Howard Murad's Blog, page 42

Our All-New Resurgence Regimen

Our all-new Resurgence regimen has been formulated with one goal in mind—to give you the power to look as young as you feel. The core products in this unique renewing regimen have been enhanced with hydrating proteins from the powerful Resurrection Plant.  This super-hardy desert plant can survive for months in a dormant dehydrated state and then burst back to a lush, green and vibrant state with the first rain.

Watch how the Resurrection Plant works in the video below:

Murad Resurgence user and Brand Ambassador, Donna Rojas shares her experience with Resurgence:

“As a fitness instructor, my peers and I really support each other but as I get older, the younger ones come in and at times it’s intimidating because I know eventually they’re going to take over my position. I don’t want it to happen overnight. I want to make a nice, smooth transition.  But when I look in the mirror, especially now, I feel like I’m as young as they are, appear as young as they are. I’m more mature, and I carry myself differently but, when I look in the mirror, I see them and I see myself, and I look pretty good for somebody that is 55 years old with two kids that are 26 and 25. So, I’m happy, and my husband is happy!

In the past few weeks, since I’ve been using Resurgence, I look in the mirror and I’m happy! I feel good. I feel good when I wake up and I feel better when I see myself in the mirror. I look forward to using the products. It’s absolutely astonishing that this product can bring such joy to a person. I’m grateful I was able to participate in the Murad Resurgence study. It’s just very gratifying for myself, and it’s something for me for a change, not anyone else. Although it affects other people in positive ways because I’m feeling good about myself.

I don’t feel 55 when I look in the mirror anymore, so that’s a hat off to Murad.”

Thank you Donna for sharing your positive experience, we’re so happy that Resurgence boosted your skin and your confidence. To check out our new Resurgence formulas, click here. Check back on our blog to read more from our fantastic Murad Brand Ambassadors.

Meet Jill Neil, 6 Tips for the Working Parent

Meet Jill Neil. She just celebrated her tenth year at Murad. Her specialty is Marketing and her passion is motherhood. As a full time working mom to a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, she definitely has her hands full. We caught up with her recently to find out how she balances it all.

What does work-life balance mean to you?

Managing the time you dedicate to your work and lifestyle so that you experience achievement and enjoyment in both.

So often I feel that “work” is interpreted as a job you have to do and “life” is the stuff that makes you happy. But I have aspects of my job that make me very happy and aspects of my life that are hard work.

Work and life responsibilities can definitely feel like a juggling act. And the more things we’re juggling, the more important it is to manage the amount of time we dedicate to each one. But there never seem to be enough hours in the day… Therefore, time management is critical to achieving a healthy work-life balance.  If we effectively manage the time we invest in our careers, our families, our relationships, our communities and our SELVES, we will feel a better sense of control and experience less stress.

How has your work-life balance changed since you had kids?

There has always been a balance. There are just more things to balance now – and some very important people in my life to balance them for. Before kids, the hours in the day were all mine. I had the option to arrive early or stay late at work, join coworkers for happy hour, spend an entire evening catching up on my favorite TV shows. The only schedule I had to adjust was my own. Now my routine is much more rigid, by choice and by necessity (as anyone with young kids will agree). I plan my workday so that I can leave right at 5 to stay on schedule for my job as a mom. If I’m running late, it affects my whole family – cranky kids, late dinner, late bedtime, less sleep, stressful morning, less patience. It becomes a vicious cycle and no one is happy. But when I’m diligent about sticking to the schedule, life is better for everyone. (Although I do miss those spontaneous happy hours…)

What are your tips for working parents – or anyone for that matter – trying to achieve a better work-life balance?

