Women's Health & Lifestyle
Shania Twain: How to Not Give Up on Yourself or Your Health
Mediaplanet did an exclusive sit-down interview with the iconic Canadian artist Shania Twain. From Lyme disease to women’s safety, she shares her inequities and how Canadians can do better for women’s health.
What was the most challenging part about being diagnosed with Lyme disease?
The word I would’ve used at the very beginning of the illness was confusion. At the time, I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Was it all in my head? And if it was all in my head, then I didn’t know where to seek treatment because I didn’t know what was wrong. So, I just started venturing into every option possible to determine what was wrong. Only then did I discover that my condition was caused by Lyme disease. The problem with my voice was due to Lyme disease and nerve damage to the larynx. I’d lived with not knowing what it was for so many years. That was the worst part. That was the biggest challenge, not knowing and understanding what was wrong. I would say persevere for anyone going through any health issues until you find out what's wrong. Never give up on that. You can’t start treating it until you know what it is.
How (if at all) have inequities in women’s health care affected your health journey? What advice can you give Canadian women battling injustice in health and safety services?
When it comes to health and safety, women often have to look out for themselves —
especially if they’re single mothers. Your biggest strength is independence. All you have sometimes is yourself, it’s easy to get intimidated by the red tape. If we have too many roadblocks, we get discouraged, we get scared, and then we retreat into our dysfunction and not our own personal dysfunction. I’ve been there as a kid. I know my mother — as an adult — certainly was trapped in that. And so I learned to take matters into my own hands and find that strength in myself to get to the bottom of where I’m going to find help. You have to assert your needs. You have to assert your belief in the fact that you deserve and warrant support and help. It shouldn’t be that way. We shouldn’t have to work so hard, but it’s a reality. We have to work together to change that reality and narrative, but we have to work with what we have, not shy away from it, and not get discouraged.
What can we expect to see from you over the next few months?
Oh, well, I’ve written a new album. I have so many projects on the go, but I plan to tour with this new music I had announced last month. I plan to release the new music, but I already have a new song out. So those are all things in the works. There's the musical underway, all kinds of exciting things and I look forward to sharing all of that with everyone.
Look Good Feel Better Workshops Help Restore a Sense of Self
Complimentary workshops give women with cancer the simple tools to help them feel more like themselves again.
Acancer diagnosis comes with many challenges — and often overlooked is the loss of identity that comes with it. A woman may no longer be seen as herself, a mother, sister, partner, or colleague; she’s the cancer patient. And when cancer treatment affects a woman’s physical appearance, she often no longer recognizes herself.
This is why Look Good Feel Better believes that cancer care needs to treat the whole person, not just the physical but the emotional and psychological aspects too.
Look Good Feel Better offers complimentary workshops that give Canadian women tools and techniques to help manage the appearance-related impact of cancer. These simple steps allow for selfcare and restore a sense of self, all in a supportive
and welcoming community. In-person and online workshops include skin care and cosmetics; breast forms and garments; wigs and hair alternatives.
Look in the mirror with kinder eyes “The workshops gave me more information and helped me to own my new appearance and to see the beauty in it again,” Elizabeth Pham says. “Seeing a group of women come together also made me feel much more confident and supported. Because there’s already so much that we can’t control when we’re going through our cancer journeys, it’s uplifting and powerful to have something that we can control and that we can change for the better, which is our appearance. I learned to look at myself in the mirror with kinder eyes.”
Pre-save Shania Twain's new album Queen of Me by scanning the QR code.
Abigail Cukier
Elizabeth Pham LGFB Workshop Participant
Reclaiming Independence and Taking Control for a Life Free From
Incontinence
Solutions for incontinence are helping Canadian women experiencing leakage take back their independence.
Angela Yamaoka Product Specialist, Mothers Choice Products & TensCare Canada
We’ve all experienced that unassuming moment when — suddenly — you’ve got to get to the bathroom. But, for some women, these feelings aren’t limited to once-in-awhile situations. Thousands of women across Canada suffer from incontinence when the urge to urinate becomes a constant part of their every day. Others worry that when they sneeze or laugh, they will experience leakage that results in an embarrassing wet stain.
Defined as the lack of voluntary control over bladder function, incontinence can be caused by a weak pelvic floor — the muscles that support the bladder. Like other muscles, the less you exercise your pelvic floor, the weaker it gets.
