When Is Cleansing Before Bedtime Not Enough?

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We used to believe that a quick wash with soap and water, or a swipe of a facial wipe was sufficient. But we have learned that neither of those techniques actually removes all the dirt and grime that collect on our skin each day.

Then along came the Koreans with all sorts of new techniques for cleansing, the best of which is a double cleanse. No mystery here, you cleanse first with an oil based cleanser to break down any makeup, remove dirt and excess oils. Then you follow with a water based cleanser for your particular skin type, having ingredients that hydrate, calm or treat acne and oiliness.
Double cleansing may be a two-step technique but it only adds a few minutes to your usual regimen, but as with most things in skin care, it’s not a one-routine-fits-all. Considering every skin type and taking into account your specific skin concerns, choosing the right double-cleansing duo is key in making sure you get the most out of your routine.
Using the best double-cleansing products for your skin type also allows you to avoid over-washing and over-drying your skin. If we strip too much of our natural oils, our body can respond by producing more oil and that can lead to breakouts and irritation, that’s why I suggest double cleansing only at night—when you actually have dirt and makeup to wash off—to make sure you’re not altering the natural balance of oils and microbes on your skin.
Follow your two step cleanse with serums that build and replenish your skin, a moisturizer that hydrates and an eye product to treat fine lines and wrinkles.

For Healthy Skin, Feed It From the Inside

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There are so many commonly available foods that feed your skin. No need to search out exotic foods. Reap the benefits provided by fresh foods and achieve a glowingly healthy and supple complexion. Take advantage of seasonal produce for the best buys and the freshest fruit and veggies.

Drinking water is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin in shape. It keeps your skin moist — and that makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. It also helps your cells take in nutrients and get rid of toxins. And it helps with blood flow, keeping your skin glowing. Just how much water? Divide your weight in half. The result is the number of ounces of water needed daily.

Selenium protects your skin from cells that gather free radicals. Free radicals cause signs of aging like wrinkles and dry skin, and tissue damage. Selenium may also help prevent skin cancer.Selenium is found in Brazil nuts, button mushrooms, shrimp, lamb, and fish like snapper, cod, halibut, tuna, and salmon. Foods like cooked beef, light turkey, oysters, sardines, crab, and whole-wheat pasta also have selenium.

Antioxidants are important to slowing and preventing free-radical damage.They are found in all kinds of foods, especially colorful fruits and vegetables like berries, tomatoes, apricots, beets, squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, peppers, and beans.

Your body makes a key antioxidant called Coenzyme Q10. But as you get older, you make less of it. It’s involved in making energy and helping your cells work. You can find CoQ10 in fish like salmon and tuna, poultry, organ meats like liver, and whole grains.  If you use a skin product that has CoQ10, it may help soften wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Nobody wants dry, flaky skin. So grab an orange, carrot, or slice of cantaloupe. They’re loaded with vitamin A. You can also find it in leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy foods. Vitamin A is also found in leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy foods. When you use a skin product with vitamin A, your wrinkles and brown spots may look better. Those products, called retinoids, are common prescription treatments for acne and other skin conditions. 

The sun can be tough on your skin. Vitamin C can help protect you. It also helps undo sun damage to collagen and elastin, which firm up your skin. Get vitamin C from red bell peppers, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwis, broccoli, greens, and Brussels sprouts. But nothing defeats sun damage like a good sun screen containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Sun screen should be reapplied every two hours during sun exposure.

Another antioxidant that may help save your skin from sun damage and inflammation is vitamin E. Get it from vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus, and leafy greens. Try a topical that contains Vitamin E to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it needs protection on the inside and the outside. Omega-3s and omega-6s are good fats that help make up your skin’s natural oil barrier, keeping away dryness and blemishes. Essential fatty acids like these help leave your skin smoother and younger-looking. You can get them from olive and canola oils, flax seeds, walnuts, and cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel.

