Ok, maybe some of you know about this, but I learned a new one this week. I’ve always learned that our skin healed itself during our sleep. I had no idea that the way we sleep can add wrinkles to our skin--- permanently!
It seems that one day those pillow wrinkles that those of us who sleep on our sides wake up with will eventually become permanent (is that really a sentence? 18 years in the importing business leaves me at a lack of proper English sometimes ;) ). Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen some friends with some very funny pillow lines on their face in the morning.. I’m having a good laugh imagining those permanently etched on their face ;).
The way this pillow wrinkle issue happens is similar to how the repetitiveness of facial movements eventually becomes permanent in crows feet & forehead wrinkles. After years of sleeping in the same position (on your side) every night, you will wake up one day & the pillow wrinkles won’t fade away. Yikes! I always sleep on my side!
These wrinkles tend to show up mostly on the cheeks & chin on women…and let’s not forget our cleavage (guiltily I’ll admit I’ve already started noticing that one L ). Apparently, you men tend to press your faces into the pillow, as men primarily get pillow wrinkles on their foreheads.
So, how do we try to evade this problem? I’m not sure I can get used to sleeping on my back, but perhaps we should all give it a try…although we may all need nose strips for snoring then; but , hey, it’s better than wrinkles, right?
The choice in your pillowcase can make a difference also. It seems that cotton pillowcases cause this problem more than a silk or satin pillowcase. I can see how the slippery surface of a satin pillowcase would work. My mother has slept on satin pillowcases all of her life (she takes one everywhere she goes & even slips it on over hotel pillowcases) to protect her hair (oh how I remember the days of her hair wrapped in toilet paper too ;) ). Maybe this (partially) explains why my mother looks so gorgeous at 73! While intending to save her hair, she's also saved her skin.
I gotta ‘borrow’ one of those pillowcases when I go home next time!
Apparently there are now 'Sleep Bras' available for women to keep our breasts apart during sleeptime...helping to eliminate cleavage wrinkling. The best site I found was www.sleepbra.com . This pillow has a breast pillow inside the bra. Who knew that my breasts needed pillows to sleep on also?? I was always told that they made good pillows, not needed pillows :P. Anybody own a sleep bra & feel it works (and want to share with us)?
Of course, we could all just start sleeping less too ;).
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Dove Pro-Age
I'd like to salute Dove for their new Pro-Age anti-aging video..showing that women are beautiful at all ages!! Check it out!
www.doveproage.com/default.asp?source=oprah_a
and check out their video of the reactions to it as well (evidently it had to be pulled from television advertising as it showed 'too much skin'):
www.doveproage.com/ads_reaction.asp
I have no idea how these products work, but I love their approach.
By the way, you can order a free sample of their new Pro-Age line at
www.doveproage.com/samples_reg.asp
www.doveproage.com/default.asp?source=oprah_a
and check out their video of the reactions to it as well (evidently it had to be pulled from television advertising as it showed 'too much skin'):
www.doveproage.com/ads_reaction.asp
I have no idea how these products work, but I love their approach.
By the way, you can order a free sample of their new Pro-Age line at
www.doveproage.com/samples_reg.asp
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Correction
Yesterday I accidentally said that my favorite sales associate at the Bloomies' Chanel counter is Roxanna. I don't know what planet I was on when I said that. My all time favorite SA at Bloomies (at the Chanel counter) is Sultana!! (I have no idea who Roxanna is ;)).
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Makeup Trend for Fall
Ok, I have to admit that I’m a lipgloss girl. I love my lipgloss, I even have to wear it over lipstick (I think it makes lipstick look better).
So, I was disappointed last week when I read the trend for fall will be a return to lipstick. Women’s Wear Daily announced that makeup is returning toward a more “mature, independent woman”.