 Identify your priorities. If you’re like me, you have a long list of all the things you’d like to dedicate your time to. But there are only so many hours in the day/week/year. Identify the relationships and responsibilities most important to you and make those your top priorities.
Make yourself a priority. Take care of yourself. Exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep. Reduce stress by creating “me” time to pamper yourself and follow your passions. YOU are the most important person in the world. (Just ask Dr. Murad.)
Plan ahead as much as possible. Mornings are definitely the most stressful time at our house when we’re all rushing to get out the door. To cut down on this stress and make for happier mornings, use the night before to plan tomorrow’s outfits and prepare tomorrow’s lunches (yours included). Additionally, get in the habit of weekly meal planning so dinner is another stressful decision you don’t have to make at the end of the day.
Just say no. Of course you want to do it all. And you don’t want to let anyone down either. But if committing to something that doesn’t align with your priorities feels stressful before you even commit, just say no.
Say yes – and enjoy it! Saying no to the things you don’t care as much as about, allows you to really enjoy the things you love. Then your time is well spent without regret. (Really need a weekend away? Go for it! Use that time away to unwind so you can return focused and refreshed.)
Forget multi-tasking. Technology makes it easier than ever to multitask these days. But when you’re multi-tasking you’re not giving the project or person at hand your full attention. At work, prioritize your workload and tackle your projects one at a time to accomplish them faster. At home, give your kids (and spouse) your undivided attention – they need it, trust me! And don’t forget about yourself either. What good is a pedicure for stress relief if you’re checking work email on your mobile device?

How do you support the Murad Inclusive Health Vision of Looking, Living and Feeling #BetterEveryDay?

How do you LOOK BETTER?

I’m very diligent about my 3 step Murad skincare routine (plus toner and eye cream) every morning and evening – no matter how exhausted I am. And I ALWAYS wear SPF during the day. My routine includes: Refreshing Cleanser, alternated with AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Hydrating Toner, Intensive Age-Diffusing Serum, Renewing Eye Cream, Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30 in the morning and Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture at night. I also can’t live without Acne Treatment Concealer Medium and Soothing Skin and Lip Care – the perfect finishing touches.

How do you LIVE BETTER?

With 2 young kids I hardly ever have a chance to sit down at home – which is good because it keeps me active. During the week I find small ways to incorporate exercise into my workday, like walking to the store to buy healthy lunches for the week and taking the stairs in our parking structure.

In terms of nutrition, I’m a pretty healthy eater. Though I have a huge sweet tooth for baked goods – donuts, cookies, pie, you name it. Per Dr. Murad’s 20% rule, I enjoy the occasional splurge, but I do not keep any of these things in the house and dessert is only reserved for very special occasions. My kids are healthy eaters, too. They eat a ton of fresh fruits and veggies – more than I do! They are my daily reminder to include more water-rich foods into my diet.

How do you FEEL BETTER?

In my free time you will most likely find me playing with my kids, getting outdoors, taking pictures, planning parties, shopping, going on the occasional date with my husband and spending time with friends. I make sure to pamper myself with a facial, massage or mani/pedi from time to time as well.

If you weren’t at work what would you be doing?

Exploring new places around LA or SoCal with my kids. I love experiencing their joy as they discover new places. Whether it’s Disneyland, a resort pool in Palm Springs, a petting zoo at a local fair or a park in our neighborhood, to them it’s the most amazing place ever and it reminds me to really live in the moment.

We’re thrilled to have a working mom at Murad who inspires all parents to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives. Stay tuned for more great advice and insight from Jill here on the blog.

Are you a working parent? What does work-life balance mean to you? Share in the comments below.

Meet Maeve McCaffrey: YogaWorks Instructor

We are excited to introduce you to Maeve McCaffrey, who has been teaching yoga for almost 15 years. She currently teaches at YogaWorks studios, where she is also the Director of Programming and Teacher Management. We know you’ll enjoy reading about her journey from fitness instructor to yogi. Her recommendation to find your breath, open your heart and listen to your body is worth following on and off the mat.

What first drew you to Yoga?

