Let’ face it – Fall is a busy time for most women. The kids go back to school. Extracurricular activities start again. And, after a lazy summer, life seems to become about getting this child here and that child there. It’s becomes so easy to be tempted to skimp on yourself, including taking care of your skin – all for the sake of time.
But back to school time for the kids should be a back to school time for your skin. I want to share with you a few simple steps you can do to repair the damage from summer heat and humidity, as well as how to prepare your skin for the upcoming dry winter months.
Even more exciting is that it doesn’t even have to take a lot of time or money. Just a little bit of knowhow can prevent skin damage.
Replenish Sun Damaged Skin
Reverse damage from the summer sun by regularly exfoliating with a natural exfoliator, such as dark brown sugar, oatmeal, nut powder, or brown rice powder. To start, try this recipe:
Honey and Almond Facial Scrub
In a blender or food processor, grind 4 tablespoons of almonds into coarse crumbs or powder.
Add them to:
1 teaspoon flour
1 ½ Tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons honey
Mix well and apply to face.
Rinse gently with warm water.
Next, moisturize your skin with your favorite moisturizer.
My favorite moisturizers are those that contain high levels of Hyaluronate (or Hyaluronic Acid). This is a natural hydrating ingredient that draws moisture from the air and binds it to skin cells.
You want to avoid products that contain too much water. Too much water actually prevents skin repair. How can you tell? You don’t have to be a chemist. Read the label. The ingredients are listed in order of predominance.
Be Sure to Follow Instructions
Do you remember how our elementary school teachers were always reminding us to follow instructions? The same applies to skin care. Yes, this one seems obvious. But you would be surprised of how many people ask me why some of their products don’t work as advertised and then stare at me with a confused look when I reply with, “did you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer?”
The fact of the matter is that product instructions aren’t simply packaging filler. They’re provided because the manufacturer has determined the best way to use the product for optimum results. Even something as seemingly minor as using too much or too little of a product can impede results.
Sunscreen isn’t just for summer
Trust me when I tell you that I have nightmares just knowing that at the end of the summer, way too many people put away their sunscreen with the sand pails.
The days may be shorter in the fall and winter but the sun still shines, which means its rays can still damage your skin. So don’t forget to apply sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection and is SPF15 or higher as a regular part of your daily skincare regimen.
Eat For Your Skin
Some damage to your skin can be reversed with just a few minor adjustments to your diet.
Lycopene (from tomatoes) acts as a repair accelerant for sun damaged skin. So eat plenty of tomatoes.
Foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries, also help promote healthy skin and fight free radicals, as does drinking healthy amounts of green tea. Consuming foods that are high in antioxidants will also keep your skin from telling too many secrets about your age – especially during the dry winter months.
Follow these simple lessons to keep your skin from getting rundown from the fall back to school run arounds.
Now, do me a favor. Don’t let your friends skip school – click above and share this article so they can teach their skin a thing or two about looking young and radiant!Have a question about beauty? Visit www.justaskdavid.com and maybe I can answer your question next time!
Guest post by David Pollock