I wanna know since when is lipgloss immature?? I mean I use Chanel, Bare Escentuals, Lip Fusion, Lancome, etc…since when were these not ‘mature’? It’s not like we ladies are using Bonne Bell Lip Smackers or anything. (Ok, ok,I admit I have a melon flavored Lip Smacker around here somewhere). I think lipgloss is feminine (& gives lips ‘kiss appeal’ too)…since when is femininity not mature? I think I can be feminine, mature, & independent all at the same time.
So, I was disappointed last week when I read the trend for fall will be a return to lipstick. Women’s Wear Daily announced that makeup is returning toward a more “mature, independent woman”.
I wanna know since when is lipgloss immature?? I mean I use Chanel, Bare Escentuals, Lip Fusion, Lancome, etc…since when were these not ‘mature’? It’s not like we ladies are using Bonne Bell Lip Smackers or anything. (Ok, ok,I admit I have a melon flavored Lip Smacker around here somewhere). I think lipgloss is feminine (& gives lips ‘kiss appeal’ too)…since when is femininity not mature? I think I can be feminine, mature, & independent all at the same time.
So, are u a lipgloss girl too? I know I’ve enabled many of you to my favorite lipgloss after you have complimented me on it. For anyone that hasn’t tried them yet, my favorite lipgloss is Chanel Glossimers. My favorite color is Twinkle. It’s fabulous on it’s own or over almost every shade of lipstick, and is great on almost every skin tone. (Photo property of & courtesy of Chanel)
Other Glossimer colors I love include Jaipur, Soda, Blizzard, Magic, Force, & Electric (this one is great for summer as it’s both reddish & coralish with a gold iridescence),
Yes, Glossimers will put you out about $26 or so, but they last a very long time too… and they are long wearing as well. Although here's a warning...once you own 1, you will want a whole wardrobe of them.
Oh, and if you decide to follow the lipstick trend, Chanel makes some of the best colors in lipsticks as well (although I don’t buy them, as I prefer more ‘affordable’ lipsticks, such as Bare Escentuals, MAC, or Loreal with an occasional splurge on Nars, Trish McEvoy or Lancome who all make wonderful lipsticks in great colors & qualities)
If you shop the NYC Chanel counter at Bloomingdales, ask for my favorite sales person, Sultana…she’s a sweetheart & never puts pressure on customers to buy, unlike some of the others. However,I recommend the Bloomies’ Chanel counter over the Bergdorf Goodman counter, as the sales associates are less snobby & they give more/better samples as well. They also tend to have more/better events imho.
Oh, and as for upcoming trends, WWD also showed Miu Miu’s line from Paris week about 3 weeks ago..Miu Miu Fall ’07 line showed pantyhose pulled up 2-4” over your waistband & tops tucked into them. I could be wrong, but I’m not so sure I’ll be following that trend either.
Friday, March 23, 2007
I.C.E.
I'd like to digress today for public service announcement ;-).
Do you have an I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) number programmed into your cell phone? Paramedics & ER's have begun regularly checking people's cell phones for Emergency Contacts. This can save your life in some cases. I recently read that not enough people have added I.C.E contact information into their cell phones ,& the emergency services highly recommend everyone to do this. I've added ICE contacts to my cell, & I strongly urge you to do the same. I even added 2 numbers... my doctor as 1 ICE, and my mom as the other. (If you are reading this from a country other than the U.S., I bet there's an acronym that you can follow in your language as well).
I hope no one will never need to use this number, but please be prepared just in case.
Do you have an I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) number programmed into your cell phone? Paramedics & ER's have begun regularly checking people's cell phones for Emergency Contacts. This can save your life in some cases. I recently read that not enough people have added I.C.E contact information into their cell phones ,& the emergency services highly recommend everyone to do this. I've added ICE contacts to my cell, & I strongly urge you to do the same. I even added 2 numbers... my doctor as 1 ICE, and my mom as the other. (If you are reading this from a country other than the U.S., I bet there's an acronym that you can follow in your language as well).
I hope no one will never need to use this number, but please be prepared just in case.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
You are never too young to start!
