Skin, Wellness

What’s Your Nightly Routine?

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on What’s Your Nightly Routine?

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Truth: Finding the time to wind down at the end of the day has become harder and harder since having a kid. But it’s so important to find a nightly routine or ritual to wind your body down from the day, to find some sort of balance. Think about it, I literally have a nightly routine for my child… so why wouldn’t I have one for myself. My evening ritual is something that I look forward to all day, it helps me refocus my energy and power down for the day. Sound a little silly– maybe but it works for me. Per usual it stars with SKINCARE!

Here’s my step – by – step skincare routine

Skincare : I’m a huge believer in taking off your makeup before hitting the sheets & a having a killer skincare routine– shocker. So I double cleanse off all my makeup, I have been doing this for awhile now and it’s just my thing and it leaves my skin feeling great–gosh the things we do once we hit 30 years old.

For my hyper-pigmentation at the moment I’m using no BS. super clean & natural vitamin C, you guys know how I love my Vitamin C. I just wrote ALL about why it’s the best and shared a few of my favorite products. So you can check it out here

Plus a girl needs some anti- aging help so my go – to is always retinol or if you don’t want to use a retinol or maybe you are pregnant. Try beating those fine lines with this Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil, and can’t forget a dab of eye cream… I’m doing the whole skincare package! AND wait can we please talk about Kopari Coconut Rose Toner. I have been using it for a month now and it’s my new best friend. It helps reduce my monstrous pores and balance my skin which I’m always looking for and it’s totally FREE of all the bad stuff: GMO’s, Sulfate, Cruelty and Paraben!

The Bed: I’m also all about slipping into crisp, clean sheets- – it totally sets the stage for drifting into dreamland. SO I prep my bed spraying it with some lavender oil and then I have to mention my black slip silk pillow case: hello anti- aging, anti-sleep crease, anti – bed head…  it’s pretty much the pillowcase of my dreams.

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GABA GABA: First of all, this isn’t a drug. It’s actually an amino acid that your body uses to help you relax. I love my GABA Ease, I think of it like a natural version of Xanax. So I take Gaba Ease and some other supplements right before I get into bed, because before I know it I am super relaxed and drifting off to sleep!

And there you go! My evening routine: it totally sets the stage for how I’m going to sleep. Just like how you create a bedtime routine for your baby, creating one for yourself will make a huge difference!

okay I want to know if you have a nightly routine– all your tips and tricks so send them my way!

xo-

Whitney

Skin

How To Get Rid of Dark Circles and Dark Spots with Vitamin C

by Positively Posie1 Comment on How To Get Rid of Dark Circles and Dark Spots with Vitamin C

Did you know just a half a grapefruit each day can ensure the average adult is meeting at least half of typical Vitamin C requirements!

If you haven’t heard of Vitamin C you’re probably living under a rock. Vitamin C is an everyday thing we consume through citrus foods or a supplement. But truly Vitamin C deserves a place in our skincare routine!

For me Vitamin C is the first steps for fighting my dark circles and pigmentation. There are other treatments people use for pigmentation like hydroquinone, retinol, alpha & beta hydroxy acids. For my skin those treatments created way too much extra inflammation, redness and irritation. Don’t get me wrong they are right for some people but right now for me Vitamin C is my go-to product.

i like Vitamin C for many reasons…

✔️ It’s an antioxidant that goes around sucking up free radicals. Free radicals bounce around in skin cells, causing damage. Free radicals occur from sunlight, pollution, heat/ cold. Pretty much anything that comes in contact with your skin.

✔️ Fights hyper-pigmentation preventing melanin production. Thanks to sun exposure, pregnancy or birth control hormones, we can see an increase in melanin production. Vitamins C helps to break up those melanin deposits over time.

✔️ Brightens your skin even if you don’t have dark circles or hyper-pigmentation. It’s going to help give you that bright glowy look.

✔️ Vitamin C is needed in the creation of collagen. Collagen & elastin are crucial for anti-aging & healthy skin. One of the causes of dark circles is the thinning/loss of volume of skin under your eye. Putting Vitamin C under your eyes will help create new collagen and skin turn over, and hopefully decrease fine lines and wrinkles.

