Winter, Summer Autumn or Spring? It Doesn’t Matter Because This Type of Skincare Applies All Year Round

I recently had my yearly visit to the dermatologist. I go once a year because I have very fair skin and living in Australia puts me in the high risk category for skin cancer. Every dermatologist I have seen has told me similar thing. I should be living in Scotland, England, Norway or Alaska.

Some of you may think why do I use a dermatologist instead of just going to a skin cancer clinic? It is a personal decision for everyone. I feel it necessary due to the fairness of my skin that I see a specialist.

Getting checked regardless of skin colour is the most important message.

I had my first treatment to remove sun spots (solar keratosis) at age 19. Usually they are frozen with liquid nitrogen if you get it diagnosed early. I had so many on the back of my neck that freezing them all was not really an option. This is due to the blisters caused by this treatment and also the possible scarring. The scar is usually a white spot.

Instead I was prescribed with a cream which does the same job. The difference is that it allows a large area to be treated without the scarring. The cream takes longer and can get very uncomfortable. However since I have had to use it to treat my face the no scar benefit alone makes it worthwhile.

I am now 32 and once again need to redo the back of my neck to clear the sun spots. This time I have been advised to apply the cream differently. I'll let you know how this goes since it is supposed to reduce the soreness. I will probably have to this every 5 years as I age and the damage caused earlier in life comes to the surface.
During my visit I learnt a few things that I think would be worthwhile to share:

• I have approximately a 10 minute limit in the sun before my skin starts to get burnt and only 4 minutes before my skin starts to get damaged. The damage does not mean sun burn. Sun burn is extreme skin damage. Your skin cells can be damaged without showing any visible sign until later in life.
• Look at the skin under your arm. That is what your undamaged skin looks like. That was a bit of a reality check for me since I am covered in freckles. Every freckle is a little reminder that I have damaged my skin. The skin under my arm might actually be a new shade of white which would look fantastic as a wall tile ;)
• I need to wear sunscreen every day and reapply at lunch time. I already thought I was very good with wearing sunscreen but knowing that I have a 10 minute limit without it I need to improve.
• SPF increases the amount of time you can spend in the sun. So using my 10 minute limit as an example, if I use a SPF 30+ cream I can stay in the sun for approximately 300 minutes before getting burnt. Some factors that affect this are your skin type (e.g. fair or dark), time of day, geographic location and how much you sweat.
• If you have any moles or suspicious looking skin spots take photos of them yearly. This will allow you to see if they change. It is very hard to notice change when you look at them every day.
• Just because winter is coming doesn’t mean that the sunscreen gets packed away. The Australian sun can still cause damage.

I know we have all the seen the ads about skin cells in trauma. But have you taken note of the message? I know I hadn’t because it just seemed like the Government was nagging me instead of my Mum.

Even when the Dermatologist was giving advice it took a great deal to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I had heard it all before but for some reason whilst driving home it I started thinking about it from a different perspective.

Instead of being annoyed at yet another lecture, I allowed the message to sink in. I will probably need reminding again in the future because lazy habits are hard to break.

I too may now have come across as nagging. But I don’t care because if one person is reminded to go and get checked then I can live with it. ;)

Free 30 Day Moisturiser Trial

For a limited time Happy Skincare is offering a free 30 day trial (excluding postage) for new customers to try the Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream.

What does this have to do with taking care of your skin in the sun? Lots!

Whilst it's incredibly important to wear a sunscreen each day, it's also important to ensure that you give your skin the nutrients it needs to repair damage done by the environment.

You can do this with a daily moisturiser like the Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream and no, you definately do not need wrinkles to use this cream! The Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream is packed with antioxidants and other ingredients to rejuvenate your skin, helping it recover from damage.

Visit the Happy Skincare website to learn more about the Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream or to place your order.

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5 More Skin Moisturiser Ingredients You Should Avoid

I am a huge advocate of natural skincare products that do not contain potentially hazardous ingredients.

The scary thing is that so many products contain them (even those that you can buy from a health food store).

I hear you ask – “Why”?

Simple answer: because they’re cheap, readily available, and easy to dilute.

Have you checked to see which ingredients are in the products you use every day?

I recommend you check right now.

Last time I told you about these 3 ingredients not to put on your skin:

• Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl and Propyl),
• Sulphates (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)), and
• Triclosan

Today, I have some more potentially toxic ingredients to tell you about.

Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum

Paraffin Oil (also called Mineral oil) is clear, liquid oil with no scent and will not spoil. Petrolatum (also known as Petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or soft paraffin) is a semi-solid mixture that is colourless or pale yellow.

These ingredients are produced as a by-product of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil (i.e. from black oil pumped from deep underground) and are major ingredients in Sorbolene, Bio-Oil, and many baby care products.

These petroleum products coat the skin like plastic – clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They can slow cellular development, creating earlier signs of ageing. They’re implicated as a cause of eczema and a suspected cause of cancer. Plus, they can disrupt hormonal activity.

Propylene glycol

Propylene Glycol is employed in skin care products as a humectant, or put simply a substance that can help the skin retain moisture. Additionally, it enhances the assimilation of other components within the product into your skin.

