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What if I was to tell you that as you are headed down the slopes this winter, you are being exposed to almost twice the amount of UV rays than usual? Yes, this is true! Not only are you receiving direct exposure from the sun, but also around 80% of those rays are bouncing off the surface of the snow and back at your skin! To further complicate things, the strength of UV radiation increases with elevation. Sun exposure, wind exposure, and chilling temperatures can damage the skin, leading to sensitivities and pre-mature aging. No one should be giving up the health benefits from skiing and snowboarding, but steps should be taken to protect the health of the skin. 1. Use an emollient rich moisturizer or lotion to create a protective layer against outdoor conditions and protect skin against cracking, drying and redness due to over sensitization. 2. Sun protection is a must!  Apply a broad spectrum or a PA sunscreen 20 minutes prior to exposure. Reapplication is crucial throughout the day. Harsh winds, wet conditions and sweating can break down sunscreens more quickly than normal so be diligent about reapplying every 90 minutes or less. 3. Do not forget your lips. The skin on the lips is thinner than most of the skin on the rest of the face, making it more susceptible to damage from winds, low temperatures and sunburn.  Harsh conditions will easily lead to uncomfortable and unsightly chapped lips. A very common place on the face for skin cancer is the lips, as they are commonly forgotten, and rarely protected. Use a lip balm with at least an SPF of 15, though an SPF of 30 is ideal. Keep it in a zipped pocket and reapply often. 4. Wear protective clothing and eyewear. Dark clothing, layered fabrics and thicker fabrics will filter out more UV rays. Wear protective clothing around your neck and face. Do not go without gloves, wear a hat to protect your scalp and ears, and make sure your goggles are UV protectant. 5. Limit your exposure. Avoid peek hours of UV exposure by getting to the mountain in the early hours of the morning, or waiting until the late afternoon or early evening. 6. If your skin is red, blotchy, tingling and or numb, it is time to take a break and warm up indoors. This is a sign of frostnip, not as serious as frostbite but a precursor and a warning.  These tips should insure you are having fun this winter while maintaining and protecting the health of your skin. So strap on the bindings, click into those skis and enjoy! Blog Written by askderm's in house Esthetician Chantal Monique Chantal Monique is a NYS licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist. She has 7 years experience in skin care and makeup artistry. Her specialties include makeup application and facial treatments, which were featured on ABC's Wife Swap. Chantal also has a background in the Fine Arts. With the unique combination of her education as well as the desire to help people feel beautiful, Chantal provides expert skin care knowledge for our customers as well as the must have ingredients and trending looks. With an ever growing portfolio and clientele askderm is excited to be teamed up with Chantal for future blogs, informational videos and skin care tips!

Shari S.   Congrats on winning the COOLA organic suncare Product Giveaway! Shari will receive the following COOLA organic suncare collection Full Size Products: Plant UV™ Face SPF 30 Unscented Moisturizer ($42), Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint ($36), Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer ($32), Sport SPF 45 Mango Moisturizer ($32), Sport SPF 35 Citrus Mimosa Sunscreen Spray ($32), Liplux SPF 15 Peppermint Vanilla ($12), Orange Patchouli Natural Hand Lotion Bar ($12), + brown COOLA tote bag.Thank you to ALL of our wonderful Facebook Fans who entered! Stay tuned for future product giveaways, promotions and skin care tips! *Shari has already been contacted via email letting her know she is the winner!

Teens are a handful, between the attitudes, hormonal changes and daily stresses, most teens will have your work cut out for you.  I still have a few more years before I have to worry about that with my kids, but I do know how much stress I put my parents through (sorry mom and dad!).  Finding gifts for the teens in your life may not be the easiest thing to do, but rather than picking up a hoodie you think your son might wear or a pair of shoes you hope your niece would like, play it safe by investing in your teen’s skin health and overall confidence.   Having great skin is a wonderful confidence booster and not only will they feel good about themselves, they will look great as well. Most teens are usually strapped for cash and the last thing they want to spend their money on are important skincare products, so do them a favor and give them some necessities and let your gifts go to good use! They Need A Great Cleanser There have been so many times where I have heard teens say they wash their face with just soap and I’m here to tell you that just won’t cut it.  Cleansing your face with basic soap will cause a lot of drying and can even create small cracks on your skin due to the dryness.   Your skin needs to be cleansed properly with a facial cleanser that is right for the individual’s skin type which will not only help rid their face of dirt, excess oils and toxins but it will also keep their skin hydrated.  