Take Off With Confidence

Travelling can take its toll on our skin so we have put together our best tips to help you arrive at your destination with a healthy glow.

Before travelling, use a serum with hyaluronic acid under your moisturizer to prepare your skin and keep it hydrated. Try and keep makeup to a bare minimum so that you can reapply your moisturizer during your flight. Flying is deeply dehydrating so make sure to drink lots of water before, during and after your flight.

For longer flights, consider applying a hydrating mask. We love Vivier’s Ultrahydrating Mask or Skin Ceuticals Hydrating B5  Masque. Leave the mask on for the duration of your flight. This will help keep your skin hydrated while travelling to prevent breakouts. Even more, you will land with a healthy glow!

Always travel with our must haves: hand cream, lip balm, and a hydrating moisturizer. Our go to travel makeup is Jane Iredale. We find it gives natural coverage and feels like bare skin. It also provides great SPF coverage.

For more tips and advice, book your complimentary consultation.

Wedding Day Prep: What to do to get ready for that big day!

Preparations for a wedding happens long before the actual day and this is especially true for getting the bride ready for her big day. Your skin needs to be at its best and it’s important not to leave this to the last minute.

At Britannia Dermedics, we suggest incorporating skin and body care into your wedding planning well in advance. These are our suggestions of what you can do now to make sure you look and feel your very best when the big day arrives:

1. Lots of couples decide to hit the gym to slim down and tone their body for the big day. Sometimes, there are areas that are impossible to target. At Britannia Dermedics, we offer body shaping and contouring with our newest SculpSure treatments. These treatments are fast, effective and require no downtime. The treatment safely and effectively breaks down body fat, resulting in a more defined shape. You will need 2-3 treatments, each at 4 weeks apart and full results are seen 8 weeks after your last treatment so this treatment is ideal to start well before your big day.
2. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be hair free for your wedding and, of course the honeymoon! Laser hair removal is a great alternative to waxing or electrolysis or razors. Treatments deliver permanent hair reduction and can we can treat a wide range of skin types and tones safely and effectively. You will need 8-12 treatments at 6 weeks apart so this is a treatment that should be considered early in order to be ready for your big day.
3. You want to look your most radiant and youthful on your big day. Regular facials are often not enough. Consider a non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment with our top of the line laser technology. The result will be a brighter, more even skin tone.
4. If you have more serious skin concerns such as acne scarring, stretch marks, or enlarged pores, we offer Venus Viva skin resurfacing treatments. This non-invasive treatment is amazing for improving skin’s texture and tone. Booking 2-3 treatments spaced 30 days apart before your wedding is ideal to ensure your skin is at its best for your big day.
5. Talk to our injection specialist about reducing wrinkles and restoring volume and fullness to give you a refreshed appearance. At Britannia Dermedics, our specialists can help reduce wrinkles as well as lift and fill the contours of your face to regain your youthful appearance.
6. Being on a regular routine of a good skin care line is also essential to having the best skin on your big day.

Call us to book your complimentary consultation so we can let you know what treatments we think would be best for you so that you can reach your goals of looking your best on your big day!

Eat seasonally for great skin

Eating seasonally does your body good – and it’s also great for your skin.

For the best foods in autumn, choose seasonal, local, organic food. Go for color and variety –just as the leaves turn brilliant orange, red, and yellow, so too should your diet. Pick roots, tubers and squashes, loaded with beta-carotene, which is nourishing, moistening and enhancing for your complexion.

Here’s a list of fall’s best beauty foods:

Beetroot: Clears congestion and is a great vegetable for promoting better circulation.

Brussel Sprouts: Loaded with vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and folic acid, this often over-looked vegetable packs a strong anti-aging punch. The cabbage family is important for intestinal cleansing and blood purifying – both important for youthful skin.

Pears: Known for its ability to generate fluids and is fiber rich.

Pumpkin/Butternut Squash: High in the beta-carotenes and a good source of C, also great for reducing sweet cravings.

Broccoli: Loaded with vitamin C, beta-carotene and packed with anti-oxidant power. A must on your plate throughout the autumn and winter!