I was very fortunate to be exposed to yoga in my early childhood. My mother had a meditation and gentle asana practice and casually taught as well. I would watch her with her teacher and often join in. I clearly remember headstands at age four. Eschewing all things maternal in my later youth, I didn’t start practicing on my own until I was in my early 20s. I was an athlete throughout school and began working in fitness when I was 20. I was putting my body through the wringer. Monday nights, I would teach three fitness classes in a row; think 1990′s jumping around for an hour! Suddenly, there was a yoga class that followed my last class. For a few weeks, I would talk to the teacher in passing and assert that one of these days, I was going to stay and she told me when it was right, I would. Soon, it was and I did. Always very flexible, I decided the “stretch and cool down” would be good after my classes, and one breath after another, I was hooked.

How did you get into teaching Yoga?

I was already teaching group fitness and one of the clubs where I taught was offering yoga training. I’ve always loved to learn, and was loving my own practice. And like so many teachers with no intention of teaching, I just thought I’d learn more. The training was fairly short and made me want to go deeper. So I enrolled in another, then another, and took as many classes as my schedule would allow. I started working first with private clients, then, because of my connections with fitness, I was fortunate enough to have the trust of my peers to actually lead people through classes!

How long have you been practicing/teaching?

I’m not so good with years and dates, and at the time it didn’t seem significant to mark the beginning. It was just something that was growing in my life. I would estimate I began practicing around 1995 and teaching formally in 1999 or 2000. I think when you’re an instructor, you typically start teaching before you even know that you’re teaching. You’re excited about something and you pass on any nugget you think might help someone else.

What is your favorite part about practicing yoga?

The breath, the breath, the breath.

What is your favorite Yoga pose?

Currently, I’ve been craving backbends and I would have to go with Little Thunderbolt pose which really opens the heart.

What advice would you give to a yoga newcomer?

Be patient and stay open. So many people come to heal their back or to become flexible or they DON’T come because they need to heal their back or aren’t flexible. You might come for one reason and realize you’re staying for another. I started my practice to stretch, but found I really didn’t need to stretch, conversely, I needed joint stability. Stay open to the experience. If you try it once and don’t like it, try another teacher or another style or maybe, let go of your expectations. Mostly, have fun, enjoy the experience and listen. I mean that. I think that’s an underrated tenet of being a student, commit to listening. Open your ears and allow yourself to hear. The teacher and yourself.

What is your personal mantra?

I hope I don’t disappoint and wish it were more profound: Inhale. Exhale. 

We agree Maeve; sometimes the simplest advice is the best advice. Thank you for sharing your journey and your wisdom with us. We’re also happy to have Maeve as a Murad Brand Ambassador – check out her profile here.

To all of our readers: What is your favorite part about your yoga practice? What do you LOVE to do that keeps your mind calm and your body fit?

Murad’s First-Ever Flagship Store: The Grand Opening

25 years ago, Dr. Murad created the first modern doctor brand of high performance skincare. Now, with the opening of our Flagship Store on November 6th, Murad has passed another milestone.

When you step inside the store, you are entering into a truly programmatic retail experience that is designed to guide you on a personalized journey that will help you to find the products you need and to understand the Inclusive Health philosophy that support the brand.

The innovative services and activities customers can enjoy include:

Complimentary Express Services

A complimentary express service is the perfect way to learn how to apply our products and to experience the transformative power of a targeted Murad regimen.

YouthCam Consultation

Murad’s YouthCam reveals your skin’s past and creates a custom regimen to help you change its future.

Interactive Art Wall

Our unique art wall allows you to create your own masterpiece and share it with your friends and family through links to popular social media platforms.

Grand Opening Activities—November 6-November 9

Complimentary skincare applications
Murad tote bag for 1st 20 clients*
Special gift with purchase**
Refreshments
Exclusive offers and promotions
Create your own masterpiece on our interactive art wall

Stop by our new Flagship to discover what it feels like to shop in an atmosphere designed entirely with the health of your skin in mind. We hope to see you and hope you’ll take a few minutes from your explorations to  book an express service, or get a quick skin health evaluation and walk away with a customized renewal plan based upon Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health® system of care.