For the acne sufferers, purchase products that aren’t too harsh or drying, but will still do their job such as VICHY Laboratories Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel which purifies the skin without causing drying while it has a powerful anti-irritant.   Upgrade Their Skin Cleansing Routine Help them keep their skin super healthy by upgrading the way they cleanse their face.  The Clarisonic Mia 2 Acne Clarifying Collection is a great way to deep clean their skin while removing dirt and impurities from the pores.  With the rotating cleansing brush, skin gets cleaner and looks and feels smoother than regular facial cleansing.  Use of the Clarisonic will help treat blemishes gently and effectively while leaving skin exfoliated and brighter. Quick and simple to use, a rotating cleansing brush instantly refreshes skin and is a great gift for teens regardless of what their skin type.   Give Them An Extra Boost Of Energy It’s hard waking up early for school and work and even with a full night’s sleep, teens are still usually exhausted and difficult to not only wake up but to stay alert in class.  Products such as Bliss Super Minty Soap N’ Scrub will help wake them up by giving them that extra boost of energy in their morning shower. Soap N’ Scrub is packed with jojoba beads that will exfoliate their skin leaving it bright and smooth while the sweet smell leaves you feeling refreshed.   With the wonderful peppermint oil and menthol, they will be left feeling clean, energized and invigorated, ready to start their day. Keep Their Skin Soft, Glowing And Hydrated With A Tinted Moisturizer Even those teens with overly oily skin still will need a moisturizer for their skin to stay healthy.  When purchasing facial moisturizers or creams, make sure you purchase those that won’t clog pores and those with minimal to no fragrances to help any sensitivities.  Nip and Fab CC Cream SPF 30 is a great tinted moisturizer that helps skin look brighter and evens out skin tone each time they use it.  The CC cream not only has medium coverage but it also protects your skin from harmful rays with a SPF 30 while giving skin a beautiful glow.  I’m a big fan of BB and CC creams especially for everyday use when I rather not apply foundation, it gives you a nice polished look while it works magic on the skin! Balance Their Skin’s PH As Well As Keep Their Skin Hydrated On The Go And At Home I absolutely love using toners for my skin and always recommend them to clients.  I have one not only in my facial ritual basket but I also carry one in my purse everywhere I go. Having a good toner will keep your skin feeling clean and refreshed while it not only balances skin’s PH levels but also ridding your face from any bacteria. It’s great to use midday inbetween class or afterschool after cleansing their face.  Either way they use it, their skin will be hydrated, rid from excess oils and protected from future breakouts.  ACURE Facial Toner - Balancing Rose and Red Tea is a great gift idea for anyone on your list. Have Them Feeling Refreshed On The Go Between school, afterschool jobs, sports and extracurricular activities, most teens are on the go.  Much of the time they really don’t have much down time in between.  I remember after school let out rushing to work or to a sports practice and by the time you were finished your evening your skin wasn’t as clean or feeling as nice as it should.   Give your teens amazingly convenient facial towelettes to refresh their skin on the go.  ACURE Coconut Argan Oil Towelettes are a great product with its sweet smelling beachy scent and wonderful soothing oils, their skin will be left feeling clean, smooth and refreshed. For all of my teenage cousins, nieces and nephew their gifts are always personalized to their needs and likes.  If I know one suffers from acne then I usually create a basket with products that will help with their problematic skin. Those with normal skin types I also will create gift baskets with the basic skincare necessities so there is no excuse for them not to start taking care of their skin at this age.   Knowing that they are teens, their gifts wouldn’t be complete without a gift card to their favorite place to eat or to the movies or even for a cup of coffee.  Regardless of your gift, and underneath some of their mood swings, they love you and will appreciate any gift you give them…but just stay clear of any ugly sweaters, that will break anyone down!     Blog Written by askderm's Guest Esthetician  Stephanie Ivonne is a New Jersey licensed Esthetician.  Her fun-loving, outgoing personality will shine through her product selections & reviews to help you discover the hottest skincare and beauty products. When Stephanie is not scouring the internet for the next hot skincare product, she is a mother to two wonderful biological children, a dedicated foster mom and is devoted to her husband of 13 years.

Happy Father's Day!   Top 5 Gift Idea's for Father's Day:   1. Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System - GRAY - Our Price $156 Click HERE for more information! 2. Pevonia Skin Renewal For Him - Our Price $69 Click HERE for more information! 3. Hydrosal Professional Antiperspirant Gel - Our Price $44 Click HERE for more information! 4. DS Laboratories Revita Hair Growth Shampoo - Our Price $27.25 Click HERE for more information! 5. EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 - Our Price $20 Click HERE for more information! You can also view all of our Top products for Dad by CLICKING HERE!

