Skin Science

Skin, like every other part of our body, is alive. It changes because the cells are always changing. The skin has very unique roles for us – a barrier that protects us from the environment, a way for us to receive sensory information and it helps our body regulate temperature.

Skin has three layers… Epidermis, Dermis and Tissue/Fat.

Epidermis
The epidermis has five different layers, which includes dead skin cells, keratin and melanocytes that determine skin color. It is the epidermis that we can control through skin care.

Cleansing, moisturizing and treating the epidermis can help our skin look its best! 

Cleansing removes the oil build up, makeup we wear and other dirt and particles from the environment. Sunscreen protects the epidermis from UV rays, and also helps to prevent skin cancer.

Dermis The dermis holds hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. A diet rich in vitamins and drinking plenty of water contribute to a healthy dermis.

Subcutaneous TissueThe subcutaneous tissue layer is where the blood vessels and fatty tissue are.

Dealing With Adversity

We all face difficult situations in life. How we figure out ways to handle that adversity can help us become stronger, more confident people or it can break us down. Adversity, or as I like to call it, LIFE, happens.

Adversity is defined as difficulties or misfortune. It can also mean bad luck, hardship, disaster, suffering, trauma, or pain. Or a whole bunch of other things!

The most important thing to remember is that adversity is different for every single individual and every adversity is VALID. To one person, an adversity could be a medical or health issue. For another, a traumatic experience. For another, a financial hardship. For some people, adversity is a challenge that they seek. For yet another, a string of small bad luck occurrences. Every single one of those adversities is valid.

So, of course, how we deal with adversity is going to be different!

I personally think it is acceptable to state, “I don’t like having to face this challenge.” Stating you have an adversity and stating that you don’t like it or want it is completely different than not dealing with it positively. It is facing it and acknowledging that it is a difficulty. However, state your dissatisfaction and then move onto fixing the problem. Continuing to complain about it will only drive your friends away. (Been there, done that!)

Don’t let adversity defeat you. For many, facing difficulty requires drugs or alcohol, or creates an unhealthy mental situation.

So what can you do?

• Rely on resources. Ask for help. Lean on a friend. Search for your personal strength.
• Acknowledge that adversity WILL happen. Accept that adversity is a blinding snowstorm and actively seek that sunshine on the other side.
• Don't take it personally. Adversity doesn't seek certain people, and while I frequently feel like I have bad luck, adverse situations can affect any one at any time.
• Be thankful for all the beautiful, wonderful things you do have in life! Love the people around you every day.

Fight the adversity and don’t let it bring you down! You can defeat it.

April Birthstone: Sparkling White Topaz

April's birthstone is sparkling white topaz. This ring has 1 1/4 carat weight white topaz with CZ accents set in sterling silver. White topaz symbolizes compassion, faithfulness and kindness. Introductory price of $29.99 (will be $59.99)

5 Skin Types and Skin Care Tips

How you care for your skin depends on your skin type. Is your skin normal? dry? oily? sensitive?

Normal skin is smooth, has few pores and few blemishes. We are not all so lucky, though! If you have been blessed with normal skin, your routine should be daily cleansing, moisture and treat as needed.

Products I recommend: Cleanse with Purifying Gel Cleanser, and moisturize using Instant Radiance Lotion with SPF 20.

Oily skin is shiny and might even feel oily or wet. If a bit of tissue paper sticks to the skin, your skin type is likely oily. Those with oily skin types may also experience large, visible pores. Oily skin needs cleansing and exfoliating to help remove the oil build up. Try to avoid the toner because that might cause irritation. You still need a moisturizer though, so choose oil free. Finally, the extra oils can cause spot issues, like acne, so treatment may be needed to reduce breakouts. When you are feeling particularly oily, remember that oil is a natural anti-aging mechanism for your skin, and you may have fewer wrinkles as your skin ages!

Products I recommend: Try the Refining Scrub and Mask to cleanse and exfoliate, then Oil-Free Daily Moisture Cream with SPF 15. For treatment, use Clearskin Professional Liquid Extraction Strip for extra oily areas like the nose.

Dry skin feels tight, can have a rough or cracked appearance and may feel flaky. Dry skin (called xerosis) can also peel, appear red, or even bleed. Dry skin care routines include a mild cleanser, but the most important thing is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Dry skin really should have two moisturizers: one for day, and a rich cream for night. Dry skin tends to create more lines as you age, so start moisturizing now!

