WHY WEAR SPF?

ANSWER : Sun-damage, Premature age and melanoma(skin Cancer) to name a few.

    We were going to write an article on sun damage and the importance of SPF but since modern society is very visual we thought we should show you. Prevent premature aging!!!

    Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging such as wrinkles and skin cancers. The most important skin-care product available to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer is sunscreen.

     Most people use sunscreen improperly by not applying enough. They apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. Sunscreen should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas that it forms a film when initially applied. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before going out in the sun.

Daily Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be applied daily. The daily use of a low-SPF sunscreen (15) has been shown to be more effective in preventing skin damage than the intermittent use of a higher SPF sunscreen.

What can you do to prevent premature aging and skin cancer? 

• Avoid excessive exposure during midday sun, 10am-4pm, when the sun's rays are the strongest and most damaging.
• Apply sunblock with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Reapply every two hours while outdoors and immediately following swimming or exercising.
• Seek shade when you proceed outdoors.
• Wear protective sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
• Keep your skin hydrated with a moisturizer.
• Replace old bottles of sunscreen each season; the chemicals decompose over time.
• Wear protective clothing, such as a wide brim hat.
• Examine your skin once a month. Look for any changes in moles and age spots, keeping in mind the following anagram, ABCDE: asymmetry, borders, color, diameter, and enlargement.

http://www.evolution-man.com/MOISTURE-PROTECT-FOR-MEN-s/46.htm

8 REASONS TO DRINK MORE WATER (Part 01)

     Think of what you need to survive, really just survive. Food? Water? Air? Facebook? Naturally, I'm going to concentrate on water here.

Here are 8 powerful reasons to drink water:

1. Weight loss - Water is one of the best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. But it's also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we're hungry, we're actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar. Drink plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.
2. Energy - Being dehydrated can sap your energy and make you feel tired -- even mild dehydration of as little as 1 or 2 percent of your body weight. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated -- and this can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other symptoms.
3. Headache cure - Another symptom of dehydration is headaches. In fact, often when we have headaches it's simply a matter of not drinking enough water. There are lots of other causes of headaches of course, but dehydration is a common one.
4. Healthy skin - Drinking water can clear up your skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It won't happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.

   But when did drinking water become so complicated? We are bombarded with choices. Spring or distilled? Flat or bubbly? Tap or bottled? If bottled, which brand? And maybe most importantly, which bottle?

By making the decision to invest in a reusable water bottle, you are improving the environment by reducing the number of single-use water bottles, many of which will make their way to landfills and settle there for years to come. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average plastic bottle takes about 450 years to break down. By choosing the right reusable water bottle you are also improving your health by both keeping hydrated and reducing your exposure to unhealthful chemicals.

   Aside from staying home and drinking tap water out of a washable glass, the best way to be “green” while on the go is choosing your reusable water bottle wisely. Ideally, the best way to drink water on the go would be an aluminum or stainless steel reusable water bottle, as they seem to exhibit the least amount of health concerns out of all the choices. Add in the fact that they can be used over and over again with no degradation and do not need to be recycled each time you use one, they really are the “green” choice. And since upwards of 40% of bottled water is just tap water in disguise, buying it seems like not only a health risk due to the plastic leaching possibilities, but also a wallet risk due to wasting money on something you already have at home! 

BPA Free: Why Should You Care?

   Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other adverse health impacts. Used most commonly in polycarbonate plastic products and epoxy resins, BPA can be found in some polycarbonate plastic containers (such as water bottles, baby bottles and sippy cups).

   Recent research has shown that containers made with BPA can contaminate food and beverage items, as well humans who handle products made with BPA.

4 more reason in part2 of this article……

EVMAN water bottle available - Click here! 

HOW TO AVOID ACNE?

           Acne can occur on your face, chest, neck, back and shoulders, which are areas of your body with the largest number of functional oil glands. Pimples are more common in teenage boys than adults but acne can occur in men of any age. Some factors, such as being in puberty, can't be altered, but you can take steps to avoid and prevent acne. Keep yourself healthy and presentable by removing factors that contribute to acne.

