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.

How to Combat Hair Loss Naturally

As we get older, some of us may notice thinning or loss of hair.  One way to combat hair loss is to increase the amount of protein available to your body.  Eat plenty of protein-rich foods such as eggs, fish and tofu.  Regular exercise will also help combat hair loss by boosting your circulation and increasing blood flow to the scalp.  Likewise, massaging your scalp also increases the blood flow to the scalp, helping to stimulate hair growth.

Why Mineral Make-Up, With A Little Help From Mother Nature, Is The Best For Your Skin

When my clients ask me what are the best make-up brands to use, I recommend mineral make-up product lines.   Made with titanium and zinc oxide, mineral make-up has virtually no allergy risk, acts as an anti-inflammatory for sensitive skin, and contains natural sunscreens.   It is particularly good for people with sensitive skin or those suffering from acne, rosacea, or post-surgical procedures.   The concept behind mineral make-up is purity; a good brand of mineral make-up does not contain any oils or alcohols, fragrances, fillers or binders, dyes, chemicals, talc or preservatives.   Pure mineral make-up lies on the surface of your skin, is easy to apply and blend, and does not wear off when you perspire because it is not soluble in water.   Another advantage to mineral make-up is that it reflects light, giving your skin a translucent glow.   I highly recommend the following brands:  Jane Iredale, Bare Minerals and Urban Decay (which is mica-free).

Boost Not Only Your Romance, But Your Health This Valentine’s Day

Both red wine and dark chocolate are full of antioxidants that are beneficial to your brain and your heart.  Red wine contains polyphenols, which provide a degree of protection against coronary heart disease.  Studies show that resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound often associated with the health benefits of red wine, is also found in cocoa and dark chocolate products, and the levels of resveratrol found in dark chocolate is second only to red wine among known sources of resveratrol.

Dark chocolate is also known to create an intense buzz comparable to the thrill of an ardent kiss.  Researchers have found that the dark chocolate not only causes a more intense and longer lasting emotional high than kissing, but also doubled volunteers’ heart rates!  This may be due in part to phenylethylamine, a natural stimulant found in chocolate that is believed to trigger feelings similar to those felt when falling in love.

So this Valentine’s Day, enjoy that glass of red wine and have dark chocolate for dessert while romancing your sweetheart.  You’ll be improving your cardiovascular health, enhancing blood flow, and reducing blood pressure at the same time.

February’s Quick Tip: Beer Cheer for Your Hair

Now that the Superbowl is over, what do you do with all the leftover beer?  Did you know that beer is a great solution for dull, tired-looking hair?  Mix one part beer to three parts water, and pour over your hair after shampooing for the final rinse.  Beer contains natural sugars that will leave your hair soft, smooth and shiny.

Stay Beautiful With A Daily Yoga Practice

Practicing yoga each day can help improve your appearance naturally.  When done on a regular basis, focused breathing and stretching can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark under-eye circles, and give you a rosy glow.  An excellent example of how inner beauty is reflected on the outside, the beneficial effects of yoga can be seen in not only your overall health and physical fitness, but also your beautiful skin.

Haxton’s Skincare is Now On Facebook

Haxton’s Skincare is now on Facebook!  Fans will receive a 10% discount off any purchase from my Web site through Valentine’s Day.

A New You For A New Year

If your goal is to have better skin for the new year and put your best face forward, there a few things you should know.

Having great skin requires a great deal more than taking advantage of the latest treatments.  Great skin and great health are achieved through the right combination of diet and exercise.  Glowing skin is said to be a sign of a good diet, while dry, pale or oily skin may be the result of poor intake of adequate nutrients.  Skin is an outer reflection of your inner health.  Every nutrient plays a role in keeping skin healthy, and the list of nutrients that benefit the skin is almost infinite.

The importance of water has been discussed previously.  Following a diet high in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E will improve your skin and your immune system at the same time.  Antioxidants fight free radical damage, and protect your skin from aging and pollution.  A good multi-vitamin will have a baseline amount of antioxidants.  You can also get antioxidants through your diet by adding a generous dose of natural phytochemicals found in greens such as alfalfa, barley, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and wheat grass.  To learn more about supplements, I recommend reading “The Wrinkle Cure” by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, which provides a thorough overview of vitamins and antioxidants.

However, did you know that after age 23 very little vitamin nutrition gets to your skin?  It is the last organ to benefit from those tablets you take.  Therefore, it is important to use credible topical creams containing Ester C and other key antioxidants (such as alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE, coenzyme Q10 and grape seed extract) daily to rejuvenate and firm skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and keep your skin looking youthful and radiant.  Haxton’s Skincare products have been proven to have an 80% more effective delivery to the skin than the ingestion of supplements.

As an additional incentive to help you put your best face forward in 2009, take 10% off any order at www.haxtons-skincare.com.  The discount will automatically be applied upon checkout.

Here’s to a new you for a new year!

Oatmeal and Honey Mask: A January Pick-Me-Up

It’s time to recover from the hectic holidays and prepare for the New Year.  How about an easy, moisturizing mask you can make at home?  Honey is one of the best ingredients to incorporate into a natural beauty routine.  It is well known for its moisturizing and nourishing properties; as a natural humectant, it draws water to the skin.  Mixed with oatmeal, it can also be used as an exfoliating face mask.

Mix 1/3 cup cooked oatmeal with 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup water until thoroughly blended.  Allow mixture to cool down enough to place on your face and take care to avoid the eye area.  Leave mask on for 10 – 15 minutes. Then use a damp washcloth to rub the mask into your skin, using circular motions, before rinsing off with lukewarm water.  This simple, all natural mask will leave your skin feeling wondrously soft and smooth.

Stay tuned in the coming days for special product promotions and more discussion on how to care for your skin and look younger this year.