The 10 Top Tips To Great Skin!
by Jackie Bernardi
The end of Wellness Week 2012 - The beginning of great skin!
If you have been following this series all week, and you have put any of the information into practice, then you are on your way to true skin wellness. If you haven’t read the other posts, it’s not too late (links at the end of this post), and just reading this post will get you there as well.
THE TOP TEN THINGS TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HEALTHY!
10. Quit smoking–now.
I know this is obvious, but a lot of you are still smoking even if it’s “only on vacation.” Whatever. It’s time to put your big-girl pants on and just quit. Your skin becomes asphyxiated with every puff. Additionally, there’s that pesky little cancer-thing to think of.
9. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume to the bare minimum, if at all.
Alcohol consumption and skin wellness do not play on the same team. Alcohol challenges your body’s ability to rest and repair. It also causes your capillaries to expand (not a pretty look). We love our wine, but just be careful, and drink more water.
8. Never put anything on your face that wasn’t made to be put on your face.
People are nuts when it comes to their ideas about how to make their skin look great. I recently heard of a patient who actually put oven cleaner on her face to act as a chemical peel—she had 3rddegree burns, and now suffers from permanent scaring.
7. Get a second opinion
If you are considering any type of invasive, or even non-invasive treatment on your facial skin, get a second opinion. Doctors not only practice medicine, but run a business too. Esthetic procedures tend to bring in very high profit margins—just be sure that what is being recommended is what you want, and what your skin needs.
6. Only put the highest quality ingredients on your skin.
Skin care products are too expensive to purchase something that is ineffective. You wouldn’t eat meat labeled Grade D-but still edible would you? Do your research on ingredients before you buy “Grade D-but still topical.” Tip: Contact the manufacturers via Facebook & ask—they tend to answer quickly!
5. Eat a diet full of clean whole foods. Do not eat processed foods.
Good nutrition is essential to skin wellness. Processed foods are not broken down efficiently, and the body doesn’t know what to with the unnatural byproducts. This shows up in your skin as inflammation, dryness, oiliness, and/or breakouts
4. See your dermatologist at least once a year for a full body check.
You can’t see what you can’t see, and if you can’t see some things, it could be a risk to your life. Aside from finding abnormal growths, dermatologists are excellent at pointing out other wellness deficiencies so you can nip big problems in the bud.
3. Drink more water then you think you can (64oz or more a day)
Drinking a lot of water increases hydration, improves the immune system to fight of bacterium, and increases elimination so that toxins get out of your system faster. All of this has a direct correlation to the wellness and appearance of your skin.
2. Cleanse your face every night before bed.
It is very important to rid your skin of the environmental stressors that attach to your skin all day long (smoke, smog, germs, etc.). Sleep is when your skin repairs itself, so give it a fighting chance by making sure it is clean and able to breathe.
1. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day.
If you get only one thing out of Wellness Week, get this—wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every single day. It protects your skin from inflammation, UV damage, burns, wrinkles, collagen/elastin decomposition, and hyperpigmentation (age spots). Sunscreen is the fountain of youth in a bottle. Use it.
To find out more about all the exciting events and discounts for Wellness Week 2012, click on the SpaFinder image.
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Jackie Bernardi is a highly sought after skin care consultant and licensed Esthetician with a specialty in medical esthetics. In 2010, she created the Personal Skin Solutions’ programs. These programs are designed to provide a complete and thorough understanding of each individual’s very specific skin care needs so that they can obtain exceptional results. The recent launch of the website, PersonalSkinSolutions.com has allowed her the opportunity to follow her true calling: helping women everywhere achieve health, beauty, and confidence through their skin. Jackie lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband, their kids, and a crazy Vizsla pup “Archie.”
Read More »If You Want Stunning Skin – Go Back to Bed!
Sleep
This is the 4th post in a series of 5 for “Wellness Week 2012”
When our body is healthy, it tells us what we need to keep it healthy. Sometimes we get a headache because our body is dehydrated and requires water. When we yawn it is because our brain detects too much carbon dioxide buildup in the lungs, and wants us to expel it (that’s one theory anyway). Sleep is what our skin tells the body it needs to repair itself and thrive.
Our bodies are absolutely amazing!
All day long your body is working—fighting the elements so that your systems work optimally. In terms of cellular repair/renewal, the process is ongoing. However, your skin cells may not be getting the full attention they need during the day because other parts of your body may have a more urgent need for cellular attention. If you stub your toe, your body will send all repair signals to the toe, not your facial skin.
Sleep is the great equalizer
When we are asleep, there is little chance of us doing any harm to our bodies, so the cells are able to rest repair, and drink in the beneficial ingredients that you apply topically. Sleep allows your body to treat all systems equally and the result is repaired damage, and happier skin.
Making the most of bedtime for your skin
• Drink a full glass of water just before going to bed.
• Go to bed the same time every night.
• Cleanse, tone, and apply a hydrating serum or moisturizer.
• Give yourself a light facial massage just after turning out the light.
