Skincare in your Thirties

Your thirties are an exciting time! You and your friends are starting to settle down, start a family and enjoy some of the hard work you have put in since you graduated college. Your body is still young but your mind is begging to get wise. Your thirties are a great time to set good skincare habits to help combat the aging process that there just is not escaping. Follow these steps and no one will believe that you aren't still in your twenties.

1. Watch the Eyes

The first place where signs of aging will begin to show will be the eyes. Make sure to keep this area moisturized in both the AM and PM. Look for signs of crows feet and wrinkles around the eyes. The wear and tear of time on your body will begin to diminish the skin's ability to hold moisture and this will lead to wrinkles and bags under the eyes. Keep it moisturized and keep the wrinkles away.  

2. Address your Forehead

This is the second place where you will start to see signs of aging. You want to address the signs as soon as possible. If you start to see extra wrinkles on your forehead, put a bit of extra effort into keeping the area hydrated and protected. Even a dab of our Moisturizer: Hydrator + SPF30+ will go a long way to keep the years at bay. 

3. Keep an Active Lifestyle 

There is no better way to stay looking young than to keep an active lifestyle. Make sure you train your body to have balance, as loss of balance is one of the first areas where the body will start to break down. You may not have as much flexibility as when you were young, but keeping your body in shape will keep it engaged and healthy. An unhealthy lifestyle will cause premature aging and no one wants that. 

What is Paraben Free?

Parabens are preservatives that have been widely used in the beauty industry since the 1920's. In fact, they are the most used preservative in daily care products. Paraben stop bacteria, fungus, etc. from growing in your skincare formula. New studies though have been pointing to their use resulting in health issues and negative effects. There is growing evidence that Parabens can increase your risk of getting breast cancer, even in men. Additionally there is also mounting evidence to support claims that Parabens have led to an increase in testicular cancer as they disrupt our endocrine system. Men have also showed signs of lower sperm counts which can be attributed to the use of Parabens.

Parabens are so popular in skincare products because they are cheap and effective at preserving the formulas. Despite this, there are still natural preservatives that can be used keep your skincare product fresh. When choosing any product to use on your body, check that they are Paraben Free before purchase. Companies that offer Paraben Free skincare, like Game Day, have taken the time to completely design their formulas from scratch to optimize natural ingredients and limit toxins for full skin health benefits. There is just no reason to use cheap skincare and put yourself at risk to the rigors of using toxic chemicals on your skin. 

Keeping Your Skin Clear after Workout

Did you know that the best way yo keep your skin clear, breakout and acne free starts before you even get a swear going? Proper skincare for active men is essential to clear, healthy, better looking skin. The sweat and dirt will clog your pores and leave your skin irritated. Not only is rinsing after activity essential, but knowing how to properly clear the skin is key to not only maintaining a clear, healthy complexion, but improving your skins overall health and appearance. When starting Game Day our goal was to provide skincare for men who want to look good. If you are in the gym, and eating right, you want to look good. Make sure you take careof yhe proper steps before and after to be looking good when your date arrives.

Step 1: Pre-Workout cleanse

The most important part of keeping your skin clear in the gym is cleansing before you workout. It clears off all the dirt and grime that has built up as well as hair product and other pore clogging elements. 

Step 2: Open the pores

The first step when you leave the gym is to sit in a steam room for a short period, rinse with hot water or use a hot towel to open the pores. Heat opens the pores, which will allow you to achieve a deeper rinse and clean. The heat will also help to purify your face will prepare the skin for the cleansing process. You simply cannot skip this step because when your body heated up as you were working out, tons of dirt, sweat and grime got into the pores. After your workout, they started closing, trapping in all of the grime. This wreaks havoc on your skin and leads to breakouts. Reopening the pores allows you to relieve your skin of this mess. Something to think about is washing your face before you workout as well. This removes a lot of the grime that you picked up over the course of the day, and keeps if off your skin and away from your pores as you begin to workout.

Game Day Step 3: Exfoliate

The next step is to grab an exfoliator. Exfoliators work deep into the pores to not only open them a bit more, but also scrub away dirt, dead skin and other pore clogging grit. Do not use an overly abrasive face scrub. Tons of people like the apricot scrubs and others with large beads in the exfoliator. While they feel like they are working, you are actually doing more damage to your skin as it roughs up the facial skin and can lead to far more abrasion then your face should be exposed too. Chose an exfoliator that is still gritty, but is not cheap and made to feel like it is working as opposed to actually working.

Game Day Step 4: Cleanse

Next, follow up with a cleanser. Now that your pores are open, the cleanser will be that much more effective cleaning the pores. Some guys reach for bar soap, completely disregarding a cleanser. DO NOT DO THIS! EVER! Your face and bar soap have different pH levels. Using a bar soap will actually increase your risk of acne and will attract bacteria. Bar soap also removes the natural oils from the skin and clogs the pores. Choosing a cleanser is crucial to your post-workout skincare routine. Look for cleansers that have Alpine Willowherb Extract is crucial as it controls the sebum production from your skin; thus, regulating oil levels and your pores. Game Day exclusively uses this hyper-ingredient in our Shower-Gel Cleanser.

