IN Chartiers Valley Winter 2017 | Page 25

HEALTH & WELLNESS SPECIAL S ECT I ON outside to protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun in the future (you’ll be so glad you did). • DON’T: Pick! You can pick your friends, but don’t pick your stubborn pimples! Although you might want to rid yourself of whiteheads and blackheads, resist the urge! This could lead to long-term, damaging effects on your skin. • DON’T: Leave makeup on overnight. As tempting as it is to crash after a long day, make sure to give your pores a rest from makeup. Makeup-removing wipes are a quick alternative to at least get a majority of products off of your face. • DO: Be sure to wipe down your cell phone. Bacteria can live on the surface and cause major breakouts on your cheeks and chin if not properly sanitized. PREVENTION YEARS As a young adult, it’s important to continue good habits of caring for your skin. This is the prime age to prevent unwanted wrinkles that you may start to face in the next five to 10 years. Now is the time to take charge by: • Wearing eye cream. We have seen the commercials about preventing wrinkles. But when do you have to start? NOW! The skin around your eyes is very thin and just a short amount of sunlight could cause lasting wrinkles. • Applying something with SPF to face, neck, and hands. Skipping the protection of an SPF could throw off your entire routine. Find a good moisturizer that combines protection with moisture and apply it to your face, neck, and hands. The neck and hands are often overlooked, but are prime spots for the sun to hit and cause wrinkles. • Quitting bad habits. Now is a better time than ever to kick the bad habits you learned in high school and college. The number of benefits of canceling your package at the tanning salon and quitting smoking would take up this entire article, but for skin’s sake, give them up! TREATMENT YEARS Now is the time to treat the years of damage that the sun and other elements have caused to your skin. • Put the right nutrients into your body. It’s important to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs on the inside for radiant skin on the outside. This includes lots of water! • Take cover when heading outside. SPF shouldn’t be skipped at this age either and should be applied daily. Try adding a hat and cover your skin to prevent overexposure to the harmful rays of the sun, even in the cooler months. • Find a good retinoid. Derived from vitamin-A, retinoids boost collagen production in the skin to stimulate blood vessels and unclog pores. Continued on page 25 > Chartiers Valley | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 23