Add these in moderate amounts to your diet:

Onion, garlic, ginger, horseradish, and mustard. Brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, bulgar wheat, chlorophyll and fiber-rich foods for the large intestine such as spirulina, barley grass, wheat grass,  kale, parsley, and collard greens. Herbs, spices, condiments, oils, such as cinnamon, thyme, turmeric, and honey are great too.

Enjoy!

Winter Sun – Take the Time to Protect Your Skin

The skies are grey, and your sunglasses are in the glove compartment, packed away until spring. Remember the holy grail of of skin care—protect yourself from the sun year round, from New Years Day to New Years Eve.

Protect Your Face

Our faces are the most vulnerable part of bodies when it comes to sun damage. Our faces are delicate, and they get the most exposure of any body part. Use medical-grade products, such as Colorescience’s Sunforgettable mineral powder or other non-greasy treatments, to integrate sun protection into your daily routine. Your skin will be grateful come rain or come shine.

Go the Distance

Sun protection isn’t just for our beautiful faces, but for the rest of our bodies as well. Hands, neck, and chest are also incredibly sensitive to sun, due to the delicate structure our skin in those areas—they’re low on fat and need to be treated delicately. Make sure sunscreen is applied daily, every few hours if exposed to any degree whatsoever. Regular sun protection will make a huge difference when you look at your skin years down the road. Don’t underestimate the power of a little SPF.

Head to Toe, Day to Night, Summer to Winter

No matter whether it’s a cloudy, windy, grey day in Lethbridge or a blistering hot day on a Mexican vacation, one of your strongest defenses against aging, sun spots, skin cancer, and wrinkles is sunscreen. Possibly the best piece of advice you can receive or pass on is to wear sunscreen every day, under your clothes, as part of your moisturizing routine. Find the medical-grade, SPF-inclusive moisturizer that is right for your skin type and your lifestyle, and make this small step with huge benefits part of your every day life.

Vitamin C - Your New Best Friend

You’re not fighting scurvy, but you are fighting the winter blues. Last week’s tip was to pair Vitamin C and iron rich foods together for energy; this week ‘s focus is on the different ways Vitamin C can enrich your skin, energy levels, and overall health.

Sun Protection

Even in winter, we are vulnerable to the sun’s harmful rays. Topical application of vitamin C can provide protection from UVA/UVB rays and sun damage. Vitamin C has been shown to not only protect from the sun, but repair damaged skin that’s seen too many rays. Medical Grade skin lotions that contain L-ascorbic acid are the Vitamin C-filled armour your skin needs—even in March.

Another Important C—Collagen

Collagen production is aided by intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, fighting free radicals that are harmful to collagen production. A healthy intake of vitamin C and other antioxidants set up a strong defence against free radicals that get in the way of collagen production. When collagen can produce you gain plump, luminous, and youthful skin.

Vitamin C-rich Foods

• Fresh orange juice
• Tomato juice
• Broccoli
• Green and red bell peppers
• Red cabbage

Other Benefits

Vitamin C—especially paired with iron—can be hugely beneficial to overall health. Studies show the vitamin:

•     Boosts the immune system
•     Helps to prevent colds
•     Strengthens the cardiovascular system
•     Fortifies teeth and muscles
•     Prevents bruising and strengthens skin
•     Diminishes dryness and promotes good cell growth

De-stress Your Skin

There are many ways that stress affects our quality of life. Managing your stress and simplifying your days can bring positive results to many areas of your life, including the quality of your skin. See results in a brighter face, more radiant skin, and an overall boost of energy!

How Skin Quality is Affected by Stress

Stress activates different reactions in the body, and a lot of the time leaves us looking tired and worn down.