Step 1 - Wash your face daily

Wash your face twice a day: once at night, and once during your morning routine. When you wash your face, wash it gently and with warm water. The heat will open your pores and the temperature is better suited to clean than cold water. Wash your hands before you wash your face. Washing your face is definitely important, but what's the use if your hands are oily and dirty to begin with?

*WASH & BUFF: A daily cleanser and exfoliator that removes oil and dirt to minimize blemishes and ingrown hairs. Like a mini-facial, it cleanses, exfoliates, and moisturizes. Antioxidant ingredients Vitamin E and Soybean Seed Extract hydrate skin. Tea Tree Oil, a natural antiseptic, helps minimize breakouts.

Step 2 - Keep your hair clean

Keep your hair clean. Whether you are a man with short hair or long hair, wash your hair daily. Dirt and oil from your hair can be transferred to your face, neck, back and shoulders, especially as you sweat.

Step 3 - Moisturize after each face wash

Moisturizing your skin is just as important as washing it. When you wash your face, you strip it of oils and moisture, and that's the point: those oils that clog your pores are no longer there to give you acne. But your skin is an organ, and it needs moisture.

*Moisture Protect SPF 20: Leaves skin hydrated without being shiny. Green Tea Extract soothes razor burn and redness. Vitamins E, C and B5 provide rich moisture to skin. Titanium dioxide provides full UVB and short wave UVA protection.

Step 4 - Try not to touch your face with your hands

Avoid touching your face and other areas prone to pimples throughout the day. Bacteria from your hands - or even the receiver of a phone - can lead to breakouts. The less bacteria on your face, the lower your chances that you'll develop nasty breakouts. 

Step 5 - Shower after exercise, sports or performing physical labor

Shower after exercise, sports or performing physical labor because men are more prone to heavy sweating than women. The oil and sweat on your skin can cause dirt and bacteria to become trapped, which can lead to breakouts not only on your face but on your neck, shoulder, rest and back.

Step 6 - Wash your pillowcases at the end of every week

The oils on your pillowcases can cause acne by spreading dirt, grime, and dead skin. Think about having two pairs of pillowcases that you can switch out at the end of each week so that you don't find yourself doing laundry every week.

If all else FAILS - Use a spot treatment or a concealer. Conceal & Treat does both in one step :) 

Skin Care Diet

We all know the age old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but what sort of truth does this really hold for our skin? Of course, many of us are conscious of time’s decaying effect on skin, and a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has examined the connection between wrinkling, geographic location, and diet! With a study consisting of participants over the age of 70 from countries such as Australia, Greece, Japan, and Sweden, it came as no surprise that those with diets high in dairy, processed meats, butter, ice cream, full-fat milk, and soft drinks experienced a higher rate of wrinkles.

Evidence suggests the sugar in these food products led to the deterioration of the skin’s health, resulting in the unsightly wrinkles. As found in the study, the more sugar a person consumed, the more likely their skin was to deteriorate. EVMAN product developer Valerie Patton explains. "The collagen in your skin is what provides the framework for your skin, blood vessels, bones, etc. It is continually breaking down and re-synthesizing itself. Under conditions where there is oxidative stress (free radicals) and continual exposure to sugar in the body, a glycation reaction occurs where the collagen becomes bound to the sugar. At the beginning, this reaction can be reversed. Over long-term exposure, the reaction becomes a little more permanent and it cannot be reversed.The end results are called Advanced Glycation End-products, or AGEs. Over time, your skin, blood vessels, and other organs are affected by the lower amounts of collagen, since it can no longer do what it's supposed to do - provide support. In addition to making skin appear older, it can also be catastrophic where other inflammatory diseases of the skin and body are involved."

This of course, begs the question: what kinds of foods prevent deterioration of skin? Research has discovered naturally-occurring foods low in sugar and high in antioxidants are the best to prevent wrinkles; diets high in olive oil, olives, leafy greens, yogurt, legumes, apples, pears, nuts, and water were the best to keep skin intact. And while the study remained inconclusive as to whether or not these foods, in combination with others, could prevent skin damage, the fact the wrinkle culprits were discovered is a huge development!