✔️ Decreases inflammation…if your skin gets it irritated and red easily then Vitamin C would be a great addition to your daily skincare routine. If you have acne scars or rosacea think about calming that angry skin with Vitamin C.

Favorite Vitamin C Products

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vitamin C Gone Bad. It’s important to remember that Vitamin C aka ascorbic acid degrades quickly, making it inactive & ineffective.Vitamin C is really sensitive to light and requires a very specific acidic pH to remain stable. Keep your products in cool dark spaces and if the product starts to turn yellow it means it’s degrading and it’s time for a new bottle.

15minutebeauty. com

15minutebeauty. com

There are lots of options out there to treat dark circles and hyper- pigmentation, it’s important to find the one that fits your skin the best. As always if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments!

Beauty, Skin

Mircocurrent Facials- What You Need To Know With Celebrity Esthetician Sadie Adams

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on Mircocurrent Facials- What You Need To Know With Celebrity Esthetician Sadie Adams

 

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So this isn’t a new concept around here – I love self care + skin care & wellness.  I’m all about taking care of ourselves in a holistic manner, so when I heard celebrity esthetician Sadie Adams on the Balance Blonde podcast I was totally captivated by her. There is a magical quality about Sadie’s skincare approach, she is a scientist + healer.  So I’m thrilled to have her guest post today and share her knowledge about mircocurrent facials.

Sadie is a natural esthetician, self care & skincare guru. She studied anatomy, Ayurveda, and yoga therapy which led her to create Take Care. Located in L.A. and NYC, Take Care is a wellness collective of esthetician an, meditation and movement facilitators focused on continued education, self-care and balanced living.

Sadie is known for using microcurrent technology and meditative energy to deliver anti-aging facials that will give you that glow-y fabulous look we all want. If you haven’t heard of microcurrent technology, don’t worry I hadn’t either. It’s a subtle electrical current developed for the purpose of regenerating tissue and tissue function. But let me leave it to the expert Sadie Adams to explain the 5 Reasons why mircocurrent facials can change your skin and overall wellness.

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1. It increases ATP

By approximately 500 percent during the course of a treatment, flooding tissue with subcellular support and creating an environment that helps to clear stagnation and balance the fluids and membranes. This increases the cell membrane permeability and the health of the skin and tissue!

2. It works with, and stimulates the sub-circulatory channels, which run throughout the entire body.

Microcurent can balance and amplify the intelligence of vital junctures, where two or more tissues interface, as keys to subtle sub-circulatory systems.

Working with these systems offers immediate access the body as a whole. There are points on the surface of the body that can be used to detoxify tissue and as diagnostic tools, giving the practitioner insights about the client’s constitution and imbalance. Microcurrent can enhance the adaptogenic qualities of these points, stimulating the body’s biochemistry to produce exactly what one needs to strengthen (or pacify) and to heal – aligning body, mind and consciousness.

 3. Measurable increase in natural collagen and elastin production.

Ones age, health, and self-care strategies (including the frequency of microcurrent application -professional and/or home treatments) will influence the percentage of increase over a given time period. Some reports boast 10-15% in collagen production and even up to a 50% increase in elastin production in just a few weeks time.

4. Product penetration, circulation, reduced acne, acne scaring and fine lines.

Research shows the having a reserve of ATP encourages collagen and elastin formation which can soften and intergrade scar tissue and mitigate inflammation discoloration, pigmentation and fine lines. Having such a reserve triggers lymphatic drainage and over time dramatically clarifies fluids and increases blood circulation.

Microcurrent supports the tissues ability to process information, including nutrients, increasing the efficacy of topical products. There is also a specific application of microcrrent that is used to drive products into deeper layers of skin.

 5. Energy clearing and balancing tone

This delicate current is a simulation of the vibration of the human body. It galvanizes proprioception, helping the cells become aware of themselves and increasing the communication between the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones.

