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Beauty Bits Dec 14
- 1. 14 FITNESSRX December2014 www.fitnessrxwomen.com ● BEAUTY info-Bits ● by LISA STEUER Stretch Marks Cure ad Why do women with darker complexions age slowerthan women with light complexions? n People who have darker skin often look younger than those with lighter skin. The darker your skin, the more melanin provides a natural protection from the aging effects of ultraviolet light. Darker skin often is thicker with more sebaceous (oil) glands and is less susceptible to fine crepe-type wrinkles over the years. More melanin, though, increases the risk of scarring and pigmentation problems. People with darker skin still need to protect their skin from ultraviolet light to avoid these issues. For example, when dark skin is traumatized from injury or even a pimple and then the skin heals, a dark spot is often left behind. Any inflammation in dark skin will make the melanocytes (pigment cells) think there is a party going on and they all flock to the area. In light skin, inflammation often leads to broken blood vessels or persistent redness. As the skin ages, production of collagen and elastin is decreased, leading to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. Skin becomes thinner, drier and more fragile as the dermis thins. Sun exposure accelerates this process by decades. Here are some tips to slow down and reverse the aging process: 1. Avoid sun exposure— Best done with hats, clothing, seeking shade, plus a daily SPF 30-plus containing zinc oxide. 2. Moisturize— Nourish and hydrate the cells. Different moisturizers will provide benefits for all skin types. 3. Antioxidants— Apply antioxidants to your skin daily to protect the skin from free radicals from environmental insults. Antioxidants will protect, repair and hydrate the skin. Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants will also do wonders to protect the skin. 4. Exfoliate— All skin needs exfoliation. Win a $100 gift certificate toward skin care products! Submit a question for Dr. Haley to answer in the next issue— if your question is chosen, you’ll win a $100 gift certificate toward her skin care line, Derivations! Email your question to editor@fitnessrxwomen.com and be sure to include your contact info. A new winner will be chosen each month! Dr. Jennifer Haley is a board-certified dermatologist with a degree in Nutrition Science from Cornell University. She has been an NPC bikini competitor, consultant to the US Capitol, and is the co-founder of the skin care line, Derivations— which offers complimentary skin consultations. She enjoys an active lifestyle in Scottsdale, AZ and Montrose, CO with her husband and three boys. Beauty Question of the Month with Dr. Jennifer Haley FitRxWarmUP n There are tons of beauty apps available these days, and here’s a rather interesting one called Plum Perfect. It works by analyzing your skin, hair, eyes and lips to determine the right colors for you, all in a matter of seconds. After you get your results, you can also view a collection of products that would work best for you— and purchase them right on the spot! This app is free in the App Store and helpful if you’re wondering which makeup to buy to highlight your best features. ›› Your PerfectColorn Scott-Vincent Borba is a Hollywood beauty and nutraceutical expert, and the author of three best- sellers Makeup for Dummies, Skintervention and Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous. If you’re looking for an easy cure for stretch marks, here is one he shared that you can do right at home: • 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper • 1 Tbs. Malaysian red palm oil • 1 Tbs. Crisco Massage into stretch mark areas. “Always use Malaysian Red Palm Oil because it is responsibly sourced and good for the planet,” said Scott-Vincent Borba. “Keep the remainder for cooking because it’s naturally trans-fat free, good for brain and heart health, and won’t burn at high temperatures like olive oil can. Crisco may have a bad rap, but it’s natural and hyper-moisturizing. It’s also really good at locking treatment ingredients into stubborn areas. But if you absolutely can’t handle Crisco, a high-quality cocoa and shea butter combination is just as good.” For more information on Scott-Vincent-Borba, visit www.Scottvincentborba.com.
- 2. 16 FITNESSRX December2014 www.fitnessrxwomen.com n If you are a reader— or are just a fan of unique nail designs— here is a technique that’s really easy to do at home. I found this “Newspaper Print Manicure” on the dailyvarnish.com and de- cided to give it a try myself. This technique could also probably work with other printed images— I have seen other people online trying this out with maps, for instance, for a truly different look that will make your nails stand out. For the newspaper manicure that I did, all you need is gray nail polish, rubbing alcohol, a top coat, and newspaper cut into small pieces. You let the base color dry before soaking each piece of newspaper in the rubbing alcohol and pressing one to each nail. Experiment with different images for a look that is yours alone! (“DIY Newspaper Print Manicure,” www.thedailyvar- nish.com; accessed August 2014) Unique DIYIdea: Newspaper Nails n There are tons of money-saving beauty benefits of Vaseline— beyond just lip balm. Here are a few ways to use petroleum jelly that you might not have consid- ered before: • Cracked heels cure: Before going to bed, apply Vaseline to your feet and put some socks on. By morning your skin will be healed and moisturized. • Lash extender: Applying Vaseline to your lashes can make them appear longer, and some say that it will even help them grow faster. • Protect chapped skin: This winter when you have a cold, a runny nose will often result in redness and cracked skin. Apply a little bit of Vaseline to the area to moisturize the skin. • Tame eyebrows: Apply some Vaseline over your brows to keep them in place the entire day. (“18 Ways to Simplify Your Beauty Routine With Vase- line,” www.bellasugar.com; accessed September 2014) TheVaselineTreatment Windows To Your Health FitRxWarmUP ● BEAUTY info-Bits ad n Research indicates that the eyes may be more than just the windows to the soul, and that they may in fact reveal a lot about serious health issues. Here are just a few of them: • A gray ring around the cornea can indicate high cholesterol and triglycerides and you may be at an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. • Basal cell carcinomas sometimes show up as a sore that doesn’t heal under the eyelid, and also cause the loss of eyelashes. • Droopy eyelids on both sides could indicate an autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis, which is characterized by muscle weakness. • Pupils that are different sizes and droopy eyelids could be an indication of Homer’s syndrome, which can be associated with aneurysms and tumors in the neck. (“12 Scary Things Your Eyes Say About Your Health,” www. cbsnews.com; accessed August 2014) Airport Spas n One of the biggest trends in spas this year is an airport spa. And according to The New York Times, although spas in airports started cropping up about 10 years ago, the trend is now taking off with everything from manicure stations to facials and massages available at many major airports. Services tend to be more expensive, and according The New York Times, it’s not just women who are taking part in some luxury treatments after flights. “Men do more facials, men do more massages,” Marisol Binn, president and founder of XpresSpa, told The New York (“The Pampered Passenger,” www.nytimes.com; accessed August 2014)