Facial Skin Care Intervention

Sometimes your over the counter moisturizer isn't enough to do the job, then what to do?

My skin has been so dry and flaky lately, and my rich, greasy moisturizer just isn't enough. My solution and tip is to take a wash cloth with a facial cleanser and scrub the face really well all over, moisturize, then slather aquaphor (vaseline) all over! It may be gross, not sexy looking, and not for acneic skin, but it really works for dry, dehrydrated skin!

April is Facial Protection Month

Facial Protection Month is dedicated to encouraging athletes, students, adults and children alike to protect their face, head, and teeth during activities. Did you remember to wear a helmet when rollerblading or eye protection when you were mowing the lawn or a mouth guard when you played hockey?

Those are all important means to protect your face, but don't forget Skin Care!

Proactive skin care will help you keep your skin youthful and healthy.
Read these tips by the Mayo Clinic staff

Your busy lifestyle leaves little time for pampering skin care. The result: Your skin isn't the baby-soft body glove you were born with. As you age, your skin gradually becomes thinner and finely wrinkled. Oil-producing (sebaceous) glands grow less active, leaving your skin drier. The number of blood vessels in your skin decreases, your skin becomes more fragile, and you lose your youthful color and glow.

Good skin care — such as avoiding the sun, washing your skin gently and applying moisturizer regularly — can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. These simple skin-care habits will help you protect your skin to keep it healthy and glowing for years to come.

1. Protect yourself from the sun
The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Ultraviolet light — the invisible but intense rays from the sun — damages your skin, causing deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, liver spots, and more serious disorders, such as noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin tumors. In fact, most of the changes seen in aging skin are actually caused by a lifetime of sun exposure.

For the most complete sun protection, use all three of these methods:

Avoid the sun during high-intensity hours. The sun's rays are most damaging from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce the time you spend outdoors during these hours.
Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also, keep in mind that certain clothing styles and fabrics offer better protection from the sun than do others. For example, long-sleeved shirts offer better protection than short-sleeved shirts do. And tightly woven fabrics such as denim are better than are loosely woven fabrics such as knits. Several companies now make sun protective clothing (SPF clothing), which is specifically designed to block out ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable.
Use sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15. Apply liberally 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

2. Don't smoke
Smoking accelerates aging of your skin and increases wrinkles. Skin changes from smoking can appear in young adults after 10 years of smoking.

Smoking causes narrowing of the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin. This decreases blood flow, depleting the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. All of these factors increase damage to the elastic fibers (elastin) and collagen, which give your skin strength and elasticity.

In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles. It's also possible that repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes may damage your facial skin over time.

3. Wash your skin gently
Cleansing is an essential part of caring for your skin. The key is to treat your skin gently.

Use warm water and limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less, and use warm, rather than hot, water.

Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps — those most capable of stripping oil from your skin — can leave your skin dry. Instead, choose mild soaps or detergent substitutes with added oils and fats. Good choices include Dove, Vanicream, Cetaphil and Purpose.

Avoid irritating additives. If your skin is sensitive, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. These can irritate your skin and may trigger an allergic response.
Remove eye makeup carefully. Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls when removing eye makeup to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes. If you wear heavy, waterproof makeup, you may need to use an oil-based product, such as Eucerin, Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, to remove makeup.

Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturize your skin with an oil or cream.

4. Moisturize regularly
Moisturizers help maintain your skin's natural moisture levels. They work by providing a seal over your skin — to keep water from escaping — or by slowly releasing water into your skin.

The moisturizer that's best for you and the frequency with which you need to moisturize depend on many factors, including your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne. A good way to test if you need a moisturizer is to wait 20 minutes after bathing. If your skin feels tight, you should apply a moisturizer.

Select a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. If you have sensitive skin, look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturizers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin. If your skin is oily, you may want to skip moisturizing.

5. Shave carefully
Shaving is a common and inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. But shaving can cause skin irritations, especially if your skin is thin, dry or very sensitive. For a smooth shave:

Press a warm wash cloth on your skin before shaving to soften the hair. Or shave after a warm bath or shower.

Don't shave dry skin, which can cause razor burn. Apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving to protect and lubricate your skin.

Use a clean, sharp razor. If using an electric razor, don't use the closest setting, which can aggravate the skin.

Shave in the direction of hair growth, not against it.

Rinse your skin afterward with warm water.
If irritation does occur, apply a lotion that doesn't contain ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. Though alcohol and alcohol-based products may feel cooling, they don't really soothe irritated skin because the alcohol evaporates rapidly from the skin.

For a complimentary skin care analysis please contact Amanda at AmandaJSkincare.com

Creating a Skin Care Routine

Have you ever wondered if you were applying your skin care regime in the right order? Here is an easy way to know what comes first and last and everything in between. Think in terms of thinnest to thickest when applying products.

1) Cleansing always come first.