• Going off last week’s blog post, under-eye bags are largely caused by a lack of sleep. Stress keeps us up at night, causing stressed blood vessels to burst and fluid to pool under the eyes.
• Flare-ups are activated by stress-related cortisol release, which in turn affects the way hormones are regulated in the body.  Regulation of hormones is one of the best ways to stop acne in its tracks.
• Rashes or hives are often caused by an imbalance of bacteria (caused by a stress trigger) in your gut—where bad bacteria starts to outweigh the good.
• Sweating and poor diet can affect your hydration levels. Drinking coffee or pop because you’re stressed puts your sugar levels all over the map, and causes major dehydration. Dehydration = flaky, unhealthy skin.

What to Do

You probably can’t take everything stressful out of your life. That’s okay, and there’s many ways to problem solve and keep looking and feeling happy while you manage your stress and whatever the day throws at you.

• Drink water or coconut water throughout the day to keep hydrated, which is key to having energy–low energy drives us towards carby comfort meals or quick-fixes like chocolate bars. Eight glasses a day will keep you more bright-eyed and help your skin be at its healthiest.
• Pack your meals with antioxidants (found in blueberries, dark leafy greens and much, much more). Antioxidants stop free-radicals from interrupting collagen production—collagen keeps your skin looking plump, full, and young. A healthy and complete diet also maintains sugar levels, helping your hormones to stay regulated while promoting restful sleep to wipe away those under-eye bags.
• Exercise releases endorphins, which put you in a better mood and provide you with energy. More energy to approach the day will decrease your stress, as will concerning yourself less with your skin quality
• A regular amount of sleep promotes good balance of hormones, better energy, and less anxiety. To combat under-eye bags, sleep a regular amount each night, drink less alcohol (alcohol is full of sugar and stops you from deep sleep), and prop your head slightly up on your pillow to stop gravity from pooling fluid under your eyes.

Other Help

Medical grade skin care products can help improve the quality of your skin when stress is attacking it. Hyaluronic acid in products promotes collagen production. Other treatments like Juvederm stimulate collagen production using hyaluronic acid in a targeted way, and Botox reduces wrinkles caused by stress and time.

Skin Rejuvenation Without Needles or Knives

Unwanted and often premature signs of aging appear over time due to damage from many sources—sun exposure, hormonal changes, pollution, smoking, diet and more.

What happens to skin as we age?

The top layer of skin acts as a barrier for the body, protecting it by keeping disease and toxins out and essential body fluids in. At the cellular level, new cells are formed that move up towards the surface of the skin where they are eventually exfoliated or removed. When we are young, this process takes about 40 days—28 days to migrate to the surface and 12 days to be sloughed or exfoliated off. With youthful healthy skin, new skin cells are well organized and uniform in shape, size, pigmentation and structure.

When skin ages and begins to break down, the surface becomes discolored, loose, wrinkled and rough. Cell turnover slows, reducing essential nutrients and produces cells that are abnormal. Collagen and elastin, the necessary proteins found in our bodies for healthy, plump skin, become less dense and less uniform, disorganized and coarser, causing skin to age and sag. There is less blood circulation and moisture, resulting in dull, lifeless skin.

Skin Treatment begins with the basics

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is especially true with maintaining healthy youthful looking skin. A healthy lifestyle and a proper skin care routine can mean putting off or avoiding injections or cosmetic surgery.

What’s the difference? Medical grade skin care is made up of medically proven ingredients only available through a doctor, which have been developed through clinical research. Over the counter products may also be based on clinical research but the dosage of the ‘wonder ingredients’ is minimal compared to medical grade skin care products. Over the counter lotions and creams typically do not penetrate as deeply, providing only a surface treatment.

Medical grade products work deeper, targeting the dermis or middle layer of the skin, where collagen and elastin are found and in the basal or bottom layer of the skin, where new skin cells are formed.

For skin rejuvenation, and to prevent premature aging, begin with a healthy lifestyle and use medically researched products with the right formula to keep skin looking youthful.

Tighter Skin with No Recovery Time

Women on the go may feel like their skin has lost its former tightness over time, which is a natural effect of aging. If you’re busy and can’t afford down time, Titan Skin Tightening should be considered as an effective way to combat the signs of aging. Titan Skin Tightening offers younger looking skin with no recovery time. It is non-surgical, non-invasive, and requires no needles!

Who it’s For?

