Recent Blog Posts

Friday December 8, 2017 at 12:24pm

For many people, the cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. Cold weather and low humidity levels result in dry air, which then steals moisture away from the skin every second of every day.

"As soon as you turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out," Bonnie LaPlante, an esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. "It doesn't matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry.”

1. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise 

Your skin not only needs more moisture, but moisture right after you wash. Applying moisture to damp skin helps seal that dampness into the skin. Keep a bottle near the bathtub, shower stall, and at every sink and use liberally every time you wash.But choose your moisturizer carefully! 

We recommend a combination of:

Dryer areas like hands, feet, elbows, and knees have thin skin and tend to lose moisture faster than other areas on the body. Consider slathering on a deep moisturizing balm such as our favourite Trilogy Everything Balm at night, then wear cotton gloves and socks to seal in the moisture until morning.

2. Hydrate

The skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids. So drink up! A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time.

3. Protect

Get used to wearing gloves and scarves to protect skin from cold winds, rain, and snow. The skin on your hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.

Also, don’t forget the sunscreen. Winter sun can be just as damaging as summer sun, so apply a safe option like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to any exposed areas.

4. Humidify

Heating systems dry out the air, so consider installing a humidifier in your home, particularly in your bedroom, to put moisture back into the air and help prevent your skin from drying out.

5. Forget about super hot baths 

The intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. 

6. Exfoliate 

We often forget to help the skin slough off dead cells in the winter, particularly on our hands. Yet moisture can’t get in if the dead cells are too plentiful. Find an exfoliating mask and use it on your face and your hands, as well as gently on your lips, then follow immediately with moisture to truly see a smoother difference. Exfoliating body washes are also helpful in the winter months

7. Use masks

Masks can provide needed moisture in the winter months.

SHOP OUR WINTER FAVOURITE

Wednesday October 25, 2017 at 7:53pm

Make the most of the extra hour sleep… 

The end of Daylight Saving Time is one of our favorite excuses to sleep for an extra hour — a decadent, once-a-year, Sunday morning treat.

How much can an extra hours sleep change you? 

Both the hours slept and the intensity of the sleep are important. Some of your most refreshing sleep occurs during deep sleep. Although such sleep's true effects are still being studied, it is generally considered a restorative period for the brain. And when you sleep more hours, you allow your brain to spend more time in this rejuvenating period.

"When you put away sleep debt, you become superhuman," says Stanford's Dement, talking about the improved mental and physical capabilities that come with being well rested.  

  Just one extra hour of sleep can boost your athletic performance

Researchers at Stanford University asked five healthy students on the Stanford women’s tennis team to maintain their normal sleep/wake cycle for two to three weeks, then extend their sleep for five to six weeks. The students underwent athletic performance assessments after every practice, and researchers discovered that with extra sleep the students executed a faster sprinting drill and experienced increased hitting accuracy.

Better memory

If you have a bad memory, the answer to your woes might simply be getting more sleep. While deep sleep is perceived as a time when we completely shut off, our brains are actually hard at work moving our short-term memories to our long-term memories, which makes space for the next day. If you don't get enough time in a deep sleep, some of your memories will be lost.

Significantly lower blood pressure 

Heart attacks increase when Daylight Saving Time begins in March, research shows, after we’ve lost that precious hour of sleep. And when it ends, heart attacks decrease. And that makes sense, given what we know about sleep and arterial health.

To help you get a good nights sleep here are some of our favourites:

Bach Original Flower Remedy Rescue Night Drops

This Works Sleep Plus + Pillow Spray

And Besleepy De-Stress Bath & Body Oil 

Sleep well, sleep tight! 

Wednesday September 13, 2017 at 12:37pm

What are they?  

Age spots are flat, brown, gray, or black spots on the skin. They usually occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Age spots are also called liver spots, senile lentigo, solar lentigines, or sun spots. Age spots are the result of an excess production of melanin, or skin pigment. Doctors don’t always know why age spots develop. Skin aging, sun exposure, or other forms of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, such as tanning beds, are all possible causes. You’re most likely to develop age spots on the areas of your skin that receive the most sun exposure, including your face, the back of your hands, your shoulders, your upper back and your forearms.

How to prevent age spots? 

