10 Superfoods for great skin

1.)   Blueberries: full of antioxidants that fight free radicals protecting you from pre-mature aging

2.)   Wild Salmon: A great source of Omega-3 fatty acids that will help keep your skin moisturized and supple. Salmon also has selenium, a mineral that protects the skin from sun exposure. The vitamin D in salmon keeps your bones and teeth strong and healthy, too.

3.)   Spinach: This leafy green vegetable is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Spinach is loaded with lutein, which keeps your eyes healthy and sparkling. Spinach is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids

4.)   Tomatoes: The best source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene. Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed

5.)   Kiwi: This small, brown, fuzzy fruit is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which keep skin firm, help prevent wrinkles, and are great for healthy bones and teeth. The antioxidants in kiwis also protect you from cancer and heart disease.

6.)   Yogurt: One cup of low-fat yogurt has more calcium than a cup of fat-free milk, which is great for your posture, nails, and teeth. It also helps to kill any bad bacteria that can cause acne and other skin problems.

7.)   Nuts: (Walnuts, Almonds and Pecans) High in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E keeping your skin moisturized helping to protect against dry skin.

8.)   Pumpkin: High in Beta Carotene that helps repair dry skin and aids in protecting your skin from sun damage.

9.)   Green Tea: Anti-inflammatory, full of antioxidants and flavinoids. Anti aging and aids in the prevention of wrinkles.

10.)                  Water: Adequate hydration is essential for optimum skin health. Far too many people are chronically dehydrated as a result making them look older with superficial dehydration (fine lines and wrinkles) and an uneven complexion.

The importance of SPF

SPF or Sun Protection Factor plays a very important role in skin care.  Everyone should be wearing a minimum of SPF 30 on their face on a daily basis to protect it from harmful UV damage.

What do the numbers beside SPF stand for? This is that amount of time you can spend outdoors multiplied by the amount of time it takes for you to burn when you’re not wearing an SPF. For example, for my fair skin tone, if I were to go outside in the blazing sunshine unprotected I would burn in approximately 7min. So if I were wearing SPF 15, I can stay out 15 times longer then it takes me to burn. Let’s do the math: 15 x 7min = 105min. I can stay outside for 105min before I have to reapply my SPF.

Not only should you be wearing SPF to keep your skin looking young and beautiful but it plays a vital role in protection against skin cancer.

There are 3 different types of skin cancer.

1.)   Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC):

a.     Most common (3-4x more common then SCC)

b.    Rarely metastasizes or causes death

c.     2:1 male to female ratio

2.)   Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):

a.     Less common then BCC but common

b.    Can metatasize and/or cause death but not common

c.     2:1 male to female ratio

3.)   Melanoma:

a.     Least common skin cancer

b.    Most common cause of death

c.     1:1 male to female ratio

-       Skin cancer is, by far, the most common cancer diagnosed in Canada

-       1 in 7 Canadians will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime

-       Skin Cancers represent 1/3 of all new cases of cancer each year

-       Many with skin cancer develop recurrence and/or second primary skin cancers

-       Melanoma is the second most common skin cancer found in young adults (ages 15 – 34)

-       Incidence rates of melanoma are increasing

-       The most common areas to get BCC include ears, nose, scalp, forehead, back of hands, shoulders, neck & decolette because they are almost always exposed

-       The most common SCC is actinic keratosis which usually occurs on the lips

Be sun smart! Slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sunscreen because we have all been affected by cancer whether it was a family member, friend or just someone we know and we want to do everything we can to protect ourselves.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/sun-sol/expos/skin-cancer-peau-eng.php

http://www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com/

My Top Ten favourite Products

1.)   ColoreScience Mineral Makeup: I am a trained make up artist as well as a skin therapist and I couldn’t be happier with this product line. I wear their minerals everyday. Not only does it have amazing coverage but it doubles as your daily SPF. Think of this product line as an extension of your skin care. It will leave your skin radiant and glowing. Benefits include: Antibacterial when exposed to sunlight, it's your daily SPF, moisture locking, oil absorbing, light weight and anti-inflammatory. 

2.) Antioxidant Hydramist: This is a toner from Dermalogica’s AgeSmart line. I use this to set my minerals. Its anti aging and extremely hydrating and let’s not forget to mention that it smells amazing too.  It contains pea and bamboo extracts in it which have a 'flash firming' effect on the skin. 

