Tag Archive for: sun damage

Foods that help you stay hydrated + what to stay clear of

Eating a diet high in anti-oxidant rich foods such as leafy greens and berries and foods high in essential fatty acids (salmon, avocado, almonds) shows on your face as well as internally. Eating healthy can also reduce pollution effects on the skin and the body.

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What to look out for ?

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

So where to 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, cocktail mixers and coffee creamers (even the nondairy types) are loaded with sugar.
  • Remember you are always one meal away from being healthy. It is not the end of the world if you have a cheat day or even a cheat week (realistic during the holidays). Just remember you are always one meal away from getting back on track.
  • Watch the hors d’oeuvres at the holiday festivities
  • Watch alcohol intake. This is particularly relevant during the holiday season. Alcohol has dreadful and hazardous effects on the body and skin. Alcohol dehydrates eyes, skin and inside of the body. 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

How to reverse Glycation?

  • Limit the intake of the ‘bad’ foods
  • Exercise daily
  • Eat a healthy diet of vegetables and antioxidant rich foods
  • Use topical skincare products that encourage collagen reproduction
  • Stay out of the Sun/wear SPF

Healthy foods to replenish hydration

  • Leafy greens
  • All berries
  • Lettuce
  • Raw spinach
  • Tomato sauce
  • Bell peppers
  • Cucumbers
  • Pineapple
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Hydrate + Protect + Shield

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Hydrate + Shield

Whether your skin type is oily, normal, combination or dry, moisturizing should be a regular part of your daily skin care regimen. Unfortunately, many people with oily skin believe that using any moisturizer would be counterproductive and only serve to compound their problem. The truth is that it all depends on the moisturizer you use. Everyone needs a moisturizer, but different skin types require different types of products.

For Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, instead of avoiding moisturizers altogether, you should select one that’s “water-based”. Water-based moisturizing formulas are the most common type found on the market today. These moisturizers list water as their chief ingredient and often include such active constituents as hyaluronic acid to help improve their water-binding properties.

Hyaluronic acid is a large, sugar-like molecule that’s found in virtually every tissue of your body. As a key ingredient in your skin’s extracellular matrix, it plays a significant role in maintaining moisture and softness. Hyaluronic acid is an ideal moisturizer 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. This type of moisturizer often comes in a lightweight gel and may be labeled “non-pore clogging”, “oil-free” or “noncomedogenic”.

Another excellent emollient that we highly recommend and use in many of our formulations is squalene. Derived from olives, squalene is a natural, organic compound that leaves skin soft and supple without an unpleasant, greasy feel, making it an attractive choice for people with oily complexions. Squalene absorbs quickly and penetrates deeply to help accelerate new cell growth. It even discourages microorganisms that can block normal healthy cell development by forming a protective coating on your skin.

For Dry and Sensitive Skin

The most important thing to consider when picking a good moisturizer for dry skin is the degree of dryness. Generally speaking, there are only a few basic types of moisturizers to choose from: gel, lotion, or cream. The heavier and denser a moisturizer is, the more moisturizing elements it contains. Gel is the lightest preparation, followed by lotion, with cream providing the heaviest dose of moisture. If your skin happens to be only slightly dry, a lightweight gel that’s water-based can sometimes get the job done. If your skin is somewhat drier and loses moisture more quickly, you may require a lotion that supplies a heavier dose of moisturizing ingredients. If your skin is extremely dry, however, you might need to use an oil-based cream or an oil. You should steer clear of products that use mineral waxes, mineral oils or other ingredients that can clog your pores and trap perspiration. This makes a fertile breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria.

Sensitive skin types should be very careful when choosing a moisturizer as many products on the market contain synthetic ingredients. Although these moisturizers generally don’t cause an adverse reaction in the majority of people, they can be very irritating to women with sensitive skin. If your skin is easily irritated, you should look carefully for a moisturizer that’s labeled hypoallergenic. These moisturizers are free of all dyes, preservatives, and fragrances. Simple is better. Products that contain the fewest ingredient are best, especially when they include natural oils and other nutrients like vitamins and minerals that nourish and rejuvenate your skin.

