Skin Care Tips to Get the Glow

Skin Care Tips to Get the Glow

Minimize your wrinkles and fine lines with these eight tips:

1. Plump Up With Moisturizer

With age, skin becomes drier, making wrinkles stand out more. Bring that moisture back to fight the fine lines. Look for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which pulls in water and plumps the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD. He is director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

2. Use Retinoids

Retinoids spur your skin to make more collagen, which combats wrinkles. You can buy products made with retinol over the counter, or get prescription-strength retinoids through your doctor. Both "have been well-studied for wrinkles, and work," Zeichner says.

Use them as directed, and be patient. Most products take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months to work.

Wear sunscreen, too. Retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Wearing sunscreen every day can also help you prevent future wrinkles.

3. Don't Overdo Anti-Aging Creams

Take it easy. Try only one or two anti-aging products at a time.

Using too many tends to irritate the skin, which can make signs of aging more visible. It's best to start with one product and add another product after a month or so.

Look for ingredients like vitamin C or descriptions including "peptide technology" or "growth factor technology."

4. Makeup: Start With a Silicone Primer

After you moisturize, smooth on a primer before you put on your foundation.

"Applying primer as a makeup base is the key to softening wrinkles," says Jaclyn Peresetsky, a makeup artist and co-owner of Skin Perfect Clinic in Ohio.

Choose one with a silicone base, which fills in uneven skin texture and fine lines.

5. Use a Light, Moisture-Rich Foundation

Heavy matte formulas make your skin look older. A hydrating, sheer foundation is best.

Need more coverage to hide dark spots or blemishes? Lightly tap a concealer on dark spots before applying foundation.

Heavy coverage on fine lines and wrinkles draws attention to them.

6. Lighten Up on Powder

A light dusting of loose, mineral powder sets your makeup without settling into fine lines and pores.

"Look for one that contains mica micro-particles, which reflect light to give the skin extraordinary radiance," Peresetsky says.

Also, swap your powder blush for a cream blush to get a natural, radiant look that won't draw attention to any fine lines on your cheeks.

7. Play Up Your Eyes

Highlighting eyes is one of the tricks of the trade that makeup artists use to draw focus away from wrinkles. Choose matte eye shadow rather than shimmer. "The metallic used in shimmery eye shadows enhances fine lines and draws attention to crepey skin," Peresetsky says. Neutral colors work best. Use lighter shades on your lids and soft neutrals in the creases of your eyelids.

8. Smudge-Proof Your Lips

Keep the color on your lips, and don't let it bleed into fine lines. Lip pencil, a non-drying lip stain, and sheer gloss should do the trick, Peresetsky says. Line your lips with a creamy, color-stay lip liner that matches your lip color.

Next, apply a lip stain very lightly using your fingertip. Don't use too much.

Finally, put a little bit of sheer gloss on the center of your lips. This will help your color stay put and keep the spotlight where it belongs: on your beauty. http://tinyurl.com/ldsbu3w

Skin Care Tips to Get the Glow

Skin Care Tips to Get the Glow

Bad Skin Habits

What not to do if you want great skin.

8 Ways to Hide Wrinkles

Look fresh and more youthful.

Minimize your wrinkles and fine lines with these eight tips:

1. Plump Up With Moisturizer

With age, skin becomes drier, making wrinkles stand out more. Bring that moisture back to fight the fine lines.

Look for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which pulls in water and plumps the skin.

2. Use Retinoids

Retinoids spur your skin to make more collagen, which combats wrinkles. You can buy products made with retinol over the counter, or get prescription-strength retinoids through your doctor. Both "have been well-studied for wrinkles, and work.

Use them as directed, and be patient. Most products take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months to work.

Wear sunscreen, too. Retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Wearing sunscreen every day can also help you prevent future wrinkles.

3. Don't Overdo Anti-Aging Creams

Take it easy. Try only one or two anti-aging products at a time.

Using too many tends to irritate the skin, which can make signs of aging more visible. It's best to start with one product and add another product after a month or so.

