TASTY

Watermelon can be used both internally and externally for its beauty benefits. It can benefit both the skin and the whole body with the vitamins and nutrients it provides as well as providing a delicious and handy method of hydration. Watermelon is best eaten and used during the summer, when it is fresh and plentiful. Here are a few of the beauty benefits of watermelon.

• Watermelon is a natural toner. Watermelon is naturally slightly astringent and may be used to benefit your skin’s appearance. Watermelon juice can be mixed with honey for use on dry skin, or with witch hazel for oily skin, or even used by itself as a simple, natural toner. Simply dip a cotton pad in the solution or the pure juice and wipe over your face and neck after cleansing. This will ensure all the cleanser is wiped away and will also help to exfoliate, refresh and tighten your skin. Watermelon juice or pulp can also be added to homemade face masks.

• Watermelon is a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as the vitamins C and A and the lycopene found in watermelon, are powerful tools against the visible signs of aging. Watermelon is one of the few sources of lycopene, which is a red pigment also found in tomatoes. Free radicals are particles with unpaired electrons that can cause damage to the body and diseases such as cancer, arthritis, asthma and heart disease. Free radicals are also considered responsible for many of the visible signs of aging. Fine lines, wrinkles and age spots can all result from free radicals, which are increased by sun exposure, smoking and alcohol consumption. Antioxidants can help to mop up free radicals, lessening the damage they can do, as well as potentially reversing some of the damage already done to the skin.

• Watermelon is a source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for several reasons, including the support of healthy vision and bones. However, eating enough vitamin A is also vital to the health and vitality of the skin. Vitamin A may help to reduce the amount of oil secreted by skin and reduce pore size.

• Watermelon is a low-calorie food. Watermelon is a sweet food that is filling, yet low in calories. It makes an excellent alternative to high calorie treats, or foods high in fat or salt that can lead to bloating and obesity. Eating watermelon rather than these foods will help you to lose weight. Watermelon is also a natural diuretic, so it is an excellent means to flush out toxins in the body and reduce bloating.

• Watermelon is mostly water. Watermelon can help you to keep hydrated during the summer months. Drinking enough water can be difficult and it is easier to eat a few slices of tasty watermelon. Watermelon has many different potential roles in beauty enhancement. Use watermelon on your skin to help create a healthy look, or eat watermelon slices to hydrate and nourish your body.

REGENERATE

Shiseido
Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream ($130.00, shiseido.com)

PRODUCT 101: A restorative eye and lip cream that improves signs of aging. This luxuriously hydrating eye and lip treatment is formulated with Shisedo’s Form Support Veil to visibly diminish the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, and sagging around the delicate eye and lip areas. Regular use leaves skin with a velvety radiance.

What else you need to know:
Shisedo brings together centuries of Japanese wisdom with the latest advancements in skincare to bring you the future of beautiful skin. The Future Solution LX collection of products delivers powerful formulations in rich textures for incomparable results. Each product contains Skingenecell 1P, a breakthrough in age-defying skincare that increases skin’s smoothness and firmness, while reducing signs of damage, stress, and age.

SUPPLE

Shiseido
Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Night Cream ($55.00, shiseido.com)

PRODUCT 101: An age-defense nighttime moisturizer. This moisturizer creates a visible reduction in the appearance of existing wrinkles, intensively addressing lines before they become more serious. Its advanced formula works while you sleep to promote a silky-smooth skin texture by morning.

What else you need to know:
Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 is a complete line of skincare products that targets every step of wrinkle formation. Each product contains a breakthrough ingredient, mukurossi extract, which directly inhibits the activity of a wrinkle-triggering enzyme. Skin is made resistant to future signs of aging while existing wrinkles are visibly improved.

