Author: everbella
How To Care For The Skin Beneath A Beard
Men like to rock beards for many reasons. It could be for confidence and looks, or comfort and warmth. If you have a beard, or you know someone who has a beard, you know that it can take some upkeep.
But what about the skin underneath?
The unfortunate truth is that facial hair can absorb moisture, taking it away from the skin. This can lead to dryness or itchiness. What’s even worse is that facial hair can catch dirt and oil near the hair follicles, clogging pores and causing acne.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grow a beard. If you follow the tips below, you can keep the beard and have healthy skin beneath (which can help make your beard even nicer)!
My husband does these and, well, just look at his fabulous beard! >>>
Clean thoroughly and often
Don’t worry, I’m not accusing you of not washing your beard! But it is crucial to wash it extensively at least once a day.
In the shower, let the steam of the warm water loosen the hairs of your beard, then give it a nice wash with a facial scrub.
If you’re using beard oils, it’s a good idea to do a wash again at night, as these oils can get trapped around the hair follicles and lead to inflammation.
Treat your face like your scalp
Alternatively, if your beard is extra thick and/or extra long, just treat it like you do the hair on your head!
In the shower, use a gentle shampoo and conditioner. Be sure to work it into the skin so that you can free up those trapped oils and dirt.
Exfoliate regularly (but not too much)
When you shave, you remove the top layers of the skin. This acts in place of exfoliation, removing dead skin cells, allowing your skin to be cleaner, at lower risk of clogged pores, and better able to absorb hydrating products.
But when you have a beard, you’re not shaving this away. As a result, it can build up. This is why it’s important to exfoliate.
To do so, get your beard and the skin beneath it wet with warm water. Then, in a circular motion, apply an exfoliating face wash (a cream-based cleanser with abrasive ingredients designed to actually scrape away the dead skin) to the skin beneath the hair.
Be sure to only exfoliate 2-3 times per week. Doing so more than this can risk the skin becoming too sensitive and vulnerable to damage.
Moisturize after washing
Now that your skin is clean, exfoliated, and clear of built up oils and gunk, it’s time to hydrate!
Find a moisturizer that’s free of fragrances, parabens, and other ingredients that can harm your skin. Work it into your beard and the skin beneath until absorbed.
Inside and out
Like the hair on your head, your beard is fueled by the nutrients and compounds you consume.
That includes collagen.
If you’re taking care of your beard on the inside and the outside, you’ll have the best beard in town!
28 Skincare Myths
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. As such, its health is important. Not only does it affect the way you look, but your skin has crucial jobs such as tipping off the immune system that there’s an issue – like an influx of pathogens – and managing inflammation.
If you want your skin to be as healthy as can be, it’s best to know as much as you can about caring for it. But there are a lot of myths and half-truths floating around out there. So, to make sure you’re not mistakenly doing anything that can actually harm your skin, today I’m going to cover 28 skincare myths and how much truth they carry.
1. Hot water is good for your skin – False
Whether it’s your face or your body, washing with hot water strips even more oils and natural moisturizers away from your skin than a simple wash is already doing. The result is dry and itchy skin – or that tight feeling. The skin on your face is especially sensitive to hot water, so if you’re planning on having a hot shower, wait to wash your face with warm water instead. And, as always, be sure to moisturize after.
2. Only teenagers get acne – False
It’s true that elements of puberty, like an increased production of oil in the skin (sebum), can cause acne. But there are many other causes of acne as well which can occur or stick around regardless of age.
3. Cucumbers will eliminate the bags under your eyes – Half true
While it’s true that placing a cool, moist cucumber over your eyes can help reduce puffiness, compressing anything that’s cold over your eyes will have the same effect.
4. Face exercises will remove wrinkles – False
Unfortunately, once you get wrinkles, they’re not going anywhere. Though you may be able to minimize their prominence through certain means, stretching the skin of the face will likely only make them worse or even create new wrinkles.
5. Eating carrots turns your skin orange – True
If you ate a dozen carrots every day for several weeks, there’s a chance that your skin will actually develop an orange hue. This is due to the carotenoid in carrots called beta-carotene – an antioxidant that gives carrots (along with other fruits and veggies) their color. But because it takes so much beta carotene to happen, this phenomenon is quite rare.