Since these brown blotches are caused by the sun’s UV rays, limiting sun exposure is an important first step in the battle against age spots. Avoid the sun as much as possible during peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM during spring, summer, and fall or 10 AM to 2 PM during winter), when the ultraviolet radiation is the strongest.

Even if you already have age spots, sunscreen keeps existing ones from darkening and helps prevent more from popping up, says Kunin. Buy a broad-spectrum sunblock (which protects you from both the UVA and UVB rays of the sun) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 (Such as This Works Leg Protector SPF30). Apply it to exposed skin 10 to 15 minutes before you go outside, says C. Ralph Daniel III, MD. Tests show that SPF 30 sunblock protects the skin against about 93% of the sun’s UV rays, he says.

Top Tip: Use lemon

Cut a few lemon slices and place them directly onto your age spots for 10 to 15 minutes once a day, suggests Kunin. “The acid in the fresh lemon juice helps lighten the age spots in some cases.” It won’t happen overnight, though. Kunin says that you’ll notice a difference in 6 to 12 weeks. Watch carefully. Overuse may cause the upper layer of skin to peel.  

 

Monday August 14, 2017 at 4:13pm

What is it?  

Hyaluronic acid is the hottest ingredient in skincare right now—but how well does it actually work as a moisturizer and wrinkle-plumper? Is it better to take it orally as well as applying through a moisturiser? 

First of all, hyaluronic acid (which also goes by the names hyaluronan or hyaluronate on the back of packaging) is not an acid in the same sense as popular ones like salicylic or glycolic, which exfoliate away dead skin cells.

Hyaluronic acid doesn't do that at all. As a naturally-occurring polysaccharide found in the human body, it acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our joints, nerves, hair, skin and eyes.  

It's particularly important to skin appearance because about 50 percent of the body's supply is located in the skin tissues, where the viscous, jelly-like substance helps keep it plump, soft and supple... for a while, at least. Our ability to produce hyaluronic acid declines with age, which can lead to increased dryness, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging. 

So that's one reason why skincare and cosmetic enhancement companies are encouraging us to use their synthetically-derived hyaluronic acid products—they claim to help replenish our lost stores of it.

The other reason is Hyaluronic Acid molecules' unique ability to attract and retain more than 1,000 times their weight in water. One thousand! That's more than any other biological substance. What's not to love?

How It Works

Unlike collagen, Hyaluronic Acid is able to penetrate the skin’s upper layers to improve and benefit the skin when applied topically. Hyaluronic acid is a major component of skin, where it benefits tissue repair and protection. When applied in a Hyaluronic Acid cream or serum, Hyaluronic Acid forms an air permeable layer and penetrates into the dermis, thus boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin. The protective barrier on the skin locks in moisture, which gives the skin a youthful appearance.

Try our Hyaluronic Acid Serum

At Beflattered we think taking Hyaluronic Acid is a must. We love Aeterna Gold and  Viridian

Free shipping with all Beflattered orders and free samples too!

 

 

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:24pm

Which foods to eat, and which to steer clear of for a good night's sleep

 

Reach for …

 1.    Tryptophan-rich foods 

Tryptophan is a sleep-promoting substance. Foods that are high in tryptophan include dairy products (such as milk or yoghurt), nuts and seeds, bananas, honey, and eggs.

2.    Carbohydrates 

Carbohydrate-rich foods complement dairy foods by increasing the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. So a few late night snacks to help you sleep might include bread and cheese, a bowl of porridge, or yogurt and nuts. 

 

Steer clear of …  

1.    High-fat foods

Research shows that people who often eat high-fat foods experience a disruption of their sleep cycles. A heavy meal activates digestion, which can lead to nighttime trips to the bathroom.

2.    (Hidden) Caffeine 

Chocolate, cola, tea, and decaffeinated coffee may still contain moderate caffeine, and therefore cause sleep disturbance. For better sleep, it is recommended to cut all caffeine from your diet four to six hours before bedtime. *Some over-the-counter and prescription drugs contain caffeine, too. Check the label! 

3. Alcohol 

Although alcohol  may help you fall asleep faster, you may experience frequent awakenings, less restful sleep, headaches, night sweats and nightmares. If you are drinking alcohol in the evening, make sure to balance each drink with a glass of water to dilute the alcohol's effects. For a good night's sleep, it is recommended to avoid alcohol four to six hours before bedtime.