Come visit #MuradFlagship for all your skincare needs and walk away inspired to look, live and feel #BetterEveryDay.

Murad Store

8207 W. 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90048

Phone: 323.424.3075

*While supplies last. Limited availability. Valid only from 11-6-14 to 11-9-14.

**Free with the purchase of full size Murad retail products over $75 on or before 11-9-14. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. One per customer. While supplies last.

Celebrity Makeup Artist Event

Murad hosted celebrity makeup artists at an educational and interactive event at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Guests spent the afternoon hearing about our newest launches, playing with our products on a mini studio set to see the immediate results and skin benefits through an HD camera lens.  Guest also had a chance to create new “beauty cocktails” at a mixology station by blending Murad with some of their favorite makeup must-haves and a chance to learn key pre-makeup and post-makeup rituals that not only address the topical skin concerns of their clients, but also deliver an emotional benefit by helping to reduce stress.

One major concern for makeup artists is the fact that new technology, like HD cameras, makes it impossible to cover skin flaws with makeup alone.  The underlying condition of the skin is now really critical. Guests at the event had the opportunity to experiment at the “Set Life” station where an HD camera allowed the artists to see immediate visible results using Murad products to improve skin’s appearance.

Often times a makeup artist will mix an eye cream with a concealer or a foundation with a moisturizer to create a new “beauty cocktail” to use on a client. To encourage artists to include Murad in the mix, a “Mixology” station gave guests a chance to play with makeup and Murad products to create their own custom beauty cocktails.  Bright and beautiful combinations included an “eye opener”  from makeup artist Christina Culinski who likes mixing Instant Radiance Eye Cream + concealer for a boost of radiance to the eye area and a “night cap” from makeup artist Brittany Sullivan who likes to mixes Soothing Skin and Lip Care with a reflective eye shadow to highlight the inner eye.

A fundamental part of Inclusive Health is focusing on Feeling Better by managing stress. The “Pre-Makeup Ritual” and “Post-Makeup Ritual” stations emphasized the importance of creating a spa-like environment and experience in the makeup trailer to address that emotional component. The pre-makeup ritual highlighted treatment products and moisturizers, focusing on the important role they play in delivering highly effective results for beautiful skin on and off camera. Artists were also shown special product application and massage techniques to help enhance the spa experience on set. At the post-makeup ritual station, guests not only learned about the best Murad products for removing makeup, but also were taught special rituals to provide calming benefits to clients after long days on set.

Here are just a few of the social media posts some of the makeup artists shared about the event:

Kerrie Urban shared with her Instagram followers that she can’t wait to try the new Murad products on her clients.

Nina Roxanne shared with her Instagram followers that she loves the new Age Balancing Moisture SPF 30 and that her skincare kit just got on upgrade.

Valerie Noble shared with her Twitter followers that it was a fun day checking out the new Murad products.

Heather Currie shared with her Twitter followers that she was giving her skin a treat at the Murad event.

April Chaney shared with her Instagram followers that she’s excited to try the new products on her celebrity clients.

Kathy Santiago shared an Instagram photo of the mixology station set-up at the event.

We’re thrilled that everyone had a blast. Stay tuned here on the blog for more fun events!

Find Your Inner Zen: How to Meditate in 5 Easy Steps

The practice of quieting your mind and focusing on your breath is not just for the enlightened. Anyone can meditate. No matter how stressed out or busy you are. But we admit, starting a meditation practice can be frustrating at first. It’s hard to shut our minds off and do nothing, even for just a few minutes!

Research has shown that regular meditation can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and increase mental clarity. It’s an indispensable tool for living a longer, richer life and avoiding the burnout that comes from cultural stress. So how do you get started? We’ve got 5 easy steps to help you find your inner zen.

