Skin Care Shortcuts Throughout The Day

Courtesy of Flickr user eflon

Arrive at your desk. Catch up on emails. Make your second cup of coffee. Wait impatiently as it brews. Attend the morning staff meeting. Finish a proposal. Present the idea to the client. Sit down long enough to realize that your stomach has been growling for 10 minutes. Squeeze in lunch before your big afternoon pitch.

Halfway through your day and a lot like your morning madness, you may not have been able to pencil in skincare on your afternoon to-do list. Afternoons can leave you feeling sluggish, and a lot of times, your skin takes the brunt of this. Here are some midday skincare shortcuts that will leave your skin and your confidence feeling replenished and ready to take on the afternoon! 

Fancy the Face

• Pat a lightweight concealer underneath and around your eyes. This will diminish dark circles and lighten up your eyes.
• Apply a bold lip color.Pinks, reds and maroons are a great way to bring a fresh color to your face.
• Try to keep your hands off of your face as much as possible. The oil and bacteria from your fingertips can easily clog your pores and create blotchiness,as well as smudge your makeup. 
• Use oil cleansing pads to dab away the extra oil that has likely collected on your face throughout the day, especially in your T-zone, which includes your forehead, nose and chin.
• Keep drinking water. Water determines how your skin maintains plumpness and elasticity throughout the day. Drinking 64 fluid ounces of watereach day replenishes your skin and keeps it from looking dry, wrinkled and fatigued. 

Care for Your Hair

• Use a dry shampoo and conditioner to give your hair a fresh, out-of-the-shower look. Most of these products are small enough to stow away in your bag until you need them.
• Sprinkle baby powder or dry shampoo on your hair to eliminate greasy areas, especially around your part, the crown of your head and above the ears where oil tends to collect. Dry shampoo typically blends better with darker hair, while baby powder tends to blend better with lighter hair.
• For instant volume right before you walk into your big meeting, flip your hair over and shake it with your hands. A quick blow dry while your hair is flipped will also work. This will help smooth your hair and give it a little extra body. 

Helping Hands

• Keep a lemon handy. Rubbing a lemon on your nails and hands will not only clean them but it will also lighten your skin tone, creating healthier-looking hands.
• Keep lotion in your bag. Moisturizing is vital to rejuvenating your hands. Shaking hands with someone is often the first thing we do, so make a good impression.
• Groom your nails. A routine clipping and filing are healthy for your nails and keeps your nail beds strong. For more nail tips, read our blog post on the subject here.

Skin care serves a purpose far beyond simple aesthetics. Healthy habits throughout the day are necessary for rejuvenating and revitalizing skin. Try these skincare shortcuts and let us know what you think! 

Dealing with Dark Circles

Dark circles are a cosmetic concern for many people. Age, fatigue and stress often contribute to this issue. Although these factors can influence their formation, it is important to pinpoint the specific causes for the dark coloration so it can be properly resolved.

It’s also important to note that the skin under your eyes is thinner than anywhere else on your body. For this reason the dark-colored blood vessels under the skin are naturally more exposed in this area. 

Causes

Typical causes for dark circles include eczema, physical or emotional stress, nasal congestion, sun exposure and thinning skin with loss of collagen and fat.

Physical and Emotional Stress

Physical and emotional stress, including associated behaviors like smoking and chronic alcohol consumption, can disrupt your vitamin balance and cause dehydration. Vitamin imbalance and dehydration can accelerate the aging process, causing the skin to thin and lose fat and collagen around the eyes. This exposes the dark blood vessels under the skin’s surface, causing dark circles to appear very pronounced.

Nasal Congestion

Nasal congestion can create dark circles by dilating veins under your eyes, causing the skin to appear darker.

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure increases your body’s melanin production, which can lead to darker pigmentation.

Genetics

Dark circles can be hereditary, meaning they can be attributed to particular family genes. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid your genes, but there are ways to help remedy the problem.

DIY Solutions

If you are concerned about dark circles under your eyes, try the below treatments. Many times, these remedies help reduce or remove that unwanted discoloration without a visit to a doctor.

Cold Compresses

Hold chilled peas or ice cubes wrapped in a towel under your eyes to dilate blood vessels.

Extra Sleep or Pillows

Lack of sleep can give your skin a pale appearance. Make sure you’re getting your eight hours! And don’t forget how you sleep. Lifting your head when you sleep can stop your blood vessels from pooling with too much blood, which causes dilated vessels.

Sunglasses and Sunscreen

Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, which increase melanin production, can prevent long-term skin darkening under your eyes.

Saline Washes or Sprays

These can help relieve nasal congestion that sometimes causes dark circles.

Cosmetic Creams

Some people see relief after using serums that contain certain root extracts, such as Brazilian Suma.

Medical Solutions

It is best to follow the directions above to see how your skin responds to certain treatments. If those treatments prove futile, your medical professional can recommend a more effective treatment. Options a medical professional can prescribe include prescription creams, laser therapy, chemical peels, injectable fillers and surgery.

Prescription Creams

Retinoic acid, commonly called tretinoin, is a topical treatment that helps lighten dark or discolored skin. Other prescription creams include Tri-Luma, Eladopaque, Alustra and Glyquin XM.

Laser Therapy

Lasers send rays of light under the skin to be absorbed by the blood vessels. The light absorption brightens the skin, as well as reduces fine lines and wrinkles. 

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can remove the top layers of skin that have been permanently altered to a darker color as a result of sun damage. Removing the older skin reveals fresh, lighter skin.

Injectable Fillers

If the space under your eyes appears hollow or sunken, certain derma-fillers can be injected to eliminate the shadows that form dark circles. Fillers also separate your dark blood vessels from the skin by placing a padded layer in between. This can diminish the dark color of the blood vessels.

Surgery

A belpharoplasty procedure can remove bags around eyes that cast dark shadows, creating the appearance of dark circles. Surgery is always the most extreme option to treat a problem, so I recommend a detailed discussion with your medical provider before looking into this option.

Dark circles are not harmful to your health, but they can be unpleasant and difficult to hide or cover up. If you see little to no results with DIY remedies at home, I encourage you to seek the counsel of your medical professional. If you have any other questions about dark circles or other skin care topics, please call 901-759-2322 or visit our website.