Skin Care Expert - Jen Adkins
About Jen
Jen has been a licensed cosmetologist for 14 years and the Guide to Skin Care About.com since 2008. As a seasoned beauty writer, Jen is able to take her knowledge, love of skin care and passion for writing and combine them.
From Jen Adkins: We're all looking for products that actually work, and the shelves are full of products claiming to be miracle workers. I'll help you find the ones that do what they say, and steer you clear of the ones that won't. I'll also help you decipher ingredient labels helping you become your own expert. Because that's my goal! I want to help you become your own expert in skin care.
Find Jen Adkins on Google +, Twitter and Facebook
Media Contacts: Jen has taken part in radio, TV, print and online interviews and is available as a skin care expert for interviews and other commentary. Email Jen to discuss.
New Sunscreen Labels
Article written by Jen Adkins on May 13th, 2013 Everything Skin Care
Be on the lookout for the new sunscreen labels as you start picking up your sunscreen stock.
First and foremost, there will be no more exaggerations on amount of time your skin is protected from the sun when in water and no more claims of "waterproof" as there is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen!
The new word is "water resistant". Huge difference. And in order to get the ability to claim water resistant, they had to prove it. One more step to better prevention from the damage the sun can give.
I'm so glad to see this new step to sun-safety. It
At-Home Ways to Reduce Red Skin
Article written by Jen Adkins on April 29th, 2013 Problem skin, Rosacea, Rosacea treatments, Skin irritation
Many of us deal with red skin from time to time – and some of us, more often than not. It can be so frustrating to wake up to red skin each morning, but there are some at-home ways to reduce your red skin.
The following four treatments can be placed in a spritz bottle or applied to the skin with a cotton ball. Apply to skin after washing, before any other skin treatments and allow to fully soak in before adding your moisturizer.
Rose Water: Rose water has been shown to be very effective at reducing skin redness and luckily it
Is Acne Contagious?
Article written by Jen Adkins on April 16th, 2013 Acne, Acne scars, Adult acne, Body acne, Cleansing, Perfect skin, Teens
I’ve been asked this question multiple times: Is Acne contagious? It seems like it might be, right?
With so many people, especially teens affected by acne, it would make sense that it is simply getting passed on from person to person. Maybe the bacteria left on someone’s hat or cell phone that you borrowed caused you to break out.
Good news: acne is not contagious.
Acne is caused by bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, commonly shortened to P. acnes. Everyone has P. acnes on their skin - even if they don’t have acne.
If we all have P. acnes, why do some break out while
Skin Care Routine: Teens to Menopause
Article written by Jen Adkins on March 21st, 2013 Acne, Adult acne, Beautiful Skin, Cleansing, Dry Skin, Perfect skin, Premature ageing, Problem skin, Skin care regime, Skin care routine, Skin care tips, Skin Damage, Skin exfoliation, Sunscreen protection, Zenmed
There are three skin care steps that we all should be doing, no matter how old we are and what our skin is like: cleansing, moisturizing and wearing sunscreen.
Cleansing – There is no need to go expensive with your cleanser. If you have acne-prone, oily or combination skin, look for a gel cleanser. Those of us with normal or dry skin should use a creamy cleanser. If you have sensitive skin, try ZENMED's Facial Cleansing Gel. Wash morning and night (we love facial cleansing cloths for night) and reassess your skin as the seasons change.
Moisturizing –When you wash your skin,
Skin Care in Your 50's and Beyond
Article written by Jen Adkins on March 14th, 2013 Adult acne, Anti-Ageing, Beautiful Skin, Everything Skin Care, Problem skin, Skin care tips, Skin exfoliation, Sunscreen protection
Though the age-range is quite varied, many women enter menopause in their early to mid-50’s. Along with the surge of hot-flashes, sleepless nights and changing bodies, changes in skin can sometimes be hard to keep up with. Here are some of the most common skin concerns that women entering menopause deal with and ways to tackle the issues.