 Some oils provide your skin with more than just essential fatty acids. Good-quality ones like extra-virgin olive oil and cold- or expeller-pressed oil are more simply processed than many other kinds. They may have more nutrients that are good for your skin. These oils may also help lube up your skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.
 
Green tea may be the closest thing to a magic potion that you can find for your skin. It helps stop inflammation, helps slow DNA damage, and can even help prevent the sun from burning your skin. You can find green tea in lots of cosmetics, but why not go straight to the source: Drink it!
 
Feeding your skin from the inside as well as following a home program of cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating will provide the healthy glow you seek.

It’s Never Too Late

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Wishing for that glowing skin of your youth?    Don’t just wish – Do Something!

It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin!

Our skin begins to age in our mid-20s, but you probably didn’t notice it then. Those products you have used for years may not be giving you the results you want anymore. Our genetics, daily habits, and the sun cause changes in our skin, but there are several things that you can do to achieve softer, healthier skin.

Begin by using a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin, or if you are oily, use a foamy one. Breaking out? Choose a cleanser containing beta green tea – a natural antiseptic that is great for problematic skin.  Always cleanse with warm or cool water. Hot water can strip away your skin’s natural moisture. Pat your face dry — don’t rub.

Next step – Moisturize

Moisturizers protect and improve your skin. Even if your skin tends to be oily or breakouts, you can use a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer every day. Dry skin may need to be moisturized more than just once a day. Very dry skin can often benefit from using a serum before adding moisturizer. Serums and moisturizers are best used while your face is still damp to seal in moisture. And don’t forget your neck!  Using moisturizer and sun screen on the neck can slow the formation of crepey skin.

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Sun protection is needed during daylight hours, even when it is cloudy or if you’re staying indoors. The sun’s rays can pass through clouds and windows, so you’re always exposed. Many moisturizers have sunscreen, as does some make-up. Look for a broad-spectrum screen, which means it guards against both UVA and UVB rays. I think the best sun protection is derived from a product containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.  Those products sit on the surface of the skin and reflect the sun’s rays away. Use your sunscreen on your lips, neck and chest too. Driving? Be sure to protect the backs of your hands as well. And if you sweat or are outside for a long time, reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes to stay protected. Wearing make-up? Boost your protection by puffing on a mineral powder. 

Layer your lotions and potions

Begin with clean skin, apply any serums or gels that treat specific issues (they need to be next to your skin to get the most benefit), follow with your moisturizer and top it off with your sunscreen. Make-up can be applied after the sunscreen.  A word of caution here – never sleep in your sunscreen.  Your skin needs to recover and rejuvenate while you sleep.  Cleanse, use your corrective serums, moisturize and have sweet dreams.

Keep that glow

Exfoliation of dead, dry skin will return your skin to a healthy glow. Normal to dry skin can benefit from a gentle exfoliation weekly. Use an enzyme, gentle scrub or a spinning brush to gently rid your skin of that dull outer layer.  Oily skin can usually be exfoliated more often. Get the most from your enzyme by adding steam.  Cleanse your skin, apply the enzyme, and then jump in the shower.  The steam will increase the power of your product. Remove it at the end of your shower.

Exfoliation exposes a fresh new layer of skin, but it also makes your skin more sensitive to damage from the sun, so be sure to protect that glow with a good sunscreen.

Your skin care pro offers many in salon treatments that treat more deeply than retail products. Check out progressive chemical peels and deeply moisturizing facials to rid your skin of the dry and dulling layer left over from exposure to sun and summer heat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the End of Summer. How’s Your Skin Looking?

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We Texans love to spend time in the sunshine, and we women believe that brown fat looks better than white fat, but sun can really take a toll on your skin.

The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) light that damages your skin and can cause sunburn. Over time, these rays can lead to wrinkles, dark spots, and other problem areas. The result: You can add years to your looks. Research shows that UV exposure is the reason behind 80% of your skin’s aging.