Yesterday I sent the link to this blog to a large number of friends & family. I learned that a dear old friend of mine in Vienna, who is 30 years old, mentioned me in his blog yesterday (http://www.alpi.firat.at/) . He wrote,
“Skincare for everyone
19. March 2007
Skin Wench is a page of a very good friend of mine, who started a weblog about some kind of skincare consulting. Maybe even I’ll need her advises one day ”
Well, the 1st part of his blog was right…skin care IS for everyone!
However, it’s the last sentence that bothered me. See, this “waiting until one day” is one of the most common of misunderstandings about skin care, especially amongst men.
It is never too early to start taking care of your skin!
Skin care should be proactive, NOT reactive.
We should all be working to prevent skin problems such as wrinkles, sagging, & even acne, not minimize them once they are there. Once they are there, nothing short of a face lift (or a miracle) is going to make them disappear completely. Of course, yes, wrinkles & sagging are inevitably going to show up, but we can keep them at bay for as long as possible through taking proper steps.
I’d say a healthy skin care regime should be started in a person’s early teens & carried out for a lifetime. If you are one of those people who says, “oh, I’ll worry about that later..,” well, you might just be too late. I know many people in their early 20’s feel they have a lifetime to worry about their skin. Did you know what you do to your skin early in your teens & 20’s will be reflected in your later years (the care & prevention you take, the sun rays you absorb, etc).
Think of skin care as a long term investment. What you put in to it today will keep you looking younger years from now!
So, no matter what your age, whether you are 15 or 75, if you aren’t currently taking care of your skin on a regular basis, please, please don’t go one day longer. Please go out and buy 4 basic essentials: a good cleanser, toner (some cleansers also act as toners, so u might only need 3 products), moisturizer, & an eye cream! Ok, well don’t just buy them, USE them :) . Please don’t wait until “one day”.
You have only a few dollars & a few minutes a day to lose & better, younger looking skin to gain (forever)! Aren't you worth the investment? I think you are!
“Skincare for everyone
19. March 2007
Skin Wench is a page of a very good friend of mine, who started a weblog about some kind of skincare consulting. Maybe even I’ll need her advises one day ”
Well, the 1st part of his blog was right…skin care IS for everyone!
However, it’s the last sentence that bothered me. See, this “waiting until one day” is one of the most common of misunderstandings about skin care, especially amongst men.
It is never too early to start taking care of your skin!
Skin care should be proactive, NOT reactive.
We should all be working to prevent skin problems such as wrinkles, sagging, & even acne, not minimize them once they are there. Once they are there, nothing short of a face lift (or a miracle) is going to make them disappear completely. Of course, yes, wrinkles & sagging are inevitably going to show up, but we can keep them at bay for as long as possible through taking proper steps.
I’d say a healthy skin care regime should be started in a person’s early teens & carried out for a lifetime. If you are one of those people who says, “oh, I’ll worry about that later..,” well, you might just be too late. I know many people in their early 20’s feel they have a lifetime to worry about their skin. Did you know what you do to your skin early in your teens & 20’s will be reflected in your later years (the care & prevention you take, the sun rays you absorb, etc).
Think of skin care as a long term investment. What you put in to it today will keep you looking younger years from now!
So, no matter what your age, whether you are 15 or 75, if you aren’t currently taking care of your skin on a regular basis, please, please don’t go one day longer. Please go out and buy 4 basic essentials: a good cleanser, toner (some cleansers also act as toners, so u might only need 3 products), moisturizer, & an eye cream! Ok, well don’t just buy them, USE them :) . Please don’t wait until “one day”.
You have only a few dollars & a few minutes a day to lose & better, younger looking skin to gain (forever)! Aren't you worth the investment? I think you are!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Natura Bisse
Natura Bisse (www.naturabisse.com) is my all time favorite skincare line! It’s expensive, but not quite at the price level of LaMer. It’s also worth every penny! This & the Kanebo line are the only lines that I’ve ever seen results on my skin w/ a week's worth of samples (admittedly, I’ve never tried LaMer).
