It seems like there’s always a new skincare ingredient that you just need to include in your routine if you want to get beautiful, younger looking skin. While it’s important to take care of our delicate facial skin, there are a lot of products out there that aren’t necessary for every skin type, nor do they offer all the benefits that they claim to. While it can be difficult to sift through what’s true and what’s been exaggerated, there is one ingredient that has been proven to be effective in keeping skin looking healthy and feeling good—and that product is zinc.

While you may not be aware that this mineral is included in a lot of skincare items, you might know that it is often included in sunscreen. You don’t have to go full on with a zinc sunscreen like the lifeguards in movies who only cover up their noses with the white cream, but adding zinc to your skincare routine could be the right choice for you. In this article, we’re going to cover the following topics:

• The benefits of zinc for your skin + what it does to your skin
• How to include zinc in skincare (including the best zinc creams!)
• What to do about a zinc deficiency

Zinc benefits for skin

What does zinc do to the skin and what types of benefits can you hope to get from adding it into your beauty routine?

 Zinc offers your skin a lot of benefits, so you may want to start including it in your routine. 

Looking for a skincare ingredient that is gentle on your skin and can help it look and feel its best? Then you might want to consider getting a product with zinc in it. Zinc is a material that is composed of enzymes and proteins that works to keep things stable so everything can function normally. When you apply it topically such as in a sunscreen or a cream, zinc sits on the facial skin instead of being absorbed. This means that it’s an excellent way to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. These rays are deflected from the skin because of the zinc layer, keeping your facial skin safe from burns and UV damage that leads to premature aging.

While it’s a great ingredient to include in your daily SPF, did you know there are also other benefits to having zinc in your skincare routine?

• Reduces inflammation. Zinc is a great way to help out with areas of your skin that are inflamed, red, or itchy. Its healing properties make it a great way to combat issues like acne or psoriasis. Because of its ability to help heal, it can be placed on rashes or cuts to speed along the healing process. Having a cream or a serum that includes zinc can help reduce inflammation in even sensitive skin.
• Is antimicrobial. Not only does zinc soothe irritated skin, but it also works as an antimicrobial. This is especially helpful for skin that is oily or prone to acne. It supports the production of the skin’s natural oils, works to keep the skin dry and clean, and prevents pores from getting clogged, which leads to acne.
• Antioxidant. Zinc is naturally an antioxidant and works to combat free radicals that can lead to premature damaging of the skin and increases the chances of developing fine lines and wrinkles.
• Astringent. Because of its slight astringent nature, zinc can help to refine and smooth out your complexion, leading to brighter, fresher looking skin that is more even in texture and appearance.
• Hair growth. Zinc can also benefit your hair due to its antimicrobial and soothing properties. If you’re experiencing flaky dandruff, having a shampoo with zinc in it can help reduce the likelihood of flakes appearing. Using it consistently could also help your hair grow faster and reduce your hair loss.

Zinc in skin care

Where do you typically find zinc in skin care products?

Zinc and its benefits are available in a variety of skin care products. Now that you know what a great addition zinc can be to your skincare routine, what’s the best way to incorporate it? While you may already have used it in a sunscreen, there are other ways you can get this useful mineral in order to help your skin look its best.

• Facial cleansers. Using a facial cleanser with zinc in it morning and night will help reduce the inflammation associated with acne and keep your pores looking their best.
• Creams. Creams and moisturizers with zinc as an active ingredient are a great way to keep your skin looking even and reduce hyperpigmentation. Applying a cream specifically designed to do this is a great way to treat your skin while you sleep, and also protect it during the day from the sun.
• Serums. Serums are a fantastic way to get essential ingredients into your skin to keep it looking fresh and healthy. Serums are usually added after you washed your face and used toner. Allowing the serum to be absorbed afterwards will help it penetrate your skin more fully. After your serum, seal in the goodness with your cream or moisturizer.

In addition to these skin care products, you can also take zinc supplements orally. In fact many people who are using a zinc product topically often are also taking an antibiotic or a zinc supplement.