Find a quiet spot. Chose a quiet place, it doesn’t matter where, just as long as you won’t be interrupted. Sometimes early morning is best, before everyone in your house is awake and making lots of noise. Others might find a spot in a park or on the beach or some other soothing setting. Again, it really doesn’t matter where, as long as you can sit without being bothered for a few minutes.

Set a timer. Use a kitchen timer or the one on your smartphone (there are even free meditation timer apps that you can download). We suggest starting with 5 or 10 minutes. Commit to yourself that you will not get up until the timer goes off. You might find yourself wanting to stop at some point, especially if you’re new to meditation. But don’t give up. Let the timer tell you when to stop.

Sit comfortably. You don’t need a fancy meditation pillow or to sit in the lotus position. The most important thing is that you’re comfortable. You can be on a chair, the floor, the couch—wherever you’re able to fully relax until your timer goes off. Experiment. See what works for you.

Focus on your breath. Mindfully breathing is the foundation of meditation. Close your eyes and inhale as deeply and comfortably as you can through your nose. Then exhale slowly and gently through your mouth. Notice your belly rise and fall with each breath. Don’t rush your breathing and don’t hold your breath. Listen to your breath. Feel it in your nostrils and your throat. Try to relax and melt into the sensation.

Watch your attention. This step is the hardest for most people. Your biggest block to meditation is your mind. As you notice your mind wandering off into the never-ending chatter most of us experience, gently return your focus back to your breath. No judgment. No frustration. Just keep returning your focus back to your breathing until the timer goes off. This part gets easier with practice.

That’s it! Before long, you’ll find yourself able to just sit and have a quiet mind, although how long it lasts may differ depending on what you have going on that day. And realize there is no right or wrong way to do meditation. Consistency is more important than quantity here. Meditating for 5 minutes every day will reward you with far greater benefits than meditating for an hour once a week. You can make the time to meditate every day just like you take the time to brush your teeth: simply make it part of your daily routine. Good luck and Namaste!

Improving Relationships with Inclusive Health

Here’s a personal story a woman shared with us about how, through making simple Inclusive Health inspired adjustments to her lifestyle, she has successfully transformed herself to being a happier person – and how she has been able to better connect with her loved ones and see those relationships flourish.

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I have been taking Dr. Murad’s advice and adopting an Inclusive health lifestyle into my daily routine now for about 10 weeks.  In that time, I have seen a number of  improvements in myself.

My complexion is radiant, smoother and more even in color.  I’ve been getting compliments daily about my appearance.  I honestly feel I look younger and that my wrinkles are not as deep as they were.

Physically, I’m more energized.  My digestion is better now that I eat a healthier, more balanced selection of foods – with plenty of items that are rich in water.  Even my joints have improved in that my thumbs no longer hurt.

Perhaps most importantly though, I seem to be thinking more clearly about life in general – and my personal issues.  I’ve been spending more time getting in touch with myself and I’m truly liking the “new me.”  This has helped me to learn to authentically represent myself to others and by doing so I have been able to better connect with and improve upon my most important relationships.  I’m actually spending more quality time with my fiancé, my daughters and my close friends and enjoying that tremendously.

-J.E.

5 Tips for a Healthy Halloween

Happy #FitnessFriday everyone! With Halloween upon us, we’re here with tips to make it easier to stand up to holiday temptations and keep your life in line with your fitness and nutritional goals. Here are 5 fun and festive tips to help keep you on the right track.

 1. The Great Pumpkin Workout

Carve your pumpkin and carve your body! There are lots of effective exercises you can do with a medicine ball-sized pumpkin. We promise you’ll burn off that mini candy bar and them some!

