In the last two blog posts, I covered the basics of SPF and how to keep your skin protected. For the third and final post in our SPF summer blog series I want to share some information on UVA and UVB sun rays and what it means to have full spectrum sun protection.

When sunlight reaches the earth through the ozone layer (the earth’s protective layer), it comes in two main forms: ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays – also known as UVA and UVB rays. These are the main causes of damage to the skin from the sun. UVA and UVB rays affect the skin's sensitivity to sun exposure in different ways.

All OLEHENRIKSEN SPF products have what is call “full spectrum” coverage. This means that when you wear an OLEHENRIKSEN sunscreen like hands forward or herbal day creme, you are fully protected against both UVA and UVB rays.

This concludes our three part SPF summer blog series, but of course, if you have any other SPF questions feel free to leave them in the comments below or email us here. Have a safe and happy summer!

In the first SPF blog, I broke down what SPF means, how to calculate the amount of time you’re protected and what type of coverage an SPF gives you. Today, I want to give you a little more information on summer’s hottest accessory.

Did you know that there are two different types of sunscreen? I didn’t!

Any SPF protection should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapplied every 2 hours and immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. It’s recommended that at least 2 TBSP or one ounce of sunscreen be used to cover the entire body – and don’t forget your lips or hands!

Next time I’ll cover some information on full spectrum sunscreens and the difference between UVA and UVB rays. Have a happy and safe weekend!

The sun can be our best friend, providing our bodies with many essential vitamins; but, it can also be our worst enemy causing painful burns, life-threatening sun damage, or those unattractive age spots. Also known as “those things we all try to avoid like the plague!”

The June issue of European Men’s Health Magazine mentions OLEHENRIKSEN’s hands forward creme as a way great way to impress the ladies! They talk about how a swanky restaurant and smooth moves will come to nothing if your hands look like they’ve gone toe-to-toe with a meat grinder!

And let me tell you – it’s true! For a man, your hands signal to us ladies how well you take care of yourself!

“The hands are always exposed to the elements on a daily basis and therefore are more prone to showing the signs of aging if not properly cared for,” says Ole, “and if you want to tell a person’s true age, all you need to do is look at their hands!”

Here at OLEHENRIKSEN our hands forward creme – SPF 15 is a sun care product specifically designed for your hands! Not only does the hands forward creme soften and smooth your skin with shea butter, but it also stimulates cell renewal with sugar maple extract.

Now, are you sitting down for this one? One of the main ingredients in the hands forward creme is kojic acid which is known to fade discoloration, even skin tone and correct/prevent hyper-pigmentation.

So don’t worry ladies and gents! If you haven’t been using SPF on your hands and you happen to have a little sun damage, our creme can reverse the signs of aging!

How about that for good news on a Wednesday?

Summer is just around the corner and I don’t know about you, but just the words bathing + suit will send me to the gym a little more than usual! So, I sat down and interviewed Ole to get his special pre/post-gym beauty tips – and I’m going to let you in on all of his special secrets!

Q: Are there any skin recommendations you would give to people prior to their exercise?

A: “Yes. Cleanse your skin prior to a work-out. You never want to exercise with a face full of foundation and heavy make-up. Always exercise with clean skin, a thin layer of eye cream and moisturizer to allow the skin to glow and breathe."

Q: I’ve always wondered, does sweat have any correlation to acne?

A: “No. Acne and perspiring—there is simply no correlation, contrary to popular belief! When you eat a clean and healthy diet and drink plenty of water, you will perspire cleanly and no blemishes will form."

Q: How would you suggest a woman on the go fixes her post-gym hair?

A: “The secret is to always sleek your hair back with a hair gel and pull it back with a little hair tie. The best part about a work-out is that you are left with that beautiful, healthy glow on your skin—that should be the focal point. Your hair may be messed-up, but when you sleek it back the focus will be on the skin. “

Q: Do you lose moisture on the skin from sweating?

A: “You really don’t lose moisture on the surface when you perspire - if anything the perspiration seals in more moisture. But, you will want to get rid of that sticky mantle left on your skin! Splash your face with cold water and that will remove the uncomfortable feeling. Then you’ll want to mist your face with pick me up face tonic and apply a thin layer of moisturizer.”

Q: What do you recommend for dry, oily and combination skin after a work-out?

A: “Here’s what I would recommend:

Dry Skin typically doesn’t tend to perspire as regularly when working out, but gets uncomfortably sticky. All you’ll maybe want to do is mist with african red tea face mist and then apply herbal day crème or skin insulator crème – both with SPF.

Oily skin should always splash the face with cold water, apply grease relief skin tonic with a cotton swab because they tend to have more of a greasy mantle, then apply sheer transformation crème because it’s oil free and extremely light in texture.

