The Best Products Every Blonde Needs In Her Arsenal
Here is a Product Review post that I wrote for fellow Blondes, Highlights, and blow-driers alike! Enjoy, and until next time: Stay Fabulous My Friends!
Practice safe sun and look hot doing it: The Best Self Tanners Of The Year
I spent the entire summer trying numerous self tanners, here are my top picks for 2015:
The BEST Professional Brands
Playboy Celebrity Glitz (yes, playboy brand)
This medium-consistency cream requires care when applying because of its ultra-dark color and potential for staining hands, but is so worth it! Wear gloves and/or apply with a slightly dampened sponge-mit for best results.
Pros:
• darkest and best tan
• not-orange
• no scent
• bronzing
Cons:
• Will stain hands, cuticles, everything - even if you're quick to wash after. Wear gloves or a mitt!
Norvell Dancing with the Stars Mousse
I have a new-found love for foams this year. Cleaner than sprays or airbrush, and quicker to dry than creams or lotions, I found myself defaulting to foams and mousses often. This one is my fave!
Pros:
• quick drying
• slightly bronzing
• clean finish, not dewey or heavy
• beautiful tan result!
Cons:
• must use gloves or a mitt
• doesn't smell awesome after it starts working. I like this one for overnight use only,
Tip:
• I hear the Norvell brand foam without the "dancing" endorsement is just as good and a little cheaper, but have not tried it yet. You'll save anywhere from $3-10 for trying the standard, not-endorsed formula.
The BEST Store-Bought Brands:
Victoria secret BRONZE:
This creamy, bronze lotion leaves a pretty and subtle gleam without being sparkly. Whenever I wear it, everyone always asks me what it is and where to get it!
Pros:
• bronzing
• medium consistency
• smells good
Cons:
• too many applications in a row can start to look orange
If you are in a hurry and want something fast from the store, I usually go with
Loreal Sublime Tinted Self Tanning Lotion
Pros:
• bronzing
• light sheen/shimmer
• budget-friendly
• this line also features a towlette, which I sometimes use when I'm in a hurry
• satisfyingly dark level of tan-result
Cons:
•takes quite a while to dry
• the smell (it's not terrible, but you can certainly detect that good ole' self-tanner smell after the fragrance wears down)
• a misleadingly sheer consistency and great slip when applying leads me to think I've spread it on evenly each time. Don't fall for it and take your time!
By far, the best store brand is the new Jergens Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse
Pros:
• bronzing
• Dries FAST!
• budget-friendly
Cons:
•This is a gradual tanner, so you'll need to build it up slowly over the course of several days.
• the smell (it's not terrible, but you can certainly detect that good ole' self-tanner smell after the fragrance wears down)
• This product is QUICK to stain hands - even if you immediately wash after. I underestimated this. Be sure to wear gloves or a mitt!
This is a great tool for maintaining a professional spray tan, also!
The BEST New Concept:
St. Tropez Gradual Tan In-Shower Lotion
This innovative new product is a lotion you apply IN the shower (once you're finished up, with the water off). Wait 3 minutes and rinse: Wah-Lah! It's formulted with sweet almond oil so it leaves your skin smelling sweetly and feeling conditioned by not greasy. Love it!
Pros:
• No need to wait for it to dry
• No icky self-tanner smell
• No streaks!
Cons:
•This is a gradual tanner, so you'll need to build it up slowly over the course of several days.
• I am a wimp, and get cold in the shower even when it's on. Despite only needing to wait 3 minutes, I get cold and find myself skipping it some days.
I hope you found a new product to experiment with from this review!
Until Next Time, Practice Safe sun and Stay Fabulous My Friends!
Hot off the press! You'll love this New Obagi Sunscreen
Sun Shield Mineral isn’t just an ordinary sunscreen
So excited: this a cosmetically-elegant ALL PHYSICAL BLOCK (This means NO chemical sunscreen) complete with a unique dry, clear, and invisible finish!
Fun Features:
- Paraben FREE
- SPF 50
- Water resistant (40min)
- Appropriate for ALL skin types, even sensitive skin!
