This Yahoo! Shine article shares some steps that American women can incorporate in their beauty regimen.
Some of the biggest beauty trends in recent memory (BB creams, anyone?) have originated in Asia, which is way ahead of the West in the skincare game. "Korean women, on average, use 26-27 steps in their beauty regimen, versus American women who only use six to seven," says Global Aesthetician and Skincare and Beauty Expert for Korean skincare brand Amorepacific, Dana Nicolette. What is it that these women know about beauty that I'm missing? I went in search for some of the best Asian beauty secrets to learn how to incorporate them into my current routine.
1. Brush your skin. While Francine Gingras, VP Global PR for Elizabeth Arden, lived in Japan as a teen (she grew up in Canada), she learned the importance of brushing her face every day with a soft-bristled brush. Gingras, who continues the ritual even today, says it is responsible for keeping her skin toned all these years. It's also said to help prepare your skin, so the serums and creams you put on actually sink in. It seems Americans have caught onto this trend; now almost every beauty buff owns a Clarisonic or a similar face-cleansing device.
2. Slap it on. Gingras also learned a very specific way of applying moisturizer (today she opts for Prevage Anti-Aging Moisture Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($129, elizabetharden.com)) and makeup. She starts from the bottom of the chin and applies it going up, so her forehead is the last part of the face to be covered. And instead of rubbing product into her face, she slaps it on, another tip she learned from her time in Japan. Most surprising is that Elizabeth Arden herself had a machine with spoon-looking objects attached that gently slapped cream onto women's skin, and that was 102 years ago!
Esther Dong, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo, says that women in Korea also believe in slapping their faces to stimulate circulation and elevate the energy level of the skin.
"They do this seriously and with considerable consistency," says Dong. "Don't be surprised next time you travel to Korea and see Korean ladies padding their face with force in the washroom. To them, it is so important that it should not be missed, even when they are on the road."
3. Make SPF a priority. Another huge skin care consideration in Korea is sun protection.
"Have you ever seen pictures of an Asian lady with an umbrella under a clear sunny sky?" Dong asks. "Keeping away from the sun is skin care 101 in Asia."
Whether you use a foundation with built-in sunscreen or you opt for a stand-alone product, like Sulwhasoo Age-Veil UV Protection Cream ($70, sulwhasoo.com), make sure to protect your skin, no matter the weather.
4. Hydrate throughout the day. "Asian women hydrate often throughout the day, and lightly mist facial sprays over the face to refresh their foundation post lunch," says Nicolette.
Facial mists are starting to catch on in the US, so try Amorepacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System ($35, sephora.com). It was created with bamboo sap to keep skin hydrated for up to 8 hours.
5. Make sure to polish your skin. Victoria Tsai founded skincare line Tatcha after discovering a 200-year-old manuscript that described the daily beauty regimen of a Japanese geisha. She based her products on traditional geisha beauty secrets. One example: Instead of cleansing, toning and moisturizing the skin, like many of us do, a geisha's routine would include polishing, brightening and moisturizing steps. Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder ($65, tatcha.com) exfoliates without harsh abrasives.
6. What's good for your body is good for your skin. "When you want your body to be healthy, you seek out unprocessed, nutritious and natural foods," says Tsai. "The same goes for your skin." Green tea, ginseng and kimchi are all ingredients that are often infused in Korean skin care. Dr. Jart+ uses these key ingredients in their Detox 02 Cleansing Foam ($24, sephora.com), Renewalist Melting Cream ($38, sephora.com), and their Waterfuse line.
Tsai also points to a home remedy from Japan, in which some women save the cloudy water used when washing rice to wash their faces, giving their skin a youthful glow.
7. Opt for an oil, instead of a cleanser. While "oil-free" products rule in the US, oil-based skincare is a popular category in many parts of Asia. "Cleansing oils work so well because oil dissolves oil - makeup, sunscreen and sebum literally melt away when you use a cleansing oil," says Tsai. " The trick is to use one without mineral oil so that it doesn't break you out or leave residue that you have to use another cleanser to remove. Had I discovered these earlier in life, I think I would have saved myself a lot of breakouts and dry patches long ago."
For a cleansing oil that doesn't contain mineral oil, try Boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil ($26, sephora.com).
8. Don't underestimate a good facial. "Korean women spend a large sum of their dispensable income on facials," says Dong. "Beyond indulging in high-end beauty products that deliver great results, they also go to the spa every other week!"
