Oh, that sweet tooth !  When the craving hits, it’s all but impossible to resist a sugary treat.

But as we know, that bite of a tasty donut has a way of biting us back in negative ways. Weight gain, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, and resistance to insulin are just a few of the ways sugars like high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar or juice, maltose and dextrose – added sugars with no purpose other than to increase flavors – can wreak havoc on our internal systems.

These sugars can also inflict damage to our external body as well, by aging our skin. Yes, we are talking about wrinkles – additional creases and furrows created by overindulgence of unnatural sugars. Ouch!

The AGEs in Aging

If you are prone to facial acne flare-ups, or if you are having onset of the problem as an adult, regular attention by a certified and licensed aesthetician is helpful, even advisable. Here at Changes Spa & Aesthetics, we have a depth of experience in caring for clients – adolescents, women and men as well – with hormonal and problematic acne.

“Your face is going to freeze like that!”
Remember that warning from our moms? They would use the phrase to try and cajole us out of frowning, pouting or sneering at the veggies on our plates at dinner. 
Oh, if only! If only our faces could have been frozen back in time when we had no laugh lines or crow’s feet.

Are you getting ready for spring with some change-up? We hope so. It is important that you do, for the sake and continued health of your skin.

“Oh, no!”

Indeed, that is likely the reaction most of us have when we mistakenly glance at the magnifying side of a two-sided mirror. Hairs on the upper lip. Chin fuzz. That uni-brow growing in again. 

If regular skin care is not part of your health regimen, you are missing an important element of self care. With this New Year, make a fresh start and include regular care of your precious skin a regimen similar to all the other daily, weekly, monthly and annual “musts.” 

“Mmmm…that looks absolutely delish!”

“But I’m just going to have one.”

“Really? You made it from scratch? Delicious!”

“I definitely want the recipe for this!” 

“What’s in the punch? It’s amazing!”

“Oh, boy…. there goes my diet!”

Yes, it’s that time of year alright: the holiday season. The time of year when we over indulge our taste buds starting with Thanksgiving and continuing until the clock strikes midnight ushering in the New Year. And even beyond that!

“Beauty is only skin deep.”

Sound familiar? It should. It’s an axiom that’s been around since the 1600s and one we’ve all likely heard at one time or another. Most probably during our pimple-riddled teen years by a mom trying to soothe our tears of self-pity and envy over the class beauty who was miraculously escaping all manner of skin eruptions. 

You are what you eat! So true; but the axiom is not just about the ‘shape’ your body is in. It also refers to your skin, which reflects what you eat as well. 

While much of the focus on healthy eating is on body benefits, we can’t forget that our skin needs to be fed healthy too. Indeed, the emphasis on wellness through plant-based nutrition, for example, is especially advantageous for our skin.

Did you ever look at your car following a torrential downpour and wonder how that automobile could possibly still look a bit gritty? Yes, residual grime remains on your ‘ride,’ spoiling its shine and luster, even after hours of a hammering rainstorm. 

Well, the same principle applies to our skin. Even after stepping out of a refreshing shower, or steamy bath, our skin retains the residue of indoor, outdoor, and internal daily life. In my last blog, I explained how our faces need special treatment, comparing them to windows, which also need regular attention. This time, I’m comparing us to cars.

Feeling that occasional nip when you step outside? Especially in the mornings and in the early evenings? And the days – they are definitely getting shorter, aren’t they?

Yes, autumn is certainly ‘in the air’ and it’s time to start the seasonal rituals. Time to switch clothes in the closets and do some heavy cleaning around the house, including the dreaded window washing.

“The eyes”….. “Definitely, the eyes”….. “Eyes for sure.”

Those are a few of the most common answers to that popular question, “What is the first thing you notice about a person?”

No surprise there. The bard William Shakespeare certainly knew what he was writing about when he penned the often quoted, “The Eyes are the window to your soul.”

They are also your window to the world, our sight being one of the first and most important ways we sense our environment.