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What Do Antibiotics Do to Your Skin?

Woman taking pills

At some point in our lives, we’ve taken antibiotics, for sure!

Antibiotics are a necessity in our daily lives. Getting sick with a bacterial infection, or recovering from an open surgery, would usually require the use of this medication.

Some people even use antibiotics for the littlest of illnesses — even if this isn’t recommended.

But for all the good they can do for our body’s healing, are antibiotics also our skin’s friend? Or should we be more wary about possible dangers they pose to our body’s largest organ?

In this article, we’ll talk about everything related to antibiotics and the skin.

Let’s start!

What are Antibiotics and What are They For?

Woman holding pills

Antibiotics are medications made to fight against bacteria.

They help fight bacterial infection either by eradicating bacteria, or slowing and decreasing their growth. Specifically, antibiotics may attack the wall surrounding the bacteria, interfere with their reproduction, or block the bacteria’s protein production.

Antibiotics are powerful medications, and they typically work right after ingestion. However, it may take some more time before you feel better. Nonetheless, patients are required to take antibiotics for around 7 to 14 days for best results.

Currently, antibiotics come in many forms. We are familiar with their tablet, capsule, and liquid forms, as these are the ones we usually ingest.

However, there are also topical antibiotics—bacteria-fighting medication that come in creams and ointments. These are applied to the skin, rather than ingested.

What Do Oral Antibiotics Do to the Skin?

Now that we know what antibiotics are, it’s time to dissect what exactly their effects are to the skin. Are they always good? Can they cause problems for the skin?

Let’s find out more.

Antibiotics as a Treatment for Acne

Doctor prescribing medicine

Acne is primarily caused by an interplay of four major factors:

  • Clogged pores – whiteheads or blackheads form when the hair follicles get filled with oil, bacteria, and/or dead skin cells.
  • Oil production – higher oil production makes a person more susceptible to acne. This is especially true when hormones spike during puberty, leading to more oil secretion from the sebaceous glands.
  • Bacterial growth – an increase in oil levels in the skin causes bacteria to multiply.
  • Inflammation – more bacteria in the skin means higher chances of inflammation. In time, acne can become bigger nodules or cysts as it goes deeper into the skin.

Now, what do all of these have to do with antibiotics?

You see, oral antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to patients struggling with severe acne.

The reason? Antibiotics can help target two of the major factors outlined above.

Why are Antibiotics Prescribed for Acne?

Antibiotics can fight against acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, and ultimately reduce their number on both the skin surface and even the follicles. This also helps alleviate inflammation caused by the sheer number of these bacteria, apart from the anti-inflammatory properties that some antibiotic classes exhibit.

Usually, antibiotics used to treat acne include Tetracyclines, Erythromycins (which also help reduce inflammation), Minocyclines (for pustular type acne), Doxycyclines, and Septra or Bactrim.

However, dermatologists around the world currently warn against over-using antibiotics in treating acne. 

Antibiotics, though extremely effective, should not be taken for extended periods of time. This is because, in the past few years, certain types of bacteria, including P. acne, have started getting more resistant to antibiotics.

The culprit? Using antibiotics for months, or even years on end in treating chronic skin conditions like acne.

Now, antibiotic resistance is known to spread to people around them, such as family members and neighbors. Aside from this, different strains of bacteria can also acquire resistance genes—so, later on, you won’t only have to worry about P. acne bacteria getting resistant to your antibiotics!

Hence, it’s wise not to simply rely on antibiotics in treating your acne!

After all, acne first and foremost is an inflammatory disease. Other factors, like oil production, come into play in the development of acne, and these aren’t necessarily solved by antibiotics. So long as you have problems with limiting the sebum on your face, you may still have to deal with acne… despite taking oral antibiotics.

Moreover, although antibiotics can help fight acne, they also pose negative side effects to the skin. Let’s learn about this in more detail.

Effects of Taking Oral Antibiotics on the Skin

Regardless of whether you’re taking antibiotics for your acne or for a tooth infection, taking antibiotics can affect your skin in different ways.

Here are a few things to watch out for:

Photosensitivity

Woman shielding face from sun

A major issue when using antibiotics is how it makes the body more sensitive to light. In fact, you might see light as brighter than usual, all because of their photosensitizing effect.

But more importantly, antibiotics also make the skin react more to ultraviolet light. This means that, for the duration of your prescribed antibiotic intake, you will be at a higher risk of sunburn, blistering, and peeling when exposed to the sun. Your skin cells will also be more easily damaged upon sun exposure!

What’s more, certain types of antibiotics can even interact with sunlight, leading to a red, itchy rash for as little as 15 minutes of exposure.

Imagine, if you use antibiotics for your acne on an extended basis, that means you can’t go out in the sun, even for just a few minutes!