Zinc is also readily available in food, so if you really want to increase your zinc levels, consider making it a point to eat more of these kinds of foods:

• Oysters
• Red meat
• Pumpkin seeds
• Cheese
• Almonds
• Oats

Can you have a zinc deficiency in your skin?

Yes it is possible for you to have a zinc deficiency. This occurs when the body is just not getting enough zinc. Although we’ve been discussing how good zinc is at protecting your skin from UV rays, keeping it clean and clear, as well as even, zinc is also essential for your immune system, healing of wounds, and physical growth.

You can have a zinc deficiency when you adhere to certain restrictive diets (such as veganism or another long term diet), because the protein from meat helps the body absorb zinc better. Older people and those with gut diseases may also have a hard time absorbing vitamins and minerals, including zinc.

When you have a zinc deficiency, it can manifest in a variety of ways including:

• Hair loss
• Infections
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Changes in nails
• Loss of appetite
• Eye issues

In order to confirm you have a zinc deficiency, you will need to see your healthcare provider so they can perform the appropriate blood tests.

Zinc sunscreens to check out

If you’re specifically looking for zinc sunscreens to add to your routine, we think that’s a great idea. Now that you know how well zinc can protect your face, it’s a must-have in your next sunscreen. Make sure you look for a sunscreen that has at least 20% zinc oxide. In order to ensure you avoid any white streaking, make sure you’re taking the time to rub in your sunscreen well. Try doing it in sections instead of spreading it all over your face all at once.

Pick up a sunscreen that has zinc oxide in it and you’ll be doing your face a favor. Image courtesy of The Skincare Edit.

First Aid Beauty Mineral Sunscreen

This is a great light weight addition to your morning skincare routine! Simply apply this gentle cream and you’re good to go with the protection of 20% zinc oxide. It’s also safe for sensitive skin!

Salt and Stone Lightweight Sheer Sunscreen

Looking for something sheer that won’t peak through your makeup? With 22.75% zinc oxide, you’ll be confident going about your day knowing your skin is protected. It goes on smoothly and hydrates your skin with its easy to spread texture.

The best zinc creams for skin

If you want to start including a zinc cream in your skincare routine, we have a couple of options for you.

Using a cream with zinc in it is a great way to go that extra mile when it comes to protecting your face from UV rays. In addition, you can also reap all the other benefits of having brighter skin that looks and feels great.

Eucerin Daily Protection Face Lotion

This is an easy to apply face lotion that goes on smooth and works to protect your delicate facial skin. You’ll love that it contains zinc oxide and titanium oxide to keep out broad spectrum UV rays. It’s very hydrating and it will last for hours without feeling greasy or streaking white when you apply it.

Andalou Naturals BB Beauty Balm

If you’re looking for a cream that contains zinc for protection as well as a light tint, then the Andalou Naturals could be just what you’re looking for. It has the power of zinc oxide to protect your face all day from the harmful UV rays, but it goes on light and blends easily. You can choose to wear this alone or underneath your foundation.

Drmtlgy Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Anti Aging Moisturizer

You can apply moisturizer and SPF all in one step with this broad spectrum anti aging moisturizer. The zinc oxide protects your face while the remaining ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3 moisturize your face to leave it feeling hydrated. No matter if you have oily skin, acne, or have dry skin, this moisturizer is for you.

Zinc is a great addition to your skin care, and one of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck. So whether you want to try out a sunscreen or a cream, consider giving zinc a try.

The post Getting Your Skin Ready For The Big Day – How to Get the Biggest Benefit from Zinc in Your Skincare appeared first on Inspired Bride.

With all the hustle and bustle of preparing for your wedding, you might’ve easily missed out on some important concerns that could be key to look your very best on your big day – and one of these essentials is skincare. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most important skin care tips that you must do 3 months before your wedding. You’ll find out all the necessary prep steps for your ultimate wedding look because we know you don’t want to miss a single thing. So, keep on reading and make sure you won’t miss any of these!

