Saving Face Every Day

When it comes to your face you need to take care of it because it cannot and will not take care of itself.

Here we offer you some face saving tips that can help you in your quest to save face today, tomorrow and every day!

There are three S’s that are considered to be an evil trio when it comes to your facial skin and the aging process. They include smoke, stress and sun. All of these factors can play a dramatic role in the number of wrinkles that you have on your face as well as the severity of them. If you smoke give serious thought to quitting. If you live with a great deal of stress then find ways to effectively cope with it. Always use sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun.

When it comes to sun protection, choose a SPF of at least 30. If possible avoid direct sunlight, particularly between the hours of 10AM and 4PM. A great deal of skin aging has to do with too much exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Not only do you need to wear sun block but you should use a quality antioxidant skin cream that will protect you from the acceleration of the aging process as well as the development of melanoma.

By doing these things your face should not age as quickly.

Exercise on a regular basis as this helps to maintain good circulation. It is recommended that you get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Moderate exercise is not only good for the skin but it also improves the health of your cardiovascular system, improves your immune system function, controls your weight and protects you from many age related and degenerative diseases.

Your teeth are not just there for chewing purposes or to give you a pretty smile.

Your teeth, as well as your jaw bone, works in unison to hold your facial skin in the correct position. For this reason you need to take good care of your teeth and gums. Make your oral health care a top priority in your life. Do what you can at home but also see your dentist on a regular basis.

Remember that the basics count for a lot when it comes to the health of your skin. Stay hydrated by consuming enough water every day. Do not allow your body to become dehydrated. In the same way get the sleep you need. Most people need in the range of seven to eight hours on a daily basis.

Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as nuts and seeds. Eat blueberries to help your face stay young. Blueberries are choked full of antioxidants that are able to fight free radicals that damage the skin.

Introduce flaxseed oil to your diet if you have not already. Flaxseed oil is one of the richest vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids and is important in keeping the skin well lubricated, supple and youthful in appearance.

Say no to alcoholic beverages (or at least cut back on them). Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body that can also affect the skin. It also adds toxins to a body that is already dealing with chemicals from the air and from food. If you absolutely cannot go without alcohol then choose red wine which contains some beneficial antioxidants.

Samantha

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The Dos and Don’ts of Sun Protection

Taking the right measures to prevent sunburns is not just about keeping up appearances but is also about keeping you alive!

Skin cancer is one of the most common and most preventable forms of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2007 more than one million cases of skin cancer were diagnosed. The key to protecting yourself is to wear sunscreen and to make sure that you have even coverage and have applied enough of it. Here we look at some dos and don’ts of sun protection.

Do not just apply sunscreen to your face and think you are done. You are not! Even if you plan to do some shopping or do not plan to be out very long you need to make sure that your hands, throat, chest, ears, feet and lips are protected by sunscreen. All of these areas of the skin can burn easily and are prone to the development of cancerous tumors known as melanomas.

Don’t just use sunscreen when you go outside. You need it when you stay inside your home or office as well. Most modern glass windows are able to protect the skin from the UVB rays that lead to sunburn but they have no effect on the powerful UVA rays that can penetrate glass. UVA rays are the ones that are responsible for brown spots and wrinkles. They also suppress the work of the immune system. It is particularly important that you slather on a generous portion of sunscreen when you will be driving around in your car a lot. UVA rays can make their way through the windows of motor vehicles and through the windshield.

Don’t make the assumption (because it is a wrong assumption) that a sunscreen that is marked “waterproof” or “water-resistant” will remain on your skin longer and does not need to be reapplied as often. After you have sweat a lot or been in the water for a half an hour or more the waterproof sunscreens will wear off and will require a new application.

Do use sunscreen all 12 months of the year. It is not just a summer skin care product!

Choose a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. SPF 30 to 45 is strongly recommended. What you may not be aware of is that you can still get burned by the sun on cloudy days. In fact an estimated 80 percent of the ultraviolet rays from the sun can penetrate through the clouds and can find its way to your exposed skin.

Do apply a generous portion of sunscreen to your skin. Do not be stingy with the amount you put on. Make sure you apply it before you venture outside. Putting it on once you are in the backyard, at the beach or in the car will not offer you the ultimate in protection. What you need to do to maximize its effectiveness is to apply it at least 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Applying it too early or too late is not going to help you much. It needs to completely absorb into your skin in order to do its job effectively.

Do choose the type of sunscreen protection that offers the best coverage for you. Lotion tends to be the most appropriate choice for most areas of the body but the new sprays can work for some of those areas where applying lotion is messy or difficult to do by yourself.

For instance the sprays are good for the scalp, the ears and the back of the neck. When you apply the spray it is recommended that you do not spray it directly on your body but spray it on your hand and from there apply it to your body. This is especially important if you decide to use sunscreen spray on your face instead of lotion.

Samantha

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Summertime Survival Tips for Your Health and Well-Being

Every season brings its own challenges and its own unique brand of circumstances.