Sun Protection Tips

That’s why, if you’re taking antibiotics for other illnesses or infections, it’s important to keep your skin protected. To start with, it’s recommended that you avoid prolonged sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays are strongest and harshest between 10 AM to 2 PM, too, so try to stay indoors during those times.

If you must go out, make sure to wear protective clothing, and to use accessories like sunglasses and umbrellas to help shield you from the sun. Most importantly, always wear a reliable sunblock or sunscreen if you have to step outside, even for just a short amount of time!

Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you’re going to spend a long time outdoors!

Skin Rashes or Allergies

People are probably more likely to have an allergic reaction to antibiotic much more than you think.

In fact, around 6.67 percent of the general population (that’s 1 in 15 people!) have some sort of allergy towards antibiotics, particularly penicillin and cephalosporins.

Now, allergic reactions to antibiotics may take different forms, such as coughing, wheezing, tightness of the throat, and rashes on the skin.

Rashes that come from allergic reactions to antibiotics are usually raised, red, and itchy, such as in the case of urticaria or hives. These can usually go away after some time, especially with the help of anti-allergy medication such as antihistamines. However, they can still be uncomfortable, and picking at your rashes may leave scars or dark marks on your skin.

How to Leave Your Skin Feeling Soothed

To help calm and soothe the feel of your skin, consider applying mild moisturizers. A good bet is OROGOLD’s products, which contain gold as their star ingredient. 

Our personal recommendation would be OROGOLD’s 24K Classic Body Butter — it’s meant to be used on the whole body, so you’re sure to cover all problem areas! Made with oils such as sunflower oil and shea butter, you’ll certainly feel the difference they can make to your skin in no time!

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (Rare)

A serious, but incredibly rare disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) causes complications with the skin’s mucous membranes—the most linings of certain parts of the body.

SJS starts with fever or sore throat—symptoms usually encountered with other common illnesses, like flu. However, these symptoms are later followed by the presence of blisters and painful rashes all over the body. The top layer of the skin may also shed.

Although SJS can happen as a reaction with any medication, it occurs more often with antibiotics like beta-lactams and sulfamethoxazole. However, other important risk factors to note for this disorder include a family history of SJS, having this illness in the past, or having a weakened immune system.

This condition cannot be prevented, but you can certainly take steps to reduce the risk of contracting SJS. To start, it would be wise to consult with your doctor prior to taking antibiotics, especially if you’ve had the risk factors outlined above.

Are Topical Antibiotics Beneficial?

Topical antibiotic cream on elbow

We’ve mostly talked about oral antibiotics, but topical antibiotics, in the form of creams and ointments, also exist. Though topical antibiotics can be used for a longer period of time, they still come with their risks and downsides.

Let’s find out more about their uses and possible side effects.

What are Topical Antibiotics Used For?

Topical antibiotics are applied on the skin to treat minor wounds (such as cuts, scrapes, or burns), or treat and prevent skin infections. As with oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics work by fighting bacteria or curbing its growth.

Aside from this, topical antibiotics may also be used for acne.

Topical antibiotics are usually used to treat mild to moderate acne, in conjunction with other medicines, such as benzoyl peroxide. Together, these reduce the likelihood of the emergence of the development of P. acnes bacteria.

However, topical antibiotics may also contribute to antibiotic resistance, as they are used less regularly and more sparingly than oral antibiotics. Hence, it would be best not to rely on this as treatment, even for acne, for which it is recommended to be used for a maximum of three months.

Effects of using topical antibiotics on the skin

Topical antibiotics certainly sound less daunting than their oral counterparts. However, as they’re directly applied to the skin, it’s no surprise that a host of issues can arise from their use.

Here are some of the most common side effects of using topical antibiotics on the skin:

Skin Dryness

It turns out, using topical antibiotics can dry out the skin, and is in fact one of its most common side effects. This usually occurs only on the area where topical antibiotics are usually applied.

In some cases, the dryness will go away once you’re done with the antibiotics. However, if the skin is visibly flaky and scaly as a result of dryness, you may try applying a light, gentle, and non-oily moisturizer to the affected area.

Want a reliable moisturizer to use? You can never go wrong with OROGOLD’s 24K Classic Hand and Body Cream. This moisturizer will reduce the appearance of flakiness, leaving your skin feeling deeply hydrated.

Skin Irritation

Sometimes, using topical antibiotics may irritate the skin; however, these are usually not severe. It’s best to consult with your dermatologist if you feel any discomfort upon application of the ointment.

In some cases, it might be best for your skin to discontinue use of the antibiotics, and to switch to something less irritating instead.

Contact Dermatitis

Seemingly a combination of the side effects outlined above, contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, causing it to get irritated. This ends up making the skin dry and flaky, and even causing redness, rashes, and extreme itching.