Fortunately, there are some ways you can turn back the clock and reverse some problems caused by the sun. It’s not possible to erase all of the damage, but there are some steps you can take for these common conditions. However, the best thing you can do is use a good, physical sunscreen product and avoid the damage all together.

If your skin turns pink, painful and particularly if you have blisters, most of the harm to your skin has already occurred. Sunburns signal that there has been damage to the DNA in your skin cells and over time, these injuries add up and lead to physical changes like wrinkles, dark spots and even skin cancer.

While there are plenty of things you can do to ease the pain of sunburn, there are only a few ways you can counteract the damage before it becomes permanent. Wear sunscreen, preferably on containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and reapply it at least every 80 minutes. You’ll protect yourself from future UV radiation and give your skin’s enzymes time to repair some of the damaged DNA.

The sun can really dry out your skin, leaving with you rough, flaky patches. Gently exfoliate using a gentle body scrub to remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal the soft skin beneath. But beware, some scrubs contain ground up peach pits or nut shells. These particles may have sharp edges that can scratch your skin. Look instead for scrubs containing jojoba beads which are spherical and can polish that dry skin away. Follow up with a moisturizing lotion or cream. If you’re sunburned, don’t use petroleum-based products, which trap in heat. Staying hydrated will help as well, so drink plenty of water.

UV rays can break down collagen and elastin, two proteins that keep skin firm and smooth. Try these treatments to iron out those wrinkles:
• Beta-carotene: Research shows that this antioxidant makes skin more supple and flexible and reduces sun-related wrinkles. It is found in fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored, like carrots, spinach, and cantaloupe and in many skin care products.
• Retinoids: These compounds boost the amount of collagen in your skin. Your aesthetician can offer creams or a serum, containing tretinoin or retinol. Beware though, retinoids can make you very sun sensitive, so if you are using them, be vigilant about using sunscreen.
• Chemical peels: Progressive chemical peels can remove the top layer of dead, dry, skin cells which make your skin appear dull and dry. Utilizing a combination of acids, those cells are digested, revealing a smoother and brighter complexion. There is no down time associated with this treatment.
• Microdermabrasion: This technique uses tiny crystals to remove the top layer of skin cells. The micro injury to the skins surface prompts the body to make collagen in response to the injury – and that’s a good thing.

Hyperpigmentation can be minimized with a number of treatments that can help lighten these dark spots, also known as liver spots or age spots. Your skin makes a chemical called melanin which gives your skin its color and protects against damaging UV rays. Too much sun can cause the melanin to clump, which shows up as a flat brown or black spot.

To fight the damage, try:
• Skin-lightening creams: Products with hydroquinone can lighten skin. Kojic and glycolic acids are two other ingredients that can help lighten these marks, too.
• Retinoids: Along with smoothing wrinkles, these compounds speed up the turnover and shedding of pigmented cells.
• Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser therapy: These treatments can remove outer layers of skin so new, clear skin can come to the surface.

More than 6 million Americans get these splotchy brown or grey patches known as melasma. Although experts aren’t certain of the exact reason for it, they know that sun exposure can cause melanin to go into overdrive and create the spots on the skin. Scientists are also looking at a possible link to both the liver and hormones as a cause for melasma.
Melasma can be treated with many of the same treatments that work for age spots, such as skin-lightening creams. One study found that hydroquinone, kojic acid, and glycolic acid all worked well in reducing the splotches. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser therapy are also options.  Most important, strict sun avoidance and liberal use of broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against UVA, UVB, and visible light are a must for successful treatment of melasma.

Bottom line, protect yourself with a good sunscreen, drink lots of water, use an exfoliating scrub to gently remove dry skin and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Enjoy the last weekend of summer!Don’t let this be you!

The Truth About One-Size-Fits-All of Mass Marketed Skincare Products

Yes, these mass-marketed sensations that promise the world in a bottle, but really only deliver ho-hum results at best, and a mess to be cleaned up at worse, have challenged skin care professionals since the beginning of the profession. Our efforts to help our clients put their best face forward are sometimes thwarted by another flash-in-the-pan consumer skin care product.