It’s that time of year again where we have our sights set on our New Year’s resolutions and on all the goals we have created for ourselves for the upcoming year.  One of the most popular resolutions is getting in shape and losing weight.  Here are some pre and post workout skincare tips that will surely make a difference in your skin health.  These tips are simple to remember and easy to follow. As you may notice, gyms, fitness classes and even outside, you’ll see many more people working out to work on their personal fitness goals.  Working out is great for your body, physically and mentally.  When a person exercises, they are getting much needed endorphins that need to lift their mood.  Besides your overall feeling great, you will also be releasing toxins as you sweat; just an added benefit of fitness.       Pack Your Gym Bag with The Necessities… Many people go to the gym before or after work and rush out of there with just a quick shower…not too fast.  In order to prevent facial or body acne, there are some necessities that should be in every gym bag because a quick shower isn’t enough. Make up Remover. Yes, your crush is working out on the other elliptical and you really want to look cute for them…if you must, stick to just mascara and a tinted lip balm when working out so you don’t clog your pores and cause a breakout. Always workout with all makeup properly removed from your skin. The REN Rosa Centifolia eye makeup remover is a silky milk make-up remover designed with a blend of oils and flower water for gentle but thorough cleansing including waterproof mascara. Gentle, oil free face wash. The gentle, oil free facial wash will leave your skin feeling fresh and clean without any heavy residue. The Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash is an oil-free face wash that cleanses for all skin types. Oil free clarifying body wash. Whether you take a shower before or after working out or both, you should have a nice, soft smelling oil free body wash that will help keep your skin looking good avoiding any body acne that can pop up due to bacteria and clogged pores. Non Alcoholic Toner. These non-alcoholic toners will not only refresh your skin they will free your skin from bacteria giving you a truly fresh face with balanced PH levels. The Avene Gentle toner is alcohol-free, oil-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic.  Cleansing Wipes.  I know many people use the same rag/towel to wipe their faces as they’re working out and there are some that will even wipe the sweat with their extremely bacteria infested hands (have you seen all the sweat that lingers on machines in the gym?!?! Especially with those who don’t wipe them down properly). Keep a pack of cleansing wipes on you for when you need to freshen your face while working out without clogging your pores with nasty bacteria. Acure's cleansing wipes are all-natural biodegradable Argan Oil Towelettes refresh, cleanse, soothe, detoxify on the spot.  Different Clothing.  This may sound a bit obvious, but make sure you have another set of clothes to change into once you shower.  For females, wearing the same sports bra that you wore and got sweaty in will increase your risk of body acne while it keeps the sweat and bacteria on your freshly cleaned, open pored skin.     Make Sure You Are Prepared To Sweat It Out… Keep That Hair Back. Invest In A Cute Headband.  I too have tried (and failed miserably) to look cute while working out and that includes keeping my long hair loose…not a great idea.  Not only will your workout suffer since you’ll be more focused on pushing your hair out of your face but your skin will suffer too. Hair that falls on your skin while you’re sweating will more likely get an acne breakout. Plus, who wants that sweaty hair look?!  Wear Moisture Wicking Clothing.  I don’t care if you sweat, sparkle, glisten….whatever you may call it, it is pretty gross seeing large sweat stains coming from clothing.  Not only does it look disgusting, just think of all the bacteria that is being trapped tightly against your skin. Bacteria causes not only breakouts but other infections so check out some awesome workout gear that are moisture wicking to keep you cool, dry and feeling cute! My favorite lifting tank not only is moisture wicking but has the awesome phrase ‘Mascara and Muscles’, there are so many awesome sites so go check them out!  Keep Water Handy.  While you work out and sweat it out, your body is dehydrating.  Make sure you keep your body and skin hydrated by drinking water as you work out.  Avoid The Tanning Booth.  I know, I know, your gym membership is only ten dollars more for unlimited tanning a month. AVOID it!  Not only are you risking your skin of skin cancer but you are also damaging it and making it age rapidly.  Opt for a lightweight sunless tanner to still get that gorgeous glow without all the risk.  Wear SPF.  For those of you that enjoy exercising outdoors with the wonderful sun on your face and breeze blowing by you, you need to make sure your skin is protected by always having a lightweight, oil free, broad spectrum uva/uvb sunscreen.  Never leave home without it.       After A Good Workout… Take A Shower.  Once your body cools down, take a cool shower.  Your skin is not only covered in sweat and bacteria but your pores are open and more susceptible to infection.  After a nice shower with a gentle, oil free wash your skin will feel refreshed, cleansed and free from blemishes. Apply Alcohol Free Toner.  Balance your body’s ph levels and allow the toner to let products better penetrates your skin by spritzing on freshly clean, naked skin. Keep Your Skin Moisturized.  Even though the last thing you’d want after working out is your skin feeling heavy, you still need to keep it moisturized to make up for loss of water while exercising.  Apply a light, oil free moisturizer to not only provide the needed moisture but will help your skin from getting clogged pores. Rehydrate, replenish and detoxify skin while shielding it against harmful micropollutants with derma-e's silky, lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. Avoid Touching Your Face.  I have the habit of touching my face, often. Rubbing, touching and even just resting my head on my hands are bad habits that really should be stopped.  While gyms are susceptible to disgusting germs, there are bacteria everywhere you touch so while your pores are still open, avoid touching your face and allowing germs to enter the pores. Enjoy working towards all of your New Year’s Resolutions no matter what they may be.  Whether it’s losing weight, eating healthier, enjoying the small things or getting that dream job you are hoping for, keep your eyes on the prize and focus on what you want.   The New Year is a time to reevaluate your life and start fresh.  If any obstacles or hurdles get in your way, don’t let it stop you just let it make you stronger.  So grab your gym bag, lace up those sneakers and have fun getting active! Do it not only to fit in those jeans but to mentally feel amazing. Work it girl!     Blog Written by askderm's Guest Esthetician  Stephanie Ivonne is a New Jersey licensed Esthetician.  Her fun-loving, outgoing personality will shine through her product selections & reviews to help you discover the hottest skincare and beauty products. When Stephanie is not scouring the internet for the next hot skincare product, she is a mother to two wonderful biological children, a dedicated foster mom and is devoted to her husband of 13 years.