However, this problem is easily treatable with corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone creams, so it’s not a huge cause for worry.

Well, there you have it! That’s everything you need to know about using oral and topical antibiotics, and how they can possibly affect the skin in any way.

Summary

As you can see, our body’s organs are vastly interconnected—what you do to address issues with one body part, may end up affecting other parts of your body, too! You may think you’re only taking medication for an infection, but you don’t know what that can do to your skin in the process.

That’s why, it’s best to take care of each part of our body to the best of our abilities. To that end, you may want to drop by OROGOLD Cosmetic’s website, and check out the variety of products available to rejuvenate the appearance of your skin.

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11 Ways to Keep Your Skin Feeling Hydrated

Woman with healthy skin

Skin hydration is something that many struggle with, often not realizing that this is the cause of their skin issues. The reason for this is that dehydrated skin can be quite varied in appearance – even those who have an oily skin type could still be suffering from dehydrated skin.

So, how do you know if your skin is dehydrated?

There’s a technique you can try called the pinch test, but this isn’t always accurate. Instead, common symptoms include:

  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • A dull complexion
  • Itchiness
  • Increased fine lines and wrinkles
  • Sensitivities

It goes without saying that if your skin is dehydrated, you need to take the necessary steps to leave it feeling hydrated again. Here’s how:

Drink and Eat More Water

Woman eating watermelon

Dehydration doesn’t just affect your skin – it impacts your entire body.

When dealing with an issue such as this, it’s always best to tackle it at its root. In this case, that would be the fact that your body isn’t getting enough water.

You likely already know that you should be drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. However, are you actually doing this?

It’s easy to forget, so try setting reminders on your phone. There are also a number of apps out there that you can download to help you to remember to stay hydrated.

In addition to drinking more water, you should also be trying to include more water-rich foods into your diet.

Some of the foods out there with the highest water content include:

  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Oranges
  • Melons

Not only do most of those foods contain at least 90% water, but each one is also packed with incredible antioxidants that will help your skin in so many other ways.

Use Water-Based Skin Care Products

Since dehydration means that your skin is lacking in water, you need to try to give your skin cells as much water as possible.

Skin care products themselves are usually either oil-based or water-based.

Oil-based products tend to be thicker and don’t penetrate the skin quite as deeply. They work more on the surface layers instead. However, water-based products work on a deeper level.

Apply More Humectants

Woman with serum and dropper

Humectants are a group of ingredients that work in a very special way. They have the ability to attract moisture, meaning that when you apply them to your skin, they draw in moisture from the environment around you. This water can then be sent to your skin cells.

There are quite a few different humectants out there, but some are much more effective than others. It goes without saying that you want to be using the best humectants possible to counter your dehydrated skin, which means looking out for the following:

  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Glycerin
  • Urea
  • Alpha hydroxy acids
  • Aloe vera
  • Honey

Invest in a Humidifier

As mentioned above, humectants have the impressive ability to attract water molecules from the environment and bring them to your skin. However, what happens if the air is dry and lacking in water molecules?

In this case, the dry air will end up drawing moisture out of your skin, leaving it even more dehydrated. Things can get even worse if you’re using humectants in a dry environment – they end up attracting water from the deeper layers of your skin, but this then evaporates into the dry air around you.

The best way to prevent this from happening is by countering that dry air.

How?

With a humidifier!

This won’t just help your skin – it will also make a huge difference to the dehydration that the rest of your body is facing.

Placing a humidifier in your bedroom is usually the best way to go. This is the room in which you likely spend the longest stretch of time. However, many humidifiers are easily portable, so you can move it around the house with you throughout the day if needed.

Keep Showers Short and Lukewarm

Love languishing in a steamy hot shower?

It’s time to change that habit.

You may think that spending time in water helps to hydrate your body, but the opposite is true. Instead, a long shower, especially a hot one, is seriously dehydrating.

Not only does it cause your body to sweat out vital moisture, but it also strips the protective oil barrier from the surface of your skin. Without this, the water that’s already in your skin will start to evaporate away at a much faster rate.

Ideally, try to keep your showers to no longer than five to seven minutes. The temperature should be as cool as you can handle, rather than as hot as the tap will go.

Apply Your Moisturizer to Damp Skin

Woman holding face cream

Here’s a tip that will prove to be instantly hydrating to your thirsty skin…

The next time you reach for your moisturizer, try applying it to damp, rather than dry, skin.

Why?

Because of the way in which moisturizers work. They form a thin seal over the surface of your skin, which prevents all of the water from within your skin from evaporating.

Creating this moisturizing seal on damp skin that already contains water droplets means that those droplets will then be trapped beneath the moisturizer layer. Therefore, rather than being rubbed or evaporated away, those water molecules will be pushed deep into your skin. This gives your skin cells an extra burst of hydration.