The company is from Spain. It was 1st a research lab which researched new ingredients for the cosmetic industry. One day they realized that their workers’ hands had not aged & were very soft etc. So, they developed this skincare line around the ingredients their employees had been working with 40 hrs/week: collagen, keratin & elastin. This was before these 3 ingredients became ‘buzz words’ in the industry.
The line started as a professional line, used only in spas. Over the last few years they have expanded to retail.
This is a very exclusive line, found only in top retail locations..i.e. Bergdorf Goodman’s, Neiman Marcus, etc. I found them at Bergdorf’s. They have a lovely sales staff there & the sales manager is wonderful! They’ve also had a full time facial room there for about 2 years now. They actually do a full, professional 60-minute facial free with the purchase of 2 products (you can purchase 2 products and schedule your facial for a later date, or just make an appointment for a facial & buy your products then). Their estheticians are top quality also. I have to say the best facials I’ve ever received have been in the Natura Bisse facial room at Bergdorfs. So, while the cost of the products is a bit on the high side, anyone can get a facial here for approximately the cost of a very good facial anywhere else and walk out with products as well. That doesn’t happen at the spa…getting to walk out with full size products for about the same price, I mean).
By the way, after my 1st Natura facial, I walked out & exclaimed (to anyone who would listen..aka the sales people), “Why do I wear makeup??!! I have GORGEOUS skin!!!” All night I couldn’t stop looking at my skin in the mirror.
If I could, I would use their whole line…but my budget doesn’t permit that. In fact, I usually buy their serums & they give me ample samples of the rest (they understand my budget limitations)
They have some serums that are different from the rest of the world’s:
O2 Oxygen Complex:
NB has a whole line that revolves around oxygen. Oxygen is as important to skin cell renewal as it the rest of our body functions. The Oxygen line is based on Hydrogen Peroxide which when applied to the skin “is broken down into oxygen and water, reviving the circulatory function of the skin to restore vitality, decongest, & purify.” It also has a “bleaching effect to clarify, while progressively lightening hyperpigmentation”. I use this product because I have congestion (I’m not too acne prone, but I do have a lot of congestion…blackheads, etc. Fyi, my skin type is “dry with congestion” kind of like T-zone. I also have sensitive skin ). They say that the hydrogen peroxide goes in, breaks into the oxygen & water, and the oxygen forces out whatever is congesting my skin..brings it to the surface. I do find that I find little white heads at first when using this, as it’s bringing up the toxins to the surface. NB suggests this product for all skin types, especially for dehydrated, congested, hyperpigmented skin, lakcing vitality, or for smokers”. I believe this product sells for $110 or so
(Their O2 mask, based on the same premise, works wonders & sells for about $40-45)
Essential Shock Complex + Isoflavones:
This is an intensive anti-aging & firming treatment. I’ve been told that my main aging concerns will be sagging, not wrinkles. Why must everything sag ?? Anyway, that’s a whole ‘nother story. Back to ESC… this is a repair treatment (I use it as preventative though) to restore firmness & elasticity to mature skin. Collagen is used in products to keep skin firm, and this product has plenty of it. It’s combined with Elastin Amino Acids & Isoflavones (soy proteins). I love this serum and have never found anything else like it. It sells for about $165 or so
The company is from Spain. It was 1st a research lab which researched new ingredients for the cosmetic industry. One day they realized that their workers’ hands had not aged & were very soft etc. So, they developed this skincare line around the ingredients their employees had been working with 40 hrs/week: collagen, keratin & elastin. This was before these 3 ingredients became ‘buzz words’ in the industry.
The line started as a professional line, used only in spas. Over the last few years they have expanded to retail.
