ALCOHOL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen. This is a little tricky but let’s break it down: the most common alcohol (isopropyl, ethyl) used for disinfection is an irritant — and it is certainly drying —but it is not a common contact allergen. For more on the difference between irritant and allergic reactions, see It’s Complicated: Allergic Versus Irritant Reaction. Complicating things […]
Don’t Touch Your Face
Paws Off That Fab Face. You use your hands to touch everything…your phone, keyboard, handrails, others people’s hands, desktops and kitchen counters…everything. Transferring all those microbes to your face increases your risk of sickness and acne, and could trigger a contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (eczema) or allergic flare-up if you happen to have touched allergens that you’re sensitive to. […]
A Skincare Regimen Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
You spend time choosing your food and clothing, why not your skincare? Like working out, it helps to know what your goals are, what you like/don’t like, and what may work best for you. Basic skincare is fairly, well, basic: Cleanser, Toner (not if your skin is already dry), Moisturizer, Sunscreen. But even a basic regimen improves significantly when you […]
How To Choose The Right Moisturizer
a) What are your skin concerns? b) Choose your moisturizer. Why moisturize? Moisturizer locks in water to keep your skin’s barrier layer strong and soft. Moisturizing creams can also be great vehicles for more active treatments. How to Choose: Simplest Selection: By Skin Type… The easiest way to choose a moisturizer is to go by […]
Less Is More In Skincare, Too!
SIMPLIFY. “Less is more” is a healthy philosophy for pretty much everything in life. In food, less processed means more nutrients and less junk. Studies show that mindfulness — clearing the mind of clutter and focusing on the now — has significant health benefits for the brain and aging. In skincare, simple formulations with as […]
Your Skin Needs You To Stop Stressing
Make stress management a priority. Like, now. Set an alarm to meditate for 10-20 minutes a day. And schedule a facial to zone out for an hour. And keep a gratitude journal. And do yoga. And turn your phone off on the weekend. That’s “and,” not “or,” by the way. Your skin, body, and mind […]
Lip Service: 8 Ways To Pamper Your Pout
Did you know lip care is skin care? Like the rest of your skin, your lips have a stratum corneum (the skin’s outermost layer) — but this protective layer is thinner on lips than on any other skin on your body. Combine that with a lack of oil glands (lips rely on saliva for moisture), absence of […]
Your Hair Care Can Help (Or Hurt!) Your Skin
Let your hair care help, not hurt, you. Believe it or not, your hair care matters to your skin. Comedogens in shampoos, conditioners and styling products can trickle down onto skin, clogging pores and causing acne. Allergens can cause acne, too: while they don’t clog pores the way comedogens, do, they can irritate pores, causing […]
“Oil” On the Line: Argan Oil vs. Coconut Oil
Grease Fighting? Of the two most talked-about oils out there, which takes the lead? 1) Growth hormones Argan oil comes from the kernels of the argan tree fruit which do not contain growth hormones. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has phytochemicals and growth hormones, an important aspect of its anti-aging. TIP: Look for first-and-cold-pressed VCO, free […]