You’ll be able to see how plump and soft your skin looks immediately after trying this tip out.

Make Use of a Hydrating Serum

People tend to place a heavy focus on moisturizers when it comes to dealing with dehydrated skin. In a way, this is rightly so, because many moisturizers are packed with ingredients that can help to counter the feeling of dehydration.

However, there are also other types of skin care products out there that can hydrate your skin. One of the most effective are hydrating serums.

How does a hydrating serum differ from a hydrating moisturizer?

It all comes down to texture and consistency. Moisturizers contain much heavier and thicker ingredients than serums. These are great for hydrating the surface layers of your skin, but dehydration runs a lot deeper than this.

Even though you can’t see them, the skin cells that lie in the deeper layers of your skin are just as important than the surface skin cells. In fact, some would argue that they’re even more important, because they’re responsible for everything from cell regeneration to collagen production.

Thanks to their lightweight consistency, serums are able to penetrate deeper into the skin than moisturizers. Using a hydrating serum, in addition to a hydration moisturizer, allows all layers of your skin to benefit.

One effective serum to consider is the OROGOLD 24K Nano Night Recovery. This water-based formula is packed with multiple humectants and botanical extracts, making it one that your dehydrated skin will definitely want on its side!

Make Time for a Weekly Face Mask

Woman applying face mask

Many believe that face masks are an indulgent treat. While some don’t do much more than provide an Insta-worthy picture, others really do have the potential to transform the look of dehydrated skin.

How?

Well, it all depends on the mask you choose, since each will be designed to tackle different skin issues. You’ll find masks dealing with everything from aging to hyperpigmentation, and, as you can imagine, hydrating masks are also a popular product.

Face masks often contain ingredients in a higher concentration than other skin care products. The way in which they are used also helps to push those ingredients deeper into the skin. Adding a weekly face mask to your life is a great way to boost your existing skin care routine.

Need some face mask inspiration?

Here are some masks to consider:

Use a Gentle Cleanser, But Not Too Often

Remember how we mentioned that your skin’s outer oil layer serves to prevent your skin’s moisture from evaporating, and that hot water hinders that?

Well, it’s not just hot water that damages that vital layer…

Another common culprit is the skin care products you use, most notably cleansers.

What’s the issue?

Many cleansers are formulated with harsh ingredients that strip away those natural protective oils. This may be great for those with overly oily skin that isn’t dehydrated, but spells disaster for anyone with dehydrated skin.

A gentle cleanser is an absolute must. Our top pick? The OROGOLD 24K Vitamin C Facial Cleanser.

However, even if you’re using the gentlest cleanser out there, it’s important not to over-cleanse. Yes, this applies even to those who have oily skin.

As mentioned, oily skin can still be dehydrated. Dehydration refers to a lack of moisture, which is completely different from the oil that you’re experiencing on your skin’s surface. In fact, dehydration can actually trigger the skin into producing an excess amount of oil to try to compensate for the lack of moisture available.

If your skin is dehydrated, avoid cleansing more than once a day, no matter your skin type.

Regularly Exfoliate

Woman using face scrub

You’re probably thinking…

Surely exfoliation makes dehydrated skin even worse?

Well, in some cases, yes. Using a harsh exfoliant that damages your skin’s outer protective layer isn’t going to do your skin any favors.

However, a mild and gentle exfoliant is still important. All of those thick dead skin cells building up on the surface of your skin will be preventing your skin care products from properly penetrating in. All of those hydrating cleansers, serums, and moisturizers that you use won’t be able to work their magic unless you also regularly exfoliate.

The key when it comes to exfoliating dehydrated skin is keeping things gentle.

Use a mild chemical exfoliant, rather than a scrub. The OROGOLD 24K Multi-Vitamin Deep Peeling + Mandelic Acid is a good example – mandelic acid is a very gentle chemical exfoliant that will slowly dissolve dead skin cells without damaging your skin.

Don’t Forget to Wear Sunscreen

You already know that heat from a hot shower can exacerbate dehydrated skin, but other forms of heat damage do this too.

When it comes to the sun, UVA rays are the ones to blame. Not only do they dehydrate the skin, but they also greatly accelerate the skin aging process. As a result, the skin becomes thinner, which makes it even more susceptible to dehydration.

Fortunately, the answer is simple…

Prevent those UVA rays from damaging your skin by making sure that any exposed skin is covered with a sunscreen. Ideally, go for a broad-spectrum formula, as this will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.

Make sure that you are actually applying enough sunscreen to provide adequate protection. Don’t forget to reapply every few hours throughout the day too.

This may seem a bit much to some, but preventing UV skin damage will not only help to save you from dehydration, but it will also keep your skin smoother, softer, and wrinkle-free.

