SkinJunkie's Summer Essentials

The long awaited season of Summer is making it's way around the corner from Spring, so I'm here to make sure you enjoy the weather AND protect your skin! Let's get some Summer Essentials in order!

First, a quick lesson on UVA and UVB light. UV stands for Ultra Violet and for both UVA and UVB, they are invisible and can cause damage to our unprotected skin at any age.

UVA ~ Sorry my friends, this is A is not for apple! It stands for AGING! This ultra violet light penetrates DEEP into your skin and will wreak havoc causing sagging, wrinkles, age spots and can lead to skin cancer. Remember, it is much easier to prevent wrinkles than to eliminate them.
UVB ~ B as in BURNING baby! This ultra violet light causes us to burn, creating a bright pink or red discoloration of our skin which may also swell or blister. Over time, being the recipient of many sunburns will put you at a higher risk of developing skin caner. Most everyone knows the pain and discomfort that comes with a sunburn, so do your very best to prevent it from happening.

SkinJunkie's Summer Essentials

Summer Essential #1 ~ SPF (A.K.A. Sunblock) 30 or higher. Remember, SPF products for your body are not for use on your face unless it clearly states, "Face and Body". Body SPF usually has unnecessary fragrance and tends to be greasy, which may clog your pores and cause blemishes. Another important fact you need to know about SPF is that you MUST reapply it. Whether you are playing on the beach, swimming or sitting under an umbrella, you must reapply your sunblock approximately every 60 to 90 minutes. Water, sweat, the sun, wind and reflection can and will break down the product. If you only apply it once before you head out for the day, I guarantee you'll be sorry especially if you are planning on spending the majority of your time outdoors.

If you do not protect your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, then your chances of developing skin cancer just got higher. Sadly, it is becoming more common for individuals in their early twenties to be diagnosed with skin cancers and developing hyperpigmentation from sun damage. More importantly, you can take precautions to prevent this.

*SkinJunkie Beauty Secret; I wear SPF daily, rain or shine, all year round. Also, I never spend more than just a few minutes in the direct sunlight. Sun exposure is one of the fastest ways to accelerate aging and develop wrinkles.

Summer Essential #2 ~ Lip SPF 30 or higher. Like most women, we want our lips to stand out with color and shine but wearing lip gloss in the warm sun can actually increase you risk of skin cancer. Sounds crazy, right? Wrong! Experts are warning anyone who uses lip gloss to avoid using it while in prolonged, direct sun. The gloss and it's shiny reflection will increase the transmission of UV light, inviting it to absorb deeper into the layers of your skin, causing damage. Most lip SPF's are clear, colorless so find your favorite lip color and wear it on top!

Summer Essential #3 ~ A large, brim hat. Wearing hats are not just fashionable and always have been but they can also protect our heads and faces from the sun's harmful rays. The sun can also fade your hair color and create a dry, dull look whether it's color treated or not. You can prevent this just by throwing on a hat that will compliment your attire. Use of hats are also recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, so go hat shopping and make more than just a statement about your sun protection!

Summer Essential #4 ~ Facial Cleanser. A great facial cleanser will help keep your skin summer friendly if used at least once daily (before bed). And not just any facial cleanser! Be sure to use a cleanser for your skin type. If you do not know what skin type you have I recommend getting a professional skin analysis from an Esthetician or Dermatologist. If you are at a department store, PA' LEASE ask the lovely lady behind the counter if she is a licensed Esthetician. If she is, she will have her license available and ready to show off to you. If she is not, run away fast! She is most likely a salesperson and gets paid to "sell" you products for your skin type that she just guessed. You would not ask your eye doctor about your gynecological issues would you? So do not take skin care advice from a sales woman that you could smell from the parking lot! Consider yourself warned!

Summer Essential #5 & 6 ~ Face and Body Exfoliant. Yes, these are two different products but you seriously will benefit from both. An exfoliant for your face should be a bit more gentle compared to a body exfoliant and only used once per week. A body exfoliant can be used every other day, alternating with a gentle liquid body soap on opposite days. The steam from your shower will assist in opening your pores and aid in the products use. To exfoliate is to remove dead skin cells on the surface, which can build up and create a rough, uneven appearance over time. The process of exfoliation also promotes new cell turnover so you are always displaying fresh, healthy skin. Your exfoliant should also be custom for your skin type. You want all your facial products to compliment one another, not work against each other.

Summer Essential #7 ~ Water. Lucky number seven is actually for every day and all year round! I can not stress enough how much our bodies need water to function and flush out toxins that naturally build up. Our bodies are 2/3 water and our bodies need for water consumption is second only to oxygen! Drink up! Recent studies show that every adult should be drinking half of their body weight, in ounces. So if you are 145 pounds you should be drinking approximately 72 ounces, daily. We need to keep hydrated and our skin needs moisture from within to maintain a healthy appearance. Adequate water intake is key to overall body and skin care.

