.jpg "Seven Skin Care Secrets for Summer 2012")
Ready for the beach? Memorial Day is the official beginning of summer fun, which is sure to include a lot of time in the sun. As Southern Californians, we love to be outside. As a healthy skin care expert, it’s my goal to keep you sun safe this summer, while not dampening your fun.
Before you slide into that bikini, take a peek at my seven summer skin care secrets:
- Last Season’s Sunscreen is so Passé – The active ingredients in sunscreens deteriorate over time, so purchase a new one. Make sure you have full UVA and UVB protection; you need more than an SPF of 15, which only measures UVB protection.
- Take a Shot – For maximum coverage, put at least a shot-glass size amount of sunscreen on your body. Reapply every one to two hours that you are in the sun.
- A New Look for Sunscreen Labels – New sunscreen rules from the Food and Drug Administration begin rolling out in June. The rules will help you better understand ultraviolet A rays (UVA), which are associated with serious, long-term skin damage. Skin Authority’s Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30 (www.skinauthority.com/sunscreen-moisturizer-spf-30) is one of the first sun protection products to adhere to the rules.
- Safe Summer Glow – Or, glow without the aging and cancer worries that come along with the sun or tanning beds. Look for a self-tanner formulation that incorporates an AHA for better penetration. For face, alternate your regular moisturizer and a self-tanner every other night for a natural glow.
- Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate – Your body accumulates dead skin cells every day. If you don't get rid of them, skin will look so dull and dry that lotion won’t make a difference. I recommend using a natural resurfacing agent such as glycolic acid to gently dissolve dead surface skin cells to be replaced with new ones.
- Calm Cellulite – The appearance of cellulite can be reduced by using a body scrub that contains exfoliators such as ground coffee beans, pumice or bamboo shoots.
- Flip-Flop Prep – Apply a 20 percent concentration of glycolic acid nightly to get rid of those calluses or deep layers of dead skin. While in the shower, scrub your feet three times a week with a pumice stone to keep skin soft.
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