Top Acne Fighting Foods You Should Eat this Thanksgiving

Ever hear the saying “You are what you eat?”  Many foods can contribute to acne flare-ups.  Aside from hormones and poor skincare routine many of the ingredients in your foods can surprisingly produce breakouts.

Here are four acne-fighting foods that can give you clearer skin this holiday season:

- Greens – foods that are rich in the antioxidant, Vitamin E, help skin to heal from acne damage and scarring.  Try making a spinach salad topped with almonds and eggs, drizzled with olive oil.

     - Carrots – foods that are rich in beta-carotene convert to Vitamin A in the body and enhance the benefit of selenium to the skin.  Vitamin A is the derivative used in many anti-aging Retinol creams.

3   - Whole wheat – Skip the white stuff!  White bread, mashed potatoes, white rice, anything made from sugar should be off limits this holiday.  Try substituting it for buckwheat, which is known to help balance the acne inducing hormones.

4   - Sweet potatoes – another great side dish containing beta-carotene.  Aim to consume at least a half-cup of yellow or red fruits and veggies to your daily diet.  Trade out those starchy mashed potatoes for sweet potatoes, and skip the marshmallows.

Stick to these healthier alternatives during your Thanksgiving feast to keep your skin vibrant and healthy.

Myth vs. Reality

1. Myth: Plucking one gray hair will lead to more growing in its place.

Reality: Your scalp is made up of follicles and only one strand of hair grows from that root.  Gray hairs can appear more dull and wiry, making it seem like they are multiplying every time you pluck one.  More grey hairs do not grow out if you pluck one.  To blend greys, try using hair powder like Bumble and Bumble’s Hair Powder.

2. Myth: Greasy foods cause acne.

Reality: It’s not so much the oil but the carbs that can trigger breakouts.  The intake of high glycemic, starchy, and sugary foods has been linked to the contribution of blemishes.

3. Myth: The secret to dewy skin is drinking a lot of water.

Reality: Chugging bottle after bottle of water won’t give you any extra glow.  The truth is dewy skin is a result of oil, not water.  To achieve that hydrated, dewy look try to avoid washing with lathering soaps.  Try an exfoliating wash with glycolic acid or grainy washes to manually remove dead skin cells.

4. Myth: The more the better when it comes to topical products.

Reality: Combining several anti-aging products on your skin can cause irritation, leaving you with a less desired result than before.  Ingredients in wrinkle reducers such as retinol, vitamin C, and glycolic acid when mixed with each other can lead to a red, flaky complexion.  Try only one product at a time.  Introduce new products only after your skin has no redness or is immune to products.

5. Myth: Pricey, professional facials are my only solution for perfect skin.

Reality: Be your own esthetician!  Unclog those pores with a simple two-step system that’s as easy as exfoliating.  First, exfoliate using an acid-based cleanser, such as Glytone Gel Wash sold in our office that gets deep into the pores to remove embedded sebum and dirt.  Then, with a rotating electric brush such as Clarisonic’s Mia, slough away dead skin cells with a gentle cleanser.  This regimen will help your skin absorb the product for a deep clean.  

FAQ: You asked, I answered...

Q: How can I keep my hair looking great on rainy days?

A: Develop a frizz-proof plan.  Start your day off by soaking your hair in an anti-humidity cream such as Living Proof’s Prime Style Extender that weightlessly repels moisture.  Next, use a curling iron or straightener to seal your hair’s cuticles so water won’t enter and make strands swell.  Whether it be a high sock bun or a low side braid, choose a no-fuss up do and spray it with an anti-frizz hairspray.  This serves as a barrier between your hair and the humidity in the weather.  Don’t forget to pack an umbrella to shield your luscious locks from that unexpected sudden drizzle.

Are You a Lancome Lover?

Lancome Paris Introduces a Revolutionary Eyeshadow to the Market: Color Design Infinite 24H

Lancome's new line of eyeshadow has taken the market by storm.  Everyone is raving about their Color Design Infinite 24.  These luminous eye colors last 24 hours without creasing, smudging, or fading. These creamy eyeshadows are rich in texture and intense in color. Currently, they are available in 15 shades ranging from light beige to metallic black. Bright purple and shimmering gold are two of Lancome's best sellers.  Each eyeshadow retails for $24.50.  Expect Lancome to come out with additional colors just in time for the holidays!

Warning, these eyeshadows are not for makeup novices. These intense colors pack a powerful punch so apply lightly the first time you use them!

Tips to Keeping a Healthy Glow during the Harsh Winter Months

Anyone can get dry skin, but with these tips everyone can avoid it.  We see it begin in the fall and by winter our skin is dull, flaky, and itchy.  The low temperatures, absence of humidity, and harsh winds all play a role in causing this unwanted dry skin.  Here are some tips to help your body keep moisture in.

1     -  Take warm, but not hot showers.  Yes, they feel great but they aren’t great for your skin.  Hot water robs your skin of its moisture, so try taking a lukewarm shower only once a day.  This rule also applies to washing your hands.

      - The best time to moisturize is right after showering.  Try to apply your cream within five minutes.  It is better to use a cream rather than a lotion because lotions are oil in water, whereas creams are water in oil.  Creams are thicker and are often in a tube or jar, not a pump.

3     - Invest in a humidifier. The winter air is in short supply of humidity, especially if your home has a fireplace.  A room heated by a fireplace has less than 10% moisture in the air.

4     -  Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!  I can’t say it enough.  Moisturizers work much more effectively when applied to exfoliated skin.  For facial exfoliation try Clarisonic’s Facial Cleansing Brush along with any glycolic acid face wash such as Glytone’s Self-Foaming Acne Cleanser, which can be purchased at your next visit.  For hydrated, smooth skin try our Avéne Emollient Cleansing Bath.

5    -  Skip the drying soaps such as anti-bacterial, bar soaps, and anything that lathers.  Stick to creamy cleansers with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or petrolatum.  Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash is great for the body and for the face try Avéne’s Extremely Gentle Cleanser sold in our office. And don’t forget your lips!  Eucerin’s Aquaphor Healing Ointment works wonders for dry, cracked lips.