Pillow talk
The buildup of contaminants, oils, and dead skin cells on your pillowcase would amaze/repulse you. To avoid having these elements touch your skin, put two or three pillowcases on each pillow and only sleep on one side per night, then flip. Once both sides have been used, remove the top pillowcase and repeat.
Sleep is the only skin care ingredient that guarantees to work at a cellular level—and that’s where results come from!
To find out more about all the exciting events and discounts for Wellness Week 2012, click on the SpaFinder image.
______________________________________
Jackie Bernardi is a highly sought after skin care consultant and licensed Esthetician with a specialty in medical esthetics. In 2010, she created the Personal Skin Solutions’ programs. These programs are designed to provide a complete and thorough understanding of each individual’s very specific skin care needs so that they can obtain exceptional results. The recent launch of the website, PersonalSkinSolutions.com has allowed her the opportunity to follow her true calling: helping women everywhere achieve health, beauty, and confidence through their skin. Jackie lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband, their kids, and a crazy Vizsla pup “Archie.”
Read More »5 Anti-aging, wrinkle fighting foods
This is the 3rd post in a series of 5 supporting “Wellness Week 2012
When seeking wellness for your skin health and appearance, you cannot neglect the importance of the foods you eat. The following five foods are brilliant supporters of your skin’s wellness (they’re delicious too!)
Beets: Beating down puffiness
The element that makes beets red is the same element that makes them one of the most powerful antioxidants available for our diet and our skin. Anthocyanin’s neutralize the bad enzymes that breakdown connective tissue. When the breakdown is prevented, the blood system is better able to repair cell-building proteins. This makes for a stronger support system for the epidermis as well as helping the skin be a more efficient organ for respiration and absorption—all vital for optimal skin wellness.
Tip: Cut the greens & the tips off of a bunch of beets. Quarter the beets and toss them in a little olive oil and some sea salt. Roast at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. It’s like eating candy!
Green Tea: The elasticity elevator
It is well know that green tea is a super-food, but here’s why it is amazing for your skin’s wellness. Green tea releases ECGC (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) the compound that is believed to make green tea so highly antioxidant, which prevents damage to the elastin by destroying the free radicals before they can do their damage via inflammation. It also helps support the regeneration of skin cells improving the overall quality of the renewal process.
Ghiradelli Chocolate - One square a nite? YES!
Tip: A cup of decaffeinated green tea, and a square of dark chocolate before bed could be the secret behind the fountain of youth.
Kale: Powerful wrinkle fighter
Kale is full of vitamin A, which stimulates collagen growth and blood vessel formation. This creates a strong structure to support the skin—wrinkles only form when there is no support below them. Kale is also an important source of vitamins C and K and manganese. Manganese releases the enzyme that makes it possible for the body to properly use vitamin C.
Tip: Tear up enough kale leaves to make one cup and put on a stove top with 1 ½ cups of organic chicken or vegetable broth and heat until hot and wilted. This makes an awesome afternoon pick me up.
Oysters: Bring a bright, youthful glow
Four or Five oysters is all you need to provide your skin with an amazing balance of A, B and C vitamins, as well as selenium which helps to prevent wrinkles.
The B vitamins help to increase the production of new, healthy skin cells, and A and C vitamins fight the damaging free radicals so that your healthy skin cells stay healthy longer. These little pearls of the sea also supply the daily-recommended amount of important minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium and iodine. The combination of these vitamins and minerals has proven to be wrinkle fighting by maintaining the structural support of the skin’s tissue.
Tip: Either eat them freshly shucked, or roast them on the grill (cup side down) until they open.
Sardines: Ambush the inflammation
Sardines are one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids serve to reduce inflammation and make all of our cells/systems run more optimally. Sardines are also good sources of B6 & B12, which are integral in the development of new skin cells.
Tip: Sardines on top of a salad would be awesome, but if you really don’t care for them, try mashing them up into a paste and mixing it in with your spaghetti sauce—delicious!
To find out more about all the exciting events and discounts for Wellness Week 2012, click on the SpaFinder image.
_______________________________
Jackie Bernardi is a highly sought after skin care consultant and licensed Esthetician with a specialty in medical esthetics. In 2010, she created the Personal Skin Solutions’ programs. These programs are designed to provide a complete and thorough understanding of each individual’s very specific skin care needs so that they can obtain exceptional results. The recent launch of the website, PersonalSkinSolutions.com has allowed her the opportunity to follow her true calling: helping women everywhere achieve health, beauty, and confidence through their skin. Jackie lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband, their kids, and a crazy Vizsla pup “Archie.”
Read More »Is exercise critical for your skin’s wellness?
This is the 2nd post in a series during “Wellness Week 2012”
by Jackie Bernardi
Your skin
Your skin is an organ, its intended purpose is to act as the first line of defense for all of your other organs and systems, and to serve as a container to keep everything inside where it should be. When your body feels threatened, a whole host of activity occurs internally with the sole purpose of protecting itself from the antagonist.
