Exercise benefits your skin

We know that exercise is good for your heart and bones, but did you know that exercise has a positive effect on your skin’s appearance too? Here’s how:

Exercise makes you sweat. Sweat purges your body of toxins that can clog pores and plague your skin with pimples and blemishes. The body only has so many mechanisms to rid itself of toxins — the kidneys, the liver, and the skin. Exercise increases blood flow to the skin, increases neuronal stimulation, and allows the sweat glands to increase their functions and rid the toxins. Once you sweat out those toxins, it's important to wash them off — you don't want to leave them on your skin. Always shower after a workout to prevent bacterial or fungal infections that may occur from dirt clogging up your pores.

Exercise tones your muscles. The more toned you are beneath your skin, the healthier your skin will look and feel. The stronger and firmer your muscles are, the more support your skin will have and the more firm and elastic it will appear. Toning your muscles may also help to minimize the appearance of cellulite, the dimply fat that often strikes thighs and buttocks. You can't exercise cellulite away, but you can help it look better.

Exercise boosts oxygen and blood flow to the skin. Studies have shown that regular exercise boosts blood flow enough in type 2 diabetics to help reduce the risk of skin problems that lead to amputation. Exercise gets the blood flowing, and that increased blood flow carries more oxygen to the skin. The boost in blood flow and oxygen to the skin cells also carries nutrients that improve skin health, supporting all the effort you make with moisturizers and other skin care products on the skin surface.

Exercise eases stress. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Those mind-body benefits may extend to your complexion. Though studies are small, some show that stress may worsen, if not actually trigger, acne. Stress may also trigger flare-ups of psoriasis and a condition called shingles. It’s known to boost hormone production and suppress the body's ability to heal, but regular workouts can keep stress — and possibly hard-to-manage skin conditions — under control. When you’re feeling tense, let exercise keep any frown lines at bay too.

Exercise gives your complexion a beautiful, natural glow. When you exercise, your skin begins to produce more of its natural oils that help skin look supple and healthy. While that can naturally moisturize skin, remember to cleanse your face gently as part of your skin care routine when you shower to prevent any breakouts.

Make exercise your secret skin care ingredient for a young, healthier, and smoother complexion.

Disappointed in Ulta

I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in ULTA, the retail shop. On several occasions now when i have come in to make a purchase, they have run out of the buy something get something for free. One time I spent over $30 or $40 on makeup and wanted the free brushes, not only did they not have them, they didn't offer a rain check, nor would they take matching brushes off the shelf.

Then yesterday my daughter and I went in and she wanted a certain brand of makeup. They were offering buy $20 worth of this product (which is basically one eye shadow) and you receive two eyeliners for free. So she selected two eyeliners she wanted and some other products retailing more than $30, not including the $18 eyeliners. We went to the checkout and this has also happened on several occasions, one sales clerk will have a question so two or three of the associates will get involved helping one client, meanwhile I'm standing there trying to wait patiently to pay for my purchases. Naturally I have a coupon, plus my points to redeem.

Finally one clerk is free, but not very friendly. I give her my purchases and ask about the two free eyeliner deal and am told that they ran out of those products. We can't use the eyeliners on the shelf either. Then, I can't use the coupon for $3.50 off because they makeup my daughter wants is a premier or prestige makeup, excluded from the sale. However, I can use my points and take $4.00 off. hhmmm...The sales girl just stood there staring at me, not being friendly, not apologizing. To me that is rude. Maybe she should go work for the government. Talk about false advertising. Get people in the door, they expect product to be there or be able to use their coupons and then pull the rug out from under them.

I should mention that we have spent several hundred dollars in this store in the past year.

Needless to say, they aren't the only game in town. I am a licensed Aesthetician and I can and will purchase my supplies, equipment, products, makeup from someone and somewhere else.

Anyone else have problems with retail?

Anti-Aging; Which Ingredients work and why

Peptides can fool your skin into looking younger. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can fool skin cells into generating more collagen. But not all peptides are equal, in fact, some don't work at all.

Look for a good quality set, like metrixyl (a procollagen pentapeptide, meaning it contains five amino acids that mimic the precursor of collagen), attached to fatty acids (ingredients like glycerin) help deliver the peptides into your skin versus just sitting on the surface (of the skin).

Retinols are like kryptonite to wrinkles. Retinols or retinoids are powerful derivatives of vitamin A that work extremely well, even in over-the-counter products to promote collagen production, thicken skin, improve elasticity and skin tone and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It's always best to start with a small dose and work up to a higher level to reduce chances of redness and irritation.

Vitamin B3, aka Niacin, is your skin's multi-purpose solution. Vitamin B3 can increase energy levels in aged skin cells and have a variety of effects on aging skin, increasing collagen production and increasing skin barrier strength. It also increases surface skin renewal and improves both circulation and the moisture barrier to help revers the appearance of past skin damage. Low doses of niacin used in OTC products can treat fine lines, acne, brown spots and signs of aging.

Glycerine, a humectant that forms the base of many skin care items, assists with the natural production of collagen. While some experts recommend that acne-prone skin types steer clear of humectants due to their potentially comedogenic (pore clogging) properties, for those in their 50's, this thicker emollient substance is like a super power that seals in moisture and plumps very dry skin. This also means fewer lines and wrinkles.