Incontinence can manifest as one of three types:
1. STRESS — when your pelvic floor is not strong enough to hold urine back.
2. URGE — when the nerves in your pelvic floor are overworking.
3. MIXED — a combination of both.
Incontinence goes beyond the physical effects While physical in nature, the impacts
of incontinence can go far beyond that. The ongoing threat of bladder leakage can lead many women to adopt a less social, more isolating lifestyle, impacting their mental health. Yet, as a society, incontinence tends to be accepted as part of the natural aging process. “People think they have to just live with incontinence,” says Angela Yamaoka, Product Specialist for Mothers Choice Products and TensCare Canada . “It’s your body’s way of telling you it’s not working properly.”
People think they have to just live with incontinence. It's your body's way of telling you it's not working properly.
Perhaps one of society’s greatest kept secrets: treatment options to strengthen the pelvic floor can pro -
vide long-lasting relief and hope for those experiencing incontinence.
Tools to help you perfect your pelvic floor
“The pelvic floor is a hard muscle to isolate. Our bodies usually work to keep our pelvic floor together; it never fully relaxes,” says Yamaoka. Health Canada-approved Class II medical devices, like the TensCare Perfect Pelvic Floor Exerciser (PFE), are designed by medical professionals with this in mind. These devices use electrical stimulation to safely teach the body to complete a Kegel exercise, which can help relieve incontinence symptoms. With settings customized to each type of incontinence, these devices train the pelvic floor to fully contract and fully relax, building strength with the hope that, eventually, the body will recognize how to complete these motions without the device. The Perfect PFE is designed to be easy to use, effective in eliminating symptoms and can help avoid or prolong the need for surgery. These devices are cost-effective over time versus the cost of containment pads, and they're a worthwile investment in your health and wellness.
Nearing Menopause?
Be Sure to Know the Facts and Get Help
Each woman’s experience with menopause is different. Having access to information allows women to build care plans uniquely suited to them.
Katherine Cappellacci
Anatural phase in life, menopause occurs when a woman has no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. It’s a milestone that brings about significant change as the body transitions out of its fertility stage. Most women notice the first signs of perimenopause in their late 40s and early 50s.
Common menopausal symptoms caused by fluctuating hormone levels include irregular periods, night sweats, fatigue, hot flashes, libido changes, aches and pains in joints, mood swings, impacts on bladder control, and memory loss. Decreased amounts of estrogen lead to lower bone density levels and even affect cardiovascular health.
That being said, no two women react to menopause in the same way. That’s why it’s imperative to educate oneself about the signs and symptoms — so that the most personalized treatment can be selected.
Strategies and solutions
There’s a range of therapies available to help treat these ailments — more than most women might realize. Hormone
therapy (HT) is a safe and effective way to help minimize symptoms for women within 10 years of menopause. It’s a flexible option, so doctors can individualize regimens to suit each patient.
Women who cannot undergo HT for certain health reasons might consider non-hormonal therapies. Alternative prescription medications have been proven to reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and other ailments.
Some find relief through alternative therapies like natural health products and herbal remedies. Complementary approaches can also be effective when reducing symptom triggers, such as not smoking or consuming alcohol, exercising regularly, establishing proper sleep hygiene, and adjusting diet and nutrition choices. Overall, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can mitigate concerns that may arise in the bladder, heart and vascular region, and in sexual health.
Shifting the conversation
Unfortunately, there’s a stigma around talking about menopause. Plus, women are hesitant to seek treatment because of circulating misinformation. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecol-
ogists of Canada (SOGC) is the leading authority on reproductive and sexual health. The organization is working to eradicate these misconceptions, like the long-standing thought that hormone therapy is unsafe.
Comprised of over 4,000 professionals working in women’s sexual and reproductive health sectors, the SOGC works to improve the well-being of all women by providing Canadians with reliable research and education. They’ve recently released new guidelines for health-care professionals regarding menopausal treatments. It states that hormone therapy is the most effective relief from symptoms.
“We want women to know they don’t have to suffer silently through menopause,” says Dr. Michelle Jacobson, a menopause specialist in Toronto. “You shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about it anymore, especially with doctors. There are safe therapies available.”