Look for ingredients like vitamin C or descriptions including "peptide technology" or "growth factor technology."

4. Makeup: Start With a Silicone Primer

After you moisturize, smooth on a primer before you put on your foundation.

"Applying primer as a makeup base is the key to softening wrinkles,"

Choose one with a silicone base, which fills in uneven skin texture and fine lines.

5. Use a Light, Moisture-Rich Foundation

Heavy matte formulas make your skin look older. A hydrating, sheer foundation is best.

Need more coverage to hide dark spots or blemishes? Lightly tap a concealer on dark spots before applying foundation.Heavy coverage on fine lines and wrinkles draws attention to them.

6. Lighten Up on Powder

A light dusting of loose, mineral powder sets your makeup without settling into fine lines and pores.

"Look for one that contains mica micro-particles, which reflect light to give the skin extraordinary radiance,".

Also, swap your powder blush for a cream blush to get a natural, radiant look that won't draw attention to any fine lines on your cheeks.

7. Play Up Your Eyes

Highlighting eyes is one of the tricks of the trade that makeup artists use to draw focus away from wrinkles.

Choose matte eye shadow rather than shimmer. "The metallic used in shimmery eye shadows enhances fine lines and draws attention to crepey skin,".

Neutral colors work best. Use lighter shades on your lids and soft neutrals in the creases of your eyelids.

8. Smudge-Proof Your Lips

Keep the color on your lips, and don't let it bleed into fine lines. Lip pencil, a non-drying lip stain, and sheer gloss should do the trick.

Line your lips with a creamy, color-stay lip liner that matches your lip color.

Next, apply a lip stain very lightly using your fingertip. Don't use too much.

Finally, put a little bit of sheer gloss on the center of your lips. This will help your color stay put and keep the spotlight where it belongs: on your beauty.

Instead, fuel up on protein and high-fiber carbohydrates. Both fill you up without weighing you down.

If you have trouble controlling portion sizes, or you don’t have time to prep healthy snacks, you may be better off with the old three-meal-a-day plan.

7 Anti-Aging Ingredients You Need to Know

7 Anti-Aging Ingredients You Need to Know

With a slew of anti-aging ingredients claiming to be the Holy Grail of eternal youth, choosing skincare products is overwhelming! But you can shop smart, if you do your research. We've done the work for you and broken down the key players in this handy cheat sheet.

Retinol

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A, making it a milder version of retinoids (a prescription-only wrinkle fighter). While it takes several weeks to see results, retinol is the most effective over-the-counter anti-aging ingredient when it comes to "smoothing wrinkles, unclogging pores, lightening superficial brown spots, and improving the texture of the skin," says Amy Wechsler, New York City dermatologist. Because of retinol's potency, skin irritation is common, especially in direct sunlight. Apply retinol-based products at night on dry skin to avoid sensitivity and be sure to apply a moisturizer with SPF every morning.

Niacinamide

If you have dark spots resulting from acne scars, sun damage, or old age, lighten them with niacinamade, a vitamin-B3 derivative that prevents melanin, or pigmentation, from rising to the surface. “It may help to improve the skin’s moisture barrier and collagen production, all of which reverses the appearance of sun damage,” says Wechsler. Plus, it’s known to reduce inflammation, and even acne.

Hyaluronic Acid

Though you probably associate the word “acid” with harsh and abrasive, hyaluronic acid is the exact opposite. It’s a humectant, meaning that it draws out water from the air and dermis (the skin that lies below the surface). Look for a lotion that contains hyaluronic acid, “which can add to the moisturizer’s hydrating qualities, and may even spur new collagen production,” says Wechsler.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Unlike hyaluronic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs for short) are exfoliators that gently dissolve the "glue" that holds surface skin cells together, letting the dead ones slough away to reveal youthful looking skin. This process encourages cell turnover, which typically slows with age. Getting rid of dead skin also lets moisturizers, serums, and skin treatments penetrate the skin and work more effectively. But look for products with no more than 8 percent AHAs. "In high concentrations, AHAs can help fade brown spots and fine wrinkles, but they make skin extra sensitive to the sun," says Wechsler.

