Face Mask Hygiene

 

Think about the moisture and the bacteria that builds up in a mask as we wear it.   You are talking, your saliva has been going into the mask, your sweat from your face has been going into the mask…  You don’t want to wear that same mask again the next day.  And what exactly is that doing to my skin?

  MASK ACNE?  

Mask acne, or “Maskne” is most likely to occur if you wear your mask for extended amounts of time without proper care.   Masks trap the moisture, the sweat, the oils, and dirt right on to our face, clogging your pores.  Even breathing into your mask can cause bacteria to form on the fabric.  All of this can lead to acne, small bumps, pseudofolliculitis, inflamed hair follicles, irritation, pressure sores, broken blood vessels, contact dermatitis. 

Dermatologists recommend using a gentle cleanser, applying a moisturizer that creates a barrier, wearing little or no makeup, and exfoliating regularly.  

Keep your face clean and keep your mask clean!  This is why we say:

    TREAT YOUR MASK LIKE YOUR     UNDERWEAR 

• ALWAYS WEAR IT IN PUBLIC
• MAKE SURE IT COVERS THE IMPORTANT PARTS
• DO NOT TOUCH IT OR ADJUST IT IN PUBLIC
• DO NOT SHARE IT WITH OTHERS
• WEAR THE CORRECT SIDE OUT AND UP
• IF IT HAS HOLES, THROW IT OUT
• SOME OF US MAY HAVE TO WRITE OUR NAMES ON IT
• MAKE SURE IT IS TIGHT, BUT COMFORTABLE
• CHANGE IT DAILY
• IF IT IS MADE OF CLOTH, WASH AND DRY IT THOROUGHLY BEFORE REUSE

  CARE AND HANDLING OF CLOTH MASKS 

• CLEAN YOUR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER TOUCHING YOUR MASK.  THIS MEANS PUTTING ON, ADJUSTING, AND TAKING IT OFF.  AVOID CROSS-CONTAMINATION.
• WEAR IT CORRECTLY.  COVER BOTH THE MOUTH AND NOSE.   MAKE SURE THE OUTSIDE IS OUT AND THE PROPER DIRECTION IS UP.  YOU MAY NEED TO MARK YOUR MASK TO MAKE THIS IDENTIFICATION EASIER.
• STORE YOUR MASK IN A CLEAN PLACE.  A PLASTIC BAG IS RECOMMENDED FOR WHEN STORING OR TRANSPORTING OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.  NEVER PUT YOUR MASK UNPROTECTED IN A POCKET OR PURSE.  HANGING YOUR MASK FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR IS ALSO A BAD IDEA, SINCE IT CAN BLOCK YOUR FIELD OF VISION AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
• WASH AND DRY IT PROPERLY.  PUTTING IT IN A GARMENT BAG IS A GOOD WAY TO AVOID SNAGS IN THE LAUNDRY.

Comments?

Skincare is more than just the skin

 Great skin does not begin and end with skincare   products.  To have healthy and vibrant skin, one must   treat the whole body and mind .

  1) HAVE A COMPLETE SKINCARE REGIMEN  

Daily care depends on your skin type, but generally: Cleanse, Clarify, Moisturize, and Renew when required.  Choose your cleanser based on your type & need and use twice a day.  Clarify using a toner.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize - it cannot be said enough.  To enhance moisturizing, a serum is recommended.  When necessary, exfoliate to renew the skin.  And always follow the morning routine with sunscreen.  The sun can undo all your hard work in just a short time.

                                                                                                                                    

  2) A HEALTHY DIET WILL DO WONDERS  

Fruits and Vegetables are a great start, but there are many "skin-healthy" foods which can enhance your appearance.  Specifically:  Mangoes, Tomatoes, Kale, Green Tea, Soy, and foods containing Olive Oil or Omega-3's all affect the skin positively at the cellular level.   In addition, it has been shown that lowering calorie intake slows the cellular aging process.  And don't forget that drinking alcohol will dilate the pores of the skin, resulting in blackheads and whiteheads.

                                                                                                               

  3) QUIT SMOKING  

Not only will smoking contaminate your lungs, it will also prematurely age the facial skin.  It narrows blood vessels and exhausts the skin of oxygen.  Additionally, the act of smoking is likely to form wrinkles around the lip and mouth area.    

https://smokefree.gov/

                                                                                                               

  4) MINIMIZE STRESS  

Research shows that excessive stress can lead to hair loss, flaky patches on the scalp, itchy or scaly skin, hand rashes and several other problems. Reducing stress levels will lead to clearer skin.  Meditation and Yoga are great ways to reduce stress.

