I read an article that I wanted to share with you. It was written by Sally Wadyka for "youbeauty". It is about the seven things that women with "lucky" skin do that they would never tell.
1. They never go to bed with their makeup on (guilty)
Once in a while is not going to hurt your skin but if this becomes a habit it will take its toll. "Leaving your makeup on can clog pores, and that means that the oil normally secreted by the pores can get trapped, causing a build up of dead skin cells and eventually breakouts," explains David Bank, M.D., director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco, NY. Sleeping with your eye makeup on can lead to irritation-meaning you could wake up with red, itchy eyes. Leaving makeup on overnight will not cause wrinkles but it can suck moisture from your skin making wrinkles look worse says Dr. Bank. Do a quick rinse with a gentle facial cleanser that won't strip skin of moisture. (like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser).
2. They wouldn't dream of leaving the house without sunscreen (guilty)
It's a simple fact that women who shield their skin from the sun look younger, have fewer wrinkles, and smoother, evenly toned complexions. That's because the sun's ultra-violet rays are the number one culprit for damaging collagen (the support structure of the skin). Dr Bank recommends using a daily moisturizer with SPF 30, which contains potent sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Use it every day, even in cloudy weather because up to 80 percent of UV rays can pass through clouds.
3. They get their beauty sleep (I am not a good sleeper, guilty again)
Night time is your skin's time to repair and restore itself after the day's wear and tear on your skin. While you're sleeping, enzymes come in, cut out bits of damaged DNA in the cells and facilitate repair.
4. They use RetinA on a regular basis. (finally something I do!)
"It's a no-brainer," says Linda K Franks, M.D., director of Grammercy Park Dermatology, N.Y.C. "Everyone over the age of 35 should be using a retinol or retinoid product." RetinA is the stronger, prescription-only version of retinoids. There are less-potent retinol in over-the-counter creams. Starting in your thirties, the skin begins to break down more collagen and to produce less. That adds up to an average of two percent loss of collagen per year. Less collagen means skin that's more prone to wrinkling, sagging, and uneven skin tone. "Using retinol or RetinA helps to stimulate collagen synthesis," says Dr. Franks. "Just as important it helps decrease the activity of the enzymes that are breaking down collagen." A little goes a long way. Apply a very thin layer to skin at night-starting with two or three nights a week and working up to nightly application as your skin adjusts to it. (I'm using RetinA for years and still can't use it every night. It peels your skin which I think is a good thing, like a mini peel, but annoying during the day so you must use a moisturizer.)
5. They've mastered the secrets of flawless makeup application.
"You need to start with well-hydrated skin," says Jessica Liebeskind, a NYC makeup artist. "Makeup looks dull, flat, and heavy when applied to dry skin." So use a moisturizer that's right for your skin type. The key to flawless application comes down to selecting the right shades. "If you can see your foundation on your skin, no one will ever be fooled into thinking it's just your naturally gorgeous skin," says Liebeskind. Pick a shade that disappears completely into your skin. For your undereye concealer get one that's a shade lighter than your foundation (better to lighten dark circles).
6. They don't overdo it.
"The best skincare regimens are all about balanced support," says Dr. Franks. That means not doing too much in the pursuit of perfect skin. "Over-cleansing, over-moisturizing or over-medicating the skin upsets the balance," she says.
7. They have their dermatologist on speed dial. (ok, this we can't all afford)
A treatment called "Glycoderm" is supposed to improve skin tone and texture. It is microdermabrasion followed by a glycolic peel. "The combination of the mechanical and chemical exfoliation stimulates collagen and increases water binding to plump up the skin," says Dr. Bank. Brown spots and fine lines can be erased with a series of "Fraxel" treatments-a pinpoint laser that touches just a fraction of the skin at a time, penetrating beneath the surface to eliminate old, damaged skin cells. Dr. Bank says "Botox" is still the gold standard for expression lines. "The injection helps to relax the muscles so they don't contract and thus form a line on the skin", says Bank. (I know everyone gets Botox but it still scares me)
So lovely ladies there you have it. I guess we can take away some advice from these professionals. I know the one that I will try my hardest to do is to take off all my makeup at night no matter how tired I am and to use sunblock more even if I am just going to the office. Has anyone done the "Fraxel" laser? I am interested in that. Please let me know your experience with it. Thanks xoxo
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