L-absorbic acid

L-ascorbic acid is just a fancy word for "vitamin C." Though vitamin C is a good-for-you ingredient that helps boost the immune system, it's a little more complex when skincare is involved. Think of vitamin C as a wild card — extremely volatile and unstable. "When exposed to air, it undergoes oxidation and becomes ineffective," says Wechsler. When vitamin C is stable and good, it's really good. It's an important antioxidant that helps build collagen, reduce inflammation, and promote elasticity to plump up skin. But how can you tell if vitamin C in a product is stable? Look for "L-ascorbic acid" in the ingredient list.

Avobenzone

If there's one skincare product to swear by, it's a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Avobenzone is a common chemical ingredient in sunscreen that blocks UVA rays. It's often paired with benzophenone-3 or oxybenzone to shield against UVB rays. For maximum protection, apply a chemical sunscreen directly on skin before serum, lotion, or makeup. Hate the thought of chemicals? Go for a mineral block that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, suggests Wechsler. But because of its chalky texture and shield-like barrier, a mineral block should be applied last, after serum and moisturizer.

Antioxidants

Slow down the clock with an antioxidant-packed skin saver. “Antioxidants help prevent and repair damage to your body tissue by encouraging cell growth,” says Wechsler. More importantly, they neutralize free radicals (unstable, damaging molecules in your body caused by elements such as sunlight, smoke, and pollution). The most popular antioxidants include vitamins C and E, pomegranate, green tea, and coffeeberry extractshttps://twitter.com/RatnamVadevel

10 Toothbrushing Mistakes

10 Toothbrushing Mistakes

Toothbrushing is such an ingrained habit, few people think twice about it. But as with any habit, you can get sloppy, and that can lead to cavities and gum disease.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 1: Not Using the Right Toothbrush

Consider the size of your mouth when picking a toothbrush, says Richard H. Price, DMD, the consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. "If you are straining to open wide enough to let the brush in, the brush is probably too big," he says.

''The handle has to be comfortable," he says. It should feel as comfortable as holding a fork when you eat.

"The more comfortable it is in your mouth and your hand, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly," he says.

Which is the better toothbrush: Electric or manual?

"It's an individual preference," says Michael Sesemann, DDS, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and an Omaha dentist.  "A person who brushes well with a manual will do as well as a person who brushes well with an electric."

Price agrees. "It's not the toothbrush, it's the brusher."

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 2: Not Picking the Right Bristles

Some toothbrushes have angled bristles, others straight. So is one type better? Dentists say no.

''It's more related to technique than the way the bristles come out," says Sesemann.

What is important when buying a toothbrush? Bristles that are too stiff can aggravate the gums. The ADA recommends a soft-bristled brush.

''Bristles should be sturdy enough to remove plaque but not hard enough to damage [the teeth] when used properly," says Price. He doesn't recommend "natural" bristles such as those made from animal hair or boar bristle.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 3: Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough

Softly brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended. ''Three times a day is best," says Sesemann.

With too much time between brushings, he says, bacterial plaque will build up, boosting the risk of gum inflammation and other problems.

Brushing should last at least two minutes, says Sesemann. Three minutes is even better, says Price.

Most people fall short of both time lines, says Sesemann. "It's an arbitrary number, but it's just so people take the time to clean all the surfaces." He often recommends people divide the mouth into quadrants and spend 30 seconds a quadrant. Some electric toothbrushes include built-in timers. 

To make the two minutes go faster, Sesemann says he ''multitasks,'' fitting in a little TV viewing as he brushes.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 4: Brushing Too Often or Too Hard

While brushing your teeth three times a day is ideal, more may not be, says Sesemann. "More than four toothbrushings a day would begin to seem compulsive."

