British Columbia, Canada
Article #83: April 15, 2009


Funds are low and we tend to tighten our belts or modify our lifestyles to save some money for the "rainy days". But our desire to have healthy skin should not suffer because of hard economic times. Skin is still the biggest organ of the body and should be given attention and care as we do to have healthy internal organs. At times like this, here are some simple steps to remind everyone of how to achieve healthy skin:

Step #1: Under normal circumstances ( no sickness or medication that alters normal body processes) , you are what you eat. This is very true. Eating a lot of processed food along with fast food or fatty foods makes our skin and our bodies suffer. Let us eat healthier; include plenty of fruits and vegetables in our diet. Some nutritionists say we need about 10 servings of fruits everyday. Heww, that is tough to follow! Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help to repair damaged skin. Some of the best fruits and vegetables for antioxidants are broccoli, artichokes, blueberries, black olives, blackberries and a lot more. Junk food is not good for us internally or externally. Eating chips make my skin show red bumps. Oily food make my stomach growl and right away, my body ejects whatever I ate. Junk food and fast food are actually expensive if you start doing the math. It is always cheaper, but make sure do it healthier, to prepare food at home than eat out. .

Step #2 : Most people are aware that the human body is 70% water. So, then why are we not drinking enough water? It helps to keep our skin hydrated, which prevents it from becoming dry and scaly. It's summertime again and our body uses up more water as we perspire more. Medications like diuretics and birth control pills and beverages with caffeine create dehydration. Why drink pop when water is cheaper , healthier and better for our bodies?

Step #3 : Protect our skin from the sun! This is one thing that is always taken for granted. The sun's ultraviolet rays (UVA & UVB) can cause a lot of damage to our skin including wrinkles, age spots, spider veins, and worst- skin cancer. Have you heard of a sunscreen that serves as foundation, concealer, powder and SPF 20 all in one? That product is Jane Iredale Mineral Sunscreen powder; highly recommended to both my male and female clients because of its proven benefits to the skin, cost effectiveness (lasts 6-8 months- $10/month) and no fuss in the morning application that lasts all day long without the GREASE!

Step #4: Even if you follow all of the steps above, we still need to apply an effective skin cream to help give our skin the appearance of fresh young skin. As we age, our body stops producing vital skin proteins that give our skin its structure and elasticity. This is the reason why, as we age, our skin needs better products to slow down the aging process. If your skin therapist recommends a product and you have proven that the product does wonders to your skin, stick to it because it will, in the long run, help you economize and cut costs on facial treatments. I always tell my clients that using the right products prolong the results of the clinical treatments I provide for them and I don't have to see them more often than what is required. That saves money, right?

Living a healthy lifestyle is surely the most economical way to beat recession. It's beneficial for the body and definitely easy on our pockets.