Get the help you deserve SOGC is normalizing the conversation around menopause so that women can experience a better quality of life and feel empowered no matter their age.
Dr. Michelle Jacobson Menopause Specialist, Toronto
Building Women’s Health Means Ensuring Safety from Abuse
Paulette Senior, President and CEO, Canadian Women’s Foundation
Every six days. On average, that’s how often a woman in Canada is killed by an intimate partner. And this rate of femicide has gone up over the past two years.
Gender-based violence like sexual assault and intimate partner abuse is one of the biggest threats to women’s health and well-being. Given that it spikes in times of crises — pandemics, economic downturns, fires, floods — it’s even more of an urgent issue today.
From silence and stigma to support In Canada, two-thirds of us know a
woman who has experienced abuse, but only one in five is confident we’d know how to support them. Almost a quarter of people say partner abuse is “none of my business if it doesn’t directly involve me.”
Abuse survivors often turn to loved ones for help. We must be willing and able to support them, offering referrals to services in a non-judgmental stance. Lives depend on it.
The Signal for Help is a silent hand gesture we launched in 2020, anticipating spikes in abuse rates we’ve seen in Canada. It can enable you to ask for help without leaving a digital trace.
But a signal is only as effective as its response. We need everyone to know how to respond when they see someone using it, or when they see any sign or signal of abuse.
Become a Signal for Help responder
When you sign up to become a Signal for Help responder, you get helpful tools and resources to learn how to confidently offer your support.
The community of Signal for Help Responders is now over 40,000 strong. But we need a critical mass of people to be part of this shift to end abuse. We need you.
Advancements in Skin Cancer Treatments Are Providing Hope
Kathy Barnard, Founder of Save Your Skin Foundation, knows you’ve heard all the messages about preventing skin cancer a million times. But she wants you to really listen.
“Skin cancer is preventable. We know we should stay out of the sun during peak hours. We know we should lather on sunscreen. But so many of us don’t. My first message is that your skin is the largest organ of your body. You need to protect it,” says Barnard, a British Columbia resident and Founder of Save Your Skin Foundation.
“The second thing is to check your skin and check your loved one’s skin. We all have pictures of ourselves all over our phone. It’s not like other organs. You see your skin every day. If you see something that doesn’t look right, go to your doctor and have that checked,” says Barnard.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer
There are three major types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma begins as a malignant tumour in the melanocytes and can metastasize to other parts of the body.
Non-melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma, and rarer types of non-melanoma skin cancer include Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type, after basal cell carcinoma. It starts in the outer layer of the skin and, if left untreated, eventually penetrates the underlying tissue. SCC is usually found in areas that are often exposed to UV rays, including the face, neck, scalp, hands, shoulders, arms, and back.
Signs of SCC include a sore that doesn’t heal or comes back after healing; rough or scaly red patches with irregular borders; raised lumps that indent in the centre; a growth that looks like a wart; a sore that is crusty or bleeds easily; or a growth or area that is itchy, irritated or sore.
SCC is easily treated when detected early, but it can spread to other parts of the body. That is why it is important to contact your doctor if you notice any of these signs.
When Barnard was 47, she noticed a spot on her arm the size of a pencil eraser. Her family doctor thought it was fatty tissue. But a little while later, Barnard noticed another spot and saw
that one of them had turned purple. She was sent to a plastic surgeon, who immediately ordered an ultrasound.
Barnard was diagnosed with Stage IV malignant melanoma in 2003. By 2006, cancer had spread to her vital organs, and her treatment options were limited. Fortunately, one of her sons discovered a treatment clinical trial taking place in Alberta. This trial saved Barnard’s life.
Advocating for timely access to treatment
That year, Barnard and her family started Save Your Skin Foundation to provide education, resources, and advocacy for patients with skin cancer and their families.
Save Your Skin Foundation is committed to ensuring equal, timely, affordable, and appropriate access to skin cancer treatment for all Canadians by engaging in public and private industry, health policy, and systemic treatment access issues with cancer agencies, government, and drug-approval bodies across the country.
Barnard says she continues to fight every day for patients and families because she wants to pay it forward.
“I got lucky, and I want everybody to be as lucky as me,” she says. “Our first five patients who came to the foundation were all under age 30, and we lost them all. Every one of those kids will live in my heart for eternity. And I’ve never lost touch with their families, and I promised them that their loss would not be in vain.”
