From Health magazine
Who says you have to spend a ton to pamper yourself? We found luxe stuff that won’t blow your bank account. View the slideshow.
Erase Your Age: Three Ways to Look Younger
Scientists in search of the Fountain of Youth share their findings. You can try these tricks today!
Rest up.
During deep sleep, your skin grows cells, builds proteins, and repairs damage from stress and sun. Aim for seven hours of zzz’s a night.
Drink up.
Hydrating from the inside out will keep skin firm and plump. Sneak in eight cups of water a day. Sip green tea at your desk, have soup for lunch, snack on some juicy watermelon (91% water) or crisp cucumber (95%).
Straighten up.
Rounded, hunched shoulders age you instantly. Here’s a one-minute refresher from Janice Novak, author of Posture: Get It Straight. Stand tall with knees soft (not locked). Inhale. Exhale, pulling your belly button back toward your spine. Lift the front of your rib cage an inch or two. Check that your ear, shoulder, hip, and ankle are all in alignment, and—voilà!—bye-bye hunchback.
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Is Your Body Giving Away Your Age?
A little line here, a sag or bag there—these telltale clues may make you look even older than you are.
Wimpy brows and lashes
Changing hormones can make eyebrows and lashes sparse. Years of over-tweezing damage the eyebrow follicles, making it harder for hairs to grow back.
A crepey neck
Nora Ephron isn’t the only woman in America who feels bad about her neck. Crepey skin leads to the dreaded “turkey neck.”
A good reason to wear gloves
A loss of collagen leads to less volume, making veins stand out more. Brown spots and other signs of sun damage begin to make their debut, too.
Sun-damaged chest
If you worship the sun, it’s going to show up over time as age spots and splotches on your delicate décolletage.
Elephant skin
Who wants elephant elbows or knees? Lax skin creates wrinkles, and dry, flaky patches tend to appear.
Next: Dull, thinning hair
How to Solve Dry, Sensitive Skin Issues at Any Age
From Health magazine
Even if your skin was once a total sport no matter what you subjected it to—harsh climates, ingredient-du-jour creams, even (God forbid!) tanning beds—times have likely changed. Chances are, at some point you’ve suffered from redness, itching, flaking, and stinging. Uncomfortable? No doubt. And, let’s face it, not so pretty, either.
Truth is, sensitivity—which affects 56% of us—increases with age. Skin becomes, on average, 10% drier each decade after the age of 20, according to Doris Day, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. And dryness and sensitivity are often intimately linked. “The cells that form your skin’s outermost layer work as a two-way barrier, keeping moisture in and the outside world out,” Dr. Day says.
The less moisture your skin retains, the weaker the cellular barrier and the more irritants that muscle their way in. It doesn’t help that, as we get older, we tend to add more—and more powerful—ingredients into our skin-care mix. Any one of these products may cause irritation, but used in concert, they’re all the more likely to do so.
There’s no need to toss all your antiaging products, though. These simple tweaks to your beauty routine should make your skin a whole lot more resilient. And whichever at-home measures you choose, see a dermatologist if irritation persists for more than a few weeks.
Next: Your skin-care routine, tweaked
A Lotion Loaded With Sun Protection And Vitamins
The new Olay Professional Pro-X Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30 ($42; drugstores nationwide) shields skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays while providing daily moisture.
Vitamin B3 and palmitoyl-peptides (wrinkle-fighting compounds like retinol) strengthen the outermost layer of the skin, and antioxidants like vitamins E and C fight free radicals that damage skin beneath its surface.
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Skin Softening Oils Rich in Omega-3 Fats
A new British Journal of Nutrition study suggests that flaxseed oil supplements can help moisturize your skin and reduce irritation from dryness. The oil is rich in omega-3 fats, which help fight inflammation and boost the health of cell membranes.
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True or False? Is Fish Oil Good for the Skin?
Q: I’ve heard fish oil supplements are good for the skin. True?
A: Absolutely. Fish oil contains two main types of omega-3 fatty acids: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). You’ve probably heard that both can help prevent heart disease. But DHA also keeps your brain functioning properly. And EPA benefits the skin by regulating oil production to boost hydration and prevent acne, and by delaying the skin’s aging process.
A 2005 study in the Journal of Lipid Research discovered that EPA can block the release of the UV-induced enzymes that eat away at collagen, causing lines and sagging skin. Because EPA is both an anti-inflammatory agent and an antioxidant, it can protect against sun damage and help repair it.
But most of us don’t get enough omega-3s in our diets—oily fish like herring, mackerel, salmon, anchovies, and tuna are the best sources—so taking a supplement is a good idea. Look for one containing 180 milligrams of EPA and 120 milligrams of DHA; and take one capsule with each meal, for a total of three per day. Try Barlean’s Organic Fish Oil ($24.99).
Feel-Good Getaway: Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
What it is:
An ultra-luxe but not ultra-expensive 7,000-acre resort and spa overlooking the Caribbean Sea that’s perfect for doing outdoor sports and vegging out.
What you’ll love:
- The spa. Unwind fast at the new Cygalle Healing Spa, where they whip up organic creams and scrubs customized for you, using ingredients like local tropical fruits, sea clay, and cane sugar.
- The beach. Sail on Hobie Cats and Sunfish, windsurf, paddleboat off pristine white-sand Las Minitas Beach, or nap under one of the many umbrellas and shade tents.
- The activities. Take a soul-reviving swim in the pool that overlooks the Chavón River. Play tennis perched above the sea. Or go horseback riding around the property’s lush tropical grounds.
Details:
800-877-3643
www.casadecampo.com.do
Rooms start at $285 per night through April 12; all-inclusive rates from $292 per person per night through April 12.
How to Get Really Gorgeous Skin
From Health magazine
You can fix age spots, stretch marks, varicose veins, and other unsightly spots. Here’s how. Read More
Previous Skin and Anti-Aging Stories
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Love it, Fear it: Tanning Beds
01/04/2009 - Sun Protection -
Fight Wrinkles With Herbs
01/04/2009 - Skincare -
Gorgeous in the Bath: Top Spa Tricks for Your Tub
12/24/2008 - Spa Living -
How to Set a Spa Mood
12/24/2008 - Spa Living -
Your Winter Facial: Defend Your Skin Against the Elements
12/24/2008 - Spa Living -
Wipe Away Wrinkles With New Makeup Remover
11/21/2008 - Skincare -
Slideshow: Your Secret Dry Spots Uncovered!
10/19/2008 - Skincare
