Tuesday Tips - SKIN CARE A-Z Continued

Here are tips r-t from "Your Everything Guide to Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." These tips come to you from an article in Elle Magazine. This is a post I started back a few months back, but I have been so busy I haven't even had time to post to my blog. I finally have a free minute so I thought I would give a a few more of these great tips!

r. - RETINOIDS: These chemical compounds are derived from vitamin A and assist in regulating cell growth. Avaliable over the counter (Rentin - A is the prescription version), retinoids are often used to reduce the appearance of lines since they're so effective at getting skin cells to rebuild collagen and elastin. This rapid turnover can sometimes trigger sensitivtiy, however, so most doc suggest starting with retinoids every other night until the skin adjusts to the new ingredient.

s. - SLEEP: Most studies recommend seven to eight hours of shut-eye per night for optimal health and beauty benefits. This is a time for full-body regeneration and skin repair, so derms often tell patients to apply treatments such as retinoids and pigmentation-reducers before bed, giving ingredients like glucosamine, which treats spots and lines, the ideal conditions under which to work their magic.

t. - TEA: Wheather brewed as a soothing beverage or added to a daily skin cream, these antioxidant superstars (the most potent include green and white teas, along with Argentinian yerba mate) also contain large amounts of polyphenol. a known antiager. These types of tea have beed sceintifcally proven to defend against the formation of certain types of cancer when sipped daily, and there's evidence that they fight free radicals, minimize UV effects, and repair damaged cells when applied to the skin.

u. - UV BLOCKERS: The best lotions provide full-spectrum coverage by shielding against UVA and UVB rays. Look for labels listing avobenxone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

v. - VITAMINS: Just as a rainbow-color diet supercharges your energy level, your skin requires a full range of vitamins to keep up it's glow. When mixed into your favorite treatment, vitamins play a major role in important skin function such as speeding up healing, minimizing hyperpigmentation, and booting collagen.

The final post with tips w-z will be coming soon , don't forget to check back for these final skin care tips!

Skin Care A-Z

In the mail the other day I got my Elle Magazine, and in this month issue was a great little "tear out" section titled "Your Everything Guide to Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." It had a lot of great tips in it so I thought I would share them with everyone in a series of posts. For the first set here are tips A-D

a.- ANTIOXIDANTS: The Pac-Men of skin care, antioxidants - such as vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and those within green tea and grape seed - gobble up the free radicals produced by factors like sun exposure, pollution, stress, and cigarette smoke, neutralizing their skin-weakening powers. Dermatologist trumpet the virtues of the face saving ingredients, both as a part of a healthy diet that reinforces tissue from the inside and as a key step in a daily skin care regimen.

b.- BODY BRUSH: An age- old cellulite buster, a dry natural-bristle body brush raises blood flow to the epidermis, revs up lymphatic drainage, and exfoliates dead cells.

c. - COLLAGEN: Along with elastin and hyaluronic acid, collagen provides the mesh framework that keeps skin plums, lifted, and wrinkle free. A strong, fibrous protein, collagen is multitasking antiager. In addition to preventing collagen breakdown by diligent daily application of SPF, you can help your body generate more of the good stuff by using topicals: Ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C are proven collagen builders.

d. - DHA: The active ingredient in self-tanners, DHA (dihydroxyacetone, if you want to get technical) reacts with the uppermost layer of dead skin cells, turning them brown, Results last about a week - less, if you exfoliate.

Make sure you check back Saturday for E-I. All tips courtesy of Elle Magazine " Your Everything Guide to Skin. All you need to know from A-Z."