- Non-irritating and non-sensitizing
- Light-weight
- Oil-free
Undoing Summer Fun-Damage
This is a perfect product to use all year long, but especially now if you plan to do any procedures this Fall. Tis' the season for undoing Summer Fun-Damage, so you'll want a smooth, easy-to-use, gentle SPF!! (Click here to read more about one of my favorite ways to un-do that Fun-Damage, Halo Laser)
Enjoy, and Until Next Time, Stay Fabulous My Friends!
These Villains are the Cause of Skin Damage, Part 3
If we want to look at our anti-aging practices from an informed and discerning perspective, it’s good to know what’s going on in there that causes wrinkles (and other not-so-fun manifestations of skin aging). So far, we know about three main things that happen in the skin when damage is caused. Click HERE for the 1st Villain I wrote about, Click HERE for the 2nd in the series. Read on for the 3rd biochemical phenomenon in my series:
Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs)
AGE is a a conveniently-coincidental acronym for Advanced Glycation End-products, which are the evil little products of a reaction between glucose (sugar) and proteins... Specifically collagen and elastin in this case (glycation).
Yes, it tastes good, but excess sugar in your diet screws up more than just your waistline.
How does it cause aging?
Glucose is good, of course, in the way of providing energy. But when there's extra glucose, it rumbles with our collagen and elastin. This process produces AGEs, which make these fibers crispy and easily breakable. This reaction contributes to inflammation, slowed/inhibited growth of cells, and wrinkles (oh my!).
To simplify, think of it as turning your normal, elastic rubber band-like fibers into an old, dried out and crumbly rubber band. When AGE's wreak havoc, your rubber bands are in an accelerated aging state, causing that loss of elasticity, sagging, and wrinkles.
In an article for Prevention, dermatologist Dr Frederic Brandt (well-known for his research in AGE's) breaks it down further: "Besides damaging collagen, a high-sugar diet also affects what type of collagen you have—another factor in how resistant skin is to wrinkling... The most abundant collagens in the skin are types I, II, and III, with type III being the most stable and longest lasting. Glycation transforms type III collagen into type I, which is more fragile.
The article goes on to describe that "AGEs deactivate your body's natural antioxidant enzymes, leaving you more vulnerable to sun damage—still the main cause of skin aging."
yikes! What Now?
1) It's time to build some new Collagen. If you're not already, start using a Retinol or Retinoid.
My favorites for sensitive or dry types:
My favorites for resistant or oily skin types:
Rx Tretinoin .05 or Tretinoin .1 creams
2) Diet:
Cut down on simple sugars in your diet. From a dietary perspective, refined sugar seems to impact glycation about 10 times more than glucose.
Yup, just another reason... Sorry.
3) Use topical antioxidants.
These guys are ONCE AGAIN a great way to cut down on all the domino effects of damage. . Click HERE to read more about them.
4) Try a Targeted Treatment Cream: One of my fave go-to's is Skinceuticals AGE Interrupter. Give it a Go if you're in the market for a rich, cosmetically-elegant treatment cream.
And Until Next time, Stay Fabulous My Friends!
Things that make you go HMMMM: Spaghetti Sauce Skin Care?
Recently spotted on my home television: a Pasta Gravy commercial that begins with a woman spooning sauce onto her arm:
Creative Sauce campaign of the year: Silver Palate is positioning eating (no, not actually wearing) their tomato sauces as Lycopene-rich, protective skin care.
So, what's the scoop with Lycopene?
From mayoclinic.com: "Many studies suggest that eating lycopene-rich foods or having high lycopene levels in the body may be linked to reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye disorders."
Lycopene, n antioxidant phytonutrient, is also known for boosting your skin's defenses against the sun. Lycopene can be found in papayas, watermelon, carrots, and of course, tomatoes. So, open up a jar of tomato sauce tonight and 'anti-age' right there at the dinner table!
Until next time, they fabulous my friends!
Acne: 6 ways to Troubleshoot when you're breaking out
Trouble-shooting causes of acne and breakouts is one of my favorite things to do. It's a fun challenge, like trying to solve a mystery. I'll always start by asking LOTS of questions, and keep it up until we get an ah-ha moment.
Below is a list of some of the things I ask patients about. If you're having trouble with acne, try troubleshooting your routines and products.