PREVENTION

Shiseido
Urban Environment UV Protection Cream SPF 40 ($30.00, shiseido.com)

PRODUCT 101: A feather-light daily sunscreen that provides exceptional hydration while protecting against external aggressors such as UV rays, dryness and air pollution for beautiful, healthy-looking skin. Exceptionally powerful formula effectively protects skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays that cause photo-aging. Hydro-Restoring Complex contains moisturizing amino acids that naturally exist in skin. Provides long-lasting moisture for skin that is smooth to the touch. Scutellaria Baicalensis helps prevent UV damage to essential fibroblasts which produce collagen and elastin, the key elements to resilient, youthful-looking skin. Rose Apple Leaf Extract counteracts oxidation, the process which accelerates skin aging, and helps prevent DNA damage caused by UV rays. Invisible on skin. Can be used as a makeup base for a beautiful foundation finish. Easily removes with daily cleanser.

PURIFY

Nars Cosmetics
Makeup Removing Water ($28.00, narscosmetics.com)

PRODUCT 101: A soap-free, oil-free, and alcohol-free water that removes face makeup and tones the skin. It gently, yet thoroughly sweeps makeup away without rubbing while soothing botanical ingredients hydrate and add radiance. The result: purified and toned skin. Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist-tested. Ophthalmologist-tested.

SILKY SMOOTH

Shiseido
Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Day Cream SPF 15 PA++ ($52.00, shiseido.com)

PRODUCT 101: An age-defying daytime moisturizer that helps protect skin from damage caused by external aging factors such as UV rays. This product provides skin with an intensive emulsion of hydration and powerful antiaging ingredients. It addresses lines and wrinkles before they become more serious while promoting a skin texture that’s silky smooth. Apply this cream daily to shield skin against environmental aggressors and a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB radiation.

What else you need to know:
Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 is a complete line of skincare products that targets every step of wrinkle formation. Each product contains a breakthrough ingredient, mukurossi extract, which directly inhibits the activity of a wrinkle-triggering enzyme. Skin is made resistant to future signs of aging while existing wrinkles are visibly improved.

FACIAL MASKS

Facial masks are more than just silly tricks to get your “beauty rest”. Facial masks are a great way to condition, clean or treat the skin. With the variety of facial masks you can apply to your skin, anyone can use them for a multitude of benefits. They are an important part of skin care. It is recommended that you use a facial mask at least once a week. A weekly facial mask session cannot only help your skin receive moisture, but it can also ease skin disorders, though it is not necessary to go overboard and wear one every night.

The type of mask you can use depends on skin condition. Oily skin gets a great benefit out of mud or clay masks, because the ingredients cleanse impurities causing acne. Masks that contain alpha-hydroxy acids act to exfoliate, cleaning away dead skin cells, and hydrating masks are made with anything from glycerin to aromatherapy oils.

Masks from green tea help calm irritated skin, especially after a deep cleansing facial. Facial masks are usually left on for no more than 20 minutes, and rinsed off with warm water. After rinsing the facial mask off, apply a thin layer of moisturizer to your face that works best with your skin type.

Shiseido
Purifying Mask ($27.00, shiseido.com)
PRODUCT 101: A creamy, rinse-off facial mask formulated with Marine Mineral Clay to absorb dulling surface sebum and impurities and leave skin visibly refined and refreshed. Reveals radiant new skin for a more youthful look. Contains a unique combination of highly-porous Marine Mineral Clay, kaolin, and powder ingredients to absorb surface sebum and impurities and minimize the appearance of pores.

Shiseido
Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalizing Face Mask ($62.00, shiseido.com)
PRODUCT 101: A concentrated treatment that targets fine lines and wrinkles as it saturates skin with moisture. Restore youthful suppleness and radiance with a single application of this vitality-enhancing complex. Suitable for all skin types, this advanced formula features Shiseido-original Pure Liquid Retinol and anti-photowrinkle system with Chlorella plant extract.

HERE COMES THE SUN

SUMMER HEAT WAVES: ARE YOU GETTING ALL THE FACTS?

There are three kinds of dangerous rays. UVB, or “burning,” rays are the primary cause of skin cancer and are the most intense in summer. UVA, or “aging,” rays pose a risk in any season and penetrate deeper into the skin, causing wrinkles, sagging, sunspots and cancer. A third kind of light, infrared radiation (IR), can also cause both premature aging and cancer. To protect yourself from all three, you must wear sunscreen every single day, even when it’s cloudy. It may sound like a chore, but once you’ve become an expert on everything from SPF to the powers of vitamin C, safeguarding your skin will, and should become second nature.