Say Hello to Happy and Hydrated Skin

Sometimes, figuring out that dehydration is the reason behind the skin issues you’ve been facing is what takes the longest amount of time. Once you’ve worked this out, you’re then on the right track to turning things around and keeping your skin better hydrated.

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9 Common Skin Care Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

Woman looking in mirror touching face

When it comes to skin care and beauty, there are so many myths and misconceptions out there. This may not seem like a big deal, but following the wrong advice could be seriously detrimental to your skin.

It’s always best to be in-the-know when it comes to the best ways to care for your skin, so here are nine common skin care myths that you definitely should not believe.

MYTH: You Only Need to Wear Sunscreen if it’s Sunny Outside

Woman applying cream to shoulders

It’s easy to see why this is a myth that so many people fall for. After all, if the sky is clouded over, then surely the sun isn’t going to be able to cause any skin damage?

Unfortunately, this is where you would be wrong…

Experts say that up to 80% of UV rays are able to penetrate through cloud. This means that your skin is never really safe, even on overcast days.

While we’re on the topic, let’s quickly address the related myth of sunscreen not being needed in the winter.

Just because you can’t feel the heat of the sun doesn’t mean that the UV rays are not there. While some are blocked to a certain extent, UV damage still occurs in high amounts. This is amplified even further if you’re around snow or ice – these surfaces reflect light, doubling your exposure.

So, as you can see, this is a myth that couldn’t be more false. Year-round sunscreen is a must, no matter what the weather may look like.

MYTH: Topical Skin Care Products Will Never Give You Instant Results

Skin care that brings about instant results sounds a little too good to be true. Plus, let’s face it, in most cases, it’s usually a case of false advertising.

However, there are a handful of products out there that really can produce an instant transformation in the appearance of your skin.

Take the OROGOLD 24K Rose Gold IV Filler Concentrate as an example. This solution contains a truly special blend of ingredients:

  • DMAE – gives the skin a tighter and smoother appearance
  • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 – a peptide that leaves the skin looking tighter and firmer
  • Sodium Hyaluronate – a low-molecular form of hyaluronic acid that quickly gives the skin a plumper and fuller appearance
  • Gold – gives the skin a beautiful glow

As you can imagine, combining all of those ingredients together, along with a multitude of other botanicals for long-term benefits, results in a very potent product.

So, while you may be initially doubtful about the instantaneous claims made by cosmetic companies, the best way to get around this is by doing a little investigating of your own. Check out the ingredient list of the product in question and do some research into what you see – this will give you a good idea as to how the product will work.

MYTH: Oils Should Never Be Used on Oily Skin

Oil from dropper on finger

This one may seem like common sense at first. After all, if you’ve already got oily skin, why would you want to put more oil onto it?

Well, basically, while some oils should definitely be avoided by those with oily skin, not all oils are bad. In fact, some can even be beneficial for oily skin, helping to slow down natural oil production.

This is where the comedogenic scale becomes really useful…

It ranks different oils and plant butters on how likely they are to clog up your pores, and therefore cause a breakout.

If you’ve got oily skin, then look for oil and butter ingredients that are on the low-end of the comedogenic scale, picking those that also help to re-balance natural sebum production. A few examples would be:

  • Jojoba oil
  • Marula oil
  • Argan oil
  • Olive squalane
  • Shea butter

MYTH: If You Didn’t Have Acne as a Teen, You Won’t Get it as an Adult

If only this were true…

Unfortunately, there’s a condition out there called adult acne, an extremely common condition at that. It refers to acne that develops in a person over the age of 25, and it can happen even to those who never experienced a single breakout in their teenage years.

Teen acne and adult acne share the same causes, as well as the same treatments. There are also several changes that you could make to help prevent breakouts:

  • Make sure that all of the skin care products you’re using are suitable for your skin type
  • Keep your skin hydrated – dehydration can often trigger excess oil production
  • Don’t touch your face, as this spreads bacteria
  • Protect your skin from the sun – UV rays trigger inflammation in the skin, which leads to breakouts
  • Keep your stress levels down, since stress causes the body to release an oil-producing hormone

MYTH: Vitamin A Products Should Never Be Used on Sensitive Skin

Woman applying face serum from dropper

It’s true that vitamin A is an extremely powerful skin care ingredient. However, this doesn’t mean that it can’t be used on sensitive skin.

You’ve probably heard of some of the vitamin A derivatives out there:

  • Retinoids
  • Retinol
  • Retinal
  • Retinyl palmitate
  • Retinoic acid

Each vitamin A ingredient varies in potency, meaning that they won’t all irritate the skin. Retinoids are the most powerful, while retinyl palmitate is the gentlest.

Your skin also slowly adapts to vitamin A. This applies to all skin types, not just sensitive skin. This means that, so long as you introduce the ingredient slowly, in a mild form, then your skin shouldn’t have any problems with it.

