Category: Skin Care

Astaxanthin: The Powerful Skin Care Antioxidant You’ve Never Heard About

In this article, you will learn about Astaxanthin (pronounced “asta-ZAN-thin”), one of the most exciting skincare solutions, and how it can keep your skin looking young and wrinkle-free.

6000x Stronger Than Vitamin C

Astaxanthin is one of the most potent antioxidants found in nature, with many benefits for your health, such as diminishing wrinkles and easing inflammation. This study found astaxanthin was 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C, 800 times stronger than CoQ10, 550 times stronger than green tea catechins, and 75 times stronger than alpha-lipoic acid.

Bright red pigment

Often nicknamed the “king of carotenoids,” Astaxanthin is a bright red pigment that occurs naturally in green algae as well as certain seafood such as shrimp, krill, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, and trout.

Astaxanthin is the pigment that gives seafood like lobster and crab that characteristic red hue or that perfect pink color you see on fresh wild-caught salmon.

After years of studies, scientists proved that Astaxanthin could treat certain skin conditions and improve the skin’s overall appearance. As you age, this can be an excellent supplement to your diet and skincare routine to keep your skin looking young, wrinkle-free, and perfectly moisturized.

Why Astaxanthin is right for your skin

As mentioned above, Astaxanthin benefits the skin in many ways. Think of it as a magic elixir that slows down or even reverses your skin’s aging process. If you add a dose of Astaxanthin to your daily routine, you can expect various skin benefits in as little as eight weeks. Some of them include;

1. Astaxanthin and Skincare

Studies show that combining topical application and oral supplementation of Astaxanthin has many skincare benefits. It helps reduce wrinkles and age spots and improves skin elasticity. Astaxanthin also protects your skin against UV-induced deterioration, keeping it healthy. For the best results, you should use Astaxanthin combined with an excellent natural skincare routine, together with other powerful ingredients like Shea butter, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar.

2. Astaxanthin for Skin Pigmentation

Age spots and skin pigmentation are common skin problems that affect people as they grow older. While it is not painful, the appearance of dark spots on your skin makes you age quicker and can deal a massive blow to your confidence, especially if they appear on your face. According to studies, Astaxanthin can help suppress hyperpigmentation keeping your skin clear and free from any age or dark spots.

3. Astaxanthin and Sun Damage

Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to various skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation, low skin moisture, and wrinkle formation. Luckily, Astaxanthin can prevent most of these conditions.

When you consume Astaxanthin as a daily supplement, your skin becomes more resistant to turning pink due to the sun’s rays. Astaxanthin acts like an inside-out sunscreen that protects your skin from sunburns or sun damage. Astaxanthin was also proven to prevent collagen breakdown from UV light and skin tumors in animal test subjects.

4. Astaxanthin and Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a chronically relapsing skin disease that is caused by oxidative stress. Dry, red, and itchy skin is visible in dermatitis in its early stages and painful cracks, crusty scales, and blisters in the later stages. Being a powerful antioxidant that Astaxanthin can help prevent oxidative stress, which improves the symptoms of dermatitis.

Astaxanthin has also been proven to help relieve psoriasis due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

How is Astaxanthin taken?

To maximize your Astaxanthin intake, you are recommended to get your daily dosage by incorporating whole food sources of Astaxanthin in your diet, including:

  • krill
  • wild-caught sockeye salmon
  • red trout, lobster
  • crawfish
  • crab, shrimp
  • red seabream
  • salmon roe

Not a fan of seafood?

 

bioastin hawaiian astaxanthin
Bioastin Hawaiian Astaxanthin is a well-known brand of natural astaxanthin, which we recommend as a supplement.

No problem! Astaxanthin is available in supplement forms such as;

a) Krill oil – this is usually marketed as a source of omega-3, but it also contains Astaxanthin, so that you will be getting two for one.

b) Astaxanthin Tablets – Astaxanthin is carefully extracted from algae and converted into a tablet. A suggested brand is Bioastin Hawaiian Astaxanthin.

c) Carotenoid complexes – Astaxanthin is mixed with other powerful carotenoids to form a potent antioxidant punch.

Buy Natural Astaxanthin

When buying Astaxanthin, try and buy a brand such as Bioastin Hawaiian Astaxanthin that uses natural Astaxanthin instead of synthetic Astaxanthin. Please note that due to it containing gelatine, Astin Hawaiian Astaxanthin is not currently Kosher.

Natural is better because, according to research, natural Astaxanthin is 20 times more effective than synthetic Astaxanthin and also a lot better for your skin.

Gluten Intolerance Could Affect Your Skin

In recent years, many people with gluten intolerance have opted to go on a gluten-free diet in the hope of trying to eat healthily. While some sources say that gluten can only cause health-related issues to those with Celiac disease, other sources say it can also be a problem for other people.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a class of proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. They are called prolamins. It contains two primary proteins called glutenin and gliadin. These proteins are highly elastic and are what makes dough suitable for making baked products. However, a gluten allergy or wheat allergy can be worsened if the person has gluten intolerance or wheat intolerance.

