Enviromental Pollutants: Wash Your Face. Wear SPF.

Lately, three things have come up that kinda blow my mind. And I suppose it’s not that hard to guess why these things would blow my mind when you factor in that I’m a licensed esthetician.

1) People aren’t washing their faces.

2) Some of the people who do wash their faces only wash it in the morning.

3) People aren’t wearing SPF on a daily basis.

Sorry. That is just not a very kind, or healthy, way to treat your skin.

You’ve heard it before. Your skin is your largest organ. It is your first line of defense against invading organisms that want to cause you harm. It protects your inner organs. It even has it’s own immune system.

Yes, your skin plays a really important role in keeping you healthy. So why would you neglect it?

In order for skin to be in optimal condition, radiate good health, serve you well and look great for many years to come, it needs to be cared for. Even if one does nothing else for their skin (no facials, no microcurrent, no serums, no moisturizer), washing, in my opinion, is non-negotiable. Washing must be done. And SPF, that also must be done, unless you prefer to age your skin prematurely and run the risk of skin cancer.

Maybe if people knew that the environmental toxins they come in contact with everyday affects their skin dramatically, people would be more inclined to take just simple washing and protecting of the face as a ‘must do’.

Possibly people don’t realize that things like exhaust fumes, smoke (yes, even second hand), and dust cling to your skin and can make it feel irritated or grimy. But that’s just for starters.

Over time those things can weaken your skin’s natural barrier. How? Your skin absorbs exhaust, smoke and dust. Once absorbed, they go to work on your skin’s immune system. This can lead to problems like eczema, psoriasis, acne, poor skin texture, poor skin tone and poor color. Did I mention loss of elasticity? That, too.

Your skin absorbs UV radiation from the sun everyday, too. This speeds aging exponentially. Aside from keeping your skin clean, you need SPF. Daily.

SPF actually serves two purposes. It creates a barrier that helps keep exhaust fumes, smoke and dust from entering your skin, and it blocks UV radiation. Be sure to use one that is chemical free, all those chemical sun protection products are not only bad for your skin, they are killing our coral reefs and harming our oceans eco systems.

And you know what? Hawaii is initiating a ban on certain chemical SPF ingredients. They don’t want you swimming in their waters and destroying the delicate balance that must exist in order to maintain coral reefs and other sensitive sea life.

And it’s not just Hawaiian waters…

As for your skin, chemical sun protection products don’t repel UV, they absorb it and neutralize it in the layers of your skin, causing damage to your DNA. You won’t burn, but you’ll visibly age faster and be prone to skin irregularities that can lead to skin cancer.

So back to washing your face. You must. And twice a day is best. Especially if you are oily or acne prone.

Now, having said that, what you wash your face with is really important. Your cleanser should be gentle and not strip your skin. If your skin feels tight after washing and patting dry, you have the wrong cleanser. It’s leaving your skin unbalanced. I have some great choices for cleansers, and SPF that you can purchase in my online store.

Now for those of you who only want to wash your face once a day (yes, I know you are out there, I’ve even heard it from my clients, unfortunately), wash at night! Please, please don’t allow the day’s junk to sit on, and eventually in, your skin! Don’t sleep with makeup on either.

Not washing off makeup and environmental toxins and pollution will age your skin.

I know I say that a lot. But it’s so simple. A couple minutes morning and evening can make a huge difference in the way your skin ages. So can applying SPF daily.

There are many other things you can do to boost the health and strength of your skin that will also slow the aging process. And I highly recommend you do those things, too. But today we are just talking about the absolute minimum, basic things you need to do.

Wash your face!! Wear SPF!

Don’t believe me? Compare the skin on your face with the skin on your behind, an area that is protected by the covering of clothing daily (a great SPF!), and I’m assuming you do wash your bod, that area. See what I mean? It’s smoother and prettier skin than on other exposed or un-washed daily areas. Like your face…

Are you in Oconomwoc, WI? Book your appointment here, I’d love to meet you!

Do you have friends, family or co-workers who would be interested in reading this? Please do share!

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