Protect + Shield

Even with all the public service warnings today concerning the damage caused by UV exposure, there are still some people who don’t seem to realize they need sunscreen.

The truth is that anyone can suffer the harmful effects of overexposure to the sun. Even if you happen to have olive or darker skin, you should still wear sunscreen. While it’s true that people with dark skin don’t need to worry as much about sunburn as those with fairer complexions, anyone can suffer the deleterious effects of sun damage. Every person, regardless of their ethnic background, can benefit from wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 at all times, especially if they’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors.

Certain people also believe that they only need to use sunscreen at particular times of the year. It’s important to realize that just because you don’t feel the heat of the sun, it doesn’t mean that harmful UV rays are not affecting you. You can get sunburned in the middle of winter when there’s three feet of snow on the ground and it’s 10 degrees below zero. You should always wear sunscreen if you’re going to be spending time outside, no matter what time of year it is.

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Repair and protect against Sun Damaged Skin: What you need to know

Years of daily exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun take their toll on your skin. Sun-damaged skin becomes dry and rough, uneven patches and dark spots begin to appear, fine lines and wrinkles deepen, and your skin loses its firmness and elasticity. And, if you spent any part of your youth sunbathing you may find that your skin looks years older than you feel. Scientific research has led to the discovery of natural compounds that can help support the structure of skin as well as minimize signs of aging, such as crow’s feet, lines, sagging, and uneven tone. In addition to topical treatments and proper sun protection, many of these natural compounds come from the foods we eat.

Some examples are leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, and broccoli, which provide many internal health benefits. What you may not know is that key phytonutrients in these vegetables can also visibly improve the health and appearance of your skin.

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Concentrated extracts from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain bioactive phytonutrients that can help to reverse and repair a lifetime of skin damage—revealing smoother, clearer, and more radiant skin.

Sun Exposure Accelerates Aging – What you need to know:

Time, gravity, heredity, and other environmental exposures all affect how skin ages, but the overwhelming majority of visible signs of aging are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Because the complex outer layer of our skin, the epidermis, is fully exposed to the external environment, it’s always under attack through dehydration, abrasion and most especially, ionizing damage from high-energy ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Photoaged skin is prematurely lined, wrinkled and frequently has broken capillaries and irregular pigmentation. It loses its elasticity earlier than healthy aging skin.

Although precisely how ultraviolet radiation causes skin aging is not yet known, we do know that cumulative UV radiation increases production of free radicals, damaging DNA and the enzymes involved in DNA repair. UV radiation increases inflammation and damages collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin its resilience. It also acts to suppress immune function in the skin.

Antioxidants join forces to combat aging:

Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 11.05.06 AMAntioxidant rich green and red tea adds to the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects of sulforaphane and beta-carotene. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is the principal antioxidant polyphenol in green and red tea and in addition to its antioxidant activity, it also demonstrates photoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic (inhibits the growth of new blood vessels) properties, which may help to reduce the appearance of small, dilated blood vessels around the nose, cheek, and chin. The polyphenols in green tea have also been shown to increase the tensile strength of skin and enhance wound healing. In combination, these potent antioxidants can not only improve skin health and reverse the signs of aging in photodamaged skin but also help to prevent future damage from free radicals and ultraviolet radiation.

“Using a daily anti-oxidant rich topical treatment is a must-have in any regimen as will help prevent against long term sun damage.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Proper Sun Protection:

With Spring just around the corner, practicing safe and proper sun protection is essential for keeping your skin burn free this coming Spring. While applying an SPF in the morning – whether it be in your foundation, moisturizer, or as a solid base, is just not enough to keep you protected throughout the day, especially for women who wear makeup and reapplication tends to get tricky.

Try our goto and favorite sun spray on the market, Sun Visor. oh, did we mention that the formula is oil-free, fragrance-free and can even be applied on top of makeup? Yes, you heard that right!

 

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