What Do I Wear Now?

First line of defense for beautiful skin..Sunscreen

July 23, 2010 on 2:00 pm | In Maternity Clothes, Pregnancy | No Comments

Skin care is vital to our overall looks and health. Today we are bombarded with millions of products all promising to reverse the aging process, no matter our age.

Let’s start with the most important aspect of skin care…sunscreen.
If you have ever been to the sunscreen aisle at your local drugstore, you know how overwhelming it can be: SPF this, UVA that and then throw in UVBs in the mix and the sunscreen confusion begins!

Choosing the Right SPF in Sunscreen

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the better protection against the sun’s harmful UVB rays. The SPF number lets you know how much longer you can stay out in the sun without burning. For example, if it takes 15 minutes for a person to burn, an SPF 15 will allow them to stay out in the sun 15 times longer without burning.

UVA and UVB Protection

The label of the sunscreen will indicate the UVA or UVB protection.

UVA rays are responsible for the aging effect of the sun; however, overexposure to UVA rays can cause skin cancer.

UVB rays are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.

Choose a product that states, “UVA/UVB,” protection or has “broad spectrum” protectant.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for maximum protection. SPF is available in levels from 2 to 60. Does highest mean the best protection? Not necessarily, an SPF of 50 only provides 1% to 2% more protection than an SPF 30.

If you are still undecided, check with your doctor or pharmacist for their recommendations.

Don’t think that just because the day is cloudy you are safe from these rays they are still there so make sunscreen your daily top priority.

Over the next few weeks we will be discussing more skin care for our beautiful moms!

Quick Tips to Just for You!

July 20, 2010 on 4:47 pm | In Maternity Clothes | No Comments

While it is important to take care of our families, it is also very important that we take care of ourselves. Here are a few tips from TopHealth that we found useful:

1. Give yourself a massage:
* Scalp – Place thumbs behind your ears and spread your fingers on top of your head. Move your fingers in circular motions.
* Eyes – Close your eyes and place your ring fingers directly under your eyebrows, near the bridge of your nose. Increase pressure slowly for 5 seconds then gently release. Repeat 2-3 times.
* Shoulders – Place your left hand on the right side of your neck near your shoulder. Press fingers firmly into the muscle while tucking your chin in towards your chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds, release and repeat to your left side.
* Palms – Lace your fingers together, leaving your thumbs free. Slowly knead your left thumb into the palm of your right hand for 20-30 seconds. Repeat to your left hand.

2. Get a good night’s sleep:
* Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning (yes, including weekends). This helps regulate your internal clock to get the 7-8 hours sleep most adults need.
* Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. We suggest a warm bath, reading a book, or listening to pleasant music.
* Avoid stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine from late afternoon on.
* Exercise during the day
3. How to get that needed second wind:
* Refuel with a high-fiber snack such as celery sticks, an apple, or pistachio nuts. High-fiber snacks help control the release of glucose into your bloodstream and may help prevent dips in your energy level.
* Breathe deeply. Every 1-2 hours, spend 5 minutes inhaling and exhaling deeply. This helps you feel calmer and more mentally focused, with renewed energy.
* Take a visual vacation. Close your eyes and mentally escape to a calming place for you.
* Splash cold water on your face or pop a breath mint – mint flavors are stimulating.
* At the end of the day, write down all the good things that happened. You’ll be surprised at how much went right. Plus, you’ll set yourself up for a good night’s sleep and energize yourself for tomorrow.

It is so important that we all take time out of our busy schedules for ourselves. We hope these tips will help you relax yet give you renewed energy to make your days and nights more enjoyable.