4.    Spicy food

A spicy meal can lead to heartburn, and uncomfortable sleep. Make sure to finish a heavy meal at least four hours before bedtime.

5.    Protein 

Although proteins are an essential part of our daytime diet, they are hard to digest. Avoid the high-protein snack before bedtime and opt for a dairy product instead. 

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:19pm

What To Eat & Drink For A Good Night’s Sleep

For dinner…    

·      Tuna salad (with lettuce and tomatoes) 

Fish such as Tuna, salmon or halibut are high in vitamin B6, which your body needs to make melatonin and serotonin.  

Tomatoes are one of the best sources of lycopene, a mineral important for sleep.  

Lettuce contains significant amounts of a substance called lactucarium, which is a natural opiate.  

FACT: This is why extract of wild lettuce is sometimes found in herbal sleeping tablets.

·      Quinoa, kale & Halibut  

Wholegrains like quinoa are rich in magnesium—consuming too little magnesium may make it harder to stay asleep.  

Dairy products are well-known calcium-rich foods. But green leafy vegetables, such as kale, also boast healthy doses of calcium, which is believed to help sleep. 

·      “Sushi bowl”: White rice and salmon  

White rice has a high glycemic index, which  will significantly reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep, according to an Australian study.   Like tuna, salmon is high in vitamin B6. 

 

The perfect bedtime snacks… 

  ·      Cheese & crackers  

Just like yoghurt, cheese contains calcium which can help you sleep. 

·      Carrots & hummus  

Gram for gram, carrots are the most potent sources of alpha carotene, behind canned pumpkin, which has been proved to help sleep.   Chickpeas in hummus are also a good source of tryptophan. 

·      Yoghurt with honey, walnuts & almonds 

The calcium found in yogurt helps the brain use the tryptophan found in dairy to manufacture sleep-triggering melatonin.  

The natural sugar found in honey slightly raises insulin and allows tryptophan to enter the brain more easily.

Walnuts are a good source of tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid that helps make serotonin and melatonin, the “body clock” hormone that sets your sleep-wake cycles. Additionally, walnuts contain their own source of melatonin, which may help you fall asleep faster.    

Almonds are rich in magnesium, a mineral needed for quality sleep. A study published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine found that when the body’s magnesium levels are too low, it makes it harder to stay asleep.

·      A bowl of porridge (prepared with milk) 

A bowl of porridge combines two components which will help you sleep:  carbohydrates (from the oats) and calcium (from the milk).

·      Banana & Kiwi smoothie (Blended with milk) 

Bananas contain Typtophan, potassium, magnesium and healthy carbs so would make an ideal snack for anyone suffering with sleeplessness. 

The high amount of serotonin in kiwis, could significantly increase sleep duration. 

 

 

What to drink … 

·      Cherry juice 

Cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boost levels of melatonin, which should help you fall asleep faster. 

  ·      Chamomile tea & honey 

Steeping a cup of chamomile tea will help you sleep. According to researchers, drinking the tea is associated with an increase of glycine, a chemical that relaxes nerves and muscles and acts like a mild sedative.

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:15pm

What To Do When You Can’t Sleep

Establish a regular bedtime routine.

Find activities that help you wind down before bed, and stick to the same sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.

Don’t smoke.

Need another reason to quit? Smokers commonly exhibit symptoms of insomnia—possibly because their bodies go into nicotine withdrawal during the night.

Limit caffeine.

It’s tempting to reach for coffee when we’re tired after a poor night’s sleep, but drinking caffeine can make it harder for us to fall asleep at night, creating a vicious cycle. Try limiting caffeine intake to earlier in the day so it’s out of your system by bedtime.

Nap the right way.

Just 10 to 20 minutes of napping during the day can help us feel rested (and improve our creativity and memory, to boot!) . But try to avoid napping after 3:00 or 4:00pm, as this can make it harder to fall asleep at night.

Get outside.

Increasing natural light exposure during the day promotes healthy melatonin balance, which can help us get to sleep later in the day.

Eat for sleep.

Eat dairy, foods high in magnesium, like halibut, almonds, cashews, and spinach, and foods high in vitamin B complex, like leafy green vegetables, nuts, and legumes. 

Dim the lights two hours before bed.

