Drenched

The skin is the largest organ of the body and it is the last one to receive any benefits of the water we drink. The average adult needs to drink 2 quarts of water daily to be adequately hydrated. Dehydrated skin can appear flaky, red, scaly and rough and is easily prone to wrinkles.


There are a few key factors to note that can lead to dehydration of the skin, including ongoing exposure to harsh environmental factors like cold, wind, dry heat, sun, and pollutants. Chemicals from cleaning products and even synthetic-based skincare products can also dehydrate the skin, as can using the wrong skincare products for your skin type. Stress, lack of sleep, smoking, poor nutrition, illness, and ongoing use of certain medications will also contribute to skin dehydration. Plus, of course, your skin will dehydrate if you do not drink enough water. And lastly, your age plays a major role in how well hydrated your skin can be.

Home Skincare Tips

Follow these home skincare tips to keep your skin young, healthy, and hydrated.

*Avoid the use of face and body soaps or cleansers created with harsh chemical detergents like sodium laurel sulfates.
*Exfoliate only once or twice per week if your skin is dehydrated and prone to irritation.
*Avoid long-term exposure to air conditioning or heaters.
*Ensure that you replenish your skin with adequate fluids, especially after exercising.
*Select products created without harsh synthetics, that contain some of the active ingredients listed.
*Incorporate a daily concentrated facial serum designed to address very dry and dehydrated skin.
*Incorporate foods that contain a high amount of water and nutrients like fruits and vegetables into your daily nutrition.

What's in your mascara?

Mas-TAR-a 

Buy a natural mascara and know that you won't be harming your health for the sake of beauty. Here are a few ingredients that are found in most mascaras on the market today.

Mercury (phenylmercuric acetate and thimerosal)
Coal tar colorants (D&C Black No. 2)This comes from Road Tar
Titanium dioxide, parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben)
Formaldehyde (pentaerythrityl hydrogenated rosinate, quaternium-15, and imidazolidinyl urea).


America's #1 top-selling mascara in the pink-and-green tube lists petroleum distillates as its number one ingredient. Petroleum is an unsustainable fossil fuel, the manufacture of which is damaging to the earth and the environment.

Read ingredient lists carefully to avoid health-threatening chemicals, and opt for plant-based ingredients instead.

I recommend Aveda's Mosscara as a natural alternative to your average mascara.

Pickers

My best friend was over yesterday and we were talking about how when some people are stressed they PICK. I don't mean just look at your face and see if there is something that needs to gently be extracted, I mean dig until you are satisfied by seeing blood. Let me share with you the best way to "gently" extract any blemishes you might feel are in need of extraction.
There are many ways to do this and many tools to use. I will break them down in a do and don't column.

Do:
Our fingers are great, but they need to be clean and wrapped in either a cot or clean tissue to keep from spreading any bacteria.

A good extractor is also a great tool if used properly. Make sure that you have sanitized it and PLEASE don't go crazy with any metal object on your face.

Don't:
Please people, keep your skin clean as well as your hands when you are extracting. Do not pick at your face with dirty hands and make up on. When extracting clean and prep the skin before you begin.

Random metal objects like a safety pin, bobby pin or anything else that is not specifically for extraction, should not be used on the face. If you need to lance something boil a sewing needle before hand and be VERY careful.


I know what it is hard to not pick at everything that we see, but try to use a good spot treatment to treat it before you go digging at your face. If it needs extracted be gentle and don't force anything. Remember that when trying to cover something up, it is much easier to conceal something smooth than something rough like a scab.

The Skin I'm In

People are always asking me what I do to take care of my skin or how it looks so flawless. So i decided to set up a blog to share the information that people want to know. There are many secrets to good, healthy glowing skin and I am here to share the many that I have learned. Just remember that, not all skin was created equal and it should be treated as such. Enjoy!