Early Eidiya — Your Personal Invite To Red Carpet Flawless Skin

You have been a Good girl, fasting, praying and practicing our “Ramadan Healthy Body, Healthy Soul” philosophy, hence you deserve a special Eid gift — A fail proof prescription for perfect and unmarred skin customized especially for your individual skin type  — this means; not a generic one size fits all prescription, but a tailor made prescription designed especially for your skin.

First Things First, We Need To Find Out What Is Your Precise Skin Type — Mentally prepare your self to embark on a fact-finding journey with me to unveil your particular skin type & lets get cracking.

Forget about the old way you used to look at your skin — Normal, Dry or Oily. According to the new research while classifying skin we not only look at the sebaceous gland activity (normal, dry and combination/oily skin) but also the melanocyte activity (pigmented skin) and immune reactions (sensitive skin).

Grab a good mirror and take an analytic look at your skin under good lightening.

Oily/Combination & Acne Prone Skin

• If you see pores and black heads, especially around the center T-zone of your face — your skin type is combination/oily.
• If you get back heads and pimples on and off — your skin type is acne prone combination/oily.
• If your pores are enlarged all over the face and after washing your face within few hours you feel all over greasy sensation — you have oily skin.
• To be very sure you can do a quick test yourself with a skin blotting paper — if within and hour or two of washing face the blotting paper shows grease your skin is oily.

Normal Skin

• Pores are medium sized. 
• On most days skin doesn’t feel dry or oily.

Congrats you won the genetic lottery at your conception, as your skin type is normal.

Dry Skin

• Pores are almost invisible. 
• Skin is constantly in need of moisture. 
• After washing if moisturizer is not applied it feels tight and uncomfortable — you have dry skin

Sensitive Skin

• All the above skin types can fall under the sensitive category too. 
• Sensitive skin hallmark is redness, itching and skin irritation, which might be triggered by weather changes, skincare products or food.

Pigmented Skin

• If you expose to sun you don’t tan evenly you get blotchy pigmentation; some areas produce too much color and some less. 
• You have patches of uneven pigmentation on your skin triggered by sun, hormones or inflammation your skin type is pigmented.

Fitting In All The Pieces Of Puzzle Together: Now that you have read about all the skin traits mentioned above — tick mark as “Yes” the ones that apply to your skin. The ones you have check-marked as “Yes” define your exact skin type.

Congrats after this exercise you are one step closer to your ideal skin. Now that you know your exact skin type lets get you a skin prescription tailor made just for you.

Normal Skin in early 20’s: Needs gentle cleansing, moisturization and sun protection on regular basis.

I recommend Aminogenesis Really Really Clean moisturizing facial cleanser, Cetaphil daily moisturizer with SPF 15 and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun Neutrogenia Light Touch SPF 55.

Normal Skin in late 20's, 30’s & 40's: Stay honest to your daily skincare regimen and add antioxidants and collagen boosters to prevent aging and keep skin as youthful as possible. Sunscreen as a must-have UV protective shield should be always used when out and about.

I recommend Dermaceutic C25 antioxidant concentrate during daytime and Activ Retinol 1.0 at night. 

Pigmented & Normal Skin: 

In addition to daily skincare regimen add skin lightening agents to your daily routine in order to prevent pigmentation patches and keep your complexion uniform and radiant.

I recommend Skin Tech Blending Bleaching cream twice daily in addition to proper cleansing, moisturization & sun protection.

Oily Skin Teens & 20’s: 

Combination and oily skin needs special care otherwise open pores and acne can cause permanent damage in the form of pigmentation and scarring.

I recommend a face wash that cleanses thoroughly but does not make the skin overtly dry. Regular moisturization as oily skin does need hydration too, in fact adding hydration to skin relaxes the oil glands and sebum production. Using an oil-free sunblock when outdoors is imperative to prevent post inflammatory pigmentation associated with acne.

If you break out and get pimples on and off add acne treatment to your daily skincare. For mild to moderate acne I recommend Exfoliac Acnomega 100 cream and Epiduo cream on alternate nights. For severe acne see a dermatologist and ask about the prescription of Isotretinon Tablets. 

