skin

Jul

2021

12 Natural Ways to Fight the Signs of Aging

Reading Time: 6 minutes

We all want to keep looking good even as we grow older. Everyone is looking for ways to fight the signs of aging. We all want to still feel strong and look fit even after we retire from our jobs. We want to maintain our youthful energy as much as we can, for as long as we can.

The answer to this seems to be the Fountain of Youth; a myth which has inspired many works of art, as well as scientific innovations to delay aging. There are many ways to slow down the aging process. Here are some things you can do on your own to help you feel and look young.

1. Think Positive

There is no better way to wake up in the morning than to start the day with a positive vibe. The simple habit of smiling to yourself in the mirror can instantly lift up your mood and boosts your confidence. It encourages you to pursue your goals and face the day with a brighter outlook.

The Law of Attraction states “That which like itself, is drawn.” Thinking positively about something will increase your chances of attracting more positive situations, persons and things into your life. That should keep you from frowning too much and keep facial wrinkles at bay. This is the easiest and most natural way to fight the signs of aging.

2. Have Time to De-Stress

If you are having a hard time keeping a positive outlook, don’t hesitate to give yourself time to de-stress and have fun. Pamper yourself with a massage, spend the weekend in a spa, or indulge yourself in an at-home facial. Listen to your favorite music playlist, go to your favorite restaurant and eat your favorite dish. You can also cook yourself some comfort food or declutter to clear your space.

A quick way to de-stress is to do a breathing exercise or to meditate. Just sit in silence for at least 5-15 minutes. Get away from a stressful situation to recharge yourself. This way, you can handle the situation with a clearer mind instead of being overwhelmed.

3. Keep Learning

Your brain is like a muscle; the more you use it, the more it grows sharper. But don’t overuse it either. Instead, use it in different ways by learning new things such as a new language; a new game like chess and other strategy games such as tackling your monthly budget; a word or math puzzle like sudoku or learn to do math with the abacus. Do things to unleash the genius in you. Keeping your mind healthy is a natural way to fight the signs of aging.

You can start simple by learning a new song or memorizing a poem penned by one of your favorite authors. Learn to write a poem yourself. You can try to review your geography again and learn to use the compass. This will help you know where exactly on the map you’re going when you’re traveling.

4. Be Grateful

To complete the positive vibe that you started in the morning; end the day with a positive vibe too. Review your day and think of at least 3 things that you are grateful for that day. You can also keep a gratitude journal in any notebook you like. Reflect on your day and write down the things that you are blessed with. Try it out for the whole month.

Take the time to express thanks for the little things that people around you do for you. You can still be grateful even in tough times for the lessons that you can learn from the situation.

5. Stay Connected

Personal connections are important channels that provide us a venue to de-stress. With people who understand us, we can share our anxieties and doubts as well as reaffirm our beliefs and values. They also serve as our support group. They encourage us and advise us on how best to handle our problems and reach our goals. Maintaining good relationships will naturally help you fight the signs of aging.

Your social circle keeps you grounded. They also give you the confidence boost, knowledge and insights you need to move forward with your plans. And when things get tough; you know you can count on them. They are willing to help you erase the lines on your forehead and put back the smile on your face.

6. Avoid Overexposure to the Sun

Our skin is the first part of our body to show signs of aging. It also serves to protect our vital organs and is the biggest part of our whole body. So we should protect it just as we protect our face. Don’t forget to bring your umbrella with you. Use it when it’s too hot to go outside even if you are just walking a short way.

Sunshine in the early morning is good for you. But from 8AM onwards, the sunlight can cause more harm than good for your skin. If you do need to go outside, use your umbrella and put on your sunscreen product.

7. Stay Hydrated

Your daily activities keep you busy and you may not feel thirsty. You need to ensure that you hydrate your body so you can function properly. There are many times when we get a headache while working. We think it’s because we are stressed from work when in fact we are just dehydrated. Adequate water intake helps you fight the signs of aging by keeping you skin plump and looking youthful.

Drinking your water allows your body to work more efficiently. It helps your body to flush out toxins so you can stay healthy. Tired of just plain water? Jazz it up by infusing it with lemon slices or cucumber and other fruits like oranges, grapes and strawberries.