6. Pores open and close – False
Contrary to popular belief, steam won’t open your pores to let them breathe. Pores don’t open and close, but they do loosen.
7. Chocolate causes acne – False
As far as we know, no food on its own is going to cause acne. However, aspects of a diet can. Too much sugar – from any source – can contribute to an acne breakout.
8. Lips don’t sunburn – False
Just like your skin, the lips can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays. In fact, they’re even more vulnerable than your other skin. Be sure to use a lip balm or a product that offers SPF protection.
9. Indoor tanning is safer than being in the sun – Mostly false
The UV rays in tanning beds are no less serious than the rays from the sun, and some even argue that it can actually be more harmful. However, the good thing is that you have more control in a tanning bed over intensity and duration.
10. Waterproof sunscreen lasts all day – False
In terms of how long it lasts, waterproof sunscreen isn’t all that different from the regular stuff. If you plan on being outside all day, be sure to reapply your sunscreen once every few hours.
11. Acne is genetic – True
Though there hasn’t been a specific gene found that causes acne, it’s widely accepted by researchers that acne runs in the family.
12. Toothpaste will kill a zit – Half true
It seems like an old wives tale, but it could actually work! Some toothpastes do contain ingredients that are found in acne treatment creams. However, the problem is that they can also contain ingredients that may harm the skin, worsening the inflammation.
13. SPF protection is all the same – False
When applying sunscreen, you want protection from both UVA and UVB sun rays. These can both damage the skin in different ways. However, some products – like makeup, for example – may only offer protection from UVA or UVB, not both. Be sure to check the label and see which kind of protection your products are offering.
14. Makeup makes you age faster – Mostly false
This one does depend on the quality of product you’re using, but most makeup can actually be beneficial for your skin. If you wear good quality makeup as directed, wash it off nightly, and follow a proper skincare routine, there’s no reason why makeup should harm your skin.
15. The sun can treat acne – Half-true
Sun exposure may be able to reduce inflammation on the skin. However, this is because the sunlight suppresses the immune system and the immune cells in the acne. This short-term fix is not recommended due to the long-term consequences, like reduced immunity and increased skin aging.
16. It’s good for skin to feel tight – False
Many people may think that tight skin means no wrinkles. In reality, this means that your skin is too dry and void of its natural protective oils.
17. You only need to wear sunscreen on sunny days – False
As much as 80% of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate clouds. If it’s light outside, the sun’s rays are getting through. No matter the weather, if you’re going to be outside for a long period of time, be sure to protect yourself!
18. Men don’t need to moisturize – False
Skin is skin, regardless of who is wearing it. Moisturizing helps the skin from getting too dry, which can lead to irritated or cracked skin.
19. You can sweat out toxins – False
Your body mainly uses the kidneys and liver to clear out toxins. Sweat is predominantly water, with traces of salt and fat, and its purpose is to regulate body temperature.
20. You should pop pimples – False
Though you may be able to do this in a careful manner, it’s generally recommended to not pop those whiteheads. Yes, nobody wants to show the world one of these, but popping it can lead to scarring and may allow bacteria to get inside, where more problems can arise.
22. Moisturizer reverses wrinkles – False
Using a moisturizer won’t remove any wrinkles you already have. Though, it can help keep your skin hydrated as you age, making the wrinkles less pronounced. It may also prevent or reduce future wrinkles.
23. Giving a cut some air will help it heal faster – False
Of course, always listen to your doctor’s advice on managing any wounds you may have. But removing the bandage to let it breathe may cause it to dry out, which slows the healing process.
24. Frogs cause warts – False
Okay, I know this one isn’t as pressing, but just in case, I wanted to bring it up! Despite their own bumpy skin, frogs do not cause warts. Warts are caused by a virus carried in humans, not frogs.
25. Stress causes acne – True
While not the only cause, it’s certainly one of the reasons you may see acne in adulthood. Stress can cause a hormonal imbalance that triggers breakouts.
26. Shave against the grain – False
Especially for sensitive skin, it’s best to shave in the direction that your hair grows. Though shaving against the grain may give a closer cut, it may pull at hairs before they get cut, causing irritation and ingrown hairs.
