Seasonal Skin Care?

The fall and winter months are a good time to exfoliate brown spots and uneven skin by using microdermabrasion. This treatment addresses the build up of dead skin cells, leaving the skin feeling fresh, clean and healthy.

Step 1: The advanced exfoliator (the same professional grade exfoliating crystals used by dermatologists) will immediately energize skin and reveal more radiant, healthy-looking skin. And Step 2: Is a rich serum, containing vitamins, antioxidants and anti-irritants. This serum nourishes the soft, smooth skin revealed by Step 1.

The skin care products you used during the summer months may not be what your skin needs during the fall/winter. If your skin is feeling drier it's time to address the need for a change in your skin care routine.

This is a good time to change your skin care routine to include the use of a hydrating gel or cream. It may be as simple as changing to a creamy cleanser to give your skin the hydratation and moisture it may need.

There is a lot to consider about your skin care regimen when transitioning to fall/winter. A good skin care specialist will be able to provide a wide variety of products to meet your skin’s unique needs.

Let me know how I can help you with your fall/winter skin care needs.

Bye, bye, dry! YOU GLOW GIRL!!

Is the Sun Really Your Friend?

When I see someone that looks like they've had too much sun I let them know the importance of wearing sunscreen and limiting their time in the sun. I'm sure most roll their eyes behind my back but I'm on a mission. Why? Because skin cancer is on the rise and my family has been effected by skin cancer and melanoma. You learn a lot when skin cancer plays into your life.

Did you know melanoma is hereditary? I didn't have a clue until my daughter's dad found out he had melanoma. Now my daughter goes to the dermatologist for yearly mole checks. I go for yearly mole checks not because it's hereditary on my side of the family, but because I was a sun lover when I was in my teens and 20s, plus I'm all for prevention.

I limit my time in the sun and use my favorite Sunless Tanning Lotion with moisturizer. I like it because it's lightweight and nongreasy. Remember these lotions don't have sunscreen so you'll want to put on a sunscreen before going outdoors.

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma.
You can have fun in the sun and decrease your risk of skin cancer.

Here's how to Be Sun Smart (Source: aad.org):

Generously apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to all exposed skin. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

Don't forget to protect your lips with a Lip Protector with Sunscreen. You can use it alone or under lipstick or lip gloss.

Look for the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITION on products that meet these criteria.
Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.

Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing and applying sunscreen.

Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.

Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.

Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

[1] American Cancer Society. 2008 Cancer Facts and Figures. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf
[2} Robinson, JK. Sun Exposure, Sun Protection and Vitamin D. JAMA 2005; 294: 1541-43.
[3] Hemminki K, Dong C. Subsequent cancers after in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Arch Dermatol 2000;136:647-51.

For The Guys Out There:-)

It's a New Year and we're always talking about women's skin care needs. But what about our guys out there?

Are you a guy that takes care of your skin? These days there are more and more skin care products out there and it can be frustrating and confusing when trying to find the right skin care system for you.

I feel men are becoming more image conscious and there is also a lot of talk about skin cancer these days. And there should be. Estimated new cases of skin cancer rose to 1 million in 2007.

A facial bar cleans and buffs skin as it begins the process to help reduce the visible signs of aging. Skin is left smooth and healthy-looking.

If you're using that bar of soap did you know that you are drying out your skin and leaving a film of harsh chemicals that are clogging your pores?

Shave Foam helps soften the skin and beard to help reduce razor irritation. The enriched formula surrounds and clings to each whisker, creating a comfort zone between the razor and the skin for a clean, close shave. The rich cream has a light, fresh scent any man will love.

Moisturizing is a necessity. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and shaving and don't forget your neck! Hydrate and nourish your skin.

And better yet, find a SPF 15 moisturizer or higher that hydrates skin and provides UVA/UVB protection to help shield the skin from harmful rays that can cause it to age prematurely. This type of moisturizer even retains its sun protection for at least 80 minutes in water. Remember, sun damage will lead to lines, wrinkles, brown spots and skin cancer.

Check out our product line designed exclusively for men that combats and helps prevent the signs of aging, leaving a guy's face looking and feeling great. Simple. Effective. No nonsense.

P.S. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with any product, it will be replaced without charge, exchanged or the full purchase price refunded.

Questions? Email SkinCareGirl

Summer Vacations!

I apologize for not keeping up with my blog, but vacation was calling. We had a wonderful time in Cancun, Mexico for 5 days. Here's a picture I took at our vacation spot, The Paradisus Cancun Resort.