8. Eat Your Way to Healthy

A healthy eating habit is one of the basic ways to stave off the signs of aging. What you eat will definitely influence how you look. A healthy diet consist of a variety of fruits and veggies as well as nuts and healthy oils. Consuming these regularly will definitely help you look and feel healthier.

As much as possible, choose foods that promote an alkaline environment in your body. An acidic body becomes an environment for the development of illness. The primary culprit of an acidic body is consuming too much sugar. These sugars are found in starchy foods such as potatoes, breads, pastries and in many processed and packaged food.

Replace your sodas with green tea or a hot chocolate made with dark cocoa. Most importantly, read the labels when shopping so you know the ingredients of what you’re buying and eating.

9. Keep an Exercise Routine

Cap off your healthy eating habits by improving your physical wellness with a regular exercise routine. Exercise will definitely help you feel healthy and look healthy too. It’s a great way to fight signs of aging. Exercising helps you improve your circulation. It helps you detoxify as you sweat and it gives you a youthful glow right after. Try dancing to an upbeat tune for at least 10 minutes. Check your face in the mirror right after to see your healthy glow.

Put your running shoes and old bike to good use again. Or search online for exercise videos that you can do at home or in the office. As you go about exercising, ensure that you are exercising different parts of your body. Switch up your exercise routine from time to time. To get a more fit look, incorporate weights into your exercise routine. This will help you bring out your youthful beauty even more with toned muscles.

10. Quit Smoking and Ditch Alcoholic Drinks

As part of eating healthy, you should also stop harmful habits such as smoking. Smoking pollutes the air you breath and has a harmful effect on your lungs. The 2nd-hand smoke that you leave floating around is even more harmful to non-smokers around you. A very tangible side-effect of smoking are stained teeth and dark lips. This is a major disadvantage for you when you’re trying to retain your youthful looks. We should also learn to avoid little habits that can damage our skin in the long run.

Alcoholic beverages dehydrate your body pretty fast and can be dangerous to your kidneys and liver when taken habitually. There’s nothing like a major headache the next morning to remind you of how foolish you were the night before. A hangover makes you wish you were sober again real fast. Going for that hot cocoa might help ease that headache and ease the frown lines off your forehead.

11. Cleanse and Moisturize

Moisturizers can help keep our face feeling and looking youthful. Maintain a basic skin care routine that you do in the morning and night. Make a ritual out of your beauty routine. Think of it as a way to wind down as you get ready for bed.

You only really need to be vigilant in cleansing and moisturizing and doing it morning and night. Any more than that in a day can lead to overly oily skin or dry, flaky skin.

Remember to be patient with the cleansing and moisturizing. Massage your face gently using your ring finger and do so in circular motions going upward to your scalp. As you do this, you can reflect on your day and reflect on the things you are grateful for. If you have the time, you can try out the Korean beauty routine.

12. Get Your Sleep Right

A beauty sleep is exactly that. Don’t skimp on your sleep time. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Your body repairs itself from 10PM to 3AM in the morning. This is why you should be in your dreamland during these times.

Adequate sleep also means less puffy eyes in the morning; less dark circles under your eyes and you won’t feel too groggy to wake up even during bed weather. A good night’s sleep ensures that you get the relaxation you need to be able to function properly all day.

These are just some of the ways you can keep your youthful look and a positive outlook in life. These habits will not only help make you look good but make you feel good too. Do practice these in moderation so you can live a well-balanced life.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2019.03.03.
Feature Image: Original Photo by DANGTIMÔ TIMÔ on Unsplash.

Jun

2021

Ways to Hide Skin Imperfections

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A common beauty quest is finding ways to hide skin imperfections for that flawless-looking complexion. Everyone wants to look camera ready but also wants to look just as attractive when meeting people in person. So here are some quick fixes to hide common skin imperfections. If done correctly, they can help banish blemish like magic!

Eyebrow Pencil or Powder

An eyebrow pencil or powder is a quick way to fix sparse eyebrows due to overzealous plucking or if your brows are just patchy. Get a pencil or powder that’s one shade lighter than your brows hair color. Apply the product to your brow in short, feathery strokes to fill-out the patchy areas. You will need a small angled brush if you’re using powder. Make sure to check in the mirror to ensure that your “drawing” blends in well with the rest of your browse. Use a clean eyebrow brush for blending. It’s normal to have to wipe and redo them if you’re just starting out.