The spa tradition in Japan goes back hundreds of years. "Geishas used to use a complex device called an alchemical still to capture the essence of botanicals," says Tsai. "They would boil water underneath beneficial flowers or leaves, then capture the steam on a swatch of kimono silk. This silk was applied to the face for a nourishing mask, long before masks became known to the wider world."
Do you incorporate any of these secrets into your daily routine?
Lift and Glow Pro helps women maintain their youthful glow. For more beauty tips, visit this Facebook page.
Showing posts with label Beauty Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty Tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
REPOST: 5 Skin Care Tips For Post 50 Women
This Hufftington Post article shares Dara Kennedy's skin care tips for women beyond 50 years old.
Dara Kennedy, the founder of Ayla, has 5 skin care tips for post 50 women:
Dara Kennedy, the founder of Ayla, has 5 skin care tips for post 50 women:
1) Many personal care products contain fragrance, sulfates, propylene glycol and triclosan. While the safety of these ingredients has been called into question, they also happen to frequently irritate dry, sensitive skin. Menopausal and pre-menopausal women typically find their skin is much more reactive than it used to be, so avoiding these types of ingredients can help significantly.
2) Ingredients like parabens and phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which this age group probably wants to avoid given the hormonal upheaval they're already experiencing. It's particularly important where body moisturizers are concerned. Here are two simple products -- good for post 50 women -- that can be found pretty easily at health food stores, some drugstores and online shops: Alba Botanica and Barlean's Coconut Oil.
3) Because their cycles are less regular and reliable, pre-menopausal and menopausal women can find that acne (caused by irregularity of their hormone levels) appears seemingly out of nowhere. Many products on the market are designed for younger skin, and the formulas can be very harsh and drying. It's important to find an effective but non-drying, non-irritating acne treatment to avoid causing further dryness and sensitivity.
4) Women often experience flushing during menopause, which can lead to redness and broken capillaries. It can be difficult to find products that address these issues while at the same time taking care of aging skin. Women facing these issues should choose their treatments carefully so they're not layering too many products on their face at once (which, ultimately, could cause more irritation). Since we get a lot of customers who struggle with this, we've found two products that work particularly well: Red Alert Anti-Redness Serum and 37 Extreme Actives.
5) Wrinkles and a loss of firmness are also often experienced by menopausal and pre-menopausal women; these tend to be the result of their shifting levels of estrogen and progesterone. Retinol is often used to address these two skin concerns, but if skin is sensitive and dry, that may not be the best solution. A good alternative would be an oil-based serum that's naturally rich in vitamin A (look for rose hip oil on the ingredient list) and/or a gentle anti-aging serum that features botanical peptides.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
REPOST: What your face reveals about your health
Does your face reveal your true age, or do you actually look older than you really are? This FoxNews.com article shares some insights about how your face and skin can reveal so much about you.
There’s more to the old adage about the truth being written all over your face than you may think. Not only do we get nonverbal signals about someone’s true well-being from unconscious facial expressions, but the state of your skin reveals a great deal about what’s going on inside, both physically and emotionally.
In fact, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used facial analysis as a diagnostic tool for centuries, marrying specific facial areas and features with organs and emotional states. So when you get a recurring zit on the same part of your chin or have a perpetually congested or flaky forehead, your skin could be trying to tell you that there’s a deeper health concern in need of attention.
Facial diagnosis is not an absolute science, but it could certainly point you in the direction of a healthier lifestyle. Here's what to look out for:
Mid-Cheeks
Your cheeks are linked to your respiratory system, so a slight rash could be an indication that your body is starved of oxygen and you need to work on deepening your breath.
Hannah Yang, resident naturopath at the unique ESPA Life (ESPALifeAtCorinthia.com) spa in London said, “Anything that allows you to open and utilise the lungs would be helpful. Try breathwork, mediation or increase your exercise.” Smokers, therefore, will inevitably have/get broken capillaries, discoloration, fine lines or congestion in this area, as will those who suffer from colds, asthma or the flu.
The area is also a stomping ground for rosacea, so be sure to seek topical treatment if you have persistent redness that flares up easily. It’s quite possible that too many stimulants like coffee and alcohol could be causing all that flushing.
Mouth
The mouth, rather fittingly, correlates to the stomach. Where the actual lips relate to the stomach and intestine, the surrounding area at the sides that run down toward the jowls are linked to the colon. Any spots or discoloration dotted around your lips could, therefore, be a sign of poor bowel movements, bloating or a poor appetite. Find a local nutritionist and explore any food intolerances or allergies that may have gone unchecked over the years.
