The Sentinel: Fashion

The ultimate skincare guide for the winter holidays

Photo provided

Look and feel your best during the holidays with a few helpful skincare suggestions.

BRANDPOINT - While this may be the most wonderful time of the year in many ways, it's not ideal for your skin. Between frigid temps, brisk wind outside and ultra-dry, overheated air inside - not to mention holiday busyness and stress - your face may not be glowing along with the season.

Here are practical tips to help you care for your skin, so you can look and feel your best as you celebrate with friends and family.

1. Empower your shower

While not everyone can improve their hard water with a water softening system, it's not hard to install a showerhead filter. Especially if you have dry, itchy or sensitive skin, a showerhead filter can make a huge difference. Good showerhead filters will remove impurities such as chemicals and minerals that could be irritating your skin on a daily basis, improving how your hair and skin look and feel. You can find plenty of options available, as well as videos online showing how to install them.

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Yes, you've heard it before, but it's even more true during these challenging winter months. It may seem like an uphill battle, but if you approach moisturizing from a few different angles, you'll notice the difference.

Your environment: Moisturize the air where you spend the most time. Whether that's a whole-home humidifier or portable humidifiers in your home office or bedroom, keeping the air around you from getting too dry will pay dividends.

Your body: Skin care specialists and nutritionists alike will tell you staying hydrated on the inside helps keep your skin from getting too dried out, so this may be a great resolution to start ahead of the new year.

Fill up that water bottle and keep it handy. Don't love plain water? Flavor with a little lemon or lime or sip sparkling water throughout the day.

woman doing skin care

Illustration: Seidenperle/Pixabay

Your skin: How you moisturize your skin from the outside is crucial. Here's where quality products stand out.

Maintain your holiday glow by prioritizing effective skincare during the busy season - a little self-care goes a long way. Products like Neocutis Bio Cream Firm smoothing and tightening cream includes proprietary peptides to help support collagen and elastin production, addressing signs of aging including uneven tone and texture and wrinkles. Illuminating and tightening eye creams help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, crow's feet, puffiness and under-eye darkness.

Miami Board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Roberta Del Campo recommends these during the holiday season, noting "holidays can be particularly challenging for your skin with all the travel and festive gatherings. To keep your skin healthy and radiant, I recommend using intensive moisturizing products that support collagen and elastin production, like the Neocutis Bio Cream Firm for an instant glow. In addition to this, I recommend using a rich illuminating eye cream that will vanish any trace of a dark circle, such as the Neocutis Lumière® Firm."

You can also give your skin an additional hydration boost with an intensive hydrating serum that is oil-free and includes a deeply moisturizing formulation with multiple types of pure Sodium Hyaluronate, plus key ingredients to help promote smooth, soft and supple skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

These products are non-comedogenic and dermatologist tested, free of color additives and fragrances.

3. Double cleanse to remove heavy party makeup

After a fun time celebrating, you'll want to be sure that you've removed every trace of makeup from your skin before calling it a night.

Once you've gently removed all of your eye and face makeup, it's recommended to protect the delicate skin around your eyes with high-quality illuminating eye cream like the Neocutis Lumière® Firm Riche Eye Cream to help with your post-party or travel recovery.

Photo: Kinga Howard/Unsplash

4. Upgrade your pillowcase

Sleeping on a clean pillowcase can help you maintain your ideal skincare routine. Many dermatologists recommend using a silk pillowcase, because silk is less absorbent than other fabrics like cotton, so it's less likely to soak up facial products you're applying before bedtime. Some users also find it less irritating to sensitive skin that's prone to dryness and itchiness.

Be sure to wash silk pillowcases according to recommended manufacturer's instructions. You may want to consider having a few available so you can switch them out frequently to keep your skin cleaner overnight.

5. Protect from the sun - even in winter

While you may not be sunbathing when it's chilly outside, any time spent out in the sun can potentially damage your skin. Whether you're into winter sports or just going for a wintry walk, don't forget to protect your skin with sunscreen just as you would during the summertime.

Following these tips, you'll be able to keep your skin looking and feeling wonderful, so you can relax and enjoy the holiday season.

Related articles:

Red Dress Collection Concert kicks off American Heart Month

by The American Heart Association

DALLAS – Powerful players in music, entertainment, fashion and philanthropy joined the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, to celebrate progress towards health equity, while calling for a renewed commitment to investing in women’s heart health in a fashion-forward, musical kickoff to American Heart Month.

