Swimsuit Season Is Here; Tan Without Exposing Yourself To The Sun

This week marks the official beginning of summer.

Especially here in California, we really do enjoy our golden glow!  Unfortunately, 90% of the aging factor is caused by UVA and UVB exposure.  The good news is auto-bronzers have a come a millennium from where they were a few years ago; gone are the days of embarrassing orange streaks and palms.  Nowadays, the golden brown tan that used to take 2 – 3 weeks sitting out in the sun can be achieved indoors in 2 – 3 hours with a high quality self-tanner.

A few simple steps will help ensure a smooth, even tan.

1. Start with a tinted auto-bronzer so you can immediately see where you are placing it, and easily correct mistakes if any.
2. Exfoliate in the shower with a loofah or loofah mitts, especially around the elbows and knees.
3. Place a small amount of your daily moisturizer or lotion on elbows, knees, belly button, and top of feet to create a thin barrier.
4. Use gloves to apply auto-bronzer evenly and eliminate excess with a cloth.

Among the many excellent self-tanning products available, my recommendation is the St. Tropez brand for the most natural-looking color and a long-time favorite of celebrities and models.

June’s Quick Tip: Show Dad You Care With A Healthy Gift

With Father’s Day just around the corner and June being Men’s Health month, the best way to show Dad you care is to help him do what he enjoys most.  If he has a hobby that involves any type of physical activity or gets him outdoors, you may be able to increase his level of exercise with a related or necessary accessory, whether this be a pair of new gardening gloves or a set of golf balls.  Some dads might appreciate a subscription to a men’s health magazine or a book on the benefits of vitamin supplements and a healthful diet.

Dads can also go to the “Men’s Skincare” category of my blog to read articles I have written that are applicable to men’s skin.  Don’t delay, say thanks to your dad today!

May’s Quick Tip: The Prom Queen’s Secret Weapon Against Breakouts

Congratulations to those attending proms and graduation ceremonies this month!  To keep shine under control and guard against oily or blemished skin, use the Prom Queen’s secret weapon — the best antidote to greasy French fries is the uncooked version.  Carefully cut thin slices of raw white potato and place on your skin for a few minutes.  Remove potato slices and rinse face with lukewarm water.  This easy raw potato treatment will also help reduce puffiness in the eye area.

Mother’s Day is Sunday!

In appreciation of mothers all over the world and for all that they do, Haxton’s Skincare is providing 10% off the rest of month of May on all online orders at www.haxtons-skincare.com.  Give mom the gift she really wants — the gift of Beauty!

Great Memory And Beautiful Skin — What Do They Have In Common?

I haven’t written in my blog for awhile. It’s not that I have forgotten to do so, but sometimes multiple priorities compete for limited time and resources — which is very similar to the process that goes on in our brains and results in memory loss.

If you follow the advice of any health care practitioner on improving your memory, he or she will ultimately say the same things I have been saying for years about beauty coming from within. The brain is the body’s largest user of oxygen, so regular exercise is essential for improving memory. A diet full of antioxidants, vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids will not only help keep you healthy, but also keeps cortisol, a major stress hormone, under control. Stress is a known contributor to memory problems. In other words, our lifestyle as a whole affects not only our skin, but also our memory. Now that is truly something to keep in mind!

Eggs for the Value-Conscious and Health-Minded

You might think it’s strange to follow up my last blog entry with another one about eggs, but eggs are not just a symbol of Spring.  They are one of nature’s most beneficial and nutritionally complete food and, especially in today’s economy, everyone should know that eggs are a good source of low-cost high-quality protein, providing 5.5 grams of protein in one egg for a caloric cost of only 68 calories.  Not only do eggs have a high protein content, but 93.7% of that protein is actually usable by the body.

Eggs contain all essential amino acids for humans and supply numerous vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, several B vitamins including niacin (B3) and thiamine (B1), folate, phosphorous and iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.  I don’t think I need to remind you that healthy skin depends on a daily supply of these vitamins and minerals!

Additionally, the presence of choline and lecithin has both been shown by research to be beneficial for our nervous system in increasing memory and delaying Alzheimer’s disease.  Eggs are an exceptional source of lutein and xeaxanthin, as well as anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids.  These carotenoids appear to be especially well absorbed into the retina, which may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

So go ahead, start your seder with a roasted egg and turn those Easter Eggs into egg salad sandwiches after the hunt is over.  You’ll be nourishing your body with a valuable food source in celebration of Spring.

April’s Quick Tip: Rejuvenate Skin with an Egg, a Classic Symbol of Spring

While oily skin benefits from egg whites, dry skin benefits from egg yolk.  To recover from the dry Winter months, add the following to your Spring ritual to balance your skin. Create a moisturizing mask of one egg yolk mixed with two tablespoons of milk and half a teaspoon of honey.  Gently spread mask on face, keeping a damp towel nearby to dry off your hands afterward.  Leave on face for 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.  Your skin should feel dewy soft; seal in this moisturizing treatment with a nourishing facial cream.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine on the Rise

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), nearly 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children in the United States use natural medicine.  Complementary and alternative activities include, but are not limited to, acupuncture, chiropractic, deep breathing, herbal remedies, massage therapy, meditation, hypnotherapy, supplements, and physical exercise such as yoga and tai chi.

The most popular supplements being taken today include:

• fish oil
• glucosamine and chondroitin
• echinacea
• flaxseed
• ginseng
• gingko
• garlic
• coQ10

As a clinical esthetician with an interest in balancing one’s inner and outer beauty, I am very pleased to see the growing acceptance of natural, complementary practices.

The Beauty of Fish Oil

It’s no secret that supplementing with fish oil has many benefits.  I’ve been recommending it to my clients since cold liver oil was all that was available!  Today you can find fish oil supplements that have been processed to minimize the fishy flavor.

Research indicates fish oil has a valuable role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease — lowering triglycerides, slowing the development of plaque in arterial walls and reducing blood pressure.  What you may not know is that fish oil can help prevent wrinkles and delay the aging process associated with decreased collagen production.

Fish oil contains Omega 3 essential fatty acids which regulate cellular function and help promote healthy skin.  By increasing the flow of blood in your skin, enzymes are stimulated to produce structural proteins needed for the formation and maintenance of collagen and elastin, proteins that are necessary for maintaining skin tone, suppleness and elasticity.

Omega 3 fish oil contains two active ingredients: EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid).  Both are vital nutrients, but each has important roles at different stages of life.  EPA specifically has benefits for the skin:

• EPA can help limit the damage to the skin due to sun exposure and help to reduce the negative effect of UV rays.

• EPA inhibits the production of androgens, hormones that affect the production of sebum in the hair follicle.  Acne and other skin problems can be attributed to excess sebum production.

• EPA helps to limit production of Arachidonic Acid, which is responsible for inflammatory responses in the body.

In other words, supplementing with fish oil that contains EPA can not only help maintain beautiful skin, but also alleviate the symptoms of skin disorders such as dry and flaky skin, psoriasis, eczema and acne as well as many other inflammatory skin conditions.

March’s Quick Tip: Versatile Chamomile

Chamomile tea is not only a popular warm drink to calm the nerves and encourage sleep; it also makes a relaxing herbal bath when poured into the tub, and a soothing facial toner when cooled.  By keeping chamomile tea and steeped tea bags in the refrigerator, you can apply these as compresses for burns, sunburns and insect bites.