Gluten intolerance can be responsible for causing or worsening several skin conditions. Some gluten proteins, such as gliadin, can cause increased production of intestinal proteins known as Zonulin. This causes gaps to open in the intestinal cells called enterocytes, which are usually tightly bonded. This results in the body producing antibodies against the gliadin.

In 25 percent of the people with Celiac disease (a condition brought about by severe gluten intolerance), a rash calledis herpetiformis may appear. Bandnot the only skin condition caused by gluten intolerance. It can cause various skin conditions to people with Celiac disease and a larger group of people who have Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Some hyperpigmentation and inflammatory skin conditions have also been linked to gluten intolerance. Below are some skin conditions that can be brought about or worsened by gluten consumption.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

As mentioned earlier, this is an inflammation of the skin that causes itchy rashes that appear on the elbows, buttocks, knees, scalp, and back in about 25 percent of the people with Celiac disease. While medication can be prescribed for this rash, mostly in the form of over the counter creams, reports indicate that maintaining a gluten-free diet can effectively clear this skin condition.

Psoriasis

This condition causes a red, scaly, nd dry rash on the skin. Accorandorted cases, there is a link between this condition and gluten intolerance in people with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. The condition has been linked with gliadin, one of the main proteins in gluten. Once they go on and maintain a gluten-free diet, many people with Psoriasis report dramatic improvements in their skin condition.

Eczema

Eczema causes a white, scaly rash on the skin. While this condition mostly affects children, it can also appear in adults. According to some reported cases, Eczema has been linked to gluten intolerance. In cases where the patients went on a gluten-free diet, there was an improvement in their skin conditions.

Acne

80 percent of the people in western culture between ages 11 and 30 suffer from acne. This hyperpigmentation condition causes red, pus-filled pimples to appear on the skin. While there are no medical reports linking acne to gluten, many people have reported considerable improvements after adopting a gluten-free diet combined with low-carb intake.

Alopecia Areata

This skin condition causes hair loss and has been linked with Celiac disease. A reported 0.7 percent to 3.8 percent of the people with Celiac disease are said to have Alopecia Areata. Some reports in the past seemed to indicate that it affects male adults more than females, but new studies show that it can affect both. Most people with this condition experience hair regrowth after going on a gluten-free diet. Even in some cases where people don’t have Celiac disease, hair growth has been attributed to a gluten-free diet.

Many other skin conditions apart from Celiac disease have been linked to gluten intolerance, including chronic urticaria, Keratosis pilaris, cutaneous vasculitis,, and many others.

Diet recommendations

A paleo diet (or gluten free diet) is recommended if you have the skin conditions mentioned above,, including:

• Fish – Mackerel, Salmon, and Herring are some of the fish that are great for skin health. They are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids,, which reduce inflammations and keep your skin moisturized and thick.

• Fruits – fruits such as Avocados, tomatoes are good for your skin. They are also good for weight loss.

• Vegetables – Spinach, Broccoli, walnuts, sunflower seeds, red or yellow bell peppers, and sweet potatoes are also good for your skin

Conclusion

There have been significant and considerable reports to ascertain the relationship between gluten intolerance and skin conditions. While there are many non-Celiac people with gluten sensitivity or a food allergy, a large number of people don’t suffer from any gluten effects. It’s important to mind what you eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Pomegranate Helps Fade Age Spots

The medicinal use of pomegranate can be traced back to the ancient times when it was used to heal everything from poor circulation, infections, and diarrhea, to fertility, arthritis, and wound
healing. We are just discovering what our ancestors knew about the restorative benefits of this fruit on our bodies, but let’s talk about pomegranate’s beneficial effects for our skin.

Pomegranate Packs a Punch in Skin Nutrition

It’s a tidy little package for skin wellness that you can ingest or use the seeds, the flesh, and even the rind, to promote skin health.

There are over a hundred phytonutrients in pomegranate. That’s three times more antioxidant benefit than in green tea or red wine!  The incredible amount of phytonutrients found in pomegranate play a key role in providing health benefits for skin and the body and make it a great choice to add to your diet or skin care routine..

Pomegranate Has A Restorative Effect on UVA Damage

A study published in April 2007 in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, showed that pomegranate fruit extract possesses powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which have a restorative effect on UVA caused cellular damages. The study went on to say that pomegranate “merits further evaluation as a photochemopreventative agent.”

UV radiation cause many skin conditions like hyperpigmentation or age spots, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Anti Inflammatory Properties

Pomegranate is helpful in restoring the skin from sun damage because of the anti-inflammatory properties it contains that help generate new tissue to promote and expedite healing and the reduction of damage and scars.

Pomegranate Helps Diminish Hyperpigmentation

Study of pomegranate’s healing effect on hyperpigmentation is still in its infancy, but studies are increasingly showing that pomegranate has a healing effect on ultraviolet induced melanin synthesis leading to hyperpigmentation. Three studies are included below.