This is a very exclusive line, found only in top retail locations..i.e. Bergdorf Goodman’s, Neiman Marcus, etc. I found them at Bergdorf’s. They have a lovely sales staff there & the sales manager is wonderful! They’ve also had a full time facial room there for about 2 years now. They actually do a full, professional 60-minute facial free with the purchase of 2 products (you can purchase 2 products and schedule your facial for a later date, or just make an appointment for a facial & buy your products then). Their estheticians are top quality also. I have to say the best facials I’ve ever received have been in the Natura Bisse facial room at Bergdorfs. So, while the cost of the products is a bit on the high side, anyone can get a facial here for approximately the cost of a very good facial anywhere else and walk out with products as well. That doesn’t happen at the spa…getting to walk out with full size products for about the same price, I mean).
By the way, after my 1st Natura facial, I walked out & exclaimed (to anyone who would listen..aka the sales people), “Why do I wear makeup??!! I have GORGEOUS skin!!!” All night I couldn’t stop looking at my skin in the mirror.
If I could, I would use their whole line…but my budget doesn’t permit that. In fact, I usually buy their serums & they give me ample samples of the rest (they understand my budget limitations)
They have some serums that are different from the rest of the world’s:
O2 Oxygen Complex:
NB has a whole line that revolves around oxygen. Oxygen is as important to skin cell renewal as it the rest of our body functions. The Oxygen line is based on Hydrogen Peroxide which when applied to the skin “is broken down into oxygen and water, reviving the circulatory function of the skin to restore vitality, decongest, & purify.” It also has a “bleaching effect to clarify, while progressively lightening hyperpigmentation”. I use this product because I have congestion (I’m not too acne prone, but I do have a lot of congestion…blackheads, etc. Fyi, my skin type is “dry with congestion” kind of like T-zone. I also have sensitive skin ). They say that the hydrogen peroxide goes in, breaks into the oxygen & water, and the oxygen forces out whatever is congesting my skin..brings it to the surface. I do find that I find little white heads at first when using this, as it’s bringing up the toxins to the surface. NB suggests this product for all skin types, especially for dehydrated, congested, hyperpigmented skin, lakcing vitality, or for smokers”. I believe this product sells for $110 or so
(Their O2 mask, based on the same premise, works wonders & sells for about $40-45)
Essential Shock Complex + Isoflavones:
This is an intensive anti-aging & firming treatment. I’ve been told that my main aging concerns will be sagging, not wrinkles. Why must everything sag ?? Anyway, that’s a whole ‘nother story. Back to ESC… this is a repair treatment (I use it as preventative though) to restore firmness & elasticity to mature skin. Collagen is used in products to keep skin firm, and this product has plenty of it. It’s combined with Elastin Amino Acids & Isoflavones (soy proteins). I love this serum and have never found anything else like it. It sells for about $165 or so
Hand Silk Cream : 
Simply the BEST hand cream I’ve ever found (and believe me, I’m always on the quest for finding the perfect hand cream. This is the best I’ve ever found so far!). This has SPF15 & claims to be waterproof. I do feel it still on my hands after washing. I keep tubes of this in my purse, my bathroom, & on my living room table…oh, and my bed side table too! If only I was better about remembering to put it on. It sells for about $28 -$30 (admittedly, I actually buy mine from an ebay supplier for approx $12.00/ea)
Over the next few days I’ll continue with some of my other favorite Natura Bisse products, and then I’ll move on to some “more affordable” products.
Bottom line, though, is that if you can afford Natura Bisse, I highly suggest you try it!! This is my all-time favorite skin care line. By the way, if you are one of those on a limited budget (as so many of us are), the sales people are never pushy. They help you decide what is best for you (what can’t you get from another( less expensive) line, etc) and provide you with samples of other goodies.
Also, 3 times a year, Bergdorfs does a $25 gift card event in their Beauty Floor. You receive $25.00 off on any purchase of $100 or more. This is a great way to try their products also. They also do little free gift incentives for ‘phone in pre-orders’. If anyone is interested, please let me know, and I can provide you with the NB counter phone # , etc.
