Tag Archive for: Glowing Skin

Feed Your Skin: How a healthy diet is key to a glowing complexion

Stress doesn’t just make a person feel older. In a very real sense, it can speed up aging. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that stress can add years to the age of individual immune system cells. Chronic stress accelerates premature aging by shortening DNA telomeres. A wide range of studies has shown that the stress caused by things like untreated depression, social isolation, long-term unemployment, and anxiety attacks can speed-up the aging process by shortening the length of each DNA strand. 

Given the added stress of the Coronavirus, we wanted to share our tips to help mitigate stress that is attainable for all of us. 

You Are What You Eat

Eating a diet high in anti-oxidant rich foods such as leafy greens, berries and foods high in essential fatty acids (salmon, avocado, almonds) shows on your face as well as internally. So what really happens when you eat one too many onion rings or chicken fingers? The dreaded G word… Glycation. 

The Glycation process is sugar (from food and alcohol) breaking down the collagen fibers in the skin and speeding up the aging process. Glycation equals loss of elasticity and collagen, which equals sagging and dull skin. Foods that feed Glycation and cause inflammation in the body and the skin are carbohydrates, fried foods, sugar and alcohol. 

So where do can you start? Say goodbye to sugar, it is NOT your friend. Sugar is addictive and in almost everything! Pay attention to your daily sugar intake. Even that ‘healthy’ green juice you’re drinking has sugar. Read labels thoroughly- salad dressings, cooking marinades, pastas, breads, most fruits, cocktail mixers, nut butters, protein shakes, and coffee creamers (even the nondairy types) can be loaded with sugar. 

Once you know what to avoid, you need to reverse Glycation. Te most effective ways to do that is to limit the intake of the ‘bad’ foods, exercise daily, eat a healthy diet of vegetables, antioxidant rich foods and healthy fats. Developing a healthy skin care regimen, massaging your face, drinking lots of water and getting ample sleep will also help. 

Stop drinking

Watch alcohol intake. This is particularly relevant during the holiday season. Alcohol has dreadful and hazardous effects on the body and skin. Alcohol dehydrates the eyes, the skin and the inside of the body. Alcohol also makes the liver fat. Alcohol has a bad effect on Vitamin A, B3 and Vitamin C, which are all imperative antioxidants for healthy skin and organ function. Alcohol also affects blood sugar levels and can raise blood pressure. 

Signs you’re over drinking

  1. Frequent urination during the night
  2. Dry eyes upon waking in the AM
  3. Stomach issues + bloating
  4. Facial puffiness 
  5. Breakouts
  6. Fuzzy mind 
  7. Overall dehydration

Change Your Makeup + Skincare

If you’re suffering form clogged pores, milia or bums take a look at the ingredients in your makeup. Foundations, CC cream, powders, highlighter can all contain silicone, artificial dyes, and fillers. A good way to test if you were able to remove all the product is to see how much residue is left on the skin after cleansing by wiping with a wash cloth. If the cloth is clean then most likely you’re ok, but if the cloth has residue its time to find a new product. Our clean pick is Suntegrity.

Even the good things need a change. Ease up on the acid; Retinol, Glycolic and even Vitamin C can start to wreak havoc with overuse or when the weather starts to change. Look for more nourishing ingredients like avocado oil and grapeseed oil. Transition into a multi functional oil that delivers both brightness and hydration.

Movement + Meditation 

In today’s fast-paced world, where everyone of us is in a hurry to achieve goals and meet the deadlines, we seldom find time to slow down and enjoy the process. People are caught up in their own thoughts and fail to give enough attention to their health, which can turn out to be really counter-productive in the long run.

Just like we “work out” our brain, working out our body is equally important. Exercise is not just about aerobic capacity and muscle size. Sure, exercise can improve your physical health and your physique, trim your waistline, improve your sex life, and even add years to your life. But that’s not what motivates most people to stay active.

People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. And it’s also powerful medicine for many common mental health challenges. Endorphins are only one of many neurotransmitters released when you exercise. Physical activity also stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These brain chemicals play an important part in regulating your mood! Check out our go-to’s for working out our bodies and mind. 

At Home Workouts: 

Mediation/Spirituality:

The Ugly Habits

Three of the worst things you can do to your skin are pick, smoke and neglect. Picking invites bacteria, germs and scaring. Smoking dehydrates the skin and body inside and out, enhances premature aging and causes wrinkles first showing signs around the mouth. Last but not least always wash your makeup off before bed.  Hitting the sheets in a full face will encourage bacteria, trap dirt and germs in the pores, cause breakouts and dehydrate skin. 

Healthy clear skin is only a few steps away! 

 

Sources:

Epel, E.S. Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101(49): 17312-17315.

by
,

The 3-in-1 Mask Everyone Should Have In Their Regimen

Balancing the skin is a delicate dance between the right amount of exfoliation, treatment, hydration and nourishment. Dr. G created The Skin Balancing Mask  for this exact reason. Inspired by one of Dr. Goldfaden’s professional balancing treatments, which includes a combination of microdermabrasion, vitamin/enzyme infusion and oxygen. This multidimensional treatment works to reduce the appearance of facial lines and uneven skin tone, all while providing skin with a plumping effect that results in a firmer, smoother glowing complexion.

Formulated to utilize powerful anti-aging peptides and the efficient but gentle effects of malic acid, the Skin Balancing Mask provides anti-aging and nourishing benefits. This lightweight gel mask utilizes the next generation of hydrators, as it balances, soothes and calms skin while streamlining the process of intense exfoliation an in-office procedure would require. Other key ingredients include ginseng, honey, flower extracts, and vitamin E to improve skin elasticity and increase collagen production. Ginseng, Honey, Jojoba Oil, floral peptides and Vitamin E infuse moisture, vitality and nourishment back into the skin. 

