Category: Makeup & Beauty Tips

3 Steps in Your Beauty Routine You should be following Daily

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  1. Wear Sunscreen

    Not just when you’re headed to the beach or the lake, but EVERYDAY!! The first thing I do in the morning  is apply sunscreen to my face. No joke! Even before I brush my teeth!!  I don’t care if I’m going to be inside all day or if it’s cloudy, sunscreen is happening!

I learned the hard way, guys. I am going to be 34 and have been wearing sunscreen consistently for the last 4 years. Before that though, my entire 20’s consisted of wearing spf 4  tanning oil (really, Jackie?!) while laying by the pool in Arizona. I’ve also had my fair share of sunburns (thanks to that spf 4) and I’ve even used tanning beds. Oh how I wish I could erase that from my past! Fast forward from my sun worshipping 20’s to my 30th Birthday.  I swear that exact day was when all of my sun sins flashed before my eyes and I noticed my once youthful face now was covered in Dark spots that made me look much older than my 30 years. That was the day I became very aware of the amazing organ that is our skin and how important it is to keep it protected.  Dark spots, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles are just some of the effects of sun exposure.

Vanity aside,  the #1 reason I choose to wear daily sunscreen is to reduce my risk of developing skin Cancer! Check out these stats, courtesy of  http://www.skincancer.org: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the sun causes 90 percent of all nonmelanoma skin cancers,1 and other research links it to 65 percent of all melanomas.2 Each year, an estimated 3.5 million or more new cases occur in the US of the nonmelanoma skin cancers basal and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC).3 An estimated 76,250 new cases of invasive melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in the US, with nearly 9,180 resulting in death, according to the American Cancer Society.4  Those are some scary stats, my friends!

Ok, so we know sunscreen is important, but which sunscreen should we be wearing?

I’m going to focus on facial sunscreen, since we’re on the topic of beauty routines. My dermatologist at the University of Michigan said that The most important thing to remember when choosing a sunscreen, is to pick one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. The other consideration is physical vs. chemical. Here is a helpful chart that compares the pros and cons of both, so you can make an educated decision on which is right for you. 

My derm recommended the Anthelios line from La Roche Posay. That line is also recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It’s great to wear daily, as it’s very light and works perfect under makeup, but still provides superior protection from the harmful rays of the sun.

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2. Use Eye Cream every AM and PM

Eye cream is sometimes thought of as an extra step vs. an essential step when it comes to skin care.  Read this next statement and then tell me what you think, essential vs. extra……“The eyelid is the thinnest skin on the body and since it’s constantly active  (we blink 10,000 times a day), the skin around the eye area is the first to show age,” says dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman. So it stands to reason that they need a little extra TLC.”  I don’t know about you guys, but I’m gonna go with ESSENTIAL!

So..what should you look for when choosing an eye cream?

  • Caffeine: to constrict blood vessels under eyes to reduce puffiness
  • Antioxidants: to prevent free radical damage
  • Peptides: to stimulate collagen production (i.e. retinol)
  • A light cream: Heavy creams can increase fluid retention and exacerbate eye puffiness

My absolute favorite product and one that I use every morning and night religiously, is It Works Lifting Lip and Eye Cream..It’s my secret to looking like I had a full 8 hours of sleep! It’s a cream gel, so it’s super light but still very moisturizing. It satisfies all of the above as far as what to look for in an eye cream and is so affordable at just $29 for a month’s supply (loyal customer pricing)! Can’t beat that! There is no reason you should pay $250 for a quality eye cream.  Added perk: It’s meant to be used around the delicate skin of the lips as well! The skin around the lips is just as fragile as the skin around the eyes and is one of the first places that wrinkles appear. I LOVE a multitasking product!

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3. Take a multivitamin

I could go on and on about the benefits of supplementation, but for this article’s purposes, I’m going to focus on what I like to call “the beauty nutrients.” When choosing a multivitamin, they’re not all created equal. Make sure you look for a whole food based vitamin vs. a synthetic vitamin. Synthetic vitamins don’t come from living food sources, but are made from chemicals that are mass produced.

Check out these amazing beauty nutrients and what they do for your body to keep you looking and feeling your best!

Vitamin C: We all know Vitamin C for it’s immune boosting capabilities, but what most people don’t know, is that Vitamin C is essential to collagen production. Vitamin C also protects skin cells from sun damage.5
Vitamin E: Acts as a cell membrane protectant — it guards what comes in and what goes out of the skin. When combined with Vitamin C, it protects against UV damage. 5
Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is crucial for skin health. It converts to Vitamin A, which is critically responsible for cell repair and growth. 5
Polyphenols: These exhibit anti-cancer properties and may reduce the risk of sun-related cancers. Found in Green Tea5
B Vitamins:  B should stand for BEAUTY! Check out what these B vitamins do for your hair, skin and nails!

      • Niacin, vitamin B3: used to improve the appearance or severity of some skin conditions, important to keep the hair follicle healthy6

      • Pantothenic acid, vitamin B5: Promotes faster healing of skin wounds and is most effective when combined with Vitamin C6

      • Biotin, vitamin B7: essential for maintaining the texture, tone and strength of your locks, and a deficiency in B7 can lead to hair loss6

      • Folic acid, vitamin B9: Is Important to to keep the hair follicle healthy. A deficiency can slow down cell division within the hair follicles, which also slows down hair growth. Also important to health and growth of nails. Improves the ability of the epidermis, the upper-most layer of the skin, to retain moisture – leading to softer, smoother skin with less dryness and flakiness, and a reduction of fine lines6

      • Cobalamin, vitamin B12: regulates your skin’s pigment production and location, preventing hyperpigmentation, which is the darkening of skin on certain parts of your body. Also, B12 helps the body to absorb the essential mineral iron, which is necessary for healthy and strong nails6

My daily multivitamin is the It’s Vital Core Nutrition. This plant-based,whole-food multivitamin gives me the essential antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins I need throughout the day with controlled-release technology. It’s gluten free and easy to swallow. On top of the beauty nutrients, it also contains metabolic support to help my body burn more calories. #Winning

IMG_7269I hope these 3 steps will be a welcome addition to your beauty routine! Have a great day, beauties!

-Love,

Jackie

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