Oily Skin 30’s & 40’s: You suffer from pen pores and breakouts and adult acne still lingers on as your main skin concern. All these symptoms can be tackled with proper skincare regimen. To prevent aging add oil-free antioxidants and collagen boosters.

I recommend AminoGenesis Perfect Reflection 2-3 times daily, Pharmagel Beta C in the afternoon, Amninogenesis Perfect Reflection after every wash and at night Dermaceutic retinol 0.1 alternating with Exfoliac Acnomega 100 if you still get acne on and off. 

Pigmented & Oily Skin: Add oil-free skin lightening agents along with your daily skincare

I recommend BDF Fade gel plus  twice daily.  

Sensitive & Oily Skin: Special oil-free skincare for sensitive skin is required to maintain optimal skin. Avene has great skin products for oily and sensitive skin.

I recommend AminoGenesis Really Really Clean Cleansing gel 2-3 times per day. After washing spray Avene Eau Thermale spray to soothe the skin and then apply Avene Cleanance Hydra as moisturizer. If acne is leaving pigmentation marks on face use Avene Sensitive White Serum to keep skin color uniform. When outdoors use Avene Sunscreen Emulsion  SPF 50 for sensitive skin. If you get acne on and off used Avene Cleanance Gel Crème Exfoliant to prevent breakouts.

Dry Skin in early 20’s: Special hydrating skincare should be adopted early on in life to prevent skin damage with age.

I recommend Avene Gentle milk Cleanser 1-2 times daily, QV moisturizing cream to replenish & hydrate dry skin and Sebamed SPR 50 Multi protect Sun lotion.

Dry Skin in 30’s & 40’s: In a addition to daily skincare regimen add antioxidants and collagen boosters with heavy moisture factor to daily routine to combat wrinkles and skin sagging.

I recommend Avene Gentle milk Cleanser 1-2 times daily and Sebamed SPR 50 Multi protect Sun lotion with addition of SkinCeuticals C + E Frulic acid serum (its packed with potent antioxidants), Dermaceutic Hyal Ceutic Intense moisturizer (with hyaluronic acid, Aloe vera, jajoba oil and vitamin E) and Dermaceutic’s Activ Retinol at night.

For additional hydration you can also use QV moisturizing cream on and off.

Pigmented & Dry Skin: Add moisture infusing skin lightening agents along with your daily skincare.

I recommend Avene Gentle milk Cleanser, Skin Tech Blending Bleaching cream twice daily. Aminogenesis Therapeutic Facial Repair anti-aging moisturizing cream and Heliocare advanced gel with SPR 50 for sun protection (it covers UVA and B).

Sensitive & Dry Skin: Stay clear of irritant chemicals and use gentle products to take of skin on daily basis.

I recommend Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser for sensitive and dry skin, Avene TriXera emollient balm or Avene Cicalfate cream for dry irritated skin. As a Sunblock stick to Avene Very High Protection Emulsion with SPF 50. 

There you go, now you’re all set to radiate and shine, enjoy these skincare prescriptions and face life by putting your best skin forward.

 

Fast Your Way To Healthy Skin

The reverential month of Ramadan edifies us to discipline our lives, give up bad habits and practice restraint in all spheres of life — goal being to cleanse our soul and make ourselves stronger. We can wield the same willpower towards our physical countenance, merging the philosophies of healthy mind, healthy body, and healthy soul and at the end of the month come out as true winners — body and soul. Lets venture for the big victory and start making changes from today.

During Ramadan our daily routine, and food consumption habits change drastically and in most cases not for the better if I may add. Most people fete iftar and sahoor with extravagant food — high cal fried hors d'oeuvre and sugar-loaded desserts become the star attractions at most table d'hôtes. Sambosas, Kunafa and Atayef are indeed yummy and tempting but in order to save your skin and avoid extra pounds of flab you need to exercise restraint (CHANGE NO. 1) — Don't eat large portions. Take a bite, savor the taste — don’t go gobble-gobble, commit to healthy food choices and eliminate bad foods from your diet.

