Natural Beauty Tips is your work environment aging your skin?

You’d think at this point we’d have the anti-aging fight down to a science. We know to use sunblock every day.
Many of us have researched every serum, moisturizer and exfoliator to find what helps our skin the most.
And more than a few of us are on a first-name basis with our favorite spas, dermatologists and even plastic surgeons. Yet even with all these positive actions, there’s one more to consider: how our work environment is affecting our skin.

Amazing, really, when you think about it. Our workplace is where we spend most of our waking hours but most of us haven’t considered what it may be doing to us physically.
So let’s fix that right now.

Here’s the top line: lighting, building materials, lack of physical movement and even our computers influence our skin’s normal functions contributing to free radicals, allergic reactions, dull skin tone, dryness and acne. But there’s lots we can do to minimize harm and boost our health.

If you have a lamp on your desk, replace the bulb with a daylight stimulating bulb.

Get a little blue light: Let’s begin with how much time we spend inside.
Mother Nature intended for us to spend time outside. Our eyes are designed to absorb sunlight rays to regulate our melatonin and cortisol, which balance our sleep and waking rhythms.
(And we all know how important sleep is for our skin.)
The most important light ray is blue light, which unfortunately isn’t present in artificial lights.

So to get a little blue light in your eyes, take a couple of short walks outside during your day.
If you have a lamp on your desk, replace the bulb with a daylight stimulating bulb.
There are also light boxes available that simulate summer light.

Replace CFLs for LEDs: Another possible risk to our health is Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, better known as CFLs. These spiral-shaped bulbs started replacing old school incandescent bulbs because they save energy.
What they do not save is our skin. Because of how they are made, radiation can seep out of tiny cracks in the coating.
This radiation is consistent with damage to cells from UV radiation that cause topical irritations such as Atopic Dermatitis.

An easy way to avoid this problem is by making sure you stay at least one foot away from the bulb. Or better yet—replace your CFL bulbs with the newest generation of LED bulbs that provide much better light quality, are more efficient, last practically forever, and are mercury-free.

Insulation, formaldehyde and aerosols have been found to cause topical irritations, dry skin, trouble breathing and allergies.

Protect your skin: Exposure to the building materials in our environment can also be detrimental to our skin and overall health.
Insulation, formaldehyde and aerosols have been found to cause topical irritations, dry skin, trouble breathing and allergies.
Heat and air conditioning also contribute to dry, scaly and itchy skin.

So here are some ways to ease these issues:

• Place a small humidifier in your work area.
  If that is not possible, a fresh bowl of water on your desk everyday will help add some moisture to the air.
• Sunblock! Here’s yet another reason to wear it. A good sunblock protects your skin from more than the sun’s rays.
• Make sure you are getting your Omega-3 fats. They contribute to a great defense system for your skin.

If you are fortunate enough to choose your work environment, these issues may not apply to you, but there’s a good chance the last two do.

Reduce screen time: Sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time has been linked to red, blotchy and puffy skin.
What’s more, excessive screen time is also linked to sleep disorders, memory loss and rapid aging for the skin.
Try taking a break for a few minutes every hour and invest in a screen cover that reduces the light bouncing off your skin.
And please—make an attempt to really unplug at the end of your day by banishing technology from your bedroom.

There’s lots we can do to make work a place that boosts our Beauty & Well Being

And finally, move more: We all know the benefits of exercise but did you know that one day of inactivity spikes our blood sugar 20% more than a day when we are active?
Sitting at our desk for long periods of time is also linked to a shorter life span and puts us at a higher risk for diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.
Also, circulation is imperative for new cell growth.

So every hour or so, when you are giving your beautiful face a break from your computer screen, take a brief walk or go up and down a flight of stairs. Go see your colleague instead of sending her an email. Even better, is there a chance you can schedule a few meetings outside and take a walk together?

Knowledge is power. We might not have all the choices we’d like in our work environment, but there’s lots we can do to make work a place that boosts our Beauty & Well Being.