As an energy worker, I find that augmenting a treatment with microcurrent enhances coherency in the various layers of tissues as well as the peripheral and central nervous system. I feel that there is a lot possible, in terms of supporting the processing of stagnant energy and perceived trauma, depending of the intention and participation of the client

And that my friends is what I call mixing science AND healing energy to prevent aging. I mean what I’ve learned over the years is we have to be proactive people with our skin & health.

We can’t be waiting until we are 50 to start working on our skin, we have to start now. Obviously, a mircocurrent facial is on my skin to- do list. Until then I will just be using my at home high frequency machine which is a little different but still fantastic. Gosh, you guys I’m a huge fan of facial tools I think that should be my next post, leave me a comment if you would want to see a post solely about KILLER facial tools?

Thank you Sadie Adams for sharing your beautiful work with us, I hope we all can try a microcurrent facial in the near future!

 

Hope you enjoy! x

Here is Sadie’s Instagram 

Here is My instagram

Lifestyle

Instagram Worthy Spots in North Park, San Diego

by Positively Posie1 Comment on Instagram Worthy Spots in North Park, San Diego

unnamed-7San Diego, California what a place! Being a military family you never know where you’ll end up next, so I’m all about exploring and make the most of our time here. North Park is probably my favorite spot, it’s a vibrant community filled with small businesses, a booming matcha scene (I’m addicted) and lots of Instagram worthy scenery.  I put together a little something I like to call Positively Posie’s North Park Instagram crawl.. SO here it is Ta- Da!

Pigment: Probably my favorite store in San Diego! Guys there are succulents everywhere, it is a total dream land! This store is like if a rainbow and a unicorn had a baby. If you can’t tell I am obsessed with this store. I’m always inspired to make or buy something and of course take a photo quick pic in front of their ombré pink wall…it’s a must!

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Artelexia: Next walk down the street to Artelexia, a wonderful store full of handcrafted Mexican gifts, art, and home décor. If your looking for vibrant color and culture this is the place for you. Buzzfeed recently named Artelexia one of the 6 Culturally Vibrant Brands on Instagram. I mean GUYS they have a DYI piñata bar seriously…HOW FUN! And you can’t forget to take a picture on their Instagram worthy “ You are Radiant ” mural. The colors are out of this world and the message is perfect!

San Diego, North ParkIMG_9056.jpgartelexa San DiegoHoly Matcha:  I swear there is something Instagram worthy on almost every wall in North Park. Walking into Holy Matcha it’s hard not to have a smile on your face.  The tropical pink and green décor is so inviting, it really makes you want to sit and relax for a few. For those of you who don’t know, Matcha is highly concentrated powdered green tea, it has tons health benefits and is filled with antioxidants… so delish! My drink of choice is the Matcha Latte with coconut milk.

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Communal coffee: is a super fun and trendy coffee shop, that has definitely become a hot spot for social media addicts to visit while in San Diego. I mean who wouldn’t want a picture on next to their amazing Coffee + Flowers wall! Why Coffee +Flowers, well communal coffee is a joint store with the Native Poppy flower shop! So the store is filled with the aroma of coffee and flowers, it doesn’t get much better than that! While the ambience is amazing the menu is out of this world. Lavender honey latte, vanilla bean latte, and rose vanilla latte the list goes on and on.unnamed-12.jpg

If you are looking to have an INSTAGRAM worthy experience, check out North Park. It will not disappoint you guys, highly recommend!

-xo Whitney

Wellness

Keep it Tight and Toned: Online Cardio Videos That Kick Booty

by Positively Posie2 Comments on Keep it Tight and Toned: Online Cardio Videos That Kick Booty

Tone it up girlGUYS, like I have told you before I am a BIG fan of at home workouts.

I don’t have the energy to pack up my kid every day of the week and head to the gym. TRUTH is you don’t need the gym, because of the internet you can find workout videos to get that tight little tush.

All you need is space in your home where you can move and sweat, a computer, yoga mat, and to kick it up a notch 3-7 lbs weights.

