Dry Skin – Now What?

Rejuvenate Dry Winter Skin with these Tips…

Your skin can often suffer during the winter months, becoming dull and dry with the added risk of breakouts and fine lines, so what can be done to prevent this? Keep your skin looking glowing, healthy and ready for spring with these simple rejuvenating tips!

• Stay Hydrated
• How to Reduce Puffiness Around the Eyes
• The Importance of a Skin Care Routine
• Anti-Aging Serums – Solving the Mystery of Ingredients
• Why Sunscreens are Important in the Winter

Start with the Inside First

In winter your skin is under attack on several fronts. You’re often not as healthy in the winter months, due to lack of sunshine and vitamin D, and insufficient hydration. With skin wrapped up in sweaters and coats, and heating systems running throughout the winter, the natural oils of your skin are absorbed by fabrics, and the heat depletes the moisture in our bodies.

Stay Hydrated

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following is a guideline for daily fluid consumption:

• About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
• About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men

Here are some important points in how water supports healthy functions of the body and more beautiful skin:

Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly, aiding in the elimination of toxins and wastes.

• Supports healthy function of cell, tissue and organs
• Eliminates wastes and helps detoxify the body
• Keeps your temperature normal which supports energy
• Lubricates and cushions joints improving how you feel
• Your skin directly reflects your internal health and so naturally it loses its normal glow and radiance when you do not feel energetic and healthy.

Sunshine and Vitamin D

The lack of natural light also has a direct effect on your health in a number of ways. Most significantly your skin stops producing vitamin D which is linked to all sorts of health benefits. Consider taking Moringa leaf capsules to supplement Vitamin D, increase energy and strengthen your immune system.

Skin Care Regimen

Regardless of what products you use, it is important to have a consistent routine for your skin care. Now you know why your skin is so dry in the winter, so let’s talk about what you can do to remedy that.

Exfoliate

It always feels so good to remove the dry, tight, dead skin from your face and body, and it helps healthy skin to absorb moisturizers and topical treatments for improved performance. Emulate has two non-abrasive exfoliating masks to choose from. For more mature skin, the delicious pure organic cacao with Papaya enzymes, alpha-hydroxy, proteins and antioxidants offers rapid results in reduction of fine lines of aging, clear pores, detoxification and brightness. Younger skin, prone toward combination oily/dryness, breakouts, and blocked pores enjoy the Revitalizing Mask with organic strawberry powder, Noni berry, antioxidants and hyaluronic acids. We recommend this mask at least once weekly.

To take this mask to “spa level” results, blend the liquid reserved from the Herbal Eye Mask pads to moisten the mask mixture, and add a drop or two of Anti-aging Elixir with Apple Stem Cells. This added mixology of skin nutrients is a real home run for tired, dull skin that is ready for a real revival! Place Eye Mask pads over the eyes while mask is curing, and you’ll reduce eye puffiness at the same time!

Why is non-abrasive exfoliation better?

When you use a clay or abrasive mask you create tiny micro tears on the skin that actually result in skin damage. The first day it may feel great, but soon your skin feels even more tight and dry than before, and that is because those tiny tears are trying to heal that damage. If you have ever done any gardening you recall how dry and chafed your hands become from the dirt, and that is the same effect that clays and abrasive substances have on your face when they are used to exfoliate.

How to Reduce Puffiness Around the Eyes

Puffy Eyes

We admit it, eye puffiness isn’t exactly our favorite look. But while it’s definitely annoying, the good news is that a little swelling around your peepers generally isn’t reason to be alarmed, says Mike Swann, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Swann Dermatology in Springfield, Missouri. Here are the common culprits—with suggestions on how to improve eye puffiness.

1. Dryness. Heating systems in the winter can cause eyes to become dry and retain excess fluid. Additionally, alcohol consumption creates dehydration making your eyes dry and consequently retaining excess fluid.
2. Lack of sleep or stress. Stress releases cortisol from your adrenal glands changing the salt balance in the body resulting in excess water retention.
3. Allergies. When the body is responding to allergens, it releases histamine into the skin that can cause reactions and puffiness.
4. Hormones. For women, monthly hormonal shifts can cause your eyes as well as the rest of your body to bloat.
5. Aging. As we age, the eye socket reduces its ability to retain fluid in the eye cavity, causing it to collect at the front of the eye in the lids.

How to Improve Eye Puffiness

Dr. Swann suggests soothing your eyes with cucumbers or cold tea bags for about 15 minutes. “Cold in general decreases inflammation, so it slows down the process of histamine release and inhibits swelling,” says Swann. A good eye cream can really help reduce edema or fluid retention as well.

