"Good For You" Whole Wheat and Flax Muffins!

Healthy skin starts from the inside, out! Having a healthy lifestyle is an important way to keep the rest of your body healthy, including your skin! What a better way to start your day then a "good for you" breakfast! Breakfast is known as one of the most important meals of the day and jump starts your metabolism!  Try these DE-licious muffins and you will be sure to feel healthy, full AND satisfied!

“Good For You” Whole Wheat and Flax Muffins

Ingredients                                                                                         

1 ½ cup whole wheat flour                                                                

¾ cup flaxseed meal (ground)                                                                       

¾ cup rolled oats (or oat bran)

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

½ cup raisins (optional)

½ cup honey or Amber Agave Nectar ( ¾ cup for more moisture)

1 banana, room-temperature, mashed like butter

¾ cup low-fat milk

2 egg whites

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all the “dry” ingredients together. The dry ingredients may be sifted or whisked to make sure it is smooth and lump-free. In another large bowl, combine the “wet” ingredients and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl, mix well but do not over mix, otherwise you risk having tough muffins. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick oil spray or line with paper cupcake liners. Fill tin ¾ fill of muffin mix. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. Yields about 12-15 muffins. Store in a air-tight plastic bag or container.

*Note: Mix it up with this basic muffin recipe. You can add fruit, like blueberries, raspberries or double the banana in the recipe. Add nuts, like walnuts, pecans or sunflower seeds.

Bikini-Ready Skin Secrets

Getting your BOD bikini ready is always at the top of the list as summer rolls in. Here are tips to help get your body and skin where it needs to be this summer!

• Spray tan! This healthy alternative from sun tanning is a better choice ALWAYS, is the ONLY safe way to tan and will give you the confidence you will need to rock your bikini this summer!
• If you like to wax any area of your skin, do it BEFORE you decide to spray tan at least 24 hours. And if you will be out in the sun (hopefully NOT sunbathing, tis tis!), make sure you pay extra attention to the waxed areas and use sunscreen as directed.
• However, if you can avoid unnecessary sun exposure, then do! Slather on the sunscreen and use as directed. Sun damage is the major cause in premature aging and hyperpigmenting for ALL ages. 
• Exfoliate once a week. This help aid your skin turn over and reproduce new cells and reveal new and radiant skin!

"What's in your beach bag this summer?" 

• Chapstick with SPF and proper sunscreen to moisturize and protect your skin.
• A hat and cover-up  to protect from direct sun exposure.
• Water to hydrate you inside and out.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays and damage (yes, your eyes are at risk too!).

TEWL & Skin Dehydration

Ever heard of transepidermal water loss and skin dehydration? I'd like to help better explain these two conditions and how they affect nearly everyone, especially during the summer months.

Firstly, the epidermis is constantly exposed to everyday damage extrinsically and intrinsically. Therefore, our skin is made up of a very important layer, the acid mantle. The acid mantle is a protective barrier made up of sebum (natural oils), lipids (protective oils/fat), sweat and water that form a hydrolipidic film to protect the skin from drying out and from exposure to external factors. Within the barrier function of the skin, TEWL or transepidermal water loss can occur. This is water loss caused by evaporation on the skin's surface. Once transepidermal water loss increases, this will cause skin dehydration.

To avoid this dry and flaky skin dysfunction, proper moisturizer and facial treatments are key. Esthetique Peel, is a great treatment for TEWL and skin dehydration, as well as acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation and sluggish cell turnover. Any one of the many PCA SKIN hydrating moisturizers will help combat this skin dysfunction, including ReBalance, Apres Peel Hydrating Balm, Collagen Hydrator and Silkcoat Balm, to name a few. This also includes Hydrating Serum, a must-have serum for your proper skin care routine.

During these upcoming summer months, be aware of an important negative aspect of sunburned skin. Sunburns often that not, will cause barrier disruption and lead to an increase of transepidermal water loss due to the overexposure of UV rays. The best advice is, of course, avoiding overexposure. If sunburn does occur, turn to hydrating and soothing products, like the ones listed above. This will enhance moisture, help reverse damage and improve the state of the skin.

