The Itchy & Scratchy Show
The Itchy & Scratchy Show
Or better yet, Whose Skin is This, Anyway?
With skin so unblemished, she was named for it, Snow White reveled in her pre-menopausal (and pre-poisoned apple) appearance — as well as her sweeping.
Remember how much she loved cleaning for the Seven Dwarfs?
Today a post-menopausal Snow White might be a little differently inspired to name her roommates:
Dopey Because she has no clue what to do with the skin she’s in.
Bashful Because she now resembles him with a red and irritated face.
Grumpy Because her skin makes her feel bad-tempered, short-fused and irritable.
Doc Because she’s reminded to visit one now that her skin feels foreign and dry.
And of course, the new twins Itchy + Scratchy: No explanation necessary.
In case you hadn’t noticed, your skin is changing, and not for the better (unless your oily past now welcomes its new dry present).
What’s happening?
Simply put, your body is slowing its production of the precious protein collagen, which is the “scaffolding” that provides structure and elasticity to your skin. We asked Pauser, entrepreneur, and she-with-the-beautiful-skin Heidi Brown to help us de-mystify our changing skin.
Meet Heidi
After losing both parents within three years of each other, Heidi decided to step out of her corporate marketing career to follow her passion. The result is Brilliance by Brown Skin Wellness, a skin wellness website promoting awareness, access to thought leaders and curated recommendations for skincare brands and products.
Heidi is particularly interested in helping midlife women experiencing the changes brought on by hormonal fluctuations such as:
Dryness
Fine wrinkles
Loss of elasticity
Hyperpigmentation
Crepiness
Acne
Melasma
Dark spots
Freckles
That’s a lot to deal with. What should I be doing now?
“It’s all about treating your skin right,” says Heidi. “That might mean things like changing up your lifestyle habits, reconsidering the products you use and taking precautions.”
What products do you like right now?
“I have a lot of favorites right now. Here are my top five:”
Daytime face, neck and ears: Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
Nighttime face, neck and ears: Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream, coupled with F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Masque
Mask: F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Masque
Eyes: Pause Well-Aging Eye Renewal Treatment
Body: NOW Shea Butter and Avene Smoothing Exfoliating Cream
With summer approaching, Heidi recommends applying any cream before adding a protective mineral-based sunscreen on top. You can find all five here.
An important note from Heidi for women of color:
Darker skin is more plentiful in melanin, which makes women with darker skin less prone to deep wrinkles and sagging as they age. Nevertheless, all women — regardless of ethnicity or skin color — still need to apply sunscreen every single day.
And speaking of melanin, yes it can be protective, but it also can cause hyperpigmentation: “Melanin overproduction may result in darker scarring, sunspots, and post-pimple acne marks, making skin discoloration much more visible and prevalent,” says Heidi. “That’s why we all need sunscreen!”
For a Pause
Time flies, and it’s June. That means we all need to be extra-cautious about the sun and your skin. Always wear sunscreen because the sun still can penetrate even on the gloomiest of days. (Don’t forget your hands, neck and other areas that are not covered by clothing.)
After your shower or bath, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. This accelerates absorption and boosts hydration.
Wrinkles don’t discriminate so make sure to hydrate not only your face but your jawline and neck as well every day.
Eat right. That includes foods with antioxidants like brightly-colored fruits and veggies. A diet high in processed or refined sugars is a definite skin no-no. (Say yes to these foods, compliments of the Mayo Clinic.)
One more thing…
Is this team available for quarantine cleaning?
Until next week, stay well, stay healthy, stay safe.
See you next time!
xoSheryl&Jennifer
Clean up clean up everybody everywhere.
Clean up clean up everybody do your share.—Barney, The Clean Up Song
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