The Red Dress Collection® Concert—hosted this year from the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City—serves as the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women national marquee event. Every year, it builds on the iconic tradition of the Red Dress Collection fashion show founded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth® program, adding musical performances and personal stories of those affected by heart disease and stroke. This year, the event kicks off both American Heart Month, commemorated every February, as well as the Association’s centennial celebration, marking 100 years of service saving and improving lives, and positioning the Association as a change agent for generations to come.

Host Sherri Shepherd wore Ganni on the red carpet and Harbison on the runway. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and best-selling author began the event by sharing her own connection with cardiovascular disease and spotlighting survivors and women’s health champions in attendance, before introducing the evening’s opening entertainment, GRAMMY-nominated country music star, Mickey Guyton.

The country trailblazer wore Sergio Hudson on the red carpet and Monetre on the runway. Wearing custom RC Caylan for her performance, she opened with “My Side of Country,” and performed hits “Something About You,” “Make It Me,” and “Flowers.”

This year’s concert was headlined by Award-winning musician, actor, advocate and New York Times best-selling author Demi Lovato. The Grammy-nominated artist was introduced on stage by Damar Hamlin, cardiac arrest survivor, Buffalo Bills safety and American Heart Association national ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers™. The 25-year-old experienced his sudden cardiac arrest on the NFL football field last year and now uses his platform to raise awareness of the need for CPR and AEDs.

Lovato wore a Nicole + Felicia Couture custom gown on the red carpet, and performed wearing a custom Michael Ngo suit. The set started with Lovato singing chart-topper, “Confident,” and continued with hits “Give Your Heart a Break,” “Tell Me You Love Me,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Anyone,” “Neon Lights,” “No Promises,” “Skyscraper,” “Heart Attack,” and closed the evening with “Cool for the Summer” alongside all of the Red Dress Collection Concert participants.

Holding true to the Red Dress Collection’s origin in fashion, red haute couture moments were served throughout the show, reclaiming the power of sisterhood and community against the No. 1 killer of women, cardiovascular disease.

Other stars of stage and screen lending their support to the event included: Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (Co-host of ABC’s The View and CNN political commentator) wearing Alexander by Daymor, Bellamy Young (actor, singer and producer; Scandal) wearing Gustavo Cadile on the red carpet and Sachin & Babi on the runway, Brandi Rhodes (Pro wrestling star and founder of Naked Mind Yoga + Pilates) wearing Do Long, Brianne Howey (actress and mother, Ginny & Georgia) wearing Reem Acra, Dominique Jackson (model, actress, author and star of FX's Pose) wearing Coral Castillo, Francia Raísa (actress & entrepreneur) wearing Goddess Exclusive on the red carpet and Maria Lucia Hohan on the runway, Heather Dubrow (actress, author, podcast host and TV personality on Real Housewives of OC) wearing Gattinolli by Marwan on the red carpet and Pamella Roland on the runway, Katherine McNamara (award winning actor, singer, writer, and producer) wearing Mikael D, Madison Marsh (Active Duty Air Force Officer - Second Lieutenant and Miss America 2024) wearing Jovani, Mira Sorvino (Academy Award-winning actress and human rights advocate, Shining Vale and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion) wearing Dolce and Gabbana, Richa Moorjani (actress and activist, star of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever) wearing Oscar de la Renta, Samira Wiley (Emmy winner for The Handmaid's Tale and producer) wearing Le Thanh Hoa, and Yvonne Orji (actress, comedienne, author; known for the TV show Insecure) wearing House of Emil on the red carpet and Jovana Louis on the runway.

As part of its commitment to supporting women and women's health, KISS USA is proud to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, and the Red Dress Collection Concert.

The Go Red for Women movement, sponsored nationally by CVS Health, exists to increase women’s heart health awareness, and serves as a catalyst for change in the drive to improve the lives of all women. Find resources to support women’s heart health at every age, through every stage of life at GoRedforWomen.org.

Canine fashion, "Trucker Hats" made for dogs may help protect their eyes

NewsUSA -- Some clothes for pets are strictly stylish, some are purely functional, and some are both. The idea of a trucker hat for a dog may seem strange, but in fact many dogs, especially those with blue and light-colored eyes, suffer from sun sensitivity that makes them squint and become anxious in bright conditions.

