Finally the warmer days of spring have arrived and soon I will be able to trade my snow pants for much lighter attire. I absolutely love the feeling of wearing short sleeve shirts and lighter riding pants while training with my horses. However, with the warmer weather comes a new responsibility—to protect my skin from overexposure to the sun and other environmental elements. As a licensed esthetician and skin care provider, I understand the importance of taking good care of my skin, which includes a daily skin care regime that provides me with all my skin care needs as well as protects my skin from the daily exposure to UV rays and elements of the environment. I have been working in the beauty and skin care industry for twenty seven years and have educated many people on the importance of good skin care. I have taught them how to keep their skin healthy and safe from harmful environmental exposures that can cause all kinds of skin problems.
When I train with my horses in the riding ring, I try to avoid the hottest time of the day by training with them either before noon or after 4pm. Sun rays are less damaging in the earlier or later part of the day but one should still minimize direct exposure to the sun while enjoying the outdoors. Because I do spend a lot of time outdoors around the barn and training with my horses I start my day with good skin care practices and a twice a day skin care regime which includes wearing sunscreen.
We should be reminded that the skin covers the entire body and is our largest organ. It protects us from harmful bacteria or other invaders that may enter our body. When we sweat, we excrete toxins through our skin. The skin helps to regulate our body temperature through perspiration, also known as sweating. Skin consists of three major layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis, with many other capillaries and cell layers in-between. The epidermis is our outer protective layer that keeps most invaders from entering into our body. The dermis is the middle layer and is also known as the life tissue or true skin, and the hypodermis is the fatty layer of the skin that protects and keeps our skin plump and healthy. As we age, our skin becomes more in need of a supportive skin care regime or one that helps support the skin’s natural structure by replenishing any loss of elasticity and hydration.
Damage to skin can be done in the younger years of life most often by overexposure to the sun. However, this damage usually does not show its first signs until we are in our forties or even fifties. A moderate amount of natural sunlight is essential to good health. Sunlight is necessary for the human skin to synthesize vitamin D. But if you spend long hours outdoors, for instance, in the riding arena with sand reflecting light onto your skin, the UV radiation from the sun can be damaging to the living cells. This type of damage can most likely not be reversed.
As a little girl growing up in Germany, I learned early in my life the importance of taking good care of one’s skin. After I immigrated to the United States of America, I studied skin care at the Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics, Make-up Artistry and Massage Therapy in Boston. I became amazed at how different this country views skin care needs. In Europe I learned that before you apply any make-up you need to care for your skin first, while in the States, many people cover all their impurities up with make-up and often don’t focus on the needs of their skin. My philosophy has always been if you take good care of your skin you don’t need to cover or hide any blemishes. My simple skin care regime consists of six simple steps. In the morning before I go out to the barn, I cleanse my skin with a hydrating cleanser. This helps to hydrate my skin and loosen any buildup that could cause blackheads or breakouts. Before I rinse the cleanser off my face I make sure I gently massage it all over my face and neck. Next I apply a hydrating toner with a flat cotton pad to help lift excess oils and debris out of my pores that the cleanser has left behind. I also apply a hydrating lotion with an SPF of 30 and finish with a hydrating cream. After I carefully apply my eye cream, I apply a lightly tinted mineral sheer tint foundation with an SPF of 20. I have found that mineral products keep the skin protected, healthy and free flowing.
I regularly repeat these simple steps twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening. I know that I cannot stop the hand of time and my skin from aging naturally, but by simply following the six simple steps of caring for my skin above, I can keep my skin healthy and protected from overexposure to the sun so I can continue to do what I love doing the most—spending time training and riding with my horses. If you love to ride with your horses, or spend a lot of time outdoors for any reason, be sure to be watchful of your skincare needs!