New therapies fostering hope for cancer patients
Though she says there’s still a lot of work to be done, Barnard is excited by new, more targeted therapies becoming available for skin cancer, including for SCC that has spread or cannot be treated by surgery or radiation.
“I’d like to say that the journey for patients today is a little easier than it was for me. But it’s really not because when you’re diagnosed with cancer, whether it’s basal cell, squamous cell, or melanoma, you’ve just been given a diagnosis of cancer. And it doesn’t matter if you’re Stage I or Stage IV, it hits us all the exact same way,” Barnard says.
“But now we have an entourage of innovative treatments for skin cancer and for other cancers. Skin cancer was at the back of the bus in treatments when I was diagnosed, but now, I feel like (it) is driving that bus of change and hope because we’ve got more patients surviving now than ever before.”
For anyone who is newly diagnosed
with skin cancer, Barnard encourages them to seek out the Save Your Skin Foundation. The foundation helps patients get into clinical trials and to bring clinical trials to Canada. It also provides access to counselling and resources and helps patients navigate the health system and treatment. It also provides financial aid for needs such as parking, travel, or accommodation.
“Whether they’re into survivorship, into early diagnosis, or just got on a treatment, or had to find a treatment on their own, (all parties) are getting to hear firsthand what the patients are actually saying to us because patients won’t say that in the doctor’s office either,” says Barnard.
We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there. I think we’re leading the way for the other cancers that are now also getting these new and innovative medicines for their patients and their families.
“Patients do not have connections to the (pharmaceutical companies) and the partners there, and they only have that 15 to 30-minutes with the oncologist, but they’re always scared to question them. We just are. So, these round tables that we hold are instrumental and have all of our partners really hearing what the patients are saying.”
Patients with skin cancer face many challenges through diagnosis, referrals, and treatment access. But Barnard wants patients to know there is much support available. For example, Save Your Skin Foundation works closely with patient support groups, which help patients in areas including financial assistance, education about the disease, and advocacy for access to treatment, as well as securing reimbursement coverage through private and public health insurance providers.
Building a strong team important for patients
It’s important for patients to build a strong team of different doctors and health-care providers and to have them communicate with each other and seek external resources, Barnard says. “You have to be your own best advocate.”
“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there. I think we’re leading the way for the other cancers that are now also getting these new and innovative medicines for their patients and their families.”
Save Your Skin Foundation encourages Canadians to pay attention to skin health while providing resources and support to skin cancer patients and advocates for timely, affordable access to treatment.
Anne Papmehl
Kathy Barnard Founder, Save Your Skin Foundation
To learn more about Uncommon Beauty, visit uncommonbeauty.com
with Kristin Cavallari Founder of Uncommon Beauty and Bestselling Author
Uncommon Beauty aims to create fewer but higher-performing products — with that in mind, can you speak to why a simple and effective skin-care routine is central to the brand?
The No. 1 question I’ve always gotten is about my skin-care routine, and I never really thought much of it. I didn’t know a whole lot about skin care other than what I’ve picked up over the years because skin has been important to me, but as far as the labs go and the formulations, I knew nothing about it.
I started talking to a couple of different labs and picking their brains. I found the products I was using at the time, and I sent them off to get tested to see if they were relatively clean, as they were supposed to be these high-end products. They came back, and they were full of all these chemicals and additives, and they were doing the opposite of what we want them to be doing, which was aging us. We sit there and put these products on our skin thinking that we’re doing the anti-aging stuff, thinking it’s really good for us when in reality, it’s doing the opposite. It was really alarming to me. With the clean skin care and clean makeup world, it’s interesting because you can say that you are a clean brand when really you’re not, at least not up to my standards, so I felt like there was a real need for a line that was actually clean that was still effective.
I’m all about simplifying everything in my life, and I wanted to just do our core products — which we have five — instead of using 20 products every morning and night. These are just the basics that do everything you need. The underlying theme among the Uncommon Beauty
products is that they’re super hydrating, which is really what helps the anti-aging process.
How does your skin-care routine change in the winter months and changing seasons in general?
