Live for Five 08/17/23

THRIVING THURSDAY LIVE !! 10/13/22

Hide my skin?

 

Hide your skin? But, why?

Oh, I see....like the elephant in the above photo? You have wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles under your eyes? Uneven skin tone?

I get it....trust me....I get it! I grew up in the days before sunscreen was a thing. As a teenager, I couldn't wait to bake in the sun with mineral oil, of all things (disguised as baby oil) smeared all over my exposed skin. (that's a whole different issue that I won't go into today). Suffice it to say...I did some terrible damage to my skin that caused permanent damage.....uneven skin tone, wrinkles, dark spots, and yes, a mild form of skin cancer. All in the name of "health and beauty." I have very fair skin, and sunburn very easily. So you could say, that one of my personal missions is to educate people on protecting their skin, and preventing as many future skin problems possible.

But alas, for me....the damage is already done. What to do? I do have a few suggestions:

1 - Definitely hide your skin from any potential sun damage. Cover your skin with clothing, or a mineral based sunscreen, with the primary active ingredient being Titanium dioxide, or Zinc oxide. These have fewer side effects and sit on top of your skin, instead of soaking into your skin. 

2 - Invest in good, high quality skincare products, like Karine Joncas  The better your skin looks, the less you will need to spend on foundation and concealer to cover your skin flaws. Quality products pay for themselves in results. High quality skincare products heal your skin from the deepest layers out, giving your skin a soft, healthy glow. Let your natural beauty shine through!!

3 - Use your high quality skincare products consistently. It really would be a waste of money to buy them, and then not use them. Believe it or not, they don't work from your vanity drawer......Even if you don't wear any makeup, you still need to wash your face in the morning, and at bedtime. Environmental pollution soaks into your skin, causing the release of free-radicals that damage your skin. Wash your face at bedtime to remove unwanted chemicals from your skin, and then moisturize it with products that help to break down the free radicals (anti-oxidants like Vit C, Vit A, Peptides, etc). In the morning, wash off the dead skin cells that have accumulated on your pillow, and moisturize again, to seal and protect. 

Karine Joncas moisturizers (Icons, as Karine calls them) are 4 in 1. They serve as your day, night, eye, and decolette cream. No need for a separate cream for each. A high quality moisturizer is definitely money well spent. 

4 - Don't neglect the rest of your body's skin. Remember, your skin is your largest organ, and your first line of defense against infection and disease. Using a body exfoliant and body cream will make your skin feel soft and smooth, and will help prevent rashes and other skin problems caused by exposure to contaminants picked up by your clothes during the day. 

Body Care Products.

5 - Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. We really are what we eat. We need plenty of protein and some fats to rebuild our tissues. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provide trace vitamins and minerals necessary for cell reproduction and to fight off infections. Avoid any added sugar - it causes inflammation throughout your body, and aggravates conditions like arthritis and eczema. Drinking plenty of water flushes out the toxins, and will also help keep your skin hydrated. Dry or dehydrated skin is wrinkly skin. ( I will do another post on how to tell the difference).

6- Get good advice for skin concerns that need more than just cleaning and moisturizing. Don't waste time and money buying products over the counter, or online, without the advice of a good skincare consultant or medical professional. Most problems can be solved by just finding the products that are right for you. A good consultant will ask you questions and provide solutions. Many will provide free samples and help facilitate the return or exchange of products that aren't getting you the results you need. 

As always, I'm here to help....that's what I do.

Take good care of your skin! It's the only one you will get!

Martha

Start planning now?

 

Absolutely!! Start planning now, for next year, your next big project, even your next shopping trip....I have learned the hard way that a little bit of planning goes a long way towards successful living. Let's just call it "living intentionally."

If you are anything like me, planning and executing said plan, is a daily challenge. I have used all kinds of excuses over the years...kids, work, pandemic, blah, blah, blah. (Think Charlie Brown adult voices in your head). But the bottom line is, living a life that has measurable success doesn't happen by chance or accident. It happens as a result of living intentionally.

So, what are some things that you would like to accomplish over the next several months? The pandemic will end eventually, and we won't have it as an excuse anymore. 

Our family has identified some things that we would like to accomplish together, and I have several personal goals. I am hoping that life will look very differently 12 months from now, and I look forward to sharing with you as we move into 2021.  

For starters, I am specifically looking for ladies that enjoy working with other ladies, and enjoy the challenge of learning new things.  Just post in the comments below if you are interested.

Meanwhile, Christmas is just around the corner. We shopped much earlier this year, and I think I like it better that way. Way less stressful than putting it off until the last minute. 

But if you are still looking, I have some great ideas for some personal care products that are proven, customer favorites....in full size and stocking stuffer size.  

Just click Shop Here. 

Thanks for joining me here every week. I will appreciate any comments or feedback that you would like to share below.  

