Anxiety Attacks

Have you noticed small bumpiness under your skin? The cause might be as simple as product overload. Eventhough I understand how too much moisturizing product can aggravate my skin, I still catch myself wanting to put an extra dab – especially in the areas showing signs of aging. It is purely emotional – you feel more is better, richer the merrier. Unfourtunately heavy product application does not ward away wrinkles or sagging of the skin. It will mostlikely only clog your pores and cause bumpiness, whiteheads or blackheads. Unless you have dry skin, you will probably only need a good serum, not cream or oil on your facial skin. I for one only use a light antioxidant serum on my cheeks and forehead. I avoid using even the serum on my nose and chin as those areas tend to become oily (The humectant in the astringent is more than adequate). I only apply a mixture of Tamanu and Olive oil on the delicate eye area. How much we want to cling to the images given to us by luxury cosmetic brands – that by using their products, we will end up looking like the retouched photos of teenage models in their campaigns, we have to let go and see the unique conditions of our skins.

Here Comes the Sun

Did you know that...

-- UVB chiefly causes sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply causes photoaging.

-- Ultra Violet Rays can penetrate glass eventhough it can filter UVB. Which means that even if you're inside your house or car, as long as you are sitting next to a window, you're at risk for UV damage. Especially if you drive on a frequent basis, I highly recommend covering your car windows with UVA-protective film(which block out up to 99.9 percent of UVR).

-- Up to 40 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day.

-- Regardless of strength, sunscreeen should be reapplied every two hours. Transluscent powder sunscreen such as Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 is a great alternative to cream or lotion products as it can be reapplied over makeup.

-- Reddening of your skin is only a reaction to the UVB rays – it does not tell you what UVA damage you might be getting.

-- It takes 30 minutes for the sunscreen’s ingredients to bind to the skin. I apply two generous layers of moisturizing sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection on bare skin each morning – do not wear a moisturizer underneath your sunscreen unless it is a light antioxidant serum, as it will dilute the effectiveness of the active ingredients.

-- Check the ingredients of the sunscreen to make sure it offers broad-spectrum protection. Cheap yet effective choice even for acne prone skin: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer Spf 45.

Adieu, My Love...

I didn't know till recently that sweet potato is one of the most nutritious vegetables around. It is rich in beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E. When eaten with the skin, it actually has more fiber than oatmeal – meaning it aids in keeping your digestive system in tact. You have no idea how important it is to eliminate waste from your body – I bid farewell to triweekly pasta and what good it did to my skin and over all health! I believe firmly that glowing complexion has more to do with the food you eat than well-marketed cosmetics you use. In nutritional value, sweet potatoes actually score higher than carrots or spinach! A medium sized sweet potato only has about 130 calories – definitely a better addition to your meal than pasta or white rice!

Cleanse, Cleanse, Cleanse!

Don’t you just hate how your skin feels unnecessarily sticky and "clogged” in the warmer months? By midday, you can almost smell the dirt and sweat that’s piled up on your face. As Summer is almost here, this is probably the right time of the year to brush up on your face cleansing skills – your extravagantly priced antioxidant serum won’t do wonders on your complexion unless you correctly cleanse your precious skin mornings and nights… Here are a few pointers: --

-- Double cleanse at night. Use a light cold cream or oil to wipe off the makeup before you truly cleanse your skin.

-- Do not wet your face with hot water as the skin might get agitated. Use lukewarm water instead.

-- Do not rub your skin when cleansing. Imagine giving a massage to a newborn – be delicate and do not put pressure on your fingers.

-- Starting at your chin, always cleanse your face upwards and outwards in a gentle circular motion.

-- Choose your cleanser wisely. Only because your friend is flabbergasted with a product does not mean it is suitable for you. A good cleanser should make your skin feel clean and moist, not taut or stripped. I highly recommend Olivella Liquid Virgin Olive Oil Soap for normal to dry skin. Essential Wholesale Breakout Buster Cleanser is great for oily and acne prone skin.

-- Try to find a product with a label that says, “pH balanced”.

-- After rinsing the face with water, do not dry your face with a towel – that is unless you are willing to wash yours at 140 degrees Fahrenheit each time you use it! Instead, use a clean tissue to soak up the excess water from your skin -- it is more sanitary and gentle.

-- Before your cleansed skin "over-dries" (you'd feel the tightness), pat a cotton pad soaked with chilled tonic lotion on your face (it will help in “tightening” your pores and removing cleanser residue). Make sure to avoid the eye area as it might sting. If you have sensitive skin, use pure rose water or a toner not containing alcohol. If you have oily skin, I’d advise on using an astringent with a natural alcohol content (up to 35%) such as Dickinson’s Witch Hazel (It does not contain synthetic alcohol).

And There Was Light