As the temperatures rise, the needs of your skin change. We’re not only talking sun protection, although that is certainly an important component, we’re also thinking about what your skin needs to adjust and be safe and happy in the warmer temperatures. Here are a few basic tips:

• The Sun & Oily Skin — If you have oily skin resist the temptation to over scrub your skin to control oil and shine. Over rubbing your skin will only stimulate the sebaceous glands and actually create the very condition you’re trying to avoid, i.e., excessively oily skin (not to mention that it can cause more severe breakouts). It can be helpful to choose products that contain algae which detoxifies your skin and helps to control the oil.
• Don’t be lured by the drying effects of the sun. Although it might initially feel like the sun is drying up the oil and clearing up your skin, it actually thickens the skin (hyperkeratosis) blocking your pores and leading to more intense breakouts shortly down the road. Believe me. I know this first hand from when I was a teenage…a day or two of fewer breakouts (albeit sunburned skin!) and then. Yikes…let me just say, it was not a pretty picture! The reprieve is very short-lived! If you are taking antibiotics to control acne, beware that it also causes sun sensitivity so applying a sunscreen is critical.
• Sensitive Skin — If you have sensitive skin stay out of the sun as much as possible, always (that means every day even if you are not planning to spend prolonged time in the sun) protect your skin from the sun when you are outside (preferably with active ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), and choose skin care products designed for sensitive skin.
• Mature Skin — Choose your Age Management skincare routine wisely. If keeping a youthful appearance is your ultimate goal (and for most of us over 30 it is!), be careful what you use during the summer months. Alpha hydroxy acids, which many people use daily or as a special facial treatment, make your skin ultra-sensitive to the damaging effects of the sun. In other words, AHA’s will not only make you burn more easily (and you’re burning more virgin skin!), but they make you more susceptible to hyperpigmentation (sun spots) which is what you are trying to avoid or diminish by using them in the first place. If you continue to use Alpha Hydroxy Acids in the summer, apply them at night and be diligent (I’m not kidding!) about sun protection. If you don’t, you’re wasting your money and run the risk of further damaging your skin. Ditto for Retin-A users.
• Sun Protection– Sun protection has become a complicated and huge issue these days. When to apply, how much to apply, what number to apply, what spf ingredients to use, when (not if!) to reapply! Yikes! It can make you crazy. So, let me give you a few tips to demystify it:
  • Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. There is very little difference between the protection in an SPF 30 and SPF 45 or higher and it often gives people a false sense of security about reapplying. Yes, no matter what number you use you need to reapply if you are out in the sun for any length of time beyond running errands.
  • Be sure it protects for UVA as well as UVB – it has to say so on the bottle (the SPF factor only applies to UVB rays). And, two of the best ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (with no nanoparticles). In case you are wondering if it really matters, let me share with you that 80% of any discoloration or aging spots you see on your skin are a result of damage from the sun. That said…
  • Not all sun exposure is “bad!” Apply sunscreen to your face and chest every day but leave your arms free from sunscreen several times a week while you are out in the sun for 15-20 minutes. Your body needs Vitamin D, and the most natural source is the sun. In fact, the majority of people are vitamin D deficient (especially those in the northern areas where you cannot get vitamin D from the sun for at least 6 months of the year!)

I know from personal experience how a vitamin D deficiency can wreak havoc on your health. Trust me, if you have not experienced that, it’s not nice. Your body needs vitamin D and the best way to get it is naturally from the sun (and, that said, definitely take a vitamin D (preferably vitamin D2 so that no animals are harmed (and it’s just as effective as vitamin D3).

I am super pale and here I am sitting on the beach for 15 minutes with my arms free and clear to absorb my vitamin D naturally.

