REPOST: Saving Face: Six Fashion Week Models Share Their Skin-Care Survival Secrets

This Vogue.com article reveals some of the skin care secrets from six of your favorite super models.

Image Source: vogue.com

They may spend their days playing dress up in the industry’s most beautiful clothes, but models endure wear and tear on their skin during Fashion Week that is anything but glamorous. In the makeup chair, they’re dabbed, dipped, and smeared with product, only to be stripped clean and done all over again at the next show. “You might have makeup put on and taken off seven times a day,” says Karlie Kloss, perched backstage at Carolina Herrera. Like many of her peers, she has developed a survival strategy that revolves largely around cleansing, calming, and hydrating her sensitive skin. Here, six of our favorite backstage faces share their guide to complexion perfection—along with a few of the all-around beauty products they won’t leave home without.

CARA DELEVINGNE:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I’ve been using a lot of natural products. There’s a really amazing shop called Live Live & Organic on East Tenth Street that sells all-natural products. They have this stuff called Bee Yummy Skin Food cream, which just has honey, bee pollen, water, and St. John’s Wort oil. It’s very natural, which is what I need for my skin.”

What’s in your bag?

Anastasia eyebrow gel and a Tangle Teezer hairbrush

JOURDAN DUNN:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I like to use Sisley’s Radiant Glow Express Mask. I also like to use their radiance serum, which you can put on top of your makeup or under your makeup and it just instantly gives you a glow.”

What’s in your bag?

Hair brush, Johnson’s facial wipes, and Vaseline to use as lip balm

KARLIE KLOSS:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I have a Clarisonic brush that I use every night to clear out my pores. And I always have dry skin, so moisturizer is really important. I use a drop of Caudalie oil and mix it with my face cream.”

What’s in your bag?

Smith’s Rosebud salve and a packet of hot chocolate

LIU WEN:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“During Fashion Week, you’re using a lot of makeup and it makes your skin really dry. Normally I do a face mask once a week, but during Fashion Week, if I have time, I do one every day. I have some Korean face masks, and sometimes I make them myself, using egg whites and water.”

What’s in your bag?

Estée Lauder lip balm and hand cream

COCO ROCHA:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“The best thing is just to make sure to take off all that makeup at night, and cleanse, and in the morning do the exact same thing. I always try to let my face breathe as much as I can. If I’m hanging out at home, then there’s no need to put on makeup just for the sake of it.”

What’s in your bag?

Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer

LINDSEY WIXSON:

What’s your skin-care survival strategy?

“I drink lots of water and use Himalayan bath salts to relax.”

What’s in your bag?

Tropical Traditions coconut oil and Weleda Skin Food moisturizer.

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Skin care: Ten commandments to live by

The summer weather can entice anyone to go out of their house and enjoy the outdoors. But with this come the harsh effects of sun exposure. From dry skin to skin discoloration and sunburn, the effects of the sun on the skin can range from mild to alarming conditions --- therefore, extra care should be given to the skin when a person spends time under the sun.

Image Source: edensoapandcandle.wordpress.com

NBC News shares the ten commandments for keeping the skin healthy and looking great this summer:

1. Using skin protection. Basking in the summer sun without sunscreen or protective clothing is like going out in a battlefield without arms.

2. Honoring the changes of the seasons. Knowing what products to apply on the skin in certain seasons is crucial in achieving maximum protection.

Image Source: blog.mariobadescu.com

3. Buffing the skin. Buffing and exfoliating the skin remove dead skin cells and speed skin regeneration.

4. Engaging in morning and evening anti-aging rituals. Regular skin care routine—one in the morning and another one at night—enhances the skin’s natural beauty.

5. Moisturizing. Moisturizing and hydrating the skin are a must, no matter what time of year it is.

 

Image Source: newbeauty.com

6. Getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation has some ill effects on the skin. It releases the stress hormone called cortisol and leaves the skin dry and acne-prone.

7. Not pricking or popping pimples and zits. Popping zits will only spread the bacteria to other areas of the skin, and the skin can develop skin trauma.

8. Loving the whole body. Skin in other parts of the body should also be taken care of. A person should focus not only on the skin on the face, but also on the skin in the lower areas of the body.

Image Source: besskincare.com

9. Exercising. Getting pumped up increases blood circulation and regulates stress hormones, giving the person a beautiful glow.

10. Eating fish, fruits, and vegetables. Eating food rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants keeps the skin smooth and looking young.

Image Source: webmd.boots.com

The summer months require added skin protection. Taking good care of the skin can offer a lifetime of health benefits.

This Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page provides more information on how to protect your skin from harsh elements.

