Today I want to discuss why I believe it is so important to wear sunscreen daily.
So here is why sunscreen is a very important step in everyone's skin care routine, men and women alike.
Even just a quick trip to the mailbox and back or taking the kids back and forth to their multiple activities gives you enough exposure to cause a breakdown of Collagen and Elastin in your skin. This break down causes the aging that we are all trying to avoid.
Let's look at the different rays we live with and the kind of damage they do to the skin.
· UVB rays burn the skin, and damage not only the surface of the skin, but also the cells in the upper layers of the skin. This breaks down the integrity of the skin, and creates a place for cancer to grow. UVB is less active in the colder months, and most active 10 to 3 during the day.
· UVA rays age the skin. UVA rays are a very long reaching ray. Reaching much deeper that UVB, and are active 365 days a year, from sun up to sun down, rain or shine. Collagen and Elastin are the fibers that give the skin its elasticity, and it only takes 2 minutes of UVA exposure for collagen and Elastin production to be interrupted. Because it damages the cells deep within the skin, UVA is also believed to be a cancer causer.
Most of us are good about sunscreen when we are on the beach or at the pool these days, but daily use is very important for the constant protection of the skin.
Why chance the possibility of damage when the solution is so simple? By protecting your skin daily, you can stop the damage to the elasticity of your skin, and slow the aging process. Daily application also sets a routine. The routine will save you on those days when you just plan to get something out of the car, and end up talking to the neighbor for an hour. These moments add up over time, the skin looks older, and these damaged cells become breeding grounds for cancer.
So, by using a sunscreen daily you protect yourself against damage, and aging. Trust me - it is much cheaper to prevent aging then it is to fix it. Billions are spent on laser treatments, skin creams, Botox, and Dermal fillers every year. These are all used to help repair pigmentation problems, sagging skin, wrinkles, lines, and removal of cancer.
There are many sunscreens to choose from.
Check in for the next blog about choices of sun protection and how to find what is right for you and your skin.
Catherine Sir, Master Esthetician and Educator and Certified Reflexologist
As always let me know if you have any questions or comments on this blog. You can always reach me at... www.believableskincare.com
See you next time!!! Catherine
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Hello again!
My last Blog answered the questions of why to exfoliate, and what are the different kinds of exfoliation.
Now let’s look at how to choose the best exfoliator for your skin type.
Before we begin, there are some important questions to ask
· How sensitive is my skin?
· What is the condition that I am targeting?
· How much time do I dedicate to my skin care routine?
· Do I have any known allergies to Aspirin fragrances or any other ingredients?
·
Here are some exfoliation choices we will be talking about today
- Scrubs
- Enzymes
- Beta Hydroxy Acids(BHA) also known as
Salicylic Acids
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids(AHA)
Below I have listed the best choices for the different skin types.
Sensitive skin – The best choice for this type are Enzymes. Using abrasive products or acids can injure this skin. Enzymes are placed on clean skin, and left on for 10 – 20 minutes. Then wash away for skin that is exfoliated but not irritated.
Mature skin – The best choices are Scrubs, Enzymes, BHA’s and AHA’s .
Let’s try to be more specific.
· Mature but sensitive, the choice would be Enzymes
· Mature and you are not one to spend time on your skin, the choice would be AHA’s
· Mature and want to only do exfoliating in the shower, the choice would be Scrubs. ** Remembering not to injure this delicate skin**.
. Mature skin that has Blackheads that you want to get rid of, the choice would be BHA's & maybe AHA's
Oily Skin – All of these choices will great for this skin type.
Let’s try to be more specific.
· Oily but sensitive due to acne, or skin type. The choice would be Enzymes & BHA.
· Oily and you are not one to spend time on your skin, the best choices would be AHA’s & BHA’s.
· Oily and want to only do exfoliating in the shower, the best choice would be Scrubs.
Dry/Dehydrated Skin – The best choices are Enzymes, and AHA’s.
- Sensitive skin will always be happier with an Enzyme
- AHA's are easily to bring into a routine
Youthful Skin – The best choices for this changing delicate skin is a gentle scrub , and a BHA.
- Both of these choices used together can a great help as the skin begins to change
** Always stay away from products at are labeled “Acne”, as they are full of drying agents that will injury any skin type**.
These guide lines are exactly that, guidelines. Each person is unique. Remember that no matter how great a product is, it will not work if you don’t use it.
For help figuring out what is right for you, it is best to ask a Skin Care Professional for help.
Keep a look out for the next Blog… What is the truth about Sunscreen?
Catherine Sir, Master Esthetician and Educator
As always let me know if you have any questions or comments on this blog. You can always reach me at... www.believableskincare.com
See you next time!!! Catherine
Hello Again!
Today I want to talk about why exfoliation is an important step in a functioning skin care routine.
We have all heard the word exfoliation, but what exactly does it mean, why do we need to do it, and what are the different choices.
Let me address all of these for you.
What is exfoliation?
Exfoliation is removing the dead cells from the layers of your skin to reveal the live cells beneath.
Why do you need to do it?
There are several benefits to exfoliation.
· Removing dead cells allows fresh live cells to surface giving the skin back a healthy glow.
· Dead cells are dead, and cannot be brought back to life. Products wet down these cells and dry back out. Removing the dead cells allows products to nourish the live cell.
· Dead cells block off the oxygen to the skin, making it dull, and unable to breathe. This also contributes to pores filling up and causing breakout.
What are the choices? – There are 4 basic types of exfoliation.
· Scrubs are granular products that are used to buff off the upper layers of dead cells.
· Enzymes are mask-like products. They can come from Green Papaya, Pumpkin, Mango etc. The enzymes digest the dead cells within the skin. They are able to penetrate within the skin to eliminate dead cells that are glued in place.
· Alpha Hydroxy Acids(AHA) come from natural sources such as Sugarcane, Sour Milk, Apples, Grapes etc. These burn off the dead cells. Each source has a different molecule size, and this governs how far the acid penetrates or whether it simply exfoliates the surface of the skin. Glycolic Acid from Sugar cane is the best penetrator so it is the best choice for most.
· Beta Hydroxy Acids(BHA) (Salicylic) is an oil lover. It does exfoliate the surface of the skin, but its greatest benefit is that it is pulled into the oily pores, and exfoliates the lining of those pores. This helps eliminate the Blackheads that are so hard to get rid of.
Now you have some facts on exfoliation, you can see why it is such a useful step in your skin routine, to help you get the skin you want. You can spend a lot of money on products, but if they never get past the dead cells to nourish the live ones it is just wasted money.
Please feel free to contact me for a consult or facial appointment today so we can get started on what products are right for you.
Keep a look out for the next blog… More ways to identify the right exfoliation choice for you and your skin type.
Catherine Sir, Master Esthetician, Educator, and Certified Reflexologist
As always let me know if you have any questions, or comments on this blog. You can always reach me at... me@believableskincare.com
See you next time!!! Catherine
