Simplify Your Skincare - (Yes. It's This Easy)

Let's keep this really simple... It’s time to streamline your bathroom cabinets and nightstands to de-stress and fully enjoy your morning and nighttime skincare routine. Many patients share that they look forward to those few minutes of applying lotions and potions because it often times is the only moment during their otherwise busy day that they can focus on themselves. Your skincare routine is an opportunity to take a deep breath and feel content with the knowledge and comfort that you are doing something that’s both productive and feels good. Some patients express that they are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, how to do it, why they are doing it, etc. This confusion discourages them from being consistent, which is key for beautiful skin. This article is for those patients! Let’s be honest, though, even the best of us could use a little guidance when it comes to keeping things simple. I am happy to help you get organized to refresh your routine and bring it back to life!

Step 1: Clean The Junk Drawer

Whatever it is, if it’s over two years old and if you haven’t used it in the last few months - chalk it up as a loss and toss it. If it’s something you really love, replace it and get back in the habit of using it regularly. Otherwise, make a mental note that from now on, you are investing in quality over quantity and not wasting time or energy by allowing unnecessary evils like a collection of pore-clogging/funky-smelling/possibly-expired free samples invade your drawers. No more clutter in your mind or space. If you’re still not sure what to do, ask yourself these questions: do I love it, do I use it, do I have more than one and can I get another that’s more efficient?

Step 2: Edit The Basics

Once upon a time, there were a few fix-it-all products: cold creme and astringent. It actually makes me so sad that two favorites from my childhood have lost their place in our daily lives. But, there’s a reason for this. When makeup was extremely heavy on the skin, women used cold creams to remove stubborn residue. Cold creams create a lipid layer on the skin that clogs pores while astringents contain alcohol to break up this lipid layer. You can use either of these on occasion, but neither is best for skin for long term maintenance and neither can address your skin's real needs: truly cleaning the skin based on your specific chemistry without ingredients that actually devitalize and eventually cause premature aging over time. No, thank you! 

Here are the important, but quickly dismissed basics: 

Cleanser. Toner. That's all you really need to know. People dismiss them, but they matter because they set the stage for everything that follows. 

The necessities:

This is where you ask yourself: what is each product’s duty? Does it work? Regardless of your skin type, each person MUST HAVE proper exfoliation and hydration. We’ve talked about this before, but here’s a recap. 

Each skincare routine should have:

• 1 Cleanser 
• 1 Toner 
• 1 Eye Cream (starting in your early 20s) 
• 1 Active (starting in your mid-20s)
• 1 Moisturizer

And, I have to add just one more - A NECK CREME! This is what I consider to be a new staple that is an absolute necessity. All too often, the neck is neglected; yet, it is the first area to show signs of aging and is the most difficult area to treat once the damage is done. A neck creme like Necktar will address all of the leading causes of aging in this specific area. (Since of all the "must-haves," this may be foreign to consider, please read more about Nectar HERE.)

Without these, you’re losing major points in the age prevention and skin maintenance department. Some skin that is compromised, like acne and blemish-prone or orange-peel texture or aging, may require a few other specialty products to help correct whatever is compromising the quality of their skin; but, this is mostly it! And, if you’re super low-maintenance, I’ll let you skip the toner - even though all of these things work together for your best result.

If you have any questions for your skincare routine, give us a call at (888) 570-6777 or e-mail Elizabeth A. Cardarelli at info@averygraham.com. 

5 Unforgettable Reasons To Never Skip "Toner" After Cleansing Your Face

Toner is the most underused and misunderstood skincare product; yet, it can make all the difference. 

1. Toners Boost Your Immune System:

The body is naturally armored by its acidic mantel which is its first defense against germs, bacteria, viruses and anything else evolved enough to damage the immune system. Each and every time you wash your body, you strip your skin of this acidity AND it takes up to 8 hours for your body to rebuild this protective layer. To speed up this  process and restore your body's pH, as well as hydrate your lipid mantle... use toner*!  Toner isn't just for your face, you can use it for your entire body...even your hair. Go crazy, indulge your immune system and spray a thin layer all over after each shower! (Get a toner enriched with different vitamins and essential oils for add benefits). Fun Health Fact: to stay healthy while traveling, you should never bathe the day of boarding a plane or bus. Instead, bathe the night before to ensure your acid mantle is restored enough to  protect you! 

2. Toners Make The Most Of Your Money:

One of the greatest benefits of using a toner is that it prepares your skin for your other products. Even after cleansing, your skin can still have minerals and hard water deposits which block your other products from penetrating the dermis. Toners eliminate and dissolve any impurities that are left on your skin which allows your serums and moisturizers to  penetrate deeper; thus, optimizing the benefits of each and every product that follows your toner. When you don't use toner as a part of your skincare regime, you're wasting  money on all of your other products because you're not allowing them to work to their fullest!  Stop doing yourself a disservice, and TONE UP!

