Tag Archive for: summer

Natural summer skin + nails + hair

Summertime means more time outdoors in the sun, water and heat. Taking sun safe precautions is the most important step but what about easing up on all the beauty treatments that can cause annoyance and waste time during summer months. Skin, hair and nails all need a break and summertime is the best time to utilize warm temperatures and humidity.

Screen Shot 2015-06-09 at 10.58.06 AMPhoto via Dust Jacket

As skin regimens change in the winter they also need to be adjusted for the summer. If you live in an area with high humidity ease up on the heavy moisturizers and protective oils. Heavy hydrating products can cause clogged pores and breakouts during warm months. Try transitioning into a hydrating serum that contains lightening agents like Alpha Arbutin or Kojic Acid. Not only will this eliminate one step from your regimen but a treatment serum can also help to protect and reverse sun damage and dark spots. Botanical oils and dry oils can also serve the purpose of a serum, treatment and moisturizer in one. Oils should never contain Dimethicone (can clog pores) so read the ingredients before purchasing.

Easing up on exfoliation during the summer can be beneficial for the skin too. Although important in a healthy skin regimen, exfoliation whether physical or chemical may cause redness and irritation if overdoing. Ditch the acid wipes and pads and try a gentle lactic acid mask once a week. Lactic acid is particularly appropriate for sun damaged skin, dark spots and Hyper pigmentation. Lactic acid molecules are larger than Glycolic molecules so they don’t go as deep as fast, therefore targeting the top layers of the skin (where the darkness appears). Scrubs can take a back seat during the summer too. Over scrubbing can make skin red and dry especially if skin has been exposed to the sun or sea. Save scrubbing for a few times a week ( if needed) and focus more on finding a refreshing, rejuvenating cleanser that gets the skin clean. Gel based cleansers that are formulated without harsh chemicals are the best for summertime.

Gel nails look amazing but they really can cause damage to the nail bed and cuticles. After just a few months of continuous gel manicures, nails are left soft, thin and peeling-usually breaking off after the gel is removed and then not reapplied. Try keeping the nails short by cutting them often which will allow new healthy nail to grow. Always use a hand lotion or nail oil (vitamin E) to moisturize the nail bed and cuticles. Nails are made up of the protein Keratin, try soaking in milk, which has protein and whitening properties.

Over shampooing, coloring and styling-tool use can dry and frizz hair. During the summer the temperatures are high enough and if you happen to live in hot and humid weather you can kiss that blow out goodbye. Try skipping the hair dryer and opting for a damp lose braid. After washing make sure all the water is towel dried out of the hair. If you have curly, frizzy or wavy hair use an anti-humidity product or a keratin based product. Braid hair to the side very loosely and let dry. Humidity can be your friend if using the correct products. You’ll look beach ready in no time. If you have flat or straight hair try a salt or beach spray. Apply using the same steps.

Nothing is more beautiful than being natural Happy summer!

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Summer Skin Savers: These must-have skin products will help you stay protected + glowing

We all know the basic rules of protecting our skin from the sun-use sunscreen, don’t log long hours poolside, wear a hat at high noon, but we all want to achieve that clear and sun-kissed glow as well; it’s the constant battle. With the heat cranking up to extreme levels, it’s hard to keep our skin glowing too, so we wanted to share with you all of our Summer skin picks in order to keep your skin looking clear, glowing, youthful and burn-free throughout the Summer months.

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1. Sun Protection: It goes without saying that we all need to stay extra protected in the Summer months, every day, all day long. We love Goldfaden MD’s Sun Visor mist because it can be applied on top of your makeup and is super lightweight.

2. Keep your skin polished with a great exfoliator. It takes off the day’s dirt, oil and dead skin and keeps skin looking fresh and radiant.

3. Your lips need love too. We love Supergoop! AcaiFusion SPF 30 Lip Balm. The texture is so smooth, hydrating and keeps our lips protected in the hot Summer heat, added plus!

4. Face wipes: Excess heat can leave a heavy layer of sticky sweat and runny makeup on your skin. Pack these Yes to Carrots nourishing gentle cleansing wipes in your bag to give your skin a clean sweep.

