You Are What You Eat

Taking care of your skin involves more than just applying lotions, creams, and cleansers to the outside of your body. It also depends on what you put in it. A healthy diet will create vibrant, healthy skin just as an unhealthy diet will result in unhealthy skin. Don't believe me? Elaine Linker, PhD, biochemist and founder of DDF Skin Care reported that eczema can be easily cause by a poor diet. So it really does matter what you eat!

What foods are especially healthy for your skin you ask? Here is a list of just a few.

Your basic antioxidants are really healthy for your skin. They protect the skin cells from being damaged by UV rays and the everyday wear and tear. Some of my favorites are blueberries, strawberries, plums and blackberries. Some others that do not sound as appealing are artichokes, beans, prunes and pecans. They might not taste as good but will do just as good a job. Low fat dairy products will also do the trick. Dietary vitamin A is healthy for the skin and also good for your intestinal health.

Foods high in fatty acids are also extremely good for your skin. They protect the cell membranes, therefore creating healthy skin. Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids are best. Eating flax seed, canola oil and salmon will give you the perfect amount of the Omega 3 fatty acids that you and your skin needs. Healthy oils are also good for your skin. They serve as a natural lubricator and help keep moisture in the cells and pores, therefore avoiding breakouts and inflammation. Natural cooking, vegetable and olive oils are best. Oily foods from fast food restaurants are not the kind you want to eat!

Lastly, there are two beverages that will give you healthy skin in no time. The first is good old H2O. Water naturally hydrates the skin and makes very happy cells. The skin itself could use about a 1/2 gallon of water a day. It also helps the skin to sweat which is a natural pore opener. However, my favorite drink is green tea. It serves as an anti-inflammatory agent that will definitely prevent breakouts and redness as well as create vibrant, glowing skin. It also helps to protect skin cell membranes. My favorite part is that it protects against the damage of UV rays, therefore protecting against skin cancer!!! Not to mention it is a delicious beverage.

So there you have it. If you want healthy, good-looking skin, especially during these up-coming winter months, pay attention to what you eat. Your skin cares about what you are feeding your body and after all, You Are What You Eat!

http://allwomenstalk.com/9-best-foods-for-your-skin/

http://food.yahoo.com/blog/beautyeats/29703/18-foods-that-make-your-skin-glow

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/skin-food

Acne Treatment: Do's and Don'ts

So you have problems with acne? Big deal, everyone does in one form or another. Acne is described as a skin condition that results in blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and other blemishes. There are so many different ways to treat all different kinds of acne.

To simply lessen the effects there are a few things that you can do. The skin should be cleaned with a gentle soap. I highly recommend Dove and Neutrogena as mild but efficient soaps. It is also very important to use water-based makeup and facial creams. Oil or grease based products will just clog up the pores and create more infection and break-outs. Another essential tip is to shampoo the hair daily. Some salon professionals will tell their customers that skipping a day of wash is healthy for the hair. However, it makes the skin extremely oily and more susceptible to acne. Tight hair bands also pull the skin back deforming and clogging the pores so it is a good idea to stay away from them. Avoiding touching your face with your oily fingers and hands in general is a good idea if you want to avoid breakouts. Most importantly, DON'T PICK! Even though it is tempting and you may think it looks better afterwards, it leads to more breakouts, infections, and permanent scarring. A little sun exposure is also good for the skin, but remember, NOT TOO MUCH EXPOSURE! :)

If all of this does not work, there are over-the-counter creams and lotions that might do the trick. Proactive is the most popular, but there are other less expensive brands. These lotions work by killing the bacteria and drying the oil in order for the skin to peel off therefore opening and cleaning the pores. The most important thing to remember is that one lotion will not work for everyone. Everyone's skin type is different so different creams and lotions are needed for all types of people. Do not get discouraged if the first one you try does not work. While using the over-the-counter drugs, do not forget to practice the above mentioned methods.

If the over-the-counter method does not work, a dermatologist should be contacted. They can prescribe a number of medications that might work to help with the acne as well as prevent infection and scarring. Some of these include: Oral antibiotics (minocycline, tetracycline), Isotretinoin pills (Accutane), prescription formulas (benzoyl peroxide), chemical skin peeling, and topical antibiotics (erythromycin). For some women, doctors and dermatologists will prescribe a certain birth control pill to help with acne. Because there are so many different medications, it is really important to do your research before using them. Ask your dermatologist questions and be confident that you will find a medication that works for you. Acne is a skin condition that affects many people in the world. Even if you cannot find a cure right away, do not let it put you down. There are more important things in life than a skin condition that you cannot control.

http://www.acneheroes.com/acne/action-plan.aspx?WT.mc_id=GOG20092H01&WT.ev=s

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/prescription-acne-medication-dermatologists-recommend.html

http://www.drugs.com/enc/acne.html

Tattoos and Piercings: How to protect your body art

My roomates have been discussing their future plans to get tattoos together so it sparked an idea for a blog. The importance of skin care and body art is self explanatory. But there are so many different opinions out there from the media, stores, consumers and artists. Which is best?