REPOST: How to stay safe from summer health hazards

Before enjoying the summer, read these health tips from Today to avoid summer health hazards.  Read on ... 

With temperatures rising and summer just around the corner, everyone’s planning fun activities like hiking, picnicking and barbecuing.

Dr. Roshini Raj shared some safety tips with TODAY to keep this summer safe and help you avoid some of the season’s more common health hazards.

If you’re going to be outside hiking and picnicking in areas that haven’t been cleared of plants like poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, Raj suggests becoming familiar with the appearance of these pesky plants.

“It’s really important to recognize these plants,” said Raj, an attending physician at NYU Medical Center/Tisch Hospital in New York City. “They all have urushiol, which is a type of oil that can cause a terrible rash.”

 

                                       Image Source: Today.com

It’s contact with the oil that causes the small red itchy bumps on your skin, Raj said.  What many people don’t know is that the oil, which can stick to your skin and clothes, can be very long-lived.

“When that oil sticks to your clothes it can last for years,” Raj said. “You might have a sneaker, for example, that you put away in the closet and when you bring it out in the winter you can get that rash again. So you want to make sure if you’ve come in contact with any of these plants that you really wash your clothes carefully.”

And it’s not just your clothes that you have to worry about. Pets can run through patches of the plants and pick up the oils on their coats. While the animals don’t react, you can develop a rash just by touching them.

“So you want to wash your pets if your pets are running around in them,” Raj said of the plants.

If you’ve got any of these plants growing around your house, it’s best to get rid of them, though you need to do so carefully. Make sure you’re wearing gloves to protect your hands and don’t ever try to dispose of them by burning. If you breathe in smoke contaminated with the oil it can really irritate your lungs, she said.

If you do come in contact with urushiol and a rash develops, Raj suggests putting Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream directly on the skin. Taking oral Benadryl can also quiet the itching, she said.

As it turns out, you can get an itchy rash without even touching a plant. With the extremely hot temperatures of summer, you can develop heat rash.

“Heat rash is not just for babies,” Raj said. “It’s what happens when your pores get clogged so you can’t perspire and release the heat. That can cause tiny little bumps that can be itchy.”

The best way to avoid heat rash is to make sure you’re wearing clothing that wicks away moisture. Most important is underwear, Raj said, “because you get it in those very moist and warm areas.”

Just as with poison ivy, the best topical treatment is hydrocortisone ointment. But keep in mind, Raj said, that the rash could be a sign that you are overheated and at risk for heat stroke. So, “get in a cool area because heat stroke is very serious.”

Another summer hazard: bug bites, some of which can be dangerous.

One of the most potentially dangerous bites comes from the deer tick, Raj said. The tick, which is the size of a pinhead, can transmit bacteria that can lead to Lyme Disease.

Raj suggests checking yourself and your children every evening for ticks.

“The tick has to be on your skin for two to three days it can actually transmit the disease,” she said. “So you can prevent it if you can find that tick.”

Even with careful inspections, it’s possible to miss the ticks. A sure sign that you’ve been bitten and infected is a bull’s eye rash, Raj said. If you see the rash, you need to go to a doctor and get antibiotics, because “untreated it can lead to severe neurological issues.”

Another big area for concern is food safety. While grilling and picnicking can be a lot of fun, you need to be careful with your food, Raj said.

Raw meat should be kept away from other foods on a separate platter, and handled with different utensils. And when you grill, use a thermometer to check that the meat is done because “you can’t judge it from the outside," Raj said. "Even if it’s charred on the outside, it could be raw on the inside.”

Perishables, like macaroni and potato salads, need to be kept cold. “You don’t want anything out for more than two hours,” Raj said. “Or only one hour if it’s over 90 degrees.”

She suggests keeping drinks in a separate cooler “because that is the one that people are going to be opening all the time.”

As for leftovers – you don’t really want to keep anything that’s been outside the cooler, Raj said. “If it’s been in the cooler the whole time then you may be able to use it, but if not, then just throw it away.”

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REPOST: The Right Moisturizer for Smooth Skin in Your 30s, 40s, 50s

Even if you're taking good care of your skin, you'll probably start noticing fine lines and wrinkles in your 30s. This Health.com article will help you find products designed specifically for your skin at every age.

Image Source: health.com

Today’s skin moisturizers are worlds better than the one you started using in your 20s. Here’s how to find your perfect product for gorgeous grown-up skin.