1) Liquid Makeup It's a mean cycle: you break out, so you need to cover up. But liquids and creamy formulas can contribute to congestion, causing another breakout. Remember that oil is sticky, and in an acne scenario, dead skin cells and debris are already getting glued down with oil. Frequently, more coating on the surface can cause more congestion and breakouts.
Contrary to popular belief, there are mineral powder foundations that deliver high coverage. My faves for great coverage without contributing to acne:
Tip: Try a liquid foundation brush with these powders to lay down more opacity/ coverage where you need it.
2) Over-Extraction
Not every blackhead or follicular deposit is going to cause issues. And that little tiny blemish won't actually ruin your day. If you tend to break out, Hands Off!
See an esthetician for a pro extraction and ask for a conservative session. Hard truth to swallow: If you break out after a facial, (or home extraction) it might be because of over-stimulation... NOT because the skin is "purging" - an idea you'll hear suggested from time to time. Bring post-facial-breakout feedback to your skin care pro and they can adjust appropriately for your next treatment.
Tip: The use of Tretinoin, retinol, or another treatment product recommended by your doctor or esthetician can act as a pre-treatment and make extractions easier on you... and your facialist.
3) Benzoyl Peroxide and Spot Treating:
Benzoyl Peroxide is a great acne treatment. However, it works as a preventative by killing off pimples in the early stage. (Zits can take up to 90 days to form). Sometimes we feel like it helps as a spot treatment because it can be drying to an acne lesion, but you're doing yourself a disservice if you're not applying it all over. My favorite BPO is in the Obagi Clenziderm System because it's a solubilized BPO, not a micro-crystal (like other BPO). It's 1/10,000th the size of a standard BPO crystal - this means it penetrates most effectively into the follicle. Give it a try!
4) Bar Soap:
I've never met a bar of soap that I liked. Picture a bar of soap: waxy and skin-coating, dry-looking, or simply sitting in a little pool of water getting mushy: whatever it is, we just don't get along- and neither should you.
Two things about bar soap:
1) Just to physically get it into bar-form, the pH here has to be higher than other formulations like creams, gels, or liquids. This means that they can be more drying. Lets not freak out your skin any more than we need to.
2) Bacteria likes to live on bars of soap. Doctors don't seem too concerned with this from a disease-proliferating perspective (washing your hands with bar soap seems to be fine), but if we're trouble-shooting, we're trouble-shooting. I say, use a liquid, non-soap cleanser instead.
5) Use of Topical Vitamin C:
Topical Vitamin C's are great as a brightening product and anti-aging measure, but you should avoid this one when troubleshooting breakouts. In my experience, vitamin C's are not always acne-friendly and are not often recommended for those who break out easily.
That being said, Vitamin C's are great to lighten acne marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH) from old breakouts. If you currently have active acne, get your breakouts under control first, and then consider choosing a formula meant for all or oily skin types. I prefer Phloretin CF for oily types.
6) Makeup Sponges
If you're breaking out, ditch the sponges - they harbor bacteria. If you are currently in the sponge club, really, try brushes! You can get much better coverage and get much more mileage out of your makeup. Just be sure to clean them regularly.
My favorite brush cleaners are:
Tip: If you HAVE to use a sponge, grab a bag of disposable wedges, snip them in half (so you get double the use) and throw them out EACH TIME you use them.
If you've exhausted these possibilities and you're still having trouble, see your dermatologist. They will troubleshoot further and might look at additional factors like hormones. They might also prescribe a topical or oral medication as well.
Until next time, stay fabulous my friends!
These Villains are the cause of skin damage, Part 2
If we want to look at our anti-aging practices from an informed and discerning perspective, it's good to know what's going on in there that causes wrinkles (and other not-so-fun manifestations of skin aging). So far, we know about three main things that happen in the skin when damage is caused. Click HERE for the 1st Villain I wrote about. Here's the 2nd biochemical phenomenon in my series: • The Villains: MMP's
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes -envision Pac-Man!- activated by inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by elements like UV exposure and infrared radiation. MMPs are not cool because they contribute to the breakdown of collagen. And as if that wasn't bad enough... they also work to inhibit new collagen formation.
For a scholarly article type of resource, check out this white paper on The National Center for Biotechnology Information website. They say Matrix-degrading metalloproteinases are key mediators of collagen degradation that is observed in photoaged skin. Key mediators? Oh man!!
