EFFECTIVE Skin Care Tips
EQUINE Health
for the Active Equestrian Rider
When I train with my horses in the riding ring, I try to avoid
the hottest time of the day by training with them either before
noon or after 4 pm. Sun rays are less damaging in the
earlier or later part of the day but one should still minimize
direct exposure to the sun while enjoying the outdoors.
Because I do spend a lot of time outdoors around the barn
and training with my horses I start my day with good skin
care practices and a twice-a-day skin care regime which
includes wearing sunscreen.
Our skin covers our entire body and is our largest organ.
It protects us from harmful bacteria and other invaders.
When we sweat, we excrete toxins through our skin. The
skin helps to regulate our body temperature through perspiration.
Skin consists of three major layers: the epidermis,
the dermis and the hypodermis, with many capillaries and
cell layers in between. The epidermis is our outer protective
layer that keeps most invaders from entering our body. The
dermis is the middle layer and is also known as the life tissue
or true skin, and the hypodermis
is the fatty layer of the skin that
keeps our skin plump and healthy.
As we age, our skin becomes
more in need of a skin care regime
that helps support the skin’s
to care for your skin
first, while in the States,
many people just cover
all their impurities up
with make-up and often
don’t focus on the needs
of their skin. My philosophy
has always been
if you take good care
of your skin you don’t need to cover or hide any blemishes.
My skin care regime consists of six simple steps. In the
morning before I go out to the horses in the barn, I cleanse
my skin with a hydrating cleanser, loosening any buildup
that could cause blackheads or breakouts. Before I rinse
the cleanser off my face I make sure I gently massage it
all over my face and neck. Next I apply a hydrating toner
with a flat cotton pad to help lift excess oils and debris out
of my pores that the cleanser has left behind. I also apply a
hydrating lotion with an SPF of 30 and finish with a hydra-
ing cream. Finally, after I carefully
apply my eye cream, I use a
lightly tinted mineral sheer tint
foundation with an SPF of 20. I
have found that mineral products
keep the skin protected, healthy
and free flowing.
Damage to skin from sun
overexposure in the younger
years can surface in later years.
natural structure by replenishing
any loss of elasticity and hydration.
Damage to skin can be done in the younger years of life
most often by overexposure to the sun. However, this damage
usually does not show its first signs until we are in our
forties or even fifties. A moderate amount of natural sunlight
is essential to good health. Sunlight is necessary for the
human skin to synthesize vitamin D. But if you spend long
hours outdoors, for instance, in the riding arena with sand
reflecting light onto your skin, the UV radiation from the sun
can be damaging to the living cells. This type of damage
can most likely not be reversed.
As a girl growing up in Germany, I learned early in my life
the importance of taking good care of one’s skin. After I
immigrated to the United States of America, I studied skin
care at the Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics, Make-up
Artistry, and Massage Therapy in Boston. I was amazed at
how differently this country views skin care needs. In Europe
I learned that before you apply any make-up you need
By Karin Matey
I repeat these simple steps twice a day—once in the morning
and once in the evening. I know that I cannot stop
the hand of time and my skin from aging naturally, but by
simply following the six simple steps of caring for my skin
above, I can keep my skin healthy and protected from
overexposure to the sun so I can continue to do what I love
doing the most—spending lots of time training and riding
with my horses. If you love to ride with your horses, or spend
a lot of time outdoors for any reason, be sure to be watchful
of your skin care needs!
58 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
EE
Finally the warm days of the year have arrived and I am able to trade my snow pants for
much lighter attire. I absolutely love the feeling of wearing short sleeve shirts and light
riding pants while training with my horses. However, with the warm weather of summer
and fall comes a new responsibility—to protect my skin from overexposure to the sun
and other environmental elements. As a licensed esthetician and skin care provider, I
understand the importance of taking good care of my skin, which includes a daily skin
care regime that provides me with all my skin care needs as well as protects my skin
from the daily exposure to UV rays and elements of the environment. I have been working
in the beauty and skin care industry for twenty-seven years and have educated many
people on the importance of good skin care. I have taught them how to keep their skin
healthy and safe from harmful environmental exposures that can cause all kinds of skin
problems.
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