3.)   Micropeel: This is a 5% glycolic exfoliating masque from ProDerm (which happens to be my all time favourite product line). It's gentle and extremely effective. You only need to use it once a week for 20 - 30 min. It has lightening and brightening properties. A staff favourite for sure :)

4.)   Gentle Cleanser: ProDerm's one cleanser for all skin types. It's a nice balance between and milky and foaming cleanser. Has a slight glycolic molecule in it so it leaves your skin super soft and clear of congestion with regular use. It is pH balanced so that it's not necessary to use a toner after you cleanse (keeping it simple). Best used before using micropeel as it leaves the pH of your skin at a 4.5 rather then a 5.6 like most cleansers do, allowing the glycolic to be more active. Gentle enough to be used over eyes. I use this as my morning cleanser. 

5.)   Ultimate buffing cloth: A texturized cloth by Dermalogica. I use this everyday in the shower with my body wash. It leaves my skin super refined and soft. Great for those who suffer from ingrown hairs, particularly men who wax their backs because it is nice and long allowing you to exfoliate across your whole back. It is synthetic meaning that it will not harbour bacteria, all you have to do is give it a good rinse off once you're done using it and hang to dry (it dries in minutes making it ideal for travel). Machine washable. 

6.) AVST Eye Gel (Environ): Rich in antioxidant Vit A, C and E. Helps to soften the appearance of fine lines and gives a firmer and lifted look to the skin around the eyes. I'm a huge texture freak and this is by far my favourite texture out of any other product I use. 

7.)   Barrier Repair: A moisturizer from Prior's Advanced AHA line. It's light weight and silky smooth. Since using this I feel like there is a nice radiance to my skin again and I swear my pores appear to be smaller! I use this as my daytime moisturizer. 

8.) Revitalizing Cleanser: Daily Cleanser from Priori's CoffeeBerry line. One week using this cleanser and you'll fall in love. This exfoliating cleanser contains Malac Acid which is derived from fruit. CoffeeBerry is a powerful anti oxidant with phenomenal anti aging effects on the skin. It will help to reduce pigmentation and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It leaves your skin brighter and more radiant, even after just one use. I use this as my evening cleanser.

9.)   Day Complex: Day Moisturizer from Priori's CoffeeBerry line. It's is 98.5% natural for those of you who take comfort in non-chemical products. All skin types can use it but is best suited for dry, mature, sun-damaged skin. Has vanilla bean extract in it which smells so good, it may make people want to lick your face lol. It has a bit heavier consistency then barrier repair so I use this as my night cream.

10.)                  Terreus Masque: By ProDerm, used once a week for 20 - 30 min all over the face (avoiding eyes of course). It is soothing, toning and mattifying. The more you use this masque, the more mattifying effect it has on the skin. It's clay based but does not dry out the skin, in fact it's the complete opposite as it is super nourishing. I sometimes use it more then once a week but only on isolated areas of congestion like when I get hormonal breakouts on my chin and jaw-line to help clear it up faster. 

What are some of your favourite products?

3 Easy steps towards Healthy Skin

             I know that skin care can be a very overwhelming routine to take on, so I just wanted to do a quick post to let you know what I think the 3 most important steps to great skin are.

            Step 1: Cleanse – this is to be done on a daily basis, both morning and night, or if you’re really crunched for time, keep your cleanser in the shower and wash your face there as part of your daily routine. Ideally you should be doing a double cleanse. The first to remove make up & product (to prep the skin), the second is to actually cleanse the skin free of dirt and oils.

            Step 2: Exfoliate – this is to be done on a weekly basis. Depending on the brand and type of exfoliant, 1 – 2 times a week is plenty, as you don’t want to irritate the skin or thin it out too much. Adding this step alone into your regime, I guarantee you will see a huge improvement in clarity and texture, leaving your skin fresh, refined and glowing J

            Step 3: Moisturize – this is to be done on a daily basis, both morning and night. Either following your cleanse or after you’ve exfoliated your skin. Your morning moisturizer should contain SPF to protect your skin from UV Damage. I say a minimum of SPF 20 for the face as it is always exposed.

            Easy as pie! Once you’ve mastered these steps then we can start introducing other products into your skin care regime J

Pregnancy and Skin Care Products

           In light of my sister recently having a baby and making me an aunty for the first time, I though this would be the perfect topic of conversation J During pregnancy there are safety considerations regarding skin care products worth taking note of for the health and stability of the fetus. The body does a good job of protecting the fetus by filtering bacteria and germs through the placenta but there are some ingredients in our products that can make their way through to a developing fetus.

