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Category Archives: Skin Care

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.

Great Reasons to Drink Water and How to Make it Easier

   Skin Care  Oct 03, 2016  Comments Off on Great Reasons to Drink Water and How to Make it Easier
Great Reasons to Drink Water and How to Make it Easier

It is no secret that drinking water is good for the human body. But, many people do not realize exactly how and why water is beneficial. Obviously, drinking water hydrates the body, but it also does so much more. Take a look at some of the other great benefits that can be derived by drinking water.

Reasons You Need To Drink Water

Water consumption helps you control calorie intake
Although water in itself does not help you lose weight, drinking it can help you beat the battle of the bulge. Swapping out high-calorie drinks for glasses of water helps you conserve your calorie count through the day.

Water energizes muscles
Muscles need to have the proper balance of fluids to work properly. Even if you only work out moderately, you want to make sure your muscles are working at an optimum level to get the most out of your workout. Drinking water can help you accomplish this goal.

Water helps skin look healthy
Your skin functions as a protective barrier against fluid loss and it needs an adequate amount of water to perform this important function. If your body is dehydrated, your face shows it by drying out and developing wrinkles. Also, water washes toxins from your body and keeps your skin clearer.

Water helps your insides function properly
Drinking water does wonders for your internal organs as well. It helps your kidneys rid the body of toxins and helps to maintain normal bowel function as well.

Water helps to increase your energy level
When your body is properly hydrated, it helps to increase your natural energy. Also, since your brain is mostly water, maintaining proper hydration also helps you to stay alert and focused on tasks.

Water helps to boost your immune system
When you drink more water, you are less likely to get sick. Simply drinking more water helps to fight against the flu, cancer, heart attacks, and other maladies.

Other benefits
Other benefits you can derive by drinking water include:

  • Natural headache remedy
  • Prevents cramps and sprains
  • Improves mood

Drinking More Water Is Easier Than You Think

It is not a secret that drinking lots of water can get boring quickly. So, check out some great ways to make getting an adequate amount of H2O easier.

Add flavor
It is easy to add flavor to your water by infusing fruit into it. Some great options are lemon, cucumber, strawberries, and grapefruit, but you can easily choose any fruit you want. Also, you do not need to stop at fruit. You can add fresh herbs and vegetables, too.

Use technology
Download a water-tracking app. If you are tied to your phone, you may as well put it to good use by downloading a free water tracker app. Another technological option that can help you drink more water is a high-tech water bottle that records your consumption as you sip. The information then gets sent directly to your phone.

Dilute other drinks
If you like sugary drinks such as fruit juices, you can easily dilute them with water and ice. That way you can still enjoy them but you reduce your calories and up your water intake at the same time.

Try sparkling water
If you crave the fizziness that comes from carbonated drinks, swap out high-calorie soft drinks for carbonated sparkling water. You will still get the effervescent fizz but still get all the benefits of water.

Add water breaks into your regular schedule
Think about your daily routine and find places where you can easily pencil-in drinking a glass of water. Before long, drinking a glass of water at that regular time will become second-nature.

Drink through a straw
When you drink water through a straw you will automatically drink more and drink it faster. It’s a no-lose situation.

Set up a goal and reward system
Most of us are easily motivated by a goal and reward system. So, create a goal-oriented water bottle that has times listed on it and try to drink a set amount by a specified time. If you don’t want to write on your water bottle, set up reminders to drink on your phone. When you reach your daily or weekly water-drinking goals, reward yourself with a special treat.

Make it one of those things you do without thinking

You know how we all open a bag of chips and eat and eat and eat. Part of our reason for doing that is taste or hunger, but a lot of it is that we are watching tv or enjoying conversation at a party and we aren’t thinking about how many chips we eat. We just keep mindlessly picking them up. You can do this with water. Have a glass of water nearby while you’re working, playing the Wii U, or cooking. You’ll be surprised at how often you drink water this way.

Eat water-dense foods
No one ever said that all water needs to be drunk. You can eat your water as well. A great way to increase your water consumption is by eating water-dense foods. Most fruits and vegetables are rich in water, so be sure to add them to your diet.

Some of the best choices include:

  • Cucumbers
  • Zucchini
  • Watermelon
  • Grapefruit

Stick to the one-to-one rule when drinking
If you like to enjoy alcohol every now and then, always stick to the one-to-one rule and pair one glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you drink. Not only is this a great way to avoid a hangover, it is a great way to get in additional ounces of water that will help to counteract the calories and sugar you are consuming with the drinks.

You’ve always known that water is good for you, and know you know why. So, put these helpful hints to use and start drinking more water!

Why Self-Care is Important and What to Treat Yourself To

   Skin Care  Sep 17, 2016  Comments Off on Why Self-Care is Important and What to Treat Yourself To
Why Self-Care is Important and What to Treat Yourself To

Beautiful young woman in cosmetic salon close up

Self-care is extremely important for your well-being and can also boost your self-esteem. People always worry about others before themselves, but you should never forget to take care of yourself. One of the most important activities in your self-care routine is visiting an esthetician. Estheticians are trained in skin wellness and help to achieve a healthy and youthful complexion for their clients.

Your skin is the largest body organ and therefore requires extra special care and attention. Treat yourself to a facial, a peel, or other spa treatments like sugar scrubs, wraps, and waxing. These treatments use products that protect the skin from the elements and fight wrinkles, fine lines, and dull or uneven skin tones. Having better looking skin boosts self-esteem, which gives people more confidence in themselves and in what they do. Below are a few services that estheticians provide for healthy, younger looking skin.

Facials

Facials are the most common of services provided by estheticians. Getting a facial helps skin care experts get a good understanding of your skin type before performing more aggressive types of skin care treatments. Facials typically include makeup removal, cleansing, exfoliation, steaming, extractions, a facial massage, a mask, serum or moisturizer, and SPF protection. Generally, you should schedule a facial once a month, however your skin therapist may recommend a different schedule better suited for your skin type.

Waxing

Waxing removes unwanted hair at the root, making hair grow less frequent than with shaving. Estheticians can provide both body and facial waxing, and usually offer two types of wax: hard and soft. Hard wax is applied to the skin warm in an even layer, allowed to dry, and quickly removed in the opposite direction of hair growth. This type of wax does not use cloth strips, and is less irritating to the skin, which works well for sensitive areas like the bikini, underarm, and facial areas. Unlike hard wax, soft wax uses cloth strips to remove hair. It is applied warm in a thin layer in the direction of hair growth. Then, the cloth is ripped in the opposite direction of hair growth. Soft wax is best for larger areas of the skin like the back, chest, and legs.

Peels

A chemical peel is a type of exfoliation treatment. Peels tend to be more aggressive than facials, and they treat a large range of skin concerns such as sun damage, acne, mild scarring, and aging. This treatment also improves overall skin brightness and evens the skin tone. Chemical peels can be light, moderate, or deep and prove to be quite effective. Light peels require no down time, however moderate and deep peels may leave the skin feeling sensitive and require some down time to allow the skin to heal.