The winter is all about maximum hydration. For a long time, I was really scared of moisturizers and putting these products on my skin because I was prone to breakouts, and I still actually am. Even though I’m 35, I still get breakouts, which drives me crazy because I was always told that would end when you turn 30, but that was not the case for me. So I’m super sensitive to that stuff, and I love the daily water cream because I can load it on without it clogging my pores, yet it still gives you that perfect hydration.
You also don’t want to over-wash your face. For example, I only wash my face at night and don’t wash it in the morning — which also helps stop drying out my skin in the winter.
What advice would you give someone who doesn’t know where to start in their skin-care routine?
Start with the basics. I don’t think you necessarily need all the fun products. I would start with the great basics, including a great face wash, a good eye cream, and a good moisturizer. Then maybe if you wanted to add one more slightly elevated product, I’d suggest our Pineapple Peptide Nectar so that you can get a little boost in there. Overall, don’t listen to the noise. You don’t need 20 products; you can have just a couple of products that really are effective and do everything you need.
Skin Health Made Simple — in Winter and throughout the Year
Keeping your skin moisturized throughout the year doesn’t have to be a battle. Protecting your skin throughout the year can be as simple as following these three easy tips.
Year-round healthy skin tips:
3. 1.
Avoid long baths and showers. While the thought of a long, hot shower may warm our soul during the winter months, it can also cause dry, itchy skin. Limit showers and baths to 10 minutes or less.
Moisturize! Once you step out of the shower, gently pat yourself dry and apply lotion to your face and body while your skin is still damp. This will help lock in as much moisture as possible.
Apply sunscreen. Sunscreen is not just a summer thing. It’s an important tool in your year-round skin-care arsenal. Even in winter, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can permanently damage your skin. Fight back by applying broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) to your face, hands, neck, and ears before you leave the house to be fully protected.
Finding healthy skin and sun protection products doesn’t have to be difficult. The Canadian Dermatology Association developed its Product Recognition Programs for Skin Health and Sun Protection to help consumers navigate the many skin health products on the market and choose products that meet high standards defined by experts in the field.
“The Canadian Dermatology Association’s Product Recognition Program for Skin Health and Sun Protection products is well known among Canadian consumers,” said Dr. Jennifer Beecker, President of the CDA. “When consumers see the Skin Health or the Sun Protection recognition logo on products, they know they can trust that these products meet high standards defined by experts in the field.”
CDA Skin Health Program
The CDA’s Skin Health Program recognizes over 140 moisturizers, creams,
and cosmetics that meet the following criteria:
Have low potential for irritation
• Are fragrance-free or unscented
Do not contain common allergens
Are non-comedogenic (less likely to clog pores)
CDA Sun Protection Program
The CDA’s Sun Protection Program includes over 60 products that meet the following standards:
• Provide broad-spectrum protection with an SPF 30 or higher
Have low potential for irritation
• Are minimally perfumed or unscented
Are non-comedogenic (less likely to clog pores)
The Canadian Dermatology Association’s Product Recognition Programs are committed to helping consumers choose healthy skin and sun protection products. Just make sure to “Look for the Logo.”
Dr. Jennifer Beecker President, CDA
Controlling Eczema Ensures People Feel Good
in their Skin — Inside and Out
Signs and symptoms of eczema vary across a diversity of skin tones and pigmentations. Recognizing them is important to ensure proper treatment.1
Anne Papmehl
EDr. Marissa Joseph Pediatrician, Dermatologist, & Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto Tanya Mohan Eczema Patient & Peer Support Volunteer, Eczema Society of Canada
czema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition 2 believed to be caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, and immunological factors. “The skin inflammation that results, causes patients to experience a range of symptoms, the most disruptive one being the itch,” 2 says Dr. Marissa Joseph, a pediatrician and dermatologist practicing in Toronto and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Other symptoms of eczema include dry, cracked skin, patches, flaking, oozing, and in severe cases, infection. 3
Eczema affects quality of life
The physical and emotional challenges of living with eczema make it hard to feel good in one’s skin.4 “The burden of itch can just take over your life,” says Tanya Mohan, an eczema patient and peer support volunteer with the Eczema Society of Canada. The relentless itch can cause severe sleep deprivation, leading to other problems. 5 “The lack of good, restorative sleep can affect people’s mental well-being. And in children, it can impact their development and concentration and affect the entire family because if the child isn’t sleeping, the parents may not be sleeping either,” says Dr. Joseph.
