Tag Archive for: anti-inflammation

DIY Mask + Body Treatments

At the end of a long day sometimes we just want to get back to basics and feel good. DIY at home masks and body treatments are a great way to unwind and feel pampered without breaking the bank at a luxury spa.

 

Below are a few of our favorite at home rituals:

The Sweet Body

Sugar body scrubs are a cinch to make at home. Make sure you always use fine sugar, as you don’t want it to scratch the skin. Mix in ¼ cup of coconut oil for hydration and anti-bacterial benefits and a tablespoon of lemon for brightness and further exfoliation. If you want to add a cellulite and anti-inflammation treatment, add the mornings old coffee grinds. Caffeine is a cellulite buster! Mix together in a bowl and apply and gently scrub in the shower.

The result: Smooth, hydrated and retextured skin.

Lip Love

Peeling lips are a real thing and with lower temperatures around the corner, its time to protect your lips. Exfoliating your lips will help them stay soft and kissable. When making a scrub at home look to use ingredients to gently slough off dead skin cells, dried lipsticks and dry skin, but still adding hydration. I like to mix either almond oil or Vitamin E with finely granulated sugar. Coconut oil may feel soothing too as it is antibacterial, anti fungal and anti microbial. If you’re looking to make a lip plumper, you can sue the same ingredients, but add some cinnamon!

**If lips are already peeling or have open cuts or sores, exfoliation and plumping is not recommended.

The result: Soft, plump and hydrated.

Heel heal

Mix half a cup of lemon juice for exfoliation and breaking down the thick dried skin, ¼ of coconut oil and a lot of salt. Start by scrubbing the bottoms of the feet, paying particular attention to the heels. Rinse very well and apply coconut oil and then a pair of socks before bed.

The result: In the morning your feet will thank you and feel super smooth to the touch!

The Superfood Mask

Mix ½ cup of nonfat plain yogurt with ½ of an avocado and a tablespoon of honey. Yogurt has exfoliation and brightening benefits due to the high levels of lactic acid. Yogurt may also help soothing and cool down red inflamed skin. Honey is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic and can also help remove dirt and bacteria due to it’s sticky consistency. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before washing off.

The result: Brighter, Radiant and smoother complexion.

 

 

 

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Dr. G weighs in on summer skin issue: Facial Redness

Are you red in the face? The culprits that generally cause facial redness especially during the summer can be annoying but are possible to manage and/or even avoid. Certain topical skincare products as well as warm temperatures, exercising outdoors, certain foods and drinks can encourage facial redness. Dr. G breaks down the culprits with tips and tricks to try this summer.


Exercise induced redness:

  • Occurs when the small capillaries widen to send more oxygen to the muscles
  • Facial redness generally affects those with fair skin more than others
  • Occurs due to the body temperature rising as extra blood rushes to the surface of the skin as a result of working hard

Solutions:

  • Try running indoor at the gym with the AC on
  • Take a cold shower post workout. Not only does cold-water help with redness it cools your body down fast
  • Keep a cold bottle of water and towel with you and use as a compress

Product induced redness:

  • Retinol is a necessary powerhouse but absolutely has side effects. Vitamin A (the ingredient that makes up Retinol) can cause redness, dryness and sun sensitivity
  • If you want to stay on your Retinol regimen, cut back on the number of days you use these types of products
  • ALWAYS wear an SPF + HAT
  • Limit acids, Glycolic, and aggressive exfoliators (go gentle on the scrubbing)

Alcohol + Food induced redness:

  • All alcohol can cause facial redness but wine tends to be the worst due to sulfites, tannins and histamines. * try mixing in a sparkling water or skip the alcohol all together
  • Caffeine (especially if you have Rosacea) but the heat of the coffee may add insult to injury of already redness prone skin
  • Spicy food * Dr. G says “reach for hydrating fruit instead”

Dr. G says increase anti-inflammatory, cooling and soothing ingredients /foods

  • Red Tea (Rooibos)
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Green Tea
  • Oatmeal
  • Cucumbers

If excessive redness does happen, try applying a cool compress, splashing your face with very cold water, going indoors and allowing your body to cool off. Wearing a little concealer on areas that do tend to get red can help too.

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Eye creams for every decade: Tips for rolling back time

The skin under the eyes is quite different from the rest of your face, and as you age, it reveals aging signs up to 20 percent faster than the rest of your face (yes, scary!). That’s because of a whole confluence of disheartening factors. The skin here is extremely thin, with the lowest elasticity, firmness, and oil production, the worst barrier function (i.e. limited absorption of actives and poor protection from environmental stressors) and , and often times develops the deepest wrinkles. Here’s what you need to know and practice with your eye treatments through the decades.

20’s – Prevention (and late night recovery repair)

Woke up looking as rough as you feel? 20’s are a decade of work hard, play hard.

Treatment: In need of a quick fix to telltale signs of overindulgence and under-sleeping, like puffiness and dark circles, look for eye creams that contain anti-inflammatory fighting ingredients like Vitamin K, Arnica, Caffeine and/or soothing tea extracts.

30’s – The first signs

We begin to see some signs of aging in the early 30’s. These changes include hyperpigmentation or”dark circles” around the eyes. Additionally, we may begin to see some fine lines and textural changes around the eye area due to the thinness of the skin.

Treatment: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory creams containing vitamin A, C and E can also help to ward off free-radicals and give an extra boost to collagen production (hello enhanced plumpness to the skin). By building collagen the treatments help to minimize the appearance of dark circles that are in-part caused by blood vessels close to the surface of aging, thinner skin and reduce inflammation around the eye area.

40’s – Age is here to stay

Throughout the 40’s, dark circles may become more prominent, along with more visible lines. Even after getting ample sleep (8 hours), your eyes are giving you that “tired look” even when they feel fresh; we’ve all been there!

Treatment: Retinol creams or for those who can tolerate them, gentle prescription-strength retinoids can be helpful. These creams help to increase cell turnover thereby minimizing dark-circles and textural changes. They also can help stimulate collagen production thereby preventing volume loss down the road.

50’s +- Soften Wrinkles

Say no more…

Treatment: In addition to continuing to use products that contain retinol, anti-oxidants and skin rejuvenating properties, peptide-based eye creams often present an effective alternative (especially if you have sensitive skin) if you’re looking for a way to avoid dermal fillers or plastic surgery. Peptides are designed to provide collagen-boosters (say goodbye to those stubborn fine lines) to your skin and improve circulation, so you can often expect reduced darkness and an increase in skin plumpness and elasticity.

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