In the summertime outdoor activities are common which makes concerns over weather and the rising temperatures even more pressing. Heat stroke is a worry during the warmer months when most people are busy enjoying everything from camping to swimming to hiking to gardening and so on.

The key to enjoying the summer and to remaining in good health is to plan ahead to be as comfortable as you can be.

You may not think your choice of clothing makes a difference to your comfort level in the summer months but it does. Choose light colored clothing over dark colors during the summer. Choose garments made of cotton or a cotton blend that are lightweight and will help to absorb perspiration as opposed to having the perspiration stay on your skin and make you feel even more uncomfortable.

Cotton is also warm weather friendly because it permits better airflow which helps to keep you feeling cooler as opposed to feeling hotter! Muslin is another good choice for summer wear. Stay away from polyester blends, wools or anything that has a thick weave to it. You need to choose fabrics that will allow the heat out as your body as opposed to holding it in!

Save the heavy meals such as stews and chilli for the winter months. During the summer plan meals that are of a lighter fare. Fruits and vegetables are the best summertime food options. You should also choose meats such as fish and poultry that your body can digest easily. Foods that can be easily digested by the body are more capable of keeping your body temperature down as compared to foods that overtax the digestive system.

Think light food fare in the heat!

Set aside the hot drinks in favor of cooler beverages that can be served with ice. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate raise your internal thermostat and can make you feel warmer. That is why these beverages are so popular in the chilly winter months. Instead try some iced tea or a frozen fruit drink or fruit smoothie. Try experimenting with some recipes on your own to find out what summer flavors appeal to you the most.

Just make sure you choose beverages that are not high in sugar.

When you can go swimming, be it in a pool, at a lake or in the ocean do so. This is an excellent and fun way to cool off!  Always be safe when you are swimming. Make sure that you apply sunscreen. Reapply it after taking a dip.

If you have an air conditioner in your home then make sure you keep it serviced. It is best to having the cooling system inspected and any problems repaired before the warm months are upon you.

Fans are an excellent way to keep the air in a room from getting stall and stifling. Choose from small, medium or large fans and select sizes based upon the square footage of the rooms in your home. It is important to keep the air circulating in your residence. Make sure that wherever you are working in your house, whether it be at your desk, in the kitchen or in the living room that you have a fan nearby to keep you cool as a cucumber!

Becca

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Keep Your Summer Glow as Long as Possible with the Help of Aloe Vera

Tis the season when everyone wants their skin to turn to a bronze color that makes them look like a real beach baby! While a tan is not the healthiest thing for your skin, if you are someone who is addicted to tanning then to play it as safe as possible and to ensure a longer lasting tan you need to stock your bathroom shelf with  a plentiful supply of aloe vera.

Look for a commercial brand that contains authentic ingredients and not a lot of fillers.

If you use aloe vera during the tanning process and/or if you use it to condition and replenish moisture in your skin afterward, your tan will last longer than ever before. You will be surprised and pleased at the results you end up with!

Many people are unaware of what a tan really is and why it occurs. A tan is the result of the production of melanin in the skin. It is the body’s way of protecting itself from developing a sunburn and subsequent skin damage. A sunburn occurs when the skin has been excessively exposed to the sun and has not been protected by a sunblock with a high enough SPF (sun protection factor).

Look for a wide spectrum sunblock that protects you from both the UVA rays as well as the UVB rays. A SPF of 30 or higher is a wiser choice. A sunburn destroys cells in the outer layer of the skin and over time this can lead to permanent cell damage and the potential for skin cancer.

It is a common misconception that sun tans will only occur after the skin has been burned. This is not correct and it can be a harmful assumption to make for your health. Many individuals also incorrectly assume that if they wear sunscreen they will not tan. If you wear the right type of sunscreen you can still get a nice golden look to your skin minus the pain and discomfort of sunburn.

The Soothing and Replenishing Side of Aloe Vera:

It is always a good practice to apply a special after sun lotion to your skin following sun exposure. The most important ingredient that the after sun lotion or moisturizer needs to have in it is aloe vera. There are many on the market. If you apply it after you come in from the sun you will be replenishing the vitamins and minerals that your skin needs and this in turn helps you to retain the golden brown look you are aiming for.

Aloe Vera encourages the skin to heal and it provides the after sun care that helps your skin to look and feel its best. Aloe Vera calms and heals skin and it goes to work fast to make sure that your skin has not been damaged by the sun’s rays.

Even if your skin turns a slightly darker shade of pink from being out in the sun but is not burnt, aloe vera gel can be of assistance as it is very cooling and soothing to sun sensitive skin. Some people, and in particular those who are blonde and blue eyed, burn very easily and therefore need sunblock the most. They also need to use aloe vera when they tan on a regular basis.

Bear in mind that aloe vera is a healing agent for the skin and can help a tan last as long as possible. Apply aloe vera gel or lotion to your tan every day for optimum effects. This paves the road to a healthy tan.

Samantha

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