Blog Post For Laura Skin Care Petaluma, CA

How to Keep Your Skin Fair in the Winter Air

Laura Pagliaroni Skin Care Oct 09, 2018 Comments Off

When Winter comes to Petaluma, CA it brings with it: sweaters, scarves, boots, hot chocolate, and soothing fires, but it also plagues our skin with dry air leaving our skin itchy, dry, irritated, and red. Fortunately, we’ve learned how to care for our skin a lot better and we have advanced technology to help us combat the offensive nature of Winter.

An obvious solution to dry skin is water! But not just inside, outside too. Even though hot chocolate is a Winter staple (and delicious) it means we’re drinking less water and more sugar; so, make sure to drink tons of extra water. You also need to moisturize (skip petroleum-based moisturizers which dry you out more), pick a natural, water-based one. You can also moisturize overnight, especially trouble areas like: hands, elbows, knees, and feet. And don’t forget to moisturize immediately after our next tip.
Showers (and baths) are a culprit for dry skin year-round (not just Winter). When water washes over our skin it picks up and carries away the moisture in it as well, plus hot water makes this even worse! Also avoid exfoliating while in the shower (or anywhere else) if you already have dry skin; do it less frequently, even if your skin isn’t dry yet. In the same light as this tip, make sure to ditch wet clothes as soon as you can, they will increase your chances of getting sick as well as drying out; not only wet clothes, but irritating fabrics (like wool) too!
You should also be conscious of the cleansers you use on your skin. ‘Fragrance-free’ products are what you’re looking for (not ‘unscented’ because those may still contain fragrances), skip the clay-based masks for hydrating masks (less frequently than normal), avoid alcohol-based or astringent toners, and a sneaky culprit is laundry detergent with tons of chemicals. You can also invest in a few humidifiers around your home to increase the humidity, while heaters typically emit hot, dry air; lower your thermostat a bit; and use a moisturizing sun-screen.

In short, the best things you can do are hydrate (inside and out), avoid drying agents (hot water, hot air, and astringent beauty products), and be gentle with you skin (avoiding harsh fabrics and chemicals). Don’t forget to visit a skin specialist; even if all these things appear to be working, an expert will be able to ensure you aren’t missing anything.

Can A Facial Reduce My Stress?

Laura Pagliaroni Facial Oct 04, 2018 Comments Off

Anyone who’s had a good facial knows that it makes you feel wonderful. It isn’t just a passing feeling. If your esthetician provides you with an excellent experience, it can reduce your stress levels significantly. How? Here are four ways it helps.

A facial gives you time to slow down

Life can be busy and extremely hectic at times. With no time to slow down, stress builds and builds. When you sit for a facial, there’s nothing else you have to do. Simply sit back and relax. Let the esthetician do the work. Now is your time to de-stress. It will be easy, too, because the process impacts your parasympathetic nervous system in a positive way.

Massage promotes relaxation and reduces pain

Massage is an essential part of any facial you get from a professional esthetician. They massage your face and may also massage other parts such as your arms, legs, and feet. Massage relaxes you in several ways. It increases blood flow, decreases swelling, and minimizes pain. All these physical effects lead to reducing your stress.

A facial clears away dead skin and toxins

The skin is not only the largest sense organ, it’s the largest organ in the entire body. When it’s clogged with oils, dead skin, and toxins, your skin feels lifeless. Your facial skin is usually the most susceptible to clogging, especially if you aren’t careful about removing makeup. Having a facial clears away all that debris, refreshing and revitalizing your skin. Afterwards, you feel energized and ready to take on the world.

You look great and feel self-confident

Regular facials can help you reduce the effects of skin conditions like acne or psoriasis. Even if you have relatively clear skin, a facial gives your skin a clean, healthy glow. Knowing you look your best, you feel more self-confident. With greater self-esteem, you’re more likely to see problems as challenges you can overcome rather than threats. A facial might not make you a mighty warrior, but it can help you feel more comfortable about facing the problems that usually cause your stress.

How Cortisol Affects Your Skin

Laura Pagliaroni Skin Care Sep 06, 2018 Comments Off

Did you know that even on a good day stress shows on your skin? Cortisol, the hormone your body produces in response to stress, has a number of detrimental effects on your body and skin and has been aptly named the “death hormone.” Skin irritation, wrinkles and loss of collagen are just a few of the effects that cortisol has on your skin. Since cortisol increases over time (older people have more than younger), it goes hand in hand with normal aging and can speed up your aging process.

How Cortisol Affects Your Skin

Cortisol: the stress hormone

Your body produces cortisol in response to stress as it helps your body functions to remain stable under acute stress. There is nothing wrong with cortisol when it functions like it should, since it should peak and then dissipate quickly. However, the problem comes when your cortisol level stays heightened. Prolonged periods of stress can keep your body producing cortisol far longer than it should. When this happens, it will destroy your immune system, shrink your brain cells, decrease muscle mass and damage your skin.

Acne

Cortisol can cause acne or aggravate existing acne by triggering the production of sebum. Sebum is the oil that your skin naturally produces which can build up and clog your pores, causing breakouts. Cortisol kicks sebum production into overdrive which will cause breakouts.

Skin conditions

Psoriasis, eczema and rosacea are all affected by cortisol. If you have any of these skin conditions, you know that being stressed will make them worse. Heightened levels of cortisol cause these issues to flare up.

Aging

Younger people have the same amount of cortisol as older people, but studies show that cortisol levels do not stay elevated as long in younger people as they do in older. Cortisol causes skin to thin which makes blood vessels more prominent. Loss of collagen also causes sagging skin and wrinkles.

What you can do

The best thing you can do is, of course, reduce your stress levels. However, if you can’t reduce your stress level there are still some things you can do to support your skin.

Drink water
Get enough sleep
Stick to a skin regimen (cleanse, moisturize, sunblock)
Consider skin treatments to reverse existing damage

Keep your skin hydrated from inside and out by drinking plenty of water and using a moisturizer appropriate for your skin. Get enough sleep so your skin has time to regenerate and heal itself overnight. Finding a proper skin regimen is key to support your skin through stressful times. Never forget sunblock since sun exposure also speeds the aging process. You can also use skin treatments like chemical peels, microneedling or facials to reverse any existing damage from stress that you already have.

Feel free to speak to your licensed esthetician in Petaluma, CA about your personal skin concerns.

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