Yikes! What to do now???
Don't freak out, its just one of the biochemical phenomena that results from CHRONIC damage and UV exposure. Let's be proactive about this... Since we know MMPs are expressed as a result of UV and IR, we have a shot at preventing by using great SPF and using antioxidants. Click here to read more about some of my fave go-to antioxidants. And stay tuned for another edition of Skin Damage Villains, coming soon!
Until Next Time, Stay Fabulous (and Informed!) my friends!
Understatement of the day: Kybella is fabulous.
I wanted to share a quick video I put together of/for Dr. Erickson (amazing and fabulous board certified Chicago dermatologist) explaining and demonstrating the Kybella treatment during an event to introduce the procedure last week.
Kybella was recently FDA-approved for the treatment of the *dreaded* double chin, AKA 'sub-mental fat'. Once injected, the product will actually destroy the fat cells under the chin, which can make for a much slimmer and younger appearance. Everyone is different, so the amount of treatment sessions you may need can vary, but are typically spaced one month apart.
Check out the Kybella procedure (and other neck treatments) on Erickson Dermatology’s website here,
…and until next time, stay fabulous my friends!
MEOW! My favorite eyeliners for a Cat Eye
I’ll admit it, I can be fickle when it comes to eyeliners. I am always on the lookout for the best - liquid, cream, space-age material, whatever! But if you’re going for a cat-eye or even just a sleek, lash-defining line, it’s got to go on perfectly.
…Oh, and also stay there once it’s on.
Here are my favorites of this moment for staying power, quality of color and usability:
They’re Real! Push-Up Liner: $24
PRO’s:
-This soft and flexible rubbery tip makes a precise line (thick or thin!) with a bevel at the end… purrfect for a cat-eye.
-This liner goes NO. WHERE. once it’s on. Ever feel like spontaneously running through a sprinkler or hanging by the pool in your perfectly placed cat-eye liner? This one is for you.
CONS:
-Once it sets, this creamy, stay-put formula doesn’t have the most color saturation I’ve seen. It would be A+ in a very very dark blackest Black kind of shade.
-Once the product has lived in your makeup bag for a while, it can dry out.
ELF Essential Expert Liquid Liner: $1
PRO’s:
-Super budget-friendly buy (no... you didn't hallucinate. This is $1)
-It’s staying power outweighs many more expensive versions
-The applicator brush is user-friendly for most 'A-typer's' (not too too long or floppy), but take your time to prevent wayward brush action.
CONS: It dries very quickly, so fix any botched spots ASAP or you’re stuck with a look you likely weren’t going for. :/.
-If you're used to a foam applicator or a shorter brush, this may not be a good fit.
PRO’s:
-The handle’s ergonomic design (hence the name) makes this liner easy to hold and guide while applying. The shape also makes for an easy application on someone else, if you happen to be helping a friend. **
- This formula is less wet going on than the ELF, but delivers almost the same depth of black. LOVE the saturation.
-The foam tip seems to hold the right amount of product, perfect for a thick OR skinny line.
CON:
-Well, I can't think of one. There it is.
MAC Fluidline $16.50
PRO’s:
-Is it a gel? Is it a cream? NO! It's Fluidline!! This awesome foolproof, waterproof winner is SUPER easy to use if you're comfortable with using a brush.
-Doesn't flake, crumble, or smudge. If it HAS to be perfect, this is your liner.
CON:
-You must be comfy with using a brush. Sometimes (especially if you get stuck doing your makeup in rush hour on the grid-locked Eisenhower like I do sometimes...) you just need convenience, too. A brush might be a home- application-only thing. In case you are in the market, however, This is the brush I suggest and personally use. (welcome to your next fave brush if you've never tried!)
I don't always review makeup... but eyeliner advice may prevent others from showing up late to dinners, events, and dates. It's almost a public service, right?? Until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!
**Product Credit: They're Real and The Curve were both donated by my best friend Kel, so I could experiment and yes: help the greater good (Those who need eyeliner reviews). Thanks, Kelly! xoxox
Drug store shout out: A Great Way to Reapply
We hear it all the time: reapply, reapply, reapply.
