Tips for Keeping Your Skin Fresh and Healthy this Season

With the summer months well on their way; it’s time to buy those new bathing suits, fun pool inflatables, and the best skin care products out there. You may be wondering why skin care products made the “fun in the sun” list when there might be way more exciting items to spend your money on, but the answer is this: without these products, your skin might just end up being the one to pay the price. 

It might be the most fun outside when the temperature reads seventy degrees or higher, but it also can be the most dangerous for your skin. Increased exposure to the sun’s rays can not only damage your exterior within hours, but can also build up over time. 

“Without sun protection, this damage can build up over time,” said Kari Bohrnstedt of Seven Hills Dermatology. “Eventually you see signs of sun damage like freckles, age spots, and wrinkles.”

Dr. Alexandra Hickman of Dermatology Consultants dove deeper. “Sunshine contains ultraviolet rays that can damage the DNA inside of skin cells,” she said. “Unprotected sun exposure leads to permanent cell damage, also increasing the risk of developing skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.”

These harmful rays from the sun can be identified as “UVA and UVB wavelengths,” Dr. Jason Givan of Ridgeview Dermatology noted. He continued, “UVA light is both invisible and does not produce any warmth. UVA exposure is consistent year-round, regardless of the temperature or “cloudiness” of the day. Therefore, sun protection should occur consistently year-round.”

So, what can sun seekers do to remain safe this summer?
First, as the transition from winter to summer continues, your normal daily routine may also need to change. For those who typically use moisturizers, Dr. Hickman recommends ensuring
the bottle reads “non-comedogenic,” which means that the moisturizer won’t clog your pores. 

“Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides are naturally-occurring chemicals that help your skin hold onto water,” Hickman said. 

“Dermatologists recommend bland, thick moisturizers to promote a healthy skin barrier to the environment,” Givan added.

In addition to modifying your moisturizer for the sun, it is also essential to begin adding in SPF as a part of your daily routine, even if your sun exposure is limited. Ensure that all parts of your body are lathered in sunscreen, too, as it can sometimes be easy to forget about certain areas. 

Those with sensitive skin, rosacea, or even those taking medications for acne, may want to avoid chemical sunscreens and select mineral sunscreens instead, as these products interact less with the skin and can be better tolerated. Hickman and Bohrnstedt both advise to look for skincare products, like SPF, that contain the active ingredients of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as well. 

Prevention and protection are the two main goals to keep in mind when being out in the sun for a long period of time. When it comes to shielding yourself against potential harmful diseases, Bohrnstedt recommends that everyone use sunscreens that offer a broad-spectrum protection which protects against both UVA and UVB rays, such as an SPF of 30 or higher that is water resistant. 

“Sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you,” advised Bohrnstedt. “Additionally, we recommend taking steps to prevent skin cancer early by dressing in protective clothing, seeking shade when appropriate, and avoiding sun between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM.” 

Bohrnstedt also said that it is essential to look for shade outside, wear a hat, always use sunscreen, be careful of reflections when you’re around water or sand, and stay away from tanning beds. In addition to topical solutions, Givan also advised that “long-sleeve UV protective shirts are fantastic for outdoor events, such as the beach or sporting events.” He noted these shirts are “lightweight, cool, and very protective of ultraviolet light.”

But, if the occasional inevitable does happen, the best methods of recovery from a sunburn first start with simply being easy on your skin.

“If you are able to, take anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen or Tylenol,” recommended Hickman. “Do not try to exfoliate, peel, or rub off any flaking skin. Soak in cool showers and apply ice packs to the worst areas.” 

Hickman also suggested moisturizing two to three times per day with a thick product like Vaseline or Aquaphor to keep the skin protected and hydrated.

Now you’re ready for all that fun in the sun you had planned out for summer. Write down these simple steps and your skin will thank you in advance!  

An online skin care shop helps women uncover their true skin

Wash, moisturize, repeat. Skin care routines can be monotonous and ineffective. After using the entire skin care store that is on your bathroom counter, your skin is often still left dry, rough, and stripped of its natural oils. The process then repeats itself. But Myscha Gaines is breaking that cycle.

In 2014, Gaines took a trip to Disney World, where she discovered the wide world of sugar scrubs. She realized they were so expensive, and the price didn’t match the quality of ingredients. So, she returned to Lynchburg with an idea—to create an affordable body scrub that was good for the skin.

“I literally just came home and said, ‘Let me see if I can recreate what I had experienced.’ I came up with a couple of different formulations solely based on the things that I already had in my house,” Gaines explained.

Her business, EmGe Naturals, began as an oil-based sugar scrub in a glass jar. It was her mother-in-law’s idea to decorate the jars, and they began to hand out Gaines’ homemade sugar scrub to family and friends.

Gaines and her husband then saw how these homemade sugar scrubs could be used for good. Profits made from the scrubs went to their nonprofit that provided first night backpacks to children entering foster care. From there, Gaines began to attend vendor events and distribute her products in local stores.

EmGe Naturals was growing, but it paused in 2015 when Gaines’ grandchildren came to live with her. Four years later, Gaines knew she needed to start making scrubs again.

“I was like, ‘Okay, what can I do to help around here? To help our household?’ We relaunched EmGe in the latter part of 2019 as an online business,” she said.

Since then, EmGe Naturals has gained a steady online clientele. For Gaines, the business is still a one-woman show. She makes local deliveries with the help of her son and mails orders as far as Alaska and Canada. Her business and products have evolved throughout the entire process.

“The product itself has been an evolution,” Gaines detailed. “The product is now more shea butter–based than oil-based. The skin benefits are phenomenal when using shea butter.”

Shea butter is full of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and A. It protects the skin from damage and improves its natural barrier. This ingredient, along with other all-natural ingredients, makes EmGe products different from other skin care products on the market.

Body scrubs are not the only products EmGe offers. Body wash, butters, lotions, and salts are also available on the online store. Gaines perfected the production of the body butters and lotions after receiving a diploma in skin care formulation in August. To achieve the best result, a routine is required, but it is a simple one.

“Anytime you’re using a scrub, you want to protect this new skin that you have revealed. A body butter or body lotion is the way to do that. Because you have exfoliated, it improves the effectiveness of your lotion. The dead skin that was there would be blocking the moisturizer from being able to impact your skin,” Gaines pointed out.

She added, “The most important thing is consistency.”

With a simple line up of a scrub followed by a butter or lotion, consistency is much easier to achieve when compared to other multi-step beauty regimens out there.

“We focus a lot on our face. We tend to neglect the rest of our body. Especially if you’re a busy mom running around, you get your face straight but forget the rest,” Gaines added.

Having an entire body skin care routine is important because having soft skin feels good on the outside, but it can feel even better on the inside. One of EmGe Naturals main goals is for the customer to “love the skin they’re in at any age.”

“If we can alleviate your dry skin for you, then that helps with your confidence. It helps you feel more carefree,” Gaines assured. “The fact is, we all feel better and carry ourselves differently when we’re feeling good and looking good.”

Select EmGe Naturals products are now available exclusively at Something Else Boutique in River Ridge Mall, or you can shop online at emgenaturals.com.