By HOLLY BYERLYHolly is our senior esthetician, in charge of VMV’s international spa treatment development, and your skin’s biggest advocate! Experience her “skinsightful” care at VMV Skin-Specialist Boutique at 227 Mott Street New York, NY 10012, or call 212 226 7309.
SUNSCREEN!
Many of us rely on the SPF that we apply in the morning or think that the SPF in our makeup is enough. Sunscreen does wear, wash and rub off. Reapply every hour or two, and after swimming or toweling off. No amount of sun exposure is damage free. If you want to keep your skin looking young, avoid sun exposure. Hats, sunglasses and protective clothing are also helpful. I use Armada not only for my own personal use, but also after each facial I perform. FYI: don’t dab: make sure to slather sunscreen on for real protection.
POSITIVITY.
Surround yourself with positive people, positive energy and positive summertime experiences. Listen to happy, uplifting music. Music can be very inspirational and soothing. Regular exercise and a healthy diet help our bodies process and handle stress better. I like this website for quick guided meditations: just-a-minute.org.
REFRESH.
Much of our skin’s premature aging can happen over the summer. Ask your esthetician for a good home skin care regimen. Regular facials should be done throughout the year for optimal skin health. For my clients, I recommend a 60-Minute Superskin Facial every 4 to 6 weeks with a 30-Minute Skin-A-Jiffy Refresher Facial in between or as needed (a nice boost for dull, sun-dried skin).
DON’T BE BUGGED!
Heat + humidity = microbe heaven. Wash your makeup brushes! Our new Instant No-Rinse Hypoallergenic Brush Cleaner is great for daily cleaning and Essence Superwash for a deeper washing every few days, weekly or monthly (depending on your level of use).For bugs that bite, try Red Better Flare-Up Balm to quickly bring down redness and itching; Boo-Boo Balm for fast, ouchless healing.
YOUR SKIN IS WHAT YOU EAT.
A good diet can improve your skin’s health and appearance. Control your meat and dairy; increase your essential fatty acids through a regular intake of fish, olive oils, nuts and avocados. Top off your diet with fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants. I add virgin coconut oil into my diet wherever I can! Know-It-Oil is excellent both topically and as a dietary supplement.
(DON’T) DO THE BUMP!
If you find yourself with more breakouts in the summer, it could be due to sweat bacteria or a fungus that feeds on sweat going on overdrive (it sounds gross, but we all have this fungus naturally on our skins). When I feel oilier or have breakouts, I use Id Sweat Acne and Overall Antibacterial Monolaurin Gel — you can use it on face and body, and it cools the skin, too.
BEAUTIES SLEEP.
The vast majority of people are sleep deprived, particularly women. The lack of sleep can leave one feeling forgetful, drowsy and also grouchy — all of these things can lead to more stress, in turn wreaking havoc on your skin (and, as more studies are showing, your body and brain). Commit to getting your 7-8 hours each night. A thorough cleansing with cool water and a SuperSkin Care Cleanser for your skin type and an application of a SuperSkin Care Moisturizer can help refresh tired skin. And our pale yellow No-More-Blues Skin-The-Bluff Concealer is the perfect eyebag camouflager.DISCLAIMERThis VMV HYPOALLERGENICS® skintelligence article was not written by a dermatologist or licensed medical or health professional, and makes no claims to that effect, unless otherwise clearly specified elsewhere in this article. All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation.
