Beauty And The Blog

Archive for the ‘Common Sense in Skin Care and Anti-Aging’ Category

Is it possible to age gracefully? Or do we just accept every wrinkle, line or dark spot nature flings our way? Do you  fight it or ignore it?

And just what exactly is aging gracefully? I think it means different things to different women. For some of us it means full on acceptance because we are all meant to grow old. And for others it means fighting tooth and nail to still look 30 something.

For me, I look at two facts. I’m going to get older as long as I keep living. And with that comes the usual (dreaded by most) signs of aging.

So do I want to try to look a decade or so younger than I am? Or do I want to just let it flow, let go and look old?

No, I so totally don’t. Neither of those choices are at all acceptable to me. So there must be  a ‘gray area’ between the two. And that is where I find the answer to my own question. Read the rest of this entry »

Of course you have seen them. Just about every women’s magazine has them. You know, those articles where they tout what the beauty editor claims is the best skin care or anti-aging products. Or often it is based on a reader’s poll.

Do you believe the products receiving these “Beauty Awards” are truly the best you can get? Do you run right out and stock up? Or do you do a little research of your own first, like finding out the list of ingredients and what they really can or can’t do?

I have wondered at times if some of these ‘awards’ are based on advertising dollars. What do you think?

And if it is “Reader’s Choice”, do you really think the average reader (not you of course, you read this blog, wink..) knows what the right combination of ingredients are? Are they voting/nominating these products because they smell great? Or maybe because it is a highly advertised product, so therefore, it must be great? Read the rest of this entry »

Summer. We all love it. Warm weather, beaches, lakes. Barbecues, outdoor social events, sun, bronzed skin.

Wait a minute. Sun? Bronzed skin? What are you thinking? NO!  I wasn’t really thinking that, I know better. But maybe you were.

Are you still stuck in the mind set that a Beach Beauty has to be a Bronzed Beauty?  So, so wrong.

Let’s think for a moment about what is beautiful when it comes to our skin. For myself, I think smooth, satiny, silky skin. I think skin with a glow from within. Lovely, even tone and texture. Minimal wrinkles and lines. And importantly, skin the color you were born with.

What do you think when you consider what beautiful skin is?

Are you thinking bronzed, tanned skin? If you are you have some surprises to look forward to in the future. Are you aware that nearly all the signs of aging skin are caused by the sun (and tanning beds, don’t be fooled into thinking that is a safe option), followed by smoke and general neglect.

Here is what that bronzed tan skin will ‘gift’ you with in the future. Leathery and/or crepe paper texture (that’s pretty, huh?) and dark spots. I was being nice, I mean age spots (ooh, those are nice). Larger patches of discoloration (even nicer). Wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Yup, that all sounds like just what you want, right? Read the rest of this entry »

The reality and inevitability of aging and wrinkles. It cannot be avoided or evaded. In fact, we should all be considering ourselves lucky to be aging, means we are still alive.

Problems set in when we don’t want to look as if we are aging. I personally know this all too well. How about you? It isn’t the age that bothers me, the actual number. It’s that reflection in the mirror. The Battle of the Wrinkles. Luckily (and no, I am not bragging), between my experience as an Esthetician and just plain old good genes, I’ve been fighting back pretty well.

I’ve done my homework, researched product ingredients, figured out what will actually provide some results. And in case you haven’t, I have put much of it together here for you, on this blog (always more to come).

Results vary though. And we, you and I, vary. Some of us show the signs of aging earlier than others. Products vary. Effectiveness, stability, things like that.. All the hype around products is crazy. This one does it all! Eliminate wrinkles! Better than this, better than that! What a mess, right? Read the rest of this entry »

Food. Hmm. How does it relate to anti-aging and healthy skin? Have you ever thought of the food you eat as being part of a skin care routine? Food, your diet, is another weapon you can use to slow the aging process and the symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles and dry skin.

It’s true that we can be what we eat. If you choose to put low quality food lacking in good nutrition into your body, well what do you think will happen? Low quality health. And your skin, your complexion, is very much affected by the health of your body in general.

Eating some foods in particular can actually be a way of boosting your skin care routine. To get good quality nutrition for your skin start thinking about a diet that is low in saturated fat yet high in healthier fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids will help insure your skin’s natural oil barrier. What does that mean for your complexion? Hydrated, plump and more youthful looking skin. No, you won’t look like you’ve had a face lift, sorry. But you will notice a difference and it will be one you will like. Read the rest of this entry »