• Natural is better. When it comes to sun protection, natural is better. Remember, your skin is the largest organ in your body so whatever you put on it is absorbed. Until the FDA allows even more natural sunscreen ingredients (like natural botanicals) to be marketed that way, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (non-nanoparticled) provide the best protection with the least health concerns.
• Eat your veggies. I am into health and nutrition — always have been, and I can tell you it pays off. In this case, it helps with sun protection. Say what? Yes, you heard right. Eating your veggies offers you incredible antioxidant protection inside your body (which is where all skin cancers (and other cancers, obviously) start). I’m not talking about a couple of bites of broccoli. I mean…Eat Your Veggies! Lots of them at every meal.

Although each person’s skin is different and has individualized needs, these are a few basic (very basic) guidelines to follow through the summer months. Having had acne when I was a teenager I understand the confusion out there around what to use to take good care of your skin.

Good skin care habits do make a difference in the look and health of your skin and since we look at our face very day it often directly impacts our self-esteem and self-confidence. The better care you take of your skin the happier you’ll be when you look in the mirror.

Want to learn more about good skincare? Please join me and my Co-Host, Marion, on Monday, July 18 at 8 pm for Skin Care From the Ground Up! on “Vegan and the Living Is Easy” www.blogtalkradio.com/gingerburr or call in at (347) 857-1293. We will be joined by a special guest Sally Malanga of Ecco Bella

What happens when you open your makeup bag every morning?  Do you think to yourself, “Yay, this is fun!” or do you think, “Why can’t I get it to look like the pictures in the magazine?”

One other thing…have you ever noticed that 99% of the makeup directions out there are given on women under 25 years old.  What’s that about?

Makeup does not look the same on mature skin and so many of those tips are useless.

While there is not a one-size-fits-all makeup application, there are a few techniques that can make a big difference when it comes to creating a finished look you like.

And, please, be kind to yourself.  If you are 40, 50 or 60, and especially if you have not had any cosmetic surgery, do not compare yourself to someone 20. It’s a whole different ballgame but that’s not to say you can’t look equally as amazing!

Here are three steps that make a difference:

1. Concealer is Your Friend. As we age the center of the face (inner part of the eyes (near the bridge of your nose), under your eyes, along the nostrils and the lines down to the mouth) can begin to get a tad dark and shadowy.  If you lighten up that part of your face, you feel instantly lighter, brighter and more youthful.  Use a good concealer in that area before applying your foundation.
   
   Hint: Apply a tiny bit of translucent powder over the concealer to set it.
2. Maintain Your Eyebrows.Our eyebrows are one part of our face that we tend to neglect or just plain ignore.  As we get older they often become a bit more sparse or short.  Using a powder or pencil (I’m a fan of powder because it tends to look very natural and is easy to apply) in a tone that complements your hair and skintone will make a huge difference.Unless you are super handy with the tweezers, have your brows professionally shaped.  The difference will surprise and delight you!
   
   Hint: If, up until now, you have done very little to your brows, allow a little time for adjustment.  Changing them can be a bit disconcerting but commit to stick with the change for at least a week.  By then, it will most likely feel just right.
   
   
3. Line & Define. Want to draw focus to your eyes?  You can skip the eyeshadow but always apply eyeliner.  And, here’s the clincher…I know it’s harder to do, but you must apply it to the top lid.  Lining the bottom lashline is optional (and it often depends on factors like under eye circles, the size of your eye, how comfortable you are with a little extra makeup, etc.).  Never, I repeat, never, line only the bottom lash line.  With rare exceptions, this will just make your eyes look bottom heavy rather than give a lift to your face and draw focus to the beauty of your eye color (which is the ultimate goal of eyeliner, of course).
   
   Hint: Powder liner is generally the most natural looking (and easiest to learn to apply) but if you are handy with an eyeliner pencil (natural colors only, please) then go for it.  And, liquid liner often looks hard and overpowering, so I recommend avoiding it!

