Monthly Archives: July 2015

A Little History On Sunscreen & How It Should Be Used

A lot of people might remember this when they were young: their mom or dad slathering Coppertone brand sunscreen all over their already-burned back, stomach, legs, arms, and face. Also, (for those of you who don’t know) sunscreen was not viewed as much as a necessity as it is today. This might sound shocking, but it was only something parents would put on their children until society finally realized how the sun’s UV rays caused skin damage, aging, and then cancer.

Since the realization of how important sunscreen is and the introduction of the sun protection factor (SPF), many people across the world are applying sunscreen daily. However, just “applying sunscreen” is not the only way you can protect your skin from the sun.

Applying sunscreen is one thing, but knowing when you should and how often to apply it is another.

According to HowStuffWorks.com, everyone should be applying sunscreen at least a half an hour before they step into the sun. Also, for those of you who have fairer and lighter skin, they also suggest applying some sunscreen before you go to bed the previous night. If you apply it the night before, the sunscreen will be thoroughly absorbed into the outer layer of your skin. However, make sure to get up and apply more (if you have fair skin) so that you are protected as much as possible.

How often should you reapply sunscreen?

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and even more if you are swimming and sweating.

Don’t let the weather fool you, you can still get burned when it’s cold.

It’s a cloudy and cool day on an early May afternoon. You are outside planting flowers and bulbs, pulling weeds and trimming the hedges. Do you need sunscreen? Yes! Even though it’s cloudy, ultraviolet light is not repressed by the clouds.

Also, (especially for those of you who ski) do not let the cold snow fool you. Even though the sun is it a lower angle in the winter, ultraviolet light easily reflects off the white snow and can cause sun damage.

Cover up and wear lighter clothing in the sun.

Aside from applying sunscreen before bed and 30 minutes before you go outside, something else you can do is cover up. Also, wear lighter clothing in the sun. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, darker clothing and tightly woven fabrics/materials absorb UV rays quickly. Last but not least, after you take a dip in the pool or walk out of the ocean, grab a towel and dry off. A dryer bathing suit will offer more protection than a damp suit.

Inevitably, there are many things that you can do to protect yourself from the sun. However, the best thing you can do is ALWAYS apply sunscreen. Sunscreens that have been proven to help protect skin will prove the most valuable. In fact, if you want to buy natural skin care products that will keep you protected, Shira Esthetics has plenty.

3 Tips To Help Keep Your Skin Looking Great In the Springtime

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After a cold, windy and dry winter season comes to an end, many people do not realize how much their skin has taken a beating. Since springtime is a season of new beginnings, this is the perfect time to pamper your skin so that it gets back to the way it should. Therefore, what follows are three tips on how to get and keep your skin looking great just in time for spring!

Find the right facial cleanser and exfoliate.

Before you start hoarding moisturizers, the first thing you need to do in order to help remedy any leftover winter skin issues—such as dryness—is to exfoliate. If you skip doing this, or just do not exfoliate in general, your skin will continue to look dry and dull just as it did in the winter. After all, the point of exfoliating is to get rid of all of the dead skin cells.

Exfoliating a few times a week with an organic/natural scrub like our Shir-Organic Pura AHA Treatment Scrub will have you well on your way to revitalizing your skin so that it looks its best for spring!

Get your hands on the appropriate springtime moisturizer.

Sometimes, what moisturizer you used in the winter will not be ideal for the spring season. Many winter moisturizers are thick, and when the heat and humidity finally do arrive, they have the potential to cause breakouts as well as clog your pores. Also, being that your skin has probably suffered due to a withdrawal of vitamins and antioxidants, you should no doubt be choosing a moisturizer that contains both. One particular product that we at Shira Esthetics have is our Shir-Organic Pure Apricot Moisturizer that is ideal for those with normal or dry skin. Not only will this product nourish your skin, but it has Vitamins E & A. If you want your skin to feel revitalized, this is one moisturizer that we highly suggest you try.

Keep your skin protected with sunscreen.

At Shira Esthetics, we are all about guaranteeing that our customers have anything and everything possible to ensure that their skin is protected. One thing that comes along with spring is more sun. For those of you who spend more time outdoors, you might want to consider something to provide your skin with some protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Using what we call a broad spectrum sunscreen—like our Solar Energy Sun Care SPF 30, you will have the means to prevent the sun from doing any excessive amount of harm to your skin.

A product such as this can also be applied with our without any makeup and is absorbed quickly!

No matter where you are, or how the weather is, it can affect your skin. Therefore, it is important to realize the importance of using the right skin care products during the different seasons of the year.

If you would like more information as to how our products can help you at certain times throughout the year, please feel free to reach out to us!