Speaking of vacationing, it was so HOT and I didn't want to burn. I lathered on a SPF30 sunscreen and still got a burn. I'm not a sun worshiper and I think my poor skin was traumatized by the sun. So I think I'll stick with my Sunless Tanning Lotion. It gives me a nice (fake) tan that looks natural.

The Secrets of the Perfect Fake Tan

You want a super look, like you just arrived from one holiday? Here’s the secret of your success!

Preparations
These must not be cancelled!
Just right now we pass to the “cooking”. You’ll like it:
Imagine that you prepare one high class …“cake” – in translation, a splendid body, with smooth, golden and very appetizing skin. You need a fine “cake” and special aromatic essences, to put on the “cream” (the self-tanning lotion). Cast glances at the proposed “ingredients”: special shower-gels and lotions which make your skin smooth and velvety. Like this you’ll be prepared to the recipe turn out very well!

Exfoliation
You want a high class skin, right? French knows why they like so much cake with chocolate parfait. Because the delicious “cakes”, pardon, body's surface is very smooth and appetizing. Otherwise the cream doesn’t spread well. So you must eliminate any roughness and zones with thick skin, so you must insist to the elbows and knees.

Body painting
Don’t leave stripes!The best tactic is to apply for the first time the self-tan cream mixed with the body-lotion, by using usual circular massage motions, with the palms well protected by applying a greasy hand-cream. In the next “round”, next day you can apply the self-tan cream without “carrier”.

Get a safe, faux tan without exposing your skin to the harmful effects of the sun. Does not contain sunscreen, does not protect against sunburn, and is not waterproof or fragrance-free.

Sun Essentials

I'm BIG on using sunscreen. Too many people I know, including family have had skin cancer and melanoma.

Skin cancer has become a major public health problem in the United States. At the current rate, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Since overexposure to the sun is the primary cause, understanding the methods for protection and prevention of skin cancer are critically important.

A recent, widely-reported study, by a researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, incorrectly claimed that sunscreens do not protect against skin cancer. Due to this misinformation, doctors across the country have received telephone calls from patients who are confused, or worse, feel they no longer need to use sunscreen.

How important is it for people to continue to use sunscreen? Consider this: If just 10 percent of Americans stop using sunscreen, there could be an additional one million cases of skin cancer expected in the next several decades. If parents stop putting sunscreen on their children, the number of new skin cancers could jump tens of millions in the next century.

Here are some frequently asked questions I thought I would share --

What does SPF stand for and what does it mean?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. SPF value refers to a product’s ability to block the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. It is measured by the amount of solar energy necessary to cause a noticeable sunburn. This means that when you use products with a high SPF, more solar energy is required to induce sunburn than when you use a product with a low SPF.

What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays?

UVA and UVB rays are two types of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. UVA rays penetrate deeply into your skin and cause photodamage and skin aging. UVB rays are responsible for sunburn and are a major cause of skin cancers.

Do higher SPF values provide more protection?

Yes and no. Yes, because an SPF 30 product will provide about twice the UVB (sunburn) protection of an SPF 15 product. No, because it does NOT provide a corresponding amount of increased UVA protection. And remember, UVA radiation causes photodamage and skin aging. Higher SPF sunscreens should be used to avoid sunburn; however, they should not be used to prolong sun exposure.

If I apply an SPF 15 product and follow that with another SPF 15 product, will that give me an SPF of 30?

No, SPF values are not additive. If you use two SPF 15 products together, you get an SPF of 15. Remember that all sunscreen products should be applied liberally to obtain the labeled SPF value.

Is it true that regular use of sunscreens leads to decreased vitamin D levels causing osteoporosis and even cancer?

No, adequate vitamin D levels are easily maintained with a normal diet and minimal sun exposure.

What is the proper way to apply sunscreen?

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Most recommend applying a generous amount of product to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside to allow time for it to absorb into your skin. When applying it, pay particular attention to your face, ears, hands and arms, and generously coat the skin that is not covered by clothing. If you’re wearing insect repellant or makeup, you should apply sunscreen before those products.

Be generous. You should use about one ounce or a “palmful” of sunscreen to cover your arms, legs, neck and face. For best results, most sunscreens must be reapplied at least every one to three hours and even more often if you are swimming or perspiring. Remember that some sunscreen can rub off when you dry yourself with a towel.

What is the best way to take care of my skin after sun exposure?

Sun and wind can rob the skin of vital moisture. That why it’s important to replenish that moisture quickly.

Test Your Sun Smarts With Our Quick Quiz