skin care

Cautionary Tale: Exhibit 1

The other day I told a colleague that diet and sun protection are 75% of the battle against aging and leather skin.  I was mistaken.  Sun protection by itself is 75% of the battle.  I cannot overemphasize the need for sunscreen no matter your age, melanin quotient, or desire to tan.  There’s a lot of info and even more products to choose from and they all work, in different ways.  For myself, I alternate between 3 daily sunscreens.  As a person with dry AND oily/acne prone fair skin that can best be described as “dermis with pervasive personality disorder,” I navigate daily between the desire to block the heck outa those carcinogenic rays, red nose and cheeks and clogged pores.  Regardless, everyday one must slather up.  

Since these creams are the ones you will know daily, I suggest you try as many samples as possible to see how your skin reacts to various brands.  After trying many many brands, I’ve found that price is not always an indicator of effectiveness.  What matters most is that any sunscreen you choose includes the following attributes:

• SPF 30 or higher
• Broad spectrum
• Water resistant
• Something you are happy to apply every day.  Whatever it takes: fragrance, packaging, size... I don’t care.  Whatever it takes to get it on your face.

Now this is not necessarily a look I advocate at home or on your Target run, unless your initials are ADR, but there is a myriad of awesome straw visors, panama hats, floppy felt hats and lord knows what to give you that added protection.

In review, find a sunscreen.  Use it.  Employ a multifaceted coverage system as the excuse to purchase a new hat.  And you should be good to go.

XOXO 

Kelly T. 

Photo credits: http://www.advancedskinwisdom.com/wordpress/2011/cosmetic-dermatologist-and-surgeon-nj/tanning-how-do-i-safely-tan/ and http://www.chaos-mag.com/the-balenciaga-visor/

We all know that girl. The one that’s gone a tiny bit overboard with her anti-aging obsession. The one that doesn’t blink at a $140 Vitamin C serum and is a bit evangelical about her Clarisonic.  The one that has researched the efficacy of the Save My Face pillow.  I am that girl.  I’m also that girl that has excellent skin.

Source

Here on the site, I plan to bring you the cliff notes of skin care so that you don’t have to spend that time between work meetings researching Phytomer. Let me do the grunt work. My goal is for everyone, regardless of time and fund constraints, to have the skin they deserve. And with that in mind, let’s get to the single most important aspect of skincare.

DIET.

That’s right. You really are what you eat. After 10 years and thousands of dollars, I can tell you without hesitation that your skin’s beauty starts from the inside out. You can use all the La Mer you want, but if your diet is based on Seagram’s and bread…you’re screwed. Everyone, including YOU, Miss Lucky Genes with the size 0 frame, should really take account of their diet.  

For your skin and your major organs it’s important to make sure a majority of your diet is including the following items:  

·      Healthy fats (think avocado, walnuts and salmon)

·      Berries

·      Green tea

·      Sweet potato

·      Red and green vegetables, especially dark leafy greens

It’s hard to change your diet or even to just eat right all the time. To jump-start the effects of eating the right skin foods and mitigate the damage you did at happy hour, dedicate one day a week to juicing, as a time to let your body reset and to make sure you’re up on your vitamins and antioxidants by getting a ton of fruit and vegetable nutrients into your system. I cannot say enough about the benefits of juicing.  If you don’t have a juicer, use your blender and make smoothies. They are just as refreshing while giving you the fiber you miss out on by juicing.

To get you started I’ve listed a few of my favorite recipes. Have fun with it and experiment. Take a trip to the farmer’s market and go bonkers. There’s a world to gain by juicing, including some seriously glowy, smooth, zit-free skin.

The Nanashi Shiso Antioxidant

½ or 1 Shiso Leaf

1 / 4 Pineapple

2 Gala Apples

1 ½ c. Lime Juice

Juice together. Chill. Drink.

Better Than Beyonce AM Smoothie

2 c. Kale

1 c. Parsley

1 Green Apple

1 c. Celery, chopped

1 inch or more ginger

Juice of 1 lemon

2  Ruth's Foods Chia Goodness Original

Blend all ingredients and then let sit, chilling for 10 minutes so the chia seeds can expand. Stir and drink. This recipe is a great breakfast that gives you instant energy, protein and a fresh start on the day.

Super Lemonade

2 handfuls Blackberries

A good glop of Acacia Honey

1 liter Water  

2 tsp. Dried Organic Lavender

Juice of 2-3 Lemons

1 ½ tsp. Fresh Ginger, peeled and grated

Mix all ingredients except lemon in a saucepan. Boil, then reduce heat and let steep 5-8 minutes. With a potato masher, mash the ingredients to extract as much juice as possible. Refrigerate, then add lemon juice.

XOXO

Kelly T.