3. Toners Heal Skin and Neutralize Free Radicals:

Toners worth using contain beta carotene proteins, which you usually hear about when talking about the foods that are healthiest for you, such as cruciferous vegetables. Beta carotenes are important because they protect your from and neutralize free radicals, which are pollutants known to age and cause damage to skin. Toners are also infused with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that make them naturally antiseptic to help heal minor scratches and soothe inflammation; thus improving your overall appearance within seconds and within the first steps of your skincare regime. 

4. Toners Provide Shaving Relief:

Shaving creams use alcohol to soften hair so that it can be shaved. Unfortunately, alcohol drys skin; thus, defeating the purpose of shaving! For the best shave for you face or body, for both men and women... Use your toner (without alcohol or exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic) as an aftershave. Toner will close exposed pores, hydrate, and soothe irritations caused by shaving! 

5. Hydration, Hydration, Hydration:

Does your skin ever feel tight after washing your face? That's because your skin is dehydrated! Same goes for itchy,scaly skin in the winter. Hydration is the key component to having a "healthy glow" that you desire. Don't wait! Use toner before applying your moisturizers to provide extra hydration to even the driest alligator skin.


*FUN FACT: Toners and astringents are different: Astringents were created during a time when women used cold creams to remove extremely heavy makeup. Cold creams create a lipid layer on the skin that clogs pores while astringents contained alcohol to break up this lipid layer. Do not use any toners with alcohol as an ingredient as it defeats the entire purpose of toner because alcohol dehydrates the skin and damages living skin cells. Also, some toners designed for acne contain ingredients like glycolic...only use these for the face or back, but not the rest of your body. 


**Additional Tip for Using Toner: always wait for skin to completely dry before applying other products. 


What do you think? For us, this only scratches the surface... 


Article written by Samantha M. Harders, Business Development Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-m-harders-87540759

IG: @averygrahamskincare

Ways Exercise Makes You Ugly

1. High Impact Sports Age You:

Exercises like running break down the smallest tissues that support the structure of your muscles.  Each “pound of the pavement” forces gravity against you, pulling and tearing your skin towards the ground. Sagging skin caused by this traumatic and cyclic activity is usually most visible on the face, knees, and breasts. Save your skin by remaining active, but with low impact sports and activities such as swimming or walking.

2. Loss of Essential Vitamins & Nutrients Devitalizes Skin:

Exercising and then eating unhealthy, improperly re-nourishing, or failing to hydrate your body after a workout is especially detrimental to skin. As the largest organ on your body, your skin needs you to stack up on more than protein  post workout. You need essential vitamins and minerals that only proper food can provide. For glowing and healthy skin, eat the plots of the rainbow - all veggies continue beta carotene proteins which come from the pigment of the vegetable or fruit... This is what re-nourishes your skin from the inside-out post workout. Lastly, let me ask, "how does a grape become a raisin?" Dehydration. Even though I shouldn't need to remind you to drink water, allow me to do so anyway: drink more water for supple, beautiful, healthy skin!

3. Sweating = Compromised Skin, Dry with Clogged Pores

It's no secret that exercising can cause you to breakout, especially during summer months when there's no reprieve from the heat and sweat. An improper skincare regime can take this problem worse by over drying the skin. But, what can you do about it? Introduce skincare into your exercise regime.... Here's how:

A.  Wash your face with your regular face wash before you exercise to purify the surface of your skin. Whatever is on your skin before you exercise will sink into your pores as they open throughout your workout. Avoid cleansing brushes and make-up removing wipes, as brushes can irritate and inflame the skin while wipes usually contain ingredients that lay on your skin which  precludes your pores' ability to fully breathe and expel impurities as you sweat. 

B.  Avoid cross contamination. Sweating allows  bacteria to transfer more easily from other people’s hands to the surfaces of exercise machines and weights. Be sure to disinfect machines before and after use, and still avoid touching your skin, even to wipe off sweat from your forehead. Same goes for your exercise partner: if you touch each others hands or bodies while sweating and working out, avoid cross contamination of bacteria by washing your hands with antibacterial soap before, during and after a workout. 

C. Use a salicylic cleanser after your workout, while your face is still warm and wet from sweat. This ensure that the exposed pores can be thoroughly cleansed and closed before contamination can continue from sweat and dirt post-workout. Salicylic dissolves dead skin cells without causing damage to or over drying the skin. 

For More Expert Advice and Skincare Information, visit Avery Graham Noble Skincare at www.averygraham.com or email me at info@averygraham.com!

But What Does That Mean? An ABC Guide To Understanding Skincare Ingredients

Understanding what's in skincare can be confusing. Just reading a description like, "the potent Alpha Lipoic Acid in our Skin Perfecting Creme, a clinical treatment moisturizer, helps Vitamin E self regenerate within your own skin cells" doesn't fully express the depth of significance and benefit to skin. Here is an abridged "ABC" guide to how key vitamins and nutrients impact skin, so that you can feel extra excited about your skincare regime as you wake this morning!

