Beauty Brainstorm Blog

Archive for December, 2009

 Taking care of your skin should be a top priority, since it’s the first thing people see, however only a percentage of the population actually research and know how to properly take care of their skin. Even some of those people who know how to take care of their skin don’t follow the proper steps to ensuring their skin looks its best.

Step 1:
Wash your face twice a day with three in one  gentle facial cleanser.  This cleanser should be one that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes all in one. A gentle facial cleanser that does all threeof these processes at one time, helps to keep skin looing more vibrant on a daily basis.

Step 2:
If you have acne, apply an acne fighting toner  to your skin with a q-tip to your blemishes. An acne fighting toner helps to further balance the PH in the skin.

Step 3:
Apply an oil free moisturizer with sunscreen for daily wear to prevent sun damage to your skin. The sun can damage your skin, just by getting in and out of your car through the day. You do not have to be attempting to get a tan to get skin damage, which is why it is important to wear an additional oil free moisturizer with sunscreen throughout the day.

At night an additional oil free moisturizer should be applied to your face, to help restore and heal any damage your skin has incurred throughout the day. 

Step 4:
Apply a face moisturizing lotion  twice a day to keep your skin from drying out.

If your skin dries it out during the winter winds, you should apply a special moisturizing facial mask  to restore your skin.

Using a microdermabrasion peel for your face is also a great way to keep your skin healthy. This kind of peel can be used twice a week to deeply cleanse your pores of bacteria.

Properly cleansing your face and using the right products at the right time, in the right manner will help to keep your skin looking healthy all year long. Your face is how people remember you; special attention should be done to take care of your skin, since it is the first thing people see. Have a beauty consultant to help you keep your skin healthy and balanced is a great way to ensure you look your best all year long.

We have all heard about the benefits of anti-oxidants on fighting free radicals and combating the effects of aging.  Some of the best resources of getting anti-oxidants are through vegetables such as broccoli.  Did you know the anti-oxidants in broccoli also contain toxins?  However these toxins are a beneficial toxin evolved to dissuade insects and other animals from eating broccoli. In humans they induce a mild, adaptive stress response that increases the anti-oxidants.  If we ate broccoli without toxins, it is not enough to function as an anti-oxidant in the body according to Dr. John Ratey, MD in his book “Spark”.

He goes on to further say that if you add exercise, restrict calories and eat vegetables, the result will be good stress on your body.  This stress challenges cells and causes us to adapt and grow.  Warning here:  This is a delicate balance, if stress goes from mild to chronic (ie: greatly restrict calories-stop eating), the genetic actions can cause atrophy and cells die!

The process of aging lowers our stress threshold, as does self esteem.  We can attack this natural process through aerobic exercise.  Exercise releases many chemicals in the body that stimulates cells, causing the release of positive anti-aging allies.  Additionally, by adding supplements such as Juice Plus,  we can achieve all of the fruits and vegetables necessary to stimulate our own defense mechanisms to operate a peak efficiency.  Further research has found that the acai plant also provides additional resources of anti-oxidants, which is also found in chocolates which further keeps our skin young and healthy.

Bottom line; start exercising, eat and/or take necessary fruits and vegetables; mix in  healthy chocolate, treat the outside of your skin and you have put up the best defense against natures aging process that is available.

Looking for tips to better take care of your skin, leaving it healthier than before? Follow the tips provided below and you will be sure to have healthier, better looking skin.

1. Dry hands this winter? Try swapping out ordinary hand lotion for a formula with SPF.  The sun’s UVA light prevents production of moisturizers in skin and is present 365 day/year; therefore the need to add a SPF to your lotion could prevent drying out of the skin.
2. Combat wrinkles with red colored fruit! Studies show that the anti-oxidants in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates block an enzyme that breaks down collagen, which leads to wrinkles.
3. Keep teeth white by drinking morning orange juice through a straw – a recent study shows that OJ softens tooth enamel which may make your teeth more susceptible to discoloration; you can rinse after, with a drink of water.
4. Make your joints strong with sesame seeds – 2 tablespoons supply more than 80% of your daily intake of copper, which is an anti-inflammatory that may ease arthritis pain.
5. Fight sun damage on your skin – take 2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds and supply yourself with 40% of RDA of Vitamin E, a known anti-oxidant that fights sun damage
6. Enhance a healthy heart with flaxseed – 2 tablespoons in your cereal is rich in alpha-linolenic acid that helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
7. Speaking of hearts – don’t overeat, this is the #1 thing you can do for your heart.  Studies show that we tend to eat almost 40% more in a group than by yourself. So be careful at the parties this season.
8. Look younger this coming year – In addition to using moisturizers to keep your skin young, blow dry hair smooth, get a manicure, and don’t forget the eye brows, shape them, it will make your eyes, pop.
9. Keep your skin young – start exercising, it gets the blood pumping which brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
10.  Do you have acne – not only should you use a great acne skin care product  but don’t forget to use moisturizer. If you are using prescription based acne medicine, they can dry your skin out, which may trigger inflammation.
11.  Hide lines with a facial highlighting pen – These amazing innovations contain light reflecting particles that optically smooth wrinkles.
12.  Use concealer to give skin a smooth youthful look – Why let age and nature own you, take charge and use an appropriate foundation to add the youthful look to your face.