So the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is sure true on this factor – not only will it keep the doctor away, but it’ll also keep the wrinkles at bay!

Ingredient Spotlight: Green Tea Extract

Image via PrecisionNutrition

Not only is green tea good brewed, but it’s great for your skin too! Green tea has been steeped for over 4000 years by people all around the world, most notably discovered and brewed by the Chinese. Historically, most of Asia has utilized the tea for its healthy properties, and the green leaf was used to treat most medical maladies, including bleeding, blood sugar, and digestion. The tea was so popular it even inspired the book, Kissa Yojoki, outlining the many health benefits of the popular substance. Eventually, the tea found its way to the Western world, where it continues to be brewed just as it was in 600 AD.

Today, the tea continues to be revered for its many surprising benefits, even as an extract for your skin. Green tea extract, an herbal derivative of the plant, has been recently discovered to help combat skin cancer (when properly taken), and reduce irritation when applied topically. It’s so soothing, EVMAN has even ensured the extract is in some of its most popular items, including Conceal & Treat. The anti-inflammatory soothes skin and razor burn, eliminating some of skin’s biggest problem spots.

Used solely as a tea, however, the tea provides an effective and relatively inexpensive remedy for acne in general. By brewing the sencha tea in hot water and allowing the tea to steep for about 20 minutes, you can take advantage of the cooling tea’s healing properties with a cotton ball. Dab the cotton ball on your problem spots and use it like a face wipe, where the tea will soothe your face, gather excess oil, and dry up your acne.

Although it certainly is an acquired taste, the many health benefits resulting from the tea won’t leave a sour taste in your mouth – there’s a reason this tea has been a hit for nearly 4000 years!

Are you fully protected?

In a 2011 post, we mentioned that you should be applying an average of one ounce of sunscreen to the exposed skin on a clothed body - face, neck, ears, arms. By applying less than this amount, or by mixing sunscreens, you may be getting less than the advertised protection on the bottle. Understanding how SPF is calculated and the errors in application will help you decide if you are achieving the maximum SPF. 

In the United States, SPF is tested and calculated by using real humans. We'll spare you the technical jargon and math, but in short, male and female volunteers go through a series of medical examinations and are given a skin type according to how easily they burn. Then, the test subjects are given 2 milligrams of the sunscreen moisturizer for every square centimeter of skin that's being tested, just before being subjected to synthetic ultraviolet radiation. The moisturizer is then given a sun protection number based on how well they were protected during that exposure period.  

Moisture Protect SPF 20 (and its Bronze brother) were given a sun protection factor of 20, based on applying 2 milligrams of formula per square centimeter of skin. 


As mentioned, the first mistake in sunscreen application is not applying enough. Since the SPF is calculated on a healthy dosage, which most people do not use, you need to apply that much to get the advertised coverage. Any less coverage means less SPF - this goes for tinted SPF moisturizers as well. Additionally, you can't apply SPF lotion once and expect to be protected all day. When it wears off, your protection wears off. 

The second mistake in application is when sunscreens are mixed. Combining products with two different SPF values does not give you the addition of the SPF, but rather an average of the two. Remember: 

In short, to achieve the advertised SPF, you need to apply generously and reapply often. 

A Smartphone App to keep you smart about the sun?

Solaveil, a leading UK supplier of active suncare ingredients, has released a new smartphone application that reminds the user to reapply sunscreen or seek shelter from the sun through their phone's alarm system. With summer in full swing, the timing couldn't be better. Our question - is the free app really worth it, or is it easier use your phone's timer?

The app uses GPS to figure out your location and corresponding temperature and UV index. Users simply enter in a few details about themselves, and Solaveil helps select an SPF and frequency of reapplication. It then tells you the level of risk you are at and how soon you will begin to burn at this UV exposure. Eventually, an alarm goes off that tells you to reapply SPF.