27. Butter heals burns – False
While the idea is to keep the skin moist, applying butter right after a burn may cause the fat to lock in the heat and cause damage. If you burn yourself, it’s best to apply cool water to the affected spot immediately. However, if the burn appears to be really serious, cover it in a clean cloth or towel and head to the emergency room, as even cool water could cause further damage to a severe burn.
28. Wearing a hat causes hair loss – False
The idea here is that a hat “suffocates” the hair and stunts growth. But hair gets the oxygen it needs to grow through the red blood cells via hair follicles. Hair loss is largely genetic or due to a deficiency.
Skin myths
I hope that these 28 skin myths help you take better care of your skin. Remember, before you do something to your skin, be sure to know all the details. Everything you do to your skin on each day adds up and impacts it – whether you see it straight away or not.
If you’re unsure about something, do a quick search on the internet first!
Want to know the details of collagen?
What Are The Three Main Types Of Collagen?
When you hear about collagen, you may find people talking about the “different types” of collagen. But what does this mean? And how do you know which kind you’re taking?
There are actually at least 16 different types of collagen. However, the most abundant are types I, II, and III, each named after the order they were discovered. Simply put, these different types refer to which part of the body the collagen can be found.
Today, I’ll cover these three main types of collagen, along with which kind is in EverBella’s Complete Collagen+ and why.
Type I
It’s no wonder that type I collagen was discovered first, as it is the most abundant type of collagen in the body by a landslide – accounting for about 90% of all the body’s collagen.
It’s made of densely packed fibers and provides structure to the skin, bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue, and teeth. This is the type of collagen you want when you’re looking to preserve the health of your skin, hair, and nails.
Like all types of collagen, type I collagen levels begin to deplete after about the age of 25. Your body begins to make less collagen, and the collagen it does make is weaker than before. This decline worsens with age.
Since type I collagen is the most prevalent, the loss of this type can lead to sagging skin, fine lines, and brittle nails. And that’s just on the outside. On the inside, it can negatively affect the health of bones, tendons, joints, and organ tissue.
If you’re looking for the health benefits that people outline when they talk about collagen in a general sense, type I collagen is what you’re looking for.
Type II
This type of collagen, unlike the densely packed fibers of type I, consists of more loosely packed fibers that can be found in the elastic cartilage which cushions the joints.
This type is much less prevalent in the body, but still plays a role in helping to keep bones and cartilage healthy.
Type III
Type III collagen is often found in the body alongside type I collagen, improving skin elasticity and hydration. It’s found in large quantities within the intestines, muscles, blood vessels, and uterus.
Outside of type I, type III collagen is the most important for keeping the skin young and healthy.
Which types of collagen are in Complete Collagen+?
Here at EverBella, we use type I collagen and type III collagen in our Complete Collagen+ formula.
Because type I is the most abundant type of collagen in the body – and it supports the health of your skin, bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue, organ tissue, and teeth – we believe that it’s the most crucial type of collagen you should be giving your body. When this collagen depletes, you’re losing almost all of the collagen in your body!
Since type III works in tandem with it – further supporting skin health – we also believe that it should be included.
This is why we use grass fed beef, or “bovine”, collagen, as this source includes both of these collagen types.
Complete Collagen+ is also infused with our patented micelle liposomal delivery system.
4 Evidence Based Ways Collagen Boosts Hair Health
As the most abundant protein in the human body, collagen helps make up your tendons, ligaments, and skin.
As weird as it sounds, it’s kind of the glue that holds you together! It can also contribute to the health of your hair in quite a few ways.
Have you seen how Complete Collagen Plus transformed my hair? If not, you need to give this a read!
I wanted to go over one of the main reasons that I found collagen, hair growth, and the evidence surrounding it.
So, here are four evidence based ways that collagen boosts hair growth.
1. Provides amino acids
Your hair is made mainly of a protein called keratin. In order to build keratin, your body needs certain amino acids – some of which are found in collagen. [1, 2]
Your body can break down collagen into various amino acids and use these to build new proteins and compounds. [3]
Collagen consists mainly of three amino acids: proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. [4, 5]
Proline is the main component of the protein keratin. As such, consuming collagen helps provide your body with the building blocks needed to create new hair.