Tony Choi, an engineer in San Diego, Calif., and his veterinarian wife, Dr. Kathy Burnell, launched the initial PupLid trucker hat for dogs in 2018 to help make dogs comfortable after they found it significantly reduced anxiety in their own sun-sensitive dog, Buddy. They experimented with other dog hats and designs for months, but determined that a modified trucker hat design stayed in place and provided the best protection for Buddy.

The Six-Panel Camo baseball cap for dogs is the latest addition to the PupLid product line for dogs who prefer a more adventure-ready look. Like the trucker hats, the baseball caps will feature a patent pending "Furfect Fit" system for maximum comfort, stability, and adjustability. Dogs with shorter noses have the additional benefit of protection from sunburn and sun induced skin cancers on the nose.

Even dogs who might resist a hat will warm up to it with the right approach, according to Burnell and the PupLid website. Start by letting your dog sniff the PupLid and get used to seeing it. Then, put the hat on the dog's head for a few minutes at time, and use treats and rewards as the dog keeps it on for longer periods.

"When hat wearing is paired with a favorite walk or trip to the park, many dogs start getting excited to see their hat because they know they are about to go on an adventure," says Burnell.

The hats are engineered to stay put with a five point system -- two-points of contact on each side and one under the chin. The hook and loop fastener under the chin allows for a customized fit, and slider loops on the sides allow for further adjustment. PupLid hats are currently available in five sizes, XXS, XS, S, M, and L, but the company will launch a sixth size later this fall to further refine the fit for more dogs. More sizing information is available on the company website.

The company also strives to enhance the style factor to dog hats -- the hats are a seamless extension of baseball caps and trucker hats for people, available in five colors and over ten designs. More custom design options are available from PupLid's growing network of wholesale partners, and dog families can even order their own matching "trucker hats for humans" for the ultimate in coordination.

PupLid is a supplier to retailers as well as organizations seeking a completely unique option to add to their promotional products. Orders of 25 or more can feature a company logo or other design, and preorder options are available to reserve large supplies.

For more information, email wholesale@puplid.com.

Queens Of The Road: Women motorcyclists inspire new updated riding wear design

(NAPSI) — The number of female motorcycle riders are on the rise. In growing numbers, millennial women riders all across the country are driving a demand for better riding gear. These motorcycling enthusiasts are leaving their days as passengers in the dust, ushering in a new era of biker style.

According to a recent national survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council in 2018, women represent almost 20 percent of motorcycle owners, a marked increase from the 8 percent reported just 10 years ago.

With this demographic change, protective riding gear and accessories—and especially helmets, jackets and riding boots—are getting a second look by major brands. More and more, as motorcycle-savvy brands pick up on the trend, they’re creating riding gear designed for the anatomy and unique fit needs of the female rider.

Wolverine Worldwide, the manufacturer of Harley-Davidson© footwear and performance riding boots and shoes, has seen an impressive sales surge in women-specific riding boots in recent years.

"From 2016 to 2018 we saw women’s riding boot sales jump by 40 percent," said Jenna Ludeman, Wolverine’s marketing manager for the Harley-Davidson© product line. "It’s clear to us that women are getting out to ride on their own and their adventures require riding footwear that provides performance, protection and a comfortable fit designed just for them."

Recent materials innovations and the advances in performance technologies have created this next generation of performance riding footwear. Today’s riding styles incorporate materials that help to keep feet cooler in direct sunlight, dryer in rain and snow and, in some cases, better protected from impact.

For those looking for a style that transitions well from the open road to the city streets, women riders now have options including riding sneakers like the new Harley-Davidson© women’s Mackey, a waterproof riding sneaker featuring XRD® Impact Protection, a lightweight and flexible open-cell foam material that provides extreme impact protection.

For women riders looking for a more traditional riding style, the Harley-Davidson Brinser engineer boot is also rich with modern performance features. Waterproof full-grain leather helps in the wet conditions and a cooling mesh lining and TFL COOL SYSTEM® technology act to reflect the sun’s rays and ultimately keep the inside of the boot up to 54° cooler than traditional leather.

"Today’s female riders are connecting with the sense of adventure and community that motorcycling naturally brings," said Ludeman. "And we’re interested in connecting the rider to a better riding product for a better riding experience."