As Nutritionists Say, “You Are What You Eat” — To Look Good Eat Healthy!

Instead of indulging in the traditional fried, fatty, and heavy cookery make salads, vegetables and lean proteins (grilled fish, chicken, meat) the main source of your sustenance. (CHANGE NO. 2) Start a new Ramadan ritual — focus on eating simple and healthy food.

Menus To Avoid:

• Fried, starchy and sugar loaded food causes skin problems like excessively oily skin/hair and acne. Sugar also promotes wrinkles and skin sagging by damaging collagen by a process called glycation. Unsurprisingly, too much sweet stuff is also bad for your smile. Sugar sticks to your teeth, encouraging bacteria, decay, and discoloration — bye bye bright smile.

•  Dairy products have been linked to acne and oily skin breakouts in many research studies. People with oily and combination skin should avoid drinking lots of milk because it can trigger zits.

•  Red meat generates free radicals, which constantly snag electrons from your healthy cells, damaging them in the process. This damage ultimately affects your skin’s ability to protect itself and generate collagen making you look older than your age. White meats are the best way to get you daily dose of proteins.

•  Charred BBQ, the black on that burnt meat contains pro-inflammatory hydrocarbons which might cause slow inflammation in your skin leading to break down of your collagen and elastin bundles. You don’t need to banish BBQ from your list of good foods, just scrape off the black stuff before you eat.

•  Trans fats also promote inflammation, which is bad news for your skin. These unhealthy fats also make you more vulnerable to UV damage, which is the number one cause of aging. Make sure to avoid all products that list partially hydrogenated oil on their ingredient label.

•  Canned Food is preserved with sodium, which can make you retain water and over time you’d look puffy and washed-out. Go for fresh food instead for preserved food cans.

•  Limit your intake of caffeine in terms of soda, coffee and tea as they all promote mineral and fluids excretion from your body, which ultimately leaves your skin dry, dehydrated and lacking in luster.

Provisions To Indulge In:

• Dates are the staple food of Ramadan. In health circles there is a popular saying: three dates a day can keep a lot of ailments away! Dates have some great nutritional benefits — they contain copper, potassium, fiber, manganese, iron, vitamins A, B complex, C and magnesium; all this good stuff not only boosts our overall health, but also makes our skin beautiful and supple. Respect the rule of 3 though and don’t over indulge, as dates are also high in sugar content.

• Fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are high in antioxidants; they are literally God’s gift to promote healthy skin. Apricots in addition to having vitamin A, C, E and minerals like phosphorus, silicon, calcium, and iron aid in the digestion process and protect you against dehydration. With their rich sodium and potassium content they also help to maintain electrolyte balance of your body — which physically translates to healthy skin and healthy body.

•  Stock up on foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) such as flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, avocados, salmon, and olive oil. These foods will help your skin maintain it’s soft and supple look.

•  Fasting dehydrates the skin so it’s very important to make sure that you rehydrate between iftar and sahoor. Drink at least eight glasses of water in addition to any other fluids (green juice or green tea).

•  There are many foods that can repair dehydrated skin, such as cashews or almonds; which are packed with healthy fibers, fatty acids and proteins that augments and maintains your skin's inner glow.

Daily Skincare Routine

Maintain the daily Cleanse, Tone, and Moisturize routine for your particular skin type. Learn what is your skin type? (CHANGE NO. 3) — and use products accordingly. Using wrong products can cause skin damage instead of improvement.

Exfoliation: If you have oily skin exfoliate twice a week, if you have normal skin exfoliate once a week and if you have dry and sensitive skin exfoliate every 10-15 days. The idea is to remove dead skin caused by the lack of water intake, restore the skin’s natural mineral levels and balance the skin’s oil production.

Sun Protection: (CHANGE NO. 4) Commit to sunscreen. While being out & about wear your sunscreen (with UVA and B protection SPF 30) regularly. Also invest in some good oversized shades with UV 400 protection to take extra care of the delicate skin around the eyes.

Sticking with the healthy vittles and skincare routine will help you get a clearer skin with a vigorous glow and a big bonus — acne free face.

Ramadan Kareem!!