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Author Archives: Laura Pagliaroni

Tips to Improve your Skin’s Elasticity

   Skin Care  Nov 09, 2016  Comments Off on Tips to Improve your Skin’s Elasticity
Tips to Improve your Skin’s Elasticity

 

What is Skin Elasticity?

Skin elasticity, or skin turgor, is the capability of your skin to change shape and return to its original state. You can notice this phenomena when you pinch a section of skin and then let go to see how quickly it will return to its original shape. The faster it smooths out, the better skin elasticity your dermis will have. Most commonly, your skin’s elasticity will decrease as you get older; however their are a slew of other reasons for poor turgor, including:

  • Severe Fluid Loss

  • Decreased fluid intake

  • Diarrhea

  • Dehydration

  • Diabetes

  • Heat exhaustion

  • Extreme Weight Loss

  • Vomiting

  • Edemas

  • Connective tissue disorders (scleroderma and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)

  • Aging

How to Improve Skin Elasticity?

While some causes of poor turgor are inevitable (aging, weight loss, etc), there are ways to help your skin regain its strength and vitality:

1. Drink water.

Many doctors tell you to drink plenty of water to keep you healthy overall, but water is also good for your skin. This fact is especially true if you are dehydrated or have a condition that causes severe fluid loss. If you don’t necessarily enjoy drinking water, for whatever reason, try infusing your favorite fruits into it. No sugar is added, but you get the water you need along with the fruit’s nutrients.

2. Have a Good Diet

Collagen and elastin are the two key factors in skin elasticity. As mentioned, natural aging can cause the destruction of those two factors; however damage caused by environmental factors can also destroy them. Fried foods, sun damage, and cigarette smoke are just some of the aforementioned factors. To combat the loss of collagen and elastin, your body needs antioxidants, so you’re going to want to load up on Vitamin A, which can be found in carrots, apricots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and watermelons. Foods rich in Vitamin C, D, and E are also helpful.

3. Vitamins

Some of these can also be included in your diet, but the following are vitamins that are helpful in repairing skin elasticity:

  • Vitamin C is important in the creation of collagen and elasticity. Aging and sun exposure can deplete your Vitamin C levels.

  • Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which as mentioned before, helps protect against damage caused by sunlight and free radicals.

  • Vitamin D helps develop new skin cells so that they can create that protective barrier that holds in moisture to maintain flexible skin

  • Vitamin B (12 and 6) and folate help collagen and elastin function together. Biotin and Niacin also contribute to healthy skin.

4. Creams and Lotions

A more topical solution for improving turgor is using the correct skin products. Essential oils such as chamomile and neroli are great for this purpose. Chamomile helps smooth broken capillaries to increase elasticity, and neroli helps cells regenerate, which along with increasing skin turgor, also helps reduce varicose veins and scarring. Cocoa butter is also a good tool for healthy skin elasticity.

Are Eyelash Extensions Right For You?

   Eyelash Extensions  Oct 28, 2016  Comments Off on Are Eyelash Extensions Right For You?
Are Eyelash Extensions Right For You?

Been thinking of ditching mascara for long, luxurious eyelash extensions?

Are Eyelash Extensions Right For You?

Here’s the scoop:

How do they do it? Eyelash extensions are individual lashes that a professional attaches to each of your existing lashes. The procedure usually takes one or two hours, and most salons make it less tedious and relaxing by offering music and massages.

How long do extensions last? In fact, eyelash extensions actually last a long time with proper care. Most salons recommend a touch up every three weeks, but extensions usually last for about 6-7 weeks. Just be really careful to not get water or oils on your extensions.

Yes, you can wear eye makeup, but liquids will damage your extensions, so use powder-based products and oil-free makeup removers carefully applied to the lids–not the lashes! Some people do use liquid eyeliner, being careful to not apply it right on the lash line. Completely stay away from mascara because it will definitely cause damage; some people use mascara only if they are getting new lashes in a few days.

What are they made of? The extension lashes are usually made of natural materials like silk and real mink, and some are even made from real human hair. There are also synthetic material choices like faux mink or fox. Honestly, there is little difference in how these all look, and the synthetic materials are the most reasonably priced.

Details, details: You can choose the length of your extensions in the range of 9 mm (a natural length) to 15 mm (really long and luscious). Lashes in the range of 10-12mm are the most popular. You can also pick your “curl”–a J-curl for a more natural look, and a C-curl for that dramatic look you get with an eyelash curler. Some people mix the two, using a J-curl on the inner lashes and a C-curl on the outer lashes to achieve a “cat eye” look.

Extensions can ruin your natural lashes, but this usually happens when a person decides to remove their own extensions. If you don’t know what you’re doing, the natural lash will come out too when you remove the extension. It is extremely painful, to say the least, and it can take two months for them to grow back. Always have professional removal, which is quick and painless and offered at every salon. Sometimes they will fall out naturally, too.

Some people do have allergic reactions to the adhesive used to attach the lashes, and may wake up the next day with swelling, redness, itching and burning. Reactions to the lashes themselves are far less common, as are reactions to the cleansers or primers used to apply the lashes.

5 Muscle Relaxation Foods That Relieve Cramps and Spasms Naturally

   Relaxation  Oct 24, 2016  Comments Off on 5 Muscle Relaxation Foods That Relieve Cramps and Spasms Naturally
5 Muscle Relaxation Foods That Relieve Cramps and Spasms Naturally

Cramps and muscle spasms tend to hit you all of a sudden, and when they do it’s hard to focus on anything but the discomfort you feel at that moment. This often painful condition is the result of muscles tightening up due to physical overexertion, dehydration, or a chronic medical condition. Even when muscle spasms aren’t painful, those jerky, involuntary movements often cause mental distress and fatigue due to a lack of sleep.

When cramps or spasms become an ongoing struggle all you want to do is find a way to make them go away. Taking muscle relaxant medications is one solution. However, there’s a natural solution that doesn’t make you dizzy or foggy. Several types of foods contain natural antioxidants and chemical components that help your body and mind relax. You can find these foods at your local grocery store, and then find tasty ways to enjoy them.

1.Cayenne Pepper. You don’t have to be a big fan of spicy foods to appreciate the healing benefits of cayenne pepper. This fire engine red pepper contains capsaicin, a substance already used in some natural pain relief products. Many people dealing with conditions such as fibromyalgia apply creams containing capsaicin on areas prone to jittery muscles. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper onto savory dishes for general relief.

2. Cherries. Dark cherries are a known natural remedy for gout, but you can also eat them to reduce inflammation of joints and muscles. Drinking a glass of tart cherry juice before bed is a great way to increase melatonin levels, which help you drift off to a good night’s sleep.

3. Spinach. Packed with the muscle-friendly mineral magnesium, spinach is a muscle relaxing powerhouse. The dark green leaves of this plant can be enjoyed raw or cooked, and it also contains energy-boosting iron.

4. Almonds. Almonds are one of the tastiest natural snack foods around, and besides being tasty, they contain selenium, a mineral that’s great for muscles. Sometimes not having enough selenium in the body leads to increased muscle pain and discomfort. Snacking on a handful of almonds helps keep nerves and muscles functioning normally.

5. Celery. Extreme physical exertion such as running long distances can lead to a sudden bout of muscle cramps due to the depletion of electrolytes. It’s common to crave salt when this happens, and celery has an ample amount of natural sodium. Make a smoothie with celery, enjoy raw celery with a vegetable spread, or eat it plain to replenish lost sodium.