I don’t know about you, but this weather has been wreaking havoc on my skin. One day it’s high 90s and the next day it’s in the 50s. As if this schizophrenic seasonal transition isn’t enough, we’ve had seven fires in and around Los Angeles County in October and early November alone! If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed that your skin is feeling rather dry, despite normal efforts to hydrate. Yes, it’s because of the fires! The particulate matter produced from these fires settle into your skin and cause wrinkles, pigment spots and aggravate inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne.[1] Add in cold weather and holiday travel, and it’s definitely time to give your skin some extra TLC.

What can you do, you ask? Renew, Restore and Rebalance – which also happens to be our motto at VHB.

Renew

Exfoliating sloughs off dead skin and debris that’s built up on the surface of your skin, but you don’t want to overdo it. It provides a clean canvas for other products and allows your serums, oils and moisturizers to penetrate deeper into your skin. I’m prone to breakouts, so I exfoliate only a few times a week, but I’m obsessed with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser! It’s a daily exfoliating treatment that’s super gentle and made from natural, organic ingredients.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser - 124ml, $84

Restore & Rebalance

For those of you residing in and around areas that have experienced wildfires, your skin has been working some serious OT to replenish new skin cells that the smoke is drying out. The same happens when you’re exposed to drying in-flight cabin air and cold weather. Oils, serums and masks are the saving grace for times like these. Nutrient and antioxidant-rich products replenish the good stuff that’s lost in the fight against oxidative stress caused by environmental changes and pollution.

"But I feel weird about applying oil to my face", you say.

Oil gets a bad rap, but it’s just about finding the right one. The right oil, and application, won’t make you breakout and it won’t make you overly shiny or oily. When it comes to oils, less is more – one to three drops is enough. Apply oil either directly onto your skin, mix into your serum to level it up, or mix into your moisturizer to lock in hydration.

If you have oily skin, use heavier oils, or oils that increase your skin’s sensitivity to light, try using them at night so your skin has time to soak it up. If you have dull skin, you can also use certain oils as primers for a hydrated glow. Remember to allow the oil to fully absorb before applying makeup.

Don't like the thought of another step? VHB’s serums are already infused with nutrient-packed ingredients and oils.

For a lighter serum, Dr. Ellyan’s No. 6 Hyaluronic Serum is packed with millions of moisturizing particles that provide the ideal moisture balance across all three layers of your skin. 

Dr. Ellyan No. 6 Hyaluronic Serum - 30ml, $130

For something heavier, Dr. Ellyan’s No. 4 Revital Serum addresses various signs of aging skin, including loss of elasticity, dryness, dilation of pores and wrinkles. The fast-absorbing water-based formula penetrates the skin easily, providing intense nutrition, promoting cell regeneration, calming dry skin and reinforces the skin’s natural barrier resulting in smoother, more resilient skin.

Dr. Ellyan No. 4 Revital Serum - 30ml, $130

We’re also so obsessed with our Dr. Ellyan 2-Step Bio-Barrier Mask. It’s packed with a powerful botanical blend, ginseng extract and licorice to provide intense moisture, soothe skin and improve skin tone. Hydrogel technology in the mask increases the absorption of active ingredients and minimizes moisture loss, while the bio-barrier cream gives your skin an added nutrition boost while sealing in all that hydrating and replenishing goodness.

Dr. Ellyan 2-Step Bio Gel Mask (Box of 10), $65

What are you waiting for? Put on a corny holiday love story and mask up.

References

[1] Kim KE, Cho D, Park HJ. Air pollution and skin diseases: Adverse effects of airborne particulate matter on various skin diseases. Life Sci. 2016; 152:126-134; PMID: 27018067

Alas. Summer is coming to an end and school is, once again, upon us. Back-to-school time is great. You’re older, smarter, wiser, and better equipped to deal with all that education they’re going to throw at you having hit the big RESET button over summer. You’ve slept in, you’re relaxed, and your skin is glowing. How do you make that summer glow last? Here are five back-to-school skincare tips from our very own skin guru, Stacy Wu.

1. Picking your poison.

• Fish, like salmon, mackerel and herring, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and zinc – all of which are essential for healthy skin function, help to reduce inflammation and protect against free radicals.
• Avocados have a ton of good fats, vitamins E and C. Go ahead, get the extra quac.
• Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, C and selenium, an antioxidant that helps lower oxidative stress on your body, reduces inflammation and enhances your immunity. They also happen to be high in protein so they'll keep you full longer.
• Sweet potatoes are an amazing source of beta-carotene (vitamin A). One ½-cup serving provides almost 400x the recommended daily value of vitamin A!
• Broccoli is like a miracle vegetable. It’s packed full of vitamins and minerals essential to skin health, eye health, and just general body health.

This is probably obvious, but drinking enough water is also important. Skip the sugary, over-caffeinated drinks and opt for water or green tea, which has a powerful antioxidant that can protect your skin from sun damage, reduce redness, improve hydration, thickness and elasticity.

If you must drink alcohol, try following every alcoholic drink with a glass of water.

Hangover Tip: Choose Pedialyte or coconut water over sugary sports drinks. They’ll hydrate you without the sugar crash.