Vitamin A:

Repairs damaged connective skin tissue which helps the appearance and formation of wrinkles and fine lines 

Treats acne

Treats blotchiness and hyperpigmentation (brown and red spots caused by either inflammation or sun damage)

Neutralizes free radical damage (caused by pollution and environmental stresses)

Natural sources: carrots, sweet potatoes, kale

Vitamin B Complex:

Treats dry skin

Treats acne

Strengthens nails and helps reduce hair loss

Neutralizes free radicals

Sources: supplements like Vitamedica's Energy Supplements

Vitamin C:

Powerful anti-inflammatory

Skin brightener

Prevents hyperpigmentation (brown and red spots) by preventing enzymes from creating excess melanin

Treats acne

Treats psoriasis (a skin condition caused by rapid buildup of skin cells to form dry, scaly patches of skin)

Treats rosacea (a skin that causes redness and often small, red, pus-filled bumps on the face)

Treats asphyxiated skin (a lack of circulation within skin, most prevalent in mature and sun damaged skin or caused by illness, smoking and pollution in city environments)

Natural sources: tomatoes, citris fruits, densely colored vegetables like red peppers and broccoli

What do you think? For us, this only scratches the surface... 

Article written by Samantha M. Harders, Business Development Manager: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-m-harders-87540759

IG: @averygrahamskincare

How Exercise Ages Your Skin

You may not want to hear it and I hate to say it, but it's true... exercise can seriously age skin. Some of our most active patients, especially men, are the ones who request the most help for skin correction and repair. The key to combatting aging caused by exercise is to understand how different components of a workout affect your skin and what to do to prevent damage! This is what I've noticed and learned over the years...

1. High Impact Sports + Gravity:

Exercises like running (although incredibly cathartic and well appreciated) break down the smallest connective tissues that support the structure of your muscles.  Each “pound of the pavement” forces gravity against you, pulling and tearing your skin towards the ground. Sagging skin caused by this traumatic and cyclic activity is usually most visible on the face, neck, knees, and breasts. Unfortunately, once this type of damage has been done, there is little that can mend it short of more serious treatments with significantly longer downtime. Save your skin by remaining active, but alternating or incorporating more low impact sports and activities such as swimming or walking into your regime. So, "train like a beast, look like a beauty!"

2. How Does A Grape Become A Raisin? 

Exercising and then eating unhealthy, improperly re-nourishing, or failing to hydrate your body after a workout is especially detrimental to skin. As the largest organ on your body, your skin needs you to stack up on more than protein post workout. Loss of essential vitamins & nutrients devitalizes skin. You NEED essential and non-essential vitamins and minerals that only proper food can provide. For glowing and healthy skin, eat the colors of the rainbow - all veggies contain an amount of beta carotene proteins which come from the pigment of the vegetable or fruit... This is one way to re-nourish your skin from the inside-out post workout (which also helps to neutralize free radical damage). Lastly, let me ask, "how does a grape become a raisin?" Dehydration. Even though I shouldn't need to remind you to drink water, allow me to do so anyway: drink more water for supple, beautiful, healthy skin!

3. Sweating = Clogged Pores + Dry Skin 

Although the combination of clogged pores and dry skin may seem contradictory, it's not. It's no secret that exercising can cause you to breakout, especially during summer months when there's no reprieve from the heat and sweat. An improper skincare regime intended to nip the problem in the bud might make everything worse by over drying the skin. But, what can you do about it? Introduce the right skincare into your exercise regime.... Here's how: 

A. Wash your face with either your regular face wash or a more gentle face wash quickly before you exercise to purify the surface of your skin.  Whatever is on your skin before you exercise will sink into your pores as they open throughout your workout.  Avoid cleansing brushes and make-up removing wipes, as brushes can irritate and inflame the skin while wipes usually contain ingredients with fatty lipids and large molecular structures that lay on your skin, which precludes your pores' ability to fully breathe and expel impurities as you sweat.

B. Avoid cross contamination. Sweating allows bacteria to transfer more easily from other people's hands to the surfaces of exercise machines and weights.  Be sure to disinfect machines before and after use, and still avoid touching your skin, even to wipe off sweat from your forehead.  Same goes for your exercise partner: if you touch each others hands or bodies while sweating and working out, avoid cross contamination of bacteria by washing your hands with antibacterial soap before, during and after a workout.  

C. Use a salicylic cleanser after your workout, while your face is still warm and wet from sweat. This ensures that the exposed pores can be thoroughly cleansed and closed before contamination can continue from sweat and dirt post-workout.  Salicylic dissolves dead skin cells without causing damage to skin.  Do not use cleansers with benzoperoxides, as this ingredient kills living cells while often over drying out the skin.  Salicylic can be strong, so either use just a little or be sure to use the best moisturizer for your skin afterwards.  

What do you think? For us, this only scratches the surface... 

Article written by Samantha M. Harders, Business Development Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-m-harders-87540759

IG: @averygrahamskincare

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