The effect on a patient’s self-esteem can also be profound.6 “Even when it’s not visible, patients are scratching and feel very stigmatized, alone, and self-conscious,” says Dr. Joseph. “They may wear bulky clothing to hide the affected areas and fear that people seeing them might think it’s contagious,” she says.
Mohan can relate. “Around junior high, I became more concerned with my appearance and would try to hide it from everyone, wearing long sleeves and long skirts in the summer,” says Mohan. She recalls one traumatizing incident while riding the streetcar at age 16. “I was going to Caribana and was wearing a skirt slightly above the
knee, and an elderly person loudly commented on my skin, asking if it was contagious and moving away from me on a very crowded streetcar. It was mortifying.”
I’ve seen quite an improvement in understanding how eczema presents in different skin tones, and it’s wonderful to see this transition because you feel identified and heard.
Differences in symptom presentation important in ensuring suitable treatment7
In terms of severity, “some patients are only mildly affected with intermittent flares or bouts of inflammation, while others are severely debilitated by the condition,” says Dr. Joseph. Similarly, eczema also presents differently across different skin types. “Typically, when we describe a flare as red and inflamed, it’s related to patients with less pigment in their skin or white skin.8 While those descriptions are important for helping health-care providers educate their patients on their condition and when to use their medicines, they’re not really applicable to patients with brown or black skin because their eczema may present as brown, grey, or purple,” says Dr. Joseph. Additionally, “some patients are labelled with having brown discoloration as an after-effect. This is a type of scarring that disproportionately affects patients with pigmented skin,
but it can also be a sign of very active eczema that needs to be treated,”9 says Dr. Joseph. “Not recognizing such differences could lead to under-treatment, under-prescribing, or even the severity of the condition, meaning the patient doesn’t get access to the appropriate treatment they need.”
Fortunately, this is an area of dermatology that’s getting more attention. “We still have a lot of work to do both in teaching about skin disease so that it represents everyone across all skin types and in research to understand these differences in presentation and mechanisms because these might vary by ethnicity,” says Dr. Joseph.
When Mohan was diagnosed in the early eighties, skin diversity was not a consideration. But things have come a long way. “I’ve seen quite an improvement in understanding how eczema presents in different skin tones, and it’s wonderful to see this transition because you feel identified and heard,” says Mohan.
Optimizing treatments to support quality of life and self-esteem10
While there’s no cure for eczema, there are many effective treatments.11 “This is a condition that can be managed well, so it’s important to see one’s health-care provider to make sure that treatment is optimized. We have many patients in our care that have very good control of their symptoms,” says Dr. Joseph.
Mohan is one of them. “After having my daughter, I went back to my dermatologist and finally got on a treatment plan that has helped with the itch, and that has helped me get my quality of life back. It’s amazing to be able to sleep, function, and have a conversation at work or on Microsoft Teams without feeling constantly itchy, and the level of focus I have now is fantastic,” she says. With current diagnostic knowledge and treatment options, people with eczema of all skin types can feel good in their skin — both physically and emotionally.
“Eczema and Skin of Colour.” TheEczemaSocietyofCanada 24 Feb. 2022, https://www.eczemahelp.ca/about-eczema/eczema-and-skin-of-colour/. p.1 2, 3 QualityofLifeReport-Altogethereczema . https://www.altogethereczema.org/images/files/esc_quality_of_life_report_2017.pdf. p.2
4, 5 “Eczema and Mental Health.” TheEczemaSocietyofCanada , 10 Jan. 2022, https://www.eczemahelp.ca/mental-health/. p.2
Skin-Loving IT Cosmetics Products Protect Skin through the Winter
Incorporate products with makeup and skin-care benefits into your daily routine for a healthier, younger-looking complexion.
Abigail Cukier
Jamie Kern Lima suffers from rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness, visible blood vessels, and small bumps on the face. Strangers would stop her in the grocery store and ask if she had a sunburn or was sick. When she landed her dream job as a morning news anchor, Kern Lima would spend most of her paycheck on makeup to try to hide her condition from the camera. Nothing worked.