The application is a great reminder for you and your family to keep track of your exposure to the sun, and it gives advice about other things you can do (besides apply SPF) to keep your skin protected. And, honestly, we forgot about the timer until it reminded us - fun in the sun is always a distraction from applying more SPF. However, generally practicing sun safety all the time, not just when you're in the sun, will work just as well as the app. Like the disclaimer says on the application when you download it - in the end, the responsibility for sun protection rests with the individual. 

With that in mind, no matter the weather, wear a daily SPF like Moisture Protect SPF 20 and reapply often. Drink plenty of water, and stay out of the sun from 11am - 3pm.

Ingredient Spotlight: Tea Tree Oil

Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia, is better known around the world as tea tree oil. Thanks to the pungent aroma, the indigenous people of northeast Australia have used this plant for hundreds of years to treat coughs, colds, and skin ailments. It wasn't until last century that the oil extract from the plant was discovered to have medicinal properties related to killing bacteria. Use of the oil as an antibiotic waned mid-century, as new drugs were developed on the market, but production has since rekindled due to an interest in the natural remedy market.

The reasons why tea tree oil has positive benefits was not discovered until much later. It is a great antiseptic because it is a monoterpene alcohol, also known as terpineol. Simply put, that means there's a lot of hydrogens, carbons, and one alcohol. The way the atoms are arranged is what makes these compounds able to penetrate bacteria and other microbes, killing them. Additionally, tea tree oil has been known to fight fungal infections like athlete's foot, staphylococcus bacterias, lice, and dandruff. Just make sure you don't ingest tea tree oil, as it is toxic and should not be taken internally.

What does this mean for you?  By selecting skin care products with tea tree oil, you can kill acne-causing bacteria on your skin. EVOLUTIONMAN's Cleanse & Shave and Wash & Buff are two facial cleansers that have tea tree oil, acting as an antiseptic on the skin. These gentle cleansers are powered with antioxidants and moisturizers to leave skin feeling clean, refreshed, and moisturized.

THE MINI-FACIAL: HOW IT'S DONE

Facials aren't just for women or sissies. Facials are an easy way give your skin a health glow, because they utilize two important skincare steps: exfoliation and moisturizing. Resolve skin problems and brighten skin with three easy steps incorporated into your grooming routine.

SHOULD YOU WEAR EYE CREAM?

The eye area can be one of the first parts of the face to show aging. The skin here is the thinnest on the face, and squinting and sun exposure cause premature wrinkling over time. Needless to say, the use of daily SPF and an eye moisturizer is important. The type of moisturizer you use is your preference, but there are a few things to consider.

Start by selecting a lightweight eye moisturizer, like an eye gel. A heavy, rich moisturizer can contain oils to make up for the lack of oil glands around the eye. The heaviness of the oils weighs down your thin eye tissue, weakening the cellular fibers that keeps the area firm and elastic. Additionally, these heavy creams contain mineral oil or petroleum-based products as their main moisturizing ingredient. Mineral oil not only can run into the eyes, causing irritation and puffiness, but it coats your skin like clingy plastic wrap, inhibiting its ability to breathe. Try to seek moisturizers that provide anti-aging benefits, such as those infused with antioxidants and plant extracts. 

Revitalize Eye Gel is the best choice. It's a lightweight eye gel that leaves skin supple while taking care of the three major under eye issues: dark circles, puffiness, and aging. 

Licorice root extract, and linoleic acid diminish puffiness and dark circles, while glycolic acid and salicylic acid gently exfoliate skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sodium hyaluronate, seaweed, and algae extracts balance the skin's moisture content, leaving it supple. Traditional antioxidants like vitamins C and E rejuvenate the skin. 

For a full list of beneficial ingredients and their function, click on the "key ingredients" tab on the Revitalize Eye Gel product page.

How to apply eye gel may be obvious, but following a few tips will help achieve the best results. 