Even if you haven’t worked out in months, start with a good basic cardio video. Just get moving– start every day by moving for 30 mins. It’s life changing, starting my day MOVING puts me a in a good mood the rest of the day.

cardio at home workout

Hopefully these will help you start moving every day- -30 mins just start with doing something for 30 mins.

Side Note: I really have fallen in love with PopSugar at home workouts, they are the best!

Let me know if you have any favorite at home workouts, I am always up for trying something new!

XO

Whitney

+ Check out my favorite At Home Arm Workouts 

+ Don’t forget those sexy ABS- – my favorites online videos are HERE for you!

Beauty, Motherhood, Skin

4 Tips To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant

by Positively Posie2 Comments on 4 Tips To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant

 

 

Stretch Marks, Stretch Marks, Stretch Marks

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cream that prevents stretch marks.  Research is showing that genetics play a role in who gets stretch marks. Also, gaining a lot of weight quickly or woman having twins/triples all have increased chances of new stretch marks.

You know me PREVENTION, is everything.

When I found out I was pregnant with Blakely I knew that there was a good chance I would see some new stretch marks. I already had some on my thighs from having a QUICK growth spurt in 8th grade ( 5’6″- 6’0″ over the summer WTF). SOO–I wasn’t going to sit back and not try everything out there to prevent new ones from showing up.

I did a lot of research and found some of the best ways to prevent stretch marks while pregnant, and duh I implemented them all. Why not, right!

I’m here to say I didn’t get ONE new stretch mark while pregnant.Obviously- – folks I can’t say it is JUST because of these 4 things that I didn’t get new stretch marks but I think it helped BIG TIME!

So let’s get into it: 4 Things To Help Avoid Stretch Marks While Pregnant.

Moisturize: I wouldn’t say I’m the best at moisturizing daily, but staying moisturized while pregnant definitely helped alleviate any itchy skin (a symptom of stretch marks). Definitely later in my pregnancy my skin felt tighter (obviously) and at times itchy. So I knew it was time to lather up my skin and I used a couple products depending on my nausea.

Bio-Oil is what I used most of my pregnancy, it has a mild smell and gave me lots of moisture. Another product I used and is more of a lotion if you don’t like oils is Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks by Spoiled Mama. Every morning and night I would lather up  mybelly, thighs, breasts anywhere that you are gaining weight or stretching needs that  moisture.

Another great option is rosehip oil, it’s like the Mother of All oils.  Rose hip seed oil is packed with trans-retinoic acid, a natural form of vitamin A and omegas that will protect the skin and encourages it to regenerate faster. So oil up girls, it’s truly beneficial!

Eating Healthy: I already have a pretty clean diet, so I knew going into pregnancy that I wanted to maintain that same diet and increase calories gradually, as specified by my doctor. As a nurse I know that amount of food a woman needs during pregnancy is dependent on a variety of things.

For A LOT of people the topic of food and weight gain can be very touchy (myself included), so remember to face it head on with your doctor and come up with a plan. I believe because I gradually gained weight throughout my pregnancy I was able to keep those stretch marks away.

Hydrate: Yes, drink water we hear it all the time and this was the hardest one for me to keep up with. Especially going into my third trimester with the baby sitting right on my bladder. But I did my best to drink 1-2 liters of water daily. Remember the more water you drink the more your skin can take in and hydrate–and hopefully help not develop stretch marks.

Workout and Stretch: My workout routine while pregnant also helped me to maintain that STEADY weight gain while pregnant. My doctor and I had a “chat” at my first appointment just keep me informed on how to work out while pregnant. She told me that pregnancy exercise can vary from my non- pregnant routine, so I needed to be aware of how hard I was pushing myself.

Most exercises you are doing prior to becoming pregnant are safe to continue during your pregnancy, but the body can react differently so be aware of any aches and pains. Most exercise while pregnant is beneficial and can help with constipation, backaches as well as increase your mood and self esteem. Here is a link to some FREE online videos I used while pregnant.

unnamed-1When I feel like something has really help me, that’s when I usually dedicate a whole post to it. These 4 things were so helpful to me while I was pregnant!

