Let me start by asking you just a couple questions.

Do you use skin care?

Did you know that the skin is the largest, functioning organ in our bodies?

If you answered NO to either of those questions, let me tell you why your answer should be YES!

Skin care is vital to protecting and preserving your skin. The more abuse that your skin receives; the less that it can protect you. One of the main ways to take care of your skin is to keep it hydrated and maintain its elasticity. You can do this with moisturizes, but it is not safe to just use any product to do this.

On another post of mine, I have information about products that we use everyday, and I found out after joining Arbonne that those products are horrible for your skin.  To view this post, click HERE (link will open in a new window). It is very important that you see what some of the well known products contain that do harm to your skin.

Now, let me give you some facts that you probably did not know about your skin.  Some you may be familiar with, but others were a surprise to me!

• 90% of all visual signs of aging are caused by exposure to the sun.
• 10% of all visual signs of aging are caused by genetics and heredity.

These are pretty well known.  Now let me tell you what I learned while doing my Arbonne University modules!

• Our bodies are covered in approx. 18 square feet of skin that weighs between 5 and 8 pounds.
• Our skin is composed of lipids, sebum, and sweat.  These three elements help to protect us from the environment and damage to our skin.
• The skin’s role as an organ is to protect us, regulate the temperature of our body, feel sensations, and secrete toxins from our body.
• Thicker and Darker skin is less likely to have skin problems because of the moisture that thick skin holds and the melanin that is contained in darker skin.
• Thin skin is the start of problems arising with your skin because of the lack of moisture (and to keep the skin moisturized) which causes a decrease in collagen and elastin.
• Every 10 years, your skin thickness decreases 10%.
• Between the ages of 20-80, collagen and elastin production decreases 65%.

Shocking information, isn’t it?  Well let me tell you a little bit more…

Do you remember me saying that we have approx.  18 square feet of skin? How about if I tell you what each square inch of your skin contains?

• 65 Hairs
• 95-100 sebaceous glands
• 78 yards of nerves
• 20 yards of blood vessels
• 650 sweat glands
• 9,500,000 cells
• 1,300 nerve endings that record pain
• 19,500 sensory cells
• 78 sensory apparatuses to record heat
• 13 sensory apparatuses to record cold

That is just per square inch!  Now multiply that times 18!  That is a lot of important features that we do not think to protect.  This is why I say that our skin is our best and most important organ.  Without it, what would hold us together as a person?

Now let’s talk about our time line!  When does all the aging start to occur?  Would you believe it starts in our 20’s?!?

•  In your 20’s — You start seeing signs of aging around your eyes and lips from repetitive movements, like smiling, laughing, smoking, etc.
• In your 30’s — Your skin is less resilient because your elastin starts to decrease (remember every 10 years), and gravity starts to take hold.
• In your 40’s — Elastin goes away, and your skin starts losing its memory.
• In your 50’s — Gravity decreases collagen and elastin, and your skin and muscles start to sag. (Ears will elongate and face becomes longer)

Does that scare you like it did me when I heard it?  That information has inspired me to start now and fix what I haven’t been doing to take care of my skin to this point, and I am 31 years old!  I should have started 11 years ago, but I didn’t know!  Did you know how soon aging begins?  I know that 11 years ago that I thought I would be young forever LOL.
Arbonne has taught me so much that I honestly did not know about skin care and more. If you would like to know more about your skin and what Arbonne’s heritage and mission is all about, let me know!  Our skin is so important, and you should know what this company has done to make sure we treat ourselves and our skin to some pure, safe, and beneficial skin care.

I have been an Independent Arbonne International Consultant since January, and I love my job! If you want to learn more about my job, post me a comment and let me know!

Thanks for reading, and let me know if I can help you save your skin from actinic and intrinsic signs of aging today!

 1.)  Wash your face daily. Do not go to bed without removing your makeup.

 

WHY?  Your face should be washed in the morning because generally people use a heavier cream at night and if this is not cleansed off in the morning, you may appear more oily throughout the day. It should be washed at night as well because things like dust, dirt and pollution collect on your skin throughout the day. Night is when your skin cells regenerate the most. If you do not remove your makeup, your skin will not regenerate itself as well.

 

2.)   Always cleanse with a double cleanse.

 

WHY?  The first cleanse works to remove dirt, debris and makeup residue. It isn’t until the second cleanse that your pores are really clean.

 

3.)   Drink plenty of water.

 

WHY?  Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? Lack of water is the number one cause of daytime fatigue. The body and skin rely heavily on water to function properly. Water keeps the skin healthy, vital and attractive, in addition to aiding in many body functions. An easy formula to determine how much water you need daily is to take your body weight and divide by 2. That number, in ounces, is how much you should drink each day. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you would need to drink 80 ounces (ten 8 oz. glasses) of water daily.

 

4.)  Always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days.

