Spring in to New Skin

Warmer weather and fresh flowers are on their way as spring quickly approaches. As we wait with anticipation to pull out our sandals and pack up our sweaters, our skin might not be as ready to embrace the new season. Don’t worry! There is still time to prepare. Here are some tips to help get your skin ready for spring.

Feet

They’ve been bundled up in wool socks and leather boots, but it’s time to get your feet ready to see the sun again. The first step in getting your feet in tip-top shape is to exfoliate. Use a gentle exfoliating cleanser or scrub to wash away the dead skin and reveal soft, new heels and toes. Next, moisturize. Be consistent in this step, and don’t neglect your toenails and cuticles. The final step is optional (and primarily for the female readers), but a little color added to your toes is a great complement for your toe-baring sandals!

Body

Your skin is probably still recuperating from the dry, cold winter air. To give your skin a boost toward a springtime glow, start by exfoliating. Just like your feet, the rest of your skin needs a gentle cleanser or scrub to help buff away dry skin. Use an exfoliating brush or cloth in the shower along with your exfoliating wash for optimal results. The next step is to apply a moisturizing body lotion to rehydrate your skin. To take care of dry patches that don’t go away with the first two steps, you can invest in some over-the-counter deep moisturizing balms or, for extreme cases, talk to your physician about a stronger solution.

Face

Although staying true to your regular skin care routine is a good rule of thumb, throwing something new into the mix might be just what your face needs to achieve a healthy spring glow. An option you should consider is one of our many medi spa treatments. One treatment we recommend when first visiting our medi spa is a facial. Our many facial options include treatments like deep exfoliation, a therapeutic massage or extractions to clean out clogged pores and eliminate dead skin cells. These three steps will nourish your skin and promote new cell turnover. Another treatment we offer is microdermabrasion. This treatment rejuvenates your skin, using a state-of-the-art diamond-tipped wand to remove dead skin cells and other impurities.

Need more suggestions for warmer weather skin preparation or interested in learning more about our medi spa? Leave a comment below, and we’ll help you out!

All medi spa services are available by reservation Monday through Friday. Contact us at 901-759-2322 to book your treatment today!   

Recommended Routine: Four Daily Steps to Healthy Skin

Like many of our patients, you probably hit the ground running first thing in the morning. Work, kids, errands and meetings can keep you going until right before your head hits the pillow each night. With time being such a valuable commodity, it’s common to wonder how you’re supposed to fit a whole host of products and processes into your schedule to keep the stress from affecting your skin. Let’s go over what you absolutely must do on a daily basis to keep your skin in good shape.

Cleansing/exfoliating
Your skin sheds cells on a regular basis, releases waste through sweat and picks up pollutants in the environment – all of which need to be cleaned off your skin every day. To save time, find a facial cleanser that exfoliates or use nylon gloves to gently wash your face. Remember to make sure the cleanser is tailored to your skin type and that the exfoliant is suitable for your skin type, as well. If you’re not sure which cleanser is right for you, read our blog post on the subject.

Moisturizer/sunscreen
Moisturizers are key in helping skin stay plump, healing existing damage and preventing further damage caused by dry skin. Likewise, sunscreen is essential to slowing skin damage and premature aging caused by sun exposure. If you plan to be outside at all between sun up and sun down, you need sunscreen on all exposed skin. Again, you can knock out two steps in one by using a moisturizer that has at least an SPF 30, but remember to use separate products for your face and body. 

Lip balm
Love your lip balm, cherish your lip balm and carry it with you always! Lip balm will help keep those unsightly lip lines at bay and keep your lips smooth and supple. Plus, there’s the added benefit of almost any flavor you’d like available in some pout-protecting product. Tasty, glittery, shiny or even environmentally friendly, find your favorite lip balm and use it often.

Water
You had to know this one was coming. Almost any health-related blog you’ll read mentions drinking water. It’s essential to your health and your existence. The human body is made up of roughly 85 percent water, and that supply has to be replenished somehow. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out your body, prevents water retention and improves your complexion. Avoid those pesky mouth lines I mentioned above by drinking from a glass, a squirt bottle or a wide mouthed bottle to avoid pursing your lips unnecessarily around a straw. Reserve that for something fun – like smooching. ;-)

Do you have any other questions about what you absolutely must do on a daily basis to keep your skin looking good? Leave them in the comments below! Want to have more of a one-on-one chat about your skin? Schedule an appointment today!