Combination skin should be splashing with cool water as well – mist your face with pick me up face tonic followed by herbal day crème.

For all skin types, splashing your face with water is key and so is misting with a toner!”

Q: What are your tips for maximizing fat-burning and toxin release?

A: “The greatest way to maximize toxin release and to burn fat is any kind of cardio-based exercise that increases your heart beat such as: Running, dancing, jumping rope, roller-blading, or making love.”

So, there you have it! Those are some of Ole Henriksen’s insider tips on how to keep you looking your best - both while you’re at the gym and after your work-out all summer long! Do you have any special things you do? We’d love to hear them!

It's one of this year’s most popular New Year’s resolutions and one of the most challenging addictions to overcome. It kills over 440,000 people each year and causes a string of health conditions that are often irreversible. If you are one of many smokers still trying to kick the habit, you should take note of skin care expert Ole Henriksen’s advice. “Smoking is really one of the greatest disfavors you can do to your body,” says Ole. “You are inhaling toxic fumes, which is damaging to the internal organs and your body’s largest external organ, the skin.” If only it were that easy, we’d all be smoke-free. But, with a little inspiration, you can make your resolution a reality. You just need a little extra motivation. Decide for yourself if the following consequences are enough to help you quit smoking for good.

Premature Wrinkle Formation. If you’d like to avoid looking like a Shar Pei, don’t smoke. “Smoking impacts the skin by constricting the oxygen flow,” says Ole. The oxygen flow is vital to your body’s detoxification process. “As a result, your collagen becomes insoluble, causing wrinkle formation to set in sooner.”

Broken Capillaries. Don’t you just love those little red spots on your face that won’t go away? “Capillary damage happens when toxins strip the skin of vital oxygen, leaving your skin exposed to the elements,” he says.

Dullness. When the body is healthy, with plenty of oxygen and good circulation, the skin is pink and plump. “Smoking prevents this free flow in the body and leaves your skin dull and sallow,” says Ole.

Simply put, smoking is no longer sexy. The good news is that these consequences (including more dangerous ones like cancer and heart disease) can be prevented. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, you can drastically change your health by eliminating tobacco from your life. If you’re finally ready to take the plunge and quit for good, check out cancer.org for helpful tips and inspiration to help you quit smoking for good. Make 2010 the year you finally kick cigarette butt!

There’s truth to the term “beauty sleep.” Most of us know that sleep is crucial to our mental and physical health, but it doesn’t stop there. Lack of sleep has a powerful affect on our skin. “Sleep is vital in order to regenerate and recharge every organ in the body including the skin,” says Ole. “You simply don’t function at your optimum level.” Luckily, you can do something about it! Read on for Ole’s tips for better sleep and better skin!

1. Go to bed early and give yourself a consistent bedtime. “If you don’t allow yourself the time to get proper rest, you will tend to feel more fatigued and more on edge during the day,” says Ole.
2. Always eat balanced, wholesome healthy foods. “Learn to make amazing meals and when you eat out, pick foods that are good for you and taste good,” he says. “This will help the renewal process of your skin from the inside out.”
3. Keep alcohol consumption at a minimum. “If you have a glass of wine it’s not a big deal, but as with everything, moderation is key,” says Ole.
4. Exercise daily, even just a little bit. “You need to use your body during the day,” he says. “If you are getting lots of oxygen each day, you pass out and sleep really well.”
5. Have a nice soothing warm drink before bed. Choose caffeine free drinks like African red tea, chamomile or even warm milk with some honey.
6. Express your gratitude every night. “As part of expressing gratitude for being part of this world, send out a little prayer to your god or to the universe,” he says. “Just be thankful for all the blessings you have.” Check out Ole’s tips for being more grateful.
7. Never take pills to go to sleep. If you think you need pills, ask yourself what you might need to change in your life to feel more rested and rejuvenated each and every day. Choose natural treatments and improve your routine instead.
8. Remember your nightly skin care routine. Make skin care a necessary part of your bedtime routine. Like brushing your teeth, your skin care regimen is an absolute must. Don’t have a routine yet? Find your personal skin care routine and read more about how to get healthy skin in your sleep.

Rather than paying for a monthly gym fee, Ole prefers to stay in shape by working out against his own body weight. “People think you need a trainer or a gym membership, but you don’t,” says Ole. “I live in the Hollywood Hills and I see major movie stars out running with their dogs. Even the rich and famous stay in shape without expert help.”

Depending on his schedule, he prefers to do a 20-40 minute workout on a consistent basis.

“As an adult, I’ve learned exercise provides new energy of our health and our looks,” says Ole. People of any age or body type can pick up his easy to maintain work out routine that involves a lot of stretching and doing push ups and sit ups to tone your muscles. What does Ole do for cardio you may ask?“I put on my favorite music and dance!”