Desert climates have plenty of sunshine but they are usually dry and arid and you need to take extra care of your skin to keep it looking fresh and wrinkle-free.
Most women have countless pots of creams and lotions in their bathrooms. I also like my morning ritual of preparing my face for the day and pampering it again at night.
The skin care market has become over-scientific and the vast number of skin care products available can be very confusing. The cosmetic industry’s main aim is to create a market to keep customers coming back to buy new products that promise flawless skin and eternal youth. Aging is a bane and to be avoided at all costs and we are all encouraged to spend huge amounts of money on anti-aging preparations.
What we can do is to look after ourselves and accept that life is a journey bringing with it different joys at different ages. There is no need to live the fantasy of being forever 16 and becoming a slave to commercial skin care products.
Skin care in the Gulf is extremely important as the sun can age the skin very rapidly, especially if you sunbathe.
The sun is the number one cause for wrinkling, pigmentation changes and skin cancer. A little light sunshine is a valuable source of Vitamin D, but prolonged exposure to the sun damages the skin and ages it prematurely.
Expatriates who sunbathe for a pastime age quickly and the damage shows up suddenly. So always use a sunscreen on your face and hands. Look for a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Always protect your eyes too with good quality sunglasses.
How can natural products be the answer to eternal youth?
Skin care manufacturers would like to believe that they have found the answer in a little pot of potion but there is no single solution; to have beautiful skin you need to work from the inside out.
I am from the whole health school which believes that skin is cared for internally and there is a direct correlation between what we feed our bodies and what shows up in our skin.
I am a great believer in moisturizing the skin with natural products because Mother Nature provides everything we need to improve the skin. Go in for natural ingredients that work with the skin, rather than applying chemically refined products that contain elements that you may have never heard of.
Food always counts. Everything you do or do not put into your mouth affects the quality of your skin. For example, junk food does not promote healthy skin.
The amazing news is that you can transform your skin by making simple changes to your dietary habits. Eat simple fresh food and drink plenty of water.
Plump Out Your Skin with Water
Your body is made up of 80% water and your skin loves it. Dehydration first shows on your skin. Drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water everyday. You can provide an external boost to your skin by applying a morning spray of mineral water before moisturizing.
Caffeine can cause dehydration so think of coffee, tea, and cola as occasional treats.
Exercise
Take some exercise everyday. Note how wonderful your skin looks after exercise.
Exercise boosts the circulation, the metabolism, and brings oxygen to your skin cells.
Practice good skin care
It is important to know what the product you are using on your skin contains. Many cosmetic manufacturers focus on only telling the customer what the creams will do for them, not what is in them. There are products which should be used very carefully especially if you are going to be out in the hot sun.
For example, Retin A products should not be used on hot sunny days, as skin will burn more easily and can be damaged in the long-term.
If you use a Retin A product use it only at night and then use a Sun Protection Factor (spf) of 30. Retin A products should not be used during pregnancy.
Use gentle products to cleanse, moisturize and gently exfoliate.
Air conditioning is dehydrating and causes dry skin – you may need to use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin so that your moisturizer can have the desired effect.
Exfoliators should only be used at night as the new skin can easily be damaged by sunshine. It is very important to moisturize your skin at night and I recommend skin oil, as oils are more easily absorbed than creams. You can then wake up to lovely soft skin. It is also important to use a moisturizer on your lips such as Vaseline, which keeps the moisture in; and always have a bottle of water by your bedside.
Exercise your facial muscles for a natural face lift. Facial exercises keep the muscles toned and work better than any cream in the market. As we grow older our facial muscles need exercising to counter the effects of degenerating connective tissue that leads to sagging jaw lines, and drooping eyelids. Facial exercise is also vital following weight loss. If you would like to receive my complete facial workout, and a fact sheet on skin care in harsh climate you can e-mail to [email protected] for a free copy.
During the hot summer months, with the air conditioning on high, the top layer of the skin can get very dry leaving it flaky and clogging the pores which can lead to spots.
Good skin is a sign of health and beauty and if you take care of your skin it reflects that you are thinking positively about yourself.
Water is the ultimate nourishment for the skin but vitamin supplements are also excellent for improving the skin texture and tone.
My Essential Gulf Skin Care Tips
Protect your face and hands with high spf sun block
Moisturize using natural products
Use oils at night. Night oils feed and rejuvenate your skin while you sleep
Exfoliate twice a week to remove dry skin and prevent wrinkles
Make water your main drink of the day
Eat fresh fruit and vegetables
Massage your skin daily for 2 minutes
Keep your face high up on its moorings by e-mailing me for a free copy of my Mini-Facial Workout to [email protected]
Take a good quality daily vitamin supplement to make sure that you are getting the best intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
My Healthy Recipe of the Week
Enjoy a very simple lemon drizzle loaf cake
Ingredients
Serves: 12
• 110g (4 oz.) butter
• 170g (6 oz.) self-raising flour
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 170g (6 oz.) caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• lemon zest and juice from 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons icing sugar
Preparation method
Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4.
Grease and line a medium-sized loaf tin.
Beat the first 5 ingredients and the lemon zest together until smooth and creamy.
Pour cake mixture into prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes.
Heat the lemon juice in the microwave for 45 seconds, and stir in the icing sugar.
While the loaf cake is still hot in the tin, pour the lemon mixture over. Enjoy.
Ask Alva
I have a habit of drinking about 10 cans of soft drinks and cola daily. Is this harmful? Nabila
Soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other sweetened beverages can deliver up to 12 teaspoons of sugar in a single serving. These beverages offer no health or nutritional benefits. Start to cut down slowly and work toward having canned drinks as occasional treats only.
— Alva
Email: [email protected]
