Beauty Brainstorm Blog

Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

Just like the Myth Busters, as we continue our Summer myth busting; here are three more that need to be vetted out;

Myth:  If I wear a sunscreen it will prevent me from getting my necessary Vitamin D from the sun. 

Truth: According to US News and World Report , Vitamin D is very important in preventing many diseases, including heart disease.  They quoted research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, that stated those with a lower levels of Vitamin D have double the risk of dying from heart disease.  So does sunscreen actually prevent the production of Vitamin D in the sun?  Yes!  According to the NY Times , a study showed that the use of Sunscreen, actually blocked the suns UV rays and interfered with the production of Vitamin D.  So does that mean Sunscreens are bad?  No!  The study went on to say that while it does hamper ultraviolet rays production, it is not enough to cause a deficiency.  So use a quality sunscreen  but control your time in the sun and stay protected.

Myth:  I used to bake in the sun, the damage is already done. 

Truth: There used to be a notion that UV Exposure damaged occurred before age 18, but according to the Skin Care Foundation, 47% of UV exposure occurs between ages 19-40.  So not only can you help stop the damage by the sun, by using sunscreen NOW, you may be able to lessen the effects of past sun by doing so. 

Myth:  My hair protects my head from the sun and skin cancer. 

Truth:  While clearly having hair vs. no hair does provide some additional barriers to the sun, they offer a less than fool proof shield.  Additionally if you have a part in your hair, the exposed skin is just as susceptible as any other exposed skin on your body.  There are some SPF hair sprays , none are as protective as a good hat.  The hat should be tightly woven with a brim that’s at least 3 inches wide

Have fun the remainder of the summer and remember to protect your skin!

Where is the best place to be during the summer?  Outside!  But we all know the risks of being outdoors during summertime.  Dehydration, sunburn, mosquitoes, and summer laziness can set in.  Fitnessmagazine.com, tackled some of the summer myths which are worth repeating here. 

Myth:  Self Tanners helps shield my skin from the sun.

Truth:  While have a bronze glow to your skin is achievable via many products, for the “safest” tan, try Mary Kay Subtle Tanning lotion.  This lightweight, nongreasy formula glides on evenly for a gradual bronze glow that’s natural enough to look real. It does not contain sunscreen and does not protect against sunburn.

Myth:  I shouldn’t put sunscreen too close to my eyes.

Truth:  According to Dr. Jordana Gilman, a dermatologist in New York, 5% – 10% of skin cancers appear on the eyelids.  If the thought of putting sunscreen on the eyelids makes your eyes water, try specially formulated products for sensitive skin and after the sun, treat your damaged skin with a refreshing product like; Mary Kay Replenishing Gel .

According to Mary Kays Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Beth Lange ;

• Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen like Mary Kay SPF 30 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays
• A good rule of thumb:  Adults should use about one ounce of sunscreen to liberally coat all exposed areas and reapply at least every two hours.
• Be wary of very high SPF’s.

 Stay tuned for next blog when Part 3 comes out next week!

You have heard the older commercials with Michael Jordan, “be like Mike”?  Well msn.com has run a series of skin care for the Stars.  In this piece they highlighted several of todays stars and their beauty tips.  One star that has always looked beautiful and natural is Halle Berrry.  in fact, according to msn,  Halle Berry has been on top-10 beauty lists since she was Miss Teen All-American in 1985. Twenty-five years later, she’s still radiant and glowing.

Her secret?  Her skin-care routine starts with an exfoliating wash (MaryKay has a tremendous one)  with triple fruit acid cleanser, followed by pure Vitamin C cream, which is said to restore skin cells (we have blogged about Replenishing Serum +C ). And she never forgets to moisturize—morning and night. Which brings us to one of the staples of a great skincare program; called Miracle Set  .

So instead of “be like Mike”, “be like Halle” and follow a program that provides the results you deserve.

Skipping Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

The best way to keep your skin from getting wrinkled, saggy, and speckled is sunscreen, SPF 25 at the minimum. It is a great age fighting tool.  Broad-spectrum formulas (meaning they shield against both UVA and UVB rays) Like MaryKay’s Timewise day solution SPF 25 . A little goes a long way for everyday protection- If you are going to spend time by the pool or beach. Apply a about a teaspoon to your face, and the equivalent of a shot glass on your body. (Mary Kay’s SPF 30 Sunscreen for the body). For workdays, reapply before your commute home if the sun is still out—even if you’ll be in a car. And for days when you’ll be outside for an extended period of time, reapply every two hours. Face it, age fighting cleansers, age fighting skin care, age fighting moisturizers and anti aging lotions will protect your skin.  Getting into this kind of a habit will save your skin and you will be so thankful when you look in the mirror years from now.

Vegetables

Vitamin C and E are full of antioxidants and have been shown to help prevent some of the sun’s ultraviolet rays that can damage skin.  If you are a fan of sweet potatoes, you will be happy to find that according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Nutrition Health Letter , sweet potatoes came out on top as the most nutritious of ALL vegetables.  But whether you like sweet potatoes or not, many vegetables provide a great resource in skin care recipe.  Eating vegetables is a skin care supplement that is easy to eat and provide many of the same benefits of the best skincare products. 

Bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli or cauliflower are great sources of Vitamin C, while olives, spinach or asparagus are equally good sources of Vitamin E.  These are a few examples of foods that can improve your skin’s health and along with a good skincare product help aid in skin regeneration.

Fruits

According to WebMD, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and plums are all high in their anti-oxidant content. In quoting a study done by Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, all four fruits had the highest anti-oxidant capacity of ANY food.  Why is this good news for your skin?  Free radicals (which may be formed by sun exposure) can damage the membrane of your skin cells.  Damaged skin cells age your skin prematurely.  The anti-oxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits, protect the cell, so there can be less damage.  The natural skincare foods are a great way to combat

 By eating healthy, and using good age fighting skin care products  you can fight skin aging and get back your youthful glow! Products that contain anti aging lotions, anti wrinkle lotions, or have a combination skin cleanser also are very helpful.

Do you want to clear up your skin by eating healthy and yummy foods?  C omplex carbs like whole grains, proteins and produce according to. Australian researchers found that a low-glycemic diet (more whole grains, protein and produce versus refined carbs such as white bread) may reduce acne . One reason why: Low-glycemic foods keep insulin steady, while refined carbs and sugar spike it. The surges may boost production of androgens, hormones that, when boosted, can cause zits. After 12 weeks of a low-glycemic diet, subjects’ pimple counts dropped 20 percent, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. More research is needed to support the clear-skin connection, but no M.D. will talk you out of eating whole grains and veggies!

Try to have three servings a day (one serving equals a slice of bread or 1/2 cup cooked grains).  Some great options are brown rice,  barley, and oats,  or eat foods made out of these whole grain flours. Not only are they great for your skin, but they can prevent constipation and lower blood pressure too.  Finally don’t forget a good skincare program available at Mary Kay.

Before we get to that, how much water does a person need each day? Research from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found no studies to back up the recommendation of eight glasses a day. Prevent dehydration—and dryness—by drinking when you’re thirsty. Aim for 6 cups a day.

Now can water help your skin?  The benefit of drinking water in large amounts for proper skin health is a controversial area. Many believe and have stated that water is very beneficial for proper skin care. The main stated benefit is that drinking a large quantity of water keeps the skin hydrated and prevents dry skin. Claims are also made that drinking water gives the skin a radiant, healthy, younger looking complexion with no wrinkles, and allows skin to maintain its elasticity and suppleness.

However, many experts are now refuting the above-mentioned benefits. Unless the individual is severely dehydrated, drinking large quantities of water will not prevent dry skin. Basically the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, it is external factors such as skin cleansing , the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands that determines how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the skin, water moves through the body system rather quickly. If the skin is dry, the best solution is to treat the skin from the outside is with a dry skin lotion like  Mary Kay moisturizer       

Is there any real benefit of drinking water for skin health? Actually, although combating dry skin is not a benefit of drinking water, there are some other potential benefits.

As mentioned, drinking water in adequate amounts is necessary to flush out toxins out of the body via the excretory system. With inadequate amounts of water flowing through the body, these toxins can build up in the body and escape through skin pores. This contributes to acne  (If acne does breakout, use the link to the  left to treat it).  Therefore, by flushing the body internally with water, acne breakouts are less likely to occur due to toxin release through the skin.

Another benefit of drinking water in large amounts for the skin is in the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. In addition, proper hydration and certain products like MaryKay Indulge Smoothing Eye Cream  will help to eliminate sunken eyes and circles under the eyes.

Think the sun is good or bad for you.  Well you might be surprised to learn that the sun is good for you.  It helps produce much needed Vitamin D.  With the right amount of Vitamin D, studies have shown you can help lower your chances of getting cancer and heart disease by 25%.  According to Dr. Michael F. Roison, if you are going to be in the sun for longer than 15 minutes or at peak time during the day, you might want to protect your skin with an SPF25 .  Look for zinc and oxybenzoneas the main ingredients.  Also don’t forget your Vitamin D; at least 1000 iu a day.

It is football playoff time and that means 2 things usually.  Cold Weather and the victorious team usually has a good Defense (although the Packers and Rams did try to prove otherwise last weekend).  Around here it also has been pretty cold the last few weeks.  Do you know what the temperature was this morning at 6 am?  39 degrees!

Cold weather exaggerates the drying out of your skin and lips.  In fact, do you know what they say is one of the first places to notice dry cold weather AND HOT humid weather?  YOUR LIPS.  You know in the summer time how many times you reach for that lip balm (MaryKay of course) to protect you from the harmful UVA of the sun and fight the chapped dry lips syndrome.  Well, in the cold weather because of the natural moisture from your mouth and tongue, combined with the icy winds and cold air, your lips quickly can become chapped.  How do you combat that?

 MaryKay Satin Lips Mask and Balm.  Sold separately or as a complete defense mechanism as a set; The mask is used to buff away dry skin with , and then using it in tandem, you moisturize your lips with Satin Lips® Lip .  This gives your lips protection for at least 6 hours; enough time to get inside out of the heat/cold.

 So be like the winning professional football teams and put your best defense to work for you; Satin Lips Mask and Balm