Guest Blogger: Elise Marquam-Jahns
Most of us equate healthy skin with glowing skin. When we’re young, that glow is just part of who we are and most likely—if you’re anything like me—you took it a bit for granted. But as the years pass, the sun, the environmental pollutants, our body’s natural aging process and yes—what we eat and drink or don’t eat or drink—do their damage.
So in addition to the first six ideas we covered in Part 1 of this article, here are seven more things we can do to recapture some of that youthful glow.
1. EXFOLIATE:
Get rid of those dead skin cells by exfoliating your skin two or three times a week. As we mature, our skin cells turn over less frequently which can cause our skin to look dull since it’s not reflecting light. There are two different kinds of exfoliants: physical (scrubs) and chemical exfoliants which use ingredients like glycolic or lactic acids to melt away dead skin cells. Since I use a sonic cleansing brush regularly, I recently skipped the exfoliating process for several months since I assumed I was getting enough exfoliation through the sonic brush cleansing. When I finally did exfoliate, I was shocked. My skin looked literally two shades lighter. That exfoliating product now remains on top of my bathroom vanity rather than in a drawer. For a more intense treatment, consider a chemical peel or laser resurfacing at a doctor’s office.
2. INGREDIENTS TO ADD TO YOUR SKINCARE:
Think about adding these three important ingredients to your skincare routine: a hyaluronic acid serum which provides moisture at a deeper level (holding up to 100 times its weight in water), Vitamin C to brighten the skin and even out skin tone and retinol (a form of Vitamin A) which encourages faster cell turnover leading to more collagen and reduction of fine lines. Make sure to apply a hyaluronic acid serum to a damp face to lock in even more moisture. And, be aware that not all Vitamin C products are created equal since they can easily oxidize which lowers their effectiveness. So consider checking out Vitamin C combined with Vitamin E and Ferulic acid which can increase the longevity and effectiveness of the product.
3. MASSAGE YOUR FACE:
Massage you face while applying serums or creams at night to increase circulation and help tone the muscles. Just five minutes of massage can improve elasticity. Iin the morning consider using a jade roller. Because we’re lying down every night, fluid builds up under our eyes resulting in those less than desirable puffy eye bags. Used for centuries, these rollers– when gently massaged over your face–can amp up your lymph flow and drain fluid build-up under your eyes and along your jaw. Using an eye product with caffeine in it can also help reduce that morning eye puffiness.
4. IMPROVE BLOOD FLOW:
Bend over to get the blood flowing. Try lying on your bed with your head hanging down over the edge for three minutes a day. The blood rushing to your head helps drain away toxins.
5. MOISTURIZE:
It probably goes without saying, but a good moisturizer can do wonders, transforming dry skin into dewy and glowing skin. For dry skin, look for a moisturizer with ceramides which can increase your skin’s ability to maintain moisture. For oilier skin, a moisturizer might seem counterintuitive, but one with an oil-free hydrator can give your look a boost.
6. MIX YOUR OWN BEAUTY SECRET
A few magic makeup tricks can really heighten the glow of your skin. Try adding a few drops of a liquid highlighter to your moisturizer or foundation to create a soft, lovely glow. Or mix a few drops of a matte foundation with a few drops of a dewier foundation to give your skin some added radiance. Using a makeup sponge to apply the foundation will provide added hydration and create an airbrushed look.
7. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A CREAM HIGHLIGHTER
Or, try applying a cream highlighter over part of your foundation with fingers, brush or a makeup sponge to strategically highlight the top of your cheekbones, your upper lip and the area above the arch of your brows. It will melt seamlessly into your skin and create a lovely, subtle glow. And by the way, if you use a cream highlighter in a stick form, try this makeup artist secret: apply some moisturizer to the back of your hand first and dab a little on your finger before rubbing your finger across the top of the cream highlighter. The added moisturizer will not only help the highlighter glide more easily onto your skin but will simultaneously up the glow factor.
We Value Your Thoughts and Suggestions:
Since these articles on beauty are specifically meant to meet your needs, I’d love to hear from you directly about the makeup topics you’d like to learn more about in upcoming articles. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with suggested topics. I can’t promise to cover all of them, but I’ll give it my best shot! Thanks, Elise
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About The Author:
Elise Marquam-Jahns is an author, speaker, radio host and makeup artist. As a makeup artist, her passion is helping women 45+ get their glow back. In addition to her work as a makeup artist for a major cosmetics line, she founded Boomer and Beyond Beauty which offers makeup consultations, applications, classes and makeup parties. As host of Normandale Community College’s monthly Learning Well Blog Talk Radio Show, she interviews a wide cross section of health and wellness experts.
