Tag Archive for: Glowing Skin

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Is Laughter the Best Medicine?

In our modern, plugged in, checked out giant world we are constantly striving to find happiness. The brain controls happiness with its intricate symphony of hormone balance. After reading a study, which showed children laughed an average of 300 times per day, while adults averaged around 20 times per day, we dove deeper to find out if laughter really is the best medicine.

What happens when we laugh?

You may notice that after you spend time with a child or an animal or you have a good belly ,tear inducing laugh with your bestie you feel happier and less stressed. This is not a coincidence, this is your brain on dopamine. Dopamine is the ‘feel good’ and ‘calming’ hormone in the brain. Laughing naturally produces dopamine! Laughing also turns off the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Too much Cortisol results in high blood pressure, excess belly fat, insulin sensitivity and lowered immunity).

Laughing

  • Relaxes muscles in the body
  • Releases endorphins
  • Decreases stress
  • Increases blood flow
  • Can help with pain reduction.

 

Find ways to increase laughter by spending time with friends or doing a favorite hobby. Get outside and into nature. Even watching a funny movie can help. Just laugh-It is the BEST medicine.

 

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Power of Hydration

With the passing of the autumn equinox, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, dark nights will become more familiar than sunlight in the coming months. But by switching on the power of hydration, your skin doesn’t have to follow suit. Instead, help it glow with radiance—and guard it from the unforgiving winter weather—by introducing some high-performing, superhero products that work while you sleep. This season, it’s all about repair, repair, repair, and protect.

 

Goldfaden MD’s most powerful hydrators can be found in the Plant Profusion collection, which makes use of potent natural ingredients that you won’t find while browsing products at your typical, go-to beauty counter. Extracts from the white bird of paradise (not to worry, no animals were harmed—it’s the plant with banana-like leaves native to South Africa), garden cress, Butcher’s-broom; even raspberry and comfrey stem cells.

The powerhouse secret in Plant Profusion Supreme Serum? Japonica flower extract, which helps bring back skin to its youthful prime. “One of the most important medicinal herbs in history, it provides extraordinary levels of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and calming properties for the skin. Loaded with regenerative properties to deliver the appearance of repaired skin,” explains Dr. Goldfaden.

The oil-free serum works in synergy with the super hydrating Plant Profusion Regenerative Night Cream, a must for mature skin (but for those with very oily skin, try out the serum on its own first). If you’ve been used to applying the same light moisturizer in the AM and PM all summer, there are more than a few reasons why you’d want to swap in a more hardworking SPF-free cream while you snooze. For the 6-8 hours you’re in bed, your skin fully absorbs the hydration and active ingredients (aka you’re not sweating it off by the time you arrive at the office, or mixing in city grime from the polluted air). Melatonin levels rise at night, which also helps fight free radicals (there’s always more strength in numbers). Many night creams contain higher levels of retinoids or lightening agents that increase skin sensitivity when exposed to the sun—so it’s best to use them at home, in bed, away from UV exposure. Goldfaden MD’s Plant Profusion Regenerative Night Cream calms, soothes and hydrates—blending into the skin almost immediately, with no strong scent at all, a sheer difference from other night creams that are typically super greasy or chokingly thick.

Other routine changes to check off: transition out of aggressive scrubs and exfoliators—put that brush away!—and try something lighter. Goldfaden MD’s non-irritating Lactic and Multi-Fruit Enzyme exfoliating facial peel, Fresh A Peel, will remove the dead surface skin cells to soften and smooth out texture. Keep eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and fruits and veggies, to stay hydrated from within. And never stop drinking water!

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Post Sun Skin Tips, Dr. G reports

Summer weather has arrived and it can be very tempting to get a little sun. Sometimes a little sun can turn into a bad sunburn. Protect yourself by always wearing an appropriate SPF, hat and sunglasses. Below are a few post sun steps to ensure you stay healthy and hydrated all summer long.

PS: Don’t forget to reapply SPF after swimming!

DON’T: take hot showers: Hot showers can be dehydrating to skin in general, especially after a Summer of being in the sun because the effects can be even worse (i.e. premature aging, stronger definition of fine lines, to name a few). The next time you hop in, turn the water temperature down about 10 to 15 degrees, and don’t take more than two showers a day.

 DON’T: Don’t use photosensitizing ingredients on the skin during the day. Certain ingredients in these types of products can react adversely on your skin in sunlight, which makes skin susceptible to burning more easily and causing lasting sun damage. Stay clear of retinoids, acids, fruits acids, topical steroids and differin creams, which can enhance sensitivity. Opt to use these products at night only.

 DO: Thirst Quenching Treatments: In order to effectively get your skin back in tip-top shape, Vitamin C is your answer. Vitamin C visibly brightens the skin and improves the overall look and tone of the skin. Power-packed vitamins including, Vitamin E, Vitamin B and Ferulic Acid also help hydrate, brighten, soothe, and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin.

DO: Double up at night. Skin cell regeneration is slightly higher at night making it a crucial step to apply products with active ingredients in the night as your skin is able to absorb the active ingredients in skincare products better since active ingredients are less effective when exposed to sunlight.  In addition, your skin would not have to compete with the other products you apply like makeup or sunscreen to fight the UV rays, pollution and other harmful environmental elements in the day. Layer up a potent packed repairing treatment (powerful nighttime ingredients to look for include: peptides, retinol, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Don’t forget to layer an extra hydrating moisturizer on top to ensure supple, plump hydrated glowing skin.

 DO: Exfoliate. Exfoliating the face, neck and chest is key after a summer day of sun and sunscreen. The upper layer of skin gets thicker, harder and drier and pores can be clogged by sweat and sunscreen residue. Removing the surface layers of dead skin, oil build up and grease will give a dewier look and helps to produce more collagen, allowing skin to look more plump.

DON’T: Get sunburned. If you do try a few at home soothing steps. Cool compresses and baths are effective for cooling down the skin and inflammation that accompanies sunburn. After a bath make sure to later your body in a hydrating lotion or body oil. Look for soothing, anti-redness and anti-inflammation ingredients such as aloe, red tea, cucumber, oatmeal, chamomile and cornstarch.

Dr. G recipe: Keep cornstarch ice cubes in the fridge this summer to help calm red or sunburned skin. Mix cornstarch with water until dissolved then pour into ice trays and freeze. Pop them out if anyone gets too much sun or heat.

 

 

 

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