The Benefits of Vitamin C for your Skin

When you think of Vitamin C, you tend to think about immune defense and beating those pesky colds and flu. Yet, Vitamin C is an essential beauty nutrient too!

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage -- free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.  It also has a profound effect on Collagen.  Vitamin C is a required component for the production of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, both of which are needed to bind the molecules that produce collagen. This, in turn, firms and tones the skin. Collagen deficiency makes the skin dull and lifeless. Collagen rejuvenates the skin from the roots and reduces wrinkles and symptoms of aging.  Collagen also provides the structure for the blood vessels. The tiny blood vessels under the skin carry oxygen and nutrients that keep the skin healthy. Without enough nutrients, the skin will become rough and dry. Creams containing Vitamin C improve the appearance and texture of the skin.  Vitamin C increases the formation of elastin which thickens, protects and heals the skin cells. The thickening effect helps retain moisture, increases the skin circulation and plumps up the skin surface.

Vitamin C not only helps to prevent UV damage, acting like a mild natural sunscreen, it also helps to fade sides of damage already done by the sun due to it’s powerful free radical fighting properties.  Protecting from UV damage should be done all year round, but, with our now sunny Spring days leading into summer, you can never protect yourself too much.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, so your body does not store it and it needs to be replaced every day.  You can replace it with the foods you eat.  There are plenty of natural sources including Kiwi, Broccoli, Goji berries, Strawberries, Papaya, and of course, Oranges.  

There are also many skin care products that hone the healing and protective powers of vitamin C.  Ask about my LIFTING AND FIRMING TREATMENT WITH VITAMIN C!  This intensive Vitamin C treatment stimulates the skin’s vital functions and repairs cell damage. Excellent for sun damaged skin and skin showing loss of firmness.

Your skin has a lot of big jobs to do for you, do something nice for your skin. 

How to Keep your Skin Hydrated

Your body is 70 % water, so we don’t have to tell you that hydration is important.  Due to normal tasks of living water is depleted through sweat, evaporation and usage.  You have to replace that water for your body to function the way it was designed to and to look and feel it’s best.  This includes your skin.  Even slight dehydration can cause flaky irritable skin, dermatitis, and eczema .  Your body is in need of constant rehydration.

Adequate water intake promotes the body's natural healing process.  It flushes out toxins, such as chemicals and free radicals, which can be very damaging.  There are also more vanity conscious reasons to keep your skin hydrated.  Properly hydrated skin becomes more plump, diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles and supplying a radiant glow.  Not to mention it will feel better on the inside and out.  

So how much water do we really need to drink in a day?  The Institute of Medicine (IOM) established some general guidelines for water intake in 2004. Healthy adult women need around 91 ounces of total water and healthy adult men need about 125 ounces every day.   However, keep in mind that you don’t have to stand around throwing back cups of water all day.  Some of that tally comes from water that’s in your food or other beverages, even tea or coffee.  Remember that if you’re working out, pregnant or breastfeeding you will require a little extra water.  Also,  keep in mind that if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.  Thirst is a symptom.  Make sure you sip on water slowly throughout the day so it has a chance to get equally distributed throughout your body.  

Another dry skin culprit that people miss is their home.  Due to most of our homes being temperature regulated with filtered air our skin can become dry.  An easy remedy to this is to run a humidifier.  If you don’t wish to run one all day long, placing a small humidifier in your bedroom and run it while you sleep. It will make a world of difference!

Importance of Sleep for Healthy Skin

Getting or not getting enough sleep can affect many aspects of your life.  In your skin’s case, it’s a pretty big effect.  A good night's sleep can mean healthy skin.  If you don’t have good sleep,  your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to increased stress and inflammation in the body, hurting your skin’s quality.    

Not getting enough sleep can:
 

• Worsen skin conditions-it creates inflammation which can flare up acne, dermatitis, and eczema
• Develop dark circles under your eyes-If you lie on your stomach, liquid can pool in the trough of your under-eye throughout the night and cause puffiness.  It’s always best to sleep on your back or side if possible.  Sleeping on your stomach can also increase the likelihood of stress lines on the face from being pressed into a pillow.
• Drier skin-sleep is nourishment for your entire body, if you’re not getting adequate amounts your body can’t go through it’s normal functions or normal lubrication-resulting in flaky, dry, and non lustrous skin.
• Fast track for aging-Sleep deprived skin is aging skin.  During deep sleep, the rise in growth hormones allows damaged cells to become repaired.  Without REM sleep, this won't happen, so your skin doesn’t get the repair that it needs, resulting in older looking skin.

Basically, sleep is something we all need.  So how can I increase my sleep and the quality of that sleep?

1. Develop a routine and go to bed at the same time every night-if your body gets on a schedule it will normally keep it.  If you get used to going to bed at 10pm every night you should start getting sleepy around that time.  
2. Plan your work-out- early, midday, or dusk. Ideal times. Big cardio after dark revs up the metabolism and makes sleep elusive.
3. Stop caffeine mid-day- and no sugary treats after 7pm.
4. Eat dinner earlier- A light dinner also requires less digestion which helps sleep to arrive earlier.
5. Shut down those electronic devices by your bedside- Turn the computer off and relocate that TV to another room. A dark, quiet,   cool bedroom promotes deep, peaceful sleep.

Not getting enough sleep wreaks havoc on your life and your skin, but all is not lost.  Start trying to implement these tips into your day and you’ll be on your way to healthier skin!

The effects allergies have on skin

 Puffy eyes, a red, runny nose — allergy symptoms aren’t pretty. Seasonal allergies not only affect how you feel, but how you look. And we know you feel your best when you’re looking good, too.  

Congestion, drowsiness, and itchy, watering eyes aside, seasonal allergies don’t only make you feel less than stellar, their symptoms can also manifest on your complexion. If you suffer from allergies during this transition period between seasons, the puffy eyes and dry, red patches you’re experiencing aren't merely a coincidence.   The time change can also wreak havoc with your hormones and increase the likelihood of breakouts.

So how do you combat all of these issues?  Taking an allergy pill is always a good start.  Like any allergy symptoms, avoidance is your best solution for allergy-related skin problems. Staying inside when pollen counts are at their highest, washing outdoor clothes, like jackets, more often, washing your hair before bed, leaving shoes outside the door and even rinsing out your sinuses.   You should also combat your allergies and the skin issues that come along with it by changing your skin routine to one for Spring.  

Exfoliate

As skin dries more during the winter it builds up more dead cells on the surface.  So first thing’s first, we need to help our skin to get rid of those dead cells. As skin underneath is still more sensitive it is recommended to use a gentle exfoliator 1 to 2 times per week.

Moisturize

During the seasonal transition periods the moisture levels in our skin always change.   Thus, with added moisture in the air, skin tends to become oilier during the transition period as the weather gets warmer. To help balance skin’s naturally changing moisture level, choose a lighter lotion instead of a cream, and go for an oil-free formulation if you already have oily or combination skin.

Sunscreen

Although you should be wearing an SPF for every season,  Spring presents more challenges as the sun gets more active and we like to hang out to enjoy the beautiful weather.  So, the skin is exposed for longer times and gets more sensitive to the sun.

Use products that address your specific skin type

It is very important to use products formulated for your skin type to avoid irritation and other related problems. Abstain from products formulated with chemicals, parabens or fragrances. Do not use products based on mineral oils as they contain allergens that could further irritate skin and clog pores.