Products I recommend: Anew Clinical Overnight Hydration Mask, which has shea butter for creamy moisture.  It is also suitable for sensitive skin, so if your skin is dry because you have sensitive skin and avoid products, this mask may not have the reactions you typically have, and will rehydrate.

Combination skin can be difficult, because there is probably oily skin on the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) but the cheeks may have dry skin. Cleanse daily, and then choose a balanced moisturizer: an oil free for the t-zone with moisture for dry areas. Spot treatment might be necessary, too.

Products I recommend: The Moisturizing Cream Cleanser is oil free but has balance for your combination skin. Swipe Clarifying Toner Pads across your t-zone when it’s feeling oily. Oil-Free Daily Moisture Cream with SPF 15 is good for combination skin. 

Sensitive skin can be the worst. Skin may be painful when using a product, and you may experience irritation or reactions like burning, stinging and redness. Be sure to avoid products that contain AHAs, like glycolic acid. Use a mild cleanser and moisturizer formulated specifically for sensitive skin.

Products I recommend: This is hard, because sensitivity can be caused by so many different things. Consider Nourishing Cleansing Milk as your cleanser and try fragrance free, hypoallergenic Skin Revitalize Night Radiance Cream to moisturize.

Ancient Secret to Removing Makeup with Cold Cream

Claudius Galenus was an ancient Greek medical scientist. His studies of the human anatomy were groundbreaking... and controversial! He is also the man who first developed cold cream. much to the delight of ancient Greek beauties.

Cold cream is an emulsion of fats and water. Emulsion is essentially the blending of two liquids that normally don't blend. As we all know, oil and water don't mix! Today, cold creams are typically made with beeswax and mineral oil, which will not spoil like vegetable oil or animal fats. (Ewwww)

If you're thinking what I'm thinking... cold cream is a relic of the past, once the domain of our mothers and grandmothers beauty regime. It is one of those beauty staples that has many uses.

Perhaps the most convenient use is to remove makeup at the end of the day, In fact, that should probably be its only use. Leaving cold cream on your face might dry out your skin. But the chemical composition of the ingredients make it perfect for easily cleansing makeup.

How to Use Cold Cream to Gently Remove Makeup

1. Scoop a bit of cold cream out of the container with your fingers.
2. Apply the cold cream in a thin, visible layer all over your face, including your eyelids!
3. Using a warm damp washcloth, wipe all of the cold cream and makeup from your face.
4. Rinse your face and pat dry.

All clean!

So what's the secret? The formulation for cold cream includes mineral oil to wash away the makeup and beeswax to retain moisture. Ancient Greeks found this secret!

A Five Step Exercise for Creating Life Goals... Now, if not sooner

There is a children's show called Peep and the Big Wide World, and that show has a neurotic mouse character named Squeak. During a particularly stressful incident, Squeak insists that her main character friends help her. I love her urgency when she says, "Now! If not SOONER!"

That's really how I want to make my goals. I look long term, of course, for sustainability. BUT, I feel like making those goals and defining my ideal life has to happen NOW! (If not sooner).

Before you can set out to achieve, you need to identify what it is you want to achieve. What's your goal?

Goal Exercise:

1. Get a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. Physically write. (Read Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser for more information).
2. Decide on a simple goal that you can achieve within the next month. Make it something you really want to achieve. You can choose a goal from one of the 7 categories: Health, Mind & Spirit, Relationships, Family, Lifestyle, Career, Financial.
3. Now, find your verb. Underline it. What will you be d o i n g?
4. Remind yourself every day that you want to achieve that goal. Either keep it with you, put it on your calendar, or setup a task reminder on your smart phone. However you remind yourself of important things to do, set this goal up as an important thing for you to do.
5. Share your goal only with people who are committed to positivity and helping you achieve your goal.

Example goals:

I choose to run a 5K on May 5th. HEALTH (Realistic if you are a runner and have been training all along).

I choose to enjoy a weekend with my family at a park. FAMILY

I choose to paint a picture of my favorite flower. LIFESTYLE

I choose to walk outside once a week. HEALTH

I choose to drink coffee with my bff. RELATIONSHIPS

I choose to make three new contacts at work. CAREER

I choose to save $50 toward a new car. FINANCIAL

I choose to learn how to be better at communicating. MIND & SPIRIT

(I have applied the word "choose" because we always have a choice. If you aren't doing this active thing towards your goal, you are choosing to do something else. Some choices have a higher priority and that's ok, but it always a choice.)

Take steps to make your goal happen... NOW! If. Not. Sooner.

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