Highlighting Pen or Powder

If your problem is puffy eyes, then a highlighting pen or powder is the quick fix for you. It is recommended that you first use an eye gel or another product to help reduce the swelling. Afterwards, use an eye cream and/or a thin layer of foundation to even out your skin color as much as possible. Then apply a slightly shimmery highlighting pen or powder along the part below where the puffy part is. This will lighten up the area to hide shadows caused by the swelling so it becomes less noticeable. For this quick fix, less is more; so do this with a light hand.

Tinted Foundation or Concealer

Tinted foundations or concealers helps to hide common skin blemishes such as acne, sun spots or age spots, skin redness, and large pores. The trick is to apply them correctly. If the blemish is small like acne, then just apply concealer or tinted foundation on that spot and use a brush or your fingers to blend into the rest of the skin. For issues that cover larger areas like large pores, than applying concealer and/or tinted foundation is a much better way to even out overall skin tone and hide the blemish. Luckily, there are now foundations that also act as concealers as well as sun screen. So pick the best one for your skin type and lifestyle.

The Best Foundation is Healthy Skin

Not everyone can have flawless skin all the time. But it becomes easier to maintain flawless-looking skin if you have healthy skin. It helps to have good beauty habits to maintain healthy skin. A basic and important factor in achieving healthy skin is cleanliness and hydration. So don’t forget to clean your face and apply your moisturizer everyday to maintain clear, plump, and youthful-looking skin. You can also follow a more elaborate routine such as the Korean beauty regimen to really level up your skin care routine. Practice makes perfect. Be consistent with your beauty ritual so you can integrate the habit effortlessly. You can thank your self for the beautiful results later on!

Feature Image: Original Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash.

Apr

2021

Little Things That Are Damaging Your Skin

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Good skin is essential in any age whether you are in your teens or already in the elderly group. Thus, a good skin care routine is a necessary habit for everyone. In fact, it should start early in life because this will help slow down the aging process. However, did you know that there are little things that are damaging your skin? If they turn into habits, they can ultimately ruin your skin.

1.Sleeping with Makeup On

Sleeping with makeup on is a big no-no. Makeup, if left overnight can wreak havoc to your skin because it traps dead skin cells. Not only does it trap dirt and pollutants accumulated all through the day, It also helps gather bacteria overnight. This results in clogged pores, pimples, increased free radicals and collagen degradation.

2.Popping Pimples

How many times have you popped a pimple? Did you know that dermatologists are against popping pimples? That’s because it can lead to more problems like infection and scarring. It’s tempting especially if the pimples, white heads or blackheads are quite visible and are bothering you. However before you do it, remember that the act itself might push the bacteria even deeper into your skin causing more swelling and redness. Worse, it can even lead to permanent scars.

3. Drinking Not Enough Water

Water is needed not just for a healthy body but also for a clear and vitalized skin. Drinking water keeps your body hydrated. It also helps maintain the youthful glow of the skin because the more hydrated you are, the fewer the wrinkles and fine lines will be. Drinking not enough water can make the skin dry and flaky. It also makes it more prone to aging.

4.Getting Hair Care Products on Your Face

Did you know that hair care products such as shampoo, conditioners and styling products can lead to skin breakouts? The oils and all other heavy ingredients may trigger acne. The same is true with other products like coconut oil., shea butter, petroleum jelly , mineral oil, jojoba oil and many others. To avoid this from happening, when you are taking a shower, make sure to wash your face last. in this way you can wash off all hair care products residue. Be careful also when applying products to make sure they do not go to your face.

5.Not Getting Enough Sleep

Like drinking water, getting enough sleep is also crucial not just to a healthy body but also to a vibrant looking skin. A study published in the Clinical and Experimental Dermatology showed that people who sleep at least seven to nine hours of sleep per day have moisturized skin that has the ability to protect and to heal itself from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. In addition, getting enough sleep can also lead to reducing wrinkles and age spots.

6.Using Dirty Pillowcases

How often do you change your pillowcases? Did you know that the oil, dead skin cells and sweat from your skin, the dirt from your hair and even your saliva gets absorbed by your pillowcases? Dirt, dust mites and allergens from the air and the surrounding environment also settle in your pillow cases. That is why, it is highly recommended that pillow cases be changed at least once a week.