Skin care for a tattoo is essential to keep the colors bright and your skin healthy. After all, it is permanent (for the most part). The most common ointment to apply after getting a tattoo is Bacitracin. It cleans and heals the wound while keeping the color vibrant. However, some people have an allergic reaction to Bacitracin which causes the colors to bleed out, hence ruining the tattoo. The second best is Vitamin A & D ointment. It keeps the color bright and moisturizes the skin, but it is not antibacterial so it will not clean. A & D is not the best ointment for someone prone to infections.

Another good idea is to moisturize the tattoo at least once a day. However, you do not want to use anything with dyes or fragrances in it. Any chemicals that will clog pores are bad because the tattoo needs to breath to heal. Items that contain Lanolin are also things you want to stay away from. Lanolin is one of the main components of sheep's wool and many people are allergic to it. A simple moisturizer that doesn't have a pungent smell is the best.

But what if you are prone to infection or even allergic reactions? Not to worry. If you keep the tattoo clean and protected until it heals, there really should be no problems. Take the advice of your artist because they know what they are talking about, if you did your research :)

*To keep the colors brighter longer: Wear sunscreen on the tattoo whenever it is exposed to the sun. (You should always wear sunscreen outside anyways)

Piercings are a whole different story, even thought they are still wounds on the skin. Many people fall for the mall shop "ear care solution". THIS IS NOT A GOOD CLEANER! It will not necessarily do damage to someone that does not usually get infections, but infections in piercings are extremely common. A SEA SALT SOAK is ideal. It can be found in any grocery store or pharmacy. A second best is saline solution. As long as the piercing is cleaned twice daily and kept loose, it will heal within the alloted time given by the artist.

Don't neglect your skin, especially your body art. You don't want this to happen

Wash, Moisturize and Care for your Face!

Afraid of that Halloween mask staying on forever? Don't be. Face care is easy and can be turned into a daily routine for anyone with an extra five minutes in their day. But when is the best time do all of this?

A face wash is best to do before you go to bed. The pores will open and stay clean all night. It is also very beneficial to choose an exfoliating wash, cream, or scrub. The skin is thinnest on your face, therefore the cells die and reproduce a lot faster. Dead skin cells can create problems for the new skin which create blemishes. That is where the exfoliating comes in. Products that advertised with "beads" in them are perfect because they rub against the skin. The chemicals in the wash exfoliate, or clear out the dead skin cells on your face. This is why you get a fresh stinging sensation after the wash! After the night wash, you should apply a facial moisturizer before you go to sleep. REMEMBER: When choosing any product for your face, make sure it says "FACIAL" or "FOR THE FACE". Because it is the thinnest skin on your body, other soaps, cleansers and moisturizers are too strong for your face.

*******ATTENTION* After exfoliating, it is even more important to apply a facial SPF lotion because the skin cells are new and more susceptible to UV Rays**********

It is also very smart to wash your pillowcase once, if not twice a week because the dirt and particles that pile up easily sink into your pores while you are sleeping. If you shower at any time during the day you should definitely moisturize afterwards. Leaving the skin dry kills the cells faster and the exfoliation cleanser you just used in the shower is therefore useless. No matter what, the face should be washed and moisturized before bed.

Some wash their face when they wake up, which is completely fine. Personally, I find it pointless. After you wash, you will most likely apply make-up, go to class, play a sport, go to work, etc. Your face is now getting its days worth of dirt and should be washed at night as well. I just believe it is a waste of time. However, a simple cold splash of water in the morning helps wake you up and get rid of those circles under the eyes.

Again, the best moisturizers are the organic ones. The exfoliating washes, scrubs, and cleansers can be big name brand products. I prefer to use the Clean & Clear exfoliators because they really work for my skin type. It really does depend on the person.



By request, I found my favorite moisturizer online. It is a Vitamin Enhanced Moisturizer from "Made By Earth". It contains no parabens or chemical preservatives and is made completely of ingredients from nature. However, it is a little on the expensive side going for $86.00 per product! It is really hard to find an organic product for a reasonable price.
http://www.madefromearth.com/content/vitamin-enhanced-moisturizer