3 Tips On How To Keep Your Skin Healthy At Any Age

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Unfortunately, as you age your skin starts to show how well, or not well, you took care of it over the years. Also, even though you spend your time shielding yourself from the sun other things can affect it such as your daily diet, how often you exercise, how much sleep you get, and how much stress you are under. For women, pregnancy is also something that affects their skin tone. However, there are many things you can do in order to keep your skin healthy and under control as you move through life.

Sitting in front of a computer all day? Make it a point to exercise 3-5 times a week.

How can exercising help your skin? Well, a part from exercising your muscles, working out intensifies your blood flow and thus increases how much your skin is nourished. According to WebMD, this increased blood flow also helps remove some waste products—such as free radicals, from healthy cells within your body.

Also, those who work in an industry that requires that they sit down all day in front of a computer should make it a point to exercise. When you are sitting for long periods of time the harder it will be for your blood to circulate, and thus bring those much-needed nutrients to all parts of your body—including your skin. Therefore, again, one way to remedy this is by getting into a daily exercise routine. If you make it a point to exercise 3-5 times a week, you will not only feel refreshed, but it will also lead to increased collagen creation that will then attribute to stronger and smoother skin. Last but not least, taking the time to stretch before a workout or at the beginning of the day will also allow your body to circulate more nutrients.

We all know your diet affects your weight, but it also affects your skin. So, eat properly.

There is no doubt about it—everything you put in your mouth affects your skin. However, it’s more than just about eating healthy—it’s about eating properly and not starving yourself. Therefore, be weary of some diet “plans” out there. You want to have a proper diet that consists of lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Inevitably, there are many diets out there—it’s just a matter of whether or not your body is getting the nutrients that it needs from all of the RIGHT foods.

Get a steady amount of sleep each night. Lack of sleep will inhibit your immune system from doing its job.

Getting the proper amount of sleep not only makes you feel less tired, it also strengthens your immune system. According to WebMD, those who do not get the right amount of sleep each night and are constantly putting their bodies under a lot of stress have a higher chance of getting sick. You can even develop certain skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Also, not to mention loss of sleep also means that those fine lines can show up sooner rather than later!

There are many ways to keep your skin looking healthy as you age. If you have a healthy lifestyle overall, sometimes it can be something as simple as buying the right acne cream, skin moisturizers, or cleansers to help maintain your skin as you get older.

When looking buy acne cream online turn to Shira Esthetics. At Shira, we provide the most natural and top-of-the-line skin care products. To hear more about our products, as well as other skin care tips, please feel free to reach out to us today.

4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Sunscreen

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We all know the main reason you should wear sunscreen—you won’t get burnt! But, there are also many other reasons why you should… Many of these reasons should be obvious to people concerned with their skin, but they might not be for those who are left wondering why they keep getting freckles!

Reason #1 – The ozone layer is wasting away, and you need protection!

What is this ozone layer everyone keeps talking about? If you didn’t know, the “ozone layer” is what prohibits the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays (radiation) from damaging the earth and its inhabitants. But, because of the amount of pollution in the air these days, the ozone layer is deteriorating. Therefore, being that the earth’s natural defense against radiation is depleting, people need to turn to another form of defense—sunscreen.

Reason #2 – Skin cancer rates are higher than they have ever been before!

Because the ozone layer is depleting, this means that there is an increased risk of skin cancer. Also, just because cancer does not run in your family, that doesn’t mean you cannot get cancer. In fact, one article we found stated that since 2000, melanoma cases found in both men and women have been in increasing by an average of 1.5% every year! The fact of the matter is that if you spend time in the sun and want to lessen your chance of having skin cancer, apply sunscreen every few hours!

Reason #3 – Fewer freckles, and less skin discoloration.

Have you ever wondered why you have more freckles on your skin after getting out of a tanning booth or after spending a day in the sun at the beach? If you spend a lot of time out in the sun without any sunscreen, you will get freckles. Freckles, which are created by cells called “melanocytes,” are produced as a byproduct from these cells attempting to protect you from sun damage. So, imagine when you expose your skin to ultraviolet rays without sunscreen? Your body will produce more melanocytes, and thus more freckles will appear. If you don’t like the freckles you have already, wearing sunscreen will help you prevent them from forming!

Reason #4 – It prevents premature aging!

If you didn’t know that sunscreen can help prevent premature aging, we are shocked! Getting older is inevitable, but using sunscreen will prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles, lines, and loss of elasticity. At Shira Esthetics, we have plenty of products that will help prevent premature aging, and many of them are not just sunscreens, they hydrate your skin. Because, after all, keeping your skin hydrated is extremely important!

There are many reasons why you should wear sunscreen. However, finding the right sunscreen to apply is just as equally as important. Not one person’s skin is the same, and it is imperative to test the waters to find the best one that works for you. If you have any questions about our sunscreen or skin care products, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.