Sharing the Secret of Youthful Skin!

Today I've had the pleasure of learning more about our skin, how to keep it youthful and how to best look after it and maintain it! Dr. Summa from Silkor (in Abu Dhabi) shared her secrets with us today. 

I'm here to spill the beans....

It is important for us to look after our skin, not just for how it looks, for the truth about our skin is not seen by the naked eye but for its overall health. We need to understand what affects our skin and how to protect it from harmful factors. 

It's simple really, our skin is exposed to so many factors that damage and effect our skin especially our face & neck. Stress, UV rays, long working days, irregular sleeping patterns, pollution, excess smoking, coffee and alcohol just to name a few. Excessive smoking and caffiene kills the collagen and elastin in your epidermis as well as suffocating the oxygen in your skin, creating wrinkles & hypersensitive skin.

For most of us our biggest fear is having wrinkles, so healthy, youthful skin is our goal! 

Here are 4 ways for you to have good skin:

1. Sunscreen SPF 50+ : It is very important to wear sunscreen every day! SPF 15+ is adequate for the day if you do not intend to go into the sun, but when going into the sun SPF 50+ is highly recommended. If no sunscreen is used it causes skin damage and wrinkles, as the UV rays starve the skin cells from oxygen. Best Product recommendation is: Avene` High Protection Mineral Cream SPF 50. 
2. Hydration : Drink water, water and more water!! Water is your lifesaver and will prevent and repair wrinkles. If you are drinking bottled water it is important to check the sodium level in your bottle, the lower the sodium the better it is for you! Tip: Add fresh lemon & fresh mint to your water bottle or glass, lemon & mint cleanses the skin from inside to out as it clears the toxins in your bodies & lemon especially quickens your metabolism creating healthier skin.
3. Antioxidants : Adding antioxidants to your daily diet protects your skin from inside to out, from the harsh environmental factors such as the sun and pollution. Foods such as blueberries, omega 3 & 6 (oily fish such as salmon & flaxseed oil), olives, carrots, onion, tomatoes. Although Green Tea is also high in antioxidants, it is less concerntrated than in food. Food has a higher concerntrate of antioxidants & releases into the skin quicker than the tea.
4. Cleansing :  Most of us are in a profession where we wear make up to work, especially flight attendants who have to wear it for long periods of the day or throught out the night or wear it on a night out or simply on a daily basis to cover. Cleansing is crucial! Your perfect cleansing routine is: 

• Make up Removal: remove your make up, using a product for sensitive skin and a seperate one for eyes and lips.
• Cleanse: use a mild face wash that suits your skin whether it's dry, oil, combination or normal, with warm water.
• Toner: using toner after you cleanse removes and dirt or make up you may have missed in the last 2 steps. Best to use an alcohol-free toner. Use morning and night.
• Exfoliate: It is not recommended to use a scrub or exfoliater every day, 1-2 times a week is ideal. Massage gently over your face and rinse with warm water.
• Mask: use 1-2 times a week. Masks can be used instead of a scrub or exfoliant.
• Antioxidant Concerntrate Serum: Not only eating antioxidants but adding a few drops and patting it on your skin helps to prevent aging.
• Moisturize: For oily skin use water-based products & for Dry Skin use Oil-based products. Make sure your moisturizer contains glycolic acid. Glycolic acid dissolves the fatty molecules that keep the dead dry skin cells on the surface of your skin. When it dissolves, the dead skin cells are washed away, leaving only the new radiant beautiful skin behind. Used in Moisturizer it is penetrated into the skin quicker, making it much mor effective than in other products.
• Sunscreen: Don't forget to put your sunscreen on! If you can find a moisturizer with sunscreen (recommended SPF50) included then that hits two birds with one stone. Otherwise apply sunscreen over your moisturizer.

Of course there are other factors to help the appearance and health of your skin besides these 4. Healthy diet, treatments & high concerntrated vitamin and omega 3+6 supplements, practicing de-stressing activities such as yoga also help greatly.

Recommended Treatments:

• Peels are recommended to be done - once a year.
• Diamond Micro-dermabrasion - once every 2 months
• Fractional C02 Laser - ask your cosmetic doctor for personal advice (it targets the skin deeply and stimulates collagen) 

Wishing you all the best with you skin routine & healthy youthful radiant skin for many years to come!