Bella Skin awaits you!

- Gia

Moisturizing is key!

 

Woops! Don't be like Kim K. this summer! Practice sun protection with SPF.

"Breaking down" Broken Capillaries (Telangiectasia Rosacea)

Broken capillaries, couperose, spider veins, also known as its medical term, Telangiectasia Rosacea, is often found in rosacea, aging and mature skin types. What is it exactly you might ask? Broken capillaries are exactly that, broken. The capillary walls become dilated and fill with blood, sometimes bursting. Common areas affected tend to be in the corner of the nose, the top of the nose, cheeks and chin.

Causes

• Heredity
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Sun damage
• Harsh cosmetics
• Trauma
• Pregnancy
• Excess localized heat
• Topical corticosteroids
• Inflammation
• Heat/cold fluctuations

Prevent

Ways to prevent and minimize telangiectasia rosacea are simple.

1. Wash your face with luke warm water, never HOT!
2. Be gentle when washing your face or applying makeup.
3. Apply sunscreen daily.


Treatments

There are some expensive and inexpensive ways to reverse couperose.

1. Choose medical grade products that are high quality, effective and recommended by a skin care therapist. My go-to skin care line is PCA SKIN. Results, reliability and inexpensive!

2. Another inexpensive treatment are chemical peels. Peels are a great way to attack any skin care issue head-on, see results and improve your skin.

3. Lastly, laser treatments are an effective way to "sink" the broken capillaries down beneath layers of the skin. However, this treatment tends to be given in multiple series and is the more costly route.


I hope this information "cleared up" any questions or thoughts about broken capillaries. Please take all this information in and use it to your advantage!

Skin Care Tips for your 20s!

If you choose to pay attention to your skin, it is the most positive move you could make and the sooner you start, the better and more visible the results will be. Skin care in your 20s is meant to promote healthy, youthful skin and prevent the signs of premature aging from appearing. The most common premature aging includes, smoking, sunbathing, tanning beds, not wearing SPF everyday, using harsh products, not washing your face morning and night and not having a consistent skin care routine.

The major skin factors that affect the complexion in our 20's are usually mild breakouts and fine lines. Fine lines can be caused by the turbulent lifestyle such as not getting enough sleep, smoking, and sunbathing, so caring for the skin and preventing negative effects from damaging our delicate complexion is a must.

Make no mistake, there is not a "miracle cure," however, the “fountain of youth” for your skin is as simple as a well established skin care routine and a healthy lifestyle. Take the following tips into account and make the best of your skin!

• Care for your skin in the morning and in the evening using appropriate skin care products for your skin type. Wash your skin, exfoliate once a week and moisturize daily with SPF and at night regardless of your complexion, as moisturized skin maintains its elasticity and thus is less likely to develop early fine lines and wrinkles. Protect your skin and lips with SPF daily (no matter the weather or season) and apply a special eye cream on the area surrounding the eyes as it is much more sensitive than the rest of your complexion.
  
• Facial treatments (masks, peels, scrubs) are definitely a must at least once a month as they can really aid your skin. There are a so many ingredients which can do wonders for your skin and deal with different skin problems, it would be a shame to miss out on them. Turn to the professionals for your facial treatments! 
• Vices are definitely not good for your health, thus neither for your skin. This is why if you're a smoker you should seriously consider quitting. Smoking tends to promote the development of wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, in addition to aiding premature aging skin. Alcohol too causes dehydration (among other health issues) which can affect your skin, so try to avoid these vices as much as possible if you want your skin to radiate beauty and health. 
• Turn towards anti-aging foods and products after you hit 25, as it is best to start early on preventing intrinsic and extrinsic aging. There are a myriad of anti-aging facial products, so ask your Esthetician to help find one that best suits your skin needs.
• Get enough sleep and take all the necessary vitamins for your skin to regenerate and maintain its elasticity. There is a reason why the "8 hour night sleep" is called the beauty sleep.
• Use high quality products, they make all the difference for your skin. Remember, high price does not necessarily mean high quality. However, there are some high quality products that have a high price due to the effectiveness, quality of and type of ingredients in the product.

