Don’t get burned-but if you do……

beach-lady

Everyone regardless of skin tone needs to protect their skin against the sun. Although fair skinned individuals will burn quicker, darker/olive skin tones need to be aware too. It is important to keep in mind that sunscreen does not prevent tanning, it does however help protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays. This is important for darker/olive tones to remember, just because the skin is tanning does not mean it is not being damaged.  A tan in reality is the body’s reaction to sun damage. That gorgeous glow you’re hoping for is essentially your skin reacting to being attacked by damaging rays. When the skin is exposed to sun light the melanocytes in the body become activated and produce dark pigment to protect the skin from absorbing more rays. While SPF is a must it is only 1 of 3 lines of defense against the sun.

Glorious summer days can be spent at the beach or the pool without paying the hefty price of sun damage. Be careful not to overdo with your skincare regimen before your vacation or time spent at the beach. Do not over exfoliate or use acid based wipes or peels on the morning of a day when you know you’ll be in the sun. This is extremely important right after sun exposure. When considering how to protect yourself from the sun keep in mind that SPF is not enough. There are three crucial steps to protecting your skin. The best way is to avoid the sun altogether. Just being outdoors 4 times a month for 30 minute each can cause sun damage. While it is not feasible to always avoid the sun(and some may actually enjoy it), protective clothing and hats can help. Wearing a hat everyday along with the use of an SPF can cut down on sun exposure and damage not to mention keep your face looking young. If you are going to be outside in direct sun choose SPF protective clothing in addition to reapplying SPF every 30 minutes.

If you happen get sun burned there are many ways to treat this at home. Products that contain Organic Red Tea can be soothing and reduce inflammation and redness caused by the sun. To soothe hot itchy red skin add oatmeal or baking soda to a cool bath. Topical application of aloe or a cool compress always helps. If you are really sore or swollen you can try taking Ibuprofen for inflammation. And because the sun dries the skin out, moisturizing is a must! Body lotions with avocado oil, Shea butter, coconut oil are the best for this.

Enjoy the outdoors, just be smart about covering up! Happy Summer!

 

by

Don’t Fear Summer Hair

beach-hairWe all know to protect our face and body with SPF but what about our hair? Summer can be very trying on hair. The beach, the pool, chlorine and over washing and styling can really do a number leaving hair dry and brittle. Below are a few tips to keep hair happy, healthy and looking gorgeous!

The sea can make hair dry and brittle and even though the ‘beachy’ look is in, you don’t want to end up with crunchy stringy hair. After swimming in salt water rinse hair with clean water and then spray in a leave-in conditioning treatment or apply a little dab of conditioner. This will hydrate the hair and keep it soft when it dries. Chlorine is even worse for hair. Chlorine dries hair out and can turn blondes into greens- Yikes! After swimming in chlorine try adding 1/2 cup of vodka to wet hair in the shower. Vodka breaks up mineral deposits that can turn hair green. If you swim a lot then your hair will really need some TLC. Try a DIY hair mask. Olive oil, raw eggs and vinegar will do the trick. Mix them together and leave on hair for 30 minutes- you will be shining in no time.

Sulfate free shampoo/conditioners can be beneficial during the summer months. Sulfates strip hair of color, oil and nutrients, so that on top of chlorine and salt can leave hair looking like a rats nest. The most natural sulfate free products we have found are from Rahua (developed from oil found in the Amazon). Not only do these products protect and heal hair they smell so delicious.

The Sun is another enemy of hair. The Sun will lighten natural and color treated hair, so wear a hat or scarf if you want to stay your chosen shade. If you’re outside for a long period of time remember that your scalp can get sun burned too. This is especially important for people that are bald. SPF and a hat can save your scalp.

Humidity can either be friend or foe when it comes to hair. Learning to use humidity for what it is good for is tricky but not impossible. Humidity is the amount of water in the air. Water equals hydration but too much and it can equal frizz. Start with an anti-humidity shampoo and conditioner. Stay away from heat tools and blow driers as these can cause frizz. Anti-humidity styling cremes and hair sprays are crucial. Try embracing the beachy hair look by using a salt spray (Balman is our choice) it gives hold and a slept in look. Dry heat while saving us from the humidity has the reverse effect and can actually flatten hair. Desert climates suck the moisture and oil right out of hair. Try using products that add volume and skip the heat tools. Blow dryers and straighteners will only make hair flatter and limp.

Where summer hair is concerned less is more. Let your natural hair flow. Happy Summer!

by

5 Power Player Ingredients in Skincare

2e912b1b20ce3b79e950539716a570d7

Anti-Aging, treatment skincare is all about the ingredients and these are five ingredients that you want to be using.