7. Smoking

Aside from cancer, lung and heart disease; smoking can also cause premature aging. The chemicals found in cigarettes and tobacco destroy collagen and elastin, two key proteins responsible for warding off wrinkles and fine lines. They give your skin strength and elasticity.

8.Eating Too Much Sugar

Just like cigarettes, consuming too much sugar can destroy collagen and elastin in the body. Excess sugar in the body causes glycation. Glycation is the attachment of sugar to protein or lipid which ultimately destroys the protein molecules. Since collagen and elastin are both proteins, high sugar diets lead to skin aging.

9.Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Alcohol can cause dehydration because alcohol is a natural diuretic. Diuretic means it promotes the removal of excess water and salt in the body. As mentioned above, hydration is necessary for a healthy looking skin.

10.Staying Too Much Inside Air Conditioning

Too much air conditioning can lead to dry skin. The air conditioning strips the air of humidity. It also removes moisture from your skin leading to fine lines and wrinkles.

Feature Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Jan

2021

Ways to Slow Down the Aging Process

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Have you been taking care of your skin? Many of us spent the last year cooped up at home. On the rare occasions that we go out, we have to cover our face with masks. So, why take care of our skin, especially our face? Everyday, all of us are aging. It is a natural and inevitable process. No matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it. The truth is no amount of anti-aging treatments can stop or reverse the signs of aging. It simply is impossible. We can, however, choose to age gracefully. There are ways to slow down the aging process.

Although we are still in the middle of the pandemic, the availability of the vaccines is a sign that one day all of this will be over. Soon, we will be able to show our face again in public. The question is are you ready to show your beautiful face again to the world? So, why not use this chance to properly take care of your skin so that when the time comes you will have beautiful, younger looking skin? There is no need to spend a lot of money on facelifts, injections or other invasive treatments. There are simple things that we can do on a daily basis to help slow down the aging process:

1. Apply Moisturizer

As we age, the skin loses its elasticity. It also becomes dryer and thinner causing wrinkles to emerge. Moisturizers keep the skin from getting dry. Although they do not prevent wrinkles from forming, they improve the appearance of wrinkles, making them less deep.

Applying moisturizer on a regular consistent basis will keep your skin hydrated and protect it from damage. It also gives a more youthful appearance.

2. Cleanse Your Skin

Washing your face once a day is enough. Wash your face in the morning and at night. You need to remove dead skin cells, excess oils, impurities and your make-up before going to bed. Wash the face gently. Scrubbing, exfoliating or using a mechanical brush on a daily basis can be harmful to your skin.

3. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Anxiety speeds up aging. When we are stressed, stress chemicals are released in the body and these chemicals create biological changes. It damages the cells and accelerates cellular aging. On the other hand, when we are happy, we look younger. We are full of energy, our eyes sparkle, we smile and we laugh. In fact, a study shows that smiling makes us look two years younger than our age. So, smile if you want to look younger.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Do you have a houseplant? What happens if you forget to water it? The same is true with human beings. Besides keeping us alive, water also affects our appearances and our quality of life. On average, a person needs to drink at least eight 8 oz. of glasses of water a day.

Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez are very vocal about how “drinking lots of water” is making their skin soft and smooth.

5. Eat Glow Foods

Eating lots of glow foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains is not only good for the body. It can also slow down aging. In contrast, eating lots of sugar, refined carbohydrates and other food high in calories but with little nutritional value accelerates aging.

6. Exercise Regularly

A study conducted by the University of Birmingham indicates that regular exercise slows down aging, On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle results in a loss of muscle mass, a decline in immune system and an increase in cholesterol levels.

7. Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping is not only good for your overall health, it is also good for your skin. While we sleep, our skin cells repair themselves and regenerate. In addition, sleep reduces stress. The facial muscles are also relaxed. Fine lines are created when you are awake, especially when you are stressed.

8. Lose Weight

American and British scientists found direct evidence that fats accelerate the ageing process. They found out that the more people weigh, the older their cells appear on a molecular level. Obesity was found to have added an average of nine years to a person’s body because it changes the whole body’s metabolic processes.

9. Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, you know that there are tons of reasons why you should quit. One of them is that smoking ruins your appearance and speeds up the aging process.

Eye bags, scaly skin, stained teeth, premature aging and wrinkles, scarring, thinning of hair, cataracts, and flabby tummies are just but some of the effects of smoking that will make you look a lot older than you actually are.