2. Helps fight damage that can stunt growth
Collagen can act as an antioxidant, fighting free radicals and the damage they cause.
Free radicals are unstable electrons that cause oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage, inflammation, and multiple health issues. These compounds accumulate as a result of stress, air pollutants, processed foods, smoking, alcohol, and other environmental factors.
Research shows that these free radicals can cause hair damage, and that this risk of damage increases with age. [6]
To combat this, your body needs antioxidants. And many studies show that collagen can act as a powerful antioxidant, with the ability to fight several different types of free radicals. [7, 8, 9]
3. Can prevent age-related hair thinning
Remember when I said that collagen is the glue that holds you together? Well, it’s true! Did you know that 70% of the middle layer of your skin – the dermis – is made up of collagen? And the dermis contains the roots of your hair. [10]
In this skin layer, collagen is what keeps it strong and elastic. But as time goes by, these qualities diminish as the body loses its ability to create collagen. This can contribute to age-related hair loss and thinning. [11, 12, 13, 14]
Providing your body with collagen can help keep this skin layer strong and healthy, allowing it to foster the hair follicles which can be found there.
Studies have shown that collagen can increase the protein in skin, reduce signs of aging, and improve skin elasticity. [15, 16]
Since hair grows out of your skin and is grounded into its layers, maintaining the health of the skin should help prevent the loss and thinning of hair.
4. May help slow graying
While genetics certainly plays a role in graying hair, another influence has to do with those pesky free radicals.
As we age, the cells in charge of producing the melanin pigment which gives our hair its color naturally deplete. At the same time, free radicals damage and kill these cells. [17, 18]
Your hair may begin to gray without enough antioxidants, according to some research. [19]
Since collagen acts as an antioxidant, it can help slow the graying process.
The bottom line
If you want to get ahead of the health of your hair as you age, or if you’re looking for something to bring your hair back to life, collagen can help.
EverBella’s Complete Collagen Plus formula was designed for hair health.
References and Resources:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0079642515000596
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201279/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19301095/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28929384/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26574302/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24670209/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3853751/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28266664/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/dermis
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25465495/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2818774/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26912707/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949208/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206255/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15036274/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24033376/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3973559/
What Is Skin Stripping (And How Do You Avoid It?)
Just like every other organ in the body, our skin is complex. It requires an intricate mix of natural acidity (pH), hydration, and oil in order to stay protected, supple, and clear.
Problems arise when we mess with that natural balance. If you’ve ever put anything on your face, chances are high that you are messing with this natural balance.
What can this do?
If you scrub your skin, use alcohol-based cleansers, or allow it to dry out, you’re stripping your skin of necessary oils. Have you ever had your skin feel dry and tight? This is called skin stripping and it can cause wrinkles, acne breakouts, or inflammation.
Where does this natural oil come from?
Save for the palms of your hands and feet, the skin all over your body contains specialized glands called sebaceous glands. These produce sebum, a natural oil made from cholesterol, fatty acids, triglycerides, and a mix of other substances.
In some circumstances, people’s sebaceous glands can be overactive, resulting in a shiny look. It’s not that you can’t wash some of this oil away or find ways to manage it, but it’s important to not wash all of these oils away.
Why does our skin need oil?
These natural oils aren’t there just to make you shiny. No, they serve a very important purpose! Natural oils on our skin act as a barrier against the outside world. Particles floating around out there can infiltrate your body through the skin and give your immune system grief.
Skin needs a mixture of both oil and water moisture to keep acne, dryness, and signs of aging away. When sebum mixes with the secretion of your sweat glands, it creates what’s called the “hydrolipidic barrier”. This is a protective, film-like barrier that keeps your skin healthy and protected from unwanted invaders.
If your skin didn’t need this oil, it wouldn’t make it…
When the skin is constantly stripped of its oils, not only can this cause acne, irritation, and wrinkles, but the skin works overtime to create more oil.
Overwashing, using harmful cleansers and products, and not hydrating properly can all impact your skin’s natural oils.
