Early Morning Skin Care Shortcuts

Courtesy of Flickr user Carolyn Coles

Wake up. Brew coffee. Wait impatiently as it drips. Brush your teeth. Take out the dog. Wake up the kids. Cook breakfast. Search for the lost keys. Wait in the carpool line. Then pull into work to have your boss counting down the seconds before you’re late. {Repeat}

Although your morning may vary in its method of chaos, we are all busy and, many times, leave little room for taking care of ourselves, especially our skin. For those of you who relate all too well with this routine of morning madness, here are some “skincare shortcuts” that will help you to feel refreshed and your skin rejuvenated. 

Cripple the Pimples

• To reduce inflammation, blot 1 percent over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream onto blemishes and reapply as needed.
• It’s important to note that you shouldn’t use hydrocortisone cream on a pimple for more than six days. If it persists longer, see a dermatologist!
• Apply Visine to blemishes. It reduces the redness the same way it works to reduce eye redness.
• Cover an ice cube with a light towel that is dipped in lavender oil and hold it on the blemish for three minutes. The cold will decrease inflammation while the lavender oil will dehydrate the blemish and kill the bacteria. \

Puffy Eyes

• Brew two green tea bags and let them cool before placing them on your eyes for 10 minutes in the morning. The caffeine in the tea will tighten the skin tissue and reduce swelling.
• Apply 2^nd Skin Circles gel pads for two minutes in the morning.
• Elevate your head at night and let gravity drain the extra fluid underneath your eyes that can build up and cause swelling.

Kicking Crow’s Feet

• Apply a daily moisturizer with an SPF of 30 to reduce sun damage to the very susceptible thin skin underneath your eyes.
• Choose facial products that contain retinol to wash your face. This vitamin A derivative will help moisten and repair deep lines in the skin.
• Hold a damp washcloth underneath your eyes for a few minutes, then pat on a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin nice and hydrated throughout the day.
• Keep a pair of sunglasses handy and try not to underestimate the amount of squinting you do when you’re in the sun without protective eyewear. 

Reducing Rosy Redness

• Apply a face mask that includes anti-inflammatory ingredients such as activated charcoal and castor oil.
• Soak a washcloth in milk and ice cubes and press it onto blotchy red areas. The cold temperature, pH level and protein in the milk will relieve the blotchiness.
• Break open an evening primrose oil capsule and gently rub it over red areas.  

Penciling in just a little bit of “me time” during your morning routine is a great means to feeling refreshed and having radiating skin. Test out a few of these skincare shortcuts and let us know what you think!

Young, Fabulous Hair

Photo courtesy of flickr user Symic.

When trying to prevent aging, we often focus our attention on our skin, specifically the face. But why stop there? If your hair is changing as you age, the way you care for it should change, too. You can renew your hair by making even the smallest changes. Whether it is the products you are using or a change in your everyday styling routine, there is a way to keep your hair looking sleek, luscious and healthy.

Like the famous philosopher Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” In order to prevent your hair from becoming dull, you should first understand how it ages.

Let’s get down to the science of the matter.

The average human being has around 100,000 strands of hair, although it can vary for each person. Each piece of hair is made up of protein, called keratin, which is surrounded by an outer layer of overlapping sheets forming the cuticle. The fastest-growing cells in the body grow within the only living part of a strand of hair, the hair follicle in the skin. Changes in biochemical or hormonal, microscopic or environmental factors can cause hair to age.

Five Tips for Younger Looking Hair

1. Watch your diet.

We are what we eat! There are certain foods that are full of good fats that can help you maintain a healthy scalp and head of hair. Partaking in a nutritious diet of salmon, walnuts, oysters or sweet potatoes will be the start of a new look. Below are other foods that are great for long locks.

Lean meats
Ensuring that you’re eating enough lean protein can help prevent hair loss. Lean protein can be found in foods like:

• Ground sirloin
• Eggs
• Edamame
• Pork chops
• Chicken tenderloins

Dark green vegetables

Foods containing vitamins A and C and the mineral iron, such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard, can help prevent hair loss.

