Grafin Skin and Beauty

The Skin Diet: Dry Skin Edition
Supporting your dry skin through diet can play a vital role in how your skin ages and help minimize common frustrations such as red, scaly, or itchy skin.
Dry skin happens when we lack lipids, essential fatty acids, cholesterols, and ceramides in the body to keep the skin naturally moisturized and functioning optimally. Without these natural lubricants, the skin looks like a brick wall without the mortar, thus allowing allergens and other foreign invaders to get in and precious water to get out, leaving the skin dehydrated and vulnerable to a myriad of issues. Beyond that, these lipids and fatty acids keep the skin plump, and without them, our skin will age quickly.
To help the skin create the 'mortar' that holds everything together, you can supplement Omega-3 fatty acids (found in oily fish like mackerel and salmon), Omega-6 (Borage seed oil and Evening Primrose).
To stimulate skin repair cycles, adding vitamin C to create more collagen-producing enzymes and zinc to help maintain collagen density to better lock in hydration. Both C and zinc are readily found in foods, but a quality multivitamin could help ensure that you get the right amount if your eating habits aren't ideal.

This is not intended to be or replace the advice of a qualified medical practitioner, it is merely to discuss current research on the topic of skincare.

People always ask me where I found my models for my website, did you know they all started as our acne clients?
The beautiful Lauren came to me after trying everything under the sun, she was frustrated and her skin was red and raw from OTC acne products. She has been clear for over 2 years now! That's the power of a good homecare regimen and professional treatments. So proud of all your hard work!!

How long to wait between each product application? Most professional products contain active ingredients that work both immediately and throughout prolonged wear. It is crucial to give products enough time for the immediate effects to occur before applying your next product so as not to 'push' all the actives to the sides of the face or dilute them with the next layer.

I recommend waiting until the initial layer is no longer tacky feeling before you apply the next layer. An exception to this rule is acids, retinol, or prescription creams, which should be allowed a full five minutes between layers because these actives are known to pool in areas and can cause irritation.
I know it feels like it will take you longer to get ready, but the increase in the effectiveness of your products will reward you in the end.

My mom was the queen of teaching manners. In southern society, it was really often that you would see people using ”manners” like a weapon or a way to make some people feel uncomfortable or even ashamed of where the came from. My mom hated that sort of thing. I remember her telling me ”if they are eating with that it fingers, you do not ask for a fork, if they are sitting on the floor you sit on the floor with them.” she believed in using her manners to make everyone feel important and valued. I believe in this too, everyone is important and valued.

Minimalism is not a new thing, but it is trendy, and what it means is that the essential things in life are what you concentrate on quality over quantity. This concept flies in the face of our culture in many ways; we tend to gravitate towards fast fashion and the desire to have the newest thing often casting aside or even duplicating something we already own. I'm willing to bet if I were to look under the sink in most of your bathrooms that there would be at least four duplicates for something you are currently using (I have a wardrobe of half-used body lotions because I impulse purchased a new scent on a whim). So let's look at what we can do to be more mindful of what we need and streamline our products.
My must-have products include:
🌟Cleanser
🌟Toner/Mist
🌟Exfoliant
🌟Serum
🌟Moisturizer
🌟SPF
Do you have any must-haves that I left out?

Who else has the itch to travel?! The next chance I get, I’m going to take 10 days and travel back to Baden Baden for another dip in the baths at Friedrichsbad Spa. What location is on your traveling bucket list? Drop an emoji hinting at your dream vacay and let’s see if I can guess the location! Ready, GO!

Are you applying your skincare in the correct order?

Ever wonder, 'Why can't I just mix all my products together and slap them on at one time?' I wish it were that easy! Unfortunately, when you mix your serums into your creams, the emollients from your moisturizer block the power ingredients serums from getting into your skin.
The most effective way to apply your products is to start thinnest to thickest.

Here is my little cheat sheet:
Treating mist or essence
The serum you want the strongest action from (calming serum if you are prone to reactions, exfoliating serum if you are prone to breakouts)
Antioxidant serum
Take a minute or two to sip your coffee, let those layers marinate and sink in.
Eye cream goes next because it's typically lighter than your moisturizer
Now your Moisturizer to lock in your serums (think of your skin like a boiling pot of water, the moisturizer is like the lid that doesn't allow all the moisture to boil away)
The oil layer if you need a bit more oomph
Sunscreen during the day, a retinol or sleeping cream at night
Not everyone needs all of these steps, but 1,5,6, and 8 are essentials to maintain healthy skin. If you want to change your skin situation for the better it's 2,3, and 7 that is going to make that happen.

Need help sorting out your routine? Drop me a note and I would love to help you out.

I get the best advice from the people around me. This one came from my housekeeper, Lester when I needed a little boost of confidence. It resonated so loud with me that I instantly wrote it in my notebook. So incredibly grateful for the support from my circle. Who is your biggest cheerleader?

There will be no one in the world that cares as much about the life you live, the work you create, the dreams you chase, then you, my friend. So you might as well go live the life you dream of, create things you love, work on things you are passionate about, and push past what others might think is even possible.

Today, I'm taking a moment to reflect on this journey of becoming an esthetician and spa owner, and how incredibly thankful I am to spend my days working with the most phenomenal client-friends. I’m so grateful to those who helped me find the courage to pursue my dreams and make them a reality.

And maybe, just maybe, inspiring another person in this beautiful world to pursue their dreams too.

There’s a new star ingredient on the skincare scene, and let me tell you it’s awesome (although you probably won’t know how to pronounce it)…

�It’s bakuchiol, a plant with robust natural health and beauty benefits that has been used since ancient times in traditional eastern medicine to treat ailments ranging from hair loss, pigment disorders, leprosy, psoriasis, eczema, and inflammation.

Head here to keep reading about why this ancient remedy is the newest player on the beauty scene and how you can start incorporating it into your skincare regime: https://www.grafinskinandbeauty.com/2019/09/15/new-star-ingredient-bakuchiol/