  • A study published online in June 2012 in the journal Fitoterapia demonstrated that Siberian larch extract and pomegranate fruit extract, which each separately inhibit the expression of genes that regulate the melanin producing cells, worked synergistically when combined. When these extracts were used together in a 1:1 ratio, researchers found that the reduction of melanin pigment production was double that of the Siberian larch extract or pomegranate extract alone. The study also showed that the combination had no effect on cell viability.
  • Another study published in Fitoterapia, in June 2014 showed that pomegranate fruit extract combined with Chia seed extract worked synergistically to inhibit melanin biosynthesis that was better than chia seed alone.
  • In the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, a study was published online in May 2014, that tested the effect of pomegranate extract on ultraviolet-induced pigmentation. The results of this study suggest that the pomegranate, when taken by mouth, is an effective skin-whitening agent.

Eat It Or Apply To Your Skin?

Apply directly to skin: You can apply pomegranate oil directly to the skin irritations and scars to help them heal faster. Look for unrefined  or virgin cold press oil. It retains the most beneficial phytoactive compounds, without all of the chemicals.

Ear or drink it You  eat a pomegranate and drink its juice to experience the beneficial healing effects from inside.

Supplements: Since obtaining pomegranates is not always possible, you can still reap the benefits through supplementation

The Vitamins & Minerals In Poms

Pomegranate is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals that benefit our skin but Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Vitamin E are the most prominent vitamins it contains.

Vitamin C

  • helps stabilize and create collagen which reverses fine lines and wrinkles
  • Is an anti-inflammatory  which aids the skin in healing, diminishing blemishes and age spots.

Vitamin K

  • works to heal wounds by producing new skin cells
  • protects and maintains the collagen in the skin
  • reduces visible signs of aging and acne scarring.

Pomegranate seeds

  • protect the outer layers of the skin and aid in the regeneration of the cells.

Vitamin E

  • reduces UV damage
  • maintains the health of the skin
  • used topically, speeds healing by reducing scavenging free radicals.
  • protects against sun damage
  • diminishes signs of aging skin.

Minerals

Other ways to fade hyperpigmentation

If budget doesn’t permit you to try red light therapy, there are other creams that will hep fade age spots over time. The Tommy Timmy Intensive Skin Corrector is a solution for dark spots and age spots. We have found niacinamide to be particularly effective. It doesn’t dry out the skin and it works quickly. Check out our favorite age spot fading cream here. The good news is you can try it out for just $1, including shipping.

Can Red Light Therapy Fade Age Spots?

Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, is a therapeutic technique. It uses low-level red wavelengths of light to treat many skin conditions including hyperpigmentation, and age spots. 

Red light is used increasingly to reverse signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. It also helps reduce scarring (like acne scars) because it promotes wound healing, tissue repair, and skin rejuvenation.

There are hundreds of well-conducted peer-reviewed clinical studies that show red and near-red wavelengths of light penetrate the skin. They cause a complex chemical chain reaction during cellular respiration, which increases ATP production in cells. ATP is the energy source in all our cells. An increase in ATP has an antioxidant effect at the cellular level that allows the skin to repair itself faster than usual.

Red Light Therapy Treatment helps:

  •  fade stretch marks and scars
  • speed up wound healing
  •  increase collagen production
  • smooth out the skin’s surface
  • reduce age spots 
  • make fine lines disappears

Red Light Therapy Is Safe

Red light therapy introduces no damage to the skin. Its non-invasive method only stimulates the regeneration of skin cells or causes secondary healing at a specific wavelength. Red light also helps promote the production of antioxidants, which help heal cells. It has no associated side effects or safety concerns and usually includes little to no downtime to reverse aging skin and fine lines on the face.

As our skin ages with us, it becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. Red light therapy protects existing collagen and elastin in the skin. It also restores the skin’s cellular function and stimulates our bodies to make more collagen and elastin. Its restorative and anti-aging effects have noticeable results for the skin.

Red light therapy is becoming increasingly common.

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that mostly affects women and can be caused by several factors. Genetic predisposition, inflammation or damage, and hormonal changes all cause these spots to appear on our skin as we age. Still, most often, they are caused by photodamage from years of sun damage from ultraviolet exposure. 

The melanin in our skin can absorb a wide spectrum of light. It can take in amber light, blue light, green light, orange light, near-infrared light, and red light. These other bandwidths of light can help reduce hyperpigmentation for age spots, but they haven’t been as extensively studied as red light has. Red light penetrates the skin better.

Using red light treatment for age spots is as safe and effective as any other skin condition. Treatment can be challenging because age spots can fade after treatment, but they will come back when the skin is again exposed to sunlight.

Where can you get Red Light Therapy?

There are many options out there for red light therapy. You can visit a spa or tanning salon for a full-body light (not tanning) bed. It’s offered at gyms and athletic clubs, and there are even light therapy centers. But the best, least expensive way to experience red light therapy regularly is with a home device. 

A Home Device Is The Least Expensive Option

There are many choices from hand-held to whole-body light systems, and it depends upon the device and the condition you’re trying to treat, how long, and how often you should use your home red light therapy device.

To see results, you would start with four or five sessions per week. Each session would be five to fifteen minutes long of red light exposure treatments. Eventually, you get to the point of general maintenance, and then you would use the device three times a week.