As the temperatures rise, the needs of your skin change.  We’re not only talking sun protection, although that is certainly an important component, we’re also thinking about what your skin needs to adjust and be safe and happy in the warmer temperatures.  Here are a few basic tips:

• The Sun & Oily Skin — If you have oily skin resist the temptation to over scrub your skin to control oil and shine.  Over rubbing your skin will only stimulate the sebaceous glands and actually create the very condition you’re trying to avoid, i.e., excessively oily skin (not to mention that it can cause more severe breakouts).  It can be helpful to choose products that contain algae which detoxifies your skin and helps to control the oil.

• Don’t be lured by the drying effects of the sun. Although it might initially feel like the sun is drying up the oil and clearing up your skin, it actually thickens the skin (hyperkeratosis) blocking your pores and leading to more intense breakouts shortly down the road.  The reprieve is very short-lived! If you are taking antibiotics to control acne, beware that it also causes sun sensitivity so applying a sunscreen is critical.

• Sensitive Skin — If you have sensitive skin stay out of the sun as much as possible, always (that means every day even if you are not planning to spend prolonged time in the sun) protect your skin from the sun when you are outside (preferably with active ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), and choose skin care products designed for sensitive skin.

• Mature Skin — Choose your Age Management skincare routine wisely.  If keeping a youthful appearance is your ultimate goal (and for most of us over 30 it is!), be careful what you use during the summer months.  Alpha hydroxy acids, which many people use daily or as a special facial treatment, make your skin ultra-sensitive to the damaging effects of the sun.  In other words, AHA’s will not only make you burn more easily (and you’re burning more virgin skin!), but they make you more susceptible to hyperpigmentation (sun spots) which is what you are trying to avoid or diminish by using them in the first place.  If you continue to use Alpha Hydroxy Acids in the summer, apply them at night and be diligent (I’m not kidding!) about sun protection.  If you don’t, you’re wasting your money and run the risk of further damaging your skin.  Ditto for Retin-A users.

• Sun Protection–  It seems that sun protection has become a complicated issue.  When to apply, how much to apply, what number to apply, when to reapply!  Yikes!  It can make you crazy.  So, let me give you a few tips to demystify it:
  • Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. There is very little difference between the protection in an SPF 30 and SPF 45 or higher and it often gives people a false sense of security about reapplying.  Yes, no matter what number you use you need to reapply if you are out in the sun for any length of time beyond running errands.
  • Be sure it protects for UVA as well as UVB – it has to say so on the bottle (the SPF factor only applies to UVB rays).
  • Not all sun exposure is “bad!” Yes, apply sunscreen to your face and chest every day but leave your arms free from sunscreen several times a week while you are out in the sun for 15-20 minutes.  Your body needs Vitamin D and the most natural source is the sun.

Although each person’s skin is different and has individualized needs, these are a few basic (very basic) guidelines to follow through the summer months.  Having had acne when I was a teenager I understand the confusion out there around what to use to take good care of your skin.

Good skin care habits do make a difference in the look and health of your skin and since we look at our face every day it often directly impacts our self-esteem and self-confidence.  The better care you take of your skin the happier you’ll be when you look in the mirror.

Need more skin care guidance? For those of you who are in the Boston area, come to my monthly seminar this Tuesday (August 17).  It’s only $20, and the topic will be skin care! http://totalimageconsultants.com/events.shtml#monthly

Yay!  Your feet slide into sandals, you wiggle your toes and breathe a sigh of relief.  Summer is here, your feet are free, and you are good to go, right?  Well, maybe…

It is easy to forget about our feet.  I mean, hey, they are way down there, and we don’t see our heels and the bottoms of our feet unless we make a conscious effort to do so.  So, unless they hurt for some reason, it’s a classic case of “out of sight, out of mind.”

Here’s the dilemma: other people can (and do) see your feet…much more than you might think!  And, while fashion and style preferences might be personal, good grooming is universal (or at least we hope so).

The other day, for instance, I was sitting at the little café next door, drinking tea and writing.  As I was thinking and mulling over some ideas, I casually glanced around the room taking in the scenery and the people enjoying their social time and lunch.  I noticed several women sitting at a table nearby.  All were neatly dressed, chatting and having a lovely time with their friends.