As well as being in countless skincare, anti-ageing, and makeup products, it’s also found in brake fluid, anti freeze, and photographic chemicals.

Whilst it may work there is certainly data showing that among other concerns, including cancer, the usage of Propylene Glycol on your skin is a potentially serious skin irritant. It may inhibit skin cell growth and has been linked to kidney and liver problems. Despite this, it is still seen as a safe ingredient and whether or not to avoid it is still under debate.

Phenol carbolic acid

This is an organic compound that is found in many lotions, skin creams, sunscreens, and hair dyes. It is a product of the distillation of coal tar, among other organic substances, and can also be made synthetically.

Phenol carbolic acid can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.

Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane is not listed as an ingredient, but is a by-product of any number of ingredients such as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, and ethoxylated alcohols.

Dioxane has been linked to cancer and is raising a great deal of concern not only for its presence in so many products but because it has been found in many 'natural' and 'organic' products. The nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.

Toluene

Beware of this ingredient as it may be very poisonous - Toluene is a solvent that is a colourless flammable liquid obtained from coal tar or petroleum. The International Fragrance Association has stated it to be unsafe for use in cosmetics.

Although there haven’t been enough studies done on humans to determine whether or not toluene causes cancer, it is well known to damage the central nervous system and can also cause anaemia, lowered blood cell count, and damage to the liver and kidneys. Pregnant woman exposed to toluene have been known to give birth to deformed babies.

Toluene also breaks down the skin’s natural protective layer resulting in rashes and red, dry, itchy skin.

Amazingly, toluene is contained in almost all synthetic perfumes and other fragrances, in nail polishes, cosmetics and other skin care products. It is any wonder why the prevalence of dry skin and eczema has reached epidemic proportions?

Now after reading about those ingredients, would you eat any of them?

No?

If you wouldn’t eat an ingredient due to it being unsafe, you really shouldn’t put it on your skin.

Your skin is your body’s largest and thinnest organ. Anything that you put onto your skin has a very high chance of soaking through your skin and into your blood stream.

Who is Watching Out for You?

Unfortunately the majority of these ingredients are completely legal for use in skincare and it is up to you to educate yourself and make smart choices about which products to use.

The Happy Skincare Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream is a daily moisturiser that is completely guaranteed not to contain any potentially harmful chemicals.

If you have checked your regular daily moisturiser’s ingredients list and found ANY of the ingredients discussed above, I recommend you switching products as of yesterday.

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For a limited time, the Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream is available to try for free.

You will receive a full sized 60ml jar of Anti-Ageing and Repair Cream - approximately a two-month supply - to try free for 30 days. All you pay today is a small shipping fee.

If after trying this cream you don't agree it's everything described (and more) simply send it back within 30 days and you will never be charged a single cent for it.

Please Note: This limited free trial offer today is for new customers only. To be awarded this free trial offer, you must confirm that you are a new customer. Due to high demand, free trials are currently limited to one per household.

*All you pay is postage and handling

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Until next time take care
Phoebe

3 Common Ingredients You May Want to Avoid Putting on Your Skin!

If you are like me then the ingredients list on the back of a cosmetic is like reading a foreign language. It's so hard to know which ingredients are safe, and which ingredients you should avoid.

Something that we often neglect to think about is that the ingredients that AREN'T in a product can be just as important as the ingredients that ARE in it.

The following is a quick guide about 3 common ingredients and their pitfalls so you can make informed decisions on what you use on your skin.

Parabens

This comes in the form of Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl and Propyl. It is used as a preservative and due to its low cost it is widely used. There are conflicting reports on the dangers of this ingredient. It does have links with breast cancer since it has the ability to mimic estrogen. However so far there is no conclusive evidence. While the jury is still out Happy Skincare has chosen to use alternative preservatives to minimise any risk to our customers.

Triclosan

This is can be found as an antibacterial agent in acne creams, soaps, detergents, toothpaste, mouth wash and deodorants. It kills all the bad bacteria but also all the good bacteria as well. It has the potential to disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system and thyroid effecting hormones levels. It accumulates in the body by being stored in body fat. It has the ability to react with chlorine from drinking water and form into dioxins which is known as a probable cause of cancer.

Due to its dangers is has been discontinued by China in the manufacture of toothpaste. Happy Skincare products do not contain triclosan.

Sulphates - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)

This is the foaming agent commonly used in shampoos, soaps, and bubble baths. It is from the sulphuric acid family and developed as an oil stripping agent. It strips the natural oil from your skin as it does the engine grease from your car. This can cause skin irritation through dryness, flaking and roughness.

It is absorbed through the skin and stores in the body, building up in the heart, liver and brain. It can mimic estrogen hormone activity which links it to cancer and other health issues. Happy Skincare products do not contain sulphates.

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is not to be confused with the above Sulphates. MSM is a natural mineral form of sulphur which is essential to the human body. Sulphur is the 3rd most abundant mineral in the body. Sulphur is essential to allow the body to produce collagen and keratin which is necessary for healthy skin. Happy Skincare’s Anti-Ageing and Repair cream was formulated around the benefits of MSM.

I'll be telling you about a few more ingredients next time.