If you only have age spots on your face, you can find a decent device for about $100. However, if you have hyperpigmentation or scarring on various parts of your body, you should opt for a larger machine so you can target your entire body in one go. These more powerful and larger machines start at about $450.

Buyer beware. Not all devices are created equal. A device you buy off eBay and that comes from China may or may not deliver the power of red lights that will make a marked difference. We recommend brands like Platinum LED and Red Therapy Co. 

Other health benefits

Some studies show red light also helps promote:

  • Reversing hair loss
  • Thyroid function
  • Skin conditions like wrinkles, psoriasis, eczema, and DSAP
  • Healing of joint pain
  • Reduction of inflammation

Other ways to fade hyperpigmentation

If your budget doesn’t permit you to try red light therapy, other creams will help fade age spots over time. 

The Tommy Timmy Intensive Skin Corrector is a solution for dark spots and age spots. It contains niacinamide, which we have found to be particularly effective. It doesn’t dry out the skin, and it works quickly. Check out our favorite age spot fading cream here. The good news is you can try it out for just $1, including shipping.

17 Ways To Prevent Hyperpigmentation during Menopause

Melasma, or hyperpigmentation of the skin, is a common condition that affects women about nine times more often than it affects men. Hyperpigmentation during menopause can be caused by genetic predisposition, inflammation or damage and hormonal changes, and is most often attributed to ultraviolet exposure from sunlight.  First we’ll explain the what happens to the skin to cause hyperpigmenation during menopause, then we’ll give you 17 things you can start doing to combat it.

An accumulation of sun-damage in women’s skin becomes more visible around the same time as menopausal hormone-related melasma. Menopause affects women in several ways, but one of the most outward signs a woman has reached the end of her child-bearing years, is hyperpigmentation.

Hypermigmentation: There Are Ways To Prevent It

The upkeep of the cells that make melanin (protective skin pigment), is controlled by estrogen, which goes into a natural decline as a woman moves toward menopause causing these melanin-making cells, or melanocytes, to degenerate as women age. Menopausal skin with fewer melanocytes leads to less protective melanin, causing a woman’s skin to lighten and make it more prone to sun damage.

Because estrogen’s control of melanin production reduces as a woman goes into menopause, melanin synthesis increases, as it’s no longer regulated, and this can also result in hyperpigmentation, or, “age spots” as they’re commonly called. So if you’re menopausal, and you’ve noticed darkening patches of skin showing up across your forehead, your cheeks, the bridge of your nose, and especially your chin and jawline, you’re probably noticing the effects of both hormonal melasma, and photoaging.

Extra-facial melasma affects areas of skin on the arms, the neck, and the chest, and is much less common, however, it is the hyperpigmentation often associated with menopause.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in their up-to-date comprehensive review of melasma, found that combination treatments including oral, topical, and procedural therapies that target different mechanisms of the condition, were the most effective at reducing hyperpigmentation. Not re-exposing your skin to UV-rays (re-triggering) after treatment, led to a longer-lasting result.

PREVENTION IS MOST IMPORTANT

1. foundation or a moisturizing product that includes sunscreen, you’ll be protecting your skin from both the harm of UV-rays and the cumulative effect of sun damage. Re-applying sunscreen every two hours when outdoors is also important, even on cloudy days, and especially when swimming or sweating. But sunscreen by itself isn’t the best option.

2.Wearing protective clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat, or a long-sleeved shirt with a tight weave, in addition to sunscreen, will keep you fully protected. Some clothing even comes impregnated with UV-ray protection. Garments with UPF-rated clothing labels signify that the fabric has been tested in a laboratory. The level of sun protection listed on the label is based on the fabric’s construction, materials, weight, and even the color of the fabric, and it shows how much UV can penetrate it.

3. A healthy diet can also help combat hyperpigmentation in menopause. By consuming lots of Omega 3s you can help protect the skin from sun damage. A healthy diet full of vitamins will also help restore and refresh your skin.

PRODUCTS ARE A SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE

After protection, the best treatment for menopausal skin with melasma is the use of medication in the form of topical creams or gels containing agents that either disrupt or inhibit melanin production.

Topical Medications

1. Hydroquinone

Skin correcting products can contain a percentage of hydroquinone at 2% for over the counter, and 4% for prescription. Hydroquinone works by disrupting the production of melanin and lightens the skin when applied.

2. Retinols and Tazorac

Another few ingredients in topical creams that help combat melasma and the effects of photoaging are Retinol (Vitamin A) and other retinoids like Retin A and tretinoin, and Tazorac (Tazarotene). These compounds lighten the skin and exfoliate combat the effects of photoaging.

3. Natural Compounds

In the last few years, naturally occurring compounds have been studied for their therapeutic usefulness against hyperpigmentation.

Niacinamide, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), kojic acid, azelaic acid, azelaic acid, beta-carotene, and Bearberry extract have all shown promise. When used in combination with another therapy that worked on a different mechanism, the result was even better.

There have also been a few other topical natural compounds tested in small studies to treat hyperpigmentation. Lignin peroxidase, arbutin, and soy have all shown favorable results.

4. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids can be a helpful addition to a skin care regimen for hyperpigmentation because the work to both suppress the production of melanin and calm inflammation.

5. Alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids. Using these acids exfoliate the skin which allows skin lightening products to penetrate the skin more effectively.

Product Recommendations

Some skin care products that include a combination of these ingredients and work well are:

  • Meladerm by Civant Skin Care 
  • Tommy Timmy Intensive Skin Corrector
  • Peter Thomas Roth’s 10% Glycolic Solutions Moisturizer 
  • C-12 Pure Bright Serum from Dermalogica 

Oral Medications

One of the newer treatments for melasma is the off-label use of oral Tranexamic acid, which is an anti-plasmin agent. There is limited investigation as to the efficacy of this drug, but new possibilities are on the horizon.

Procedures Can Be Added

Micro needling

Microdermabrasion

Chemical peels

Light therapies, including laser therapy

These are all good options for treatment of melasma in conjunction with topicals. These therapies, however, should only be performed by a trained professional or a dermatologist, so see a licensed esthetician or a dermatologist if you’re considering one of these processes.

It’s important to note that the combination of more than one of these therapies is the best way to prevent hyperpigmentation during menopause. Hormonal hyperpigmentation plus accumulated sun damage is difficult to correct once estrogen levels during menopause drop precipitously and the body can no longer control melanin production.

The best way to keep your skin looking even is with prevention through diet, and limiting sun exposure, but later in life when hormones affect the way our skin looks, there are several products available to help fade and reduce age spots. Procedures can even be added in as a third line of action to reduce the visibility of aging skin.

12 Ways To Wake Up Looking Five Years Younger

For most women, changes in the skin are usually the first telling signs of aging. Wrinkles, age spots, dull skin tone, thin skin, skin that easily bruises, and saggy skin are some of the issues women have to deal with.

You can’t escape aging (it’s better than the alternative), but there are many things you can do to take care of your skin if you want your skin to look younger than you really are. The following are some proven tips on how to look younger:

1. Minimize Sun Exposure

There is no single factor that causes premature aging of the skin other than the sun. According to researchers, damage caused by ultraviolet rays is responsible for 80% of skin damage. Yikes! But, the past is the past. From now on, minimize the amount of time you spend in the sun. If you can’t or don’t want to do that, invest in excellent sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing with a UPF of 50+. Don’t worry, as there are a lot of really cute styles with a UPF of 50+. One of the most known brands is Coolibar, but there are lots of them these days.

2. Get your beauty sleep

The term “beauty sleep” is derived from a legitimate scientific theory. Getting enough sleep can do wonders for your skin. This is because the skin naturally regenerates itself while you are asleep. Getting too little sleep impairs this vital process, resulting in everything from the accentuation of fine lines to a lackluster appearance such as dark circles under your eyes. In addition to this, too little sleep also causes the stress hormone production, which causes the breakdown of collagen, all bad news for your skin.

According to research from 2015, women who slept for 7-9 hours had much better skin than their counterparts who slept for 5 hours.

3. Sleep with an extra pillow

When you are sleeping, gravity may pool fluid around the lower eyelids, causing undereye puffiness. Bags below your eyes make your face look much older. To avoid bags under your eyes, slip another pillow under your head to encourage gravity to drain your eye area.

4. Adjust your sleeping positions

The best way to avoid skin crinkles is by sleeping on your back. It all starts with crinkles, and then before you know it, you have to deal with wrinkles. But since many people find it uncomfortable sleeping on their backs, you can try alternating the side of your face you sleep on.

5. Get rid of your age spots

Unfortunately, age or sun spots go hand and hand with mature skin. The first thing to do is to wear sunscreen at all times (see #1 above). Next is to use lightening or brightening serum when applying makeup. Some creams and serums will cause drying and peeling, which isn’t pleasant. You can also do an IPL at a dermatologist’s office or spa, but this treatment can be painful. Also, it really only works well the first time.

We have found niacinamide to be a particularly effective ingredient for treating age spots and dry skin. It doesn’t dry out the skin, and it works quickly. It builds up keratin levels and grows a ceramide or lipid barrier in the skin. This boosts the skin’s moisture retention capacity, beneficial in keeping dry skins healthy, firm, and moisturized. Consequently, this boosts the skin’s ability to rejuvenate its cells while protecting itself from harmful ultraviolet rays while reversing sun damage to the skin, like wrinkles and fine lines.

6. Use an LED Mask or Red Light Therapy

Photorejuvenation treatments are popular for slowing down skin aging signs, but they have only been available in doctors’ offices in the past. Now you can enjoy the same technology at home using an anti-aging beauty mask with photo rejuvenation treatment.

7. Invest in a silk or sateen pillowcase

One of the biggest causes of skin aging is inflammation, which can be greatly minimized by using soft pillowcases that are less abrasive. Silk works well.

8. Clean up your diet

What you eat has a huge impact on how you look. If you want to maintain healthy and glowing skin for as long as possible, your diet should consist of foods loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, essential nutrients, oily fish, and water. Some of the must-have foods in your diet include blueberries, broccoli, papaya, red bell pepper, spinach, avocado, nuts, and many more.

