THE NUMBER ONE SKIN CARE MISTAKE YOU’RE MAKING AT THE GYM

Treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bikes. Sounds scary, right? As someone who frequents the gym, I love working up a healthy sweat. OK, maybe I don’t LOVE sweating but I DO love the satisfaction of staying fit and putting my health at the top of my To Do list. There’s nothing more exhilarating than finishing a workout, muscles fatigued and mind reenergized. But did you know there’s one common mistake people make during their workouts? Rubbing their face.

When we work out, our internal temperature rises, causing our capillaries to dilate. As our face releases the extra heat and sweat, we quickly grab for that towel to swipe the sweat off our hot and sensitive skin. Unfortunately, all that rubbing elevates redness and blocks our pores, leading up to — you guessed it — major breakouts!

Before you start pumping more iron or sprinting on the treadmill, think twice about wiping your face with a towel.  Avoid unwanted redness by taking a soft towel and gently patting the sweat off your face.

And if you can’t break the habit, try a cooling serum like Enza Essentials RosaCalm to tame redness and calm reactive skin. The solution is really that simple. 🙂

xo Krista

NINE EASY EXERCISES TO DO AT YOUR DESK

Finding it hard to fit in a workout? Good news! You can make the most out of your time at the office. Spice up those 8 hour days with a little “fitness fun.” Your stiff and tired muscles will thank you for the mini-workout break. Plus, the more you move the happier and healthier you’ll be. So, the next time you’re sitting at your desk facing that long shift, try out some of these desk exercises for a more fit and fabulous you every day of the week!

What are some of your tips for staying active at the office?

xo Krista

BEAT YOUR WORKOUT BOREDOM

Happy Hump Day! If you couldn’t tell already, I’m kind of a fitness nut. But that’s not to say I absolutely love exercising all the time. Sweat dripping down my back, hot rosy cheeks and shortness of breath… makes me cringe just thinking about it. I’d much rather be spending the evening at home with my roommates sipping on wine while watching sappy movies! Exercising is hard! But, it is also important if you want to live a healthy lifestyle. Plus, the extra endorphins really make you feel good! The key? Make your workout fun so it doesn’t feel like work! My solution? Adding a medicine ball to my routine! Check it out below!

To start off, I do regular crunches on the medicine ball with my arms supporting my head. I do enough until I can start to feel the burn… and then I do ten more!

This move is my favorite! You want to start with the medicine ball above your head, about a foot from the ground.

With your body in a “V” shape, start to bring the medicine ball to meet your feet. At the same time, start lifting your legs until they reach the medicine ball. Once you can place the medicine ball in between your legs, squeeze and lower to the ground.

But, be sure not to let the ball touch the ground! To finish, raise your legs back up and repeat. After this move, you’ll be wishing it was still bikini season!

To finish my workout, I always challenge myself with a plank on the medicine ball! Who doesn’t love a challenge? If you’re in need of more workout ideas, make sure you check out my exercise your way to flawless skin post!

What are some ways you make your workout more fun?

xo Krista

EXERCISE YOUR WAY TO FLAWLESS SKIN

Want to continue your journey towards perfect skin? Then, stop skimping on your gym sessions, early morning runs, yoga classes, and afternoon walks! Yes it’s true; skin care goes far beyond cleansing your face every morning and night. Sweating from exercise can actually detoxify your skin! For me, I really enjoy exercise, but struggle to find the time. So, I came up with this fast paced, metabolism boosting, 15 minute routine! I’ve already started to see the results, it’s AMAZING! Give it a try. Your skin will thank you!

10 push ups. Make sure your hips are tucked forward!

80 jumping jacks. Your heart rate should start to pick up at this point!

15 alternating lunges. Try to get as low to the ground as possible!

20 sit ups. Engage your core the entire time!

25 squats. Don’t let your knees bend past your toes!

1 min plank. Try to keep your body as straight as possible!

(Repeat 3 times)

By exercising regularly, not only will your skin thank you, you will be able to enjoy that cinnamon roll or latte on a crisp fall morning! Stay motivated Enza loves!

xo Krista

MEET OUR NEW BEAUTY BLOGGER KRISTA

Favorite Dessert: I like ALL desserts to be honest! 🙂 But if I had to choose just one, it’d be vanilla ice cream with Oreo’s on top!

Favorite Restaurant: The Livery right here in Eau Claire. Their Prickly Pear Mojitos are seriously to die for!

