Moisturizing Tips Help for your extra dry and dehydrated skin Try using a super-rich moisturizing balm with ingredients like glycerin, petroleum, or shea butter. These products will help provide better texture and smoother application of foundation.  Warm the balm in your palms before applying it to your face. Dry skin This condition requires a heavier, oil-based moisturizer that will absorb completely into the skin.  Oils are more effective since they help prevent water evaporation.  Look for ingredients such as urea or propylene glycol, chemicals that keep skin moist. Find the ratio of oil to water in your moisturizer Apply the moisturizer on your skin.  If the skin under the product is cool, there is a higher percentage of water.  Evaporation cools and water evaporates.  Oil does not evaporate and therefore it traps heat in the body. You can also put a small amount of moisturizer on a tissue, and then hold it over a lightbulb.  Products with higher concentrations of oil will melt.  The more melted oil, the greater the percentage of oil in the moisturizer. Oily and combination skin needs moisturizing Choose a good oil-free moisturizer that is water-based.  Use moisturizers that are “noncomedogenic” (formulated to prevent clogged pores) sparingly.  Find one that leaves a matte finish on the skin since this will be the one to minimize shine and the appearance of large pores. Choose the right moisturizer for sensitive skin Select one that does not contain dyes or fragrance and is designed for sensitive skin. Avoid Winter Dryness It can be maddening to have dry, flaky and itchy skin during the winter months. You won’t be one of those who have this problem if you follow these simple steps:

1. Apply a good moisturizer every day immediately after you bathe while the skin is still moist.
2. Take shorter and cooler baths or showers to discourage the depletion of surface oils.
3. Avoid soaps and highly foaming cleansers that tend to strip protective lipids from the barrier function of your skin.
4. Use moisturizers that have alpha hydroxy acids.
5. Don’t get lazy! You must follow these steps every day.

Try a Fruit Facial for all Skin Types This is a nutrient-rich facial mask that contains many of the same anti-aging ingredients, such as alpha hydroxy acid (green grapes), vitamin B (cranberries), and vitamin C (grapefruit) – that are easily found in store-bought products.  Gelatin, which is often used in commercial facial peels, dries and stiffens.  When it’s peeled off the face it helps to remove dead skin and unclog pores.  Here is the recipe: 1 cup pf crushed seedless red grapes 1 cup crushed fresh cranberries 2 teaspoons grapefruit juice 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin Mix the ingredients in a bowl until they form a paste.  Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to let the mixture thicken.  Remove from the refrigerator and let it warm to room temperature. Now spread the mixture on clean, dry skin.  Let this mixture remain on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Brown-Skinned Women and Sunscreen Healthy brown skin requires sunscreen, even though there is a natural SPF of 13.  This means that they can stay in the sun thirteen times longer than a woman with white skin.  Sunscreens work by absorbing the harmful UVA and UVA rays before they can reach the skin. Sunscreen tips:

• All women with brown skin should use sunscreen daily.
• Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before exposure to the sun to absorb the product and create a protective shield.
• Apply a shot glass, about one ounce. Be sure to be generous on all exposed skin including your hands.
• Store your sunscreen out of the sun and heat.
• Never keep a sunscreen after its expiration date, which should be no longer than one year.
• Sunscreen in foundation wears off after a couple of hours.

All skin requires the same basics to care for it no matter what color it is

• Always use gentle water-soluble cleansers, avoiding bar soaps; they’re just too drying and can clog pores and cause that dreaded ashy look.
• Always use products that are appropriate for your skin type.
• Always use a well formulated sunscreen.
• Always remove your makeup at the end of the day.

Sandi’s Skin Talk Q & A

Q:  Can people be allergic to sunscreens? A:  Yes.  There are so many different formulations of sunscreens and with that are variations in the ingredients. One ingredient that was used for its UVB protection for years was PABA.  It gained a bad reputation after many developed allergic reactions and is not used in most sunscreens today. Q:  Can dry skin cause wrinkles? A:  Yes, dryness can cause fine lines and wrinkles. Those deeper wrinkles, however, are actually caused by facial expressions, elastosis, and sun exposure. Dry skin can make existing wrinkles appear worse. Q:  Every month I get premenstrual breakouts.  Is there anything I can do to avoid them? A:  Yes, if the breakouts aren’t severe, just a spot or two, be sure to keep the follicles clear prior to the beginning of your cycle by using a mild chemical exfoliate to prevent cellular buildup. If the breakouts are severe you should consult with a dermatologist or an endocrinologist. Q:  How often should I get micro-current treatments? A:  These treatments are administered in a series, usually beginning with two or three treatments per week for about twelve treatments.  This depends on the condition of your skin. Q:  As I age I notice that I have more age spots. What causes them? A:  Those spots, also known as liver spots or sun freckles, even though they are not associated with the liver, are the result of sun exposure through the years. What happens is the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, are overproducing melanin in those areas making the skin darker. They are medically known as solar lentigines and can appear anywhere on the body, but most frequently on the face and hands. Q:   I have large pores and would like to know what can be done to shrink them. A:  There is nothing that will permanently shrink pores.  The size of pores is determined by the amount of sebum flowing through the follicle and also genetics.  Regular use of alpha hydroxy acid gel helps remove debris from the follicles and any comedones which will help to make the pores appear smaller. Q:  I noticed that my moisturizer contains cetyl alcohol.  Won’t that dry my skin? A:  No. Not all alcohols are drying. Most alcohols are actually fatty based with a creamy or waxy texture.  Cetyl alcohol is an emollient and an emulsifier, which keeps creams or lotions uniformly mixed. If you have a skin care question send it to me at sandra.smith315@gmail.com.  It may be featured in the next issue of Bellesprit Magazine Views:]]>