9. Exercise

Exercise has been proven to slow down the skin aging process and reverse skin aging signs in people who started regular exercise late in life. People who exercise regularly have the muscle mass, immune system, cholesterol levels, posture, and skin quality of young people.

10. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption

We all love a good night of fun and drinking with friends, but too much alcohol could be doing a lot of damage to your skin. Evidence shows that chronic alcohol consumption or alcoholism can cause accelerated aging, where symptoms of aging start showing earlier than normal, and exaggerated aging, where symptoms of aging appear at the right time but are more exaggerated.

11. Avoid consuming too much sodium, especially before going to sleep

Scientists discovered that too much sodium could help accelerate aging on a cellular level. Sodium also causes eyelids to retain too much fluid, which causes bags under your eyes. Avoid ingesting salt, especially before bedtime.

12. Quit Smoking

The Journal of Dermatological Science reported a study that ten years of smoking corresponded to a difference of appearance of roughly 2½ years older. “One inhalation from a cigarette contains more than 3,800 different harmful, chemical substances notably nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, formaldehyde, cyanohydrin acid, ammonia, mercury, lead, and cadmium,” Science Direct reports. “Cigarette smoke alters biological processes in the skin promoting skin aging.”

Additional Methods:

13. Ensure you don’t have unwanted facial hair or skin tags on your neck

Facial Hair

This could be a unibrow or stray hairs on lips and chin. We live in a world where technology runs everything, and luckily, facial hair removal has been made a lot easier by the Tommy Timmy Smoother Skin Hair Removal Laser. This amazing device uses laser technology that emits rapid light pulses. This pulse works under your skin’s surface targeting the hairs at their roots to inhibit the growth, and is clinically proven to be safe and effective for facial hair removal. Best of all, you can do it from the privacy of your own home. At under $100, it is a much less expensive option than going through a series of treatments at a salon.

Skin Tags

The Tommy Timmy Spot Blaster Pro offers a quick, simple, and affordable solution to an age-old problem using state-of-the-art electric ion technology to remove tags without hurting the normal skin.

 

 

Will Using Organic Skin Care Products Make You Healthier?

Organic products have an overall benefit to your skin and health just as doing organic food has to your body. Use organic products not because it is trendy but because it is beneficial to your health, your skin, and the environment around you.

Organic skincare products are created with pure, natural ingredients that nourish your skin with necessary nutrients. The natural and organic ingredients will improve your skin and make it moisturized, healthier, and capable of taking care of itself.

Skin Care And General Health

The skin is the largest body organ covering almost 95% of your body. It absorbs at least a fifth what we apply on it into our bloodstream. This means that whatever you rub on your skin will affect how your body works and feels.

Being the largest organ in your body, looking after your skin, will contribute to your general health.

Synthetic And Chemical Skin Care Products

Skincare products range from creams, lotions, body splashes, fragrances, and soaps. Most of these products use either synthetic, natural, or a mixture of both in their ingredients.

Synthetic ingredients expose your skin to harmful chemicals that can cause great harm. Although they tend to have fast results, the invasiveness tends to do more bad than good.

Harmful skincare products can slip into the water when you wash and get into the drainage systems. These chemical contaminations have the potential to harm aquatic life and affect farm produce. The extent of these chemicals is not just about what can happen to you but also how it can cause harm to the environment.

The next time you’re out shopping for skincare products, avoid products that contain bioactive compounds such as synthetic colors and fragrances. These can cause allergic reactions and also change your behavior.

Synthetic skin care products can be harmful both to your skin and also to the environment.

Some studies link the presence of Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate in skincare products to the leading cause of skin irritation problems.

According to a 2009 study by Researchers of the Japan Bioassay Research Center, a 1.4 dioxane high carcinogenicity may cause a lifetime cancer risk to humans. Therefore, look out for ethoxylated ingredients such as polysorbates or any other ingredients that end with an ‘ates’ to stay safe.

Petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and triclosan may cause pore cloggings and endocrine disruption, among other skin conditions.

Other effects of synthetic skin care products include photosensitivity, hormonal disruptions, skin asphyxiation, and premature aging.

When shopping, look out for any trusted brands that are certified organic skin care products. Skin care products with certified organic seals contain 95 percent organic ingredients and comply with the National Organic Program’s standards of handling and production of natural organic products.

Organic Skin Care Products

The best organic skincare products give your skin the healthy, smooth glow that you want without ever affecting your health.

Organic skincare products are made out of ingredients that are not genetically modified, fertilized by any synthetic fertilizers, nor pesticides and sewerage used to speed their growth. They are crafted from their best, natural organic state, into skincare products for the best results.

You can start an organic “makeover” by simply changing from body wash to organic soap. Most body washes have sulfates as a foaming agent and synthetic fragrances. These can cause your skin to dehydrate fast and irritate your skin.

Using organic skin care products will benefit not just your skin but your overall health.