According to one study, exposure to electrical lights between dusk and bedtime might negatively affect our chances at quality sleep. Assuming you don’t want to sit in the dark for hours, find the happy medium by dimming the lights as bedtime draws near

Turn off the screens.

The artificial (or “blue”) light emitted by screens can disrupt our bodies’ preparations for sleep by stimulating daytime hormones. Reduce exposure by turning off TVs, phones, and computers at least one hour before bedtime. 

Don’t use your brain before bed.

Don’t work, watch stimulating TV shows, read complex material, or think too hard—about anything—before bedtime; working out the brain keeps the body awake.

Keep it (dark and) cool.

A dark, cool bedroom environment helps promote restful sleep. Program the thermostat so the bedroom’s temperature is between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius (experiment to find what works best for you), and use heavy curtains, blackout shades, or an eye mask to block lights. Also be sure to charge phones and laptops outside the bedroom—even this tiny bit of light can disrupt sleep. 

Consider natural supplements.

Valerian and melatonin are two of the most highly recommended supplements (though their efficacy is still under review). Some other sleep aids can be effective, too.

Minimize disturbing noises.

If external noises are beyond your control (a busy street outside the window, a neighbor’s barking dog), cover them up with the sound of a bedside fan, a white noise machine, or other sounds that help us sleep.

Vent stress.

Spend some time writing down anxieties. Loose-leaf paper works, but if you scrawl your sorrows in a journal or notebook, you can literally close the book on your worries (at least until the morning).

Try a hot bath or shower.

  Stepping from warm water into a pre-cooled bedroom will cause body temperatures to drop slightly, which can trigger sleepy feelings by slowing down metabolic activity.

Do some leg exercises.

  Easy leg lifts, squats, or other leg exercises can help divert blood flow to the legs and away from the brain. This can help quiet the mind, making it easier to slip into dreamland.

Visualize yourself asleep.

Imagine yourself drifting in a blissful slumber while practicing deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. Starting at one end of the body and working up or down, clench and then release each section of muscles for instant all-over relaxation.

See a doctor.

  If you’ve tried everything and nothing’s worked, it might be time to consult a professional. A doctor can help rule out any sleep disorders and identify lifestyle factors or medications that might be getting in the way of a good night’s rest.

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:12pm

It’s little wonder that water is referred to as the ‘essence of life’. If you want to increase the suppleness, softness and radiance of your skin, as well as flush out toxins and improve hydration… then be sure to get your recommended intake of water every day. How does water help your skin? Let us take a dive into the benefits of water.

1.    Water helps reduce dark circles under the eyes

Water helps flush out the toxins from your system and thereby reducing the amount of salt concentration in and around the eye area. If you've been eating salty food lately, chances are you will wake up in the morning with puffy eyes.  

2.    Water helps increase blood flow for a healthy glow

In addition to hydrating your major organs, water can also help increase blood flow by removing toxins and helping to spread nutrients: this includes your skin. When you have better blood flow, your skin is more likely to exhibit that “healthy glow” everyone wishes for. In turn, this will also help aging skin look more youthful.  

3. Water helps improve skin tone 

In most cases, skin discoloration is the result of either a disease of the skin or sun damage. While water can’t necessarily cure skin discoloration, the other benefits can lead to better skin tone. For example, consuming more water may decrease the prevalence of undereye circles and redness of the skin.

4.    Water helps prevent premature ageing by improving skin cell turnover

Your skin is naturally evolving every day by shedding old cells and generating new ones. Unfortunately, this process isn’t always perfect. Oils can clog your pores and also trap old skin cells, leaving your skin with dry-looking patches. Drinking water can help improve skin cell turnover by promoting the right oil balance. Improved skin cell turnover also leads to a correct moisture balance—overtime, you will experience softer, less oily skin overall.

5.    Water helps reduce wrinkles 

Dehydration coupled with decreased blood flow can also lead to a thin appearance of the skin. When your skin is less supple, it may be prone to more wrinkles. Furthermore, using water-based skincare products can absorb easily into the skin and make your skin look thicker.

6.    Water helps prevent pimples and acne 

Certain kinds of toxins will clog your small pores on your epidermis and can cause issues like acne and pimples. By drinking more water, you ensure that you won’t suffer from severe pimples and acne. The more hydrated your skin, the less your pores will clog.