Titan Skin Tightening is for patients who want younger, brighter skin without surgery.  Unlike other laser treatments available, Titan Skin Tightening is approved for all skin types, tones, and ages; it works well for patients who want their skin effectively and dramatically rejuvenated without going under the knife.

How it Works:

TItan Skin Tightening applies a uniform amount of near-infrared light to the skin to promote collagen production deep in the patient’s face, under-chin, abdomen, neck, and underarm–correcting the skin from a relaxed state to its former tautness. The near-infrared light heats the skin, causing the tissue to begin to heal itself by producing collagen. After one to three treatments, the skin appears more youthful, taut, and vibrant as the production of collagen fills in natural hollows that occur in the skin over time.

Collagen Production:

Like other skin treatments offered by Britannia, Titan Skin Tightening works by catalyzing collagen production. Collagen is a protein produced in the body, and gives the skin its strong and smooth appearance. The controlled application of near-infrared light stimulates the collagen producers and alerts the body to make more, creating stronger and fuller skin tissue.

Benefits:

- Able to be used on all skin types and ages - Can be used outside the face and neck (abdomen and underarms) - Can be used in combination with almost all other rejuvenation treatments - No recovery time - Non-surgical - No freezing or anesthesia

Quick Tips:

Along with Titan Skin Tightening, patients should consider lifestyle modifications to support the upkeep of collagen in the skin. These are the two most important and universal rules to help keep your skin healthy and young:

Sunscreen:

• As always, wear sunscreen daily and throughout the entire year to protect from sun damage to collagen production. The sun will damage the cells that produce collagen and fill in fine lines. Sun exposure also ages the skin dramatically and can be easily avoided.

Quit Smoking:

• If you’re invested in your skin’s health and youthful appearance, quitting smoking should be on the top of your list! Like sun damage, smoking leads to collagen degradation.

Deal with Dry Skin in the Summer

You might be cooling off from summer heat by going to the pool or lake. While this is a refreshing and much needed relief, your skin is feeling the effects of all that time in water, becoming dry and flaky. Dry skin in the summer seems counterintuitive, but there are a few things to know and products to consider to keep your skin hydrated, healthy, and glowing in the heat!

Sun Will Dry You Out

Staying out of the sun is a rather universal rule when it comes to healthy skin. Sun exposure will dry out your face and damage the collagen in the skin that keeps it taut, young, and healthy.

Contains SPF

Wear a facial moisturizer that contains at least 30 SPF year round, but take special care in summer. The moisturizer itself will help to keep your skin hydrated, but lack of sun protection will render its services void. Consider moisturizers that are light but offer medical grade protection:

• ZO Oclipse-C SPF 50
• Sunforgettable SPF 30 Skin Primer
• Vivierskin Platiné  Triple Skin Protection SPF 30, or Vivierskin Platiné  Sun Protection SPF 45
• SkinTx Physical Face Block SPF 30

Find a facial moisturizer with SPF that is both strong and lightweight. You want a moisturizer that protects your skin and saves you from summer dryness–but doesn’t clog your pores.

Drink Water, Avoid Water

Drinking water hydrates your body and skin, while swimming or excess time spent in water dries you out. Hydrate your skin with regular water consumption, and avoid excess alcohol and caffeine to insure that hydration is maintained.

Be Delicate!

Summer is stressful for skin, but you can relax with a few tips committed to memory. Humidity can feel great and detoxifying, but heat also brings redness as well as sweat, which traps in dirt and clogs pores. A good rule of thumb that helps many different skin areas aside from dryness is to be delicate:

Not too hot, not too cold.

When you shower, don’t go too hot and irritate the skin. Hot showers can provoke redness and evaporate the skin’s natural oils.

Easy on the towel:

Scrubbing too hard on your skin when you get out of the shower will irritate, dry you out, and remove more natural oils than necessary. Your skin is delicate and should be treated as such. It is a good idea to towel off as soon as you get out of the water so as not to let your skin dry out even more from the water, but do it lightly.