Simply the BEST hand cream I’ve ever found (and believe me, I’m always on the quest for finding the perfect hand cream. This is the best I’ve ever found so far!). This has SPF15 & claims to be waterproof. I do feel it still on my hands after washing. I keep tubes of this in my purse, my bathroom, & on my living room table…oh, and my bed side table too! If only I was better about remembering to put it on. It sells for about $28 -$30 (admittedly, I actually buy mine from an ebay supplier for approx $12.00/ea)
Over the next few days I’ll continue with some of my other favorite Natura Bisse products, and then I’ll move on to some “more affordable” products.
Bottom line, though, is that if you can afford Natura Bisse, I highly suggest you try it!! This is my all-time favorite skin care line. By the way, if you are one of those on a limited budget (as so many of us are), the sales people are never pushy. They help you decide what is best for you (what can’t you get from another( less expensive) line, etc) and provide you with samples of other goodies.
Also, 3 times a year, Bergdorfs does a $25 gift card event in their Beauty Floor. You receive $25.00 off on any purchase of $100 or more. This is a great way to try their products also. They also do little free gift incentives for ‘phone in pre-orders’. If anyone is interested, please let me know, and I can provide you with the NB counter phone # , etc.
(Photos property of & courtesy of Natura Bisse)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Facial Care Routine
So, how do you take care of your skin?? Do you have a daily regime? Believe me, if you take care of your skin, your skin will take care of you (will keep you looking good, etc for the rest of your life, ).
My recommended facial routine (and the 1 I try to follow most of the time)
Morning facial routine
1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (2-3 times a week) (this can be incorporated into your night routine as well if your are one of those people, like me, who tends to be running late in the morning)
3. Tone
4. Eye Serum(s)
5. Eye Cream
6. Facial serum(s)
7. Facial Cream/lotion (with minimum SPF15. I recommend SPF30)
Comments:
*Exfoliation is important for clearing off dead skin cells & keeping your skin looking bright & healthy. It is as essential to your skin care as cleansing & moisturizing...just not needed everyday.
*I will do a whole post on the importance of eye creams later, but if you aren't using eye cream (or serum) you aren't doing your eyes justice. In fact, in my opinion, you are 'abusing' them. Our eyes have no moisture glands. The only moisture they get is what we give them. This is why we wrinkle around our eyes first before other areas. Ladies/Gents, put something, anything on & around your eyes (however, don't use what you are using on the rest of your face, unless it specifically says it is made for your eyes as well)!!
*I know most of you think that taking time to add serums into your skincare routine is too time consuming. If you add both an eye serum & a face serum to your routine, it should take no more than an extra minute to your total routine and will make a huge difference in your skin. Is an extra minute a day too much to look better & stay younger looking longer? I think not :).
Nighttime facial care routine--
It is very important to remove your makeup & cleanse/moisturize at night before you sleep. This is your body's healing time. If you have makeup blocking your pores, your skin can't do it's 'healing' job properly..leaving you with skin that is less perfect than it could be. Don't you want to be the best you that you can be?? :)
1. Remove eye makeup (with designated eye makeup remover or a facial cleanser that states it is safe for eyes)
2. Remove makeup (with makeup remover..which may or may not be different from your morning cleanser)
3. Tone
4. Eye Serum(s)
5. Eye Cream
6. Facial serum(s)
7. Facial Cream/lotion (this may or may not be different than your AM moisturizer depending on your skin's needs, and what the product you are using specifies)
Weekly facial routine
*Facial mask(s)--- should be incorporated into your routine 1-3 times a week depending on the needs of your skin. oily/acne prone skin might want to deep cleanse 3 times a week, where as dry skin might want to deep cleanse once a week & deep moisturize 2-3 times a week. etc. we'll get more into masks later. There are all types of masks that do all types of things cleanse, exfoliate, firm, moisturize, relax wrinkles, etc. I love masks! They do wonders for your skin!
When using a mask, your skincare regime should look like this:
1. cleanse
2. exfoliate (exfoliation before a mask is helpful, as it clears away dead skin cells so that all products can go further into your skin cells & work more efficiently)
3. tone (yes, tone before you apply your mask...it restores your skin's pH balance and makes skin ready to accept products better
4. serum application--if you apply your serums before you mask, your mask will push them
further into your skin so that they can do more work where it's really needed.