GUYS- – I hope this information is beneficial to you or just a good reminder of things you can do while pregnant to better PROTECT your beautiful skin: it’s the only skin you are gonna have so treat it well.

Have a super productive week my little loves & don’t forget lets friends on INSTAGRAM too!

xo- Whitney

Skin, Wellness

It’s True: My Favorite Beauty Products- – Are Vitamins

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on It’s True: My Favorite Beauty Products- – Are Vitamins

Hum NutritionHum Nutrition

GUYS I feel like I’ve hit the beauty product jackpot!

I’m all about popping a pill for the pursuit of beauty. Some people might not think of vitamins as a beauty product, but I 100% do. Not gonna lie just looking at these vitamins makes me happy- – the packaging is just so pretty you’ll want to display them around the house.

ENTER – –  Hum Nutrition, the more natural way of helping beauty concerns. Let me just say if you are dealing with major skin issues, it is always best to consult with a dermatologist first to help you come up with a game plan. Reminder: vitamins vary from person to person, these are the products that I like and that have worked for my body.

So why Hum Nutrition? As a nurse I’m super particular about the vitamins I take and have NEVER promoted any until now– because well these are LEGIT!

▴ sustainably sourced

▴ gluten free

▴ non- GMO

▴ pure & potent

Hum Nutrition has scientific evidence behind each and everyone. I’m all ALL ABOUT that, it’s so important if you are going to take any supplement that you know the research behind the ingredients in them.

How Hum Works

Before you randomly choose some products, take their 3 minute evaluation, and get exactly what your body needs. Then a registered dietitian reviews your results & sends you nutrient recommendation, I mean how awesome is that.

Okay, lets get into the products and the specifics of what I’ve been taking.

 

Hum Nutrition

Arctic Repair 

The last 3 months I have been taking Arctic repair is full of Lingonberry Seed Oil +Omega-3 +Omega-6+Omega-9+Vitamin E +Vitamin A. Lingonberries are packed full of antioxidants. OH how I love antioxidants- – they help protect us against damaging free radicals on the cells. Studies show that these Lingonberries help with hydration and dryness, which I’m all about since I have super dry skin.

Collagen Love

OKAY something I love about HUM is that they are science backed. On their website when you find the product it has a tab just about the SCIENCE behind ingredients. Collagen is provides so many benefits- you want glow-y wrinkle free skin and maybe killer hair and nails then add in some collagen. This is the easiest way to get it in your daily routine- – Collagen Love has collagen peptide + vitamin c + chondroitin sulfate+ Hyaluronic Acid +Red Wine Extract + Grape Seed Extract.

GLOW Sweet GLOW

I’ve fallin MADLY in love this Glow Sweet Glow. Anything with hyaluronic acid in it and I’m sold- -Hyaluronic acid is like the queen of hydration. If your like me you’ve just been putting hyaluronic acid on your face. But Hum Nutrition has taken the science behind actually ingesting hyaluronic acid and made into a yummy gummy. Quick, easy and OMG so delicious – – Glow Sweet Glow is full of Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid+ Vitamin C + Vitamin E + Amla Fruit.

Daily Cleanse

LOVE A GOOD DETOX: Detoxing doesn’t have to be intense and scary. I hate seeing people do these crazy detoxes that are just so not necessary. Your liver is your filtration system, it literally converts toxins into waste products, cleansing your blood. I have been taking this cleanse and it’s super gentle and is filled with ingredients that are proven to detox – – Organic Chlorella + Beetroot + Red Clover + Dandelion Root +Oregon Grape Root + Milk Thistle + Alpha Lipoic Acid +  Zinc + Selenium + Copper + Manganese + Spirulina  Matcha Green Tea. . .  OMG so many good things, I can’t stand it!

