Elysiann’s Beauty Vault

As we are down to the final day before Wellness WINEdown, I just want to share how thrilled I am to participate in such a cause worthy event, with such empowering people! This is definitely a way to kick-start the summer, with a powerful purpose benefiting Attitudes & Attire.

Tomorrow, get ready to indulge in complimentary light bites from Central 214′s Chef Graham Dodds and low-cal cocktails by head bartender Amber West, extreme yoga demos from Exhale Mind Body Spa, and of course natural skincare from none other than Actifirm! You’ll also get the opportunity to  explore this season’s hottest summer and resort wear fashions via Uptown Consignment!

If that wasn’t enough to make you change your Thursday night plans, the luxe prizes to be raffled include:

• 1 Night luxury suite from Hotel Palomar Dallas
• Dinner for two at Central 214
• Actifirm Skincare products
• 4 Hour limo ride from Cet Limo
• 60 Minute Fusion Massage from Exhale Mind Body Spa
• Gift certificate to Uptown Consignment

If you happen to be in Dallas tomorrow, this venue should definitely be on your social radar! Great food, great drinks, great company, great cause! What more can you ask for?

Hope you’re ready to WINEdown!

This week before Mother’s Day, I’m focusing on skincare as it relates to moms. One thing that most moms are short on is time – the weekly grind with kids can really cut into time for proper skincare, exercise, and nutrition. That lack of time for nutrition got me thinking about The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder and her signature Glowing Green Smoothie. True to its name, this concoction promises glowing skin when consumed daily. And what could be better for a busy mom than a super healthy smoothie that you can drink on the go?

Glowing Green Smoothie = Glowing Skin

So what makes the Glowing Green Smoothie special? Like many smoothies, it combines a high volume of vegetables and fruits into a single glass. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are all beneficial to your skin and your entire body. Unique to the Glowing Green Smoothie is a high volume of greens – just one serving has three cups of greens, which is more than most people consume in a week! Those greens are chock full of high-quality amino acids to help support protein synthesis in the body. Snyder also maintains that most people don’t chew their food enough to absorb all of the nutrients – blending solves that problem.

Here’s the recipe. Snyder recommends this daily for breakfast, and advocates building up to at least one additional serving a day. She also notes that you can mix and match greens and fruits to your liking.

Glowing Green Smoothie

From The Beauty Detox Solution

Makes 64 ounces, for 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 ½ to 2 cups very cold, filtered water

6 cups organic spinach, chopped

5 cups organic romaine lettuce, chopped

2 stalks organic celery

1 organic apple, cored and chopped

1 organic pear, cored and chopped

1 organic banana

1 to 2 Tbsp. organic fresh lemon juice

Optional ingredients:

Ice cubes (may help newbies with the unique taste)

½ cup organic parsley

½ cup organic cilantro

Directions:

Add water, romaine, and spinach to blender. Mix until smooth. Add herbs, celery, pear and apple. Add banana and lemon juice last.

I’m envisioning a busy mom prepping the ingredients the night before, then waking in the morning to blend it up, put it in a travel mug, and head out the door. Much healthier than a cream-laden cup of coffee! Snyder also says that the Glowing Green Smoothie will keep for a day or two in the fridge.

Snyder’s Hollywood celebrity clients report higher energy, glowing skin, and shiny hair when they incorporate the Glowing Green Smoothie into their diets. Even if you don’t have the inclination to adopt the entire Beauty Detox Solution, the Glowing Green Smoothie is a step in the right direction – for skin health and overall health. I challenge you moms out there to give it a whirl!

Most moms will tell you that motherhood is the toughest job they ever loved. Just a look at mom’s face can tell you a lot about her day-to-day life. As we celebrate moms this May, let’s take a look at some common skin traits among moms, what they may mean, and how they can be addressed.

Most women have a few expression lines they’d like to erase. But don’t be too hard on yourself – those lines can also be a badge of honor, a sign of a happy life full of lots of smiles and laughs. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, staying properly hydrated inside and out is key. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water – at least eight, 8-ounce glasses daily. And don’t forget to properly hydrate skin’s surface to plump skin and minimize the appearance of expression lines. Two good, all-around products to try are Actifirm Actimoist Booster for day and Actifirm 40 Winks Rest-N-Firm Cream for night. Both contain botanicals that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Actifirm Phyto Relaxin is a virtual “magic wand” for expression lines, deep wrinkles, and brow furrows. Try it to target and relax specific trouble spots.