• Always apply eye gel with your ring finger; it's the weakest because it shares a muscle with both the middle finger and pinky, and won't apply too much pressure or tug at the delicate skin. 
• Apply a small portion to your ring finger and, from the outside going in, pat the gel in a dabbing motion around the eye bone (the top part of your cheek bone around the eye). Never rub.
• Avoid putting the eye gel too close to the lash line, or on your upper lid. The lashes pick up tiny amounts of product and it eventually gets into the eyes, causing irritation and puffiness.

EVOLUTIONMAN's Revitalize Eye Gel retails online in the US and Canada at a suggested retail price of $24 for .5oz.

Soothe The Burn

Summertime means sunshine, vacations, care-free weekends, spending time outdoors with friends - and it means sunburn. People sunburn from either not wearing sunscreen, not applying enough sunscreen, or not reapplying sunscreen on a regular basis. While there's no quick-fix to treating your burn, there are ways to cool the skin and ease the inflammation and discomfort associated with looking like a lobster. 

The obvious? Stay out of the sun and drinks lots of water. Burned skin cannot repair itself if it's still being damaged.
 

Keep skin cool with a cool to lukewarm water bath or cold compresses gently placed on the skin. For a more soothing variation, try adding a few cups of cool (not cold) milk to your compress or bath. The milk proteins create a thin film on the skin to relieve inflammation, the pain-causing component of sunburn.

Moisturize, but be careful as to not over-moisturize your skin. Moisturizers can be thick and heavy, trapping in the heat, worsening the condition. Try a light-weight gel moisturizer. Our VP swears that Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel once saved her from a summer of pain while in Greece. It provides instant relief with moisturizers and extracts for the skin. For added relief, store this in the refrigerator for extra coolness. If you'd like to go the traditional route of using store-bought aloe, make sure that you're using purchasing pure aloe - many kinds at the store only contain a fraction of the aloe needed to provide any real relief. 

Need something a little more instantly than running to the store for a product? Use Korre's inspiration and apply cold yogurt to the affected areas. A thick, plain yogurt works best. Leave it on for fifteen to twenty minutes before gently rinsing off and reapplying. 

It's tempting to let Aunt Peggy pick at the peeling skin or to pop the blisters, but your safest bet is to be patient and let everything heal on its own. Focus on relieving the heat and redness, and the healing will come naturally. 

The best treatment yet? Prevention. 

Apply sunscreen generously and regularly. A typical adult should use one ounce, or a shot glass full, of sunscreen to protect exposed areas of the body. Adequate application before you go into the sun will give you about two hours of protection before you need to reapply - but more often if you've been swimming, sweating, or toweling off. Also, select a sunscreen that offers UVA protection in addition to UVB - look for zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone. EVMAN's Moisture Protect SPF 20 is a great matte-finish moisturizer that protects you from the sun without looking greasy.

SKIN TIP: WEAR SUNGLASSES TO PREVENT WRINKLES

Wearing sunglasses physically protects the eye area, thus reducing the effects of sun damage on your eyes. But how can eye damage cause wrinkles?

The sun directly damages the eyes through UV exposure. UV rays strike the eye, accelerating the rate of cataract formation and worsening macular degeneration. It's your body's natural defense mechanism to squint the eyes to reduce the impact of UV exposure. In turn, constantly squinting from bright light can cause crows feet and other wrinkling around the eye area. Over time, the lines get deeper and the amounts of fine lines and wrinkles increase. Also, squinting to better focus your eyes can increase eye wrinkles over time - be sure to get your vision checked regularly.

How do you prevent squinting? It's an uncontrollable reflex, so you should wear sunglasses with UV protection and wear a hat. Most importantly, choose lenses with UVA/UVB protection. The FDA recommends selecting sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection - the sticker on the lens will tell you what the coverage is. You can also select larger or wrap-around-glasses for more physical protection from the sun's rays on your skin, but this won't help much with squinting your eyes. People with lighter eyes or bigger pupils are more sensitive to light and may be prone to more squinting, so choosing a polarized lens that reduces glare may be a good choice.