7.    Water helps improve skin elasticity 

If you have a lack of elasticity in your skin, it may be that you are dehydrated. To check your skin’s elasticity, gently pinch your skin and see if it bounces back. If it doesn’t bounce back, you need to drink more water to hydrate yourself and to plump up your cells. Areas such as the skin under your eyes can become dark if you lost elasticity and are not hydrated.

How much is enough? 

The amount of water you should drink in a day depends on your metabolism, weight, height and your daily routine. Generally, it is recommended that adults should drink between 5 and 8 glasses of water a day. Always make sure you are drinking at least six glasses a day to stay hydrated and healthy.

 

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:09pm

The Best Exercises For Sleep

Working out regularly has so many positive health benefits. It can reduce stress, boost alertness during the day, and improve your sleep quality. As little as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling, can dramatically improve the quality of your nighttime sleep, especially when done on a regular basis. 

Early morning and afternoon exercise may also help reset the sleep wake cycle by raising body temperature slightly, then allowing it to drop and trigger sleepiness a few hours later. It can be especially helpful if you are able to exercise outdoors and let your body absorb natural sunlight during the daytime hours. 

These three specific activities are scientifically proven to help you sleep better.

1.   Cardio 

Aerobic exercise (such as running, cycling, dancing…)  decreases resting heart rate. According to, 7 a.m. is the best time to engage in aerobic exercise since it clears stress hormones earlier in the day which leads to a better night's sleep.  

2.  Strength Training 

Besides helping you sleep better, weight training also helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. Deep sleep and muscle growth are interdependent. A good night’s sleep promotes your body’s hormone balance, which in turn aids in muscle repair and growth. When you sleep deeply, growth hormone-releasing hormones (GHRH) release more growth hormones into your bloodstream. At the same time, GHRH induces better sleep. Sleep itself encourages tissue repair and growth and helps preserve energy, which is depleted along with growth hormones during daily activity because of stress hormones. Sleep is a necessary and continual healing process.

3. Yoga 

Yoga helps unwind at the end of the day which will help you fall asleep at night. The following yoga stretches before going to bed can help you relax and prepare you for a good night’s sleep. 

Yoga exercises for a good night’s sleep: 

1.   Standing forward bend (Hastapadasana)

2.   Cat stretch (Marjariasana)

3.   Child pose(Shishuasana)

4.   Butterfly pose (BaddhaKonasana)

5.   Legs-up-the-wall pose (ViparitaKarani)? 

 

Monday August 7, 2017 at 1:03pm

Sun And The Skin

The sun can do a lot of good. It regulates sleep cycles, stimulates the body's production of vitamin D, and enhances feelings of well-being. But there's also a downside: Exposure to sun can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer.  

In fact, sunshine is considered the single biggest cause of visible aging. But you don't have to succumb to the damaging rays. Even if you haven't been sun savvy in the past, it's never too late to start protecting your skin, says Darrell S. Rigel, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. Here are a few important skin care tips for sun protection.  

Avoid sun exposure

The best way to prevent a sunburn is to avoid sun exposure. Stay out of the midday sun (from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon), which is the strongest sunlight. Find shade if you need to be outdoors. 

The best way to prevent a sunburn is to avoid sun exposure. Stay out of the midday sun (from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon), which is the strongest sunlight. Find shade if you need to be outdoors. 

Wear Protective clothing 

- Other ways to protect yourself from the sun include wearing protective clothing, such as: •  Hats with wide 4 in. (10 cm) brims that cover your neck, ears, eyes, and scalp.  

- Sunglasses with UV ray protection, to prevent eye damage.

- Loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs.  

- Clothing made with sun protective fabric. These clothes have a special label that tells you how effective they are in protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays.

Sunscreen protection

-  If you can't avoid being in the sun, use a sunscreen to help protect your skin while you are in the sun.

-  Be sure to read the information on the sunscreen label about its SPF value and how much protection it gives your skin. Follow the directions on the label.  For applying the sunscreen so it is most effective in protecting your skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

- Water washes sunscreen off, and the cooling effect of the water can make you think you're not getting burned. Water also reflects ultraviolet (UV) rays, increasing your exposure.Water-resistant sunscreen is needed if sweating or contact with water is likely.

- Sunscreen should be reapplied straight after you've been in water – even if it's "water resistant" – and after towel drying, sweating, or when it may have rubbed off.