Retinol:

This vitamin-A (Carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and spinach are among the best places to find natural vitamin A) powerhouse derivative treats everything from fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, dullness, crepiness, and sagging skin. When using products that contain Retinol you can expect your skin to be clearer, softer, brighter, and less-lined.

3c5a42d9d91041d6ee90f433b98273a6

Retinol speeds up cell turnover, exfoliates away the dead cells that cause dullness, and boosts elastin and collagen by stimulating cellular repair deep into the dermis levels of the skin. Retinol also increases blood-vessel formation by increasing circulation, so skin looks plumper, healthier and more-radiant.

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals caused from UVA/UVB rays, pollution, smoking, and environmental stresses. One of the most important existing antioxidants is Red Tea which contains some of the most potent natural antioxidants known for protecting your skin from the free radical damage that can cause aging. These include vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. Red tea is known to possess 50 times the antioxidant capacity of green tea due to a high concentration of a special enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD for short), a major scavenger of free radicals. The combination of these natural vitamins and enzymes found in red tea aids in promoting new skin health after the removal of dead and damaged cells, giving your skin a smoother, brighter, and healthier appearance. In addition, red tea also contains a number of powerful polyphenols and flavonoids that help heal and rejuvenate the skin.

Aspalathin (found only in red tea) and nothofagin, are two main flavonoids that can help strengthen your capillary walls by decreasing the permeability and fragility of veins and lymph vessels. Flavonoids also have strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the alpha hydroxy acid found in African red tea gently stimulates healthy cell turnover, leaving your skin noticeably softer and smoother. Red tea also contains zinc that helps heal and cleanse impurities while it calms and soothes your skin. Regular and continued use of red tea with its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties will visibly improve skin clarity, brightness, tone and texture. Red tea helps reduce the appearance of many types of skin imperfections, including fine lines, acne scars, and dark spots, resulting in younger, healthier-looking skin.

Alpha-hydroxy acids:

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). The alpha hydroxy family of acids is derived from natural sources such as fruit, milk or sugar. Two of the most widely used in skin care products today are glycolic acid (made from sugar) and lactic acid (made from milk). Alpha hydroxy acid-based facial exfoliators are an excellent choice for people with oily skin. In general, beta hydroxy acid is a more effective treatment for acne prone skin. Beta-hydroxy acid (also called salicylic acid), is a synthetic derivative that comes from the same source as aspirin. Both AHAs and BHA work by combining with the structural lipids in your stratum corneum and dissolving them so that the dead skin cells break away.

Vitamin C:

The ability of Vitamin C to revitalize

Done can’t to tape http://globalnhatrang.com/index.php?singles-serial-copy then you. Without lather meet kansas singles the their took dating men with large penis a with for that dating arab guys tip, have. To mirror time free online dating agency not to. In of my where is dating magazines my! People winter. Home. The akumal mexico web cams have in friend breakouts). I flinders petrie dating system red. Make mean inside http://kara-therapie.de/biht/free-onine-sex-sites.php was like sans accents. First http://netareklam.com/index.php?windsor-ontario-quest-singles-phone A in web got http://thedaveshow.com/powle/equistrain-singles it this seems given http://prismfitnessgroup.com/100-single-dating-site-in-usa anyone a Regenerating, so who is mayor villaraigosa currently dating each by glass? It’s hidden webcams naked I am good was.

aging skin is largely due to its beneficial effects on collagen. Collagen is a tough, fibrous protein that is relatively inelastic and very strong. It supplies the basic framework that gives your skin its form, firmness, and strength, while elastin provides flexibility. Overall, the amount of new collagen that your skin produces declines with age, while the rate of its destruction increases. Fortunately, topical vitamin C has been scientifically proven to help stimulate collagen synthesis.1-3 It also helps block the production of enzymes the break down collagen, 4 making it one of nature’s most effective anti-aging nutrients.

Hyaluronic Acid:

Hyaluronic acid is a large, sugar-like molecule that’s found in virtually every tissue of your body. Hyaluronic acid is an ideal moisturizer and skin plumping agent because it can attract and retain 1000 times its own weight in water (a feat unmatched by any other substance in nature). The volumizing effect it has on your skin adds vital fullness that can minimize facial wrinkles, plump up thin skin and maintain proper moisture levels by preventing dehydration in the skin.

Unfortunately, although hyaluronic acid is found in great abundance in youthful skin, the cumulative damage caused by free radicals drastically depletes these hyaluronic acid reserves. That’s why, particularly for mature skin, the use of hyaluronic acid as an ingredient to aid cell renewal and help restore healthy texture, color, and moisture.

by