Emulate has 3 products that are amazing for reducing puffiness around the eyes:

Herbal Eye Mask

These round little tea bags are a wonderful eye and facial treatment that incorporates organic Rose petals, wild rose hips, Hibiscus flowers, cucumber, Ginger root, wild Comfrey leaf, Moringa leaf, wild Elder flowers, Calendula flowers and Lavender flowers. Soak in hot water and allow to cool, then and use the liquid in your mask, on your face, and place the pads over your eyes – results are often evident in less than 15 minutes.

Concentrated Eye Crème with Emu Oil – or – Concentrated Eye Crème with Moringa Oil.

This crème is a real winner! Formulated with carrier oils of American Emu oil OR 100% plant-based Moringa oil, we combine premium organic raw Shea butter, Aloe Vera, Apricot kernel oil infused with healing herbs and a very important active ingredient called Eyeseryl™.

Eyeseryl® is a tetrapeptide with anti-edema properties that are proven to reduce eyebags in as little as 15 days.

According to Dr. Swann, tetrapeptides are good ingredient to bind moisture within your skin. Recent studies have also reported that tetrapeptides create cell to cell communication that actually helps your skin repair itself.

The Importance of a Skin Care Routine

Cleanser & Toner

Cleansing your skin and following with an alcohol-free Toner is a great step to keeping your skin healthy. An alcohol-free Toner helps to ensure that your skin’s Ph is balanced and does not strip away the good oils on your skin. This helps keep your body’s oil production balanced, reducing pore blockage, black heads and breakouts.

Emulate Cleansers have non-comedogenic antioxidant oils to cleanse but also moisturize.
We also have Facial Cleansing Sponges that can be used for gentle or deep cleaning.

Emulate’s Toner is the most fantastic leave-on Toner you will ever use. We create a healing tea of wild and organic herbs that deep clean, detoxify and heal the skin. Great for make-up removal, sports, acne, as a shaving follow-up and is great for EVERYONE!

If you would like some personalized advice on the Emulate skin care program. Please contact us info@emulatewellness.com or by calling 1-208-854-1067, we are happy to provide you direction and personal support.

Moisturizers

Cold winds, dry central heating and hot baths all contribute to dry skin during the winter, so a good quality moisturizer is a key component in your skin care regimen. But what are the most important factors to consider in choosing a moisturizer?

Natural, organic and wild ingredients. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and everything you put on it, goes into the body. It is important to choose products that have natural, organic and healthy ingredients. Wild herbs and flowers are hand harvested in pesticide-free zones and often possess higher potency than non-wild ingredients. They are responsibly harvested to ensure sustainability of the plants.

According to Dr. Axe, “Although most people don’t realize it, many of their favorite name brand skin care products can be significant contributors of harmful ingredients, toxins and chemicals. I call it “the real price of beauty.” The fact is, the majority of store-bought, commercially-produced beauty products come packed with artificial colors, fragrances, preservatives and stabilizers that can easily be absorbed through the skin’s pores, potentially causing a range of negative long-term health effects.

Chemicals found in most commercially produced beauty products can be damaging from their inception in the way they are produced, to potentially harmful effects on consumers, to the methods of their disposal and negative impact on the environment.

So, what does this mean for your beauty routine?

To ensure you are using products that are healthy for your body, here are some good suggestions…

Read the labels. See if you recognize the types of ingredients that are in your products. Granted, there are some things that you might not always recognize that are contributors to making soaps or are used as natural preservatives, but the majority should be non-chemistry sounding names. If the Latin names are included with the name of an ingredient, that is simply a format that is often requested by the retail stores so a consumer can know the genus and species of the plant it is derived from.

Know your supplier. If possible try to buy from a source you know you can trust that is committed to making natural and/or organic products that are safe.

Test the products on your skin. Try a sample of a product if you are not sure about the source, so you can test it on your skin first. Many quality manufacturers of natural and organic products offer sample sizes for sale. In most cases, you will be able to feel any negative effects within a matter of a few hours if a product is not good for you.

Great Ingredients to Watch for in Moisturizers…

One amazing ingredient for moisture is Shea butter, and for good reason. Shea butter is known to contain high levels of vitamin A and possesses anti-inflammatory qualities. It is intensely moisturizing and absorbs easily into the upper layers of the epidermis.

Emulate Moisturizers are made with organic raw Shea butter. Raw or also called unrefined Shea butter is richer in nutrients. Emulate raw organic Shea butter is also Fair Trade, which means that prices are set at or above market value to support the agriculture and economy of African villages.

In addition to our premium Shea, we combine Aloe Vera juice, healing herbs and pure essential oils, all made by hand in small batches to ensure freshness. A feeling and appearance in your skin that provides Emulate with an incomparable quality.

