Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Beauty Resolutions

New year resolutions are not the easiest to keep. In fact many of the friends and clients I have spoken to claim they didn’t even bother with it this year. I decided to keep it simple and start with my face first. I have had problem skin my entire life so this comes from my heart. This isn’t just for the ladies. Gentlemen, listen up as all the tips below are just as important for you and your skin. So here is my short list of tips to better, more beautiful skin for the new year. Good, New Year resolutions for anyone.
  1. Wash your face before bed. Even if you are not a make-up wearer it is a good practice to wash your face before retiring. The pollution, oil production, sweat and bacteria from the day is sitting there, waiting to turn to acne on your face while you sleep. Best practice is to wash with a gentle cleanser, tone and then apply an active serum to do some overtime work and a moisturizer. Your skin will have the evening to repair itself from the wear and tear of the day. 
  2. Exfoliate once a week. The process of exfoliation will rid your face of dry, dull skin by removing dead skin cells from the surface. This ritual helps to keep pores from becoming clogged and leaves the skin refreshed. Exfoliation reduces the size of pores and speeds up the skin renewal process, allowing healthier more radiant skin to take its place. This week’s recipe is a homemade exfoliating mask you can whip up at home to enjoy. Check it out! 
  3. Apply SPF every morning. It is important to protect your face from the constant amount of UV that it is getting daily. Remember to choose one that has at least a 30 SPF, is non greasy, and free from parabens. The one I use also has antioxidants including photosomes, roxisomes and ultrasomes that protect against free radicals and enhance DNA repair. (Fancy, huh?) :)
  4. Take your vitamins, Vitamin D3 oil specifically. This fat soluble vitamin is an essential nutrient for skin cell growth and replacement. Vitamin D helps your skin form a barrier that locks in moisture and helps keep your skin soft and supple among other things. I found a fascinating article on the web while doing research for this article. Read more at this link.
  5. Eat more raw foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are full of water which is what our skin needs the most of. Eating a diet centered around fresh, plant based foods gives your skin elasticity. Raw plants are also high in antioxidants. Think of your plate as a clock, ideally 45 minutes of your plate should be filled with raw fruits and veggies. 
  6. Get more sleep. Your skin, eyes and body will feel better and look better when you are adequately rested. Sleep deprivation shows up on your face. A study published in the British Medial Journal, participants rated photos of sleep-deprived faces as less attractive, less healthy and more tired. 
Pretty easy stuff eh? 
Keeping it simple but with things that we will get a big benefit from in the end. If we all do this over the next year we should be looking and feeling 10 years younger by 2014 right? :)
Share this with your friends, and leave me a comment below with your favorite tip for the new year and your beauty resolutions. I would love to hear what you are doing to make positive changes. 
Cheers to a beautiful new year and a beautiful new you! 
Thanks for stopping by, 
Michon :)

Rise and Shine Face Scrub
1 TSP of heavy cream
1 TSP of honey
1 TSP of brown sugar
1 TSP of finely ground coffee

Clean face with regular cleanser to remove any makeup.
Mix ingredients in a small bowl.
Steam pores open with a HOT towel.
Apply mixture to face with a soft wide paint brush. Allow it to penetrate for 5 minutes.
Gently scrub in circular motions over entire face. Be careful not to get too vigorous with the scrubbing or you could aggravate or complicate any skin condition.
Remove with warm wash cloth.
Apply cool clean washcloth to finish and close pores. 

2 comments:

  1. Hi Michon,

    How often do you suggest getting a professional facial?

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    Replies
    1. Great question GF! I suggest every two weeks if it can fit in the budget. But at least once a month to help you get that fresh deep clean feeling and the benefit of the resurfacing you will receive from most facials.

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