1) Work Towards a Great Beauty Regimen

Every preparation has its fair share of ups and downs. It’s only natural that we start this round-up with a bit of lifestyle check and of course the decision to be beautiful! It’s important to have a great beauty regimen that can help you be the best version of you on your special day. Do this 3 months before your wedding to achieve the best possible results.

Moisturizing your skin is a staple for achieving that smooth and plump looking skin that every bride desires. There are tons of skin moisturizers right now and most of them are even suitable for everyday use. As part of your beauty regimen, you need to moisturize your skin once in the morning and once before bed. Of course, choose only high-quality moisturizer to avoid unnecessary allergies and breakouts that would be catastrophic during your big day.

Along with essential skincare regimen are cleansing and exfoliation. Doing this routinely can get rid of dirt and grime that has been collected throughout the day and even through makeup. You can easily achieve a radiant, younger looking skin if you have proper cleansing and exfoliation. Hence, maintaining these essential skincare regimen for your face and body prevents the growth of harmful bacteria and build-up of dead skin. Do this regularly 3 months before your wedding and you’ll surely have smooth and healthy skin.

2) Drink Plenty of Water

Who doesn’t want to look picture perfect for their wedding day? The key is drinking plenty of water. Yes! 8 glasses or more to be exact. Having healthy skin is easily achieved with adequate hydration especially when you are planning to have your wedding during summer. Skin breakouts occur when your skin loses electrolytes from the results of dry skin. Replenish regularly to ensure that your body can repair itself constantly.

3) Eat Healthy

If you’re in the middle of your diet and you’re missing out in whole grains then your skin lacks a vital source of fiber. Whole grain is rich in insoluble and soluble fiber that is effective in both detoxification and skin repair. The enzymes and chemicals that are found in whole grains are known to help cleanse the skin from toxic chemicals that are easily the cause of acne which will look bad during your wedding day. Of course, a balanced meal will promote wellness thus makes you happier and prettier on your big day. In addition, foods rich in collagen will improve your skin’s health overall, you can learn more about these in this article from Proper Good.

4) Have your Regular Facial Schedule

Ladies and some gents, we all know how having beautiful and radiant skin is of utmost importance – all the more on your wedding day, right? There’s so much skin care to do that you can’t cover every bit of detail especially if you have special issues with your skin. Having a regular visit to your skin care clinic would really be vital in achieving that picture-perfect glow! So to help you with your pre-wedding skincare routine, we gathered up some facial care products that you will go crazy over!

For skin imperfections such as acne, using Tea Tree Oil is vital. It is a completely natural product that has lots of antibacterial and skin fortifying properties which is perfect for the treatment of skin imperfections.

Another great product is Benzyl Peroxide which is known to have a very effective skincare result especially if you have acne. Using a topical cream of either 5 or 10 percent benzyl peroxide is absolutely necessary to get rid of acne.

If you are planning to pamper yourself with special skin therapy then Genucel offers a line of products targeted to address different skin issues revolving around the face and the jawline. The four-step system starts with a 60-day supply of Genucel Plant Stem Cell Therapy, a cream that promotes the appearance of youthful skin and reduces puffiness under the eyes.

The second step is a 60-day supply of Genucel Eyelid treatment, which focuses on the youthful revitalization of the eye area. The third step is the Genucel XV treatment, which is an anti-wrinkle treatment designed to prevent gaining by protecting the skin. Finally, Genucel Immediate Effects works to smooth the appearance of eye-area wrinkles.

5) Exercise Regularly

Having good skin can be as easy as a healthy lifestyle. And regular exercise is important to stay healthy and also stay beautiful. Start your 3-month exercise with jogging in the morning to sweat out toxins and have healthy blood circulation. After a good exercise, don’t forget to wash after to avoid skin breakouts due to bacteria that breeds on sweat.

6) Cleanse or Detox

Do not neglect cleansing and detoxifying! It’s not only about what we put on our skin but also what we need to take out. Cleansing and detoxifying are essential to avoid skin impurities. Having to prepare for your wedding brings stressful days ahead so regular cleansing and detox really do much help.