How to avoid skin stripping
If you’re looking to not strip your skin, that’s a good idea! The most important part of this is to plan a skincare routine and stick to it. Make sure your skincare routine includes the following…
First, you want to wash your face. Though you don’t want to get rid of all the oils, you want to get rid of excess dirt and grime. If you need to use a stronger cleanser to get out any deep dirt or grime after high activity, that’s fine, but be sure to use a gentle, hydrating, alcohol-free cleanser as often as possible.
Second, use a toner. This helps do one more deep clean of the pores – getting into the nooks and crannies – but it also hydrates and helps restore pH levels that may have been put off balance while washing.
Third, be sure to moisturize! This step is critical. Once your skin is nice and clean, restore the lost oils and hydration with a high-quality moisturizer.
Your skincare routine doesn’t need to end here, but to maintain healthy skin and prevent aging, it’s best to include these three steps.
Help your skin from the inside out…
Complete Collagen+ is one of the most absorbable forms of collagen on the market. This is due to its micelle liposomal formula.
Unfortunately, conventional collagen breaks down during digestion and doesn’t provide desired results.
But EverBella’s collagen is designed to pass through the digestive system unharmed so that it can end up where it needs to go, fully intact.
That’s why Complete Collagen+ can actually make a difference.
Top 4 Minerals For Hair Growth (+ 1 Other Nutrient)
In a previous article, I went over the top 5 vitamins for hair growth. While those are important for your hair and overall health, what about some of the other nutrients out there?
Like minerals.
Nutritional minerals are elements that the body requires in order to function properly. Similar to vitamins, if your body is low on some of them, your hair can suffer.
Here are the top four minerals needed for hair growth, how much you should consume every day, and where to get them – along with one other nutrient you don’t want to forget about!
1. Iron
Iron is a crucial mineral for a few reasons, one being that it helps carry oxygen to your cells. This includes the cells needed for hair growth.
Iron deficiency anemia is unfortunately all too common, especially in women, and is a major cause of hair loss. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The recommended daily iron intake is 19.3–20.5 mg for adult men and 17.0–18.9 mg for adult women.
The best food source for iron is meat, with almost all kinds of meat containing large amounts. Outside of meat, iron can be found in beans, legumes, tofu, pumpkin seeds, broccoli, and spinach.
2. Zinc
Zinc does two amazing things for your hair. It plays an important role in tissue growth and repair, and keeps the oil glands around your hair follicles working properly.
One of the most common symptoms of a zinc deficiency is hair loss. Studies show that those with low zinc levels see increased hair growth once they begin supplementing the mineral. [5, 6, 7, 8]
Though, some suggest that taking too much zinc may also lead to hair loss. Because of this, many nutritionists recommend getting zinc through food sources.
The recommended daily intake is 11 mg for adult men and 8 mg for adult women.
Common zinc food sources include beef, spinach, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, and lentils.
3. Selenium
Researchers have found that selenium is involved in creating hair. New hair takes up selenium from the blood to support growth. [9]
However, similar to zinc, too much selenium appears to contribute to hair loss, along with a few other symptoms like skin rashes and nausea.
Experts recommend no more than 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of selenium per day.
Very high traces of selenium can be found in Brazil nuts. The mineral can also be found in meat, milk, eggs, bread, and cereal.
4. Iodine
Your body uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones. These hormones help control the growth of hair follicles.
When your thyroid hormone levels are low, your hair follicles may stop regenerating, resulting in hair loss. [10]
This is why those with an iodine deficiency have been found to experience hair loss. One study looked at 700 people with low thyroid hormones and found that 30% of them were experiencing hair loss. [11, 12]
The recommended daily intake for iodine is 150 micrograms (0.15 mg) for most adults.
You can get iodine from fish and other seafood, dairy products, grains, and iodized salt.
5. Protein
Protein isn’t a mineral, but I wanted to give it a special shout out. Your hair is made entirely of protein. As such, getting enough of it is important for healthy hair growth.
One study found that a protein deficiency contributed to decreased hair growth and even hair loss. [13]
Though protein deficiencies are quite rare, the important role that it plays in your hair’s health is important to know.
Other things for hair health
As I discussed in our blog about the top vitamins for hair growth, a healthy diet of a wide range of nutrients is crucial for the health of your hair.
But one thing that can be difficult to get from your diet is collagen. And collagen is very important for the health of your hair.