Don’t over-cleanse:

Over-cleansing is tempting in the summer as the body is hot and you sweat more. Keep the cleansing routine simple, though, and your skin will thank you. Wash your skin with a light cleansing system and apply a moisturizer that works for you. Doing this anymore than twice a day, or overloading on moisturizer will dry your skin out as it attempts to balance its oils. Enjoy the heat and don’t sweat it!

Travel Survival Tips for your Skin

Summertime means travel. When you fly, the dehumidified cabin air in an airplane sucks the moisture out of your skin, leaving you at risk for complexion problems. To prevent skin problems from airplane travel that can last for days and turn into an unwanted travel souvenir, pack a deeply hydrating moisturizer in an approved size container and bring it aboard with you. Dampen or moisten your skin (Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Skin Rehydrator Setting Mist is a great misting spray), then apply your moisturizer.

Best not to wear makeup so that you can continually treat your skin, especially on long airplane trips.

More skin survival tips

• Staying hydrated on the inside is just as important. Drink lots of water while flying and refrain from drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages.

• Avoid airplane food—bring your own food from home. Bring lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to nibble on. Your skin will thank you. You want to arrive at your destination looking fresh and dewy.

• Carrying the mist with you when you’re walking around on your trip can be handy for looking refreshed for any photo ops.

As always, whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, one of the best things you can do for your skin is stay hydrated. More is better – drink at least six cups of water every day – and if you can increase that amount, all the better!

Preparing Your Skin for the Change in Weather

Summer has been all about enjoying the sunshine (with the aid of SPF!) and maintaining a rejuvenated, healthy glow. As summer turns into autumn, learn what rules of thumb to keep and what routines need an adjustment for cooler weather.

1. Keep up the sunscreen

A light moisturizer containing SPF 15-30 should be worn year round. Though the heat of the sun isn’t felt like in summer, the aging effects of the sun’s harmful rays are ever-present. Wearing sunscreen is the number-one way to prevent unnecessary aging to your skin. Primers containing SPF are also a great option to easily include sun protection into your makeup routine.

• Colorescience’s Sunforgettable line offers primers and foundations with SPF included. Makeup containing sun protection is a smart way to simplify your skin-care routine.
• Vivierskin Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 protects from the sun year-round and combats dryness.
• SkinCeuticals Sunscreens are fitted with varying levels of protection and designed to be lightweight and non-clogging.

2. Exfoliate regularly

Skin will dry up easier with the help of autumn wind, and the loss of humidity. Dry skin is dead skin, and a weekly exfoliation with a hydrating exfoliant will keep your skin fresh and slough off the old skin cells. Your skin will appear more rejuvenated and you’re less likely to break out as dirt and dead skin cells are removed instead of left to clog your pores.

3. Use an oil-based night cream

Oil-based creams are better at retaining your natural oils and wicking off excess dirt that you’re naturally going to come in contact with day-in and day-out.

• Fall-friendly creams:
  • Vivierskin Nightly Renewal Cream
  • Viverskin Platiné Peptide CR Crème is rich to soothe and improve dry skin and can be used day or night
  • SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry

4. Rejuvenate with a Peel or Microdermabrasion

Peels and microdermabrasion are cleansing and preventative. Your skin is given a new start to be kept clean, happy, and healthy.

• Illuminize Peel
  • The Illuminize Peel at Britannia Dermedics focuses on youthful rejuvenation and improvement of skin texture.

• Microdermabrasion
  • Microdermabrasion removes dead cells from your surface layer of skin to reveal a younger, healthier you. Like the Illuminize Peel, microdermabrasion focuses on the improvement of skin texture to let younger, consistent skin tone shine through.

5. Drink Water

Your skin becomes drier in autumn, and will only need more hydration leading into winter. Drink enough water every day (at least 8 glasses) to keep hydrated from the inside out.

6. A Good Diet

Don’t go on a diet–just use yours to provide your skin with healthy colour and youth. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants to power up your immune system and let your skin reap the benefits.