Pumpkin swing. Use your pumpkin to perform classic kettlebell swings.
Overhead pumpkin lunges. Hold your pumpkin overhead for walking lunges.
Pumpkin squats. Hold your pumpkin at chest level and do 10-12 deep squats.
Pumpkin sit-ups and crunches. Perform these traditional abdominal exercises using the pumpkin for added weight.
Pumpkin burpees. Classic burpees with an added pumpkin bonus.
Pumpkin twist. This is a seated Russian twist… with a twist! The pumpkin increases the challenge.
Pumpkin triceps extensions. Hold the pumpkin overhead, then slowly bend your elbows behind your head. Straighten your arms back up and squeeze your triceps at the top.

2. Halloween Yard Clean-up

If you want add some productive exercise to your life, get your front yard in shape so it’s presentable when your neighbors come by with their little trick-or-treaters. Raking up leaves and sweeping are both excellent aerobic exercises. You’ll feel better about yourself and your yard.

3. Trick-or-Treat Walk

Put on some comfortable sneakers and join your kids as they walk house to house collecting Halloween treats. Parents can even encourage siblings or friends to wear pedometers and start a friendly competition for who can be the most active while they are collecting candy. Another idea: If your local pumpkin patch has a Corn Maze, hit it up for a quick cardio burn.

4. Halloween-Themed Exercise Classes

Most gyms and fitness centers get in on the holiday fun and offer Halloween-themed classes. Think spinning, Zumba or boot camp. Instructors play seasonal tunes like “Monster Mash” and “Thriller” and even encourage those in attendance to wear workout-friendly costumes.

5. Keep Candy Consumption Under Control

For many people—besides the costumes—Halloween is all about the candy. So be mindful of this. Purchase your candy the day of the holiday to avoid prolonging the temptation. Make sure your kids eat a healthy dinner before they go trick or treating, so they’re less tempted to pig out on candy. And finally, remember that you don’t need to hang on to all those sweets. Let your kids keep their favorites, and get rid of the rest. You can give it away, donate it, or just throw it all out.

And it helps to remember Dr. Murad’s 80/20 guidelines in his Pitcher of Health rule. He tells us, “Your diet should consist 80% of great, healthy nutritious foods and 20% should be more flexible—foods you love regardless of whether they are good for you.” So it’s okay to enjoy your favorite Halloween treats in moderation, just make sure 80% of your daily nutritional intake is healthy and nutritious, filled with plenty of water-rich foods.

7 Tips to Protect Your Skin While You Sleep

We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. When we don’t get enough rest, we’re cranky and foggy, and not performing at our best. Did you know that the same is true for your skin? We put our skin through a lot during the day, so nighttime is when your skin gets the chance to recover from everyday wear and tear.

Here are 7 tips to help you wake up looking your best:

Cleanse No Matter How Tired You Are. Forgetting to wash your face before bedtime is a no-no. Even if you don’t wear makeup during the day, you still must wash your face. It removes dirt, oil and pollution that accumulates on the skin during the day. And always be sure to follow-up with your nighttime skincare moisturizing regime.

Keep Your Hair Off Your Face. Pull your hair back into a loose ponytail or wrap it in a scarf before going to bed. This will prevent the hair’s natural oils from rubbing off on your skin. This is especially important if you hair is unwashed.

Get Nice Pillowcases. It’s worth it to invest in some soft pillowcases, because friction from harsher cotton fibers can accelerate the development of permanent creases. Try a smooth silk or satin pillowcase, which prevents trauma to the skin and reduces the probability of your skin forming lines and wrinkles while you sleep. And remember to wash your pillowcases at least once a week.

Switch Up Your Sleeping Position. If you sleep on your back, you’re in great shape. But stomach sleepers may want to consider flipping over. When you sleep lying face down, it will eventually add more permanent lines to your face. Sleeping on your back is ideal in terms of protecting skin and reducing wrinkle formations.

Eat More Water. Staying hydrated throughout the day, by eating water-rich fruits and vegetables is important for our health in general. But, not eating enough water is a huge offense when it comes to your skin, because dehydration will make your skin look either rough and sunken or puffy and pasty in the morning. Your body’s hydration levels rebalance while you sleep, which helps your skin recover moisture.