Low-fat dairy

Yogurt, cottage cheese and other low-fat dairy foods contain calcium, which encourages hair growth.

2. Take your vitamins.

Not every shampoo is the same, which is why we strongly suggest using shampoos, conditioners and hair masks containing vitamins A, B, C and E. Along with vitamins, nutrients such as calcium and magnesium in shampoo can help repair hair damage. Make sure to pay attention to the ingredients label to guarantee that the formula does not contain sulfates. These cleansers have been known to strip hair of its natural oils.

3. Be easy on wet hair.

No matter the color, length or texture of your hair, it’s most sensitive when it’s wet. I don’t think this next statement will be a problem for the “tenderheaded” people of the group, but be CAREFUL when brushing your hair right after a shower. Rather than a brush, consider using a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair while still in the shower.

4. Put down the blowdryer.

Let me clarify this tip. I am not saying that you should never blow dry, straighten, curl or otherwise use heat on your hair again, but the temperature of the hot tool of choice could probably be dropped a bit. Try to prevent stubborn flyaways, frizziness and dryness by using an ionic (also known as negative ion) blow-dryer with 2,000 watts or more, or use a straightener with pure ceramic plates.

5. Release some pressure.

Have you ever gotten a headache from a ponytail holder that’s too tight? There is a reason for that. Loosen up your ponytail by using no-crease ponytail holders, stray away from tight braids and avoid products that make the hair stiff, such as extra hold hair sprays.

Need more tips on healthier and younger-looking hair? Leave a comment below and we will try to help you out! 

Ethnic Skin: Tips for the Summer Sun

We spend a lot of time talking about protecting your skin from the sun, but it’s easy to ignore some of these tips if you don’t have white skin that is prone to sunburn. You shouldn’t! One of the most important, yet least understood, parts of caring for ethnic skin is sun prevention. For years, many people have believed the myth that it is impossible for people with dark skin to get skin cancer. But the truth, according to cancer.gov, is just the opposite. Individuals with dark skin have more melanin and therefore ought to actually be MORE cautious when dealing with the sun. Otherwise, damage can easily be overlooked, leading to later detection and increased risk of cancer and other issues. It is very important to take great care of your skin in order to not only keep it looking beautiful, but also to avoid the more serious problem of skin cancer.

Now that summer is in full swing, let’s brush up on some sunscreen myths and facts for dark-skinned people and learn about new advances in technology that can benefit all of us.

Myth: Sunscreen is unnecessary

For some time, it was a common belief that African-Americans do not need to use sunscreen as much as Caucasians do. Do not fall for this! Interestingly, brown skin does have a built-in SPF of 13.4, while light skin has a built-in SPF of just .4. However, daily use of sunscreen is still necessary to fully protect yourself from sunspots, wrinkles and other sun damage.

Sunscreen: The basics and the “residue” issue

Basics

We recommend a sunscreen with SPF 30 or for daily use. Apply it daily at least 20 minutes before going outside. These are a few things to look out for when choosing your sunscreen:

• Only use sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. It is commonly called “broad-spectrum”
• While SPF 30 or above is recommended, SPF 15 is the absolute lowest that can reduce risk of skin cancer and early aging.
• Don’t forget to REAPPLY. Sunscreens cannot advertise as sweat-proof or waterproof, but they can be resistant to both. Since sunblock doesn’t completely withstand water and sweat, you should reapply after 40 to 80 minutes of swimming or sweating.

The Residue

A common issue with sunscreen is the whitish-gray residue that the product can leave behind. While this has been a problem in the past, new technology has essentially eliminated the issue. Here are some tips for avoiding this annoying problem:

• Use micronized formulas that have made sunscreen more cosmetically acceptable and less likely to leave residue.
• Try quick-absorbing formulas that contain chemical ingredients that sink into your skin. Some of ingredients to look out for include Mexoryl SX, Helioplex, and AvoTriple. These are the chemicals that will keep you safe without the frustrating white film!
• Clear zinc formula is a great alternative to regular sunblock, and it is much less visible when applied.

Enjoy the beautiful outdoors this summer, but don’t forget to use these tips to protect yourself and your family from the sun’s harmful rays!