Fighting the Signs of Aging in Darker Skin Tones

Skin tone is not something that should hold you back when it comes to achieving younger, healthier looking skin. There are a few things to consider for darker skin tones,  and many benefits to having darker pigment. Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing the perfect skin program specific to your lifestyle, target areas, and skin tone.

Sunscreen:

No matter how golden or dark your skin may be, sunscreen is your key defense against the signs of aging. Regardless of skin tone, sunscreen should be worn year round, especially on the face. Darker skin tones produce more melanin, which is what gives the skin its darker colour. The more melanin, the less visible are the signs of aging compared to lighter skin tones, including fine lines, wrinkles, and age spotting.

Despite this, any skin tone can still get sunburned, which is hazardous to your health. Sun damage also dries out and ages your skin, causing uneven skin tone with dark areas. Use a light, non-clogging daily moisturizer with SPF to easily defend against harmful rays.

Tighten:

These treatments are safe for all skin types.

Titan Skin Tightening:

• Titan Skin Tightening is, unlike many other laser therapies, safe for use on all skin types, including dark skin. Collagen production is stimulated by near-infrared light, correcting laxity. Titan Skin Tightening is the most researched and peer-reviewed infrared tightening program.
• Titan Skin Tightening is effective at, but not limited to, tightening of the jaw line, neck, tummy, and back of arms.

Smooth:

Hair removal brightens the appearance of your skin and removes coarse or unwanted hair. As it is done with lasers, it is important again to consider the effectiveness and safety for dark skin tones.

• Britannia Dermedics uses Cutera ProWave and CoolGlide laser hair removal systems to carefully and effectively remove unwanted hair. Our knowledgeable clinic team uses  state of the art equipment on target areas.
• ProWave and CoolGlide are safe and effective for all skin types and levels of hair coarseness and darkness.
• Laser hair removal is permanent and the #1 requested aesthetic procedure.

Glow:

Laser Facials are non-invasive. They stimulate collagen production and reveal a younger looking you.

Laser Genesis treatments

• This treatment is available for all skin types and involves minimal downtime, with no bruising or irritation.
•  Laser Genesis treatments heat the upper dermis below your skin’s surface, gently stimulating collagen production that tightens your face.
• Laser Genesis Facials can also be used on the neck, and is effective in dealing with acne scares, large pores, and uneven skin tone and texture.

Post Summer Care for your Skin

It’s skin rejuvenation season –you’ve had your fun in the sun and now it’s time to repair the damage. If you’ve spent time outside this past summer, you’ve probably got some freckles, increased pigmentation and possibly an overall weatherworn complexion.

The dark spots that accumulate from years of sun exposure can add years to your complexion. The overall appearance of these spots adds shadows to your face, making you look older. Youthful skin is typically lighter and, because it hasn’t been exposed to the sun and other elements for the same amount of time, has smooth and uniform colour.

How can you repair uneven pigmentation?

One of the simplest methods to even out a complexion is with a good medical grade skin care regime.

Why medical grade skin care? Because it penetrates below the surface of the skin to repair complexion problems, something an over the counter skin care product isn’t formulated to do.

The skin care line, Obagi Nu Derm, is effective at reducing discoloration. It turns off pigment production to even out pigmentation problems. Obagi Nu Derm can be used as a stand-alone treatment or as a preparation for more in-depth rejuvenation procedures such as laser treatments or chemical peels.

The Obagi Nu Derm treatment line includes Retin A, prescription strength hydroquinone and a product containing alpha hydroxy acid, three skin repairing essentials for pigment problems as well as wrinkles. Used faithfully and as directed, your skin tone should begin to become lighter and more uniform shortly after beginning this proven treatment regime.

Rejuvenate your skin with a focused skin care routine. Now is the time to begin, as the best skin care products and treatments recommend staying out of the sun.

4 Winter Skin Care Tips

1. Get a peel

Getting a peel is a great way to exfoliate your skin and start the new season with a clean slate. As the climate changes, so does your skin, and a peel can help ease the transition. Healthier, cleaner skin allows your winter skin-care routine to be more effective.

