How to Soothe a Sunburnt Face

I hope everyone had an AMAZING Memorial Day weekend! This was the first year I was actually able to go away for a mini vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Deleware. That beach town is absolutely pristine and I really appreciate the pride and hard work the residents put in to make it such a wonderful place.

We had such beautiful weather all weekend but I have to admit, I got a little toasted...in more ways than one! LOL  With all the sunless tanning products I use, I sometimes fool myself and forget that I have absolutely no natural protection from the sun and fail to reapply sunscreen throughout the day! This can be pretty disastrous, especially if you use retinol and retinoids that make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. This is what I woke up to this morning :(

SO I immediately prepared a great soothing face mask to help calm my sun kissed burnt skin! Here is the recipe:

Yogurt Face Mask for Sensitive & Sunburnt Skin

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Natural Yogurt (out-of-the-fridge cold)



I like "Fage Total" because of its rich and creamy texture.

• 1/2 cup Oatmeal (any basic type will work)
• Optional Ingredients
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• Blended cucumber

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together. I like to keep the mixture cool up until the moment I use it.
2. Rinse face with cool water, use a gentle cleanser if needed. Be sure not to scrub your skin.
3. Apply mixture to skin for 15-20 minutes, can be used anywhere on your body!
4. Remove mixture with a washcloth soaked in cool water, again be sure not to scrub your skin.
5. Apply your favorite moisturizer or pure aloe vera to keep skin hydrated!

Let me know what you think! I know you will be very happy with the results! 

Enjoy!

Look GREAT in Green!

Feeling a little flushed after all those Jameson shots? Good thing you are probably wearing green today!

The color green neutralizes red. Since the two colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel they are considered complimentary to each other. As with all complimentary colors, if they are mixed in the proper proportions a neutral color will be produced (grey, white, or black).  This concept is often used in cosmetics and the film & television industry! Wearing a green shirt is like a visual illusion and helps to reduce the appearance of red, especially on your face.

How interesting!

Have a great St. Patrick's Day, and as always, drink responsibly!

Ross

DIY: Make Your Own Facial Toner!

Do you use a toner in your skin care routine? If not, here is a creative and cost-effective way to try it out!

A toner is a water-based liquid that will help remove the last traces of dirt & makeup and infuse skin with beneficial ingredients that help repair, replenish, and brighten. Apply toner to clean skin with a cotton ball or cotton round, and allow the solution to absorb. You can follow-up with a moisturizer to help minimize water loss and provide more vitamins and skin-identical ingredients. All these ingredients like antioxidants will enhance the repair process and reduce inflammation to promote healthier skin! Follow the directions below and make your own toner!

You Need:

• French Press
• 2 Cups Distilled Water
• 10 tsp. Chopped Green Tea and/or White Tea Leaves (loose leaves are best!)
• 1 Tbsp. Pure Aloe Vera Gel
• 6 Drops Rose Hip Oil
• 2 Vitamin C capsules
• Small (clean!) Spray Bottle (if its new, most likely its clean as can be!)

Instructions:

1. Place chopped green tea and/or white tea leaves in a french press. If you do not own a french press, I suggest you buy one.   ...LOL, just kidding, you can always boil the leaves in a small pot and use cheese cloth to drain, but really, a french press makes the most amazing coffee!
2. Boil distilled water in a separate pot. Once the distilled water reaches a rolling boil, pour it over the herbs.
3. Stir the mixture, cap the french press, and let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Plunge and allow the solution to cool to room temperature.
4. Pour aloe vera gel, vitamin E capsule contents, and rose hip oil into your clean spray bottle. Fill spray bottle with contents of the french press and shake well! Shake it baby! Shake it!
5. Spray the toner directly on clean, dry skin. Allow it to dry on its own, or apply a moisturizer while it is still damp to really lock in the moisture! Use it whenever you need a little pick me up for an energizing boost.
6. Store your new, homemade toner in the refrigerator. Remember it doesn't contain any preservatives like alcohol or parabens, so it won't last forever! It's hard to put an exact expiration date on it, but I would say no longer than 1.5 - 2 months. Regardless, spraying this cool toner on your face will not only be refreshing, but will shrink pores and be amazing for your skin!

Oh yeah, this toner is best applied at night, vitamin C doesn't stand up well to sunlight! But if you do use it in the morning, a moisturizer with SPF of 15+ should help. I mean, you ARE already using a daily moisturizer with SPF 15+ because I taught you that....right?!?!

Enjoy!

Ross

Skin Care from the Inside Out

The big, international skin care and cosmetic brands want you to believe that good skin care is all about what you put ON your skin. Putting huge emphasis on miraculous products that will give you younger, tighter, clearer, plumper, gorgeous, glowing, super model skin that you simply cannot live without!!! Right!?!?! I mean $60 is worth it for 1oz of product that will do all that! WRONG!!!

Let's be honest, we've all fallen for the bait at one time or another, hoping to get the same beautiful skin as the model in the ad, only to be let down...yet again! These money hungry companies are more ruthless than the Nigerian love scammers! (and yes, I knew someone who fell for that one, lost about $15,000...poor guy!) The ridiculous claims these companies make have turned skin care into a competition to see who can make the most money off a usually lackluster product in a pretty bottle. Don't get me wrong, there are some incredible products with amazing formulations that have the potential to dramatically improve skin but it does not require years of research, rare and exotic plant extracts, and a $100 price tag!!

Let's discuss something you'll never see an advertisement for.... skin care from the inside out!  Here are some things YOU can do to improve your skin without the use of products!

1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!



I'm not even going into detail on this because I KNOW you've heard it before! Drink more water, not Crystal Light, not Gatorade, WATER! 8oz per hour! Approximately 3 Liters for men and 2.2 Liters for women each day (according to the Mayo Clinic). Just do it, your skin AND body will thank you.







2. Consume more Omega-3 Fatty Acids



Omega-3 Fatty Acids are type of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) which are GOOD FATS! Omega-3 works to remove bad fat from your blood vessels, improve cardiac health, and improve skin! Omega-3 is found naturally in walnuts, canola oil, and fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies) and helps reduce damaging inflammation and dryness. Personally, I find it easiest to get my Omega-3 from fish oil capsules, which are readily available at the drugstore.  Take it everyday! (Make sure you buy a high quality, "no-burb" brand otherwise you'll be tasting fish...gross!)

3. Take Vitamins A,C,E



Vitamins A, C, & E are the triad known to improve skin. Personally, I take a "Hair, Skin, and Nails" vitamin that contains A,C,E and other vitamins that benefit skin but you can also take each vitamin separately. These three vitamins are antioxidants and all improve skin in their own way, here are foods that are rich in each: Vitamin A: Orange veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots.  Vitamin C: Kiwis, strawberries, oranges and bell peppers. Vitamin E: Broccoli, almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach and olives.

4. Sweat it out!

Our bodies remove up to 30% of toxins through sweating. Your skin has the amazing ability to assist in the toxin elimination process all through your pores! Try getting involved in physical activity that works up a sweat, just remember to wear a clean outfit each time! You don't want your body to reabsorb toxins that have already been eliminated. You can also visit a sauna to promote sweating too. It usually takes a series of sessions per week to truly benefit from sweating. REMEMBER, you must increase your water intake when partaking in physical activity or using the sauna!

Alright everyone, these are easy things you can do. Leave your comments below!

Ross