Celebrity Man Crush? Ohhh, Usher, by far.  I saw him perform live at Summerfest and he totally rocks the stage. Plus he has awesome dance moves and an award-winning smile!

I Daydream About: Relaxing on a beach in Mexico, listening to the sound of the waves.

Dream Job: I have so many! I want to do something in Communications or Marketing that aligns with my passions (fitness, beauty, and health).

Beauty Idol: Kate Hudson. We have similar fashion styles- I love how classy she is. I also really like her Fabletics clothing line! And have you seen her smile?! It’s gorgeous!

On Skincare:  I wash my face twice a day and follow with moisturizer. My Sustaining System feels amazing on my skin! I’ve been using the Enza Essentials Vitamin C Serum, which I LOVE. I believe skincare is so important because when your skin looks fresh and bright, you feel better about yourself.

What are your skincare problems? I have slight redness in my skin which can be slightly annoying. My face also gets oily sometimes after workouts, but thankfully I have my Enza regimen to keep my combination skin under control.

What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever received? Beauty starts from the inside. My mom always tells me that! But you should always take pride in your appearance, especially skincare. If you skip beauty steps now, you’ll pay for it later.

What are you looking forward to most as the new Beauty Blogger? I’m passionate about heath, beauty, fitness and fashion! I can’t wait to share tips and tricks that I’ve picked up over the years. I’m so happy to be a part of the Enza Team!

Any tips from the past Beauty Blogger, Kayla? She told me to let my own voice shine through in my writing and just have fun with it. I can’t wait to bring all stories beauty-related to my readers!

IS THE STATE YOU LIVE IN CAUSING YOUR WRINKLES?

We all know that the environment plays a HUGE role in our skin. The weather, pollution, and lifestyle all contribute to how we age – whether we like it or not. But, did you know that the state you live in can also tell you about how you’re going to age? Yup, it’s true – A Wrinkle Ranking study was recently conducted to show the most wrinkle-prone states in America! Keep reading to see if you should consider moving or staying put in your state.

• Beware if you live in New York – it’s ranked #1 for having the most wrinkles. Ouch. This is due to very high pollution rates, New Yorkers being dissatisfied with life, or even long commute times. That’s why it’s SO important to protect your skin from free radicals with a product that contains peptides and antioxidants like Enza Essentials Tri-Peptide Cell Activator.
•  Washington, D.C. is ranked right in the middle at #23 – the pollution is super high, the commutes are long, and they’re known for binge drinking. But, they have the lowest rate of skin cancer! They obviously are wearing their SPF every single day.
• States known for their sun like Hawaii (Ranked #47), Mississippi (Ranked #31), and Louisiana (Ranked #29) actually have the lowest rates of skin cancer and have less wrinkles than the half the other states.
• Southern states such as West Virginia (Ranked #3), Tennessee (Ranked #8) and Kentucky (Ranked #7) ranked in the top 10 because of their poor diet and high number of smokers. So just quit, already – your skin will thank you.

See below where your state ranks!

-xo Kayla

WHY YOU NEED TO “SHAKE IT OFF”

As my girl T-Swift would say – sometimes you just need to shake it off. Whether you got in a fight with your boyfriend, didn’t get a second job interview, failed a test, or whatever else that went wrong, you need to let it go and not sweat it. Here are a few reasons why stressing out is bad for you:

Dry skin.

According to Prevention, stress releases the hormone cortisol, which hurts your skin’s ability to hold in moisture. This leads to a dry and dull complexion that nobody wants to have. Need a fix for your thirsty skin? Try using Enza’s Saturation Herbal Creme morning and night.

Emotional eating.

When I’m having a bad day, nothing seems to make me feel better than eating a freshly-baked cookie or 10. But, although eating might make me feel better in the moment, I always feel terrible afterwards and that ends up making me even MORE stressed. Instead of reaching for junk food after that heated argument with your mom, grab some carrot sticks to munch on for comfort or better yet, head to the gym to curb your stress hunger.

Blemishes and bags.

It’s extremely common to break out in zits when you’re stressed about something, as stress increases inflammation. Fight back with a spot treatment to keep your face smooth and acne-free. Another toll that stress takes on your skin? Under-eye bags. Staying up all night worrying about little things will make your complexion look dull and your eyes puffy from lack of sleep. Enza Essentials Eyebright Anti-Puffiness Gelee is the perfect morning treatment for calming those bags.

Sickness.

