What's your word?

HABI NEW YEAR! 

Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions!  How many did you make this year?  I, per usual, made several: lose the baby weight (again, 3 years running), eat less candy, cuss less, get back to the gym 3-4/week… There’s more but that’s not the point… really.  

In an effort to make good on at least one of my resolutions, I went to spin class.  As the class got peddling, the instructor Joe asked if anyone had already broken their New Year's resolutions.  "Honest Abi" autopilot kicked in and I involuntarily lowered my head and raised a hand.  I took a peek around the room and saw I stood along in this admission.  

"Already?" boomed over the sound system.

"Well... at least I'm being honest," which was mostly lost in the him of the bikes spinning to nowhere. 

The ride was good. I came home red-faced and exhilarated but Joe's quizzical "already" had already formed an earworm I couldn't shake it.  

The next day, a friend texted me "what's your word?" and a link. 

This link changed my life. (Yes, a slight over-dramatization, but you get my point).

Freed at last from shackles of the resolutions I was sure to break, my mind raced with one word possibilities. Empower. Focused. Compassion. Balanced. Kind. Determined. Happy. Happy. Happy  felt good. Happy felt right.  My word is Happy. I chose “happy” because,  in 2018, I will choose to be happy and not to take on others' stresses or worries. I will have find the "happy" in every day and every one. It's been 16 days since I scraped the tired, old resolution trap, and I already I feel lighter, less stressed and happier!  (No joke!)

2018 is your year. Be you. Your best you. Own it. Believe it. Do it. HabiDerm.

Winter (Skin) Is Coming… Or Is It?

Jon Snow knows a thing or two about winter coming... 

You wouldn’t know it by the weather we’ve been having lately, but the calendar doesn’t lie — winter is coming. 

As temperatures begin to drop, the battle against the lack of moisture and dry environment begins. Just like your wardrobe, your skin care regimen should change with the weather. You can keep cracked hands, scaly, itchy legs, chapped lips at bay with a few simple steps:

1. Drink More Water. We tend to drink less water in winter months (opting for a hot cup of coco to warm up) but don’t forget your body needs hydration from the inside out. Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day (the recommended 8 glasses). Add high-water content fruit and veggies such as apples, oranges, kiwi and watery veggies such as celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and carrots into the mix. 

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. Moisturizing is an essential part of your daily skin care regimen (or it should it). But it’s even more important during the drier, colder months as moisture is whisked away leaving parched, dry skin. And remember the three-minute rule: Apply moisturizer within three minutes of bathing to trap the much-needed moisture to your skin. 

3. Aquaphor is Your New BFF. Dry, cracked feet and elbows? Peeling cuticles? Dry cheek and under-eye patches? Chapped lips? Slap on some of the miraculous gelatinous goo for an instant fix. (Need more relief? Apply generously to feet and hands and wear cotton gloves/sock to bed.)

4. Brusha Brusha Brusha. Your toothbrush is not just for brushing your teeth anymore! Use your Oral-B to remove the excess dry skin (and then apply Aquaphor!).

5. Halt the Hot Showers. How can something that feels so good be so bad for your skin? Hot water can strip the body’s natural (and needed) oils causing drier, itchier skin. It can also bring blood circulation to your skins surface, which is why your skin turns red. This can lead to itchier skin and even a rash. Do your skin a favor and opt for a lukewarm shower.

-Joanna Austin 

(First published in the November 2017 issue of the Long Island Press.) 

The Social Impact of Perfection

Beautiful, flawless skin. It's everywhere: in the movies, on television and magazines covers, selling products and an image of what life could be like if we just....

The hours of air brushing it takes to manipulate each image (not to mention the behind the scenes personal chefs, trainers, stylists and makeup artists... and the cost) are often overlooked in pursuit of idealized beauty. 

Women hold themselves up to this impossible standard of perfection only to be disappointed, judged, even rejected. 

HabiDerm is a platform designed to connect, comfort, inform, inspire, and improve overall skin health while achieving short- and long-term goals. Our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to realize their own best-self and achieve their personal beauty, health and wellness goals – without heaps of new products or procedures.

At HabiDerm, we put you first, learn your lifestyle and provide "real-time" feedback to help you achieve your "best self" and have fun doing it! Above all else, our goal is to build self-confidence and self-acceptance by improving your overall health and wellness. 

We are asking you to join us to empower your mothers and fathers, your sons and daughters, sisters and brothers and grandmothers and grandfathers to stop looking outside and comparing themselves to an unrealistic standard.

At a time when we are inundated by images of someone’s idea of perfection, we believe our mission is evermore paramount.

On July 11, 2017, we launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to help raise the much needed funds to finish the beta and bring HabiDerm to life. Please help us reach out goal so HabiDerm can become a reality and in your hands this Fall.

Be Kind to the Skin You're In. Learn more, visit us at habiderm.com.

It's #NationalFrenchFryDay!

Next to #NationalMargaritaDay, #NationalFrenchFryDay might be my favorite #holiday.