2. Deal with stress head on.

Stress affects your entire body, including your skin. The chemical reaction caused by stress makes your skin more sensitive and reactive, aggravating existing conditions like psoriasis, rosacea and eczema. It can also trigger dormant and underlying conditions, like herpes breakouts and autoimmune disorders! When you’re stressed, your body creates more hormones, like cortisol, that increases oil production in your glands leading to breakouts and delayed healing.

Stress is literally the worst, but it is also an unavoidable part of life so it’s important to figure out the best way you deal with stress early on. Your skin, friends, loved ones, roommates, literally everyone (including yourself) will thank you for it. Here are some things that work for us:

• Meditation. Paired with deep breathing exercises, this could be the cure for everything.
• Dog Cuddles. 100% effective, but doesn’t last very long. This should be obvious, but I’m still going to put it out there. Ask before you hug a stranger’s dog. Getting bit in the face is guaranteed to cause more stress.
• Physical Activity. Walk, run, do yoga, pilates, go to the gym, etc. The options are endless. Personally, I like to clean my apartment with music blasting. To each their own.

3. DO NOT touch your face. Repeat. DO NOT touch your face.

The crazy thing is you don’t even notice you're doing it. Do you rest your chin on your hand or rub your eyes? Chances are you're transferring insane amounts of bacteria onto your skin and into your eyeballs. Read the below at your own risk.

• Your phone packs 10x as many germs as a public bathroom’s toilet.
• Studies show that keyboards have been linked to influenza, mold, coliform, staph, yeast, and a ton of other legitimately gross things.
• Your mouth is home to over 700 different species of bacteria.
• The list goes on: pillowcases, doorknob handles, refrigerator handles, dirty bathtubs that can cause yeast infections, dirty shower heads that can cause meningitis, etc.
• I’m just going to stop here.

4. Wash your face.

Well, wash your hands first, and then wash your face. Try not to nap or gym with makeup on, but if you must (like I must), wear light, non-comedogenic makeup that’s not going to clog your pores and wash your face immediately after. NO hanging out and chatting with the cute trainer. NO “let’s go grab coffee” after. NO let’s sit on our phones outside checking Instagram. Go straight to the bathroom and wash your face.

Expert Tip: Wash your face for 60-seconds. Cleansing your face for 60-seconds allows the ingredients in the cleanser to actually work. Bored after 15-seconds? Give yourself a face massage. Massaging your face while washing it will also increase blood circulation and give you that glow. Don’t believe us? Look up #60secondrule.

5. Simplify your skincare routine.

If you’re going back to school, chances are your skin is still naturally producing enough collagen and self-healing goodness to warrant this tip. Simplicity over complexity if consistency is key.

• Step 1: Remove your makeup.
• Step 2: Wash (or double wash) your face. We’re fans of double washing. Try our Enzyme Powder Wash. Gentle enough for double washing and it brightens your skin.
• Step 3: Moisturize. Try our STASS Clarifying Cream – that disinfects, moisturizes and protects all in one bottle.
• Optional: Serum before moisturizer or pimple cream after. Your call.
• Step 4: Mask Weekly! We love #MaskMondays, and think you should try these favorites:

We love the Swisse Manuka Honey Cleansing Clay Mask.

Or these from Sephora:

Dr. Jart+ Clearing Solution Sheet Mask

Sephora Collection Green Tea Face Mask

For normal skin, we love our Dr. Ellyan 2-Step Bio-Barrier Mask

or the BMB Biocellulose Hydrating Mask

or iStelle's Hydrogel Post-Procedure Mask

VHB is now fully integrated with MindBody, the same software that DryBar, CorePowerYoga, and a bunch of your other favorite salon, spa and wellness brands use. With MindBody, you'll be able to access your VHB account online and do a ton of cool things, like make an appointment, reschedule or cancel your appointment, view active packages and services, and buy gift cards.

What are you waiting for? Get access to your account now.

If you've never created an account, but have given us your email address in-store:

• Go to our Book Now page.
• Click on the My Account link at the top right of the booking calendar.

• A log-in pop-up will appear. Click on the Need new password? link.

• You'll be prompted to enter your email address. Instructions for setting a new password will be emailed to you.
• Follow the instructions in the email and you're in!

If you have not given us an email address in-store, please follow the below instructions to create a new account:

• Go to our Book Now page.
• Click on the My Account link at the top right of the booking calendar.

• A log-in pop-up will appear. Click on the Create Account button.
• Follow the instructions to create an account.

If you're not sure and would like us to create an account for you:

Please email us at: support@vhbskincare.com with your name, email address, phone number and request to create an account. We will then create it for you and notify you via email.

I was on spironolactone and birth control for a while, and my skin was so clear! With my monthly facials, I would get maybe one or two pimples the week before my period and that’s it. I thought I had beaten acne and it felt great!

Then I started feeling a little weird. I’d get heart palpitations, felt dehydrated all the time despite drinking tons of water, get super dizzy when standing up, always felt tight in my legs and just generally weak. One day, I just got sick of feeling this way and started looking into the medications I was taking.