Bloody gums indicate an acidic stomach, while dry and flaky lips are a fairly obvious sign of dehydration. Cracks or sores, alternatively, suggest a spleen in need of care. Stock up on vitamin B and iron if that’s the case.
This Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page offers tips on how to look and feel younger.
 |
| Image Source: BeautyStat.com |
In fact, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used facial analysis as a diagnostic tool for centuries, marrying specific facial areas and features with organs and emotional states. So when you get a recurring zit on the same part of your chin or have a perpetually congested or flaky forehead, your skin could be trying to tell you that there’s a deeper health concern in need of attention.
Facial diagnosis is not an absolute science, but it could certainly point you in the direction of a healthier lifestyle. Here's what to look out for:
 |
| Image Source: HealthMeUp.com |
Mid-Cheeks
Your cheeks are linked to your respiratory system, so a slight rash could be an indication that your body is starved of oxygen and you need to work on deepening your breath.
Hannah Yang, resident naturopath at the unique ESPA Life (ESPALifeAtCorinthia.com) spa in London said, “Anything that allows you to open and utilise the lungs would be helpful. Try breathwork, mediation or increase your exercise.” Smokers, therefore, will inevitably have/get broken capillaries, discoloration, fine lines or congestion in this area, as will those who suffer from colds, asthma or the flu.
The area is also a stomping ground for rosacea, so be sure to seek topical treatment if you have persistent redness that flares up easily. It’s quite possible that too many stimulants like coffee and alcohol could be causing all that flushing.
 |
| Image Source: RealBeauty.com |
Mouth
The mouth, rather fittingly, correlates to the stomach. Where the actual lips relate to the stomach and intestine, the surrounding area at the sides that run down toward the jowls are linked to the colon. Any spots or discoloration dotted around your lips could, therefore, be a sign of poor bowel movements, bloating or a poor appetite. Find a local nutritionist and explore any food intolerances or allergies that may have gone unchecked over the years.
Bloody gums indicate an acidic stomach, while dry and flaky lips are a fairly obvious sign of dehydration. Cracks or sores, alternatively, suggest a spleen in need of care. Stock up on vitamin B and iron if that’s the case.
This Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page offers tips on how to look and feel younger.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Retinoids: From Acne to Wrinkle Treatment
Discover how retinoids treat not only acne but also wrinklesfrom this EverydayHealth.com article written by Diana Rodriguez.
The body needs vitamin A to develop strong teeth and tissues, healthy vision, and healthy skin. Retinol is a type of vitamin A that can be found in food sources like whole-milk dairy products, liver, meats, and eggs.
Vitamin A is also available in topical forms, known as a retinoids, that are used as medications to treat skin conditions. Retinoids were initially marketed and approved to combat very severe acne. But researchers soon discovered another valuable property of retinoids: They could reduce the signs of photoaging (aging of the skin from sun exposure) and were soon used as a wrinkle treatment.
Retinoids for Skin Solutions
There are two major types of natural retinoids used medically.
Isotretinoin (formerly marketed under the brand name Accutane) is an oral medication that may be prescribed for people who cannot control severe acne through topical treatments or with antibiotic medications. Though it's been found to be extremely effective in managing acne, it has serious side effects, including birth defects if taken by pregnant women. Generic isotretinoin may cause depression and, rarely, thoughts of suicide. And while new information is emerging that it could contribute to or worsen irritable bowel disease, a study found that isotretinoin use did not affect the incidence of IBD.
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is a topical vitamin A prescription acne treatment. It's also used to help reverse damage to the skin from sun exposure. Tretinoin works as an irritant, which results in more rapid turnover of skin cells, causing old cells to die more quickly. Tretinoin helps acne disappear as it sheds old skin cells. While it also minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots on the skin, exactly how it works against wrinkles and sun damage isn't completely understood. There are also synthetic forms of topical retinoids available by prescription for acne treatment: adapalene (Differin) and tazorotene (Tazorac).
Prescription Versus Over-the-Counter Retinoids
Studies have examined the effectiveness of various types of prescription retinoids on both acne and as a wrinkle treatment. Researchers have concluded that topical retinoids are an effective acne treatment and are also effective in preventing acne breakouts. Research has also found impressive results when it comes to reducing — and in some cases reversing — sun damage.
Cosmeceuticals (cosmetics that also claim to treat a skin condition, such as wrinkle creams) that contain weaker forms of retinoids are widely available, but relatively little research has been done to determine their effectiveness. Of the studies that have been conducted, cosmeceticals with the form of vitamin A called retinaldehyde are the most successful in reducing the signs of aging.
