Of all the assets that contribute to beauty, our skin is probably the most important feature we have. Our skin contributes to our looks more than any other element that graces our body, but beyond that, it is enormously important for our health. It is the stuff of poetry and the largest single driver of most people’s beauty budget as we shop for cleansers, exfoliators and moisturizers. So, since September is Skincare Awareness Month, and we, at TSLMS are all about skin, we put together this special installment of our blog to celebrate everything about skincare.
Ode To Skin
The magnificence of skin
wrapping heart, guts, brain and somewhere, soul
it links me to the world
whispers to me of the delight of wind
tells me stories of fire, snow, grass.
Contains a million million nerves that feather finely
that sing below the skin, a sweet orchestra, or a shrill harpy choir
holds in the blood, knits over wounds, renews
bears scars, traces memories, maps life, anguish, loss
breaks on impact, stretches, wrinkles, softens, thins
bends over finger joints, folds into elbows, delicately glides over eyes
wears hair like tiny quills, like hills flowing into gullies,
dances in air and water, in smoke, in thistledown,
is perfumed by earth, by sweat, piss, flowers, wine, salt,
and the trace of another’s skin upon our own.
Throughout history it seems that humankind has had a love affair with skin. There is definitely a typology though that drives the coveting of both the skin we wish we had and the skin we want to see. Throughout the ages the exact ideal of skin has changed only in tone – moving from buttermilk pale to golden tan and back to white. However the same basic qualities seem to be timeless hallmarks of beauty:
- Deweyness, or youth
- Glow
- Lift and Suppleness
- Blemishless
VerywellHealth defines it this way:
- Consistent Color
- Smooth Texture
- Hydration
- Normal Sensations
Of course, they are equating these beauty factors with healthy skin, which is not surprising. As healthy skin and beautiful skin are pretty much one in the same.
Achieving Healthy Skin
Healthy skin is more beautiful than unhealthy skin. Most dermatologists, aestheticians, and other experts share opinions on the best ways to accomplish that and there is no lack of information that can be found on the topic. There are those things that you should do to have the most beautiful skin possible and those things that you should avoid.
Things you should do include, as noted by an article Cosmopolitan:
- Use TLC when removing eye makeup
- Drink a lot of water, even more than the 8 glasses recommended (adding a slice of lemon will give you antioxidants and vitamin C that help make skin glow)
- Use antioxidant serums
- Use face cream and sunscreen combination to keep your face hydrated
- Work out
- Sleep on clean pillow cases
- Eat healthy, consistently and include a lot of fruits and vegetables
- Exfoliate regularly
- Clean your cell phone regularly
- Wear sunglasses outside
We would add getting plenty of sleep each night.
What you should avoid if you want to have good skin, is consuming a lot of alcohol, too much caffeine, sugar, or smoke. These take a toll on your skin, drying it out and instigating wrinkles and sagging. So, too, does sunbathing. Photo-aging, caused by UV rays is the largest contributor to early aging.
Merk Manual, Consumer Version has some great information on how sunlight damages the skin, countered with how some sunlight is good for the skin. In summary, they point out that, “Sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, helps control some chronic skin diseases (such as psoriasis), and causes a sense of well-being. The skin also shields the rest of the body from the sun’s rays, yet can itself be damaged by exposure to the sun. Damage includes not only a painful sunburn but also wrinkling and other changes associated with aging skin, precancerous skin growths, skin cancers, and even allergic reactions and worsening of some skin diseases… UV light (all types) damages deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA—the body’s genetic material), which can ultimately lead to cancer. UV light also has damaging effects such as premature skin aging and wrinkling. Sunburn can also result from UV light, primarily UVB. There is no safe level of UV light.” This is why it is important to assure you are protecting yourself from the sun by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing and limiting your exposure when outdoors.
Making the Skin More Beautiful
Good diet, exercise, and plenty of sleep will only go so far. This is where TSLMS members professionally enter the scene. Laser therapy and other treatments can help to refresh, rejuvenate, and take years off of the way a person’s skin looks. We have the power to remove wrinkles, plump up the body under the skin, take away age spots and even create a youthful glow. Those treatments are a temporary fix for your clients, but you should encourage them to take good care of their skin- especially after they invest in your services.
