Keeping your Skin Hydrated

The heat is on, summer is finally here! This means our bodies will dehydrate faster and our skin will show the drying effects of a dull and wrinkled complexion. Our skin will get triggered to produce more oil, increasing the likelihood of congestion and breakouts.

My first suggestion is an obvious one.. Drink plenty of water! The skin is the largest organ of our body (not to mention the first thing people see when they look at us) an excellent reason to take proper care of it.

A good rule of thumb for water intake is this: take your body weight, divide it in half and that is the amount of water in ounces you should be getting everyday.

Get yourself a water bottle which is marked with measurements and keep that with you all day, so you know exactly how much water you consumed.

Now that we’ve talked about hydrating on the inside, let’s look at hydrating on the outside with oil, humectants and occlusives (oh my!). For those prone to acne and congestion, you may cringe when I talk about applying oil to the face. Some of you in fact work very hard to scrub away all that oil. Actually, this is often counterproductive because you are signaling the skin to produce more oil and interestingly enough, studies have shown that acne sufferers are deficient in essential fatty acids.

Oil is classified as an occlusive which means it locks moisture into the skin. If you’re prone to breakouts, I’d suggest using light oils such as sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Applying them after a bath or shower is best. Other natural occlusives include shea butter, cocoa butter and squalene which is derived from olives.

Humectants attract and hold on to water. They work by pulling moisture up from the dermis into the epidermis. Some popular humectants are glycerin, honey and hyaluronic acid. The latter, can attract and hold on to 1,000 times its weight in water which can definitely give you a glowing and supple complexion. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body-it’s what gives the skin a plump and supple appearance, but diminishes as we age. Glycerin is commonly found in skin care products, but can also be purchased as a stand alone ingredient.

The dry San Diego weather definitely makes it hard to stay hydrated, but follow my suggestions and you’ll find your skin glowing and radiant in no time. Remember to drink lots of water, don’t over wash or exfoliate and find a moisturizer that is both a humectant and an occlusive.

FIVE TRICKS AND TREATMENTS FOR YOUR SUMMER SKINCARE REGIMEN

Sun is good for the soul, but not so good for the body. Breakouts, hyperpigmentation, sunburns, dehydration are few conditions we deal with during the summer months, that have an effect on our skin.

Of course we want to enjoy the sun, but we need to protect our skin as much as possible. This means applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and yes, staying out of the sun as much as possible.

Getting a facial treatment is beneficial, it can help to repair sun damaged skin. Your home skincare regimen plays a vital role as well.

TRICKS AND TREATMENTS

1. Chill Out with Ice

  • Before applying any skin products or makeup, rub an ice cube all over your face, focusing on areas with acne, redness and sensitivities

  • For an acne blemish, put ice in a plastic baggie and place on area for 5-10 minutes to decrease inflammation and redness

2. Exfoliating Papaya Mask

  • Papaya contains the enzyme papain which digests the keratin protein build up on the surface of the skin without causing excessive heat or inflammation

  • Simply mash up the papaya and add honey or yogurt, spread all over face and leave on for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water followed by cold water. Continue with your home care products

3. Banana Mask for Oily Skin

  • Mash up 1 banana, add 2 TBSP honey and a few drops of lemon or orange juice. Apply all over face or to the oily areas (most likely the T-zone) and leave for 10-15 minutes. Remove with a cool washcloth. Continue with your home care products

4. Acne Basil Toner

  • Crush up 3 TBSP of dried basil leaves and mix into 1 cup of boiling water. Once cooled, strain out the leaves and put your new toner in a clean bottle. Use a cotton ball to spread gently around face, prepping it for your skincare routine

5. Sunburn Treatment

  • Soak a cloth in a bowl with equal parts milk, water and ice cubes and place the cloth on the burned area for 5 minutes

Sunscreen facts and dangers: What you need to know

It’s only the end of April, but here in sunny San Diego it feels a lot like summer. And with the hot weather comes more outdoor activities; barbecues, beach parties, exercise, etc. At this point, everybody knows the dangers of long term unprotected sun exposure, but there may still be some lingering questions or misunderstandings. With so many different sunscreens to choose from, it’s hard to know what to look for.

3 Reason to Come See the Esthetician Nerd Today

Okay, let’s get one thing straight. When you come in to see me, you won’t find me wearing thick glasses and a pocket protector. But, you will find a sassy, chic, information-lovin’ beauty professional. And, I wear the “nerd” title with complete and utter respect for nerds everywhere. “Why?” - you say? Because we love to learn and we love to teach.

Caring for your skin

As we age, our skin will go through many changes. From oily and pimply to fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. To keep our skin in top shape we need to periodically reassess our skin and act accordingly. We’ll get into that later.

First, I want to talk about the universal rules we could all follow-you know, do this, don’t do that. Now, I’m not trying to sound like your mama, but who couldn’t use a little reminder every now and then. Paying attention to these little tips can go a long way in your skincare regimen. These tips are in addition to the common ones that we all know, such as, wearing sunscreen, getting enough sleep, etc.

Top 10 Toxic Ingredients in Your Beauty Products

If you bother to look at the ingredients in your beauty products, you’ll see a lot of big and seemingly impossible to pronounce words. Polyethyl-something, phenyl-whatever, dibutyl-huh? And pthalates? Who knew a silent “P” ever existed.

It can be overwhelming to say the least. Enough so that most of us shrug our shoulders and trust the powers that be, that if it were unsafe it wouldn’t be allowed in consumer products. Right? Wrong. Would you believe that many of these chemicals are also found in industrial products, such as pesticides, degreasers, paint and concrete?

Make Up & skin tips and Tricks

Makeup (depending on how it’s done) can be your best friend or your worst enemy. With so much information out there, it’s hard to know who you can trust. Well, as your friendly and trusted skin care professional, let me guide your way.

As a beauty professional and makeup artist, I’ve learned a trick or two along the way. Before we get into it, let’s see how much you know about makeup.