As my eyes drifted down, I could not help but notice a row of dried, cracked heels staring back at me.  Perhaps I am wrong but I suspect that if they were aware that their feet were in such a sad, neglected state that they would have run to their bathroom to grab their pumice stone or to the nearest salon for a pedicure.

Women (and men, too) who would never leave the house with dirty, unkempt fingernails are unwittingly (I assume) walking around with heels and sometimes toes that clearly need some attention.   (Please know that I am not talking about bunions or more complicated feet issues – unless those feet could also benefit from some simple basic grooming.)

And, I am not pointing this out to embarrass anyone.  It’s really more about awareness.  Like I said, it’s easy to overlook something that we can’t see.  Even if you take a shower or bath every day, it doesn’t mean your feet are getting as clean as you think.  We walk around in sandals open to the dirt of the streets so they get twice as dirty twice as fast!

So, if this makes you think, “Ooops, I better take a peek,” then here are 3 quick steps to get your feet looking and feeling good:

1. Every day when you take a shower or wash up in the morning, take a quick look at your feet.  It is easier to give them a little TLC once a day than to have to do a major intervention every week.
2. If they need some refreshing, give them a quick wash and then keep your pumice stone or Ped-Egg handy to give them a once-over.  It takes all of about 2 minutes tops if you have everything at the ready.
3. Rub a little moisturizer into them, and you’re good to go.

If doing anything more than that feels overwhelming and you just keep putting it off, then find a nearby salon (ask around to find one that you’ll enjoy going to and that takes sanitation very seriously) and once every couple of weeks have a soothing pedicure.  It’s good for your feet, is soothing and relaxing (so it’s good for your soul), and is one less thing you have to think about doing so you can get back to enjoying the summer.

That said, if you prefer to do your own pedicure, check out this site for step-by-step instructions: http://fitnesslines.com/health-tips/tips-for-a-home-perfect-pedicure-tips-to-help-you-achieve-salon-quality-results-without-the-expense/

Then, how about treating yourself to a new pair of sandals – aren’t these pretty: http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?p=EC1072745&pg=5055049

Want more?  Join me for my new monthly seminar (only $20!).  Limited to 20 people.  The first one will be held on Tuesday, July 20 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm when I’ll talk about “The Top 10 Most Unflattering Summer Fashions: How to avoid them, replace them and live without them.” Location (in the Greater Boston area) is to be determined so stay tuned.

1. Is Bigger Better?  Do you think that wearing a sunscreen with a higher SPF will give you better protection?  Probably not!  The Environmental Working Group recently reported that, “Users of high SPF sunscreens stay in the sun longer with a single application and get burned when the product’s chemicals break down, wash off or rub off on clothes and towels.  Armed with a false sense of security, they extend their time in the sun well past the point when users of low-SPF products head indoors.  As a result, they get the same number of sunburns as unprotected sunbathers and absorb more damaging UVA radiation, which many high-SPF products do not effectively block.”  Does this describe you?What’s the answer?  No matter what SPF number you wear be sure it has UVA/UVB protection and reapply, reapply, reapply – every hour.
2. Is the Sun Friend or Foe?  If you grew up like I did, your mom cut the toes off of socks so my sister and I could wear them on our arms.  Weird, I know.  But there was no sunscreen back then and since we are both fair-skinned redheads we had our fair share of horrible blistering sunburns.  This was my mom’s very creative (albeit not exactly a lovely fashion statement) way of letting us be outside a bit more without suffering.  (We wore hats and sleeves whenever possible and I was the one on the beach in jeans and wrapped in a towel after 30 minutes baking in the sun…it’s no wonder I don’t find the sun relaxing to this day!)That said, the sun does serve a very useful purpose other than brightening our lives.  It provides us with vitamin D.  Yes, you can get it from supplements but nothing beats the sun for natural vitamin D synthesis.  Just 10 minutes in the sun a few times a week (May through October) (I keep my arms free of sunscreen for that long), and you’re good to go.
3. You Might Not Get Burned But Do You Get Old?   Yes, UVB rays can cause severe sunburns or golden tans so you can see how successfully you protected yourself with your sunscreen.  What you cannot so immediately see, however, is whether your skin has been subjected to too many UVA rays.  The UVA rays are the ones that age you (think A for Aging).  They go through car windows and are strong in January as well as July.  And, the basic SPF rating only tells you how much it protects you from the UVB rays, not the UVA rays.

