FEATURE DERMATOLOGY
HAPPY, HEALTHY SKIN IS EASIER TO ACHIEVE THAN YOU THINK!
WE DRINK green tea, we shop organic, and we dress in natural fibers, but what do we do for our skin? Nothing feels( or looks!) as good as clear, smooth skin, yet sometimes we forget how important it is to make sure our skin stays healthy. From simple tricks like moisturizing and drinking plenty of water to figuring out which skin care products work best for you, it’ s all about practicing safe skin care.
“ It takes about a month to regenerate skin, so it usually takes two or three months— which is two or three skin cycles— to notice the full impact and benefits of adopting a healthy skin routine,” says Dr. Mariana Atanasovski, Dermatologist at Allure Medical Spa. While she treats patients who have a variety of dermatologic conditions and concerns, one of the main messages she gives to her patients is to simply give their skin some TLC on a daily basis.“ Think of skin care as an investment,” she says.“ Keep sunscreen wherever it’ s handy— in the car, at work, around the house. Also, be sure to use moisturizer and makeup with sunscreen in it.”
Given the fact that sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, Dr. Atanasovski is especially adamant about using sunscreen daily, whether it’ s a bright, sunny morning or a snowy afternoon.“ There are many types of ultraviolet [ UV ] rays,” she explains,“ but UVA and UVB are the ones we have to be more concerned about, because they both contribute to different types of cancer.” UV rays also contribute to wrinkles, brown spots, skin irritation, and a host of other less-than-pleasant conditions.
And we’ re not just exposed to UV rays when we’ re in direct sunlight. Glass surfaces like car windows, both the driver and passenger side, allow UVA in particular to penetrate through. That’ s why, Dr. Atanasovski points out, people are more likely to wind up with skin cancer on the left side of their face. If you spend a lot of time driving, that’ s where the sun hits you the most. Likewise, if you work directly in front of a window every day, whichever side of your face is more exposed to the sun is more likely to show lines and spots and be at greater risk of cancer.( For tips on how to minimize your sun exposure, check out Dr. Atanasovski’ s blog post, Beyond the Basics: Sun Safety for Summer.)
Beyond using sunscreen, wearing hats, and putting on a pair of shades to protect your eyes and your skin, you can also promote healthy skin by getting into a skin care groove, from when you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed at night. Products like Allure’ s Skin Care Pro incorporate organic, naturally derived ingredients that function as antioxidants, anti-aging agents, and anti-inflammatory protectants. For example, green tea is great to drink and it’ s great for your skin, too, keeping it calm and less irritated throughout the day. Retinol has vitamin A and is FDA-approved to treat wrinkles and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin. It also reduces the damaging effects of UV rays and can reduce pre-skincancers because it regulates cell growth and helps skin regenerate itself.( Not surprisingly, the retinol-rich and oil-free Face Silk moisturizing cream is Allure’ s most popular product.) Vitamin C is crucial for collagen development, which means it’ s also an essential ingredient for younger-looking skin since collagen is what keeps skin supple and smooth. And glycolic acid? That’ s derived from sugar cane and is an excellent exfoliant.
So when it comes to your skin, be proactive! Not only is skin health crucial to your everyday health, your face is what you show the world every day. Enjoying a healthy skin-care routine like the Allure Skin Care Pro line of daytime and nighttime products will ensure that you put your best face forward. The entire suite of cleansers, creams, and sunscreens only takes ten minutes a day to apply and costs only $ 4.30 a day. Talk about a great investment!
STEP 1 Green Tea Foaming Cleanser
STEP 1 Gycolic 10 % Cleanser
MORNING ROUTINE
STEP 2 15 % Vitamin C CRS
EVENING ROUTINE
STEP 2 Retinol Plus 5X
( Every other night for 2 weeks, then every night)
STEP 3 Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50 Spray
STEP 3 Face Silk
WHAT’ S IN ALLURE’ S PRODUCTS?
RETINOL has anti-aging properties that protects against UV rays. It stimulates collagen production.
VITAMIN C increases skin density, brightness & also protects from UV rays.
GLYCOLIC ACID treats acne, scars, hyperpigmentation, melisma, pigment disorders and sun damage.
GREEN TEA enhances sun protection when combined with sunscreen.
RESVERATROL slows cellular aging while creating an even skin tone. It also helps prevent skin cancer.
EMBLICA is an antioxidant that helps tighten the skin.
COQ10 neutralizes major causes of aging by firming up the skin.
ZINC OXIDE is the most effective blocker of UV rays. It is also an effective acne treatment.
PHYTO-STEM CELLS repair skin cells. They combat aging appearances by starting cellular regeneration.
CAFFEINE protects the skin against UV rays and allows the skin to repair itself.
WHITE TEA is an antioxidant used to protect the skin from photo-damage, and suppress discoloration.
FRUIT & VEGETABLE ROOT EXTRACTS are found to not only be skin protective, but also essential for skin repair.
HYALURONIC ACID replenishes moisture and improves fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes.
28 SPRING 2017