 

WHY?  Because UVA rays (aging rays) weaken the skins collagen and elastin fibers, causing wrinkling and sagging. These rays can penetrate glass, water and clothing. Because UVA rays make up 90 -95 % of the sun’s UV rays, you can be sure they are getting through even on cloudy days.

 

5.)  Take care of yourself from the inside out.

 

WHY?  Healthy skin begins with diet and water intake. It really is true that “You are what you eat.” Vitamins aid in healing, softening and fighting diseases of the skin. A good place to start is with Arbonne’s Smart Nutritional Hybrids, Figure 8 and our REsist Essential Fatty Acid Anti-Aging Supplement.

 

6.)  Be sure to eliminate regularly.

 

WHY? Because potentially harmful toxins and waste trapped in your body will manifest themselves in your skin. Not to mention it can lead to poor digestion and illness. Herbal Colon Cleanse and Arbonne’s Just Go! Fiber Shake coupled with plenty of water can really help.

 

7.)  Don’t use overly hot water to wash your face.

 

WHY?  Because hot water can irritate sensitive skin. It can also change the pH of your skin.

 

8.)  Be sure to exfoliate regularly. This means your body as well as your face.

 

WHY?  Because removing dead skin cell layers from the surface of the skin can treat a variety of problems. Exfoliating regularly helps keep your skin smooth. Also, it will ensure your skin care products work effectively as they will be working on the epidermis rather than on the layer of dead skin cells at the surface of the skin. But be careful, too much exfoliation or too rough exfoliation can lead to irritation.

 

9.)  When cleansing or applying products, always remember to go up and out. 

 

WHY?  Because your skin naturally sags as you age, there is no reason to help it along by pulling down on your facial muscles. Moving up and out will help keep your skin firm.

 

10.) Don’t pick at acne lesions.

 

WHY?  Because if the comedone is closed and you squeeze it, it will force the bacteria down into the dermis. The dermis is sterile, so it will spit it back out, often in a much larger area. If it is open, warm compresses will help open the pore and clay masque’s will help clean it out. Be gentle. Force will make it spread and could lead to bruising.

 

11.)  Avoid strss and strive to learn healthy ways to handle stess.

 

WHY?  Because stress plays a major part in our health, which will be reflected by our skin’s appearance. It can lead to increased sebum production. Usually we discover this is true right before a big event when we want to look our best.  Strive to create a stress free environment and life. Taking daily walks help to clear your mind. Make regular trips to the spa for facials and other body treatments. Pamper yourself at home too. Arbonne has a wide selection of aromatherapy and holiday spa products. In our busy lives, we often neglect ourselves. This is counterproductive because if we don’t take care of ourselves, we’ll be ill equipped to take care of others in our life who need us. Be good to yourself!  

 

 

 

12.)  Keep your hormone levels in check.

 

WHY?  Hormone imbalances can lead to many skin problems, including sensitivity, dehydration, acne, hyperpigmentation and microcirculation problems. Two great products to help balance your hormones is Arbonne’s Prolief & Phyto Prolief Natural Balancing Creams.

 

I hope you were able to take a few pointers away with you!

 

Source:  Jesse Rose Harris, Licensed Esthetician

I have been an Arbonne consultant since January, and I am learning so much about skin care and the products I USED to use. I found this article on a fellow Arbonne International consultant’s website. It is really a NEED to KNOW bit of information!

MINERAL OIL

A mixture of refined liquid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, mineral oil is the stabilizing ingredient of many skin formulas. Mineral oil forms a film on the skin, blocking the pores and interfering with normal skin respiration. It may,
therefore, not only dry the skin, but be a contributing cause of blemishes.

PETROLEUM
Petroleum products such as vaseline, etc. do not penetrate (PETROL ATUM) the skin, but sit on the surface blocking natural respiration, excretion and absorption of other nutrients.

BEESWAX
Beeswax is a sticky sealant. It attracts pollutants, dirt and bacteria and glues them onto the skin as it seals the pores.

SOLVENT
Many skin care products contain solvent alcohol in the ALCOHOL
form of propyl, isopropyl (petroleum derivatives or SD alcohol-specially denatured ethyl alcohol). These alcohols are very drying to the skin.

LANOLIN
An oily excretion of sheep, lanolin is a common lubricating ingredient in skin formulas. Extracted from the wool, lanolin has been indicated as a cause of allergic skin reactions in sensitive people.

COLLAGEN
An animal product, collagen is added to cosmetics as a moisturizing agent. Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin and can therefore clog pores, and in some cases cause allergic reactions.

ARTIFICIAL
Formulated chemically from a wide variety of sources.

COLORS
Artificial colors are known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

FRAGRANCES
Chemical fragrances have been known to create skin reactions and photosensitivity in some people.

ANIMAL
Animal products are not used in Arbonne Skin Care. Arbonne is cruelty free.

Did you learn anything new? Check your products in your household and see what they have in them. You would be surprised!

Source: http://www.thewiserway.com/html/better-choice.html