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Category Archives: Skin Care

Does Sunscreen Go Bad?

   Skin Care  Apr 09, 2023  Comments Off on Does Sunscreen Go Bad?
Does Sunscreen Go Bad?

Now that spring is here, take inventory of your sunscreen to make sure you have enough for those sunnier days ahead.

If your sunscreen has been around for a while, you may not even think about checking the expiration date.

Here’s how to know whether to use last year’s batch or if your sunscreen has gone bad.

Slather on the Sunscreen

Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, you probably already know how important it is to use sunscreen every day. Sunscreen is the single most important health and beauty product in your home.

It protects you from the sun’s damaging UV rays, which easily pass through clouds to cause damage to the surface and deep layers of your skin. The UV rays cause free radical damage, premature aging, crepey skin and without it, seriously increases your risk of skin cancer.

Sunscreen Application

To avoid a bad burn and to protect skin as much as possible, use an SPF (skin protection factor) of 30 or higher. Choose a water-resistant broad-spectrum variety, free of toxic parabens.

The SPF number means that if used correctly, it will take 30 times longer for your skin to turn red, which signals a burn and potential skin damage, than it would without protection.

For the greatest protection, re-apply every two hours, more often if sweating or swimming.

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes ahead of heading out so it has time to penetrate into your skin.

For proper coverage, use the equivalent of about two tablespoons of sunscreen to cover all your exposed skin. Don’t forget your ears and tops of feet.

If you can, wear a hat for protection of your scalp.

Don’t forget lip protection by wearing a sunscreen-infused lip balm.

For your face, use a SPF 30 or higher sunscreen either under or over your foundation. This is true even if using a foundation containing sunscreen since foundation alone cannot provide adequate UV protection.

Start with about a nickel size amount of sunscreen and rub well into skin. If using a chemical sunscreen, apply your moisturizer and foundation over the sunscreen layer. If using a physical (mineral) sunscreen, it goes on last, after moisturizer and foundation.

Sunscreen Shelf Life

Surprisingly, according to FDA regulations, sunscreens have a considerably long shelf life of up to three years.

Normally, you wouldn’t use products that have been sitting in your home for three years. If it makes you feel better, toss the old bottle and get a fresh supply this spring.

To make things easier, write both the purchase and expiration dates on the bottle with a sharpie. It’s entirely up to you whether to toss after a year or keep until the expiration date.

Wrap Up

Since sunscreen is the most important skin-saving beauty product, it’s good to know it’s just as effective in three years as it was the day you opened the bottle.

For professional care of skin, look no further than Laura Skincare in Petaluma for facials, peels and the highest quality in skincare products and services.

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.

 

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.