A Chilly Weather Skin Care Routine

It’s that time of year -- when heavy clothes, blankets and hot cocoa are in full fashion. Along with those changes, have you considered altering your skin care routine? If not, you should. Cold air doesn’t hold humidity as well, hence the dry winter air. Plus, furnaces, fireplaces and heaters only serve to further dry out your skin. Here are some tips to help your skin endure the winter months unscathed.

Change exfoliants
I can’t say it enough. Pay attention to the condition of your skin. If it seems flakier than normal, you may want to increase how often you exfoliate or change products. By that same token, if your skin looks like it’s more damaged than normal, you’d want to ease up on exfoliating or find a product that is not as harsh. Winter weather can really throw your skin a curve ball, so adjust your exfoliants as needed. For more info, check out our exfoliation blog post.

Don’t forget sunscreen
It may be cold out, but you still need your sunscreen. You should still be wearing a lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Try to find a thick, moisturizing lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher to do double duty on the moisturizer and sunscreen. For more info and tips on winter sun care, check out our “Sunburn in a Winter Wonderland” blog post.

Moisturize inside out
Although the weather is perfect for cocoa, tea or coffee, you still need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. While those beverages do contain water, your body still needs plain water for optimal hydration. Add foods that are rich with healthy fats like nuts, fish and avocado to help add essential oils and nutrients back into your body. If need be, take supplements like fish oil and vitamins C, E and B complex to keep skin healthy through the winter. There is more information on the best foods for skin health in our blog post from a few months ago.

Moisturize outside in
Step up your beauty products to formulas that are more moisturizing than your summer products. Use a heavy cream to keep your skin soft and non-flaky. Consider adding aromatherapy oils to your body wash to help nourish dry skin. Also, take warm baths and showers, as the hot water will only further dry out your skin. Use a humidifier in your home to put moisture back into the air. Apply lotion to your hands and feet before bed, and then put thick socks on them (yes, your hands too) to help seal in moisture over night. Use eye drops to keep dry eyes at bay. Finally, use lip balm like there’s no tomorrow.

Hopefully these tips help you fare the winter months better. You still have questions? No problem, just leave them in the comments below and I’ll try to help you out!

Quick Tips for Men and Their Skin

I know this blog is probably frequented by women more than men, and I also know men don’t tend to think as much about their skin care needs. But I also thought it was high time to address some quick pointers for men’s skin care – and the women who are most likely to make sure they follow directions.

Wash your face. And I don’t mean with a regular bar of soap or body wash. There are plenty of inexpensive face wash options out there that won’t leave you smelling like a girl. For example, Dove carries a men’s line of washes for your body AND face.

Exfoliate your face. Put the sandpaper down. You need to exfoliate several times a week to remove dirt and grime from your face that can cause acne and razor bumps. Look for either a scrub or use nylon gloves when you wash to knock out two steps in one. If you’re wondering how to exfoliate, check out our blog post on the topic.

Moisturize your face. Again, there are face lotions out there designed for men, so don’t think using a moisturizer means smelling fruity all day. Choose one with an SPF of 30 or higher and you’ll again knock out two birds with one stone. Check out Neutrogena’s men’s product line that carries several different types.

SPF on all exposed areas. Sun damage isn’t limited to just your face; it can affect your whole body. Think about those older men whose skin looks like tanned leather. Use a body lotion with SPF 30 or higher to keep your skin protected (and make it a little softer).

Heat up before shaving. Put a warm, damp towel around your face before shaving, or even shave in the shower. The heat will help open your pores and soften your facial hair, giving you a closer shave and exfoliating your skin at the same time.

Lather up before shaving. Make sure to use a lotion, cream or gel product when you shave your face. Just soap and water doesn’t cut it. The more smoothly the blades move across your skin, the closer and better the shave you’ll get.

Shave with hair growth. Don’t shave against the “grain,” so to speak, which will only cause irritation. Shave in the direction your hair grows to cut down on razor bumps and irritation.

Don’t rub, pat dry. Rubbing your face dry will only cause irritation. Pat your face dry and immediately follow up with an after-shave product.

Protect your eyes and lips. These are sensitive areas on your face, so you want to keep them kissable and looking good. Again, there are manly products for these areas, so choose ones you like and use them on a daily basis.

Powder up. Whether you’re an athlete or a couch potato, guys have lots of crevices that can get itchy with a little bit of sweat. Use an antifungal powder or spray to keep jock itch and athlete’s foot at bay.

If you have any other skin care concerns, don’t hesitate to ask. Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!