Then she realized that if she had trouble finding beauty products that worked, she was probably not alone. Kern Lima decided she wanted to create makeup that was good for your skin and worked on all skin types and tones. She and her husband, Paulo Lima, sketched out a business plan, and she quit her job and launched IT Cos-
ingredients to help you look and feel
Kern Lima worked with plastic surgeons and dermatologists to develop clinically proven, innovative, problem-solving products that harness cutting-edge, anti-aging technologies and skinloving ingredients to truly help women look and feel their best.
IT Cosmetics products combine makeup and skin benefits with SPF and ingredients that help protect the skin barrier, both of which are especially important in the winter months.
Sun protection is so important when it comes to healthy, younger-looking skin, but remembering to apply sunscreen every morning can be difficult, especially if it’s cold and dreary outside. But sunscreen is important all year round. IT Cosmetics has incorporated SPF 50 right into its CC cream. So when you apply your makeup in the morning, you also get tinted UV protection.
ity of winter can be hard on the skin, causing dryness, itching, and redness. Even indoor heating can have the same effect.
Problem-solving products help protect and strengthen skin
Here are just a few examples of how IT Cosmetics' innovative, confi dence-building products help protect and strengthen skin:
Developed with plastic surgeons, IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream is a colour-cor recting cream that delivers seven products in one, including full-coverage foundation, anti-ag ing serum, and SPF 50+ physical sun screen. CC+ Cream provides clinically tested hydration and is infused with hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and vitamins to diffuse the look of wrinkles, minimize the appearance of pores and provide luminous, supple, flawless-looking coverage that won’t crease or crack.
Q&A
The CC+ Nude Glow SPF 40 skin tint is a colour-correcting cream with a lightweight medium coverage suitable for all skin types. Featuring 90 per cent skin care, its patent-pending formula is infused with a Brightening Glow Serum with 2 per cent niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract. In four weeks, this tinted cream is clinically tested to visibly improve brightness, uneven skin texture, and uneven skin tone. It also provides 24 hours of hydrated skin for an instant healthy glow and a no-makeup look.
IT Cosmetics products also help strengthen the skin barrier. This is the outermost layer of the skin’s surface, containing vital lipids like ceramides, cholesterols, and fatty acids. The skin bar rier keeps water and electrolytes inside the body and harmful micro-organisms out. The colder temperatures and reduced humid
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Moisturizer improves skin firmness and reverses 10 signs of aging in just two weeks. For all skin types, including dry, sensitive, or aging skin, this dermatologist-recommended moisturizer strengthens the skin moisture barrier in just one use and repairs it over time while providing up to 48 hours of hydration. The
with Dermatologist
Dr. Sandy Skotnicki
What advice would you give to someone just starting their skin-care journey? Keep it simple. Choose fragrance-free cleansers, laundry aids, and products that will leave your skin hydrated.
What do you tell Canadians who may feel overwhelmed by the many opinions and choices available for skin care?
This is a growing concern and one that seems to be ever-increasing. The skin-care industry is set to reach over $500 billion worldwide in the years to come. For the face and hair, it’s more of a challenge because the choices are endless. If you have problem-skin or conditions like acne or eczema, getting a dermatologist’s opinion is helpful but can be difficult in Canada in these post-COVID-19 times.
What steps do you recommend people take to protect their skin daily?
When colder temperatures hit, indoor heating is turned on, decreasing the humidity in the air. With less humidity in our homes and workplaces, our skin becomes drier. If you can increase the humidifier setting on your heating system or add a humidifier to your bedroom, this can be very helpful. Next is to consider how you wash and what you wash with. Keep showers short and not too hot.
Finally, moisturizing more regularly can replace some of the moisture lost in the skin from dry winter weather and cleansing. Try to stick to fragrance-free moisturizers.
Skin conditions can be seen on the surface but often go more than skin deep. How have different conditions affected your patient’s overall quality of life?
The biggest issues are itch and the appearance of the skin, and I would add the idea of self-care. Itch can be very bothersome as we age and worsens in winter. This can, in turn, affect one’s ability to sleep. Changing how patients wash, what they wash with, and what laundry aids they use often is enough to help these issues. As for appearance, this is the reason we have a million-dollar beauty industry. Self-care was the buzzword during COVID-19. Taking care of one’s skin became about more than appearance or skin health. It was a way of taking care of yourself. It replaced dinners, movies, and travel. The issue here is many people develop problem skin from using too many products together or in succession.
