Most of us were raised to believe that putting ourselves first is selfish. But the reality is that when we take care of ourselves, we have even more to give to others. But let’s dig a little deeper into the cellular consequences of failing to make your needs your first priority.

When someone says, “I don’t have time to take care of myself.”— what does that really mean?

It means you don’t think your needs are worthy of care and you don’t see your needs as important. And when you don’t value yourself what happens?

You don’t take care of your skin and your cells suffer. You don’t eat right and your cells suffer. You let stress get to you and your cells suffer. And all that cellular damage and dehydration – actually ages you.

So the first step you should take today on your journey to a younger you is to make yourself the most important person in your life.

How are you going to put yourself first? Let us know in the comments.

Your Esthetician is Professional Skin Care – Like a Dental Hygienist Cleaning Your Teeth
There is a level of care that only a professional can provide. Just as a dentist or hygienist can detect problems and provide a type of aggressive cleaning you can’t do yourself, Estheticians have cleansing and treatment tools and products that are not available to you as a typical consumer. Seeing them on a regular basis will help keep your skin in check and will also identify any upcoming issues.

Masking is Like Using Whitening Strips
To help people understand why it is important to use a mask to maintain healthy skin between facials, I compare it to using whitening strips. You can go to the dentist twice a year, but whitening strips give you a chance to keep teeth free of stains between visits. Masking, like whitening strips, helps minimize flaws that distract from the natural beauty of your healthy skin.

Cleansing is Like Brushing and Flossing
A proper cleansing of your skin morning and night is just as important as brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day. Maintain healthy skin by cleaning of dirt and bacteria that your skin accumulates during the day. In the morning, create a fresh canvas for your makeup by cleansing skin from any debris or sweating that occurred during the night.

Whether it’s your teeth or your skin, maintaining your body’s health is an ongoing process that requires professional help as well as dedicated home maintenance care.

• Your Eyes: The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive. That’s why many people see their first wrinkles in this area. Prevent the signs of aging by using an eye cream each morning that contains SPF.

• Your Lips: You probably assume that you have your face covered by using a moisturizer with sunscreen, but don’t forget your lips! A lip balm or gloss with SPF will not only help prevent the fine lines and wrinkles around your lips due to dryness, but also prevent sun damage on your lips.

• Your Feet: If you’re fond of wearing sandals, you are getting a great deal of incidental UV exposure. Make sure to protect your feet if you are not wearing closed shoes.

What is exfoliation? Exfoliation is the technique of removing the top layer of dead skin cells from of the epidermis of your skin to encourage the live cells down in the dermis of the skin to turnover and refresh the skin’s appearance.

Why do we need to exfoliate? Skin is constantly turning over, generating new cells at the lower level (the dermis) and sending them up to replace dead skin cells on the upper layer (epidermis). As we age, the cell turnover process slows down. Cells begin to gather unevenly on the skin’s surface which can lead to dry patches and a lack-luster appearance. Through exfoliating, we can help remove the dead skin cells, revealing the fresher, younger cells below and restoring skin’s natural clarity and brightness.

Who needs to exfoliate? Everyone! Exfoliating smooths your skin and increases circulation. However, some people can tolerate more aggressive exfoliation than others. Test exfoliating on a small patch of skin on your inner arm to gauge your tolerance.

How often should I exfoliate? I recommend exfoliating your face and body 2–3 times a week. However, older skin can be thinner and more sensitive. So, make sure to monitor how your skin reacts to exfoliating and adjust accordingly. It is actually possible to over-exfoliate which can lead to moisture loss, sensitivity, dryness and irritation.

What is the best exfoliator? There are two basic approaches to exfoliation: manual and chemical exfoliation. Manual exfoliation is typically with a scrub, washcloth or brush. Chemical exfoliation using an active ingredient like an Alpha Hydroxy Acid or an enzyme to break the bonds that hold the uppermost layers of dead cells to the surface of your skin. I recommend a combination of dry brush exfoliation for your body prior to showering and chemical exfoliation for your face.

Let your natural beauty shine through with the help of some exfoliation.

I have always been a huge proponent of walking as part of an overall program for wellness. A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control evaluating the impact of walking on health reveals some interesting findings:

• More people are walking for health. 62 percent of adults surveyed said they walk at least once a week, compared to only 56 percent in 2005
• Walking has increased across all races, ages and regions, with those living in the South showing the biggest increase
• More people are walking, according to the survey, but less than half are getting enough activity to show substantial health benefits

How can you start moving and reap the health benefits?

• Start a walking club at your school or work
• Aim to start walking 15 minutes a day and increase that amount by 5 minutes each week until you reach a minimum of 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week
• Walk somewhere you will enjoy the scenery. If you like nature, go to a park; if you like people watching, go to the mall
• Be audio-motivated. Listen to your favorite tunes or positive affirmations as you walk. This will help give you a positive association with exercise

Together, let’s get moving! Tell us how you are incorporating walking into your daily routine.

1. Honey is a natural energy booster! Need a morning pick-me-up? Drizzle some honey on your whole wheat toast or into your breakfast oatmeal.

2. Honey may help your allergies. Many allergy sufferers believe that consuming locally grown honey can alleviate their symptoms. It’s thought that eating honey, even a spoonful a day, can build immunity through gradual exposure to pollen from flowers that becomes embedded into the honey

3. Honey may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Honey contains antioxidants and flavonoids which may help reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and heart disease.

4. Honey can help increase athletic performance. Olympic athletes in ancient Greece would eat honey and dried figs to help improve performance because honey helps maintain glycogen levels, improving recovery time.

5. Honey has beautifying qualities! Due to its natural soothing effects, honey is great for those who have skin blemishes and acne. Honey also has powerful anti-bacterial properties that make it a perfect natural ingredient to add to cleansers and moisturizers.