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Skin care for every season
Our largest body organ, our skin, needs a lot more care than we usually offer it. It rings close to home for us moms - we spend lots of time outdoors and our hands are constantly exposed to water. So even though we rarely have the time for ourselves, there are a few simple things we can do to protect our skin. Moisturizing, drinking lots of water, exercising and eating a diet rich in antioxidants and omega 3s, are some of the elements. Here's our simple guide to taking care of your skin in every season.
Winter: Dry and Flaky
Everyone is familiar with how dry and flaky your skin gets in the winter time. Using a rich moisturizer is an obvious choice, but there are a few other steps you can take.
First, hydrate by consuming a lot of water and water-based foods. At the same time, work out, so the sweat and improved blood circulation helps your dry skin and also motivates you to drink more water.
Second, exfoliate. Exfoliation is a tool that's good year-round to avoid breakouts, eliminate dead skin cells and maintain skin elasticity. It seems that most women are on board with moisturizing yet few exfoliate on a regular basis. I love the comparison made by Molly Wierman, President & Managing Esthetician from Flourish Wellness Spa in Maple Grove, Minnesota: "I always tell my clients that apply treatment products to skin that has been cleansed, but not exfoliated is like waxing a car that hasn’t been washed." Without exfoliation, all the dirt and toxins are trapped along with the dead skin cells as our skin is shedding. Since there are different skin types, you can't really pinpoint one type of exfoliation product. You will have to experiment with the scrubs until you find one that keeps the skin smooth without causing breakouts. However, you are better off with types that have fine sand-like granules. For the face, Wierman recommends a chemical exfoliant, an acid, enzyme or vitamin - you get both the skin smoothing results and brighten your skin tone, not to mention skin firming (less lines and wrinkles). Lee Wright, founder and owner of Ma Mi Natural Skincare, adds that some forms of exfoliation can be drying to the skin so "if you have dryer skin you want to do it less often, maybe twice a week instead of five times a week; doing it less in the drier winter months will help. I believe that exfoliating with the natural glycolic or salicylic acids is the best method".
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BURN 300 CALORIES IN 30 MINUTES
Weight loss is a simple formula - lose 3500 calories and you will lose a pound. It is up to you if you want to cut the amount of calories you eat or increase the amount and intensity of your workout, or ideally both.
To watch the amount of calories you eat and where you can cut, start a food journal and write down every single bite or sip you take, including snacks and water. After a week or two you will be able to see where you over indulge and this will tell you what to cut or cut down - if unclear, consult a nutritionist; your food journal will be the best way to look at the calories going in.
As to burning the calories, variety is key - include cardio, strength and flexibility exercises in your routine, and do a workout at least 5 days a week. A workout does not have to be long or continuous - you can fit 10 minutes here and there throughout the day for a 30-40 minute total.
Today we examine the 30 minute cardio workout that can help you burn 300 calories (note, an average for a 150-pound woman). All you need is a treadmill - set at various speed intervals - from brisk walk to a steady run; we will be alternating the two. Set the incline at 1.5 or 2.0.