In Your 30s

What’s Going On

Luckily, your skin is in good shape, so you don’t have to waste a second worrying about deep wrinkles. However, you might notice fine lines and age spots, says Anne Chapas, MD, a 35-year-old dermatologist in New York City. Also, “women in their 30s may have redness from sun damage or flushed skin caused by rosacea,” a skin condition that often appears for the first time in your 30s, she notes. Another occasional issue? Under-eye circles. (Blame genetics or the stress and sleepless nights this decade often brings.)

What You Can Do...Your morning routine

After cleansing, hydrate and protect your skin with a lightweight lotion that has sunscreen. If you have any unwanted rosiness, look for one that also contains feverfew. “It’s a natural ingredient that reduces redness,” Dr. Chapas says. On mornings when dark under-eye circles are a problem, apply a cream that has caffeine, which helps shrink capillaries so discoloration is less noticeable.

Your evening routine

Now is the time to start using a night cream that treats fine lines and your first age spots. Look for one with ingredients like arginine, an amino acid that helps fade spots, and retinol, which “helps build collagen and reduce fine lines,” according to Dr. Chapas. If you still get occasional breakouts, Dr. Chapas says a prescription-strength retinoid like Retin-A is a good idea because it treats pimples and signs of aging.

Your best Moisturizers

Eye cream with caffeine: Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex ($42)

Lotion with SPF and Feverfew: Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer SPF 30 ($14.99)

Night cream with Arginine and Retinol: Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Night ($19.99)

In Your 40s

What’s Going On

This decade brings lots of happiness—you’re enjoying great sex, and studies show your confidence is high. Unfortunately, all that smiling you’re doing may reveal crow’s-feet and lines at the sides of your mouth.

“Estrogen levels decline in your 40s, decreasing collagen levels and making your skin thinner and more prone to wrinkling,” says Jessica Wu, MD, a 41-year-old dermatologist in Los Angeles. Plus, those spots that looked like cute freckles 10 years ago now may appear larger.

What You Can Do...Your morning routine

By now you probably know that you should apply a moisturizer with sunscreen every morning, but Dr. Wu recommends stepping it up to one that also has antioxidants. “They boost the protective power of your skin, helping to prevent more age spots,” she says.

Your evening routine

At night, use a moisturizing cream that contains retinol, which speeds the exfolia­tion of dead skin cells, giving your complexion its glow back. As for the lines around your eyes? Retinol can help there, too. According to Dr. Wu, most women in their 40s could benefit from using an over-the-counter eye cream with retinol or a prescription-strength retinoid. “Last year, I started using Renova, a prescription-strength retinol cream, to treat the fine lines that I’m seeing around my eyes,” Dr. Wu says.

Your best Moisturizers

Day moisturizer with sunscreen and antioxidants: Biore Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30 ($14.99)

Eye cream with Retinol: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Eye Cream ($16.59)

Night cream with Retinol: La Roche-Posay Biomedic Retinol 30 ($54)

In Your 50s

What’s Going On

You finally have a little time to focus on yourself. Plus, those healthy habits you have picked up over the years (regular workouts, eating fresh farmers’ market produce) are great for your skin. Still, there is no hiding the signs of a life well-lived. “Your 50s are when you may see deeper wrinkles and a hollowness around your eyes that causes shadows,” says Audrey Kunin, MD, a 50-year-old dermatologist in Kansas City, Missouri, and the founder of DERMADoctor. And menopause (as well as perimenopause) dries your skin and disrupts its ceramide barrier, which can lead to sensitivity.

What You Can Do...Your morning routine

Smooth on a cream (they tend to be more moisturizing than lotions) that has antioxidants and SPF as well as ceramides, which boost hydration and reinforce your skin’s protective barrier. For under-eye discoloration, look for a moisturizing eye cream with vitamin K. “Because you have less fat under your skin at this age, the blue color of blood vessels close to the skin surface becomes more visible,” Dr. Kunin explains. In one study, vitamin K was found to improve the look of dark under-eye circles, perhaps because it helps blood clot, preventing seepage from the capillaries under your eyes.

Your evening routine

There are plenty of ways to describe the dry skin this decade brings—papery, parched—but, no matter what you call it, it’s treatable. To rehydrate at night, smooth on a cream that has rich moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter. And since wrinkles are more apparent on dry skin, make sure your product pick also has retinol. “It builds collagen, which can help make wrinkles less noticeable,” Dr. Kunin says. Another option? Prescription-strength Renova, which contains a more potent form of retinol and a moisturizing base.