Excessive brushing could expose the root of the tooth to irritation, and that could in turn irritate the gums. Brushing vigorously can also erode tooth enamel. The trick is to brush very gently for two to three minutes.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 5: Not Brushing Correctly

''Long horizontal strokes along the gumline can lead to abrasions," says Sesemann. "Aim your bristles at the gum line at a 45-degree angle and do short strokes or vibrations." Softly brush up and down your teeth, not across your teeth. The strokes should be vertical or circular, not horizontal.

Be sure to brush outer and inner tooth surfaces, the chewing surfaces, and your tongue.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 6: Starting in the Same Place Each Time

Many people start brushing the same part of their mouth over and over, dentists find.

"Start in a different place so that you don't get lazy in the same area of your mouth," says Price. He reasons that by the time you get to the last quadrant of your mouth, you're bored with brushing.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 7: Skipping Inner Tooth Surfaces

Most people forget to brush the inner surfaces of teeth -- the surface that your tongue presses against.

"The plaque you can't see is just as important to remove as the plaque you can see," says Price. 

The most commonly skipped area, dentists say, is the inner surface of the lower front teeth.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 8: Not Following Up With a Rinse

Bacteria can grow on an un-rinsed toothbrush. Then, the next time you brush your teeth, you may actually put old bacteria back in your mouth, says Laurence Rifkin, DDS, a dentist in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Rinsing the toothbrush after you brush will help remove any leftover toothpaste, too.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 9: Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry

"If you have a toothbrush that's perpetually moist, it will cultivate more bacteria," says Sesemann.

"If the bristles stay soggy, you can misshape them as you use the brush," Price says. "Or it might be a breeding ground for bacteria."

It's a good idea to shake out the moisture, then recap it with a cap that allows air in, he says.

Toothbrushing Mistake No. 10: Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough

The American Dental Association recommends getting a new brush every three or four months, or even sooner if the bristles look frayed.

But rather than go by a strict timeline, Price says a visual inspection of the bristles is better. "Once the bristles lose their normal flexibility and start to break apart, change your toothbrush," he says.

"Look more at the state of the bristles than the time period," he says.

Some brushes have colored indicators that alert you when they need replacing, says Price.

5 Habits That Wreck Your Skin

5 Habits That Wreck Your Skin

You have the best intentions for your skin. You probably have a bathroom drawer full of products to prove it, and you use them every day.

But maybe you've overlooked a few things. Do you have any of these five bad skin habits?

1. Making a Sad Face

They're called frown lines for a reason. "Being unhappy creates bad facial posture -- a frown, pursed lips, and tense facial muscles," says New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD.

While you work on getting happier, there's a shortcut you can take for your face. Try moving your ears back without touching them, Day suggests. Even if you can't do it, just trying helps.

"It's a very open expression. You can't frown and pull your ears back at the same time," she says. "You will feel happier, and people will respond to you more happily."

2. Skipping Sunscreen

"You can't emphasize enough how much sunscreen matters when it comes to skin aging," Day says. "Ninety percent of wrinkles are from sun exposure. Only about 10% are genetic. You have a lot of control."

Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. Slather it on, even on cloudy days. Errands, driving, walking your dog   … anything outside requires sunscreen.

Your sunscreen should say "broad-spectrum" on the label, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays burn. UVA rays tan, but cause wrinkles. Both rays can cause skin cancer.

Reapply it, too. Check the label to see how often.

3. Overindulging Your Sweet Tooth

Too much sugar can speed up skin aging in a process called glycation, says New Orleans dermatologist Patricia Farris, MD.

She explains that sugar attacks collagen and elastin, which your skin needs for fullness and elasticity. The result: Your skin can wrinkle and sag.

So change your eating habits. Go for lots of fruits and vegetables and good fats, like those found in salmon. That's your best diet plan for looking younger longer, Farris says.

4. Skimping on Sleep

While you sleep, your skin repairs itself. Too little sleep means too little time for skin repair.