Sagging Skin
When entering menopause, your skin produces less collagen and elastic fibers. You see this in the mirror with the onset of wrinkles and sagging skin. Like most of the unwanted changes that happen during menopause, this is due to the drop in
Skin Care in Your 40's
Article written by Jen Adkins on February 27th, 2013 Beautiful Skin, Beauty tips, Diet, Dry Skin, Natural oils, Nutrition, Premature ageing, Skin Damage, Zenmed
Good bye easy-going 30’s, it’s time to tackle the 40’s. And if you’re serious about taking care of your skin, you can make this decade less about wishing you could reverse the clock and more about looking in the mirror and thinking, “Man, I look great!”. Let’s get to work.
Retinoids or Retinol – These are a must. A vitamin-A derivative, retinoids and retinol help speed the renewal of skin cells. When you’re in your 40’s, your skin takes longer to renew, which is why your skin might look dull and could use a little lift. Retinoids are retinol’s bigger, stronger
Skin Care in Your 30's
Article written by Jen Adkins on February 14th, 2013 Anti-Ageing, Beautiful Skin, Everything Skin Care, Skin care tips, Sunscreen protection
When most people hit their 30’s, they head straight to the anti-aging product collection fearful that the wrinkles, crow’s feet and age spots are all going to pop up overnight.
Hopefully you’ve been playing it safe with daily use of sunscreen through your 20’s. If so, you don’t have to worry much about aging when you’re in your early 30’s. And if you haven’t been using sunscreen, there is no time like the present. It’s the biggest defense against premature aging.
Hormonal fluctuations are more commonly seen in your 30’s and you might find your skin type changing with the seasons more
Skin Care in Your 20's
Article written by Jen Adkins on January 28th, 2013 Adult acne, Beautiful Skin, Beauty routine, Beauty tips, Cleansing, Moisturizer, Problem skin, Skin care routine, Skin care tips, Skin exfoliation, Sunscreen protection![Woman-ArmsOutstretched[1]](http://blog.zenmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Woman-ArmsOutstretched1-150x150.jpg)
Remember when you were in your teens and you thought that once you hit your 20’s your skin was going to be acne-free and perfect? For most people, that doesn’t happen. Unfortunately more than 40% of people are still dealing with acne in their 20’s. (And unfortunately you’re not out of the woods in your 30’s either.) If you’re still breaking out, you’re in good company but a good skin care routine can help whip your skin into shape in no time.
Daily Care: Cleanser and Moisturizer
If you didn’t start a skin care routine in your teens, now is the time to
Healthy Skin for Teens
Article written by Jen Adkins on January 11th, 2013 Acne, Everything Skin Care, Skin care tips, Teens
The teen years are filled with growing bodies, fluctuating hormones and skin that at times seems impossible to keep clear. While we know it’s a passing stage, it certainly doesn't feel like it when you’re in your teens and your skin in covered with acne.
There are some things important to note: your personal habits are rarely to blame for your acne, most often the food choices you make don’t cause your acne and chances are good that if you talk to your parents about their skin when they were a teen, you’ll see a correlation to your skin.
Daily Skin Care
DIY Acne Treatments
Article written by Jen Adkins on November 26th, 2012 Acne, Adult acne, Perfect skin, Problem skin
We’ve all been there – the night before a big event and that pimple just won’t go away. Sure, you could cover it up with makeup, but the reality is you just want it gone! You’ve heard rumors about ways to get rid of pimples with odd household ingredients, but do they work? And what if they make your pimple worse? Here are some of those at-home ways and what you can expect if you try them.
Milk of Magnesia: Milk of Magnesia is product used for constipation, heart burn or indigestion, but it has also made its mark as an
6 Tips to Minimize Puffy or Baggy Eyes
Article written by Jen Adkins on November 1st, 2012 Baggy eyes, Beautiful Skin, Beauty routine, Beauty tips, Problem skin, Skin care tips, Under eye circles![eyeoflife[1]](http://blog.zenmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/eyeoflife1-150x150.jpg)
No matter how many hours of sleep you get at night, if you wake up with baggy or puffy eyes, you look like you had a late night - you look tired and you definitely don’t look your best. Puffy eyes are a common complaint for men and women alike. Here are three lifestyle changes you can make to minimize your risk of puffy eyes and three tips to reduce the ones you wake up with.