You might be thinking…

Why bother? There are other ingredients out there that I could use on my sensitive skin.

True, but most other ingredients haven’t been proven to be as effective as vitamin A. It gives the skin a firmer and smoother appearance, while also leaving it looking brighter and more radiant. 

Want to give this wonder ingredient a try?

Go with the OROGOLD 24K Multi Vitamin Night Nourishment + Retinol. Although it contains two forms of vitamin A (retinol and retinyl palmitate), it’s also packed with ingredients that’ll leave your skin feeling soothed and relaxed.

MYTH: If You Don’t Have Lines or Shadows Around Your Eyes, You Don’t Need an Eye Cream

Ever heard the saying “prevention is better than cure”?

It definitely holds true in this case.

The skin around your eyes is extremely delicate, and is much thinner than the skin on the rest of your face.

As you can imagine, thin skin is prone to damage. This is why people often experience fine lines appearing around their eyes before they start to show anywhere else on the face.

Once those lines or dark circles appear, erasing their visibility is difficult. However, start using an eye cream early and you’ll be able to delay their arrival, keeping your eye area looking smooth and tight until your later years.

If you really want to go all out and treat your eyes to the best, add an eye serum into your skin care routine too. This can be boosted even further with the addition of regular eye masks.

MYTH: Wearing Makeup with SPF Means That You Don’t Need to Wear Sunscreen

Woman applying foundation

Back to sunscreen again, which isn’t surprising when you consider that the sun is responsible for up to 80% of visible facial aging.

Now, you might be thinking…

My foundation contains SPF, and I use that all over my face. This is enough to keep my skin protected, right?

Wrong.

For starters, SPF makeup usually only protects against UVB rays. This then leaves those wrinkle-causing UVA rays to wreak havoc on your skin’s collagen fibers.

Even if your makeup products offer broad-spectrum sun protection, did you know that you need to apply a nickel-sized dollop of product to your face in order to actually receive the amount of sun protection claimed on the label?

Chances are that you don’t pile your foundation on quite so thickly.

Plus, even the very best sunscreens need to be re-applied every two to three hours. Again, this isn’t something that most people do with their makeup, which then leaves your skin even less protected.

This isn’t to say that sun-protecting makeup products don’t have their place…

They’re a great way to boost the efficacy of your regular sunscreen, giving your skin an extra layer of protection. However, don’t rely on SPF makeup alone to keep your skin safe from the sun.

MYTH: The More You Exfoliate, the Better Your Skin Will Look

If this is a myth that you believe, then you’ve likely never heard of over-exfoliation. It’s something that can end up being pretty serious, taking a month or two for your skin to get itself back on track.

The purpose of exfoliation is to clear away dead cells from the skin.

Exfoliate too much and you’ll scrub away your skin’s natural protective properties, leaving you to deal with the following symptoms:

  • Irritations and a burning sensation in the over-exfoliated area
  • An increase in breakouts
  • Inflammation and redness
  • A waxy and tight skin texture
  • New sensitivities to skin care products that you were previously fine with

The only way to really treat over-exfoliated skin is to give your skin a break while it naturally heals. This cycle will take at least 28 days, so be patient!

So, how often should you be exfoliating?

This depends on your skin type, but, generally, no more than two or three times a week.

Ideally, use a chemical exfoliant rather than a physical one. They may sound stronger, but they’re actually far gentler and better for your skin, even those with sensitive skin.

Need a new exfoliation product?

Try the OROGOLD 24K Multi-Vitamin Deep Peeling + Mandelic Acid. The chemical exfoliant in this formula is mandelic acid, which comes from apples. It feels gentle and hydrating, making it a great choice for all skin types.

MYTH: Your Skin Should Feel Squeaky Clean and Tight After Cleansing

Do you strive for that squeaky clean and tight feeling after cleansing?

If so, this needs to stop, because you’re not doing your skin any favors.

Cleansing is important for clearing your skin of dirt, excess sebum, and other impurities. However, you do also need to be careful when cleansing – the outermost layer of your skin consists of a delicate protective barrier that’s vital for skin health. Harsh cleansing methods strip away this protective layer, leaving your skin vulnerable to damage and dryness.

That tightness you feel after cleansing?

This is a sign that your skin barrier has been compromised. Your skin shouldn’t feel tight after cleansing – instead, it should just feel refreshed, soft, and hydrated.

If your cleanser has been leaving your skin feeling tight and dry, then it’s time for a change. The OROGOLD 24K Vitamin C Facial Cleanser is a light and gentle formula. However, it’s still super effective, and has been infused with two forms of vitamin C, along with vitamin A, to give your skin some extra goodness.

Nobody wants to be dealing with skin irritations, unnecessary breakouts, and premature aging, making it important to know your stuff when it comes to skin care. There’s plenty of advice out there, but always dig a little deeper yourself to make sure that the information that you’re following really is in your best interests.