How long can you stay in the sun without burning? Do the math. Multiply the SPF number on the label by the number of minutes it takes you to start burning without protection. For example, if you start to burn after ten minutes of exposure, SPF 15 has been shown in lab tests to protect you for 150 minutes. If you burn in five minutes, SPF 15 will shield you for 75 minutes. As SPFs go beyond 30, the effectiveness is less dramatic, but since most people don’t apply as much as they should, a higher SPF is always a safe bet.

SCREEN SAVERS:
• Do not burn. Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.

• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

• Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.

• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.

THE MIRACLE VITAMIN

The purest and most active form of Vitamin A. Retinol aids in the resurfacing and rejuvenating of skin, helping to impart a clearer, more vibrant complexion for all ages and skin types.

• Retinol is another name for vitamin A, one of the most important vitamins for the appearance of your skin. It plays an important role in anti-aging skin care.

• Retinol belongs to the family of chemical compounds known as retinoids, and is particularly effective due to its small molecular structure. This allows for penetration deep beneath the skin and promotes cellular renewal.

• Retinol has the ability to smooth wrinkles and lines. It also increases moisture and elasticity and assists the skin in repairing itself. Retinol is acknowledged as a powerful antioxidant that assists in creating stronger, healthier skin cells and increases the amount of skin-support substances.

• Retinol products are an important component in any quality skin care regimen and for those looking to maintain a youthful glow.

Shiseido
Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask ($62.00, shiseido.com)
PRODUCT 101: A concentrated under-eye treatment sheet mask for all skin types. Developed with Shiseido exclusive Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, this complex is designed to visibly improve fine lines, crow’s feet, and uneven texture, in just 15 minutes. It can also be used around the lips for exceptional smoothing benefits.

Philosophy
Help Me ($45.00, philosophy.com)
PRODUCT 101: An advanced, age-fighting night treatment featuring time-released retinol. This winner of Allure magazine’s editor’s choice “Best of Beauty” award for best antiaging treatment helps keep pores clean and minimized, reduces wrinkles and discoloration, and boosts tone and firmness. It delivers the key ingredient, retinol, through encapsulated microsponge technology, which offers stability for gradual release into the skin. The time-release innovation, along with a soothing dose of bisabolol, increases efficacy and helps prevent irritation.

BURN, BABY, BURN!

ARE TANNING SALONS SAFE?

No! No! No! Tanning beds are extremely dangerous. Studies have shown that they increase the risk of cancer. Tanning lights mainly contain UVA and sometimes also UVB rays. Both those wavelengths can contribute to melanoma and the intensity of energy from light bulbs is many times stronger than natural light.

Tanning is also skin damage! Although skin cancer has been associated with UVB radiation and sunburns, scientists say that even tanning in moderation produces the same harmful effects, as would a burn. Tanning causes premature aging, causing the skin to appear leathery and wrinkled, and also damages the immune system. So think twice, before you lather up your activating tanning gel! Is is worth sacrificing your health and beauty for a semi-permanent color?

EYE BELIEVE IN YOU

HOW TO DIMINISH PUFFINESS AND DARK CIRCLES

What ages you most? Surprisingly, it might not be wrinkles or gray hair but dark circles under your eyes. Although dark circles under eyes usually aren’t a sign of exhaustion or serious illness, they can make you feel old, unhealthy and exhausted, and most of us have experienced the “raccoon eyes.”

Handle with care. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the body. The many blood vessels in this area can show through the delicate skin, contributing to the appearance of dark under eye circles, especially if the vessels become dilated. Fat pads surround the eyes, and the muscles that enclose the upper and lower eyelids hold the fat pads (and skin) in place. As we age, skin and muscle lose elasticity, which can result in sagging around the eyes. With this known fact, as a makeup artist and avid beauty addict, I stress out the importance of a proper rigid eye care system to almost everyone that I encounter. I will always go out of my way to get my eye cream fix.