The reality is, they aren’t going away, so it’s important for you to know the impact these ineffective products can have on your skin.

They’ve been around for decades and there are dozens of them – the “miracle” multi-level marketing (MLM) skin care products that promise to completely transform the skin. Chances are you have heard about a Rodan and Fields, Arbonne, or Nerium product. Perhaps you have even used some of these products.  And you  may have even had come back to your esthetician and our spa quality products after having dismal or even damaging results.

The truth is, a tremendous amount of misinformation surrounds these products and it’s imperative that you know and understand this. For one, representatives who sell them are not required to undergo any professional skin care training. In large part, they are primarily trained on the “art of the sale” rather than the “art of skin care.”

While there are certainly exceptions to this, you can count on the fact that I, a licensed esthetician, have taken the time to go through the proper training to earn the right to consult with you about your skin. I understand what makes your skin unique and how different ingredients are either going to work in harmony with your skin or work against it. You don’t get that level of expertise on line, in a department store or MLM environment.

Another important value lacking from these products is the customization. Most MLMs and over-the-counter brands follow a more one-size-fits-all approach. When acne, aging, dehydration, and hyperpigmentation occur for different reasons in different skin types, these products simply can’t be expected to live up to their promises. And an ingredient that works well for one skin may be disastrous for another.

I want my clients to understand the level of care I put into your product selections. I have researched and selected my retail products very carefully. I could offer any product available, but I chose these products for you for several important reasons. I can tailor your home care products to fit your individual skin care needs, based on my training and experience.

This is true for the skin care line that I have chosen for my practice.  Rhonda Allison products offer cutting-edge science, quality ingredients, choices and customization for all skin types, and the longevity of the products is unsurpassed. The products in her line were developed by a licensed esthetician with a background in cosmeceuticals.

Finally, any product that is sold in mass on the internet, in a mainstream store or as an MLM, is going to have some restrictions on the level of active ingredients that may be used. This is simply due to the risk. They have to make these less active so that anyone can simply open the package and start using it without any sort of guidance by a skin care professional. They simply won’t deliver the same results a quality cosmeceutical formula will.

Fad buying and flavors of the month will always exist, and women and men will always have their eye out for the next thing that promises to turn back the hands of time. Skin care is an emotionally driven purchase – most want to look better, younger, and have those changes happen quickly.

I always use the example of going to a gym to get fit.  If you go once, you don’t see any results, but if you follow through with the suggestions made by your trainer at home and in the gym, you begin to see the results you want. The same is true with skincare.  We work hard in the salon to start the process to get your skin to be the best that it can be, but like in the gym, if you don’t follow your treatment plan and incorporate the products suggested in your home care routine, you don’t see the results you want.

Stick with the brands that are about the health of the skin and transformations without false promises!

Remember, Beautiful, healthy skin begins here!

 

Introducing LED Light Therapy

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Want to regain that smooth, plump complexion of your youth?  Have a few “spots” you’d like to get rid of? Breakouts a problem? Then LED therapy might be for you.

LED is a painless skin-care treatment that plumps up aging skin by boosting collagen production, and treats mild to moderate acne by killing the bacteria responsible for breakouts. LED treatments are sometimes also called LED light therapy; LED stands for light-emitting-diodes.

 First developed by NASA, LED works by sending energy-producing packets of light into the deeper layers of the skin. Each light color penetrates a different layer of the skin to treat different problems.

Red light LED stimulates the fibroblasts that produce collagen, which gives young skin its plump look. Professional LED machines like mine can also minimize fine lines and wrinkles, treat sun-damage, minimize the appearance of scars, and reduce redness after more aggressive IPL or laser treatments. The results won’t be as dramatic as plastic surgery, IPL or laser, but it’s a gentler, more natural, less expensive way to go.  

Blue light LED works by killing propionibacterium acnes (or p-bad) that lives below the surface of the skin and is responsible for acne.