By changing to an organic bath or facial soap, you infuse natural oils and nutrients that your skin needs to remain glowing, moisturized, and radiant. This also reduces your skin’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

You can keep your skin moisturized throughout the day by ditching the lotion and switching to high-quality body oil. There are also options for organic scrubs that will make your skin more receptive to the organic nutrients that you put on it.

Organic products have an overall benefit to your skin and health just as eating organic food has to your body. Use organic and natural products not only because it is encouraged by society, but also because it is beneficial to your health, your skin, and the environment around you.

Does Niacinamide Actually Work To Fade Pigmentation?

Discover what Niacinamide is and why it is so important to have in any skin product – especially if you are looking to fade pigmentation over time.

Find out what its benefits are and how to use it.

There is a common seasonal fad of new beauty supplements and skin products coming onto the market. They promise glowing, radiant, and younger skin.

It’s no wonder that people go to lengths to subject their skin to needles, surgeries, and ointments, all in pursuit of a panache youthful appeal. Many of which not only leaves them at a loss for their money but also dull, gloomy, and looking older than before.

Such is life. But don’t give up yet. There is a ‘miracle’ ingredient known as niacinamide that dermatologists have irrefutable proof of its natural and dependable ability to care for your skin and fade pigmentations.

Read on to know what niacinamide is, its benefits, usage, and much more.

What is Niacinamide? What does it do?

Niacinamide serum is an essential form of Vitamin B3 nutrient, also called nicotinamide.

It is water-soluble and helps convert carbohydrates into glucose (lowering bad cholesterol levels), thus improving your body’s metabolism and removing harmful toxins from the liver. It also produces stress-reducing hormones and can increase sex drive.

Deficiency of Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B in the body can lead to malfunction of body cells, dementia, pellagra, kidney failures, and dry skin, as well as other conditions. It is therefore important to supplement your diet with enough vitamin B3 nutrients to prevent vitamin B3 deficiencies.

What are the Benefits Of Niacinamide to the Skin?

Niacinamide (also known as nicotinamide) has a proven anti-aging and skin repairing property versatile for all your skincare needs and concerns. Your skin will love you for using niacinamide products because of the numerous benefits.

It builds up keratin levels and grows a ceramide or lipid barrier in the skin. This boosts the skin’s moisture retention capacity, beneficial in keeping dry skin healthy, firm, and moisturized. This is essential for people suffering from eczema or sensitive skin or just for more mature skin.

A moisturized skin can regulate the production of oils by the sebaceous gland thanks to niacinamide. Thus it prevents loss of moisture from the skin and overheating of the glands as well.

Consequently, this boosts the skin’s ability to rejuvenate its cells while protecting itself from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun while naturally reversing the sun’s damages to the skin, such as wrinkles and fine lines.

The ‘maverick’ ingredient has antibacterial properties as well that reduce inflammation and redness of the skin. It is used to treat skin irritation, acne, skin blotchiness, eczema, and other inflammatory diseases that affect the skin. It also boosts collagen production that treats hyperpigmentation and naturally reduces skin pores’ visibility when applied over time.

How to use niacinamide

The beauty of niacinamide (nicotinamide) is that it can be used alongside other skin ingredients like antioxidants, retinol, and hyaluronic acids in your skin care. Since Niacinamide is an ingredient on its own, for better results using a cocktail approach will help you experience its optimal ‘magical’ properties.

Applying it twice before your day and night cream gives your skin more niacinamide maximizing your skin care effects. It may also entail adding it to your daily moisturizing on a daily routine, depending on your needs, and see what works best for you.

You are strongly advised to add niacinamide to your skincare routine. It works for all skin types, with most users reporting moisturized, hydrated, and younger-looking skin…

Age Spot Removal With Cream And Makeup

Sun damage typically is what causes age spots and while you can take measures to hide your age spots, it’s pretty hard to get rid of them completely. There is good news however, you can CONCEAL your age spots and …..

What Are Age Spots?

Age spots are brown spots or dark spots on your skin caused by an excess of melanin or pigment. Too much sun exposure causes the smaller spots to clamp together and form what looks like a more prominent spot.

They are additionally known as liver spots. The good news is that they have absolutely no connection to the liver and are not indicative of any liver disease or damage. Neither are they any indication of skin cancer or cancerous growths.

The formal name for sunspots is solar lentigines.

Where Do Age Spots Appear?

Age spots can be found all over the body, although most usual on the hands and face. Other places that they appear are on the forehead, upper arms, and occasionally on the legs.

Apart from cosmetic reasons, there is no reason to have age spot treatment removed or seek medical attention. If they don’t bother you, then you are best to leave them.

If you do want to remove your age spots, then here are several ways that you can do that:

How To Remove Age Spots With Cream

Age spot removers work by evening out your skin color so that the spots become invisible. A cream or serum won’t work for everybody as it depends on how deep your age spots are. If you are in doubt, see a dermatologist who will advise you whether a cream will be sufficient.

Which Cream Should You Choose?

It is essential that you choose the correct cream for your treatment as some will cause you to have dry skin or make your skin peel. Ingredients like hydroquinone have come under a lot of scrutinies recently. It is an organic chemical, and although there is nothing inherently wrong with it, it could cause rashes on some skin.

