MR Editor’s Blog

Many different ingredients are used in skin creams these days, including antioxidants. Antioxidants have been in the news for years now, and they work by fighting off free radicals, which can attack your cells and even damage your DNA. Many foods include antioxidants, but berries are especially high in antioxidants. Blueberries are a great food if you are looking for antioxidants, as are acai berries, which are now found in many health drinks, supplements, and even skin creams.

The antioxidants can be absorbed into the skin, where they can fight the damage caused by free radicals, which can leads to under eye circles, wrinkles, and dry skin. When looking for a supplement, it’s best to read the label and make sure it is cold pressed, which preserves the healthy properties of the supplement better than other methods. These may cost more, but they are also more effective. Trying to get more berries into your diet can also be a healthy and delicious way of fighting off free radicals and consuming more antioxidants, which have a wide array of health benefits, not just for your skin. Vitamin C can also keep skin strong and flexible, but it works best when eaten rather than applied topically.

Eating more leafy, green vegetable is a good way to get more nutrients into your diet. Iceberg lettuce is most often used in salads and on sandwiches, but it’s a good idea to try other kinds of lettuce as well, such as romaine lettuce or even spinach, which is very high in nutrients. Collard greens, spinach, and other dark green vegetables are high in fiber and B vitamins as well as iron and other vitamins and minerals.

Iceberg lettuce is mostly water and low in nutritional value, though it does add a nice crunch to your salad. If you don’t want to replace it, consider at least adding other vegetables to your meals. You can add romaine lettuce, spinach, and broccoli to your salads and increase the nutrients considerably. Consider using a vinaigrette dressing instead of ranch or creamy Italian dressings, because these can add a lot of calories. You may find that if you add spicier veggies, such as a few pickled peppers or some olives, you find that you need less dressing. Adding a large variety of vegetables is a good idea anyway, since this will increase the nutritional value of your meal. Grilled chicken is also better than adding deli meats or bacon bits.

A good skin care routine is important to keep your face looking and feeling its best. Many people don’t use moisturizers or sunscreens, and this can contribute to premature aging and it can negatively impact the look of your skin. The skin of the face, especially, is thinner and more prone to wrinkles, age spots, and other problems, so special care should be taken to make sure you are taking proper care of your face. Sunscreen should be reapplied according to the instructions throughout the day in the summer, or if you get sweaty or go swimming. Even waterproof sunscreens need to be reapplied. Staying out of the sun in the hottest part of the day is also recommended, because this is when you would be exposed to the most of the sun’s UV rays. 

Studies like the one at the UC Riverside have questioned the use of some of the ingredients approved for use in sunscreens, but it’s still probably best to use them and reapply as recommended. Moisturizer should also be applied to the face after you wash it or go swimming, or any time your face feels dry if you have dry or sensitive skin. Keeping the skin of the face hydrated can help it to look and feel better for many years to come. Moisturizer is also important to use on your body if you have dry skin, though anyone could benefit from a gentle moisturizer applied after a shower to keep the skin soft and smooth.

While teas have been recently hyped for their antioxidant benefits, history in Eastern cultures, and supposed health benefits of all kinds, they have also been recognized for their application to acne.  While there are a few that are more popular, they have all been credited at this point to some health benefit.  Even rooibos tea has been recently pushed as a weight loss tea and an acne fighting tea. 

1. Aloe vera-one of the most popular of teas, most don’t even realize aloe vera is a tea in the first place.  But it has been used for years to repair and increase the healing rate of sunburns, therefore diminishing sores, promoting healing, and diminishing scars in general.  It has therefore been used against acne mostly to protect against scarring.
2. Tea tree oil-this tea also known as Melaleuca oil has actually been studied in multiple studies and shown to contribute to the acne fighting benefits.  It has been studied in 5% concentrations and compared to benzoyl peroxide, showing the same caliber of benefits without the side effects.  It has also been known to repair and renew skin from past damage in some cases.
3. Green tea-mostly studied in weight loss and heart health, green tea has also been studied in acne reduction and skin protection.  3% green tea apparently matches the effects of 4% benzoyl peroxide.  However, any concentration above that is unclear in its results against acne.  It has also been known to reduce inflammation, prevent scarring, detoxify, and control hormones to some degree.