2. Drink plenty of water

Remembering your daily dose of water during the summer is a no-brainer, but as the cold weather sets in, remembering to stay hydrated isn’t as easy and getting your daily dose of water isn’t always a top priority – but it should be.  We all get more dehydrated during the winter, so remember to drink more water.

3. Moisturize

We wrap ourselves in heavy jackets and clothing during the winter, and it shouldn’t be any different with our skin. Apply a heavier cream instead of a lighter moisturizer to keep skin hydrated. Skin is more sensitive during the winter months, so think of a heavier moisturizer as an extra layer of protection – like a warm coat.

4. Don’t put away the sunscreen Just because it’s cold out there and you’re shivering doesn’t mean the sun’s rays have gone into hibernation. Sunscreen is just as important during the winter. Always put sunscreen on 30 minutes before you leave the house to protect your skin.

More glam ideas for evening events

Late nights, party food and imbibing more than usual can add up to skin problems. Why not give your complexion a break and switch to mineral makeup.

The beauty of mineral makeup is the pigments blend with your skin’s natural oils to even out tone. Mineral makeup contains light refracting properties for an airbrushed look and when applied properly, minimizes pores, giving you a more natural look.

What’s different about mineral makeup?

It really boils down to what’s left out of mineral makeup. For leading, quality mineral makeup lines, the ingredients that have been removed include preservatives, parabens, mineral oil, chemical dyes and fragrance, which can be irritating to your skin. Often, it’s the preservatives and fragrance that cause irritation. Dermatologists recommend mineral makeup for this very reason.

Read the label to ensure you’re purchasing a quality mineral makeup product. If it says the product is ‘mineral enriched’ or if it’s a liquid or mousse, the product may contain harmful and irritating ingredients such as paraben preservatives which are added to create a smooth texture. Makeup products that are not powders may also contain moisturizers, antioxidant vitamins or other ingredients to benefit your skin.

Women with sensitive skin are less likely to react to mineral makeup. Because it doesn’t contain oil, it’s also not aggravating to acne-prone complexions.

Give mineral makeup a try–your skin will thank you!

Your Skin & Water

Skin is an organ, and just like any other part of the body, it is made up of cells. And skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water. Without water, your organs will certainly not function properly or at their best.

For overall good heath, we need to drink an adequate amount of water daily. Why? Because water aids in circulation, digestion, absorption and even excretion.

Hydrating your skin

But what about drinking large amounts of water for proper skin health? Some say drinking water gives you a radiant, healthy, younger- looking complexion, while others say it has no effect on skin’s appearance whatsoever.

If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.

So what is the best way to add water to the skin?

• Apply a hydrating moisturizer within 2 minutes of leaving the bath or shower. The skin is still porous and is open to products that are applied following the bath or shower, allowing better absorption.

• Use a product containing hyaluronic acid before applying your moisturizer.

• Drink more water. Drinking at least eight glasses a day, if not more, will help rid the body and skin of toxins.

Not everyone will agree that water consumption will improve skin… but then again, it can’t hurt. Nothing will happen overnight, but even a good couple of weeks of increasing water intake should be enough to see how hydration affects your skin.

Tips For Improving Skin Quality

There are a number of factors that can accelerate the aging of your skin – here’s some of them and tips on how stop them or at least minimize their impact.

1. Pollution—can dull the complexion and increase skin imperfections

What to do: For oily to mixed skin, clean with water, For sensitive and dehydrated skin with water; clean a product designed for that skin type.  Choose skin care products with active ingredients that form a protective film to stop pollution from adhering to your skin.

On the menu: Green tea, cabbage, strawberries, red peppers, kiwi, wheat germ, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.

2. Air-conditioning or heating—can dehydrate your skin

What to do: Don’t rinse too aggressively with water and use a richer version of your favourite moisturizing treatment.

On the menu: Watermelon, cucumber and melon and other juicy fruits and vegetables. Food rich in essential fatty acids such as grapeseed and walnut oil, soya, fish and nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, etc) to provide optimal protection and hydration. Drink over 1.5 litres of water a day.

