contribute to skin dryness and body dehydration.

Wear sunblock 365 days of the year

In rain or shine, winter or summer, whether you have ivory white skin or a dark complexion, your skin is always susceptible to sun damage.  You’re consistently exposed to the sun’s rays during daylight hours, even when you don’t realize it. You should be wearing an SPF 30 every day, not only to protect against skin cancer but to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, and uneven skin tone. In addition, it’s essential that you reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours, especially if you’re out and about — one morning slathering of SPF 100 won’t last you until sundown!

I've already seen alot of sun damage and it's just the beginning of summer.  Please protect yourself!