7) De-stress

In addition to the previous entry, de-stressing is not just placebo! With that being said, after all the tension that wedding preparation brings, having a way to relieve stress is so vital to stay beautiful! There are tons of de-stress routines like yoga that anyone can easily attend and practice even in the comfort of our homes.

8) Pamper Yourself with Night-time Routines

Just like having your regular manicure sessions, night-time routines like DIY facial masks and veggie eye patches will help you achieve that perfect wedding day glow! Enhance your skincare ritual with an organic extract brightening eye cream to reduce dark circles and puffiness. Easy to prepare and absolutely effective, night-time routines help prevent breakouts that we all hope not to have.

9) Have Enough Sleep

Yes, sleep matters! Catch up on your zzz’s 3 months before your wedding to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Underrated but absolutely vital for that perfect wedding day look. Staying out late promotes that unhealthy overall look that is easily noticeable in your skin.

10) Avoid Last Minute Makeup/Skincare Regimen Change

This is easily the most important tip from this skincare guide that most of us disregard. Having to change your makeup and skincare regimen less than a month before your wedding could easily cause skin allergies and breakouts. It is important that you try your makeup/skincare products 3 months before your wedding to find out if the products match your skin type and if it causes skin problems.

The post 10 Skincare Tips You Must Do 3 Months Before Your Wedding appeared first on Inspired Bride.

Winter has hit and your wedding day grows near, but it’s never too late to start a “Healthy Glow” regimen. To protect your skin from winter dryness and preserve your fresh flawlessness, it’s necessary to take the time to treat your skin with care so you can put your best face forward on your special day. Make these practices part of your lifestyle so that your married life is your best life, in which you are conscious of your health, as that’s where a radiant glow comes from! So, if you want to shine like the sun, from this day forward, read on, my dears!

1. Get Your Beauty Rest

So. So. Important. Get enough sleep (7-8 hours) so you can wake up refreshed in the morning! When you don’t feel like you’ve had enough sleep, you don’t look like it, either. Your body is going through all sorts of processes during your sleep cycle (they don’t call it “R & R” for nothin’). Without it, the body produces more cortisol– the stress hormone. Not good, folks (unless you’re deciding to fight off a gang of purse-snatching Thai monkeys or to run for your life). Hyalauronic acid and collagen, which give your skin that youthful glow, start to break down because of stress and inflammation in the body-mind-cells. Not only that, but getting adequate sleep benefits your skin by allowing your body the time it needs to recover and process moisture in the body, balancing out the element of water in your system so you don’t have to worry about puffiness and circles around the eyes or noticeable wrinkles. “Quality sleep accelerates overnight skin repair—pair it with understanding Korean skin boosters for deep hydration, and you’ll wake up wedding-ready with a supple, luminous complexion,” says the owner of Meamo Shop.

2. Hydrate or Die-Drate

I know that sounds kinda silly, but it’s the TRUF! You were told as a child that your brain is a sponge. In a way, you’re whole body is. What I’m saying is… you are a distant cousin of Spongebob Squarepants. Seriously, though. You most like wouldn’t give your plants tea, coffee, gatorade, booze, soda pop, etc, so be sure to consume more water than you’re consuming anything else. Those beverages are fine in moderation (with the exception of the last two… keep alcohol to a minimum and pop is best left alone entirely), but when you wake up first thing in the morning, drink 8 oz. of good ‘ol H20. Thirty minutes later, drink another 8 oz of water. You won’t believe how alert and detoxified you feel. And you definitely won’t believe how happy your skin is to be moisturized from the inside out. If you’ve always battled dry skin, there’s a possibility you’ve been chronically dehydrated. Drink up!