Professional LED treatments are given in salons and day spas by licensed estheticians, usually those with a serious focus on skin care. LED light therapy can be a stand-alone treatment or part of a facial. They usually cost somewhere between $75 and $125 a treatment. Cost is determined by the length of the treatment.

The recommended professional LED protocol is a total of six treatments, a week or two apart, followed by a maintenance treatment every month or two. I’ve done red light LED and it works, giving you plumper, firmer skin and a more youthful look. I have also had IPL treatments in the past and actually prefer LED.  There is no discomfort, no photo-sensitivity after the treatment, and spending a half hour relaxing during the treatment is beneficial for mind and body!

LED treatments are painless, cool and relaxing, and unlike laser treatments, carry no risk of burning.  LED treatments can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to thirty minutes. The mask containing the LED lights that I use in the salon simply rests on the face for the prescribed treatment time.

Unlike laser or IPL treatments, LED treatments don’t generate any heat. They’re even relaxing. Your eyes can’t be hurt by LED so they don’t have to be covered.  LED treatments are a good choice for people who want to boost collagen, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or treat acne.

So how long does it take to see results? Your skin will look different after the first treatment: smoother and more hydrated with a natural radiant glow.  However, since the device is essentially stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms, the most visible results are not immediate.  Remember, we are treating your skin from the inside out. Instead, results occur gradually over several weeks.   With each treatment you will see improvement.  And when paired with an effective home care regimen your results will be enhanced.

While almost everyone can benefit from the use of light therapy, these treatments will have the greatest impact on skin with sluggish metabolism and slow cellular activity showing visible signs of aging.   Contraindications for light therapy include pregnancy and epilepsy, photo-allergy, and medications that cause light sensitivity (such as Tetracycline). Also, if you are currently taking steroids or cortisone injections, you should not receive light therapy.

Give me a call to book your LED treatment series.  As an introductory offer during November, you can purchase a series of 6 treatments for $250, a savings of $200.

Why Cetaphil Isn’t Doing Your Skin Any Favors

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Cetaphil probably has the best PR of any facial soap. Beauty magazines gush over it as a no-frills $8 must-have. Dermatologists love to recommend it as a mild and non-irritating facial cleanser for two reasons: it doesn’t contain fragrance and, more tellingly, because MDs have a big Pharma love affair with the manufacturer, Galderma, the offspring of Nestlé and L’Oréal, which also makes acne drugs like Differin.

And yet there’s nothing healthy about this face-washing prescription.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser contains just eight ingredients: water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben.

All but the water are chemically manufactured (let’s hope), and propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and the three parabens have a seat on the dirty dozen, a list of cosmetic ingredients to avoid as potentially toxic. (More about parabens and the “dirty dozen to follow).

One look at the label and you’ve got to go “Wait a minute! What?” says Spirit Demerson, who analyzes skin-care ingredients for Spirit Beauty Lounge, her online natural beauty store. “Cetaphil does not contain even one single beneficial ingredient and what it does contain is the equivalent of toxic sludge. Whether you think it’s keeping your skin healthy or not, it is absorbed into your bloodstream and research has proven almost all of the few ingredients in it are carcinogenic. I know it’s hard to imagine that washing your face can give you cancer but it’s worth consideration.”

Julia March, a top NYC facialist, says that so many New Yorkers believe that Cetaphil is healthy, they tend ignore the ingredients completely. “Cetyl alcohol, an emollient used in many cosmetics, is essentially a wax,” says March. “Propylene glycol is a common humectant (meaning it brings moisture from the air to the skin), but it also enhances product and chemical penetration into the skin and blood stream. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a foaming agent, and skin and eye irritant, that disturbs the healthy lipid barrier of the skin, and parabens are a group of preservatives being phased out for potential health risks.”