See you next week!

Martha

Ask.....What is Maskne?

 Maskne is defined as:

• "As the name suggests, maskne is a type of breakout that results from wearing a face mask. “Maskne is acne formed in areas due to friction, pressure, stretching, rubbing or occlusion,” Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Thomas Jefferson University, explains to Health."

The two main things to do for maskne is to keep your skin clean and moisturized, but there are a couple of extra steps to take that will also help treat and prevent it.

1. Use a gentle, but effective cleanser. Do not use a cleanser with salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. They will further dry out your skin and may cause more irritation. 

2. Use a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type. Not too heavy, but creamy enough to keep your skin soft and hydrated all day.

3. Change your mask at least once a day. If you work a job that requires you to wear a mask all day, take at least one extra clean one with you to swap out on your meal break.

4. Reach out to a skincare professional. Last, but not least, 

reach out to a skincare professional that can help you choose the products that are right for you. It doesn't have to be a dermatologist. There are other professionals such as estheticians and independent consultants that represent reputable skincare companies, and this is the kind of situation where it is worth paying a little more to make sure you are getting the people and products that can really make a difference. Don't waste time or money picking random products from off the shelf. Your skin may end up worse than when you started. 

And yes, I am one of those professionals. As an RN, I have researched many products and product ingredients. I would love the opportunity to work with you to help you solve any particular skincare concerns you have, whether it's maskne,  dry, irritated skin, or just the normal fine lines and wrinkles that come with aging. It's what I do, and I love helping people to feel comfortable in their skin again.

Here is a link to the company that I represent. I invite you to just click and take a look.

Hang in there with the masks, and have a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving!!

I would love to hear from you,

Martha

Start with the Basics?

As Julie Andrews used to sing..."Let's start at the very beginning....a very good place to start..."

I have so many childhood memories tied to that movie....very bittersweet, but I'll save that for another time.

And, speaking of childhood, which is a beginning of sorts, my topic for today is about establishing one particular habit that is very important to long term healthy habits.  

Did you know that your skin is your largest body organ, and your first line of defense against disease and infection? Think of healthy skin as a strong wall, and the only weak spots in the wall are our eyes, ears, mouth and nose...the places where germs get in the most easily. And frequent hand-washing is needed because we touch our faces so many times a day.

 

If young ladies, and gentlemen, will learn to wash their face twice a day when they are young, they are much less likely to have acne and other skin problems as they age. The natural oils on our skin attract dirt and become the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of germs and chemicals that are damaging to our skin. Be sure and find a cleanser that isn't too drying, or that will cause other problems. And, as they move into their teen years, adding a moisturizer will be the next step.

But for now, just start at the beginning, with Step 1. Wash your face twice a day.

And of course, I would love the opportunity to be a part of that process, if you have any questions. 

Click here to learn more about basic skincare.

 

Use Skincare Products that Contain Parabens?

Yes, you may. As a matter of fact, I'm sure you are already using products that contain them. But, you must be concerned about it to ask about them. Plus, you see ads all the time for products that are "paraben free."

So what's all the fuss about parabens?

First, it's important to know a little about what they are. Parabens are a chemical compound used to keep harmful bacteria and other microbes like fungi, yeast and mold (yuck) out of your skincare and personal products. That is a good thing. There are several different kinds that have long chemical names like methylparaben, and butylparaben. 

However, there are several studies that have been done that suggest there may be a link between parabens found in products applied to our skin, and cancer. This puts them in a class of chemicals called "endocrine disrupters".  Because the parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, this is especially of concern in women that are already at risk for breast or endometrial cancer. 

The FDA and the American Cancer Society  have stated that "there is no significant" risk to the public from the tiny levels of paraben in cosmetic products. But no official studies have been conducted to study the level of risk when multiple products that contain various forms of parabens are used in the quantities that most of use personal skincare products. Personally, I use a shower gel, body lotion, deodorant (for which I'm sure you are grateful), facial cleanser, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, and an assortment of other "beauty" products.  I don't want any of them to start growing bacteria while it's sitting on the floor of my shower, or on my bathroom counter...

In all fairness, nothing has been proven, one way or the other, that I can find. However, when in doubt, stay away. Right? I mean.....Is that snake a harmless rat snake or a viper of some sort? Personally, I don't want to get close enough to find out, if I can be safer by just avoiding it, and if it is possible to avoid it. 

The good news? There are multiple products available that are "paraben free." I happen to have fallen in love with the products that one company makes, and everything is paraben free.  If you are interested, check out the Karine Joncas link to the right. 

The short and simple answer is this....  Parabens as preservatives in personal care products are an on-going source of concern because of their suspected link to breast and endometrial cancer. So, if I were you......find products without them. It's not hard, and in the future, I suspect that you will be glad you did.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-people-be-concerned-about-parabens-in-beauty-products/