Under Eye Circles and Puffiness

Any mom who’s been up all night with a newborn, or worriedly waiting for teenagers to comehome, can sympathize with the challenges of under eye circles, redness, and puffiness. Chronic exhaustion seems to be part of the job description for motherhood. It goes without saying that getting enough sleep can go a long way in diminishing the problem. If more rest isn’t in the cards, a good eye cream can help, like Actifirm Renovation Eye Cream. This richly hydrating formula not only reduces the appearance of fine lines around the eye area, but contains herbal extracts that help reduce puffiness and redness.

Uneven Skin Tone

Most moms have logged more than their fair share of hours on soccer field sidelines or at the pool with the kids. Too many hours in the sun can take its toll, leaving behind rough, ruddy, or uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and an increased risk for skin cancer. The first measure to take is to cover up – with protective clothing, a big floppy hat, an umbrella, and lots of quality sunscreen (scroll down for earlier posts about that). That will help assure that you don’t cause further damage. To help rejuvenate and repair the damage you’ve incurred over the years, try Actifirm Z-Peel or one of our other peels or exfoliants. Z-Peel contains enzyme-rich mucor miehei mushroom extract, which lifts away dull, dead skin cells without harming new skin – revealing smoother, more evenly toned skin. You can use it as often as every day to promote beautiful skin.

There’s no doubt that the rigors of motherhood – not to mention time – can transform the way we look. But with the proper skincare tools, you can always put your best face forward!

Natural Skincare’s Best Friend?

The Beauty Detox Solution, by nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, has certainly made waves since it was released last year. The book has been heralded by a long list of celebrities, including Dr. Oz, Drew Barrymore, Fergie, Vince Vaughn, and Owen Wilson, to name just a few. Snyder is certainly no fly-by-night nutritionist: Educated at Georgetown University, she spent three years traveling solo to more than 50 countries across six continents, studying local diet and beauty habits.

The book is rooted in Snyder’s nutritional philosophy that outer beauty is a reflection of inner health. And one of Snyder’s big selling points is that her recommended diet can give you more radiant skin, in addition to more energy, a better body, and of course, better health.

The plan focuses on eating lots of organic, enzyme-rich, fresh fruits and vegetables in as close to their natural state as possible – up to 80% of the diet should be comprised of these plant-based foods. In particular, Snyder touts drinking her “Glowing Green Smoothie” daily – a blend of spinach, romaine, celery, apple, pear, banana, and lemon juice. She encourages mixing and matching greens and fruits over time for variety.

The remainder of the diet should come from other nutritionally rich sources including whole grains, avocado, raw nuts, seeds, and optional small amounts of animal protein. Snyder advocates a vegan diet but offers provisions for omnivores as well. Relevant to our area of concern, Snyder believes that dairy products contribute to acne, among other ailments.

The eating plan places emphasis on choosing foods that are easy to digest, in a particular order, and in certain combinations. There are three phases that followers can work through at their own pace. Snyder claims that by following her food choices, the body experiences an ongoing cleansing process.

The Beauty Detox Solution offers some ideas that you’ve likely read here before – eating more fresh fruits and veggies, for one. There are also some ideas that some may consider “too extreme,” “too complicated,” or “not realistic.” Some of those concerns may be valid, depending on your available time and dietary preferences. But the nice thing about the plan is that it is quite scaleable, encouraging people to permanently adopt only as many measures as can be realistically followed.

There’s definitely scientific evidence to support that some of the ideas outlined can contribute to healthier skin and better overall health. Here at Actifirm, we certainly advocate beautiful skin through natural means, and diet is a natural way to achieve healthier skin. So if fine-tuning your nutrition for more glowing skin and a healthier body are of interest to you, The Beauty Detox Solution might prove to be an interesting read.

Best Foods for Hair and Nail Health

Over time, we’ve talked lots about how diet can affect skin health – after all, this is a skincare blog! Glowing skin is not only pleasing to the eye, it’s an indicator of your overall health. The same goes for your hair and nails. Strong, shiny hair and nails not only give you an outwardly beautiful appearance, they are a sign that you’re healthy on the inside. While an overall healthy diet can go a long way in improving your inner health and outer appearance, here are some nutritional specifics to keep in mind for hair and nails:

• Protein: Hair and nails are comprised of keratin, a structural protein – so getting enough dietary protein is important to providing the building blocks for healthy hair and nails. Look for protein from healthy sources like nuts, seafood, low fat dairy, eggs, chicken, whole grains, soybeans, and lean red meat.