Don't forget to couple quality lenses with SPF and a good eye product like Revitalize Eye Gel. With proven ingredients like glycolic acid, algae extract, Antarctic seaweed extract, and Vitamin E, it leaves skin feeling rejuvenated, supple, and young.

Be a Tough Guy Without Being a Rough Guy

For you tough guys out there, exfoliation (the process of removing dead cells from the skin's surface) isn't strictly for those with two X-chromosomes. Both gals and guys can have dry skin, acne, large pores, aging skin, or other dermatological concerns. What makes it a man's sport?  Men typically have thicker skin than women, and thus may experience the most benefit from exfoliation. Think of it like that home-improvement project - you have to use a sander to smooth out rough edges for that perfect finish. Exfoliation is just another tool on your tool belt.

Your skin is composed of different layers, the newest, most supple skin being at the bottom and the oldest (and most dead) skin at the top. As we get older, cell-turnover, the body's natural way of bringing fresh cells to the surface, slows down. This means the dead cells hang around longer and skin appears dull, blotchy, and uneven. Sun damage over the years also slows the turnover process because it thickens skin, thus taking longer for new cells to reach the surface. To keep skin looking fresh and younger, you have to speed up the cell turnover cycle - removing the old cells forces the skin to regenerate more quickly. The easiest method of speeding this up is by exfoliating in moderation (with the word moderation being key - there is such a thing as over-exfoliation!).

There are essentially two types of exfoliation, chemical and physical. Chemical exfoliation is the process of using chemicals to remove dead surface cells from the skin. There are a few types of mild to harsh acids used in skincare for this, but between AHA, BHA, PHA, the NFL and the NHL, it can be a little brain-racking. Let's tackle chemical exfoliation later and talk about the easy stuff now.

Physical exfoliation is just that - using particles or rough cloth that scrubs and polishes the skin. This typically consists of using a cleanser that contains a physical exfoliating component, like ground nuts, shells, beads, or anything else that can be crammed into a six ounce bottle. This method of exfoliation is typically less expensive than chemical exfoliation treatments. Most physical exfoliants that you find at the store are full of harsh chemicals, on top of using plastic beads to scrub the face. Your exfoliant should gently clean the skin and remove dead cells - not leave your face squeaky-clean like a stripped hardwood floor. It's all about balance. Look for an exfoliant that utilizes finely ground natural particles or alumina, so it cleanses your face like a microdermabrasion treatment - similar to gentle sandblasting. Not to toot our own horn or anything, but EVMAN's Wash & Buff is a great example of an exfoliant that  utilizes alumina, is gentle, smells great, and leaves your skin smooth. So, you can still be that tough guy. Sounds manly to us.

Oh, and as always after exfoliation, make sure you moisturize with an SPF moisturizer to protect your newly revealed skin from the sun's harmful rays. It saves you from looking like an old tough guy!

Winter Bronze

Winter is the season of family, food, and fun, but it is also the season where our skin color is at its most undesirable. Many people will try to correct sallow skin color by a quick trip to the tanning salon. We know how you feel, but this is not the answer. It's been known fact for some time that indoor tanning is unhealthy for your skin, but ABC NEWS recently reported that researchers say "indoor tanning is associated with a 74% higher risk of melanoma." And, according to DeAnn Lazovich and colleagues, of the University of Minnesota, "some forms of indoor tanning machines were associated with a four-fold increase in the risk of skin cancer." This is strong support that fake tanning is carcinogenic. The solution? Fake it instead of bake it.

EVOLUTIONMAN developed Moisture Protect SPF 20 BRONZE to give you that summer glow all year long while protecting you from the sun's harmful rays. No sun is necessary. Apply a thin coat to counter-act the winter blues, or multiple coats to look like you've just returned from a quick trip to the Bahamas. 

For first-time users, our easy-to-use formula makes it hard to go wrong, but we do recommend applying several thin coats instead of one thick one to acheive your desired glow. It's a good idea to cleanse and exfoliate your face beforehand to remove dry skin, and make sure you rub it in properly if you have facial stubble.