People who get too little sleep, take a long time to fall asleep, or toss and turn have more fine lines and uneven coloring, and less skin elasticity, than people who sleep well, a recent study shows.

You need to get enough sleep. Adults need about 7 to 8 hours a night. Try to stick to a sleep schedule.

"If you go to bed a few hours later than normal, you can end up with jet lag in your skin, so you have more puffiness, hollowness, and sagging," Day says. "Be consistent, and you'll see the difference in your skin." 

Your sleep position matters, too. "Lying on your side pushes your face forward and creates lines," Farris says. She recommends trying a beauty pillow that reduces pressure on the face during sleep. "It's extremely difficult to sleep on your back, but the less you sleep on your side, the better."

5. Smoking

Smoking isn't just bad for your heart and lungs. It's bad for your skin, too.

"When smokers purse their lips to inhale, they get lip lines, and when smoke goes near their eyes, they squint and get crow's feet," Farris says.

Smoking also makes you more likely to get some skin cancers, leaves your skin sallow, and slows wound healing. It can make infection and scars, including acne scars, more likely, too. Do whatever it takes to quit.

8 Ways to Hide Wrinkles

8 Ways to Hide Wrinkles

:

1. Plump Up With Moisturizer

With age, skin becomes drier, making wrinkles stand out more. Bring that moisture back to fight the fine lines. 

Look for a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which pulls in water and plumps the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD. He is director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. 

2. Use Retinoids

Retinoids spur your skin to make more collagen, which combats wrinkles. You can buy products made with retinol over-the-counter, or get prescription-strength retinoids through your doctor. Both "have been well-studied for wrinkles and work," Zeichner says.

Use them as directed and be patient. Most products take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months to work.

Wear sunscreen, too. Retinoids can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Wearing sunscreen every day can also help you avoid future wrinkles.

3. Don't Overdo Anti-Aging Creams

Take it easy. Try only one or two anti-aging products at a time. 

Using too many tends to irritate the skin, which can make signs of aging more visible. It's best to start with one product and add another product after a month or so. 

Look for ingredients like vitamin C or descriptions including "peptide technology' or "growth factor technology."

4. Makeup: Start With a Silicone Primer 

After you moisturize, smooth on a primer before you put on your foundation.

"Applying primer as a makeup base is the key to softening wrinkles," says Jaclyn Peresetsky, a makeup artist and owner of Skin Perfect Image Wellness Spa in Columbus, Ohio.

Choose one with a silicone base, which fills in uneven skin texture and fine lines.

5. Use a Light, Moisture-Rich Foundation

Heavy matte formulas make your skin look older. A hydrating, sheer foundation is best.

Need more coverage to hide dark spots or blemishes? Lightly tap a concealer on dark spots before applying foundation.

Heavy coverage on fine lines and wrinkles draws attention to them.

6. Lighten Up on Powder

A light dusting of loose, mineral powder sets your makeup without settling into fine lines and pores.

"Look for one that contains mica micro-particles, which reflect light to give the skin extraordinary radiance," Peresetsky says.

Also, swap your powder blush for a cream blush to get a natural, radiant look that won't draw attention to any fine lines on your cheeks.

7. Play Up Your Eyes

Highlighting eyes is one of the tricks of the trade that makeup artists use to draw focus away from wrinkles.

Choose matte eye shadow rather than shimmer. "The metallic used in shimmery eye shadows enhances fine lines and draws attention to crepey skin," Peresetsky says. 

Neutral colors work best. Use lighter shades on your lids and soft neutrals in the creases of your eyelids.

8. Smudge-Proof Your Lips 

Keep the color on your lips and don't let it bleed into fine lines. Lip pencil, a non-drying lip stain, and sheer gloss should do the trick, Peresetsky says. 

Line your lips with a creamy, color-stay lip liner that matches your lip color.

Next, apply a lip stain very lightly using your fingertip. Don't use too much.

Finally, put a little bit of sheer gloss on the center of your lips. This will help your color stay put and keep the spotlight where it belongs: on your beauty