Discover the benefits of Malic Acid

Derived from apples, this gentle alpha hydroxy helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, tighten pores, minimize the appearance of skin pigmentation, moisturizes and exfoliates skin ridding it of dead skin cells. 

The result: improved skin texture and appearance, leaving it softer and smoother.

Why you should be wearing a mask with Ginseng

Ginseng has been promoted as an anti-ageing treatment since probably forever. It contains a large amount of phytonutrients, which can stimulate and activate the skin’s metabolism. It rids skin of the free radicals, which get accumulated when your skin is regularly exposed to sunlight and environmental pollution. Ginseng also contains certain ingredients that can increase the production of collagen in the middle layer of the skin known as dermis, making the skin firmer. Collagen is responsible for making the skin more elastic and toned, thereby diminishing wrinkles or fine lines on the face and other body parts.

Ginseng roots and leaves are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are good for overall skin health. The roots and leaves metabolize skin cells and facilitate the elimination of dead skin cells to produce healthy new skin. Ginseng tea is particularly great for refining and rehydrating your skin, by regenerating skin cells by increasing oxygenation. It also improves blood circulation and is a great blood detoxifier. All these factors contribute to a healthier and brighter complexion. Topical use of ginseng leaves can keep your skin healthy and glowing.

Why you need the Flower Power

The flower extracts really set this mask apart. The beautiful and dainty elderflower promotes blood flow and is loaded with vitamins A, B, C and E. Bright orange Calendula (pot marigold) is responsible for moisturizing, soothing skin, pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits. Beautiful red and fuchsia Geranium extract is calming, anti-bacterial and serves as an astringent. 

Amino Acid Powerhouse

Trying to acheiveskin firmness? Dr. G’s Peptide Blend – (tetrapeptide-3 + rh-Oligopeptide-1) provides a unique combinnationof amino acids & plant proteins that aid in stimulating cells so that they produce collagen and provide an enhanced plumping + firmness effect.                          

The Skin Balancing Mask saves time by combining all the necessary steps to a flawless, bright, balanced and hydrated complexion. Shop yours today!

 

by
, ,

TRAVEL SKINCARE TIPS: Understanding + Maintaining your complexion while you travel

Travel. Air travel, specifically. Every time you board a plane, you’re exposed to stale, crazy-dry, recirculated air, so even if you’re only taking an hour-long flight (lucky!), you end up with a significantly moisture-sapped, duller complexion when you land. And that’s not accounting for what happens on your actual vacation: using strange hotel beauty products, skin experiencing different water, forgetting your favorite sunscreen, and eating different foods.

We sat down with Dr. G to understand just exactly what happens to our skin and how to combat Jet leg from sinking in while we travel.

Does skin get ‘jet lagged’? How does it manifest?

Jet lag manifests itself in many different ways, both physical and mental. Think fatigue, bloating, insomnia, irritability, digestive issues, breakouts and general stress.

Jet lag, or desynchronosis, is a temporary circadian rhythm disorder that often occurs when a person travels across time zones. The body’s internal clock is disrupted, and major symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, bloating, anxiety, malaise, and emotional disturbances. 

When a traveler crosses a few time zones, the body uses natural cues like sunlight and an eating schedule to try and acclimate to the appropriate time. But because travel is disorienting for the physical body, it can take a few days before all the natural processes even out and become normalized. 

Jet lag is usually worse when moving from west to east because travelers lose hours of their day.

Why does skin suffer? Is the increased cortisol combined with reduced hydration for example?

Stressful security checks, unhealthy airport food options, omnipresent air conditioning, cabin pressure and dry air can wreak havoc on the most resilient complexions. Dehydration and bacteria are major factors here. If you’re prone to breakouts, touching bathroom doors and tray tables (full of germs) and then touching or rubbing your face can exacerbate acne, let alone make you sick. Always a good idea to pack antibacterial wipes and wipe down the areas you will be touching. If you feel ill before travel you may want to wear a mask to protect yourself and those around you.  

If you choose to sleep on a flight (or in the airport) it’s likely not high quality zzz’s. Rest is incredibly important for cell turnover and skin recovery—in fact, regeneration happens three times as fast while asleep.

Are there any ways we can prevent it before hand? Or lessen its impact during flight or afterwards?

Pre-flight:

A pre-trip plan is crucial when it comes to preventing jetlag. If time permits you can start the week before travel by starting to wake up a few hours earlier every day to get your body used to another time zone. This is probably best for time zones, which will be many hours ahead. If you choose to do this, use a light to stimulate your brain/melatonin levels when waking (as the sun will not be up yet).  Being hydrated before your flight is crucial. Try drinking a hydration multiplier powder to increase internal hydration. Going makeup free on the flight is also a good idea but make sure you are wearing an antipollution serum (Brightening Elixir) and heavy moisturizer or nourishing oil (Fleuressence Botanical Oil) to lock in moisture. 

Inflight:

Drink plenty of fluids (no alcohol or caffeine as they dehydrate the body and skin).  Try and rest and or sleep. Pack earplugs and a sleep mask to create a relaxing sleep environment. 

Post Flight: 

Wash your face very well and try a gentle peel. Our Fresh A Peel (lactic acid peel) will obliterate any dry skin or bacteria that may have happened as a result of air travel. Follow with a hydrating oil or rich night cream. 

If possible, try to book a flight that lands later in the evening at your final destination. Your goal is to basically get to sleep, as this is the best way to acclimate to a new time zone. If you arrive during the day, a light workout or walk outside in the sunlight will help set your internal clock on the time zone. 

by