Given that there’s actually nothing clean about this cleanser, it’s rather amazing that millions of women think their skin will freak out if they use anything else. “It may not irritate skin very much, but it probably won’t help it much either,” says Nicole Yih, Assistant Spa Director at the Mandarin Oriental New York. That’s because there’s nothing in Cetaphil that nurtures skin. No antioxidants that help fight free radical damage; not a dribble of omega-rich plant seed oils that fortify the skin barrier; and not a drop of skin-calming botanicals.

A cleanser that you use twice a day should be judged on what it gives your skin. Consider this your new cleanser criterion.

 

Well & Good – Originally published on July 20, 2010, updated on March 24, 2016.

 

Have complexion you have always wanted? How do you keep it?

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Have complexion you have always wanted?  How do you keep it?

Just a few suggestions:

  1. Get a facial at least once a quarter – if you are following a home care regimen designed for your skin and have not developed some new skin issue. More often if you begin to have problems.
  1. Always use a physical sunblock – use it year round because we are exposed to damaging UVA and UVB rays all year long. Be sure that you remove that sunblock each night before bed. You should never sleep in a sunblock containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Great during the day, but bad at night!
  1. It is often advisable to switch some of your skin care products seasonally. That super rich moisturizer you use during the winter may not be the right product for a hot summer.
  1. Add coconut oil to your beauty regimen. Cook with it or add a spoonful to your smoothie. Use it or products that contain it on your skin.

Coconut oil is a great make-up remover, even for stubborn eye make-up and it       moisturizes the eye area while removing your make-up. Used on the skin, coconut oil forms a barrier that prevents water loss thus increasing hydration. That is especially important at night when tests have shown our skin loses a significant amount of moisture. Coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids and feeds and softens our skin even while we sleep.

Need an easy to make at home body scrub that doesn’t have all the harmful stuff in it?  Mix salt or sugar in coconut oil and scrub away.  It will exfoliate and leave you with a glowing, polished skin (from the salt or sugar) and one that is thoroughly moisturized (from the coconut oil).

    Your diet is important. Drink lots of water.  It flushes out impurities from your body and allows skin cells to look plump, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Choose locally sourced fresh produce and eat seasonally. When it is fresh, it is at the top of it’s nutritional value. Brightly colored fruit and vegetables are high in anti-oxidants, as are dark leafy greens. Feed your skin from the inside out. You’ll look and feel better.
  1. Don’t touch your face! Think where those hands have been today. Try to break the habit of resting your chin on your hand. All that does is transfer the dirt and oil from your hands to your complexion. Blackheads are formed when dirt and oil get trapped in the pore.  If you are constantly touching your face, you are adding to that problem. Consider how dirty your cell phone is as well.  Placing it on your face transfers all that gunk right on to your skin. Clean the screen at least daily and more often if it gets dirty or oily.

And don’t pick! If you must pop that zit, do it after your shower when your skin is warm and clean. Wrap your fingers with a piece of gauze and gently push out the contents of the zit.  If you have to work hard to get it out – leave it alone! Be sure to use an anti-bacterial lotion or toner to reduce the chance of spreading bacteria from that zit to other places on your skin.

The key to keep your skin glowing is consistency.  Work with your esthetician to develop a skin care regimen that fits your life style.  If you know that your busy schedule will not allow for that extra few minutes every day for a beauty treatment, share that info and work out a program that fits your schedule and keeps your skin in good shape. Save the more time consuming processes for evenings or weekends when you have some free time to devote to yourself.

 

Your Breakout – Is It Hormonal?

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Your Breakout- Is It Hormonal?

Are you a little too familiar with the monthly appearance of cystic acne around the jaw line—the deep-rooted, long-lasting kind that’s largely due to hormones?

Those hormonal breakouts are not limited to women and teenage girls.  I see about as many teenage boys as girls in my salon, who suffer from these hormonal breakouts. The breakouts that teenage boys suffer are naturally, not associated with a monthly cycle, but are still hormonal as their bodies grow and change.

Hormonal acne can also show up between the eyebrows, on your temples, and around your eye area because of hormonal changes that happened each month, which can stress the liver. Cysts that appear from the corners of the mouth and directly down to the chin could represent imbalance in your colon, and can manifest as excess mucus clusters and angry, red cysts.