Daily Lifestyle Changes for Baggy Eyes:
Drink More Water: Puffy eyes can be a result of dehydration. Many people don’t get the recommended 8 glasses of
5 Tips to Avoid Dry Skin
Article written by Jen Adkins on October 31st, 2012 Dry Skin, Hand Care, Moisturizer, Natural oils, Winter skin
Now that we’re settling into fall, before you know it, much of the population is going to be complaining about dry, itchy skin. Dry skin goes hand-in-hand with the cold months. While you can’t fully avoid dry skin, you can take some steps to make it less of an issue. Here are some things you have control over that will help your dry skin.
Try These Tips to help relieve dry, itchy or (irritated) skin
Turn the water temperature down in the shower. Hot water feels so good in the cold winter months, but it can cause havoc on your skin. It
Should You Be Using a Clay Face Mask?
Article written by Jen Adkins on October 12th, 2012 Acne, Adult acne, Anti-Ageing, Dry Skin, Zenmed
You’ll have no problem finding a skin care product promising results from superstar ingredient clay. One look at the product selection at your drugstore or favorite online store will leave you with many options, both in brand and in product.
Many different types of clay are used in skin care including the ever-popular kaolin, rhassoul, green, bentonite, montmorillonite and even volcanic ash. Different clays are best for different skin types from oily, acne-prone skin all the way up to dry, aging skin, but you’ll most often find clay-based skin care products for oily skin.
Clay and Oily Skin
If you have oily or
ZENMED Product Spotlight: AHA/BHA Complex
Article written by Jen Adkins on September 24th, 2012 Acne, Anti-Ageing, Everything Skin Care, Skin care tips, Skin exfoliation, Zenmed
New to the ZENMED line and looking for that first product to try? There are many options, but I'm going to have you check out AHA/BHA Complex. What makes it so special? The simplicity and ability to transform your skin.
The ingredient list contains only 5 items:
Purified Water
Witch Hazel Distillate
Propylene Glycol
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
The two that you want to pay attention to are the last two: Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid. These are both exfoliating ingredients that can transform your skin, be it acne-prone or full of early aging signs.
AHA/BHA complex makes it so simple to get results from these gold-star ingredients.
Soothing Dry Cuticles
Article written by Jen Adkins on September 11th, 2012 Beauty routine, Beauty tips, Dry Skin, Hand Care, Winter skin
Dry cuticles can be so painful. It’s amazing how sometimes the smallest area of your body can cause the most grief. If you’ve had dry, cracked cuticles, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re in mid-September now, which means the cold, blustery weather is well on its way. Take some times to learn how to treat your cuticles and see if you can ward off the painful problem this fall and winter.
Don’t Cut Them. If you’ve ever had a manicure, you probably think that’s crazy advice, but the reality is, cutting your cuticles can cause them to become infected
Can You Really Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite?
Article written by Jen Adkins on August 30th, 2012 Everything Skin Care, Exercise, Problem skin, Skin care tips, Skin exfoliation
If you do any research, you’ll see plenty of ugly terms out there describing cellulite, such as cottage cheese thighs or orange peel legs. I’m thinking we should ditch the negativity, drop the ugly words and band together to boost our self-esteem back again. Doesn’t society give us enough to feel bad about?
How Many Women have Cellulite?
Approximately 90% of women over the age of 35 deal with cellulite. If 90% of women have cellulite, why are we stressing about something that only 10% of women are without. Unfortunately cellulite isn’t one of those things like freckles, which some people stress
In What Order Should I Apply My Skin Care Products?
Article written by Jen Adkins on August 18th, 2012 Beautiful Skin, Beauty routine, Beauty tips, Cleansing, Everything Skin Care, Perfect skin, Skin care routine, Skin care tips, Skin exfoliation, Sunscreen protection
It’s amazing how many emails I get that ask this simple question: Am I putting my products on in the right order? When you invest in a product line, the last thing you want to do is put them on in the wrong order and lose the potency of the product’s active ingredients.