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Winter Sports and Your Skin: How to Maintain a Healthy-Looking Complexion

Woman wearing ski goggles

You’re probably looking forward to all of those winter sporting activities you have planned over the next few months. Unfortunately, this is something that your skin will be dreading.

Why?

Because the cold weather, combined with UV rays that are more intense at higher altitudes, can really cause havoc to your complexion. Here’s how to keep your skin looking its best and maintain that beautiful glow, no matter how long you may spend out in the snow.

Cover All Exposed Areas of Skin with Sunscreen

Woman applying cream while outside in snow

Exposing your skin to the sun’s UV rays at a lower altitude is a big no-no, so this becomes even more so if you happen to be skiing or snowboarding up in the mountains. The higher you are, the stronger the sun’s UV rays will be.

Snow and ice also increase UV exposure due to the way in which they reflect UV rays around the environment.

Why does this matter?

Because the sun’s UV rays have a number of damaging effects on the skin, such as:

  • Triggering inflammation, which exacerbates inflammatory skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and rosacea
  • Increasing premature aging by destroying the protein fibers in the skin, which would have otherwise kept the skin smooth and firm
  • Stimulating the skin into over-producing melanin, which leads to dark spots and discoloration
  • Causing a rough and leathery skin texture
  • Damaging the DNA within skin cells and causing skin cancers to develop

The only way to really protect your skin from all of that is by making sure that you always keep any exposed parts of your skin covered with a sunscreen.

Don’t just roughly slather it on either – pay special attention to make sure that your skin is truly covered. Studies have found that skiers often miss out on 10% of their face when applying sunscreen, leaving them with sunburns and other forms of damage to deal with afterwards.

Some of the often-missed areas that can end up damaged include:

  • The eyelids and around the eyes
  • The nose, especially the bridge and the underside of the nose
  • The neck, especially around the back
  • The underside of the chin
  • The scalp
  • The lips

If you plan on taking breaks in between and exposing your arms or legs to the sun, then make sure to keep these covered in SPF too.

How Often Should You Reapply Sunscreen in the Winter?

Ideally, you should be reapplying your sunscreen every two hours. This may seem like a lot, but when you’re active, you sweat more. The sweat will soon render your sunscreen completely ineffective, making regular applications a must.

What’s the Best SPF for Winter Sports?

SPF 30 is usually recommended, because sunscreen efficacy doesn’t really noticeably increase when you go for a higher SPF.

However, although the differences may be tiny, it would be worth going for an SPF 50 if your skin is particularly dry or sensitive. 

Make sure that you go for a broad-spectrum formula. This means that your sunscreen will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays.

Look After Your Eyes

Woman wearing ski goggles

The skin around your eyes is extremely delicate. In some areas, it can be up to ten times thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, leaving it easily vulnerable to damage.

While applying a sunscreen around your eyes is important, this isn’t usually enough to keep the skin looking its best. Plus, it isn’t just your skin that you need to watch out for here – your eyes themselves can end up damaged. Snow blindness, officially known as photokeratitis, is a common problem that many have when spending time outdoors in the winter.

So, what can you do about this?

Invest in a quality pair of winter goggles. They need to offer 100% UV protection, as well as polarized lenses to absorb the glare from the sun. This will save you from needing to squint, which then helps to prevent crow’s feet from forming around your eyes.

The color of lenses you choose should depend on the sport you’re doing and where about in the world you are:

  • Clear lenses are all you need if you plan on skiing or snowboarding at night
  • Rose-colored lenses are great for cloudy or overcast days
  • Yellow lenses help to improve contrast in low-light situations
  • Photochromatic lenses will change color based on external light levels

Sunglasses are a must too, since you won’t want to wear your goggles when you aren’t skiing. Look for a hardy pair that guarantee protection against both UVA and UVB rays. However, while your sunglasses may look more stylish, try to opt for your goggles instead as much as possible. Due to the way in which these wrap around the head, they offer more UV protection.

Even if you wear contact lenses that already offer UV protection, it would still be a good idea to invest in both UV-protecting goggles and sunglasses.

Protect Your Pout

As mentioned, the lips are often an area that many forget about. This leaves them dry, chapped, and uncomfortable after a day out in the snow.

Not only does the cold air outside dry out your lips, but so does breathing through them, which commonly happens when participating in winter sports. If you tend to lick your lips throughout the day, then this isn’t helping either – your saliva contains acids that not only irritate the lips, but remove the natural oils that would have otherwise been protecting the skin here, leaving them even drier.

In order to combat this, you need to be using a lip product that prevents your lips from feeling parched.

