10 Bad Skin Habits

1. If you keep smoking, you'll not only damage your health, but you'll develop more and more deep wrinkles and blotchier skin tone. In fact, every decade of smoking results in an extra 2.5 years of age.

2. Now, not to take all the fun—you can still have a glass of something. But drink more than one cocktail a day, and your skin suffers. Alcohol increases the level inflammatory agents in the bloodstream—which can increase skin sagging over time.

3. Skin care doesn't stop at your jawline. These areas are almost always exposed, and yet they rarely receive same level of hydration and sun protection as the face. But the skin there is more delicate and just as vulnerable to sun exposure.

3. Why bother washing your brushes... you think. Here's why: Skip washing your brushes and you could wind up with muddied colors, clogged pores, and bacterial infections. Wash them every three weeks.

4. Don't over do it. Sorry—while squeaky-clean pores may initially feel good, harsh cleansing or too much exfoliating can actually cause more oil production and worsen breakouts by spreading bacteria.

5. Sleep deprivation causes stress, which can aggravate all skin conditions

letting skin marinate in makeup—not to mention a day's worth of oil buildup—can lead to clogged pores and zits, especially if you're prone to acne. Your body temperature increases slightly when you sleep, which can enhance absorption of whatever's on the surface. No bueno!

6. Cut the junk food, and you could see an improvement in acne in about six weeks. Instead, reach for snacks like peanut butter, nuts, and avocado—these healthy fats provide nutrients for the hair, skin, nails, and basic metabolism.

7. Not only is the skin around your eyes thinner than practically anywhere else on the body, it's also the victim of a lot of abuse. First, stop rubbing. Every time you do, you risk breaking delicate blood vessels, which leads to darkening, dulling, and thickening of the surrounding skin.

8. It's tempting... I know. But the reality is that squeezing a pimple just pushes bacteria deeper into the pores, causing inflammation, infection, and scarring—and almost doubling the zit's life span (from about one week to two).

9. Along with lifting your mood, exercise increases blood flow to the skin, causing a healthy-looking flush. Both immediately and over time, it has been shown to decrease tension, which can result in better skin. 

10. Bronzer? Fine. Self-tanner? Fine. The real thing? So not fine. In trying to protect itself from continued exposure to the sun, skin thickens and produces melanin, the pigment that darkens cells, Any pigment change from UVA or UVB light can cause premature aging and increase the likelihood of skin cancer, and tanning beds can be even worse, since they emit concentrated UVA light, which penetrates deeper than the combination of UVA and UVB rays found in sunlight. Yes, sorry I had to go there. 

Wear sunscreen... everyday

This is a perfect example of why sunscreen is so important even when you are not directly in the sun. This truck driver spent years driving and the left side of his face shows the damaging effects of UV rays. Wear sunscreen. Everyday.

PS He didn't realize the damage until it was too late. It takes about 10 years for the evidence to start to show. 

You want healthy glowing skin this Summer...

Did you know that your skin is your biggest organ?

• The health of your skin and the quality of your life are unalterably linked.
• Your skin also plays a big role in that first impression you make when you meet people. 

The bottom line is that the state of your skin matters.  Make it priority to take care of it this summer.

3 simple things to do for a gorgeous, and healthy skin

1. Eat the foods that support healthy skin and that discourage skin problems.
2. Sun protect your skin every day so that it stays healthy and strong throughout your lifetime.
3. Moisturize your skin to keep it working 24/7 as a strong barrier – it keeps “the outside out and the inside in” for you.

What foods you should try to eat everyday?

Eat a variety of fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes.  They’re filled with the phytonutrients and antioxidants that your skin needs for optimal health.  Eat beta-carotene rich foods that give your skin a healthy golden glow.  These foods include carrots, yellow squash, leafy greensetc.

If you eat meats, eat mostly those high in vitamin D3 like wild caught salmon and eggs (the yolks specifically).

Eat foods rich in inflammation fighting omega 3 fatty acids; flax seeds are one of the best choices.  Addfreshly ground flax seeds to your morning cereal, smoothie or top a salad with them.

Use olive oil.  It’s been shown to reduce skin wrinkles.

How does sun protection help keep my skin healthy and strong?

When UV rays shine on your skin they cause a gradual thinning of your skin over time.  It’s why the skin on the back of a person’s arms can become so fragile later in life that it tears and bruises easily.  It’s also why the sun causes wrinkles.  This thinning is, for the most part, irreversible.  It’s not just a summer tan that’s harmful, the daily incidental exposure you get from running errands and living on a sunny planet add up too.

Freckling and age spots are often an early sign of sun damage.   They too are hard to reverse.  Skin cancer is the sun exposure skin problem we all know about, but it’s not the only bad consequence of daily sun exposure.

What does moisturizing have to do with my skin barrier?

Your skin gives you terrific protection from the outside world.  It keeps an infinite number of harmful or harsh chemicals out (solvents, housecleaning products, germs, etc.) and it keeps your precious vital fluids in (your body is made up mostly of water and your skin is sort of like a water balloon holding it all in!).

This important skin barrier is protected by layers of dead cells and lipids (oils) that help keep your skin healthy and hydrated and its barrier strong.  When your skin is dry, that important barrier begins to weaken.  Harmful chemicals are more likely to penetrate (think dishpan hands).  The more damaged your skin becomes, the more it dries out.  When it’s really damaged it will actually blister and leak (think poison oak, a “rub burn” that feels sticky or severe eczema that weeps).

This is why its so important to use a great well known product. Eat healthy, cleanse the face, moisturize it and protect it from the sun. 

Dr. Bailey provided some of this information on her website.

Extrano demasado el sol!

Eternamente en mi ser... sin ti sol yo no existo. Mi felicidad es completa contigo illuminado mis dias. Porfavor no te vallas. Recuérdame ser agradecida con lo que tengo. Staying humble because with out that we have nothing and maybe their is a possibility that we loose are selves little by little.... then we do not exists at all... then what would be the point of living..?