2) Tone second as it compliments the cleansing process and actually helps your serums and moisturizers perform more effectively.

3) The next step for either day or night would be a serum (if you have one), if you don't we recommend one because it penetrates the skin with vital nutrients. Vitamin C serum is wonderful because it is one of the best antioxidants to fight free radical damage. Serums should be used before your day or night cream.

4) Day cream for day, with or without SPF, night cream for night. The thicker creams provide a protective barrier and help to seal in the nutrients and hydration provided from your previous few steps.

Remember your daytime routine should provide protection from both UVA/UVB damage as well as free radical damage. Your nighttime routine is meant to feed and nourish the skin.

Don't forget that your make-up can be an additional treatment for the skin, especially some of the new mineral make ups which also provide some UVA/UVB protective properties.

Feel free to ask Amanda should you have questions or concerns regarding any skin care issues.

Three Levels Of Skincare

Beautiful skin is the best accessory, and yours glowed all summer, didn’t it? But with fall fast approaching, you’re realizing there’s a price to pay for all that fun in the sun. Those long, lazy days spent swimming and beaching have left your skin a touch tired, a tad dull, a smidge flat and now begging for attention.

Amanda J Skincare will work to restore your skin on multiple levels.

Level one is cleansing
First, the skin is cleansed to remove makeup, dirt and other impurities.
Next, the Amanda, a licensed esthetician will analyze your skin to determine the appropriate products to use for the remainder of the facial, addressing problems such as acne, rosacea, sun damage and dullness. Exfoliation removes dead skin, and extractions clear the skin of clogged pores and blemishes, zapping bacteria caused from environmental factors.

Then comes the best part, a facial massage that tightens and firms the skin, facilitating product penetration. A hydrating mask, designed for your skin type, will nourish skin back to health, before you are gently released back to the real world!

Level two takes it deeper
Microdermabrasion. Maybe you’ve heard the term or seen the results on your friends. But what is it about Microdermabrasion that makes it so effective?
Even though the epidermis — the skin’s outermost layer — is your primary defense against the environment, over time your skin has a tendency to exhibit wrinkles, acne scars, enlarged pores and age spots. Microdermabrasion works to reverse all of that damage.

Microdermabrasion works to gently remove the damaged surface level of skin resulting in a smoother, more youthful appearance. The procedure is a simple and painless process — it feels like light, soft sandpaper brushing against the skin — that takes about forty-five minutes. Your skin will appear slightly sunburned for a few days after the procedure, and you will be required to stay out of the sun while you heal. After the first few days the results become apparent. Microdermabrasion is a simple procedure with far faster results and is less invasive and eliminates down time much more than chemical peels and is far more cost effective than laser treatments.

Level three is daily maintenance
Great skin is within your reach. Be sure to establish a daily routine that cleans, tones, moisturizes and protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Amanda can work with you during your appointments on selecting products and skin care regiments to maintain your skin going forward!

To book your appointment please go to AmandaJSkincare.com

Benefits of Regular Facials

When received regularly, facial massage can result in noticeable improvements to skin tone, texture and appearance. A facial can also restore the skin’s normal balance of oil and pH. Additional, temporary results may include: heightened skin softness and pliancy, increased circulation of blood to the face and an overall soothing of the spirit. An added bonus, most people find receiving a professional facial to be exceptionally relaxing and enjoyable.

For a complimentary skin care analysis and to book a facial please contact Amanda at AmandaJSkincare.com

Top 5 habits for healthy skin

Skin care: Proactive skin care will help you keep your skin youthful and healthy.
Read these tips by the Mayo Clinic staff

Your busy lifestyle leaves little time for pampering skin care. The result: Your skin isn't the baby-soft body glove you were born with. As you age, your skin gradually becomes thinner and finely wrinkled. Oil-producing (sebaceous) glands grow less active, leaving your skin drier. The number of blood vessels in your skin decreases, your skin becomes more fragile, and you lose your youthful color and glow.

Good skin care — such as avoiding the sun, washing your skin gently and applying moisturizer regularly — can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. These simple skin-care habits will help you protect your skin to keep it healthy and glowing for years to come.

1. Protect yourself from the sun
The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Ultraviolet light — the invisible but intense rays from the sun — damages your skin, causing deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, liver spots, and more serious disorders, such as noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) skin tumors. In fact, most of the changes seen in aging skin are actually caused by a lifetime of sun exposure.

For the most complete sun protection, use all three of these methods:

Avoid the sun during high-intensity hours. The sun's rays are most damaging from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce the time you spend outdoors during these hours.
Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also, keep in mind that certain clothing styles and fabrics offer better protection from the sun than do others. For example, long-sleeved shirts offer better protection than short-sleeved shirts do. And tightly woven fabrics such as denim are better than are loosely woven fabrics such as knits. Several companies now make sun protective clothing (SPF clothing), which is specifically designed to block out ultraviolet rays while keeping you cool and comfortable.
Use sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15. Apply liberally 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, after heavy sweating or after being in water.