So, the next time you purchase a sunscreen, be sure it has UVA/UVB protection (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are two of the most effective ingredients).  The last thing you want is untimely wrinkles, lines, sagging and sun spots!

What Are Your Lips Saying About You?

The next time you pass a mirror, stop and take a good look at your lips. How are they? Are they soft and smooth or dry, chapped and in need of a little (or a lot!) TLC?

We often take our lips for granted and since they are always exposed, they take a lot of unintentional abuse. If it isn’t the wind and cold then it’s the heat and sun. Then, we often make it all worse by licking them when they feel dry (and often we are not even aware we are doing that!).

Where I live we are heading into the summer months, and the UV index is rising daily. We are intensifying our sunscreen application, buying hats and finding shade whenever possible…or maybe that’s just me!

Whether you burn or tan (on purpose or by default), there is no relief for your lips. Skin cancer can and does occur on people’s lips so protection is essential. And, there are rumors out there that traditional lip gloss (because of its shininess) can actually strengthen the intensity of the UV rays. Ooops…that’s not good!

Relief is now available. I have been waiting for this for years! Colorescience just came out with a lip product that adds shine and has an SPF of 35 – the best of both worlds!

Oh, and there’s more. It comes with an easy to use wand applicator and is vegan and gluten-free.

Take this opportunity to baby your lips this season, and do it at a savings!

Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine SPF 35 — Reg. $25. Now $21.25

1.  Drinking water alone will hydrate your skin. Well, maybe a little. If you’re still in your formative years, you’re fine. Of course, you also have to take into consideration the climate (humidity), level of activity (how much you’re perspiring), and how you eat and what you drink (some drinks actually dehydrate you). Without going into great detail, let me just say that as we age, the parts of our skin that held the moisture in when we were younger are no longer able to do the job effectively. Thus, moisture evaporates quickly. To ensure good hydration you must supplement your drinking habit with topical products that provide the extra moisture needed.

2.  More is better. Nope, generally not. When it comes to your skin, it’s important to know what your skin needs (it doesn’t need everything that’s out there – at least not all at once!) and to be gentle with it. Here are three areas in particular where more is definitely not better:

• Acne (or regular breakouts): Over cleansing the skin actually does more harm than good by stripping the natural oils and causing the skin to produce even more.
• Exfoliating: This is very common. Over-exfoliating your skin can be harmful. Either by way of using products that are too harsh, being too rough with your skin, or by using too many exfoliating products at one time. Of course, some exfoliating is critical to creating healthy skin.
• Age Management: If one wrinkle cream, line diffuser, or firming lotion is good then all of them together triple your results, right? No. Using too many products at one time is unnecessary and expensive at best and counterproductive and downright harmful at worst. Reassessing your product use every 9-12 months is a good idea. But be careful about doing too much at one time. Some of the overdone results are irreparable.

3.  Acne is for teenagers only. Don’t we wish! You can pretty much bet that if you had oily skin as a teenager, you’ll have oily skin as you age. Although sebum (oil) production slows down as you get older (especially after menopause), you still have hormones, stress, and most importantly, pores that can get clogged. Add to this the growing numbers of people with rosacea (which is most often accompanied by acne) and adult acne is not as uncommon as you’d think (or as we’d like it to be). Keeping your skin well exfoliated (gently, remember!) and using products that don’t clog your pores will help.