Here we’re going to break down a laundry list of products in order of start to finish. We do not recommend you necessarily need to use all of these products, but because everyone has different skin types and everyone uses different products, it’s a good list to find
5 Lifestyle Habits that are Aging Your Skin
Article written by Jen Adkins on July 28th, 2012 Anti-Ageing, Beautiful Skin, Beauty tips, Everything Skin Care, Premature ageing, Skin care tips, Skin Damage, Sunscreen protection
We’re all trying to slow down that ticking of the clock of life, aren’t we? While we can’t actually slow down time, we do have some control when it comes to slowing down the aging of our skin. Choices we make in our daily lifestyle can mean the difference between younger looking skin and older looking skin. Here are some things that are known for aging your skin.
Smoking: If you’re a smoker, you already know the damage you’re causing to your lungs and body, but you’re also causing your skin to look older. Wrinkles are caused by repetitive movement in
Benefits of Aloe Vera in Skin Care
Article written by Jen Adkins on July 15th, 2012 Acne, Aloe Vera, Anti-Ageing, Beautiful Skin, Herbal remedy, Moisturizer, Stretch marks
If you think of aloe vera simply as a plant you might keep in your home to soothe sunburn, you’re missing out on some of the amazing things this natural ingredient can do for your skin. Aloe vera is so much more than a sunburn soother. You can use it straight from the plant, purchase an aloe gel or find a product line with aloe in them. (ZENMED has lots of options.)
Check out some of the ways aloe vera might solve your skin issues.
Acne – Aloe vera is perfect for those who suffer with acne, even severe acne, because of
Hey Guys: Think Your Moisturizer is Enough?
Article written by Jen Adkins on June 26th, 2012 Everything Skin Care, Moisturizer, Premature ageing, Skin care, Skin care routine, Skin Damage, Sunscreen protection, Zenmed
I’ve been with my husband for 15 years and given the job I have, you’d think he would know everything there is about taking care of his skin. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just the other day he was complaining about itchy skin and after a bit of prying, he told me he hadn’t been wearing moisturizer for a few days.
Moisturizers are important. You should use one every day after you wash your face because it’s going to help you look younger longer. We all want that. The boost of moisture will minimize your fine lines and help
7 Ways to DIY Your Skin Care Routine
Article written by Jen Adkins on June 13th, 2012 Beautiful Skin, Beauty routine, Beauty tips, Natural oilsEven if your bathroom is full of the best skin and body care products, there is much fun to be had in the kitchen. Supplementing your skin care routine with handmade products and natural ingredients can be fun, inexpensive and good for the environment. You’d be surprised at what you can make with what you likely already have on hand. Here are 7 ideas to try at home – head to toe.
Body scrub ran out? Simply grab a handful of white sugar and mix it with your body wash. This will give your body a great thorough exfoliation and it
Know the Difference between UVA and UVB Rays
Article written by Jen Adkins on May 26th, 2012 Anti-Ageing, Everything Skin Care, Premature ageing, Skin Damage, Sunscreen protection
The sun’s rays are responsible for aging skin, sun spots, freckles, even cancer. But did you know that UVA and UVB each cause different issues if you don’t protect yourself from both of them? That’s why it’s vital to use a broad spectrum which protects against both UVA and UVB. Here’s a breakdown of what UVA and UVB rays are responsible for.
UVB Rays
If you’ve ever had a sunburn, you’ve been blasted by UVB rays. Unlike UVA rays, these rays are stronger in the summer months, especially mid-day, which is why we see so many sunburns in the summer versus other
6 Things You Should Know About Sunscreen
Article written by Jen Adkins on May 12th, 2012 Everything Skin Care, Skin care, Sunscreen protection
Now that the warm weather is here, it’s time to get serious about sunscreen. Sunscreen should be a daily part of your life no matter the season, so getting the facts straight will help make sure your skin is properly protected against the sun.
Here are 6 things you might not already know about sunscreen that will help you keep your skin protected this summer.
