by Liesa Goins | Jun 29, 2015 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
5 Ways to Prevent Last-Minute Skin Woes
If something has to go wrong at your wedding, let it be the best man’s toast—not a spotty complexion that will live on forever in photographs. Dermatologist David McDaniel has a few suggestions for staying picture-perfect in the home stretch.
Don’t experiment. A new cleanser, cream, or treatment can cause pimples, irritation, or an allergic reaction. Now is not the time to take chances.
Be smart at the spa. Unless you’ve had several facials with the same aesthetician and ingredients, don’t book one in the weeks before your wedding. The result could be redness, a rash, or flaking.
Know your history. If you’re prone to breakouts or cold sores, tell your dermatologist at least a month before the wedding. Stress can aggravate these conditions, and a doctor can prescribe medications to keep them from popping up.
Do a trial run. At least a month ahead of time, try on the fragrance you intend to wear at your wedding to make sure you don’t develop a rash or a headache.
Watch your mouth. The week before your wedding, limit your consumption of salt, alcohol, and spicy foods, all of which can irritate sensitive skin. As appealing as they are, salt and booze also cause water retention, which makes the eyes puffy, the body bloated, and the wedding dress uncomfortably snug.
by Liesa Goins | Apr 19, 2014 | 1.1 Resources & Tips
The 4 Things You Don’t Know About Face Oils
Those tiny bottles of oil that promise a youthful complexion are not of the snake variety anymore. Dermatologist David Colbert, the founder of Colbert M.D. Skincare, who has studied the skin-care and anti-aging benefits of face oils for 15 years, explains how they benefit the skin.
FREE-RADICAL PROTECTION
“Many botanical oils, including argan, passion fruit, and African marula oils, are potent antioxidants. In the morning, massage a few drops onto clean skin, wait two minutes, and apply sunscreen or foundation as usual.”
IMPROVED SKIN TOLERANCE
“Oils can prevent the irritation caused by some anti-aging ingredients. Argan, yangu, and borage-seed oils all decrease inflammation. Smooth one on after your nightly anti-aging treatment. A few drops will be enough to cover your face and calm the skin.”
PLUMPING SKIN
“In your late 30s, wrinkles suddenly look deeper because the skin’s natural oils decrease, the moisture barrier breaks down, and the skin dries out. Most creams contain a little oil, but not enough to make a big difference in water loss. Because oils are lipophilic, or fat loving, they pass though the lipid layer of the skin faster, preventing water loss and plumping skin with moisture more effectively. Olive and coconut oils are great moisturizers.”
BETTER ABSORPTION
“If you apply an oil before your anti-aging cream, the oil molecules behave like tiny Trojan horses, tricking the skin into letting active ingredients—like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C—deeper into the skin and closer to the collagen-producing fibroblasts, all without irritating the surface.”