I know it seems counter intuitive, but some skin oils do help, not cause breakouts. Try some oils rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, lightly applied under your moisturizer. They are non-comedogenic (don’t cause pores to clog) and nourish the skin. Add a product to SPOT TREAT (not to rub all over your face) containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is derived from willow bark and is a wonderful way to unclog your pores.

Enzymes are your friends during periods of breakouts. They are gentle exfoliators and remove the top layer of dead, pore clogging skin cells. Choose products with lactic acid, honey, pineapple, or papaya. To increase the effectiveness of your enzyme, use it in a steamy shower. First cleanse your face using the appropriate gentle cleanser, pat dry, apply a thin layer of the enzyme to your face and allow it to remain in place until you finish your shower, then rinse thoroughly. It is important to “feed” your skin after exfoliation, so use the serum and moisturizer for your skin type. If you exfoliate in the morning, be sure to apply a physical sunblock to protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Small changes in your diet can help too.  Eliminate processed sugars and substitute fruit or honey to curb those cravings for sweets. Adding lots of green leafy vegetables and healthy fats to your diet is also important, as are B vitamins and magnesium.

And I cannot stress it enough, you must drink plenty of water. As a guide to the amount you should drink each day, take your weight and divide it in half.  The result is the number of ounces you need daily.

No one should have to suffer through a breakout alone.  Get help from a professional and stick to a good home care program to continue the treatment benefits you receive in the salon.

 

Your Breakout – Is it caused By the World You Live in?

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When acne strikes, it’s usually your body trying to tell you something’s up. Everything from the type of breakout to where it’s located on your face has its own meaning; you just have to learn how to interpret it.

Environmental Factors

If your skin issues are caused by environmental toxins, you might see blemishes between the eyebrows and on the temples, in the eye area, and on the apples of the cheeks crossing over the nose. In this instance, your body could be telling you that your liver is stressed, this can cause inflammation around the temples, your kidneys or thyroid are imbalanced (which can lead to eye puffiness and darkness), or your vascular system is under pressure (which may be connected to the flare-ups on your cheeks).

We can’t do much about living in the Metroplex and all the pollution we deal with on a daily basis, but you can protect your skin from the effects of that pollution.

Use serums that are rich in antioxidants containing Vitamin E and Vitamin C  (like Rhonda Allison Pumpkin E Serum).  This powerful serum fights free radicals and provides vital nutrients to your skin.  Look for essential fatty acids in your serums and cleansers, which keep your cell membranes strong and healthy.

Use a sunblock that contains zinc – and use it year round.  Zinc protects your skin from harmful UVA and UVB damage, but also provides anti-inflammatory benefits.

You can fight those breakouts from the inside out through changes in your diet.  Load up your meal with rainbow colored foods that are high in antioxidants.  Try incorporating kale and other dark, leafy greens, and add richly colored veggies like beets and pumpkin (yes, pumpkin again) on your plate. Avoiding acidic foods like caffeine, alcohol, soda, meat, dairy, salt, and sugar will also help your achieve a more alkaline state. Adding foods with healthy fats and that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and other cold water fish are a plus as well.  Cooking with coconut oil instead of vegetable oils is another.

Detox with plenty of sweat producing exercise, drink plenty of water and begin your day by drinking the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water.

End your day with a thorough facial cleanse to remove make-up, sweat and all the environmental dirt and debris encountered during your day. Spot treat your breakout with blemish serum and then slather on that vitamin E rich serum and your night time moisturizer. Using a moisturizer that is formulated for breakout prone skin is important. Your skin recovers and rebuilds during your sleep, so “feed” it the nutrients needed for that recovery.

And last but not least – clean your cell phone screen when you clean your face (it will help you remember to do it!) Many breakouts on the sides of your cheeks may be caused by the dirt transferred to your face from your phone.

Remember, Beautiful, healthy skin begins here!

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