Monthly facial routine
*Professional facial--- I highly recommend this once a month if you can afford it. While we can do our own facials at home, spas use professional strength products which work even better. They also have equipment, etc we don't have at home. (more on spa facials later). There are facials available at many different price ranges. I highly suggest finding one that you can afford...even if it's once every 6 months (however, i suggest once a month if it's not a strain on your budget).
2-4 times a year
*Glycolic peel--- This really helps your skin stay bright & glowing. There are many 'at-home' glycolic peels which work wonderfully. Some are used 10 days consecutively, others are used once a week for 6 weeks. I'll review some of my favorites later.
General Comments
*Application of all products--- Ladies & gents, your complexion does not stop at your chin. Your neck & decollate are just as important as your face. In fact, your neck has very few moisture glands. I really wish someone had told me this before I got my 1st couple of 'trunk rings'. Your decollate is where aging really shows. Ever see a woman who has a very young looking face but a very wrinkly cleavage? Our decollate needs some extra attention (this is why companies are now coming out with special products just for this area) especially considering the sun exposure it gets as well. I don't know about you, but my cleavage has been sunburned more times than i care to remember...I've always put a higher SPF on my face, but not on my decollate. I now am starting to get the sun spots on my decollate to show for it. Not pretty!
Also, your face does not end at your hairline or your ears. Sagging (and I believe wrinkles too) starts at the back. You want to extend your products into your hairline & to the back of your neck...this starts with your cleansers & ends with your moisturizers. They should get the same treatment as the rest of your face.
Ok, this is the basics.. we'll get into more detail as we go along. :)
My recommended facial routine (and the 1 I try to follow most of the time)
Morning facial routine
1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (2-3 times a week) (this can be incorporated into your night routine as well if your are one of those people, like me, who tends to be running late in the morning)
3. Tone
4. Eye Serum(s)
5. Eye Cream
6. Facial serum(s)
7. Facial Cream/lotion (with minimum SPF15. I recommend SPF30)
Comments:
*Exfoliation is important for clearing off dead skin cells & keeping your skin looking bright & healthy. It is as essential to your skin care as cleansing & moisturizing...just not needed everyday.
*I will do a whole post on the importance of eye creams later, but if you aren't using eye cream (or serum) you aren't doing your eyes justice. In fact, in my opinion, you are 'abusing' them. Our eyes have no moisture glands. The only moisture they get is what we give them. This is why we wrinkle around our eyes first before other areas. Ladies/Gents, put something, anything on & around your eyes (however, don't use what you are using on the rest of your face, unless it specifically says it is made for your eyes as well)!!
*I know most of you think that taking time to add serums into your skincare routine is too time consuming. If you add both an eye serum & a face serum to your routine, it should take no more than an extra minute to your total routine and will make a huge difference in your skin. Is an extra minute a day too much to look better & stay younger looking longer? I think not :).
Nighttime facial care routine--
It is very important to remove your makeup & cleanse/moisturize at night before you sleep. This is your body's healing time. If you have makeup blocking your pores, your skin can't do it's 'healing' job properly..leaving you with skin that is less perfect than it could be. Don't you want to be the best you that you can be?? :)
1. Remove eye makeup (with designated eye makeup remover or a facial cleanser that states it is safe for eyes)
2. Remove makeup (with makeup remover..which may or may not be different from your morning cleanser)
3. Tone
4. Eye Serum(s)
5. Eye Cream
6. Facial serum(s)
7. Facial Cream/lotion (this may or may not be different than your AM moisturizer depending on your skin's needs, and what the product you are using specifies)
Weekly facial routine
*Facial mask(s)--- should be incorporated into your routine 1-3 times a week depending on the needs of your skin. oily/acne prone skin might want to deep cleanse 3 times a week, where as dry skin might want to deep cleanse once a week & deep moisturize 2-3 times a week. etc. we'll get more into masks later. There are all types of masks that do all types of things cleanse, exfoliate, firm, moisturize, relax wrinkles, etc. I love masks! They do wonders for your skin!
