How can we learn to Nourish ourselves?
Welcome to my first blog, at CosMedic LaserMD. This is where you meet me. This is a new beginning with so many of you to get to know me in a different way. Let us all start together, AND, let us not wait till the New Year to make our resolution. Like many of you, I have promised myself to eat better, exercise better, lose weight, take better care of myself, do proper daily skin care, among so many other resolutions. Simply, take care of me, inside out. Ultimately, however, if we do not give ourselves the proper tools, how can we achieve these goals? Does this sound familiar? It is like trying to cross an ocean without a boat, or running a race without proper shoes.
Surround yourself with people who cheer you on and celebrate with you along the way.
We can all shine bright. Remember that. Someone else’s brilliance and success do not diminish you and the reverse is true as well. We all have our time and it will come. Let this be our time. What does this mean? Together, let us think big and set our goals. In order to get there, we need to take baby steps sometimes. Aging is a luxury that not everyone has. The goal is to have beautiful healthy skin that ages successfully. However, there are key steps to get there and these apply to life as well. Your skin is a powerful reflection of your overall health and well-being. To have skin that looks beautiful is a great sign that your skin is healthy, and you are healthy, and has a lower risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Putting your best face forward takes effort, but it is worth the commitment and gets easier. You will celebrate the results when you look in the mirror and reflect on how you feel inside.
Be Thankful.
Yes. This is true in life and true for your skin. Have you looked at photos and focused on weaknesses or flaws with shame and harsh reflection? We all have. And now, we are a “selfie” generation. Look in the mirror and allow yourself to see your best features. Is it your eyes? Your bone structure? Your lips? Your smile? We all have unique beauty. Whatever your best features may be, be thankful for your unique beauty. We should begin here and pause and take it in. Another important goal is to be thankful for your natural skin tone and to go with your own glow. What does this mean? Be sun smart! Use sunscreen every day all year round. Reapply it every 2 hours when you’re out, wear a hat and sun-protective clothing when possible and stay in shade when you can. These are the things that will make your resolution for beautiful healthy skin a reality and will add value for years to come. The truth is that 90% of wrinkles and the signs of aging we see in the skin come from exposure to ultraviolet rays. Simply protecting against damage will serve you well for decades to come.
Action, not words count in Matters of Love
Love yourself. You are worth it. Take the time and don’t rush through the motions on yourself. Love your skin and your body and the life you have to live. Start with your skin, with cleansing as the first step. Do you go to bed without cleansing your face? This is often overlooked but it is very important to wash off makeup, pollution and buildup of oils from the day. Then exfoliate regularly, either chemically with a glycolic or salicylic acid or mechanically with a physical scrub. Depending on your skin type, this could be twice a week or once every two weeks. Everyone’s skin needs are unique. You must pay attention and listen to your skin and be gentle. If your skin stings or burns when you apply cream or lotion after exfoliating it’s a sign that you are over-doing it. Go a little gentler next time and see how it works for you. Next, use serums containing growth factors, peptides and antioxidants to help your skin regenerate and rejuvenate. And, finally we must remember sunscreens and moisturizers to complete proper care. A simple guide to the order of application of skin care products is thickness: apply the lighter or thinner products first such as serums or lotions and the richer products last, such as moisturizers or creams. If you love and nourish your skin, the glow of your soul will shine through.
Love Yourself, Forgive yourself
Every day, I hear from others and feel it myself. We all lament lifestyle choices that have accelerated the aging of our skin and body.
The changes can show as blotchy uneven skin, wrinkles and sagging. The good news is that what you do today can help undo at least some of the damage of the past. Forgive yourself and move on. Nourish yourself today. Avoid tanning, hydrate well, and wear sunscreen. These things will go a long way.
Be Mindful and Peaceful
The compounding of stress upon stress can lead to a flare of anything you’re prone to from acne to eczema to psoriasis or rosacea. Plan ahead by acknowledging the facts, and allow yourself time for YOU, every day. Commit to exercise, a regimen of good skin care and schedule it for yourself like you do all your other commitments. Nourish and commit to yourself. You are worth it.
Be Patient with Yourself
We are our own worst critics. Big changes are made in small steps. We live in a time of quick fixes but expectations should be realistic. True and lasting changes, improvement in collagen and restoring you back to a more youthful appearance in a natural way takes time. Stick to your regimen, and make a habit. Things will get better. You didn’t get here overnight – you don’t need to fix things overnight. We live in a time of instant results, quick fixes and apps that make everyone look picture perfect, at least in pictures. This sets an unrealistic expectation for all of us. The time is worth it! Trust me. Let’s start together on this journey. Let’s imagine who we can be, and Nourish within.