We have two facial moisturizers to choose from: One with and one without SPF. We recommend using only products with zinc oxide for sunscreen. They are chemical-free and safe also for kids.

Anti-Aging Serums – Solving the Mystery of Ingredients

Topical Anti-aging Serums – What’s in them?

To avoid using expensive serums that supposedly guarantee the Fountain of Youth, look for serums that offer some of the ingredients below. We have provided some explanations also on ingredients that have in the past few years declined in popularity.

Serums or elixirs with quality ingredients in them can offer remarkable and very fast-acting results with many long-term benefits.

Below is a list of ingredients that have often been touted for their anti-aging benefits, with some myth busting facts. Our number one pick is PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica – also known as Apple Stem Cell Extract. At Emulate we use Apple Stem Cell Extract in our Anti-aging Elixir with American Emu Oil (a natural source of hyaluronic acid) and in our Anti-aging Elixir with Apple Stem Cells. Both are amazing for reversing signs of aging, skin discoloration and repair.

PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica. Apple Stem Cell Extract is a revolutionary plant cell technology that protects skin stem cells and reduces signs of aging. It is a preparation based on the stem cells of the rare Swiss apple, Uttwiler Spatlauber. It is an apple variety that was well-known for its excellent storability and thus its longevity.

Thanks to this technology called PhytoCellTec™, plant stem cells can be obtained and incorporated into cosmetic products to ensure the longevity of skin cells. PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica has been shown by various in-vitro experiments to delay aging of the skin, support collagen production and reverse many signs of breakdown of the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid can keep your skin glowing, and it also benefits your joints — all without the harmful side effects of toxic skin products.

Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating, clear substance that’s produced by the body naturally. In the human body, hyaluronic acid is found in the greatest concentrations in the skin, inside joints, within the eye sockets and in other tissues where it helps retain collagen, increase moisture, and provide elasticity and flexibility.

The best natural sources of Hyaluronic acid include animal fats, bones and connective tissue, while less effective, but still good sources are leafy greens, root vegetables and soy products. It is often considered today, that soy is an ingredient to try to avoid because nearly all of it is genetically modified and it produces estrogen-like compounds that have been linked to breast cancer.

Retin-A. Retin A, also known as retinol or tretinoin is a form of vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself.

The Retin-A and Avita brands of tretinoin are used to treat acne. The Renova brand of tretinoin is used to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and mottled skin discoloration, and to make rough facial skin feel smoother. When using Retin-A avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Retin-A can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Avoid getting Retin-A in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use Retin-A on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using in wounds or on areas of eczema. Wait until these conditions have healed before using Retin-A.

Vitamin E Oil

Skincare specialists over the years have often recommended vitamin E oil for its beauty benefits, however “Vitamin E is always a tricky ingredient to use,” says celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. “It’s an awesome antioxidant, but it’s heavy, so if you are prone to break outs, it could make you break out more. Also Vitamin E has always been used in skincare, but I think the purity of it has changed.”

Dr. Stafford R. Broumand, a New York City-based cosmetic and plastic surgeon, echoes the evolution of the super vitamin, explaining, “Vitamin E exists in eight chemical forms, but the form, Tocopherol is the only form that meets human requirements for use. Plus, most Vitamin E oils have soy in them which has been linked to estrogen-related cancers.”

Why Sunscreens are Important in the Winter

Sunscreen

It might seem paradoxical that during the dark winter months you still need to use sunscreen, but the fact is you still need protection from UVA and UVB light.

The naturally occurring ultraviolet light present in the winter is UVA light. However, because the sun doesn’t rise high enough in sky the UVB light is not able to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. UVB light is responsible for vitamin D production and this is why your skin doesn’t produce vitamin D from around September to March. So UVA light is still present throughout the winter months and UVA is the harmful and damaging light in this story.

UVA light accounts for up to 95% of the UV rays reaching the Earth’s surface. This means the UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. Frustratingly they pass straight through glass, making sun protection necessary when you’re indoors as well as outside. UVA light penetrates the deeper layers of your skin, much deeper than UVB. UVA is known to play a major part in the aging of your skin aging, accelerating wrinkling and stimulating melasma (dark patches). Although it has been known for some time that UVB causes sun burn and cancers until recently UVA wasn’t thought to be a significant contributor. Recent studies however have shown that UVA may also initiate and exacerbate the development of skin cancers. So wear your sunscreen.

Most sunscreens can be quite oily so it is important to pick one that is comfortable enough to wear all day long every day.

So, there you have it!

These are our top tips for ensuring you keep you your skin in first-rate condition over the winter months. The winter might be long but your skin doesn’t have to suffer.

Sources: Women’s Health, Web MD, Lipotec (Eyeseryl™), Dr. Axe, Natureword.com, drugs.com.

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