Red Carpet

The #1 seller at Sephora: the Red Carpet has Black Currant Seed Oil which is a source of GLA, ALA, plus it has sunflower seed oil which is packed with Vitamin E. I mean lets be honest these are all the ESSENTIALS if you are wanting glow-y dewy fabulous skin- – Black Currant Seed Oil, Vitamin E

Raw Beauty Super Food

Wake up, Brush teeth, Lemon water, Coffee, Morning Shake with Raw Beauty Super food. Literally I don’t go a day without this – – the proof is in the pudding, this is the ultimate beauty powder. Guys, it has 39 superfoods and the goal is for it improve your energy, support radiant skin and boost your metabolism. I know it has made a difference in my skin, it’s literally one of my FAVORITE products I use.

There you have it my go-to beauty products in 2018. You know I am all about taking care of our skin by having a great skin routine and wearing sunscreen– I mean those things are great but I think we can do more than that.

I wanted to share about HUM Nutrition with you not to preach but to share the potential benefits. And of course to ENCOURAGE you guys to try something new & always do your research- – trust me this time, it’s totally worth it.

xo- Whitney

▴ what else: ENTER the Instagram giveaway– 3 people will WIN a bottle of Red Carpet & a HUM gift card.

▴ check out my previous post for more on HUM nutrition

▴ this post is in collaboration with Hum Nutrition, but all of these opinions are mine.

Hum NutritionHum Nutrition

 

Wellness

How to Manage Anxiety: Practical Advice from Jenny West – Mehrer LMFT

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on How to Manage Anxiety: Practical Advice from Jenny West – Mehrer LMFT

Hey Guys- – I’m back yet again talking about ANXIETY. A few weeks back I shared with you my tips for breaking up with anxiety.  But I wanted to bring in a true professional on the topic of anxiety, so we can really kick anxiety’s butt! My good friend Jenny Mehrer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist here in San Diego, we’ve known each other since 9th grade and you guys she is such an amazing person and great at her job. She is here to give us her professional tips on how to manage anxiety… so let’s get into it! Dear Anxiety, Let's Break Up

Hi Everyone Jenny Here… Anxiety is something that I spend most of my days learning about, working with and helping others (and myself) manage. It sure is powerful and we live in a society that creates an environment for it to grow. I want to highlight that it is important to remember that not ALL anxiety is bad. Anxiety often serves a purpose and, at times, can keep us safe and aware. To be honest, most of the time anxiety or worry can feel like too much. Here are a few quick tips to help manage anxiety when it becomes “too much.”

 Jenny’s 5 Tips For Managing Anxiety

  1. Write it out: Whatever is on your mind, write it down. It does not have to make sense or be perfect, just get your thoughts (which are often rushing around) down on paper or in a note in your phone. Once your thoughts/worries/fears are written down, they often appear more manageable.
  2. Press pause: Set aside time to engage in 15-20 minutes of yoga, meditation or prayer. You can do this with or without the assistance of apps (Mycalmbeat and Mindshift are great). Youtube has a handful of great yoga videos and guided meditations.
  3. Practice self-care: Drink a cup of tea, take a bath, get a pedicure or message, go to bed early, sit in a cozy spot and read a book. Whatever you feel gives you a break and nourishes your soul, do it. Make it a priority. NOTE: Caffeine, alcohol and junk food can make anxiety worse so avoid “treating yourself” that way.
  4. Get moving: It is amazing what a quick 15-minute walk can do for your mood. If you have more time, try to get a 45-minute workout. If walking is not your thing, get moving in other ways. Go to a barre class, find a Zumba video on YouTube, lift weights or go for a swim. Any sort of activity will help improve your mood and release endorphins.
  5. Check yourself: After you engage in an activity that helps you calm down, check yourself. What triggered the anxiety? Are your thoughts and feelings accurate? Can you try a different approach to your worry? Sometimes it is helpful to talk it out with a trusted (and empathetic) friend or family member.