The 24K Renewal Lip Balm is a great formula to go for. It contains a number of different plant waxes and oils that leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated. Some of the key ingredients in this lip balm are:

  • Shea butter
  • Beeswax
  • Mimosa flower wax
  • Avocado oil
  • Sunflower oil
  • Castor seed oil
  • Baobab seed oil
  • Mango butter

You will also need to top your lip balm with a layer of sunscreen, and reapply both your lip balm and your sunscreen every couple of hours.

Once you’re done for the day, reapply your lip balm once more. If you’re planning on adding some color to your lips for the evening, make sure that you pick a moisturizing lipstick formula.

Don’t Forget About Your Hands!

Woman applying hand cream with snowy background

While you will probably be wearing gloves for the majority of each day, your hands will still be exposed to the elements whenever you take your gloves off.

In addition to keeping them protected with sunscreen, you should also be giving your hands a little extra TLC in the evenings.

How?

Try the 24K Multi-Vitamin Hand Mask for starters. The plant oils and extracts in this beautifying blend will leave your hands feeling soft and nourished, ready to face the winter weather the next day!

Wear UV-Protective Clothing

Most of the UV-protective clothing options out there are designed for the summer, but there are more and more garments now being created for winter sports, with companies realizing the importance of UV protection in the winter too.

How does UV-protective clothing work?

They’re made with certain techniques and fibers that not only limit the amount of UV rays able to enter into your clothes, and therefore your skin, but they can also block and reflect UV rays, preventing them from coming into contact with you at all.

UV clothing comes with a UPF rating, which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This basically tells you how much of the sun’s UV rays a certain fabric blocks. For example, a garment with a UPF of 60 allow just 1/60th of UV rays to enter through its fabric.

The higher the UPF rating, the more protection the clothing will give you.

If you don’t want to invest in a whole new wardrobe for your winter sports trip, that’s understandable. Instead, there are certain clothes that you can pack to give yourself some extra UV protection:

  • Choose clothes made from densely woven fibers, rather than a looser weave, as this physically blocks UV rays from penetrating through. Some of the best fabrics are nylon, merino wool, and polyester, while cotton, silk, and acrylic are among the worst.
  • Go for garments that don’t have much of a stretch to them. When fabrics stretch, UV rays pass through the gaps in the fibers.
  • Make sure that your clothes aren’t too worn or faded. This weakens the textiles, making them more susceptible to UV rays.

Stay Hydrated

Woman in snow drinking water from bottle

The winter months can be so drying on your skin, especially if you’re spending lots of time outdoors and in the snow.

While protecting your skin from the outside is important, you also need to turn your attention to staying hydrated from within. A lack of hydration will exacerbate that winter dryness and flakiness, leaving your skin feeling sore and sensitive.

It goes without saying that the best way to keep your body hydrated is to make sure that you’re drinking plenty of fluids. Water is the best, but this doesn’t need to only be plain water. Teas, especially herbal tea, and fruit juices are great for hydration too, while infusing your water with fruit will add some extra flavor, as well as a dose of vitamins and antioxidants.

The food that you eat also helps to keep your body hydrated. Certain foods have a surprisingly high water content, so try to add more of the following into your diet:

  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Oranges
  • Apples

Don’t forget that alcohol and caffeine both have dehydrating effects on the body. If possible, stay away from those coffee breaks in between ski runs, and try to cut back on the amount of alcohol you consume in the evenings.

Be Consistent with Your Skin Care Routine

You probably won’t want to pack all of your skin care products to take with you on your winter trip, but there are some that are essentials.

Your skin needs proper care now more than ever, so make sure that you’ve got everything that you need to give it this.

Wondering what you’ll need?

Some of the must-have’s include:

  • A soothing cleanser
  • A hydrating toner
  • A serum
  • A moisturizing day cream
  • A thick night cream
  • A facial oil (if your skin is already on the dry side)
  • A sunscreen

Wondering if you can use a moisturizer that contains SPF, instead of using two separate products?

Yes, but only if you apply enough of it. People tend to skimp out when it comes to using an SPF moisturizer, applying such a light layer that the product doesn’t end up providing the SPF rating printed on the label.

As mentioned, you’ll also need to keep reapplying your sunscreen every couple of hours, which may be more often than you need to reapply your moisturizer. This can sometimes make it more cost-effective to use two separate products, although a moisturizer with SPF is the perfect way to start your day each morning.

Make sure that you stay consistent with your skin care routine. Your skin will need proper attention both mornings and evenings if you want to really protect it from winter damage.

Winter sports are a great way to stay fit and healthy over the colder season, but all of that sun, snow, and wind can really mess with your skin. It’s important to understand the various problems that can be caused, so that you can then equip yourself with all you need to deal with these potential issues in the best way possible. From keeping exposed skin covered with sunscreen to ensuring that your clothes also offer UV protection, following the steps above will ensure that your skin looks and feels its best, no matter what you may be doing this winter.