Consulting your Esthetician is always the best option when in need of skin care knowledge and inexpensive, yet effective facial treatments!

Rosacea Woes and How to Control it!

In this months PCA SKIN: Skin Smart Newsletter, recent investigation is continuing for the common skin condition, rosacea. Research has shown that the most influential factors that trigger rosacea are, genetic predisposition, lower Fitzpatrick skin types and a history of smoking.

What is Rosacea?

-A chronic sensitive skin condition involving inflammation of the cheeks, nose, and forehead. Rosacea sufferers may experience sensitivity, excessive flushing, persistent redness, broken capillaries or breakouts.

-Commonly found in women aged 30-50; however typically affects men more destructively.

-If left untreated, rosacea tends to worsen.

The most effective treatment plans include daily care and professional treatments along with lifestyle adjustments to avoid potential aggravation. Sensi Peel is the most effective yet gentle peel developed for sensitive and rosacea skin types. 

*Client treated with Sensi Peel Treatment*

*A mild-severe case of rosacea, no treatment provided*

5 Key Questions To Ask Your Esthetician!

While many sidestep professional skin care experts, a short visit can enhance your skin care regimen — so take advantage of professional expertise and make an appointment today. To get the most out of your visit, here are five fundamental skin care questions to ask.

If you’ve never consulted with an Esthetician, you may be missing out on some vital information that could help your skin.

1. What skin care products should I be using each day?

Makeup counters and store shelves are overflowing with products. Unless you have a thorough understanding of your skin type and condition — which may change with seasons or age — it’s tough to decide which products are right for your routine.
By examining your skin, an Esthetician can explain what products you should use, skip and combine in your regimen based on your skin’s type (i.e. dry or normal) and condition (i.e. acne-prone or aging). In addition to the face, he or she can address what skin care steps and formulas you can add to maintain youthful, radiant skin elsewhere on the body.

2. Are the products I'm using at home okay to use along with the products and/or procedures that you gave me? 

Some products used at home may not work well with professional procedures or prescriptions. Some acne treatments, for example, may heighten skin’s sensitivity to the sun, making it necessary to increase the SPF and include other measures of sun protection in your routine. Or, if professional chemical peels are a regular part of your routine, it’s important to avoid exfoliating face washes and certain harsh ingredients. Always discuss the products you already use with your Esthetician before undergoing a procedure or topical treatment to ensure a safe, effective and cohesive regimen.

3. How can I reduce my risk of skin cancer?

A Esthetician can offer you information on what sunscreen to use, how to properly use it and what other clothing and products are out there to help shield your skin from harmful rays. In addition, he or she can provide important information about the role of screening in skin cancer prevention.

4. What are some of the signs of skin cancer, and how often should I have my moles checked?

Typically, when it comes to surviving or minimizing the risks associated with skin cancer, the earlier it’s detected the better. The doctor’s office is the perfect place to learn how to recognize the early signs of cancer and how to incorporate professional and at-home screening into your routine.
Be sure to ask you refer to a dermatologist on how to do a self-exam for skin cancer. Also, he or she can recommend how often to schedule professional screenings based on your:

• Family history of skin cancer
• Childhood history of sunburns
• Complexion
• Number of freckles and moles

5. What's the most important thing I can do to slow the effects of aging on my face?

Sunscreen is a must in the fight against aging and preventive care . Beyond that, a Esthetician can recommend a personalized anti-aging plan that includes the procedures, ingredients and products that are appropriate for your skin type. Always be honest about your skin care regimen — including any history of smoking and sun exposure. This is vital information for your Esthetician to create an effective anti-aging (or any other skin type) skin care routine.