Do Moisturizers Need to be Expensive?

Since recently I have blogged about cleansing your skin in the morning and the importance of toning.  I thought I should continue in the same vein and at least make some time to blog about moisturizing your face.  Now here’s an important tip…you really do not have to spend a ton of money on your moisturizer as long as you know what you’re looking for.  What are  you looking for?  Well, you can pick up a great moisturizer at your local drugstore as long as it contains:

• Lipids (ceramides, cerebrosides or sphingo lipids)
• Essential Fatty Acids (sunflower oil, grapeseed oil and primrose oil)
• Sunscreen

Now I should be frank with you, my moisturizer does not contain sunscreen however keep in mind that the sun is your face’s number one enemy, it causes wrinkles and discoloration.  Therefore although my moisturizer does not contain sunscreen, I am very cognizant to always wear large sunglasses and a hat in the sun.  If I am not wearing a hat I will certainly wear sunscreen.

Back to the moisturizer, so we’ve already discussed the fact that it need not be expensive.  Here’s something else that will help, some of the most expensive moisturizers contain vitamins A, C or E.  But just because they contain them doesn’t mean they contain a whole lot.  So if you must, buy your own good quality vitamins, break open the capsules and squeeze out the ingredients  into your moisturizer.

Now, the most important point I have to share with regards to moisturizer is how you apply it.  Please oh please when applying moisturizer to your face, and in fact all over your body, make sure your skin is damp.  Damp skin will create a thin film to trap moisture and your moisturizer will be far more effective for your skin.  I should however caution you, I do sometimes use olive oil all over my body when it is damp and I have been known to slip on the bathroom floor.  So be sure to  be cautious or you may end up with bumps on your head.  So if you decide to sometimes use olive oil, be as cautious as I have learned to be so you do not end up with bumps on your head.

The Importance of Vitamins

It can be very difficult in our fast paced lives to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals we need to live the healthiest lives possible. However, it is critical that we supplement our diet with a daily vitamin. Why do we need vitamins? A few of the reasons are to repair and rebuild cells, have a healthy immune system, carry oxygen around our body, build strong teeth and bones and to possibly even prevent wrinkles. However, a walk down the vitamin aisle may leave you overwhelmed! How do we make sense of it all? How can we find the highest quality vitamin with no extra fillers, binders and chemicals? Here is a list of some things to look for.

Make sure your vitamin does not contain any artificial colors. Typically this tends to be red dye 33 and red dye 40. People have had adverse reactions to artificial dyes, especially children. Studies have shown that artificial dyes tend to cause hyperactivity in children. Most vitamins for children sold in chain stores tend to be colored with artificial dyes. Why do vitamins need to look pretty anyway?

Be aware of candy coated vitamins that may contain aspartame. This has been known to cause headaches and lead to much more serious issues.

Propylene Glycol is an industrial antifreeze and the major ingredient in brake fluid.  It also lurks in some vitamins… even prenatal vitamins! Avoid prefixes such as PEG and Polyethylene. Why would anyone want their unborn baby to be exposed to this?  Please read the labels very carefully.

Some soft-gel vitamins take their form through the use of hydrogenated oils as fillers! Hydrogenated oils are a form of trans fat. The crazy thing is that some of the vitamins used to treat and prevent heart disease contain trans fat!

Take your calcium supplement separately. People should take 1100 – 1200mg daily and this amount can not fit into a multi vitamin.

Additionally, vitamin D, especially in the winter, is crucial.  Children should be taking 500mg of vitamin D and adults should be taking 1000mg.

One more thing to keep in mind… Should you not be able to consume enough fish, walnuts, or flax seed, please remember to take Omega 3 supplements.  Due to my history, if anyone in your family suffers from macular degeneration, or other eye diseases, you should consider taking Occugard to protect your eyesight.

Look for the USP stamp. This stands for The United States Pharmacopoeia. It is a non-governmental agency. Vitamins which have the USP stamp must have met certain standards for quality, purity, strength and consistency.

This may sound silly but please remember to check the expiration date!

These are few things to look for to make wise decisions on buying vitamins. We must read the labels very carefully, just like we would read food labels. Pay attention that there are no added food colorings.   I personally like the website, http://www.vitacost.com.  They have great vitamins at fabulous prices.  This website was recommended to me by a local physician.  Therefore, I am happy to pass it on!

You might be one of those people who are fortunate enough to be getting all the vitamins you need through food consumption.  If you are not sure, consider supplementing your diet.  You will be grateful in the long run!