SPF (regardless of the sun protection factor... SPF 10, 15, 30, three-zillion, whatever) begins to break down minutes after you put it on. This is especially true when swimming or sweating.
But what about the SPF you put on your face in the morning? Many of us will put make up on over that, and go on with our day, unable or unwilling to slather creamy stuff all over to reapply.
Here's a great way to reapply without the goop: Mineral SPF 30 Brush-On Sun Defense.
My original mineral brush-on loves are Colorescience Sunforgettable and Peter Thomas Roth, but if you're not in the mood to shell out $30-$64, this is a theProductPro-approved budget-friendly version!
This great mineral spf buy ($16.99-$19.99, depending on where you buy it) is a Paraben-free, 100% vegan, and non-chemical sunscreen that looks good on many skin types.
Try keeping it in your handbag and dust on the backs of your hands, face, neck, and chest before hopping in your car to drive home from the office. Or, use it to reapply while out and about.
The Mineral Fusion website has a 15% off coupon right now if you sign up for emails, but they seem to be low on stock, depending on when you check for it. If you're the instant gratification-type, pick it up at a health food store, Amazon, or an Ulta near you!
Until Next time, Stay Fabulous my friends!
These Villains are damaging your skin: Part 1
If we want to look at our anti-aging practices from an informed and discerning perspective, it's good to know what's going on in there that causes wrinkles (and other not-so-fun manifestations of skin aging). So far, we know about three main things that happen in the skin when damage is caused...here's one:
The Production of Evil Villain #1: ROS, aka Reactive Oxygen Species
ROS: These little oxidative destructors are also known as free radicals. When they're produced by damage, they are missing an electron - so they'll tazmanian-devil through otherwise stable molecules wreaking all kinds of havoc.
Throughout this mission of destruction, they are looking to steal an electron for themselves, causing those other normal cells to become free-radicals, too. This chain reaction of destruction and theft leads to inflammation, damage, and the cross-linking of collagen and elastin (wrinkles!!)
Eeek! What should I do, you ask? The best product-related helpers are antioxidants and sunscreens, which both help prevent the formation in the first place, and help neutralize the offenders. (Picture a knight in shining armor, swinging a sword at an evil free radical... and read more about those here!)
More on those villains later, and until next time, Stay Fabulous My Friends!
Yay! A New Clarisonic
Ok- I'm so excited! This Mia 3 'Sonic Romance' (available at Nordstrom) is super cute! My mom gave it to me! It's totally trumping my old and boring white Clarisonic Pro - I can't wait to use this bad boy!
A Clarisonic is a great tool to increase the efficacy of your topicals by prepping the skin effectively. It cleanses 6 x better than manual cleansing. This means your expensive and amazing products can penetrate much more effectively.
Clarisonics are fun and unique because you can customize/choose the 'strength' of the brush for more or less exfoliation. Most models also feature timers so you don't overdo it. My mom and I both love how clean we feel after using these awesome tools - we've both been Clarisonic-users since about 2008... And neither one of us is willing to go without them anymore!
If you do try a cleansing device, I would recommend this one. It's patented sonic technology is much more effective and gentle than a spinning brush, which can (in theory) stress out the capillaries, maybe upset elastin fibers and irritate the skin.
If you try one, enjoy! And until next time, Stay Fabulous my Friends!
Vitamin C: it's not just for breakfast... Products that Prevent
The best product-related helpers to prevent damage to the skin are arguably antioxidants and sunscreens, which both help prevent the formation of free radicals in the first place, and also help neutralize these offenders.
Picture a knight in shining armor, swinging a sword at an evil free radical, he'd be considered the antioxidant.
My go-to, long-standing favorite antioxidants are topical Vitamin C's.