• B Vitamins: There’s a lot of buzz about the benefits of Vitamin B-7, also known as Vitamin H or Biotin. Biotin can help strengthen brittle nails and has also been used to treat hair loss. Other B vitamins, including B-6 and B-12, help metabolize the proteins that form the hair and nails. Biotin-rich foods include bananas, nuts, egg yolks, beans, and cauliflower. Look for B-6 in bananas, white and sweet potatoes, and spinach. B-12 can be found in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.

• Essential Fatty Acids: In particular, Omega 3s are known to boost skin, hair, and nail health. For potentially shinier hair, up your intake of fatty fish like salmon and tuna, nuts including walnuts and almonds, canola oil, and flaxseeds.

• Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps in the production of sebum, a conditioning substance of the scalp, which in turn keeps hair looking and feeling healthy. Vitamin A rich foods include broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mangoes, oatmeal, spinach, and sweet potatoes.

• Zinc: This mineral is a component of many enzymes in the body that regulate the body’s ability to make new proteins. These proteins, in turn, form the basis of hair and nails. Try cashews, green beans, lean beef, oysters, and lobster for a boost of zinc in your diet.

As always, maintain a diet rich in colorful produce, whole grains, lean proteins, and beneficial oils for optimum beauty and health results. It helps that healthy eating can be as good for you as it is delicious – Who can argue with eating more lobster to increase zinc intake!

Nutrition and Skincare

Healthy-looking skin generally reflects an overall healthy body, and no wonder – we often forget that the skin is actually the body’s largest organ. In general, a diet designed for overall health with lots of fresh veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein is also good for your skin (see my previous post on eating clean).

The antioxidants in many fruits and vegetables are known to protect and repair skin damage from free radicals. Healthy oils, such as the Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish and flax seeds, can aid in skin repair, moisture, and flexibility. And lean proteins break down into amino acids as they digest – the building blocks of cells. Adequate protein consumption speeds the repair and regeneration of skin cells and collagen.

There is a tantalizing array of healthy and delicious foods that can feed your skin and body – too many to list here. Take a look at this select “dream team” of foods that pack a big punch for beautiful and healthy skin:

Avocados: Rich in healthy, plant-based fats as well as biotin, avocados help combat dry skin, not to mention brittle nails and hair.

Eggs: These also contain biotin, an essential vitamin that protects against dry skin. And because eggs are a complete protein, they can also help repair damaged cells.

Antioxidants in green tea mean good things for skin health

Green Tea: Loaded with polyphenol antioxidants, experts recommend four cups a day for maximum benefits.

Salmon: This fish contains the aforementioned omega 3s, and also supplies astaxanthin, a carotenoid that improves skin’s elasticity.

Tomatoes: The key here is the antioxidant lycopene as well as carotenoids – both of which may fight free radical damage and aging. One German study even found that 10 weeks of tomato paste supplementation combined with olive oil helped protect against sunburn. Interesting food for thought, but we still recommend a floppy hat, protective clothing, and lots of sunscreen!

Walnuts: Packed with Omega-3s, walnuts can give you smoother skin, and shinier hair too.

A handful of walnuts does wonders for skin and overall health

It bears repeating: Any eating plan that is healthy for your body and overall health is probably great for your skin as well. Make smart food choices every day and it will show in your health, energy, and enviable skin!

Improve your health and your skin

Whether you’re in the grocery store checkout line perusing magazines or chatting with girlfriends over lunch, the “eating clean” craze is everywhere. Popularized by Tosca Reno through her series of “Eat Clean” books, the movement is more of a philosophy of eating than a diet, built on good common sense about what our bodies need.

Those who eat clean seek to consume foods as close to their “whole” state as possible, avoiding processed and convenience foods in lieu of simple fresh produce, lean proteins, and whole grains. Healthy fats are also integral, including monounsaturated fats (olive and canola oils, avocados), omega 3 fatty acids (flaxseed, walnuts, salmon), and polyunsaturated fats (nuts, seeds, vegetable oils). There’s no calorie counting, and followers are encouraged to never skip a meal, eating every few hours to fuel the body. In addition, 2 to 3 liters of water consumption are recommended daily.

So what’s off limits when you’re eating clean? Forget about fast food and prepackaged items at the grocery store. Say goodbye to sodas and processed meats like hot dogs and bacon. And junk cereals and candy – or anything else packed with refined sugar – is taboo. A rule of thumb: if there are any ingredients on a product label that you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce, it’s probably not a good choice. However, the plan does have provisions to treat yourself to a treat once a week.

The reported benefits of eating clean are many. Reno theorizes that because you are eating foods as nature intended, weight stabilizes on the program. Those who need to reduce will lose weight, those who are at an ideal weight will remain the same but enjoy better health, and those who should increase will gain weight.

