Resolve to Make 2018 Your Most RADIANT Year Yet!

It's the end of 2017 - I can't believe it! The idea of a new year means a time for new beginnings and possibilities - while taking all of the lessons we learned in 2017 (good and bad) and implementing this knowledge to plant the seeds for a fabulous 2018! 

And...while you're looking back on 2017, take a good look at your skin. With age comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes with... "mature" looking skin? Nope - it doesn't have to at all...IF you are using the right products and taking a proactive approach to your skincare, it will make all the difference! One thing I find really helpful: take a picture of your skin on January 1. If by January 30 you aren't seeing results with your current skincare routine - change it! We so often see 8 million products promising a real solution to slow down the effects of aging - but how do you really know if they work if you don't monitor them yourself?

When it comes to skincare, SKIN UP is your ultimate pro-aging, radiantly hydrating partner necessary to get you to push you toward your skincare goals. Here are some of our New Year's Resolutions - and how to implement SKIN UP in your routine for a glowingly beautiful 2018:

 "If you wait, skin starts losing water vapor," says Francesca Fusco, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Choose a body lotion with a flip top that's easy to apply, and the SKIN UP device to mist a feather-weight layer on your face, neck and chest to lock in moisture, boost antioxidants and soothe with aloe.  

 

I will: Chart My Progress How do you know if your work is actually worth it? Take a picture, take a measurement - take into account what you really want the goal to mean for you. If you keep record you can look back and see how far you’ve come and that the time you’re putting in is ACTUALLY working and worth it! (and worth the money if its an investment) 

I will: Wear Sunscreen Every Day Doctors have long advised wearing sunscreen daily (at least SPF 30) and reapplying it often. The challenge is finding a cream that offers enough protection and doesn't feel like a lead blanket. Look for "nongreasy" or "sheer" on the label. The new spray-on fluids called "shaka shaka" formulations (you shake before applying) are a game changer for some patients, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, who recommends SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50. "Women who complained sunscreen made their makeup look off are now saying, 'I'm willing to do this,'" says Hirsch. Also - check to make sure your makeup has SPF in it - and how much. Being mindful of this during the day will allow you to know when you need to reapply sunscreen, and SKIN UP. 

SKIN UP & Sunscreen for Daily Use: SKIN UP is water-based, so it's always best to begin your sunscreen application with SKIN UP's Hydrating Elixirs as a base. Most sunscreens are oil based, and this allows you to lock in moisture as a toner. Using it over your sunscreen multiple times throughout the day provides that misted boost of luminosity for noirished and hydrated skin. SKIN UP works under your foundation, true, but it also works as a refresher for your makeup. Keeping this even layer of misted hydration on over your foundation will extend the wearability and longevity of your makeup. 

 

I will: Take Off My Makeup at Night I know I know...We've known since middle school that makeup can mix with skin oils and dirt to cause zits. Cosmetics can also trap skin-damaging free radicals that float in the air (think: bus exhaust) against your skin, according to Zoe Draelos, a professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine. But you've had a long day, and the bathroom sink is 20 feet away....

• Avoid the situation entirely by washing your face as soon as you get home. Don't wait for the final credits of Jimmy Fallon to roll. At the very least, remove your mascara. 

• Always mist SKIN UP on right before you go to bed as an antioxidant replenisher to fight free-radical damage caused by cosmetics that trap them into your skin during the day. So if you do nothing else - keep SKIN UP by your bedside table and mist a light layer before you hit the pillow. If you can - keep it with cleansing cloths on your nightstand and...

wipe, mist, sleep!

 

I will: Moisturize – Even if I Have Oily Skin Everyone should be using a daily moisturizer, but it’s a common misconception that people with oily skin don’t need it.

Not so! First of all, you need to make sure your skin maintains balanced hydration. Products intended to target oily skin can often strip it of its natural oils. When your skin senses that it’s too dry, it will actually over-produce oil, leading to even more excess grease and shine. Second, your skin can still be dehydrated even if it's oily – meaning it lacks water rather than oil. It’s still your job to make sure skin is properly hydrated through good skincare and hydration. 

