Any time is a good time for new goals and why not… a new you!
Maybe you had in mind giving yourself a pick me up by changing your skincare regimen or a new haircut but kept on slacking and putting it off for a later date.
So, why not stepping up now, get inspired by some healthy habits, make yourself feel awesome and as a bonus, scores some high points on your confidence level.
- DO A SKINCARE CLEAN UP
How many products do you have in your bathroom that you purchased and then, ended up hidden in the back of the cabinet because you didn’t like the smell, made you breakout, didn’t do anything… the reasons can be endless but the pile of old do nothing products is not! So, dig into your bathroom cabinet and throw away those products that are expired and you know you won’t use again. This will give you more space and allow you to organize better the skincare that works and you want to use regularly.
- CONSUME MORE SKIN FRIENDLY FOODS AND ADD SUPPLEMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE SKIN FROM WITHIN
The nutrients of the food that you consume are distributed throughout your body and absorb by the organs and tissues. Your vital organs take priority like the heart, the liver etc. so, if your diet is not abundant in fruits, veggies and other essential nutrients; the skin, although it is the largest organ of the body, is left deprived of necessary nourishment to irradiate the so desired healthy glow.
Great skin starts with great nutrition!
A balanced diet is the first step to a luminous, healthy complexion, but adding some extra help with supplements is always a good idea… why not benefit directly from a boost of nutrients that support and protect the skin and your health.
RESVERATROL extracted from the skin of grapes helps to reduce inflammation, protects the brain and the heart and has incredible anti-aging benefits.
GREEN TEA is high in polyphenols that fight oxidative damage, increases metabolism and energy levels and improves mental clarity.
PROBIOTICS…good bacteria promote a healthy digestive tract and a healthy immune system aiming in body detoxification which contributes to a flawless complexion
COLLAGEN… . it’s important to understand that a supplement cannot replace the collagen that we lose as we age but it offers great support to the soft tissue repair, build up and maintenance.
B COMPLEX … B complex can transform dull-looking skin into a radiant glow, but vitamin B’s deficiency can cause acne, excessive dryness, wrinkles, make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, rashes, and uneven skin tone.
Vitamin B12 may help to regulate your skin’s production of MELANIN (pigment) and also helps your body absorb iron, fundamental to maintaining strong, healthy nails.
Niacin and panthenol also known as B3, B5 have become skin favorites for their ability to improve your skin’s capacity to retain moisture – helping dryness and making the skin feel softer and smoother.
Biotin, B7 is a powerful supporter for the maintenance of healthy skin, hair and nails
OMEGA 3….. I call it the internal moisturizer. It lubricates tissues, regulates oil production to boost hydration delaying the skins aging process preventing the formation of lines and wrinkles. It helps inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, also provides nourishment to the hair follicles to make the hair strong and healthy.
- USE SPF EVERYDAY EVEN ON CLOUDY DAYS
Today, there are no more excuses for not using a sunscreen. The old days of funny smells and thick textures are gone and now you can find spf protection in makeup, powders, etc… the options are many! It’s a no brainer and a must do if you want to preserve your looks for years to come.
Sunscreen protects your skin from ultraviolet radiation that harms the skin causing: sunburn, breaking down collagen and elastin, damaging healthy cells and even being able to cause skin cancer.
Even on a dark cloudy day your skin is vulnerable to sun damage, make sure to select a broad spectrum sunscreen to be covered from UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays are the ones that can cause sunburn, so we are normally more attentive to those because we can see the reddening of the skin.
However, UVA rays are invisible to the naked eye and produce detrimental damage to the cells accelerating the aging process of the skin causing wrinkles and elasticity loss called photo-aging.
- STOP RESTING YOUR CELL PHONE ON YOUR FACE WHILE YOU SPEAK
Cell phones have become indispensable in our everyday life. It is even hard to count how many times we use it during the day… but resting your cell phone on your face regularly after you have touched it with your hands or rested it on dirty places is a big acne culprit and common cause of infections and rashes now days.
I have seen cases where only the side where the person uses the phone presents acne lesions while the other facial areas a totally acne free. Clean and sanitize your phone regularly and be aware of where you place it. Try as much as you can, not to rest it directly on your skin when you talk to avoid transferring bacteria.
- ESTABLISH A WEEKLY ME TIME SKIN ROUTINE
Not only your skin will thank you for it but you deserve a little time to relax and release stress.
In addition to cleansing, exfoliate the skin and do a facial mask. Exfoliating the skin removes dead skin cells that make your skin dull and clog the pores; it also prepares the skin to absorb better the nutrients of the other skincare products. After exfoliating apply a facial mask.
Choose one based on the condition of skin at the moment, for example : a collagen mask if you need hydration, a vitamin C mask if you need to add radiance, a clarifying mask if you are fighting breakouts and so on. The skin changes regularly so make sure to have at hand several different options.
Follow your mask with a good serum and a moisturizer for a complete home facial treatment. This skin ritual will not only help you get rid of congestion build up but also conditions and adds extra nutrients to boost the results of your regular skin routine.
I wish you a wonderful new year!
Thank you very much for being here.
Until next time,
Dora Salazar.
Medical Aesthetician