Higher energy is another reported benefit. It makes sense that eating complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains like brown rice or whole wheat pasta, and consuming quality simple carbohydrates from fresh fruits and vegetables would have this effect. Clean eaters report less lethargy during the day and more energy to exercise – which in turn gives you even more energy.

I always say that the skin is a window into your overall health. That said, the eat clean lifestyle can have a positive effect on your skin. Eating healthy fats, drinking more water, and loading up on antioxidant-rich produce are all steps to a glowing complexion. In fact, followers of clean eating have reported healthier looking skin.

The Actifirm approach to beautiful skin is holistic – natural, professional skincare combined with a healthy lifestyle. The eat clean movement fits into that model with its sensible approach to good health for a lifetime.

You’ve heard your fair share of beauty tips over the years from well-meaning bystanders, whether from your mom, best friend, or Great Aunt Erma. We’re talking about the “French fries make you break out” variety of advice. These gems don’t just come out of nowhere and may be rooted in a seed of truth, however small. But how many of these pearls of wisdom are actually beneficial to your beauty routine? Let’s debunk some of the more common ones that relate to skincare.

You can get rid of cellulite.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for cellulite – although its appearance can be minimized. How much cellulite you have is largely determined by genetics. Caused by fat deposits between the connective fibers that attach skin to muscle, cellulite afflicts thin and overweight people alike. Even liposuction can’t eliminate cellulite. There are skincare products that can help – such as Actifirm Thigh Firm. Its clinically-shown ability to stimulate collagen and increase firmness, thickness, and density of the skin, combined with intense hydrating abilities, can diminish the appearance of cellulite. Using a self-tanner can also improve the appearance of cellulite – Actifirm Firming Self-Tanner works wonders!

Chocolate makes you break out

Forget what you heard as a teenager: Eating chocolate does not cause acne. Nor does polishing off an order of greasy French Fries – unless you wipe them all over your face! Acne is largely caused by hormones and overproduction of skin oils. So while it’s true that people who eat an overall unhealthy diet may have a less than glowing complexion, an occasional indulgence won’t spoil your skincare efforts. In fact, chocolate is packed with health-boosting antioxidants – so enjoy in moderation!

Cucumbers will de-puff your eyes

Sort of. We can all paint a mental picture of a reclining spa patron with cucumber slices over her eyes. This trick can reduce puffiness around the eyes, but it’s not because of some special property of cucumbers – it’s the fact that they are chilled. Applying anything cold over the eye area for a few minutes can constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling – from a specialized mask to a simple damp washcloth. But when you’re in the mood, cucumber circles are an indulgent touch!

Tanning can clear up skin problems

Hmmm…anyone who’s read this blog knows that tanning is NEVER a skincare solution in my book! Some time in the sun may temporarily dry the skin, reducing blemishes – but get ready for a rebound of skin problems short-term and long-term, including more breakouts, dry skin, peeling, freckling, age spots, wrinkles, and of course skin cancer. It bears reiterating…tanning is NOT the solution!

Sleeping on your back or with a satin pillowcase will reduce facial wrinkles

This one has some merit, although it’s certainly no fountain of youth. Studies have shown that people who sleep on one side of their face for years on end may have more wrinkles on that side – but the difference is very subtle. Most wrinkles are caused by environmental damage, so your money may be best spent on a wide-brimmed sun hat. Still, a satin pillowcase can’t hurt – and it feels nice too!

The idea of exfoliation as a part of professional skincare is nothing new. Even the ancient Egyptians practiced this beneficial skincare regimen. However, modern science has dramatically changed the face of exfoliation (pun intended!) with the refinement of highly effective enzyme exfoliants that remove dead skin cells more gently than other skincare products.

Enzyme exfoliants can be less irritating to the skin than physical or chemical exfoliants. As the name implies, physical exfoliants may use ingredients like oatmeal or crushed walnut shells, which are massaged into the skin to slough away dead cells. Microdermabrasion, performed by a skincare professional, also falls into the physical exfoliant category. While physical exfoliants can work, they may also seriously irritate skin in the process, due in part to the rough particles they contain. Not so with enzyme exfoliants.

Chemical exfoliants use ingredients like glycolic acid to do the job. Chemical or acid peels, administered by medical spas and other professional skincare offices, fit the bill. Again, while they can be effective, these harsh chemicals may be too much for sensitive skin. If you’ve ever experienced “down time” after a professional treatment with severe peeling and even scabbing, you probably had a chemical treatment. These chemicals not only lift dead skin cells, but penetrate live skin and remove some of it as well. Enzyme exfoliants are “smart” in that they target only dead skin cells – revealing smoother, living skin cells beneath.

