Fall into Good Hydration Habits

Fall sports season is upon us! Whether you're a football player, swimmer, or runner, you'll need to keep yourself hydrated during the cooler weather. Surprisingly, it can be more difficult to do this in October and November, because you have a lower natural drive to drink liquids; it's chilly outside and you're not parched. But your body's needs don't disappear just because the leaves are changing color and temperatures are dropping.

So how much should you be drinking? The exact volume is difficult to calculate, because it depends largely on your surroundings and activities. If you're sweating profusely—which may happen if you're sprinting down the field to score a goal—you'll need more water than a freshman sitting in English class. There are two important things to remember about hydration:

1.) If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. You want to avoid letting your body get to this point.

2.) Drinking water before physical activity is particularly important, as it is more difficult to "catch up" on hydration once your body is already depleted.

What should you be drinking? As you've probably heard, water is your best option. Even "all-natural" fruit juices are high in sugar and can be harsh on a dehydrated stomach. Also avoid high-sugar energy drinks that promote "electrolyte replenishment." Instead, we're fans of the sugar-free, dissolvable tablets, Nuun, which provide the same electrolyte benefits.

We're not saying to avoid spiced cider and hot chocolate this fall. Just be sure you're gulping down some Dasani or Poland Spring along with it.

Source: http://www.heart.org/

Cosmetics for Acne-Prone Skin

Listen up, cosmetic enthusiasts: make-up won't make you breakout. That's right. Contrary to some widely-circulated myths, make-up, even the inexpensive brands you find at drug stores, is not the underlying cause of acne. Most people who experience severe acne can blame fluctuating hormone levels for their breakouts. That is not to say that makeup can't make your problem worse. There are certain ingredients that can exacerbate already breakout-prone skin. Today, we're going to take a look at a few of the culprits.

Watch for consistency: Avoid thick, creamy products, whether it's a roll-on bronzer or a compact blush. Not only do these inhibit your skin's ability to breath, they are also more likely to clog pores.

Beware of Irritants: It seems like a no-brainer when it comes to avoiding irritating ingredients, but sometimes these come in disguise. Specifically, I'm talking about fragrances like grapefruit, lemon, or cinnamon. Your best bet is to choose products with naturally-occurring scents. It's always a bad idea to add irritation to skin already compromised with whiteheads or cysts.

What to look for instead: Stick to powder-based formulations for blush and bronzers, as these are less likely to clog pores or irritate. In general, they are more "breathable." When selecting a concealer, liquid products are good options, because they tend to accumulate gradually. Eye make-up is generally less of an acne-concern, because these products are applied only to small areas.

Remember, there's nothing wrong with using make-up from a skincare perspective. Just be sure you're educated about the best products to use--and ensure you wash off those products at the end of the day!

Dark Spots: Or Why You Should Always Wear Sunscreen

I'm 26, which means, for the most part, I'm out-of-the-woods in the acne department. That's not to say that an occasional breakout doesn't crop up along my hairline from time to time, or that I don't notice a zit proliferation when I'm stressed out about an interview. I'm just saying that I no longer experience that roller-coaster, hormone-driven pimple parade every time I look in the mirror.

Because I am not constantly plagued by acne, I tend to take more notice when I do breakout. I purchase expensive concealing powders to cover up even the tiniest of red spots. If I see the beginnings of facial inflammation, I hit it with a dose of GR8/SKN's Clear. With fewer overall breakouts, I am able to concentrate all of my dermatological energy on treating the intermittent zits that manage to subvert my daily skincare routine.

The biggest surprise to my 20-something self was what happens when those breakouts start to heal. A couple of weeks ago, I was stressed: I had two interviews, a best friend hysterical over a guy, and a boyfriend springing a potential move to San Francisco on me. It was no wonder that I woke up one morning to find my cheeks dotted with an unusually high number of breakouts.

I proceeded as I normally would, washing twice a day with Clean, spot-treating with Clear, and finishing off with Reset. Unfortunately, there was one factor that I didn't consider: the sun. To ease my general stress levels, I went for morning runs along the river. On days when it was cloudy, I skipped the sunscreen. Big mistake.

No, I didn't get burned. There was no reptilian peeling. The problem was that I gradually saw the breakouts, now mostly healed, begin to darken. As I soon learned, this was due to "hyperpigmentation," a process that occurs when the sun's radiation causes melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, to darken. Result: facial blemishes that stick around long after they are healed.

Luckily, the solution is easy. Don't make the same assumption I did! Just because the sun isn't glaring down on you does not mean that you are free from exposure. Wear sunscreen even if you can't see the culprit.  

GR8/SKN is Looking for Campus Ambassadors!

No one is going to deny that you'll learn a lot in college, whether it's about calculus, biology, or English literature. But not all learning can—or should—be done in the classroom. Sure, you'll learn about living independently, about compromising with roommates, and maybe even about taking out loans. What about networking and real-world business acumen? For that kind of experience, there is no better option than becoming a campus ambassador. GR8/SKN is proud to launch its very own college rep program!

What will our ambassadors will be doing? 

Increasing Social Media Presence through Hashtags: Every week, we will send you photos that you can post on your social media accounts, although we also want to see your faces! Post photos of you and your friends using GR8/SKN products.

Creating Outlets for Campus Engagement: Identify existing—or create new—opportunities for raising GR8/SKN awareness. Go to sporting events, club meetings, or Greek life celebrations.

Communicate Virtually: For this job, you don't have to live in a cubicle, or even come into an office. Just be available for quarterly Skype meetings.

What will you get?

• A job that you can do while taking a full course-load and working somewhere else.
• Free GR8/SKN products!
• Great resume skills (marketing, promotions, event planning).
• A celebratory party at the end of the program :)

Interested? Fill out our super simple application here.