Game Day Step 5: Hydrate & Moisturize

The final step is to rinse with cold water and moisturize. This rinses everything away one last time while also closing the pores, completely finishing your post-workout cleansing process. You do not want to go walking around with open pores and undo all of the hard work making sure everything was clean. Plus, a blast of cool water feels good. Finish with a moisturizerthat has Argireline, which is also known as the “topical Botox” as it will relax the skin and protect it throughout the day. Without taking the proper steps to clean and protect your skin after you workout, you are just not doing your skin justice. Why spend hours in the gym to look good if you will just breakout. Proper skincare is the last step of the self-care process. Any guy who goes to the gym wants to look good, and taking care of your skin, just like pumping iron, will only benefit the cause.

4 Ways to Protect From UV Exposure While Driving

Just because the AC is on and your not feeling like your melting doesn't mean that your aren't! UV Exposure from the sun is an absolute menace to drivers, and many do not even know. No matter what season it is, you simply need to take steps to protect yourself. Dermatologists say that the reason taxi drivers age so fast is because they are in their car all day. Additionally, countries that drive on the left side of the car have higher skin-cancer rates on the left while it is a mirror opposite for countries that drive on the right. The facts are there and are hard to argue.

1. Driving Gloves

It might sound a bit weird, but your hands are right there front and center. Even if you have SPF on them, there is simply nothing better then completely covering up with some gloves. In the winter they will double to keep you warm, in the summer you will look like a boss, plain and simple. Make sure that they are leather and will allow you to grip the wheel. You are sure to turn heads and protect yourself. Check out these from Kent and Curwen. ($245)

 

2. High-Performance SPF Moisturizer

You simply cannot ignore it. Cover up with an SPF boosted moisturizer that you keep in your car. It will greatly hydrate your skin and increase your skin health, but you will also get the crucial UV protection that you need. Choose a minimum of SPF15 with a "chalky finish" and cover up from hands to ears, neck and face. Game Day's goes on non-greasy and is boosted with SPF30+. ($32) 

3. Sunglasses 

You'll have trouble driving without them at times so there should be a pair in your car for glare safety. That same glare though is also focusing straight into your eyes. You should have a pair of polarized sunglasses in your car and you need to use them. Just like skincare, if you try to be cheap the product will actually do more harm then good. The Tom Ford Franklin Aviators are the perfect sunglasses for Fall 2014. ($360)

4. Wear a Hat

This is especially important if you have thinning hair or have a sunroof or convertible. Your head will be exposed to the sun and you know that that can only mean one thing. Cover up with a hat and don't risk sunburn or skin cancer. This Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Petronas F1 Cap is the perfect play. ($40) 

Nutrition: Superfoods

We have touched on this subject before, but it's always nice to explore the benefits of constantly evolving "superfoods."  The healthy, powerful and delicious foods will increase metabolism and aid a healthy lifestyle.  Check it out!

1. ACAI

A fruit harvested in the rainforest of Brazil, hones a 10 to 30% more antioxidants than your normal antioxidant go tos (such as, berries, grapes, red wine).  Additionally, Acai boasts valuable minerals for anti aging and vibrant skin.  Talk about a super fruit! 

Acai is available in several health food and gourmet stores.

2. OATS

Extremely rich in fiber, so a healthy portion can help you feel full through the day.  Don't be fooled by the high carb content, this particular carb is great for boosting metabolism and burning fat.  Just make sure to pick up the unsweetened kind and dress it up with your favorite berries or a couple spoonfuls of yogurt for flavor!

3. ALMONDS

This superfood is rich in healthy fats to help you stay slim.  A handful of raw almonds can be a great snack on the go, both satiating and guilt free.  Almonds are packed with Vitamin E, Vitamin B, Dietary Fiber and Essential minerals. They also have polyunsaturated fats which are known to potentially lower cholesterol levels. Check local supermarkets for carefully portioned 100 calorie packed almond baggies, oh so perfect and convenient.

4. ORANGES 

Low calorie, and packed with flavor and vitamins  Yes, they are a great source of vitamin C, but did you know they are also a fabulous source of fiber?  Great for the digestive system and keeping you full!  In fact, according to Australian researchers, oranges make it to the list of their 38 most filling foods which can help you avoid overeating while absorbing vital nutrients. 

5. KEFIR

We're seeing it more and more in the yogurt and milk section of supermarkets, and that is because it is a wholesome mixture of both!  Kefir, tracing all the way back to historic Russia, is a tangy, yogurty drink made from a unique mixture of fermented milk and specific bacteria.  Kefir is one of the best natural probiotics on the market, improving digestion and natural immunity.  Now sold in a variety of flavors, give it a chance see the wonders it can work for you!

Incorporate these "superfoods" into your diet and lifestyle and experience the positive effects.  Share your experiences with us! And, don't forget to check back with us soon for more superfoods and lifestyle tips!