2. Don't smoke
Smoking accelerates aging of your skin and increases wrinkles. Skin changes from smoking can appear in young adults after 10 years of smoking.

Smoking causes narrowing of the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin. This decreases blood flow, depleting the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health. All of these factors increase damage to the elastic fibers (elastin) and collagen, which give your skin strength and elasticity.

In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles. It's also possible that repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes may damage your facial skin over time.

3. Wash your skin gently
Cleansing is an essential part of caring for your skin. The key is to treat your skin gently.

Use warm water and limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less, and use warm, rather than hot, water.

Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps — those most capable of stripping oil from your skin — can leave your skin dry. Instead, choose mild soaps or detergent substitutes with added oils and fats. Good choices include Dove, Vanicream, Cetaphil and Purpose.

Avoid irritating additives. If your skin is sensitive, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. These can irritate your skin and may trigger an allergic response.
Remove eye makeup carefully. Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls when removing eye makeup to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes. If you wear heavy, waterproof makeup, you may need to use an oil-based product, such as Eucerin, Aquaphor or petroleum jelly, to remove makeup.

Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin. Immediately moisturize your skin with an oil or cream.

4. Moisturize regularly
Moisturizers help maintain your skin's natural moisture levels. They work by providing a seal over your skin — to keep water from escaping — or by slowly releasing water into your skin.

The moisturizer that's best for you and the frequency with which you need to moisturize depend on many factors, including your skin type, your age and whether you have specific conditions such as acne. A good way to test if you need a moisturizer is to wait 20 minutes after bathing. If your skin feels tight, you should apply a moisturizer.

Select a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 to help protect your skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. If you have sensitive skin, look for products free of heavy dyes, perfumes or other additives. If your skin is very dry, you may want to apply an oil, such as baby oil, while your skin is still moist. Oil has more staying power than moisturizers do and prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of your skin. If your skin is oily, you may want to skip moisturizing.

5. Shave carefully
Shaving is a common and inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair. But shaving can cause skin irritations, especially if your skin is thin, dry or very sensitive. For a smooth shave:

Press a warm wash cloth on your skin before shaving to soften the hair. Or shave after a warm bath or shower.

Don't shave dry skin, which can cause razor burn. Apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving to protect and lubricate your skin.

Use a clean, sharp razor. If using an electric razor, don't use the closest setting, which can aggravate the skin.

Shave in the direction of hair growth, not against it.

Rinse your skin afterward with warm water.
If irritation does occur, apply a lotion that doesn't contain ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. Though alcohol and alcohol-based products may feel cooling, they don't really soothe irritated skin because the alcohol evaporates rapidly from the skin.

For a complimentary skin care analysis please contact Amanda at AmandaJSkincare.com

Berries in Anti-Aging Lotions for Skin

There has been lots of buzz concerning the power of berries, in particular Acai berries, and thanks to Oprah promoting her Acai Berry products.

There is some science involved, and many skin care companies are making lotions that include berries as ingredients. The studies backing up the claims look at the effects of ultra violet light and envirmonmental stress that generate free radicals. These are unstable oxygen molecules that are short of an electron. Free radicals can be likened to molecular hammers that hack away at our skin cells until they are neutralized by an electron donor.

Scientists have discovered a compound known as matrix metalloprotease (MMP), it plays a key role in the skin’s response to damage by free radicals. MMP’s set off a biological chain reaction called an enzyme cascade, the reaction speeds up the breakdown and elimination of collagen. Unless the activation of MMP’s can be stopped, collagen is broken down and eliminated faster than your skin can produce it. Wrinkles, fine lines and rough spot follow soon thereafter.

A recent study has found that ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in numerous fruits, vegetables and nuts, (especially raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates) can protect the skin against UV damage by blocking the production of MMP in damaged skin cells and by reducing inflammation.

Ashleigh Caradas a private practice dietician and consultant to corporations lists Berries as number two in her top 10 of ant-ageing super foods.

Berries are a rich source of anthocianidins — antioxidants which help reduce inflammation, prevent cancer and improve circulation. Include fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries — or any other type of berries you can get your hands on — in your diet on a regular basis. Eat them plain or topped with yogurt for a sweet and delicious snack. The Brazilian Acai berry is particularly high in antioxidants and has been touted as a powerful skin booster. The Chinese goji berry is another super food that has exceptionally high antioxidant capabilities.

You can see the remaining 9 foods here

Should you smear raspberry or pomegranate all over your face? As with anything else moderation is the key and no one “thing” works for everyone. It is best to consult with a licensed Esthetician to determine your skin type and develop a personal skin care regiment.

To get your complimentary skin care analysis and begin your skin care regiment please contact Amanda at AmandaJSkincare.com