Sometimes anxiety (or depression or a feeling of being “off”) is not easily managed. If that is the case for you or someone you care about, I recommend seeking our professional help.

www.westmehrertherapy.com

Sources: https://adaa.org/tips  https://www.verywellfit.com/walking-for-your-mind-and-spirit-3432871  

 

Beauty, Skin

Erin the Aesthetician: Tips For Healthy And Flawless Skin

by Positively PosieLeave a Comment on Erin the Aesthetician: Tips For Healthy And Flawless Skin

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Erin and I connected through Instagram(of course)!  She works at Restore SD Plastic Surgery, so naturally we connected over skin and skincare.

She was nice enough to share her tips for Healthy And Flawless Skin, which now I get to share with you all. AND she also  gave me one of these amazing Blue Stone Sun Shields — GUYS how can I be from Arizona and not already have one of these … yes yes it’s a little over the top but seriously it’s the best.

Erin the Aesthetician Here- – I’m sure we can all agree that the sun is a wonderful thing, but it also has the potential to do serious damage to the skin.

The sun emits UV waves which can cause up to 80% of aging in the skin. Because of that we often see skin cancers, wrinkles, brown spots and age spot. The first places this damage shows up is on our face, neck, and décolleté.

This premature wrinkling and damage from sun exposure is called photo-aging.  Obviously guys– prevention is easier than reversal. However, there are plenty of options out there to treat your already damaged skin.

Okay let’s get into the fun stuff…

 SUNSCREEN

Sun damage is cumulative, which means it builds up over time starting when you were just a baby.  The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that your skin has already experienced almost half of its UV exposure by the time you’re 40!  Basically it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen.

+ Reminders

  • Dime size amount to your face, rain or shine, and re-apply every two hours if you’re going to be out in the sun. Shot glass size amount when spending a day at the beach or by the pool.
  • On my face I prefer to use a physical sunscreen which contains Zinc or Titanium Dioxide. This REFLECTS the UV waves instead of absorbing and scattering them in your body.

+ Favorites

 EXFOLIATION

When we exfoliate we’re clearing off the dead skin that builds up on the top layer of skin called the Stratum Corneum.

+ Reminders

  • Removing those old cells helps to brighten the skin, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and give you a radiant glow.
  •  Don’t over exfoliate, it will damage the protective layer in your skin. Use facial scrub or enzyme/acid peel 1-3 times a week.

+ Favorites

 DARK SPOTS

There are several ways to do this and it all depends on what you’re comfortable with.

  • Topical products that contain natural lightening agents such as kojic acid, vitamin c, mandelic acid and mulberry extracts.
  • Prescription products like Hydroquinone and Retinol will work quickly. Make sure to track your usage of RX strength with your aesthetician or doctor as they can injure the skin if used incorrectly.

+ Favorites

 LASER TREATMENTS

 Sun damage laser treatments have made huge advancements in the last couple of years. Any laser treatment will require a consultation before treatment and are not always suitable for darker skin tones.

+ Check Out

  • Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing which high-energy light to burn away damaged skin. It also treats pigmentation, wrinkles and scars. Ablative laser treatments can generally be performed once every couple of years and carry 7-10 days worth of down time.
  • Non-ablative lasers which do not burn away or remove the top layers of the skin.  Non-ablative lasers can be performed as often as once a month and no down time.

 ANTIOXIDANTS

UV radiation causes free radical damage in our skin, which are responsible for breaking down collagen & elastin. This results in sagging, lines, and wrinkles. Look to topical cream or serums containing Vitamin C or Green Tea to help. Antioxidants are the powerhouse that block the effects of free radicals and help to repair the damage. Consume at least one food a day high in antioxidants like blueberries or oranges.

+ Favorites

RESTORE HYDRATION

Moisturizers will often “glue” the dead skin cells you try to exfoliate away back onto your skin. Moisturizers attempts to hydrate the skin from outside to inside.  Look for serums that contain Hyaluronic Acid, which binds water in the skin allowing you to truly hydrate the skin.

+ Favorites

None of this will matter if you don’t wear sunscreen, so be sure to wear it every day, and see a board certified dermatologist annually for skin and mole checks!  We all have busy lives, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.- – ERIN

Thanks for all these awesome tips Erin and I love love love like every product she recommended!

