Sleep Issues Affecting Your Skin?

Sleep Issues -  Causing Skin Conditions?

Yes, your sleep problems can be causing skin problems. Sleep is our time to internally refresh, restore and heal.  Anything that interrupts this process can lead to the skin looking less than its best.  All of us have gotten up and looked in the mirror after a bad night’s sleep and noted the dark under-eye circles and the dull cast to the skin.  The bad sleep and the diminished skin appearance are directly related.  Anything that triggers poor sleep can make us look, and feel tired and older. 

Inadequate sleep:  whether it is odd working hours, stress, a baby in the house, insomnia, or anything else that prevents us from sleeping, it is going to result in daytime tiredness, under eye circles and a dull cast to the skin.  We can slather on all the lotions and potions we want, but if we don’t address the problem it won’t get any better.  

 If you do shift work, try to create an environment where you can get maximum rest when you do get to sleep.  Consider a device that will create white noise and blank out the potentially interruptive sounds.  Solicit the support of family and friends that “x” hours you need to be sleeping.  Rotating shifts are even harder as your body’s natural Circadian rhythm is fighting with the schedule you need to keep.  Our body’s natural desire is to sleep when it’s dark and be awake in the light.

Stress: we all know the hazards but often don’t think about them showing up on the skin.  They do.  Each of us needs to find ways to deal with the stresses in our life and there are a lot of them.  Family, babies, marriage, divorce, work, bills, friends, all can be stressful.  Even exercise or a change in routine can be stressful to the body and it will need time to adapt.  Stress affects our hormone levels which affects about everything else.  Be prepared with your little emergency kit if stress triggers skin breakouts. Try some form of meditation or relaxation to reduce stress before you go to bed to sleep better. Yes, that cup of herbal tea is a more restful nightcap than anything else. No caffeine of any form including sodas or chocolate for 4 hours prior to bedtime also is a great help.

Baby:  It’s nothing new that a baby in the house will mess with your sleep. So what is a mom supposed to do?  Go with the flow.  If you have are at home with the child, the best answer is probably napping.  When you put the baby down, take a power nap.  This may help you feel more refreshed and rested in the evening when the rest of your family is home and hoping for a bit of companionship and a meal.  If you are back at work and napping when baby does isn’t an option, try catching a power nap at lunch.  Learn to do a bit of self-hypnosis and you can feel rested and refreshed in 15 minutes.  The slow cooker is your friend.  Not only do slow cookers create very tasty and lower glycation meals, you can start it in the morning and forget it. No time to do it in the morning because of family and baby demands?  Consider making it a family together time and assemble it the night before. Get everyone involved and let them help. In the morning, just put it on the heating base and turn it on.

Snoring: Well this was a new one for me. Yes, snoring can mess with your sleep  - and I don’t mean waking your partner and them being grouchy.  Snoring loudly enough to wake yourself or your partner may mean sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea can be a potentially life threatening disorder if untreated.  During the sleep cycle breathing stops and starts multiple times.  The problem is easily recognized in men because they tend to snore loudly. Women though, (my doctor told me) are much sneaker and harder to discover. Women may or may not suffer from loud snoring but still have sleep apnea.  The problem with sleep apnea is the interrupted breathing means that the brain is not getting its routine oxygen supply.  This is what can lead to some pretty nasty health problems. Here is a listing of the symptoms and information from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/symptoms/con-20020286  I don’t have many of the classical symptoms like daytime drowsiness, but I do have sleep apnea. Learning and treating this I can avoid the health problems and wake up refreshed in the morning.

Airbrush Makeup

A Sure Way to a Flawless Finish

Airbrushed makeup has been around since the 1980's. First used for special effects and fantasy it quickly spread to use for bridal, special occasion and photography.  More recently it has come to dominate the gold standard for television and film because of its sheer flawless finish.  It stands up to HI-DEF without looking "makeupy" but giving the illusion of flawless skin.  Today it is in growing demand in salons and clinics because of the popularity of high definition photography and selfies in addition to the classical bridal, graduation and special events.  It is certainly a way for a salon/clinic to set themselves apart from the department store counters.

What makes it special?
Airbrush makeup creates a polished look that is simply not achievable with traditional application. In order for the makeup to go through the gun, its particle size is much smaller.  Properly applied, it lays down a very thin layer of makeup that seems to disappear on the skin rather than sink into pores or lines.  Unlike traditional makeup it doesn't absorb into the skin leaving blemishes exposed, rather it diffuses them so they are much less noticeable.  If you ever see airbrushed makeup that looks chalky or heavy, it is not properly applied.

Airbrush makeup is basically water and mineral pigment.  It comes in three formulas water based, silicone based and water proof.  Water based is made of water and finely ground pigments that allow the skin to breathe, is hypoallergenic and has no sticky feel.  The silicone based formulas are designed to be long wearing with no fading. Silicones can slightly fill in depressions are are popular to hide skin imperfections.  Water proof is just that, designed for long term wear and must be removed with a specialty product.  They are selected to use to camouflage/hide tattoos or other skin discolorations for several days at a time. They are not bothered by moisture or sweat.

Airbrush makeup does not transfer.  Slight rubbing or brushing against someone or something does not remove the makeup.  The only way non-waterproof formulas will transfer is if they get wet.  So it is best to blot, not wipe tears or other moisture.

Airbrush application of makeup also helps reduce cross contamination from client to client or artist to client.  With the use of the airbrush gun, the need to use fingers is eliminated along with the risks of spreading germs.

Clinics can benefit from offering these services and also to providing their clients with products and the at home airbrush devices. Clients can learn to airspray their makeup in 10 minutes or less and always have a flawless finish.  If they want the at home devices, and we know they are buying more at home devices all the time, why shouldn't you be the one offering them.  That way you will be able to select the best products for their use and have a little to tuck away for your retirement.  EstheticsNW.com offers Kett Cosmetics airbrush products and kits as well as in clinic training on how to offer these services. For complete information please contact our offices: 888-561-8068.