There isn’t much of a difference after SPF 30. Did you know that SPF 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s rays and SPF 50 only blocks 1% more? The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends anything over SPF 15,
Review of ZENMED: Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40
Article written by Jen Adkins on March 7th, 2012 Everything Skin Care, Moisturizer, Skin care, Sunscreen protectionI’m always on the lookout for a great facial sunscreen. My favorite ones are mineral sunscreens because they tend to feel almost invisible on your skin. They also do a great job protecting with natural sun blockers like zinc and titanium dioxide.
ZENMED recently released their new Mineral Sunscreen SPF40 and I was very excited to try it. Here is my review of the product.
Details: Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40 comes in a 2.5 ounce tube and currently costs $34.95. There is bulk pricing for ordering 2 or more tubes. It is available on their website.
Color and Scent: Mineral Sunscreen is naturally
5 Acne Fighting Ingredients
Article written by Jen Adkins on March 7th, 2012 Everything Skin CareIf you are considering purchasing one of the acne-fighting systems on the market, you might be wondering about the ingredients. Are they safe? Do they work? Which one is best?
There are a few staple ingredients that are most often used in acne-fighting products. Here is a list of five over-the-counter ingredients known for their ability to tackle even the most severe acne.
Salicylic Acid: Also known as BHA. This ingredient is one of the two most popular and most effective acne-fighting ingredients. It works best when used on skin that is prone to clogged pores or blackheads. It works as
Healthy, Radiant Skin in 6 Simple Steps
Article written by Jen Adkins on February 18th, 2012 Anti-Ageing, Cleansing, Everything Skin Care, Moisturizer, Perfect skin, Premature ageing, Skin care, Skin care tips, Sunscreen protectionHealthy, radiant skin doesn’t happen overnight. And despite what skin care companies tell you, there isn’t a miracle product that will give you perfect skin. Your entire body needs daily consistent care and over time, your skin will become healthy and radiant. Here are 6 easy things you can do on your own to transform your skin. 1. Pick the Right Cleanser. Cleansers, just like moisturizers, are not one-size-fits-all products. After cleansing, your face should not feel tight, dry or oily. If you have oily skin, a gel cleanser is your best bet. If you have dry skin, try a creamy
Serums and Moisturizers - Do You Need Both?
Article written by Jen Adkins on February 8th, 2012 Everything Skin Care
Wondering if you need both a serum and a moisturizer? Before you can make that decision, you need to understand the differences in serums and moisturizers.
Serums:
The molecules in serums are very small. Because of this, a serum can travel deep into the layers of the skin – much deeper than a moisturizer can. Serums are highly concentrated and deposit nutrients deep into the skin’s layers, working on the skin that has yet to reach the surface.
You can get many types of serums such as anti-aging serums, skin brightening serums and acne preventative serums. Serums are lightweight and typically soak into
Microdermabrasions: In-Office and At-Home Options
Article written by Jen Adkins on January 26th, 2012 Everything Skin CareWhile there is a vast range in age, most people start noticing the subtle signs of aging in their mid-30’s. Early signs of aging consist of a dull complexion, smile lines that don’t fully go away when you stop smiling and an overall loss of skin tone. If you are noticing these signs, it’s time to start putting extra effort in picking the right skin care products and extra steps to your skin care routine. One step to consider adding is a microdermabrasion. You can get an in-office microdermabrasion or purchase an at-home microdermabrasion product. In-office treatments are more effective, but
5 Steps to Avoid Adult Acne
Article written by Jen Adkins on January 20th, 2012 Acne, Adult acne, Everything Skin CareYou know by now that the foods you eat do not cause acne. And we hope you know that your acne is not a direct result of not washing your skin effectively enough. Because more people are becoming educated on skin care, those two myths are starting to lose steam, but so many people think their acne is simply hereditary, hormonal or unavoidable and they give up without fighting the good fight. While your acne may be hereditary or hormonal, what if we told you there were things you could do that might help keep at least some of your acne
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CONTRIBUTORS
SKIN CARE EXPERTJen Adkins
ZENMED BloggerSarah Kirkpatrick
ZENMED Blogger Rachel Sanderson