I. Love. Salt. Who doesn't? Sadly, 90% of Americans take in more salt then they need each day, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The current recommendation is about 2.4 grams of sodium a day, the equivalent of about 1 teaspoon of table salt -- even less if you have high blood pressure or other risk factors. 

I know salt is not good for me but that doesn't stop me from celebrating #holidays and over-indulging from time to time. So when you've taken #NationalFrenchFryDay to the next level, here are a countermeasures to salve the salt-fest: 

HYDRATE: We all know that drinking 8 glasses (+/-) water helps your body function better, but water can help move the salt out of your system faster reducing the bloat and restoring much needed hydration. Drink up!

POTASSIUM: Counter the sodium intake by eating fruits and vegetables – like bananas, potatoes, and leafy greens -- that are rich in potassium and can lower sodium levels naturally

EXERCISE: Get your heart rate pumping for at least 20 minutes (and breaking a sweat) will help move the salt out of your system. Whether you hit the gym or the pavement, getting your body moving is a part of a great defense against salt-induced symptoms.

Be kind to the skin you're in <> Eat salt responsibly and enjoy #NationalFrenchFryDay! 

Want more? Visit us at habiderm.com.

You Are What You Eat

Did you know your diet can improve your skin health? 

People of all ages struggle with skin conditions like acne, sallow skin, cigarette damage, rosacea, dry flaky skin, wrinkles, and sun damage. Traditional medical practices often discount the connection between skin health and nutrition. However, there is strong evidence to support the influence of our food choices on the health and vibrancy of our skin.

Could your diet be damaging your skin? 

The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look. The reverse is true as well: if you starve your skin of essential nutrients long enough, and it's going to show. “What you put on your plate is even more important than what you put on your skin,” said Grete McCoy, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified lifestyle counselor in Corpus Christi, TX.

Ensuring your daily diet is full of vitamins and minerals from fresh, whole foods is one of the most effective ways to improve the look and feel of your skin and achieve optimal skin health. 

“Making changes to your daily diet is not as hard or as expensive as you might think,” says McCoy. “I work with my clients to track daily activities like water intake, sleep and food selection and understand how a few small changes can make a huge difference in overall health and longevity." 

“Whether you use pen and paper or lifestyle apps like HabiDerm, tracking is a great and effective tool to help my clients be more aware of daily choices,” says McCoy. 

HabiDerm is a personal digital skincare assistant that helps individuals make simple everyday habits transform the look and feel of their skin. HabiDerm empowers men and women to make more informed choices and learn a thing or two along the way. HabiDerm's beta version is slated for release this Fall 2017. 

Grete McCoy is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Lifestyle Counselor with more than 20 years of experience in metabolism and diabetes, as well as a significant culinary background. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Texas Christian University and a Masters in Public Health from Texas A&M University. She has trained at some of the top facilities in the country and gives lectures on diet and nutrition at national conferences. Grete works with all ages, from children to adults, through pregnancy and geriatrics. A mother of four, Grete believes that diet and exercise are key to longevity and wellness.

Just Checking

How many times a day do you check your phone? A few times a day? Every hour? Can’t go more than five minutes? 

You're not alone; most of us are exactly the same way. 

Whether we're shopping, banking, texting or checking email, the weather or the time, it's estimated that Americans check their phones 8 billion times a day.

All this phone time can lead to some not-so-fun stuff like skin break outs, crappy sleep and even poor health(!).  
Germs transfer from surfaces to your hands and fingers to your phone to your face - YUK! - and that can wreak havoc on your skin. With all that phone time, don't forget to clean your machine.

Checking your before bed and keeping it close by as you sleep can not only ruin a good night's sleep but it's now believed to lead to serious sleep problems, including sleep disruption and deprivation. And that can lead to some serious health issues.

Bottom line: give your phone a rest so you can get some too. If not, don't be surprised if this happens! And in between phone checks, don't forget to do this and this!

Be Kind To The Skin You're In. 

Sweating the Small Stuff

From the minute my alarm goes off, my mind races with everything I have to do and still haven’t done. Mondays are the toughest: an impossible game of catch-up. The list just keeps growing.

I find myself repeating "baby steps" under my breath more often than I'd like. But then I caught this clip from SNL.

"Because baby steps" do lead to milestones. 

Size Matters. The little to-dos are easier to put off but they are just as important as the big ones. Pick 3 small tasks or goals each day from your to-do list (e.g., drink one more glass of water, don't eat Halloween candy for breakfast, call a friend, take the stairs) and check 'em off.  The small stuff may feel inconsequential, but it leads to the bigger stuff and the sense of accompaniment breeds motivation. Boom!

Intention is Key. Every intentional act leads to another and creates a positive ripple effect. You make things happen. You are in control.   Need Inspiration?  Check out some of these small to-dos, they can some pretty BIG effects:  - Forks over phones at dinner.  - No more excuses -> let's do this! - That's random... and so very cool.  Be Kind to the Skin You're In.