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Author: rachel

bookmark_borderCoffee Vs. Japanese Green Tea: Which is Better For Your Skin?

Posted on by rachel
Coffee-and-Cup-of-Green-Tea

The morning debate between coffee and green tea is something I often face once I’ve arrived at work. Do I go for the zen of green tea or opt for one of the java flavors? While both are super tasty, contain caffeine, and can help you hit your 8 glasses of water a day quota, there are a few differences. Today we’re looking at which is better for your skin- green tea or coffee?

Coffee

  • One study showed that coffee bean extracts can be responsible for skin cell energy preservation due to its free-radical properties.
  • Another study found that caffeine inhibits the DNA damage response, thus protecting skin against the adverse effects of UVB. The inhibition of DNA damage response may offer a therapeutic option for non-melanoma skin cancer.
  • When coffee promotes blood circulation, it leads to healthy and energized skin, effectively reducing the swelling of tissues and depuffing areas of the skin.

Japanese Green Tea

  • Green tea is packed with powerful antioxidants called catechins, which have been shown to potentially inhibit the growth of some cancers, including skin cancer. These antioxidants an reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are known to play a role in aging and all sorts of diseases.
  • Since green tea has around 1/3 the amount of caffeine as coffee, it has been linked to stress relief. This reduction in stress could help clear up any stress-related skin issues you may have, such as redness or acne.
  • Studies have shown that topical green tea formulations reduce sun damage. Green tea appears to exert sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea may enhance sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen.
  • Considering their well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, topical green tea polyphenols are likely to slow down the development of some signs of aging.

The winner? Japanese Green Tea!

bookmark_borderWhy Cold Showers Are Better For Your Skin

Posted on by rachel
cold shower skin

It can be tempting to always turn the dial up to “hot” when taking showers, but water that’s too high of a temperature can actually dry out or damage your skin. Don’t freak out — you don’t have to take your entire shower in freezing water, but turning the dial to cold for the last few minutes of your shower has a variety of benefits.

Cool water improves circulation. Warm water makes blood rush to your skin, while cool water makes the blood rush to your organs. Switching between hot and cold triggers better circulation in your blood by forcing the blood to move, so starting off with a warm shower and then switching to cold for the second half is the perfect solution. Good circulation improves the performance of your body’s system and keeps your skin looking healthy.

Cold water closes your pores. Towards the end of your shower, blast the cool water to close your pores. This prevents the pores from becoming clogged by dirt and oil, which causes skin imperfections.

Cold water makes your blood vessels constrict. This reduces swelling and the appearance of dark circles under your eyes and gives you a young, healthy glow.

Cool water can help prevent skin from being stripped of its healthy natural oils too quickly. As mentioned earlier, water that is too hot can damage the skin.

bookmark_borderPrepare Your Skin for Wedding Season

Posted on by rachel
wedding skincare

Wedding season has begun, so it’s likely you have a few bridal showers, bachelorette parties and actual weddings to attend (maybe even your own!) At these wedding season events, there will be cameras all over snapping shots of the beautiful day, so you want your skin to stand out. Below are a few easy ways to prepare your skin for wedding season.

Start early. You don’t get wedding-ready skin in just a few days — it can take months for a skincare routine to start to work and for you to get the results you’re looking for. Do you research on your skin’s problem areas and concerns and then plan out which products you’ll use, how often you will apply them, and book out any appointments (such as a facial or hair removal) ahead of time.

Use the trifecta. A basic skincare regimen should consist of cleansing, toning and moisturizing, twice a day in the morning and at night. Cleansing works to remove all makeup and buildup from the day, toner works to balance the PH of your skin and prepare skin for your moisturizer, and then the moisturizing keeps your skin plump and hydrated.

Invest in a monthly facial. One facial a month can help fix any issues that other products aren’t. It’s also a nice, relaxing way to pamper yourself during the months leading up to the big day. Facials also take preparation and special techniques that, if done at home, can lead to irritation or scarring — yikes!

 

bookmark_borderSpring Skincare Tips

Posted on by rachel
spring skincare

Spring is finally here, which means it’s time to swap out your typical beauty and skincare routine for something lighter.

Swap out darker blush colors for something lighter. Punchy pinks add a pop of color to your face, giving you that sun-kissed look. A coraly-pink shade looks good on just about every skin tone, so you can’t go wrong with that.

Layer up on the sunscreen. Many women forget to wear sunscreen in months that aren’t summer (possibly because the sun isn’t always as bright during this season), which can lead to sunspots, dry skin, and — in some cases — skin cancer. To ensure that you protect your face during spring, opt for a daily moisturizer with a high SPF in it. This way, you’ll only need to remember to moisturize in the morning instead of applying a thick sunscreen in addition to your typical beauty routine.

Switch from powders to creams. Powder-based skincare and beauty products are great for winter, but the arrival of spring begs for something creamier. Swap out powder blush and eyeshadow for creamier textures, which will glide on easier on your moisturized skin.

Exfoliate away winter. Use a gentle exfoliating product, like Shinso Glow, to remove all the dead skin and buildup from winter. This gives your face a beautiful canvas for spring.

bookmark_borderWhat is Facial Yoga?

Posted on by rachel
facial yoga

There’s no denying the popularity of yoga, but what about facial yoga? A quick Google search provides you with  before and after photos,  suggestions for which “poses” work best and “how to” videos from facial yoga experts. But what exactly is facial yoga, and is it just another beauty trend? 

Facial yoga is all about exercising your face muscles, which tightens, tones and, according to practitioners, combats aging. The techniques are also designed to stimulate collagen and elastin production in the middle layer of the skin giving you a smoother, more supple, tighter-looking skin with a natural glow. This series of exercises promises to do for your face what yoga does for your body: relax and tone muscles. Experts recommend performing the various facial exercises for 20 minutes, six times a week in order to see results quickly. After all, there are approximately 50 muscles in your face, so exercising them is key.

Facial yoga has a variety of benefits aside from those mentioned above. For one, it’s much cheaper — not to mention safer — than plastic surgery. It’s also much safer- facial yoga is 100% natural and doesn’t contain any chemicals or require needles.