End of Summer- How to address sun damaged skin

Let’s face it, some of us may not be the best about making sure our skin is protected from UV rays from an SPF 30 all of the time, and some of us are, but for those who are not, it is time start being more conscientious sun exposure. UV rays can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. The UV rays alter your skin’s DNA each time it is exposed to UV rays. 

Luckily, it is not too late, you are actually capable of reversing sun-damage to an extent when you start using products to help protect your skin from the sun. Here are 5 steps to start treating your sun-damaged skin:Exfoliation: Use a daily exfoliator that will suit your skin type, whether it be an AHA or BHA exfoliator and leave it on for 1-3 mins and then rinse and you guessed it follow with an SPF 30 daily. You can also use a scrub 1-2 times a week to get an even deeper surface exfoliation.

Daily serum and moisturizer to brighten the skin daily: We recommend an Alpha Arbutin based serum and moisturizer. We do not recommend hydroquinone based products as it has been proven to make dark spots and discoloration darker after discontinuing usage. If a serum and moisturizer with this base is used on a daily basis, you will start to reverse and lighten up dark spots

Apply SPF Every day: Apply at least an SPF 30 every day to start to protect your skin from UV rays. Apply the SPF 30 a half hour before sun exposure and reapply once every 2 hours to achieve maximum protection.

Diet: Make sure you are eating antioxidant rich foods such as Blueberries, purple, red, and blue grapes, dark green veggies such as broccoli, kale and collard greens, to assist your body in producing the best natural skin melanin protection

Nightly use of products: After exfoliating, apply topical creams in the evening to help stimulate and protect collagen and elastin from free radicals that can enter the skin which cause fine lines and wrinkles. These topical creams that are rich in antioxidants can also communicate with the DNA to help alter the skin to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Also applying creams and serums containing Vitamin C will help reduce dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun-damage.

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The transition from summer to winter and how to incorporate it into your skincare regimen

It is important to assess the needs of  skin seasonally. Weather can affect skin in multiple ways;  during winter, it can be begin feeling dry, flakey, or itchy and in the warmer months skin can get oilier resulting in the sebum melting inside the pores. Adding the following skincare products into your regime should help you get your skin winter ready:

Start to use an emollient and antioxidant based rich moisturizer to help retain moisture in the skin. Moisturizers should contain cell-communicating ingredients to increase the producing of normal skin cells and anti-inflammatory derivatives to help fight off free radicals that may affect the skin from the harsh effects from the winter season.Use a serum nightly followed by a night moisturizer to make sure the skin is being treated after weather exposure to keep your skin ahead of the winter game!

BHA, Salicylic 2% daily exfoliators are useful for skin that gets dry and cracked as a result in the change of weather, you should always include nightly exfoliation in your evening routine to rid of the build up of dry skin cells that usually result in breakouts and clogged pores.
UV rays are still greatly apparent and strong during winter weather; even if the sun is not visible, make sure to protect your skin daily with at least an SPF 30 year round to build up your skin’s resilience to be able to withstand these harsh effects that can occur with each season change..

Men and aging, how to keep those rugged good looks

Men age like fine wine, however when aging commences it does not mean that men should avoid getting proactive with anti-aging maintenance. Here are a few products for the gentlemen to add to their arsenal and some grooming habits to start combating the aging process:Make sure at least an SPF 30 is applied daily to start repairing and preventing UV ray damage. Reapply SPF 30 periodically throughout the day if you spend a lot of your time outdoors.

Apply vitamin based moisturizers such as: A,C, & E twice daily in the AM/PM to help nourish elasticity.
Wrinkles first appear near the eye area, therefore it is important to start applying an eye cream around this area daily. This type of cream is specifically designed to deliver concentrated nutrients to this sensitive skinned area of the face. Existing wrinkles in this area are plumped and cell turnover is sped up to reduce the formation of future fine lines and wrinkles in this area. Apply once in the AM and once in the PM using circular motions with the fingertips towards the nasal area.

Apply a daily exfoliator to unclog pores and slough off dead skin either daily or nightly before applying your daily or nightly moisturizer. Alpha or Beta Hydroxy acids are specifically recommended for men with mature skin.

Daily exercise is vital to a man’s physical and mental being. Exercise is a key component to maintaining young DNA

Eating healthy is also a contributing factor of keeping aging at bay. Eat antioxidant based foods such as blueberries, red and blue grapes, and dark greens to get the anti-aging process inside working inside out.

Last but not least, sleep is also needed (at least 7-9 hours) a night to regenerate your body and mind. While the body is in slumber, the body is repairing itself. Getting a adequate amount of sleep is important for one’s well-being to keep invigorated and refreshed. Sleep should definitely be treated like a work-commitment, so go ahead make sure you clock-in for a good snooze as your mind will thank you for it with the increased amount of productivity you will be able to achieve the next day.

Glycolic Acid- Who is it for and what does it do?

Glycolic acid is best for normal-to dry, sun-damaged skin types that is looking for anti-aging benefits and overall rejuvenation. Glycolic is derived from sugar cane and is an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid. This acid has the smallest molecular structure out of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids. This acid being small in structure means that it has the most deep penetrating potential. Elastin fibers and collagen is stimulated inside the dermis. Improvement with fine lines, wrinkles, and sun-damage are progressively shown. Skin disorders such as dry skin, acne, psoriasis, and ichthyosis have been shown to be able to be managed from applications of Glycolic peels. Glycolic peels do not peel visibly and have proven to be an essential fundamental for any skincare regime