7.14.2011

#1 Recommendation to fight aging!

I am always asked how people can avoid aging-- what they can do to reverse the signs of aging and reduce the aging that will appear in the future.  My answer, plain and simple: wear sunscreen!

It's the #1 thing you can and should change to protect your skin (both face and body) from sun damage that can lead to wrinkles, sun spots, and skin texture damage.  That being said, people can be really resistant to this suggestion.  Sometimes it's just too hard to watch their sun-kissed face lose the unhealthy, but preferable glow from the sun.  I definitely understand that.  As a teen and college student, I used to love when I would get some sun on my face- it was instant makeup- I didn't need blush or foundation- I just wore mascara and some lipgloss and I loved this look!  And, I still do.  But, I also meet more and more women every day that are allover the spectrum when it comes to skin care and sunscreen.  I find both extremes to be incredibly inspirational.  The leathery-skinned women instantly look 10+ years older than they are and that's always shocking in a scary way.  The youthful, supple-skinned women are usually the ones that I look at and say "I hope I look like you at that age!"  It's a vast difference and while genetics and other lifestyle factors certainly play a role in how the skin reacts to sun damage, the outcomes are still pretty drastic and amazing and when you consider that they are preventable, they become even more moving!

Since no one puts sunscreen on only half of their face to see how it compares to none, I obviously can't show you facial skin.  But, below is a picture of a woman's chest.  You can see see a clear color difference in the "tanned" skin and the "virgin" skin.  The texture is clearly different and this isn't even a high-definition picture.  The pigments are different- i.e. there are freckles all over the tanned skin, but you can see that the virgin skin has none.  Just the age of the skin looks different.  Judging from the tanned skin, I would guestimate this woman to be about 55-60 years old.  But, from the other area that hasn't been exposed to sun, I would say she was 35-40.

Pretty amazing, huh?  

So, most of our foundations (regardless of where purchased) contain a sunscreen of some degree- I'd say typically between 8-12 SPF).  And while that's better than nothing, I recently came across this product from La Roche Posay.  It's called the Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid and it ranges from about $20-30 depending where you buy it.  I was given a sample of it at a community event and I just got around to trying it.  It's amazing!  It's so light and silky smooth.  It's awesome for under your makeup or just alone.  It's a great, great product and I highly recommend it.  I tend to find that sunscreen sometimes gives makeup a strange finish, but with as fine as this is, it had no effect on how my makeup went on.  



I can also personally recommend Neutrogena's Age Shield + Repair SPF 55 Anti-Aging Sunscreen.  It's about $8 a bottle and Neutrogena is a great, affordable, high quality brand for the money.  I used this before I tried the La Roche Posay and loved it.  It's lightweight, not greasy, and is very affordable.  I have used a few other department store brands and was more impressed with these two products!  



So, whether you have $30 or $10 to spend to protect your skin for a lifetime, it's up to you.  You'll be in great hands with either of these products!  

I hope you will take this post seriously and understand how taking care of your skin now (even if you are starting later in your life) can make a huge difference.  And, of course, it's not all about looks!  You'll also be protecting yourself from skin cancers, too.

Do you have any sunscreens you recommend?

7.12.2011

I moved!

Due to creative constraints that I could no longer work with @ Wordpress, I have now moved this blog to Blogger!  I am already much happier with this change and I hope it will give you a much better reading experience, too!  You can now sign up for my email newsletter which I promise not to spam you with!  I will rarely post more than 3-4 times a week and you can always change your mind later!

I have a few blog posts in the works!  Hopefully I will get to publish them tonight!

Thanks for your continued support!

7.09.2011

Easy, breezy, summer hairstyles (and cuts)....

I have a slight obsession with getting my hair cut!  It has dwindled a bit since I had kids since I no longer have the time and money to get my hair cut/colored as much as I used to, but, I still get all excited when I see a great color or dye job!  So, while many consider makeup to be the "tool" that women (and some men) used to polish their look, I tend to think that a great haircut/style can absolutely do the same!

Here are a few that I think are just perfect for the summer time:

The Tapered Inverted Bob:  It's the newer, more modern, casual-but-stylish version of the old-faithful!  I LOVE this cut- and actually, it's what I am wearing for the summer!  Its easy to maintain, quick to style, cool, and stylish!




Couldn't you see just about anyone wearing this?  Great cut!

I am also a big fan of braids!  In the summer heat, it's a great way to keep hair out of your face and cool while also looking cute!  Another bonus, it's a great way to do your hair if you are just getting back from the beach and don't have time to shower!  You'll see with the next pictures that braids can be cute and stylish without looking like you're 8!




Even though these two girls have long hair, the braided concept could work with shorter hair (like the bob), too!

One of my favorite picks is next- the "messy up do" or "loose bun"...Great for beachy hair to keep it up and off your neck but as you'll see, is very sexy- add a flowered headband or scarf and this could go from day to night in no time!



Cute!  I love, love, love this style!

I hope this gives you some ideas on how to keep cool and still look great and have a pulled-together look without hours under the blow dryer!

What's your favorite???

:)

Beauty Tip #4 - Skin Exfoliating on the CHEAP!

Is the beach-road-warrior lifestyle putting a dent in your wallet and giving you some sun-damaged skin?  I have a quick, easy, effective and CHEAP solution!

In a plastic container (with a sealing lid), mix about 1/4 cup regular granulated sugar or brown sugar with enough Olive Oil to make a paste-like consistency.  The consistency should be easy to spread over your skin without it running off of your hand.  Next time you shower, rub this mixture all over your body (face included) spend a little more time on rough spots (elbows, heels, etc.).  Be very careful, the oil will make the tub slippery!  After massaging into your skin and allowing it to remain on your skin for about 5 minutes, rinse and complete the rest of your shower tasks.  Apply a good moisturizer all over afterwards and you will be amazed at the difference in the texture of your skin!  The sugar acts as an exfoliator and the oil is an emollient.  You would pay upwards of $50 for this in a spa or salon!



This is also great for dry, damaged skin in the winter, too!  You can even make it an aromatheraputic experience by adding a few drops of Lavender oil, cinnamon, or whatever scent you like!  This will be a beauty tip you use over and over!

The mother in me has to remind you of one very important detail- wash the tub after doing this treatment!  We don't want anyone else slipping! :)