Puffiness under the eyes occurs when you retain water and your under eye tissue swells. Dark circles indicate blood vessels or hereditary pigment. To reduce puffiness, look for an eye cream containing caffeine, which causes blood vessels to temporarily constrict, or shrink. You should also avoid salt and drink plenty of water. For a quick at-home fix, apply cool compresses (tea bags soaked in ice water or cucumber slices work well) and rest with your head elevated for as little as 15 minutes or as long as overnight. To lighten dark areas, use a cream containing hydroquinone or kojic acid; both brighten hyper-pigmented skin. To cosmetically improve the appearance of dark circles, apply eye cream that contain mica or light-diffusing particles to make the skin seem lighter and brighter, if necessary, follow with concealer.

Shiseido
Benefiance Concentrated Anti Wrinkle Eye Cream ($50.00, shiseido.com)
PRODUCT 101: An ultra-rich, age-defense eye cream that protects skin from dehydration and dramatically minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines to promote a youthfully smooth, radiant look. Developed with Shiseido-exclusive Anti-Photowrinkle System, consisting of plant extract chlorella to counteract the appearance of future wrinkles. Recommended for dry and very dry skin. Pat around eye area, morning and night, as last step of skincare routine.

Murad
Lighten and Brighten Eye Treatment ($75.00, murad.com)
PRODUCT 101: A patented, triple-action formula targets the signs of environmental damage around the eye area. Scientifically proven to fight multiple signs of distress around the delicate eye area by lightening dark under eye circles and diminishing under eye bags and puffiness. Clinical testing has shown that using this product lightens dark under eye circles by an average of 59% and diminishes under eye bags and puffiness by up to 50%.

LOOK YOUNGER

STEPS TO AGING WELL

1. Consume enough calories. With too few calories in your diet, the appearance of skin, hair and posture can suffer. In particular, foods rich in antioxidants, like berries, leafy greens and soy products, and those with omega-3 fatty acids, such as certain fish (salmon and sardines), olive oil and some nuts, may help ward off wrinkles.

2. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. They contain antioxidants, which fend off free radicals. (Free radicals build up in the body through daily living, are increased by pollution, smoking and sunlight, and breakdown cell membranes, contributing to aging.)

3. Cut back significantly on refined sugars and sugar packed soft drinks. Sugar causes reactions in your body that can contribute to the breakdown of collagen. Sometimes, I’ll have a craving for something sweet, like chocolate, instead I’ll find a substitution. I’ll have a bowl of blueberries instead.

4. Drink ten to twelve 8-oz. glasses of water or green tea a day. Inadequate hydration can lead to dry skin, which can make wrinkles more obvious. I love iced green tea, unsweetened of course, with a slice of lemon.

5. Limit yourself to no more than five to seven alcoholic beverages per week. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption will leave your skin looking sallow.

6. Take a multivitamin daily. Your supplement should have at least 400 IU of vitamin E; 25,000 IU of beta-carotene; 2000 mg of vitamin D; and other antioxidants. Among other positive effects, these antioxidants, combined with sun avoidance and protection, help skin wrinkle-free.

7. Always wear at least SPF 30, even indoors. Tanning robs the skin of collagen and leads to loss of elasticity. Even some indoor lighting emits damaging UV waves. If I could drink sunscreen for maximum protection, I would. I never go outside without a generous layer.

8. Use products with anti-aging ingredients. By your mid to late twenties, you need skincare with anti-aging ingredients: alpha-hydroxy or glycolic acids and vitamin-rich serums. Additionally, moisturizing daily will help keep wrinkles from becoming more dramatic.

9. Consider microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. These dermatologist-performed procedures can help erase the appearance of some sun damage.

10. Stop smoking. Smoking creates vertical lines around your lips and robs your skin of oxygen, muddying your complexion and undermining collagen production.

11. Exercise at least four times a week. A cardio workout will help keep your weight down and your energy levels up, and will improve circulation.

12. Reduce stress daily. Try yoga or meditation. Exfoliating is a simple stress reducer for me.

13. Get at least seven hours of sleep nightly. Less sleep may undermine the immune system and further stress the body by keeping it from repairing and replenishing cells.