Have a Fun, Protected Summer and love yourself Skin Deep!

The Pros & Cons Of LATISSE®

LATISSE® is the first FDA approved prescribed medication that will aid in the growth of hair for eyelashes but may also create thicker, darker eyelashes as well. Sounds great but what are the side effects and risks if you choose to use Latisse?

First off, you must get a prescription from your doctor for Latisse. The use of this product can cause permanent, discoloration to your eyelids and the color of your iris. The most common side effect with the use of Latisse is an itching sensation that may be accompanied by redness. Though only 4% of users reported such effects, are you willing to use a product that was accidentally discovered? The original use for this drug before it became "Latisse" was for the treatment of Glaucoma. Physicians were noticing their patients were growing thicker, longer and darker eyelashes, . . . so came the discovery of Latisse.

Along with BOTOX®, LAP-BAND®, RESTASIS®, and JUVÉDERM®, Latisse is one of the many products marketed by Allergan. Allergan is a, "multi-specialty health care company focused on discovering and commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices". Known for partnering with the medical community, Allergan takes pride in their research and development for each and every product they stand behind.

Remember, when it comes to cosmetic drugs and products, just because they are "For Sale", doesn't mean they are "good for you". You always have the last say when it comes to making a CHOICE about anything you put into your body. It is the duty of companies like Allergan to provide the research and information to the general public so you may weigh the pros and cons in making an educated decision.

More importantly, you must report negative side effects to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and not just to your doctor. It is your responsibility to share your experience so the products risks are always updated and published. Many people report their adverse side effects to their doctor but are not aware they don't always forward the information onto the FDA.

FDA contact information is 1(800)FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch ~ Do your part in keeping vital information current.

Are You Paying To Age Yourself?

It's surprising how much we are in control of our own aging process. Approximately, 10% of aging is natural and the other 90% is what we expose ourselves to. Though our genes and environmental factors can work for us or against us, we still have to keep both our hands on the wheel of aging.

Natural aging is actually a very slow process but when we subject ourselves to certain factors or bad habits, we accelerate that process. Some individuals even pay to accelerate aging but maybe aren't aware they are doing it, . . . until now!

The two habits that will put you on the FAST TRACK to premature aging are SMOKING and TANNING! Let me explain;

SMOKING ~ This bad habit will in fact break down your supply of collagen. Collagen is a strong protein substance that gives our skin structure and makes up approximately 70% of our Dermis. Collagen also plays a significant role in maintaining your skins elasticity, which will naturally decrease with age, but smoking accelerates that process. Smoking invites free radicals into your body and once there, they will damage your DNA. Smoking also narrows blood vessels, depleting it of oxygen, nutrients and vitamins. This nasty habit will only lead to overall, poor health and will make you look older than your true age.

The average pack of cigarettes cost over $5.00 and if someone smokes a pack a day that simply means they are paying $1,825.00 per year to speed up the aging process. In ten years that comes to over $18,000.00, which is more than the average cost of a Facelift or six times as much as an annual vacation. I'll take the vacation!

TANNING ~ More common among teenagers but can also become an addictive behavior carried into adulthood, with men and women. Whether you are tanning inside at a salon with damaging bulbs or outside with the natural sunlight, you are also inducing the aging process. Exposure to UV rays accelerate the effects of aging and increase your risks of many types of skin cancers like Melanoma. Skin cancers used to be more common in people in their 40's and 50's but now can and will be found in people as young as their 20's. Sun damage will eventually create sagging and wrinkles that are irreversible. Tanning can also damage your immune system and eye sight.

Tanning Salon owners are always "giving away" FREE tanning packages to suck you into their establishment and then offer you "unlimited tanning" for the crazy price of $15.00 per month or less! To the average, uneducated, teenager that SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL! But, any amount of money you pay someone to speed up your aging process is too much! You may like the way you look now when your glowing tan looks great in your prom dress but 20 years from now when your damage makes it's way to the surface, you may wish you didn't have to bring Hyperpigmentation as your date to your 20 year reunion.

The daily use of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) with both UVA and UVB protection can decrease these risks and keep you looking your age or even younger. Also, SPF for your face should be fragrance free and noncomedogenic (it won't clog your pores). Be wise when you are in the sun and remember to re-apply your sunscreen every 60 to 90 minutes because the product will break down from sweating, swimming and reflection of snow and water. More importantly, STOP paying to age yourself! Your skin will thank you.