AND- – – as always I wanna hear from you guys! Do you wear visors or crazy hats to stay away from the sun. I mean girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do to avoid the sun, right!

xo- WhitneyFacetune-18-05-2018-16-03-54.jpg

Wellness

We’re Friends Right? So Lets Talk About Anxiety

by Positively Posie1 Comment on We’re Friends Right? So Lets Talk About Anxiety

friends 2.jpgANXIETY– Can literally control someone’s life. That is such a sad statement, but guys that is the truth. I am not ashamed to talk about this and say ya.. I have anxiety.

Let me just say anxiety is no JOKE. We need to take care of our mental health just like we take care of skin or our physical health. I think it’s an important topic to talk about and shed some light on. So I wanted to share with you the things I do to calm my anxiety and take back control of my thoughts.

Don’t you think everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life? Well they do.. Anxiety is highly subjective to each person, obviously worse for some than others. Something that helped me right away is just saying..I need some help- – like I’m at a point that I need some guidance on how to manage my anxiety. It’s never a bad time to ask for help, just asking for help that was a first step….

So here is what I have done over the last few years of my life to help manage my anxiety.

I broke these up into the FOUR basic things I started out doing and I STILL do on a daily basis.

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▴ Take a moment and breath. When I consciously focus on calming thoughts and calming breaths, I can feel my body start to relax. Honestly, there are tons of different breathing exercises for anxiety, so try out several to see what works best for you. What I do is I close my eyes, and start to relax every muscle group from my toes up to my head.  I then take 6 deep breaths through my nose and hold for 5 seconds.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” — Amit Raz

▴ Adrenal Support- So I’ve talked about the importance of  adrenal support before and I’ll say it again if you have anxiety you need to study up on the connection between the two. I support my adrenals with proper supplementation and I notice a huge difference when I am not on them. Someone like a naturopathic doctor is going to be able to guide best, let me know if you have any questions about this.

▴ Lay off the coffee--This is a very sad truth! I have now limited my caffeine intake to one cup a day and I notice a big difference.

▴ Meditation. I have been trying to incorporate meditation into my life for awhile now. I am trying try train myself to be mindful. Meditation is helping me take unproductive worries and look at them in a totally different way. There are tons of apps out there if you don’t know where to start, I’ve been using headspace and I like it so far.

next FOUR steps I’ve implemented over the last year.

▴ Therapy… I cant tell you how awesome therapy can be. Finding the right person is key, do your research and then pray about it. Guys, listen I personally think there is still such a stigma around therapy, which is so sad. People need to freaking GET OVER IT! Therapy for is a place to learn about yourself and how to handle all feelings. It’s truly Fantastic!

I’ve linked my therapist here in San Diego, talking to her and learning from her has been key!  Just connecting with another human being and having them show you compassion, it’s JUST incredible!! Check out her Instagram and  FANTASTIC podcast!

▴ Have a “person”. Guys–I am all about going to therapy when you need it. If you are NOT at a point where you are ready to go to a therapist then find a FRIEND someone to talk to about how you are feeling!

So many times I just hear people say, “Oh I’m just working through it myself.” That might work for some people but for me my mom couldn’t be my therapist FOREVER (love you mom). I guess the take away is at the end of the day, you NEVER have to worry alone. PLEASE talk to someone when you need to talk.

▴ FILL your CUP with good and positive things. It’s key everyday to Talk, Learn, and Grow by filling your mind with positivity. Recently I was introduced to Susan David who talks about emotional agility, which is eye opening & mind blowing at the same time. Listen to her wisdom over on the podcast, The Robcast.  Other positive Podcasts or books I love and use everyday to fill my cup – – The Alison Show Ep 52 is all about her anxiety journey and WELL everything Brene Brown.

These are a few tips that really have worked for me and helped me handle my day to day anxiety. I’m still working on EVERY DAMN DAY because I’m not perfect and still struggle!

Let me know if you have any questions. AND of course I want to know how you deal with your anxiety. Comment and Share your tips me here or on instagram, I love hearing them!

XO- Whitney