When you’re constantly stressing about things that you have little to no control over, your entire immune system takes a hit. It’s much harder for you to fight off the germs that cause a common cold, so you’re sick that much more often. And honestly, who has time for a cold every 3 weeks? Keep healthy by drinking plenty of water, eating right, exercising, and letting your worries go.

Okay, now go watch the ‘Shake It Off’ video again! -xo Kayla

WHAT’S IN MY GYM BAG

If you’re like me, you’ve been frequenting the gym like a madwoman the past 2 weeks because your New Year’s Resolution is telling you to! For me, it’s been a little bit of a struggle but I’m already feeling better and am getting stronger each time I work out. To make the most of my gym time, I always make sure I have my tote filled with the essential items for a successful workout. Here’s what’s in my gym bag:

• Nikes – These are the most comfortable tennis shoes I’ve ever owned. And they’re cute too.
• Snack – I HATE working out when I’m absolutely starving and my tummy won’t stop growling. I always make sure to have a granola bar handy in case I need something quick before or after my workout.

• Cell phone and earbuds – It’s necessary that I listen to jams while exercising to keep me going.
• Deodorant – I don’t think I need to explain this one…
• Toner – I ALWAYS make sure to have my Extraction Toner packed in my gym bag. I spritz it on my face post-workout to refresh and balance my complexion. It also reduces any inflammation I may have on my skin.

• Headband – There’s nothing more annoying than my hair getting in my face while trying to work out. Plus this one is gold and sparkly – who says you can’t look great at the gym? 🙂
• Water bottle – Keeping hydrated is SO important while exercising. I love this Nalgene bottle because it has a narrow mouth, making it easier to drink out of while I’m killing it on the Elliptical.
• Shine Control – Enza Essential’s Shine Control is perfect for keeping my face looking matte while working out. I apply it before I start exercising and it absorbs the excess oils on my face.

What’s in your gym bag? -xo Kayla

 

EXERCISE YOUR FACE!

It’s common sense – if you want a killer bod, it’s necessary to work out. With some solid effort, regular exercise can transform your body.  But did you know that facial exercises can tone your face too? Yes, that’s right! If you want tighter skin with a bit of boost and lift, try these 3 facial exercises.

1. The Kiss

First, pout your lips like you’re going to kiss someone. (I should warn you – save yourself the embarrassment and don’t do these in public.)

Then, smile as hard as you can using your cheek muscles while keeping your lips in a pout. Hold this pose for 10 seconds, relax, and repeat 2 more times. You can feel it already, can’t you?

2. The Fish

This one is my personal fave. Start by sucking in your cheeks to make a fish face. Then, try to smile while keeping your lips together and hold this for 10 seconds. Rest, then repeat 2 more times. This will help increase blood circulation while naturally contouring your skin. Almost done!

3. The Whistle

Make the letter “O” with your lips, like you’re getting ready to whistle. Then, smile as hard as possible while keeping your lips in the “O” position. Hold this exercise for 10 seconds, rest, and repeat 2 times. Your face will feel tired and a little sore at first, but after regular facial exercising, you’ll be a champ! 

To get even better results from these face exercises, use Enza’s Tri-Peptide Cell Activator. This anti-aging serum contains stem cells to powerfully prevent skin from developing fine lines and wrinkles. If you work out your face daily and regularly use Tri-Peptide Cell Activator, your skin will be in tip-top shape in no time!

-xo Kayla

 

EASY EXERCISE IDEAS

If you’re like me, life is CRAZY busy. And, unfortunately, I don’t get to the gym nearly as often as I’d like. But instead of missing an entire workout sesh, I’ve discovered some super easy-to-do exercises that I can do at my desk! It’s almost like a miracle.

Ab Twister.

I use my water bottle that’s full for this one. It’s super simple – just hold your water bottle (or whatever weight you choose) at chest level and gently twist all the way to your left while keeping your feet and hips forward. Then, twist to the right side. You’ll be able to feel your abs contract! I usually do about 10 reps on each side for this exercise.

Chair Squat.

This one is SOOOO simple and is a great exercise. Hold your arms out in front of you and lift up your hips and butt just enough so you’re hovering over your chair. I hold this pose for about 30 seconds to feel the burn!

Leg Extensions.

Start sitting up tall in your chair with your arms at your sides. Lift your left leg off the ground, straight out in front of you and hold for 10 seconds. Be sure to squeeze your quads to get a good workout! Then, switch to your right leg.

See???? It’s not so hard to keep active even if you’re at a desk all day! I finish with a spritz of Cool Sustaining Toner on my face to refresh and balance my skin. What a great workout! -xo Kayla