Your best moisturizers

Eye cream with vitamin K: Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash ($46)

Day cream with sunscreen and Ceramides: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra Lift and Firm Cream SPF 30 ($68)

Night cream with shea butter and Retinol: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream ($19.99)

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Using the sun to benefit your skin and emotional well-being

Image Source: foxnews.com

Health experts agree that sunshine helps the body produce vitamin D, and plays a role in preventing osteoporosis, depression, and certain cancers. A study even states that regular exposure to sunlight can make the skin develop self-protective mechanisms against the sun’s harmful effects. However, too much sun exposure can be extremely harmful not just physically, but also emotionally. Multiple studies have already showed that sunlight exposure can affect a person’s emotional well-being by either uplifting the person’s mood or causing him to be depressed.

Fortunately, this doesn't mean that people have to totally give up outdoor fun altogether. Protection from harmful rays is the key to a healthy skin and good mood. Below are some tips on how to use the sun’s rays to benefit the skin and uplift the mood:

• Being outside, but not directly under the sun, for 30 minutes will benefit the mood

• Protecting the skin using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher

• Wearing a hat or protective clothing while outdoors

Image Source: telegraph.co.uk

• Seeing the dermatologist annually

• Moisturizing before, during, and after sun exposure

• Eating fresh fruits

• Drinking water and juices

There is nothing more uplifting than feeling the warmth of the sunshine every now and then. But too much exposure to the sun can be harmful to the skin and to one’s emotional health. Like other great things in life, basking under the sun should be taken in moderation.

Image Source: flickr.com/caitlynrp

Lift Serum Pro protects the skin from aging. Visit this Facebook page for more information on how to take good care of the skin.

REPOST: Eva Longoria: “Your Skin Needs Protecting”

What are the risks of unprotected sun exposure? Eva Longoria shares in this Women's Health article the importance of protecting the skin from the sun's harmful rays.

Image Source: blog.womenshealthmag.com

Growing up in Texas, actress Eva Longoria didn’t give sun safety much thought. “Being Latina, you think, ‘Oh, I have dark skin so I won’t get sunburned,’” she says. But now, the star and L’Oreal ambassador wants to make sure everyone is giving enough thought to how their lifestyle choices may put them at risk.

“Melanoma is deadly,” she says. “It doesn’t really discriminate against skin color. You can really get sun damage whether or not you have dark skin or light skin.”

To protect her skin, Longoria wears sunblock and tinted moisturizer daily. If she’s out in the sun, she always wears a hat. “The sun never touches my face,” she says.

Longoria, a L’Oreal ambassador, is promoting melanoma awareness in conjunction with a new L’Oreal campaign that donates $1 to the Melanoma Research Alliance for every bottle of its Sublime Sun products sold this year. The company is also donating $1 to the MRA for every Tweet that includes the hashtag #SublimeSun.

“By being involved in this, I hope people will take away a new awareness of the gravity and the risk involved in being in the sun and then also look at a product and say, ‘I need one with skin protection,’” she says. “That’s what the Sublime line is—it’s all the products you would already use, but it has sun protection.”

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The tale of beauty sleep: What good slumber can do to the skin and body

Image Source: tx.english-ch.com

Women often find themselves juggling a hundred and one things to do, which leads to not having enough time to rest, and in some cases, not having the privilege to indulge in a relaxing sleep. A good sleep involves more than the process of closing the eyes, dozing off, and waking up the next day. It embraces a certain pattern that includes states of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement, which occur in cycles throughout the sleeping time. When the cycles ensue uninterruptedly, people get satisfying sleep. Otherwise, people feel a sense of lethargy the next day.

Aside from the lack of energy to tackle the day ahead, lack of sleep may also result to weight gain. Researches have shown that lack of sleep boosts ghrelin, the amino acid that stimulates hunger. Not getting enough sleep also increases the production of cortisol, a hormone that surges the blood sugar levels in the body. Cortisol may be responsible for aging as it suppresses the collagen of the skin, resulting to wrinkles and dehydration.

Image Source: prevention.com

Suffice to say, a good slumber is in order. Women who want to maintain healthy and glowing skin must consider the positive results of constantly getting at least seven hours of beauty sleep, which include:

- Fewer breakouts and acne. Lack of sleep results to stress, which in turn results to the emergence of breakouts and blackheads.

- Improved skin tone. This WebMD article shares that while sleeping, the skin renews itself. Sleep also assists in proper blood flow; hence paleness and blotchiness are prevented.

- Lighter skin around the eyes. Dark circles, or eye bags, are caused by dilated blood vessels. By getting enough sleep, the eyes become well-rested and blood vessels remain normal.

Image Source: femalefirst.co.uk

Lift and Glow Pro is an anti-aging serum that reduces the signs of aging. Visit this blog for more beauty tips.