A microbiome solution for YOUR
ACNE.

 

Ah, spring! The winter rains have turned into beautiful green hills, colorful blooming wildflowers....aaaand lots of allergies. And to make it even worse, the continuous coughing, itching, eye watering, and scratching (oh so much scratching...) comes with puffiness, dryness, and redness all over your skin.

So, what exactly are allergies? Allergies happen when your immune system has an adverse reaction to allergens like pet dander or pollen. Even though these allergens are harmless, our bodies mistake them as foreign and harmful and try to get rid of them, resulting in the symptoms we commonly experience with allergies. Here are some easy tips you can do at home to calm your skin this crazy allergy season. 

Soothe puffiness

Puffy eyes are an allergy symptom that everyone can relate to. Your body releases histamines when exposed to allergens, causing your blood vessels to dilate resulting in swelling. It’s an old trick, but applying chilled cucumbers to your eyes can help relieve swelling and inflammation. Cucumbers are full of antioxidants and flavonoids that can help reduce inflammation and chilling the cucumbers first provides the cooling effect of evaporation.  Apply for 4-5 minutes for the best results.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

As always, it’s important to drink lots of water while fighting allergies. Studies have shown histamine levels to increase when you’re dehydrated so make sure to guzzle up that H20. While you’re on the hydration train, make sure to keep your skin hydrated too. Look for moisturizers that contain hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, and colloidal oatmeal.

Shower often

During allergy season, it’s important to shower regularly to wash off the allergens that deposit on your skin, clothes, and hair throughout the day. Showering too much, however, can be drying for your skin so it’s important to switch to gentle soaps, cleansers, and shampoos. Another good tip is to add oils or colloidal oatmeal to your bath to soothe and protect your skin while washing the allergens away. 

We know allergies can be very annoying. They make a busy day about a million times more difficult and exhausting, but we hope these easy tips can alleviate some symptoms and stress for you this allergy season. Try them out, tell your friends, and Enjoy!

 

BB creams and CC creams have become the foundation of choice for many people, and here at Dermala, we are loving it! BB and CC creams are the perfect medium between makeup and skin care, and that’s why we love them. Not to mention, BB and CC creams give you that all-natural glow and vibrancy that can turn a drab day into a fab day. So what’s the difference between CC and BB creams?

First, let’s break down BB creams. BB creams first became popular in South Korea before gaining popularity here in the United States. BB stands for “beauty balm” which totally makes sense because BB creams are light and creamy to the touch —they are your ideal “tinted moisturizer”. BB creams also blend effortlessly into your skin and are easy to apply for makeup beginners. Best of all BB creams are completely buildable for those days that you may want some extra coverage. Also, BB creams offer amazing moisturizing and SPF properties to protect and prevent your skin from wrinkles and signs of early aging.

BB cream suggestions for sensitive and acne-prone skin:

We love the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer-Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30. It retails for $32 for 1.18 fluid ounces of product and there are 20 shades to choose from. If you’re looking for something more wallet-friendly, the drugstore makeup brand Maybelline is killing the BB Cream game with their Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream which retails for about $7.39 for 1 fluid ounce. However, there are only 5 shades to choose from, which can make finding the right shade a challenge.

CC creams also moisturize the skin and include SPF. CC creams, on the other hand, provide a little bit more coverage as “CC” stands for “color correcting”. If you are looking for some extra coverage without having to worry about applying or using more product, we love CC creams. CC creams help cover wrinkles, redness, and acne, and they are easy to apply and blend with clean fingertips. CC creams are often packed with vitamins such as Vitamin C and E. Vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis, which is a protein that aids in skin production and healthy skin structure. Both Vitamin C and E are also antioxidants that protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

CC Cream Suggestions for sensitive and acne-prone skin:

We love It Cosmetics’s CC+ Cream with SPF 50, which retails for $39 for 1.08 fluid ounces, and there are 12 different shades to choose from. A slightly more affordable option, yet with a more constricted shade range, is the Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin CC Cream SPF 20. Sadly, there are only two shades: a light and a medium shade. It retails for about $15 for 1.2 fluid ounces of product.

Also, always make sure you are buying makeup and skin care products that are labeled as non-comedogenic, which means the product does not clog your pores. It is also important to consider which products are catered to your skin such as dry, oily, or combination skin types.

There’s nothing like looking fresh and rejuvenated AND taking preventative skin care measures at the same time. At Dermala we like to think of BB and CC Creams as a way to achieve a beautiful today and a beautiful tomorrow. Voila, there’s beauty within your beauty routine!

 

If you work, are a student, or are just trying to cross some tasks off that much too long to-do list, you probably find yourself leaving the house in a rush without time to prepare food for the long day ahead. And like any human, you probably get HUNGRY. It’s easy to ignore that hunger or quickly satisfy it with some fast food or cheap snack, but it’s so important to give our bodies enough energy to healthily and efficiently get through our busiest days.

The gut contains trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. The balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut dictates the overall health of the gut microbiome, which ultimately fuels the health of our body and brain function as a whole. Scientific research has proven that there are certain foods that promote healthy bacteria in the gut and increase the health of the gut microbiome. So stock up on these affordable, gut-friendly, and yummy grocery store items to get you through your long days (and fulfill those cravings).

• Apples

  - “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” We have all heard that one before, but really, apples are amazing for gut health. Apples contain pectin which is a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic meaning it feeds the good bacteria in your gut. If you’re craving a little something more, pair this sweet snack with some peanut butter, which is a great source of healthy fats and protein.

• Almonds

   - Like apples, almonds are a great source of prebiotics, which fuels the probiotics, the good bacteria. Almonds are also a great source of protein for long-lasting energy. Also, almonds are low maintenance for a great on-the-go snack.

• Yogurt

   - Now we’re talking about probiotics! Make sure the yogurt contains active, living bacteria. The National Yogurt Association has implemented the Life and Active Cultures (LAC) seal to help consumers identify yogurts with active bacteria, so when shopping, make sure to look for this seal. Also, for the healthiest option, look for a yogurt low in sugars. Jazzing up some plain yogurt with honey or dark chocolate is a great way to add great taste without all the added sugars.

• Dark chocolate 

  - SAY WHAT? If you are a chocolate lover like myself, you would be surprised and pleased to know that dark chocolate has some health benefits. Beneficial bacteria toward the end of the digestive tract ferment the antioxidants and fiber found in the cocoa part of dark chocolate, which create anti-inflammatory compounds.

• Celery 

  - Celery is an excellent source of prebiotics, is super refreshing and contains minimal calories. Top it with some delicious peanut butter to add some healthy fats and protein to your snack. You can also sprinkle some cinnamon on top for a kick of flavor, which helps regulate sugar levels in our blood.

So, make sure you always have some on- the-go snacking options that are good for your health, wallet, and satisfy your tastebuds!