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Author Archives: Laura Pagliaroni

Improve Skin with a Collagen Boost

   Skin Care  Mar 20, 2023  Comments Off on Improve Skin with a Collagen Boost
Improve Skin with a Collagen Boost

As we get older, we tend to look for ways to keep our skin and bodies in shape and looking as good on the outside as we feel on the inside.

One of the biggest things that diminishes with age (and in fact ages us) is our natural production of collagen.

Find out how you can replenish the collagen we lose with age.

What Collagen Does

Collagen is a vital protein made up of a group of amino acids produced by and spread throughout the body. Collagen, along with accompanying protein elastin, plays a key role in healthy skin, bones, and muscle tissue.

Collagen is a bit like a glue that keeps skin from sagging and wrinkles from forming, in addition to helping to keep muscle tissue strong.

The biggest plus of collagen is to improve and support healthy skin. The more collagen you have, the greater number of healthy cells you have working consistently to rejuvenate your skin.

In addition, collagen helps fight against UV damage which is the #1 cause of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and loss of elasticity in the skin.

Aside from keeping skin looking lifted and glowing, collagen provides many other benefits throughout the body including:

  • Reduces hair loss
  • Promotes stronger, healthy nails
  • Bone loss prevention
  • Muscle mass retention
  • Joint support
  • Regulates metabolism
  • Better sleep

The Effects of Collagen Loss

When collagen production decreases in the body, you may notice your body and looks changing. Here are some of the effects that may be due to collagen loss:

  • Dehydrated, thinning skin
  • Fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin
  • Loss of fullness in face, hollows under eyes
  • Weight gain
  • Joint pain
  • Dull, flat, limp hair
  • Oral health issues

Replenishing Collagen

While you can help boost collagen production by eating more protein-rich meat and beans, along with green leafy vegetables, almonds, and bone broth, you can also take supplements to make up some of your collagen deficit.

Vitamins A, C and E are great choices for increasing levels of collagen in your system.

Collagen supplements also come in pill or powder form. A scoop or two of a powder collagen supplement added to coffee, tea or a smoothie is an excellent way to get more collagen with no added taste and very few calories.

Professional facials and massage along with high quality skincare routines that include hyaluronic acid and/or retinol are other ways to boost collagen production.

Wrap Up

One way to dramatically improve your skin is to boost production of collagen. The added effort of healthier diet choices, supplements, and UV protection will be rewarded with healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

For professional advice and to schedule a collagen-boosting facial or skin treatment, call the experts at Laura Skincare in Petaluma today.

 

Effective Home Exfoliation Tips

   Exfoliation  Mar 09, 2023  Comments Off on Effective Home Exfoliation Tips
Effective Home Exfoliation Tips

In between professional visits and treatments, there are things you can do at home to keep that healthy, fresh-faced look. Exfoliating is one of them.

Here are some professional tips you can use at home to keep your skin in top shape.

Why Exfoliate?

Exfoliation is a key step in keeping skin looking its best. It’s important because it removes dead cells, which causes dullness and dryness, from the surface layer of skin.

While exfoliating is important, it’s also important to do it safely and effectively. If you don’t, you could irritate and even damage your skin.

Before experiencing redness, dryness, or acne breakouts, be thorough but gentle while exfoliating.

Skin Type Matters

Your skin type matters when it comes to effective care. Identifying your skin type determines everything from cleansers, toners, creams, and other products for your skin.

What you don’t want is to use products that cause irritation, burning, redness or other reactions. Not only will this cause damage and embarrassment for you but may stop you from following a skincare regime altogether.

It’s always important to use products specifically designed for your skin type and a gentle touch when using them.

Normal

Normal skin types tolerate exfoliation well, unlike sensitive skin which may not be the best candidate for exfoliation due to irritation and redness.

Dry

Dry skin types tend to be flaky and may even itch or suffer with rough patches.

Combination

Combination skin types are tricky because while they tend to be dry in some areas, they also suffer from oily patches in other areas of the skin.

Note that some of you may suffer from sensitive or acne-prone oily skin, in which case you’d have to use products formulated to work well with those skin conditions.

Exfoliation Tools

When deciding on the most effective tools and products for exfoliating your skin type, there are two choices. You can choose either a manual or chemical method to slough off those layers of dead skin.