3. Eat to Live, Not the Other Way Around

Take a good look at your consumption lifestyle, Bride-To-Be. What’s your energy level like most days? How do you smell? Does your skin break out frequently? Quality foods are becoming more affordable all the time because people are coming to realize their personal responsibility for their health. And with the cost of health insurance being what it is, you and your sweetie can start thinking of eating well as your own insurance policy. Purchasing organic fruits and veggies, quality proteins, heart and skin healthy fats, and fibrous grains (when possible, I know these things cost money) will keep your nourished for longer periods of time than foods with lower nutrient density. Your body will respond by utilizing nutrients more effectively and metabolizing energy resources to keep you fueled and fierce. Your skin, my Love, will flourish when you eat fewer processed products. The transition may be challenging, but you are worthy of vitality and radiance!

4. That Sunshine, Though

I’m not saying you need to convert to #VampireBrideLife. I’m just saying that hats and sunscreen do serve a purpose. Regardless of you’re age or marital status, when you’re 50, you probably don’t want people thinking you look 70 because of all that time you spent basking in the glorious sunlit days of your youth. Being proactive about protecting your skin from the sun’s magnificent rays is a preventative effort. It’s never too early to consider how vulnerable the skin is to burning, discoloration, spotting and cancer. Go for organic sunscreens so you can look out for the ocean, too, when you’re beach bummin’ on your honeymoon. I love finding a cute sunhat during my travels– they’re adorable and functional souvenirs!

5. Detoxify

Exercise benefits the skin by increasing circulation– the more blood flowing in your system, the more your body can process and expel waste products like free radicals, which rapidly age the skin. Physical activity is like delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients directly to your skin cells and whole body, helps relieve you of stress (remember, we talked about how damaging stress can be!), and boosts your self-confidence and self-worth. Oh, and consider fasting from time to time. Water fasts and dry fasts are powerful. You’ll feel your body in transformation, releasing energy that you don’t need to carry a day longer than you already have.

I hope these tips help you balance your skin, your body, your life. Start now and make these healthy habits a part of your daily life and you’ll be glowing not only on your wedding day, but as long as you’re alive to grace this divine earth with your lovely presence!

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ― Roald Dahl

The post Supple, Smooth Skin for Your Winter Wedding in 5 Steps appeared first on Inspired Bride.

Making an impact on your wedding day can be accomplished by wearing the right shade of red lipstick for your skin tone. You are sure to enjoy the compliments that are coming your way as you walk down the aisle as a red lipstick bride. Here is a few of our favorite red lipsticks for blushing brides of all skin tones.

1. Fair/Light

A cool-toned blue-based red is perfect forlight and fair skin tones. Bare Mineral’s Full-Bodied Buxom Lipstick in Provocateur can be paired with a thin cat eye and loads of mascara for a sophisticated daytime look.

2. Medium

A true red will be a great pick for medium skintones. Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in True Red is set to make you the center of attention in your wedding. Finish the look with a chic low bun for an effortless graceful style.

3. Tan

A berry red looks great with a girls with a lovely tan. Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm in Mouthwatering Berry provides just the right amount of sheer berry color that will be fantastic with dramatic smoky eyes and fluttery lashes.

4. Olive – ULTA Lipstick Cherry Picked 202 (medium true red cream)

Bright cherry lips take center stage with olive-skin toned brides. At less than $10, Ulta Lipstick Cherry Picked 202 is a steal! Let your hair down in loose mermaid ombré curls and you’re good to go!

5. Caramel

Caramel-complexioned gals can channel vintage Hollywood glam with a deep ruby red. Pull a Monroe with Giorgio Armani’s Rouge ECSTasy Lipstick in Four Hundred. Pairing it with a short white halter flapper dress as your wedding dress is optional.

6. Deep

Dark-skinned beauties, rejoice! I have something special for you. Why not rock an orange-red lippie? Bobbi Brown Art Stick Lipline in Hot Orange will surely make you feel like a million bucks. Neutral eyes will pair nicely with this bold color choice.

Red lipstick is a fun, bold way to express your individuality on your wedding day. Whether you are hiring a professional makeup artist or doing your makeup yourself, picking the perfect red lipstick for your skin tone will make you feel like you’re ready to take on your big day.

What’s your favorite red lipstick shade? Let us know on the comments section below!

The post 6 Red Lipsticks for Blushing Brides of All Skin Tones appeared first on Inspired Bride.