                                                                                                               

  5) GET YOUR BEAUTY REST  

The term Beauty Rest exists for a reason.  Getting a good night’s sleep will indeed help your skin tone and can eliminate those dark circles under your eyes. While sleeping, the skin repairs itself from daily damage such as sun exposure.  It is recommended to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night.  Sleep deprivation has been linked to several ailments, including diabetes, obesity, immune deficiency and cancer.

                                                                                                               

   BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP  

We know that true beauty comes from within.  And skincare must be thought of in that same note.  It is much more effective when the whole mind and body are treated as well as our outer layer.  Sometimes even more so.

JULY IS UV SAFETY MONTH

JULY IS UV SAFETY MONTH

Since July is UV Safety month, we want to remind you how important it is to wear sunscreen when you are out and about.

Use sunscreen even on a cloudy day!  Even though it is cloudy outside, 80% of harmful UV Rays can pierce through the clouds and damage the skin.  In addition, the cooling effect of the clouds can also lull you into staying outside longer than you normally would.  Use your sunscreen ANY time you plan to spend time outside.  Don’t forget that snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays.

Choose a Broad Spectrum sunscreen.  When a sunscreen is labelled Broad Spectrum, it means it protects for both UVA and UVB (Ultraviolet A and B Rays).  It is important to protect yourself not only from the harmful UVB rays that cause the sunburn, but also from the UVA rays that cause premature aging (wrinkles & age spots).

No sunscreen is Waterproof or Sweat Proof.  It is recommended to always choose a sunscreen that is water resistant but be mindful that there is no sunscreen product that is truly waterproof or sweat proof.  Manufacturers are no longer allowed to advertise sunscreens as waterproof or sweat proof. Instead, products are now labeled either Water Resistant (Effective for up to 40 minutes in water) or Very Water Resistant (Effective for up to 80 minutes in water)

Use enough sunscreen.  Typically, we only use 25-50% of the amount of sunscreen we need to be protected and often neglect entire areas of our bodies. When too little sunscreen is applied, it reduces the sun protection factor significantly, e.g. SPF30 may only work as SPF10.  The AmericanAcademy of Dermatology recommends using about 1 ounce of sunscreen - or enough to fill a shot glass - to fully cover an adult body.   It is important to use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF (50 SPF if you are in Australia) and to apply at least 15-30 minutes before sun exposure.  The AAD also recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours, after getting out of the water, and after sweating.  Also apply to the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears and the top of your head.  (There is even a special sunscreen just for the scalp)  Always use a lip balm that has an SPF.

Remember, diligent use of sunscreen can slow or temporarily prevent the development of wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.  And please throw away that expired sunscreen.

Happy Father's Day 2020

Happy Father's Day 2020!  It has been a heck of a year and let's make sure Dad knows how much we appreciate him and how thankful we are of him as a Dad.   
So, with that in mind, here are our favorite shaving tips to share with Dad:

1. Always shave at least 30 minutes AFTER waking up.  Give those hairs some time to 'wake up' and be ready to shave.
2. Shave after or while in the shower.  The hot water and the steam open the pores and soften the whiskers.
3. Use plenty of good shaving cream.  Obviously, we prefer Purifying Whipped Cleanser, since it cleans while it shaves.  Regardless of the product, make sure the skin is properly shielded with an appropriate amount of lather.  This will protect from nicks and cuts.
4. Shave in the direction of the growth - usually downward.
5. Rinse the razor often to clear out shavings between the razor blades.
6. After shaving, rinse the face with cool water - this will help close those pores back up and protect the face.
7. Follow the cool water with a toner.  Again, Clear Skin Toner or Refreshing Toner are our choices for this.  A toner will ensure a completely clean face and help fight any ingrown hairs.
8. MOISTURIZE!  We cannot stress how important this is.  It ensures that the whiskers remain soft and keeps the face emmolient.  (Balancing Moisture Cream would be a perfect choice)
9. Lastly, perhaps even the most important tip, please make sure Dad uses his Sunscreen.  Make this a part of the everyday routine and make sure that his face is protected.  The sun can undo all the good things we do to our skin if we do not protect it.