Enzyme exfoliants have been refined in recent years by professional skincare labs like Actifirm, Gentle enzyme exfoliants achieve results through natural enzyme extracts – common sources include the pineapple, papaya, pumpkin, and even mushroom.

Actifirm exfoliating products, for example, employ extracts of the Japanese Mucor Miehei Mushroom. This mushroom extract gently breaks the bonds adhering dead cells to your skin’s surface, simply accelerating the natural exfoliation process. Because no live skin cells are removed, there’s none of that dreaded down time after an enzyme treatment. And enzymes are so gentle, they can even be used often – even daily.

Enzyme treatments smooth and brighten the skin, and also help your other skincare products do more by preparing skin to better accept them. Makeup goes on flawlessly with such an even surface for application.

Actifirm offers a wide variety of products containing Japanese Mucor Miehei extract – including Actifirm’s signature product, the Z-Peel. Actifirm Z-Peel comes in two strengths for home use, so you can choose according to your skin’s sensitivity. Because Z-Peel is enzyme-driven, it is gentle yet effective – lifting only dead skin cells and revealing beautiful, healthier skin. Actifirm also offers several skin-pampering masks that contain active enzymes.

If you’re looking for a gentle way to take your daily skincare regimen to the next level, enzymes are definitely something to try. In my book, “E-N-Z-Y-M-E-S” spells “Beauty”!

Antioxidants – they’re all the buzz these days, whether the topic is disease prevention or skin health. But what are they and why do we need them? I’ll attempt to demystify these powerful substances from a skincare perspective.

True to their name, antioxidants counteract the damaging effects of oxidation in body tissues. Oxidation is normal to the cellular regeneration that occurs 24/7 in your body. Think about a cut on your skin – oxidation is part of the healing process. The problem is that although the body metabolizes oxygen efficiently, 1% to 2% of cells will be damaged in the process. The resulting flawed cells are called free radicals. Short a single molecule, these free radicals will “steal” a molecule from nearby cells to repair themselves, damaging otherwise healthy cells in the process. This is how the process of abnormal cell growth and disease begins – a scenario that may be applied to the aging of skin.

You’ve probably heard of many skin-aiding antioxidants, even if you didn’t know their unique powers. Vitamins A, B, C, and E; Selenium; Coenzyme Q10; alpha-lipoic acid; and flavonoids top the list. Antioxidants can work from the outside in, or from the inside out – so they can be ingested as a supplement or part of your diet, or applied topically to the skin. For now, I’ll focus on benefits of topical application. Here’s a rundown of current wisdom about these specific antioxidants:

Vitamin A: Retinoic acid is the active form of Vitamin A in the skin. Prescription skincare products like Retin-A and Renova rely on this antioxidant to work their magic. Retinoic acid is used to treat fine wrinkles, age spots, and rough skin. Research also has shown that it can restore the elastic fibers that keep skin taut.

Vitamin B: B Vitamins are essential to cell health throughout the body, including the skin. A deficiency can cause dry, itchy skin. Chicken, eggs, and fortified grain products are all good sources of Vitamin B in the diet, but recent research has also shown benefits to topical application.

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Selenium: These are lumped together because of their similar impact on skin health. These can help protect skin from sun damage and skin cancer and may even reverse skin discoloration and wrinkles. Properly used, these can all have topical benefits, although Vitamins C and E can lose potency when exposed to light and air. For topical application, look for high concentrations in skincare products: 15% to 20% for Vitamin C (non-esterified), 2% to 5% for Vitamin E (D-alpha-tocopherol), and .02% to .05% for selenium.

Coenzyme Q10: Naturally occurring in the body, Coenzyme Q10 can help cells grow and may help protect them from cancer. Drops in levels of this antioxidant are thought to contribute to the aging of skin, and studies have shown that topical application can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Researchers favor a 0.3% potency in topical studies.

Alpha-lipoic Acid: Topical application of a 3% to 5% concentration cream may help protect skin from sun damage. Higher levels may cause adverse effects for some people.

Flavanoids: Mmmm….green tea and chocolate! That’s right – contrary to what your mother told you about eating chocolate as a teenager, antioxidants in this delicious stuff may improve skin health. And studies show that skin treated with green tea extract may be better protected from sunlight exposure.

So there you have it – a rundown of the top antioxidants for skin health. Keep in mind that the easiest way to incorporate antioxidants for skin health – and overall health for that matter – is not a technique to be learned in a laboratory. Simply eat a colorful abundance of fresh fruits and veggies every day for higher energy and glowing skin!