Celebrate Wellness Week with Mariel Hemmingway and SpaFinders.com - Go there for great deals. Exercise is crucial for good skin care!
For example, when bacterium enters our system, the body creates white blood cells to fight off the interloper. To get these well-prepared cells to the site of invasion, the adrenal glands produce several hormones, one of which is ‘cortisol’. Cortisol is a stress-response hormone, and it does many things, but as far as the skin is concerned, it causes the rapid increase of sebum, causing a back up in the hair follicles, resulting in inflammation and breakouts. You have the ability to control your cortisol output through exercise.
Exercise and skin care
Exercise for a healthy mind and sound body
It is well researched and documented that exercise reduces stress levels. When stress levels are low, cortisol does not position itself to protect, and inflammation is avoided. This is important not just to avoid breakouts, but also to reduce inflammation all over. In addition to a reduction in hormonal activity, exercise causes the body to improve the rate of blood-flow, which increases the speed at which oxygen reaches the cells. Your skin cells need oxygen to repair damage, stay healthy and be well.
What you can do
Basic exercise is all that is necessary to keep your skin happy. Low-impact, aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes, 3 times a week will do wonders to maintain the wellness of your skin.
These are some of my favorite exercises to reduce stress:
- Walking
- Zumba
- Spinning
- Swimming
What is your favorite way to exercise?
To find out more about all the exciting events and discounts for Wellness Week 2012, click here or on the SpaFinder image.
________________________________________________________________
Jackie Bernardi is a highly sought after skin care consultant and licensed Esthetician with a specialty in medical esthetics. In 2010, she created the Personal Skin Solutions’ programs. These programs are designed to provide a complete and thorough understanding of each individual’s very specific skin care needs so that they can obtain exceptional results. The recent launch of the website, PersonalSkinSolutions.com has allowed her the opportunity to follow her true calling: helping women everywhere achieve health, beauty, and confidence through their skin. Jackie lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband, their kids, and a crazy Vizsla pup “Archie.”
Read More »The Daily Basics for Great Skin, Wellness Week 2012 Kickoff & Spafinder.com DEALS!
In conjunction with Wellness Week, Skin Care expert and a contributor to The Daily Basics, Jackie Bernardi will be posting every day in Today’s Basics on hints, exercise and anti-aging tips. Meanwhile, book yourself a facial or spa treatment via SpaFinders.com amazing deals this week. Treat yourself for $50. at Spas all over the country! You deserve it!
by Jackie Bernardi
Welcome to Wellness Week 2012 March 19-25th, an event presented by SpaFinder.com, in conjunction with Mariel Hemingway and other wellness industry hitters. The purpose of Wellness week is to provide information and services for a result of overall wellbeing. I thought this would be the perfect time to go over “Skin Wellness.” Each day this week, I will write a post regarding a different aspect of wellness, and how it affects your skin’s health and appearance.
Mariel Hemingway is working with SpaFinder.com to promote Wellness Week
Foundations
The industry I work in is astonishing—there is so much skin care information it can become overwhelming and confusing. If you did every single thing I write about, your daily skin care routine would take about 23 hours of your time, and your skin would not be any better for it. Naturally my intention is not for you to do everything, but only the things that will benefit your skin long term.
For your skin to be well, there needs to be a basic foundation of best skin care practices. Once the foundation is solid, your skin will be well prepared for additional products, tools, techniques, should you need them. However, for this week, let’s just get our skin back to baseline.
The Daily Basics for Great Skin
If you seek beautiful, healthy skin you have to edit back everything you’ve ever been told, and start simply. Two times a day for one week you need to:
Click on the image to find out more
- Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser designed for your skin type. Use only your hands, and water to massage the cleanser all over your face and neck. Use small circular movements. Rinse and repeat one more time.
- Using a clean towel, gently pat your skin until it is damp dry. Spritz a hydrating toner, or distilled water on your face with a fine mist atomizer.
- While your face is still damp, apply a light, water-based moisturizer all over your face and neck and gently massage in until fully absorbed.
- During your morning routine, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 30+.
Although not sexy, this basic routine will get you back in touch with the real condition of your skin, and will help you determine what other steps you may need to take.
Tomorrow’s post will be on why exercise is so important to your skin’s wellness.
Question: What do you use in your basic skin care routine?
Jackie Bernardi is a highly sought after skin care consultant and licensed Esthetician with a specialty in medical esthetics. In 2010, she created the Personal Skin Solutions’ programs. These programs are designed to provide a complete and thorough understanding of each individual’s very specific skin care needs so that they can obtain exceptional results. The recent launch of the website, PersonalSkinSolutions.com has allowed her the opportunity to follow her true calling: helping women everywhere achieve health, beauty, and confidence through their skin. Jackie lives in Newport Beach, California with her husband, their kids, and a crazy Vizsla pup “Archie.”
READ MORE:
Is Exercise Critical to Your Skin?
5 Anti-Aging, Wrinkle Fighting Foods
The Most Important Thing You Will Ever Need for Beautiful Skin
Top Ten Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy
Read More »