When using a mask, your skincare regime should look like this:
1. cleanse
2. exfoliate (exfoliation before a mask is helpful, as it clears away dead skin cells so that all products can go further into your skin cells & work more efficiently)
3. tone (yes, tone before you apply your mask...it restores your skin's pH balance and makes skin ready to accept products better
4. serum application--if you apply your serums before you mask, your mask will push them
further into your skin so that they can do more work where it's really needed.
Monthly facial routine
*Professional facial--- I highly recommend this once a month if you can afford it. While we can do our own facials at home, spas use professional strength products which work even better. They also have equipment, etc we don't have at home. (more on spa facials later). There are facials available at many different price ranges. I highly suggest finding one that you can afford...even if it's once every 6 months (however, i suggest once a month if it's not a strain on your budget).
2-4 times a year
*Glycolic peel--- This really helps your skin stay bright & glowing. There are many 'at-home' glycolic peels which work wonderfully. Some are used 10 days consecutively, others are used once a week for 6 weeks. I'll review some of my favorites later.
General Comments
*Application of all products--- Ladies & gents, your complexion does not stop at your chin. Your neck & decollate are just as important as your face. In fact, your neck has very few moisture glands. I really wish someone had told me this before I got my 1st couple of 'trunk rings'. Your decollate is where aging really shows. Ever see a woman who has a very young looking face but a very wrinkly cleavage? Our decollate needs some extra attention (this is why companies are now coming out with special products just for this area) especially considering the sun exposure it gets as well. I don't know about you, but my cleavage has been sunburned more times than i care to remember...I've always put a higher SPF on my face, but not on my decollate. I now am starting to get the sun spots on my decollate to show for it. Not pretty!
Also, your face does not end at your hairline or your ears. Sagging (and I believe wrinkles too) starts at the back. You want to extend your products into your hairline & to the back of your neck...this starts with your cleansers & ends with your moisturizers. They should get the same treatment as the rest of your face.
Ok, this is the basics.. we'll get into more detail as we go along. :)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Introduction
Hi! So, here I am with my 26+ years of skincare experience, and I've finally decided to share it with you all! I've learned over the last few years that many of my friends don't know about the basic essentials of skin care. I'm now on a mission to educate women (& men) to take good care of their skin...and perhaps to pass along some information I wish I had known along the way. I'll be sharing skin care methods, techniques, etc as well as giving you reviews on some of my favorite (& sometimes least favorite) products. I want you to spend your money on products that work, not on something that is more "fluff" than action. I don't mind spending big bucks on skin & body products, but they better work & not just look pretty or smell good. On the other hand, there are some very cost efficient products at your drugstore that really show results. There are some really wonderful etailers w/ spa quality products out there too! (we'll get to those later)
I believe in taking skin care seriously... and pampering yourself while doing it!! Taking care of yourself should be fun and feel good, not like a dreaded chore!
I hope that as this blog proceeds you will each find at least some tidbit you can take away with you and incorporate into your skin care routine. Yes, routine. If you don't have a routine yet, please stay tuned. My 1st posts will be on what I consider a proper skincare regimine to be.
Do you have any questions about your skincare? need help on how to handle a certain skin problem? Feel free to ask!
More soon! Stay tuned...
I believe in taking skin care seriously... and pampering yourself while doing it!! Taking care of yourself should be fun and feel good, not like a dreaded chore!
I hope that as this blog proceeds you will each find at least some tidbit you can take away with you and incorporate into your skin care routine. Yes, routine. If you don't have a routine yet, please stay tuned. My 1st posts will be on what I consider a proper skincare regimine to be.
Do you have any questions about your skincare? need help on how to handle a certain skin problem? Feel free to ask!
More soon! Stay tuned...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