5. Learn how to achieve that Sun Kissed Glow without baking in the sun for hours with the right bronzer. We love Benefits Hoola Bronzer because it adds an added sun glow to any complexion (and still looks natural!).

6. Hydrate! In addition to drinking adequate amounts of water on a daily basis (8 glasses is recommended) our skin needs a little extra help to stay quenched (in addition to moisturizer). There are so many moisturizing sprays out there so pick one that you love, we like First Aid Beauty’s Vitamin Hydrating Mist – packs an extra punch with the vitamin booster formula.

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Understanding Hyperpigmentation and How To Treat It

With the heated Summer sun now here, we wanted to understand the most common harmful effects from UVA/UVB rays, hyperpigmentation, so we sat down with Dr. Goldfaden to better understand hyperpigmentation, what causes it and how to treat it.

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Photo via Rodan & Fields 

Q: What is the cause of increased pigmentation and darkening of the skin, and what can I do for its prevention and management?

A: Dr. Goldfaden, MD: There are many possible causes of pigmentation disorders, which are marked by changes in melanin, the pigment in skin.

First, you should consult with your primary care physician or dermatologist to rule out the possibility of a systemic health disorder or a cancerous lesion that requires medical treatment. Your health care provider will conduct a physical examination, examining the location, distribution, color, and ap-pearance of the areas of increased pigmentation. Additionally, the practitioner will assess the history of the condition, which will help determine whether the disorder may be due to a developmentally programmed, congenital, or acquired cause.

Your practitioner will also evaluate whether external factors, such as medications, chemical exposure, or other environmental influences, could have contributed to the increased deposition of pigment in the skin. Furthermore, the practitioner will make note of any prior history of pigmentation disorder and its treatment.

The most common localized pigmentation disorder affecting the skin are ephelides, more commonly known as freckles. Ephelides appear as flat brown pigmentation in sun-exposed areas, usually on the face. They are much more common in fair-skinned individuals, and a propensity to have freckles is an inheritable condition. The degree of pigmentation in the skin changes according to the amount of ultraviolet light exposure, so that freckles usually darken in the summer and lighten in the winter.

Q: What are the causes? 

A: Dr. Goldfaden, MD

Pigmentation disorders such as melasma or chloasma arise from increased melanin in the lower layers of the skin and increased free melanin in the skin. The pigmentation is usually brown with a non-distinct border, and is usually found on the central facial areas such as the cheeks, moustache, and forehead areas. Melasma affects both men and women, though it is more frequent in women (up to 30% may be affected). Its incidence is much higher in Asian and darker-skinned individuals than in fair-skinned people. The causes are unknown, but probably include genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, pregnancy, and exposure to ultraviolet light.

Another very common skin disorder is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The underlying mechanism is unclear, but may involve inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. While the causes and clinical presentation of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can vary, they are usually secondary to a traumatic incident to the affected area of the skin. Sun exposure can worsen this condition.

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Q: What is the treatment protocol?

A: Dr. Goldfaden, MD

There is no true curative therapy for melasma. Affected individuals should avoid ultraviolet light exposure and drugs containing hormones, such as oral contraceptives and conventional hormone replacement therapy agents. Skin-bleaching agents are extremely helpful in lightening melasma and maintaining skin-lightening improvements.

Topical therapies in combination with sunscreens can be quite beneficial.

Exfoliation: For enhanced results, these products should be used in conjunction with exfoliation. Regular exfoliation (chemical or physical) removes the dead surface skin cells and allows the treatment ingredients to penetrate deeper and more effectively into the skin, providing enhanced overall results.

Treatment: Many all-natural, topical skin-lightening agents have been found to be quite beneficial in lightening hyperpigmented areas of the skin. These include alpha arbutin, as well as kojic acid, which comes from berries. Topical applications of natural, fruit-derived alpha-hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, have been extremely beneficial in combination with the aforementioned naturally derived bleaching agents.

Sun Protection: Once your physician has ruled out conditions necessitating medical treatment, you may be able to minimize areas of hyperpigment-ation using a well-rounded approach that includes avoiding ultraviolet radiation from the sun, using an effective sunscreen throughout the day to stay protected and keep additional hyper pigmentation from forming.

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