The main ingredient that you should avoid is mercury. Mercury is harmful to your skin, and although in many countries (including the US), it is tightly controlled, there are still removal creams on the shelves of stores that contain it. You should be able to tell by looking at the ingredients. You should avoid other ingredients as they may contain mercury: calomel, cinnabar, hydrargyri oxydum rubrum, quicksilver.

The best age spot removal creams will be of very light color and won’t contain fragrance. If you find that the color is greyish, then you are advised to avoid it.

A particularly active ingredient is niacinamide. It doesn’t dry out the skin, and the treatment works quickly. You can find our favorite age spot fading cream here.

Concealing Brown Spots With Makeup

Before applying anything to your skin, you should make sure that your skin is clear. Don’t worry about using expensive products on your face at this point. Washing with warm water and a bar of gentle soap is all that is required. When drying your skin to prep the general area, dab the area with a clean towel rather than scrubbing it.

Ensure to use SPF 15+ for sun protection

Apply a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 in order to negate any sun damage or UV rays on damaged skin. While this will not eliminate current age spots, it might soften their appearance, and it will also stop even more skin damage. This is important for both your health and the way that you look.

You must prep your skin before applying makeup. Primer is even more essential for older women because it softens out wrinkles and fine lines, giving you a more even area to work with and giving you an extra layer, which helps conceal the age spots.

Next, apply a high-quality concealer to your age spots. Use your finger to apply the concealer, dabbing gently before using a makeup brush to blend the concealer slightly and smooth the area in general.

TIP: Use a foundation that matches your skin tone and also one that has a high SPF.

Use a foundation brush or beauty blender to apply the product and blend it over your face as required. You don’t need to pay particular attention to the age spots because you have already use concealer to cover them.

Some people like to apply powder after this step, although it’s not necessary. Your age spots should already be covered now, and your skin should already be looking much better. Carry on with your makeup routine as you usually would.

Conclusion

Taking care of your skin is so important, and getting rid of age spots will take years off your appearance and generally leave you feeling more confident in the way you look.

Is menopause doing one of these to your skin? 5 things to watch for

If you are going through menopause, you may be wondering what menopause is doing to your skin. Most women find they develop a few skin care problems during this time of their life, In fact, looking back …..

If you’re going through menopause, you may be wondering what menopause is doing to your skin. Most women find they develop a few skincare problems during this time of their life. Women often find they start experiencing skincare problems before they even enter menopause.

So, what is going on?

What Is Menopause Doing To Your Skin?

During and around the time of menopause, your hormonal balance starts to vary a great deal. The main culprit is the hormone estrogen. This is the main female sex hormone, and during menopause, it can be up one day only to hit rock bottom the next day. The result can wreak havoc in your life and will affect your skin in more ways than one.

1. Breakouts

Unfortunately, acne is NOT just for teenagers but can return at different times in your life.

It is not unusual at all for women going through menopause to suffer from acne. You may wake up one morning and find that you have broken out with pimples during the night. This is a sign that your level of estrogen is high. It is precisely what happened when you were a teenager. You can combat this problem by trying to balance your hormones. Balancing your hormones is often very individual, and there are many different ways in which you can deal with this common problem.

2. Age Spots

 

Age spots can appear almost anywhere on your body but tend to be on the hands and face.

While age spots are often brought on by the sun, they also start to appear en masse when women are perimenopausal. The best thing you can do is wear sunscreen every day, summer and winter, rain or shine. The other thing you should do is use a skin lightening cream to reduce the visibility of the sunspots that you do have.  Products with niacinamide reverse sun damage and minimize wrinkles and fine lines. Check out our favorite age spot fading cream here.

You can also apply a high-quality concealer to the areas that have age spots.  Use your finger to apply the concealer, dabbing gently before using a makeup brush to blend the concealer slightly and smooth the area in general. Not all concealers are created equally. I love the Dermablend Quick-Fix Full Coverage Concealer.

3. Dry Skin

You may find your skin is very dry. If you find you are suffering from dry skin, it means your estrogen level is low. As we age, less collagen is produced, and this will eventually lead to dry skin and even wrinkles. Once the level of estrogen starts to drop, this process is accelerated and can often have a sudden onset.

When you notice wrinkles, crow’s feet, or laugh lines, start using smart products that address those issues.

4. Crepey Skin

A lot of women undergoing menopause also notice what is known as “crepey skin.” This problem is often most apparent on the neck and looks like the skin is beginning to sag. This is exactly what is happening, and crepey skin is one of the most common signs of skin aging. 

5. Unwanted Facial Hair

 

During this time, some women get unwanted facial hair. This is, of course, very concerning, and your first inclination may be to shave it off. But don’t!!! Instead, use tweezers if you just have a few. If the hair starts growing in heavier, you should consider both seeing your doctor and using a permanent hair removal system. Our Smoother Skin Laser is an at-home treatment you can do for under $100.

Conclusion

There is a range of solutions out there for you, and you want to check them out as soon as you notice the first sign of problems with your skin. The sooner you go to work and start to support your skin actively, the sooner you’ll be looking and feeling your best.