The good news? SKIN UP is feather-weight moisturizer for all skin types. It's antioxidants Lipoic Acid and CoEnzyme Q10 are also humectants which will help balance oils while maintaining hydration with the moisture magnet hyaluronic acid and aloe. 

I will: Book a Yearly Mole Check

Having a dermatologist survey your body once a year is crucial, even if you're diligent about monthly self-exams. "We look in more nooks and crannies than you ever will," says Wexler. For convenience, group your annual appointments (physical, mammogram, dermatologist) at a time of (relative) quiet—after the holidays, or when the kids go back to school. "Before you leave the doctor's office, make an appointment for next year, put a reminder in your phone, and ask the receptionist to follow up," says Wexler.

I will: Exfoliate Regularly

"A baby's skin replenishes itself completely every 14 days," explains Howard Sobel, a clinical attending physician in dermatology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "But by age 30, an adult takes a full 28 days to replenish." With all that extra time, skin cells have a chance to dry out and lose luster—unless you jump-start the renewal process by exfoliating. The simplicity of SKIN UP allows you to exfoliate gently with each 10 second application and boost skin's natural cell turnover. Since SKIN UP has both Lipoic Acid and CoEnzyme Q10 as potent antioxidants, with every misted layer of SKIN UP you're getting a boost of gentle exfoliation as you moisturize.  

I will: Have Mercy on My Hands

For starters, stop treating your nails like tools. "Tearing open boxes leads to chips and peeling," says Grossman. And what are the most telling skin agers: your face and your HANDS! 

• To keep both nails and hands from dehydrating, forgo plain antibacterial gels and instead choose moisturizing options - and mist a layer of SKIN UP's lotions on those hands too!

• More advice: Keep SPF hand cream throughout your house. "Like the face, hands are exposed and need coverage," says Grossman. She keeps a stick of Hawaiian Tropic Kids SPF 50 in the glove box. "Even with UV-protective auto glass, damaging rays penetrate, and they will age your hands," she says.

• For nighttime care, rub hands with a rich alpha hydroxy acid lotion—it's too thick for day—and if the skin is chapped, use shea butter or Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment. For deep rehab, add cotton gloves after application to wear overnight. Always use a SKIN UP application under any lotion to boost efficacy and hydation benefits - yes, even on your hands!

I will: Keep My Hands Off My Face

With this one...we have 2 issues. First, the general disgusting-ness of what we have on our hands every time we touch our face - and the bacteria, dirt and oil transferred to your face can be remarkably awful. Why do you think doctors take such precautions before touching us? Using a hands-free skincare solution like SKIN UP eliminates this problem - and product isn't wasted with unintentional application. And the other issue? Pimples. Yes, it's tempting to squeeze it, but just the act of touching your face with your fingers brings pore-clogging oil and dirt to the skin. How not to pop? Get rid of magnifying mirrors, put "Don't touch" Post-it notes around the house, and grab a squeeze toy to keep your hands busy, especially if certain times of day (morning drive?) trigger the urge. Replace that urge by applying SKIN UP! When you do give in, applying over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream right away can help calm inflammation and prevent long-lasting marks, says Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, a professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine.

I will: Stick with the Program

Waiting for a new skin treatment to show results can be a test of patience. "A good anti-aging cream can take six weeks, so don't give up," says David Bank, a professor of dermatology at Columbia University/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. That goes for skin lighteners and acne products, too. "But if nothing has changed by week six, the product will never work for you," says Bank. Time to move on. SKIN UP works with any skincare routine - and track your progress! Replace an old one with new "habit" of taking care of your skin throughout the day, refresh your makeup up and see what a difference it can make for you! 

The Toss-Out Guide:

 

 Wishing you all a wonderful New Year! As always - keep in touch with me at angie@skinupusa.com - don't forget to send your progress with SKIN UP!