10. Use Sunblock

Regular use of sunscreens protects the skin against aging or photoageing to be exact. Photoageing is the loss of elasticity, spotting and wrinkling of the skin caused by exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

To be effective, don’t just use any sunblock. Use a sunblock or sunscreen which is identified as “broad spectrum”. This simply means that it can block out both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays affect the skin’s top layer while UVB penetrates deep into the dermis.

While an SPF of 15 is generally enough, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a sunscreen with at least 30.

Looking forward to a beautiful, younger looking you soon!

Updated Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 10.29.2018

Feature Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels

Oct

2020

How to Take Care of Your Skin While Wearing Mask

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Masks are now part of our everyday lives. It is a fashion essential in the new normal because it protects ourselves and other people from COVID-19. Masks reduces the risk of exposure to an infected person and at the same time prevents transmission, if worn by an infected person. Unfortunately, wearing masks is very uncomfortable because it creates an occlusive on the airflow making it difficult to breathe. It also traps moisture in the enclosed space causing skin irritation. In addition, bacterias thrive on sticky and humid environments casing acnes and breakouts. So, how to take care of your skin while wearing mask?

1. Select the Material of the Mask

The material of the mask is important. Choose a material that will protect you from the virus and at the same time, protect your skin too.

Not all masks are created equal, according to a research done by University of Arizona. The researchers tested a variety of mask materials during a 20-minute and 30-seconds exposure to the virus. They found out that the level of risks varies depending on the kind of mask used:

Materials	Efficiency
N99	most efficient at 94% to 99%
N95	94% to 99%
Vacuum Cleaner Filters (inserted in filter pockets in cloth masks)	58% to 83%
Cotton-blend fabrics and antimicrobial pillowcases	24% to 44%
Scarves made of nylon, polyester or silk	24% to 44%

Reserve the N99 and N95 masks to healthcare workers. For the rest of us, opt for soft and natural fabrics. Dermatologists suggest a 100% cotton because it allows the skin to breathe. Avoid synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester and rayon. They can cause skin irritation.

2. Fit Matters

To allow your skin to breathe, make sure the mask fits your face perfectly. Masks should be snuggly. It should be comfortable. It should not be too loose nor constricting.

3. Clean and Moisturize Your Face Daily

Learn to adapt to the basic skin care routine. Just wash your face gently with a mild fragrance-free soap before putting on your mask and before going to sleep. The moisturizer will reduce dryness. No need to put on too many beauty products. Other beauty products such as those peels, exfoliants, acids and retinol can only cause more skin irritation. If you need to treat spot or a break-out, then just put medication on the specific spot not on the whole face.

4. Don’t Wear Make-up

Your face is going to be covered anyway so there is no point in wearing make-up. Make-up can only clog your pores and can cause break-outs. If you really need to wear make-up, wear non-comedogenic products or products that won’t clog or block the pores of your skin. You can also use an oil-free make-up primer or a sunblock instead to reduce the friction between the mask and the face.

5. Take a Break From Wearing the Mask

Every now and then, take a break from wearing the mask so you and your skin can breathe properly. But remember before you remove it, make sure you go to a place where it is safe to do so; when you are away from the crowd or inside your car for example.

6. Make sure Mask is Clean

Masks should be treated like underwear. Wash them after using them once. Change them right away after sweating or exercising. Masks should always be clean. Wash them with a mild fragrance-free detergent and dry them. If you are using disposable masks, dispose them after one use. Do not recycle.

7. Refrain from Touching Your Face and Mask

As a precaution, refrain from touching your face and mask. It is a way to not only protect your skin but yourself as well from the virus for your hands might be dirty or contaminated.

8. Put Lip Balm

Trapped heat and humidity inside the masks can cause dryness. Just like the skin, it can also cause irritation to the lips. It is difficult to keep on drinking water just to keep the lips moisturize. Thus, it is better to apply lip balm to avoid dry or chapped lips.

Even if it is covered, it is still important to take care of your face. Keep in clean, clear and glowing so that when the time comes when there is no longer a need to cover our faces with a mask, you are ready to show a nice, healthy looking skin to the world.

Beautiful skin requires commitment not a miracle.
– Erno Lazlo

Feature Image by Anna Shvets from Pexels