Jamie Kern Lima Co-Founder, IT Cosmetics
Is Your Skin Dehydrated? Give Your Skin Some Love This Winter
Dove’s new Body Love Collection offers skin of all types 10x the moisture, improves the skin’s ability to retain hydration, and is good for the planet with 100% recycled bottles.
Melissa Vekil
Canadian winters can be tough on the skin. Below-freezing temperatures, nippy winds, and dry indoor heating can leave us with dry, dull, dehydrated skin. Dry skin can be patchy or flaky
in texture, have a dull or red appearance, and cause irritation or itchiness. If your skin is experiencing dryness during the colder months, showering your body with face care ingredients can help maintain the health and youth of your skin.
SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS FOR SUPPLE SKIN
As temperatures dip in the winter months, so do humidity levels, damaging your skin’s barrier. Using a humidifier in your room at night can make a big difference in curbing the dryness and irritation that comes with cold weather. A humidifier emits moisture (typically via a mist) to get your room
REVAMP YOUR SHOWER ROUTINE
Skin care isn’t just about keeping your face moisturized — it’s also important to care for the rest of your skin. Piping-hot showers and baths can strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling dryer than before. Plus, most conventional body washes use skin-stripping detergents to cleanse, making dryness worse.
The best body washes should leave your skin feeling clean, nourished, and hydrated after your shower. Dove’s new Body Love collection is made with 100% sulphate-free cleansers and paraben-free. To deliver maximum nourishment while you shower, each formula is infused with 10X Moisture Boost Complex*, which is a mix of moisturizers, including Dove’s unique blend and effective ingredients.
Radiance Renew is specifically formulated for dull, uneven skin. It’s a serum-infused cleanser with vitamin C and natural exfoliating minerals. With a bright citrus and wild
to optimal humidity, between 40 to 60 per cent. For an extra boost of hydration, invest in a mini humidifier for your home office desk to keep your skin hydrated even while you’re on Zoom calls. Put a few drops of your favourite scented or aromatherapy essential oil into the water for the ultimate pampering experience.
raspberry fragrance, this renewing body wash helps to hydrate and illuminate for glowing skin.
Containing hyaluronic acid and moringa oil, Moisture Boost for dry, dehydrated skin is also infused with serums to enhance moisture in the skin and fortify its moisture barrier for lasting softness. The rich texture of this cleanser lathers up into a beauti fully nourishing foam that will make dry skin feel hydrated and delicately fragranced, with a fresh scent featur ing notes of white sage, vanilla, and bamboo.
With Dove body wash, you can transform one of your daily rituals into an act of care and keep your skin hydrated. Not only that but Dove’s new Body Love Collection is a sustainable choice. The Dove Body Love Collec tion utilizes 100% recycled bottles, while the formulas are PETA-certified cruelty-free. Head to any major retailer to purchase Dove’s new Body Love Col lection — your body deserves just as much love as your face.
What's most important to you about the products you use in your shower / body care routine?
Moisturizing body washes that don’t leave a soapy film behind and body moisturizers that work are necessary in my routine. My skin gets super dry in the winter — especially since I have mild eczema — which leads to itchiness. It’s so important that I can reach for body wash products that already have moisturizing properties and are better for your skin and don’t leave behind a tacky-feeling greyish cast.
LAYER YOUR SKIN CARE
A rich moisturizer is key during the cooler winter months. Look for nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and shea butter for ultimate hydration. But don’t forget to layer in serums and oils as well. A serum is a thin, fast-absorbing liquid that delivers beneficial active ingredients to the skin and is typically used as a base layer. Oils can layer under or over your moisturizer, depending on your preference. And they’re not just for the face! Apply body oils after your shower to lock in moisturize and leave your skin feeling supple and smooth.
I love thick, hydrating body washes, moisturizers, and body butters. If you have dry skin, you really should work these into your body care routine.
What are your top 3 tips for good skin health (specifically body skin)?
My top three tips are regular exfoliation. Exfoliation will get rid of any dead skin allowing your moisturizers to penetrate and work better.
Drink lots of water! When I don’t drink enough water, it shows. My skin will look dry and a little sallow. It truly makes a difference.
I love thick, hydrating body washes, moisturizers, and body butters. If you have dry skin, you really should work these into your body care routine.
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Moisture Boost Hyalauronic Serum with Dominique Baker