Manual Exfoliation

Based on your preference, you can use a brush, exfoliation pad, sponge, or a simple washcloth for manual exfoliation. Be careful with the abrasiveness of your tool and applied pressure because it doesn’t take too much work to remove dead skin cells from the surface dermis layer.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliation involves the use of an alpha- or beta-hydroxy acid to dissolve away dead skin cells. After gently working the product into skin in a circular motion, simply rinse with warm water and gently rub away with a washcloth to remove the product.

More Pro Tips

Keep in mind that if you’re taking certain medications or using a strong product like some retinoids, it can make your skin more sensitive. Go slow and test the exfoliation method first to make sure it won’t cause stinging, burning, redness, breakouts, or other irritation.

Skip exfoliation if you have open cuts or active skin irritation (like sunburn).

The more aggressive the form of exfoliation, the less you need to exfoliate. You don’t want to overdo it because you will strip away the natural oils your skin needs. Over-exfoliation can also lead to bigger skin problems and painful irritation.

Wrap Up

Exfoliation is a great way to help keep skin looking vibrant, fresh, and healthy between professional treatments.

Should you need help determining your skin type or help with the best exfoliation method or products, stop by Laura Skincare in Petaluma for a professional evaluation.

 

Crepey Skin Fixes

   Skin Care  Feb 19, 2023  Comments Off on Crepey Skin Fixes
Crepey Skin Fixes

Yet another sign of aging is the appearance of crepey skin. A different look from that of good old-fashioned wrinkles, crepey skin takes on a thin, crinkled, crepe papery texture and appearance.

Read on to find out what causes crepey skin and how to tame it.

What Causes Crepey Skin

Crepey skin, much like wrinkles, is caused by a variety of things:

  • UV Sun Damage
  • Environmental Toxins / Smoking
  • Genetics
  • Age
  • Dry Skin
  • Lack of Sleep
  • Poor Diet
  • Extreme Weight Gain/Loss
  • Stress/High Cortisol Levels
  • Medications
  • Alcohol

The biggest reason for crepey skin is UV damage from the sun or UV radiation from tanning beds.

Harmful UV rays damage the skin by breaking down elastin, which along with collagen, are the proteins that build underlying connective tissue and keep skin firm.

While natural aging, genetics and all the other causes listed certainly contribute to the onset of crepey skin, UV sun damage over time is the primary cause.

Prime Areas for Crepey Skin

The first areas of the body where crepey skin is notorious for showing up is on the underside of the arms (along with sagging skin commonly referred to as “bat wings”) and legs.

Other prime target areas crepey skin appears is on the neck, face, and backs of hands.

The more skin is exposed to UV rays, the higher the risk for developing crepey skin.

Fighting Back Against Crepey Skin

Because crepey skin is the result of elastin and collagen loss, it needs consistent treatment to improve skin texture and appearance.

Without fillers or surgical intervention, here are some things you can do to fight back against crepey skin.

Sunscreen

You’ve heard it a million times, but sunscreen is one of the most important weapons you can use to combat crepey skin.

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Apply frequently and generously on sunny and cloudy days.

Hydrate

Dry skin is basically an invitation for fine lines, wrinkles and crepey skin to form on your skin.

It’s important to keep skin clean as well as moisturized and hydrated.

Use a rich moisturizing sunscreen before heading outdoors for the day.

At night, reach for a retinol-based product to stimulate collagen production and skin cell turnover. To avoid flakiness, follow up by applying hyaluronic acid which locks in moisture to keep skin plump and hydrated.

Nutrition

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is always the goal but not always the reality.

Supplement your diet with skin friendly vitamins A, C, D and E, along with Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil).

Sleep

Getting enough sleep each night not only keeps you alert and functioning at your best each day, but the extra z’s help keep crepey skin and wrinkles away as skin regenerates each night.

Exercise

Getting enough exercise is not only good for your heart and overall health, but it also reduces stress and yes, helps improve the appearance of skin.

Increased blood flow and circulation gives you a healthier glow.

Wrap Up

Crepey skin may be an inevitable sign of what’s to come in the golden years, but until then, there are ways you can keep your skin looking firm and smooth.

For a consultation with professional estheticians who can help make a noticeable difference in the appearance of your skin, call Laura Skincare in Petaluma today.