Watch Your Thermostat. Yes, it feels nice to turn up the heat and slip into a warm, cozy bed. But if your room is too hot, you will not sleep as well, and the hot, dry air will deplete your skin of its moisture. Wear light clothing too; nothing bulky, and consider investing in a humidifier to help keep your skin hydrated and supple overnight.

Stay Away from Sugar and Carbs. Eating sugar and/or carbohydrates right before bed triggers insulin release, which interferes with growth-hormone release, which can lead to inflammation. If you do want a snack before bed, choose melatonin-rich foods like tomatoes, cherries, grapes and walnuts.

While all these tips will certainly help keep your skin healthy and glowing, if you’re not getting enough sleep, your skin will never look its best. Ample, quality sleep will leave your skin looking smoother, more even, and radiant; while inadequate sleep can leave skin with more fine lines and accelerated loss of elasticity. Experts say between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night is what you need to look and feel your best.

Healing Your Skin After Summer

No matter where you live, it’s likely that you experienced a particularly hot summer this year.  Chances are, in addition to the stress of extra heat, your skin was exposed to more sun than usual as well.  While there is no substitute for good sun protection, the good news for those who have suffered environmental damage from sun exposure is that there are a number of things we can do to heal our skin after the effects of summer.

Here is a list of some of the most common skin ailments we suffer after summer and how to best treat them.

Sunburn

Almost everyone has experienced the redness and inflammation that comes from direct overexposure to the sun. The level of discomfort, and damage done, can range from a slight irritation to a life-threatening burn. The best treatment, of course, is prevention. Make sure that anytime you go outside you are wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Wear hats and stay in the shade when outdoors for long periods of time. If your sunburn prevention methods failed (or you failed to use them), the key is to act quickly. If you start to feel like your skin is burning, get out of the sun immediately or cover up. That sunburn feeling means that the cumulative damage from exposure has reached the point at which your body is trying to protect itself. If you are already feeling the burn while still in the sun, you’re actually just feeling the start of the damage and recovery cycle and you’re probably going to feel even worse. Once your skin has been burned, take a cool bath or shower to ease the burning sensation and to help control some of the inflammation. Keep your skin lightly moisturized. As it recovers, and it is no longer hot to the touch, you can use heavier moisturizers and moisturizers with a treatment ingredient, like Vitamin C, can help to speed things along. Sunburns usually lead to dehydration, so remember to hydrate with plenty of water-rich fruits and vegetables.

 

Dry Hands

Chapped hands and fingers can be a painful side effect of dry, air conditioned houses during the summer months. To heal chapped hands quickly, I recommend using a rich moisturizing lotion every one to two hours. Look for one that contains humectants to attract moisture to the skin and emollients to trap moisture in the skin. And give your chapped hands a break by wearing gloves when you wash dishes to avoid exposure to hot water and harsh dish soap.

 

Cracked Heels

Wearing sandals and flip-flops during the summer season often leads to cracked heels. Minor cracked heels can be fixed at home with a few easy adjustments such as wearing closed toed shoes with socks, putting a thick lotion or balm on heels every night before bed, using a pumice stone in the shower and eating water-rich foods to keep cells healthy and hydrated.

 

Flaky Scalp

Sunburn or sun damage to the scalp can be painful and can lead to flaking and peeling. I always recommend putting sunscreen where your hair naturally parts and wearing a hat when outdoors. But if it’s too late to prevent your burn, treating it with some at home remedies may help. Try a chamomile or green tea rinse on your scalp followed by applying Aloe Vera or a gentle moisturizer to the burn area. Also try not to make things worse–stay out of the sun and avoid heat styling tools until your scalp has healed.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

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Sources: Podanitcs.com , Live Strong , WebMD , Skincancer.org