The Cost of Care
Isotretinoin and tretinoin are only available through a prescription and should be used under a doctor's supervision. Costs vary according to your pharmacy and health insurance. In some cases, the medication may be covered partially or fully by your health insurance plan, particularly if the treatment is for acne. The use of a retinoid topical cream for cosmetic reasons is less likely to be covered by insurance. A year's supply of treatment with Retin-A can cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $200.
The less potent, non-prescription retinoids, such as retinol and retinaldehyde, can be purchased over-the-counter as ingredients in skin care products marketed to erase wrinkles, sun damage, and other signs of aging. There are many brands available, including RoC and Olay, among others. Retinol- and retinaldehyde-based products are available at drugstores and beauty counters. Products range in price from about $10 to $20 or more.
The uses of vitamin A have evolved over the years, from the body's natural needs to man-made treatments that get rid of pimples and minimize wrinkles and dark spots on the skin. Whether you seek acne or wrinkle treatment, buy it over-the-counter or with a doctor's prescription, be aware of possible side effects, and make sure to follow all instructions carefully.
Source:http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/skin-care-101/retinoids.aspx
The body needs vitamin A to develop strong teeth and tissues, healthy vision, and healthy skin. Retinol is a type of vitamin A that can be found in food sources like whole-milk dairy products, liver, meats, and eggs.
Vitamin A is also available in topical forms, known as a retinoids, that are used as medications to treat skin conditions. Retinoids were initially marketed and approved to combat very severe acne. But researchers soon discovered another valuable property of retinoids: They could reduce the signs of photoaging (aging of the skin from sun exposure) and were soon used as a wrinkle treatment.
Retinoids for Skin Solutions
There are two major types of natural retinoids used medically.
Isotretinoin (formerly marketed under the brand name Accutane) is an oral medication that may be prescribed for people who cannot control severe acne through topical treatments or with antibiotic medications. Though it's been found to be extremely effective in managing acne, it has serious side effects, including birth defects if taken by pregnant women. Generic isotretinoin may cause depression and, rarely, thoughts of suicide. And while new information is emerging that it could contribute to or worsen irritable bowel disease, a study found that isotretinoin use did not affect the incidence of IBD.
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is a topical vitamin A prescription acne treatment. It's also used to help reverse damage to the skin from sun exposure. Tretinoin works as an irritant, which results in more rapid turnover of skin cells, causing old cells to die more quickly. Tretinoin helps acne disappear as it sheds old skin cells. While it also minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots on the skin, exactly how it works against wrinkles and sun damage isn't completely understood. There are also synthetic forms of topical retinoids available by prescription for acne treatment: adapalene (Differin) and tazorotene (Tazorac).
Prescription Versus Over-the-Counter Retinoids
Studies have examined the effectiveness of various types of prescription retinoids on both acne and as a wrinkle treatment. Researchers have concluded that topical retinoids are an effective acne treatment and are also effective in preventing acne breakouts. Research has also found impressive results when it comes to reducing — and in some cases reversing — sun damage.
Cosmeceuticals (cosmetics that also claim to treat a skin condition, such as wrinkle creams) that contain weaker forms of retinoids are widely available, but relatively little research has been done to determine their effectiveness. Of the studies that have been conducted, cosmeceticals with the form of vitamin A called retinaldehyde are the most successful in reducing the signs of aging.
The Cost of Care
Isotretinoin and tretinoin are only available through a prescription and should be used under a doctor's supervision. Costs vary according to your pharmacy and health insurance. In some cases, the medication may be covered partially or fully by your health insurance plan, particularly if the treatment is for acne. The use of a retinoid topical cream for cosmetic reasons is less likely to be covered by insurance. A year's supply of treatment with Retin-A can cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $200.
The less potent, non-prescription retinoids, such as retinol and retinaldehyde, can be purchased over-the-counter as ingredients in skin care products marketed to erase wrinkles, sun damage, and other signs of aging. There are many brands available, including RoC and Olay, among others. Retinol- and retinaldehyde-based products are available at drugstores and beauty counters. Products range in price from about $10 to $20 or more.
The uses of vitamin A have evolved over the years, from the body's natural needs to man-made treatments that get rid of pimples and minimize wrinkles and dark spots on the skin. Whether you seek acne or wrinkle treatment, buy it over-the-counter or with a doctor's prescription, be aware of possible side effects, and make sure to follow all instructions carefully.
Source:http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/skin-care-101/retinoids.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)