What does this even mean and why is it important? Using certain products like retinols and glycolics can ultimately enter into the bloodstream and potentially hinder the development of the fetus. I recently just started doing research regarding this matter because I wanted to make sure my sister was using appropriate skin care products throughout her pregnancy.  It turns out that certain products take nutrients that should be going to the development of the fetus and use them to nourish your skin instead.

Here is just a quick list of product to avoid during pregnancy:

-                Salicylic Acid (BHA or Beta Hydroxy Acid): often found in acne products, exfoliants and anti-aging products.

-                Retinol A: this is a form of Vitamin A that is commonly used to treat acne and is anti-aging. High doses of Vitamin A have been proven to be harmful to a baby.

-                Parabens: Used as a preservative. While it is an ingredient worth avoiding for all of us research is beginning to show a link from parabens to an adverse effect on the reproductive system of baby boys. Once again more research is needed but as a mom-to-be why risk it.

-                Essential oils: Not all essential oils are harmful but there are certain ones worth avoiding. Here is a list of SAFE essential oil that can be used in moderation during pregnancy: Bergamot, Calendula, Virginia Cedar, Roman and Moroccan Chamomile, Elemi, Fir, Frankincense - Boswelia Carterii,  Helichrysum, Lavender Angustifolia,  Neroli,  Sweet Myrrh – Oppapanax, Patchouli, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Spruce, Ylang Ylang. Anything else I wouldn’t touch.

-                Benzoyl Peroxide: Again another product most commonly used to treat acne, can be harmful to the baby.

Here is a useful link that has a more in-depth list of ingredients to avoid and why: http://www.natural-living-for-women.com/avoid-during-pregnancy.html

Dermal Fillers

What are dermal fillers you ask? Dermal fillers are injected into your skin to fill lines and restore lost volume, enhancing your facial contours. At my spa we use a non-animal, non-allergenic, standardized hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid naturally occurs in our bodies, so when we use fillers such as these, the body accepts them without allergic reaction and are slowly broken down over time. As part of the skins natural aging process, we experience loss of elasticity and dermal collagen. There are many contributing factors including sun, stress and life style choice.

The most common areas treated include lip enhancement, smile lines, eye contour, chin and jaw line contouring, pitted scarring and non-surgical nose job. When used in conjunction with Botox, you can get some amazing results and it tends to last longer too. This is a great alternative to surgery with minimal to no down time. Some people pop into get these treatments done on their lunch breaks and are good to head straight back to the office without anyone noticing anything different except for maybe looking more refreshed, well rested and youthful ;) 

There is a great article from Forbes.com that I’ll attach a link to if anyone is interested in reading more on this topic  http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/26/dermal-filler-cosmetic-forbes-woman-well-being-facelift.html

UV Damage

     The number one contributing factor for aging skin is the Sun (UV damage). Now I hate to have to tell you this but majority of the damage is done before the age of 18. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything we can do about it though. It’s not about pushing the stop button on your skins age (this is impossible), it’s about aging gracefully.

     The number one thing I recommend is wear an SPF Daily! Rain, sun, clouds, snow, I don’t care what the weather is like outside, SPF is a must. There are three types of rays UVA (age), UVB (burn), and UVC (these rays do not penetrate the atmosphere’s ozone layer, therefore do not effect the skin).

            UVA are longer rays, therefore penetrate deeper into the dermis. They are responsible for breaking down collagen and elastin, leading to premature aging. It may take years before you see the visible damage of UVA rays. Another thing to mention about UVA is that they penetrate through windows. So when you’re driving be sure that you apply a sunscreen to your ‘driving arm’ as well as your daily SPF on your face, neck and décolleté.   

            UVB are shorter rays that only reach the surface of the skin. They are responsible for most cases of sunburns, although UVA do contribute to sunburns, just at a deeper level. As nice as a tanned skin looks, remember that it is your body’s way of protecting itself from UV damage.

            I personally prefer wearing an SPF on my face in the form of a powder, like a mineral makeup. The fewer steps for me to do in the morning the better and it’s also much nicer to reapply a powder throughout the day rather then glopping on a heavy sun cream. My favorite mineral makeup brand is called Colorescience. The pressed powders are a full coverage foundation and an SPF which is great for skin (like mine) that gets congested easily when using to many products, not to mention it gives your skin a radiant, youthful glow. This line was founded and created by Diane Ranger (who discovered mineral makeup). She is known to the industry as the mother of mineral makeup with over 30 years of experience in developing a wide variety of mineral products. Diane Ranger is my idol.

http://www.colorescience.com/