3. Sun protection

What to do: Protect your skin by using sunscreen protection with a minimum SPF 30 and choose a highly nourishing treatment to minimize any fine lines caused by dehydration.

On the menu: Food rich in polyphenols like green tea, grapeseed oil, and red fruit like pomegranate, blueberry or raspberry.

4. Smoking—leads to grey and dull skin

What to do: Quit smoking! Exfoliate with a scrub and a mask once or twice a week.

On the menu: Drink 1.5 litre of water a day. Incorporate green tea and grapeseed oil into your daily diet to combat oxidation due to tobacco.

5. Unhealthy food—causes shininess and imperfections

What to do: Apply a scrub and purifying mask once or twice a week.

On the menu: Cut back on fatty or sugary snacks, which may disrupt the balance of your skin. Add fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, fibres and minerals for a flawless, even complexion.

6. Tired looking skin—dark circles, under-eye bags, dull complexion.

What to do: Specialized eye contour creams

On the menu: Food rich in vitamin C (cabbage, red peppers, strawberries, kiwi, etc.) and in beta-carotene (mango, apricot, carrots, etc.).

7. Stress–causes dehydration and haggard features.

What to do: Do what you can to eliminate stress—exercise, meditation, lifestyle changes.

On the menu: High water content food including fruit and vegetables, dairy products and anti-stress food containing magnesium: green vegetables, whole grain cereals, almonds, chocolate, potassium-containing food including bananas.

HOLIDAY SEASON MAKEUP MANAGEMENT

With the holiday season in full swing, there can be days when you leave the house in the morning and don’t return until late evening. You may be going from work to a cocktail party or office event, or running errands.

How do you keep your make-up looking intact if you don’t have time for a complete re-do?

It’s inconvenient to haul all your cosmetics to the office, plus last minute fires can mean you don’t have time to do a complete refresh before heading out.

One of the ways to keep your makeup appearing fresh all day is to apply a mineral cosmetic primer before anything else, including foundation.

A bronzing mineral primer will help you get rid of that pale winter look, plus keep your foundation and the rest of your makeup in place much longer. Perfect for ensuring your eye shadow goes on evenly, it will help to keep it from creasing. With a primer, you can use less foundation, so you have a more natural look.

Colorescience Primer will protect and soothe your skin, as it also evens out skin tones, giving you a warm, healthy glow.

Colorescience’s Skin Bronzing Primer is made with rice proteins, blue algae and powerful antioxidants. It contains an SPF20, so sun protection is already included.

Make life easier for yourself in this already frantic season – and use a primer before applying the rest of your cosmetics.

Less is more

With volume fillers becoming more widely available, people are realizing that a fuller face is more youthful looking than a tight one.

Some injectors can be overly ‘enthusiastic’ with the amount of filler being injected. Just as cosmetic plastic surgery in the 80s and 90s produced a too tight look, ‘liquid facelifts’ or dermal filler injections can result in an overly plumped appearance.

Injecting dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane properly takes experience and an artistic sensibility. Overdoing the filler doesn’t take more years off. It results in an overdone look.

Don’t over do it

The goal should be to look great, not to look 30 when you’re 50 +.

A good injector will take the time to evaluate your skin quality and texture, your bone structure and how your face looks at rest and when it’s animated. It’s best to go slowly, instead of doing everything at once and live with the results. It’s much easier to add filler, than to try and deflate overly full cheeks and lips.

As with all skin rejuvenation procedures, you need to do your research first.

Exercise and your skin

Need another reason to stick to your New Year’s resolution to exercise more?

Here’s a good one. Regular exercise is another way to have a healthy, youthful looking complexion.

Along with keeping your heart and lungs healthy, exercise improves your circulation. Anything that promotes better blood circulation also helps to keep skin looking vibrant and healthy.

Increased blood flow helps to nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells throughout your body, including your skin. Blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, which damage your skin. Exercise assists with flushing cellular debris out of the system. Think of it as cleaning your skin from the inside.

If you have skin conditions such as acne, rosacea or psoarias, you may need to protect your skin while exercising.

Be good to your skin and the rest of your body – get moving!