Summer Survival Kit: #3 – Green Tea

Green tea contains certain components that do good by your skin!  Camellia Sinensis has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  Clinical experiments have shown that the components in green tea could stimulate aged skin cells to renew cell division and resulted in an increase in elastin, a substance that gives elasticity to the skin and reduces wrinkles.

What does this have to do with summer?  Your skin takes a beating during this season between the chlorine in the pool, the over exposure to the sun (how does one make a raisin?) and insect bites.  Use skin care products that contain green tea to help heal, soothe and leave your skin looking radiant.  Drink iced green tea to hydrate your body and extend the benefits of this amazing super food to the other organs in your body.

Here are a few Mary Kay skin care products that contain green tea that you can incorporate into your skin care routine this summer.

• After-sun Replenishing Gel
• 2-in-1 Body Wash & Shave
• Hydrating Lotion
• Targeted-Action Toning Lotion (this is a personal favorite)
• Oil-free Hydrating Gel (keep it in the fridge for a special treat on a hot day)

Brew up a pot of green tea and put it in the fridge so it is ready for you when you want to rehydrate during a hot summer day.  Not into doing it yourself?  Select a prepared green tea that has no sugar added.  I’m a huge fan of Teas’ Tea Jasmine Green Tea (available at Fresh & Easy Stores).

What else goes in your survival kit?  Tune in tomorrow for the answer.

Summer Survival Kit: #2 – Sunglasses

What do cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae and pterygia and photokeratitis have in common?  They are all forms of eye damage linked to extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays.  When outside (in the sun or in the shade) you need a good pair of sunglasses in your summer survival kit to protect your eyes.

Good sunglasses have the following traits:

• Block 100% of UV rays (UVA, UVB, and UVC)
• Absorb most HEV rays (High-energy visible radiation)
• Have large lenses to cover beyond the eye area or have a close-fitting wraparound style  to protect the delicate skin around your eyes, minimizing lines and wrinkles
• Bronze, copper or reddish-brown tinted lenses to block blue light (HEV)

Your optician or eye doctor can help you select sunglasses that will offer your eyes the most protection.

To further reduce your eyes’ exposure to UV and HEV rays by up to 50%, wear a wide-brimmed hat on sunny days and seek shade.

What else should you have in your summer survival kit?  Check back tomorrow to learn the answer.

Summer Survival Kit: #1 – A Water Bottle

The first item to put in your summer survival kit is a water bottle.  Half of your body weight is water which tells you how important this substance is to your very existence! Every cell, tissue and organ in your body relies on water to function correctly.  In hot weather, you lose water even faster than usual due to an increase in sweating.

Keep a reusable bottle of water with you during the day.  Fill it with filtered water (via a filter on your faucet, a filter pitcher or a filtered dispenser from your fridge). Bottled water isn’t necessarily safer than filtered water from your tap and it contributes to landfill waste so go for a reusable bottle.  If you enjoy sparkling water (which I do!), you can make your own at home using a system such as Soda Stream.

What does this have to do with skin care and having amazing skin?  Your skin is the largest organ in you body.  In addition to keeping it functioning properly, drinking water can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

In the summer, we shed our winter full-coverage clothes in favor of more bare skin…swim suits, shorts, and tank tops are the staples of our wardrobe during this season.   Staying hydrated can help you get fit to wear the bare fashions of summer.  The sensation of thirst is often confused with hunger. So, when you feel hungry drink up!  Real hunger can’t be satisfied by water so if you’re still hungry 15 minutes after a big glass of water, it is time to eat.

Not a fan of water?  That’s okay…you can eat your water.  Food is a natural source of water for the body, providing approximately 30% of your body’s water needs.  The water inside whole foods contains an abundance of minerals that make it easier for the body to utilize it.  Think about foods with a high water content such as watermelon, cucumbers, lettuce, apples, etc.  Pretty much any fruit or veggie will do… anywhere from 80-90% of the weight of these foods comes from water.

FYI, the water in your tea and coffee counts.  Yes, caffeine is a mild diuretic but the body adapts.  Dr. Ann Grandjean  has researched this topic and came to the following conclusion, “Our bodies are very good at making adjustments to maintain homeostasis. Since water is so critical for life, it only makes sense that our bodies can negate the mild diuretic effect of caffeine. Research now solidly substantiates that this adjustment does, in fact, occur.”

So, go forth and drink water!  It costs nothing at restaurants, has no calories, contributes to the healthy functioning of your body and makes your skin look amazing!

The ABC’s of Sun Safety

Summer is just around the corner.  As we break out the shorts, tank tops and swim suits, the uniform of the season, we need take key steps to stay safe in the sun. I call these the ABC’s of sun safety.

Today we’ll explore A – APPLY CORRECTLY.

For sunscreen to be effective it must be properly applied.  Follow these guidelines to avoid application mistakes that could result in sun burn or sun damage.

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before heading outdoors.  Sunscreen needs time to properly absorb to be effective.  If you apply sunscreen and then immediately go outside, the protection you receive will be compromised.
• Apply enough product. You need to apply at minimum 1 ounce of sunscreen to your exposed skin, approximately the amount of 1 shot glass (this is for the average woman/man).  Use a heavy hand.  Be VERY generous!
• Apply to all exposed skin. Don’t forget your ears, back of the neck, and the top of your feet when wearing sandals.  All exposed skin or skin that can become exposed (such as around the neck line of your shirt) must be covered by the sunscreen.

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. It accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States.  More than 2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year.*  The primary risk factor for skin cancer is unprotected and/or excessive exposure to UV radiation…that’s the technical term for the sun’s rays (other sources of of UV radiation include tanning beds and sun lamps).  Don’t become a statistic.  Daily, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

* Source: American Cancer Society