Topical vitamin C's are known to have many benefits, including:
- Neutralizing free radicals, preventing skin aging
- Helping to maintain normal cellular turnover
- Helping to build collagen
- Lightening and brightening the skin
- Reducing inflammation
- Decreasing transepidermal water loss (your skin won't leak moisture so much)
Here are just a few I love:
- Skinmedica C & E Complex This creamy, silky formulation has a satin-like consistency... Just like those makeup primers we all love. I tend to like it because of its cosmetic elegance and the lipid-soluble Vitamin C feature. Also, if you are as clumsy as I can be, the pump is very helpful. No spills! Read more about this one in my post, 3 Fast Facts: Skinmedica C and E Complex
- Skinceuticals CE Ferulic This L-ascorbic classic has been often imitated, never duplicated! Read More about it in my post, 3 Fast Facts: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
- Skinmedica TNS Essential Serum My clients know that I refer to this one as 'the Mercedes Benz of anti-aging products'. Because, not only is there C, but lots of other potent goodies, too. Namely, growth factors, antioxidants, peptides, and alpha arbutin. Read more about it in my post, 3 Fast Facts: SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum
- Obagi C-clarifying Serum This little powerhouse is the first and the only of its kind on the market. It's really under-rated, in my opinion. Read more about it in my post, 3 Fast Facts: Obagi C-Clarifying Serum
The Need-To-Know:
How to Use Vitamin C: Use Vitamin C in the mornings after toner and before moisturizers and sunscreens to help defend skin from the onslaught of pollutants, sun, and all kinds of other threats that you'll meet out there during your busy day.
Think: I'm drinking my OJ in the morning, My skin needs its Vitamin C in the morning, too!
Oh, and don't forget the neck, chest, and the backs of the hands... they need protection, too.
Buyer Beware: Even though Vitamin C is a sort of 'knight in shining armor', it's also really unstable... always about to oxidize and die. Be sure that you don't go with just ANY vitamin C. Those that have published research or from reputable companies are the best bet.
Oxidation: If you've got a water-based C (L-ascorbic) like CE Ferulic, for example, be sure you toss it when it starts to turn orange/amber in color. This assures that your product isn't weakened or *GASP* causing oxidation. This is an ANTI-OXIDANT, for goodness sake.
Acne Patients Beware: Vitamin C's are great for many people, but acne patients should avoid: even though Vitamin C's are great to lighten acne marks from old breakouts, they are not the best choice for those currently breaking out. If you currently have active acne, get your breakouts under control first, and then consider choosing a formula meant for all or oily skin types.
Stay safe in the sun out there - and Until Next Time, Stay Fabulous My Friends!
3 Fast Facts: Obagi C Clarifying Serum
I started 3 fast facts because I could go on forever about some of these products... which can make writing about them a little daunting. Instead of overthinking (and therefore procrastinating), I'll just use this category to finally touch on some of my favorite products & three reasons you might love them too!
Obagi C-Clarifying Serum
Obagi C-Clarifying Serum
What can I say except: WOW. This little powerhouse is amazing, and the only of its kind on the market.
➢ Fact 1:
The first and only:
Its unique formula features 10% Vitamin C combined with prescription strength 4% Hydroquinone, the Gold standard treatment for dark spots and discoloration. Prescription strength means that the product is able to penetrate the dermal layers to reduce the over-activity of melanosomes.
Translation: Not only will the Vitamin C work to lighten and brighten, but the power of RX lighteners are in your corner too. It's really under-rated, in my opinion: This product is not only neutralizing free radicals and protecting the skin, improving the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation! What more could you want??
➢ Fact 2:
It works. And Fast:
In studies, this product was mostly observed effective at about 4 weeks. In reality, I observe patients (and on my own skin!) notice changes much faster than that. Some people swear up-and-down that they see significant lightening and brightening as soon as a few days! Expect results to continue to get better for up to 4 months. The prevention benefit will continue beyond that, as long as you're still using it.
➢ Fact 3:
Two sizes fit most:
Originally (way back) only available in one formula, this serum is now-a-days available in two 'flavors': Normal to Dry and Normal to Oily, they've thought of everyone here! It will help treat multiple kinds of darkened skin:
- Freckles
- Age spots
- Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (the 'stain' that's left over after a blemish for example)
- Melasma
Until Next Time, Stay Fabulous, My Friends!
3 Fast Facts: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
I started 3 fast facts because I could go on forever about some of these products... which can make writing about them a little daunting. Instead of overthinking (and therefore procrastinating), I'll just use this category to finally touch on some of my favorite products & three reasons you might love them too!
Three Fast Facts About: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
➢ Fact 1
This fantastic product is a topical antioxidant used to protect the skin from future damage, promote cell renewal, and increase the build of collagen. Distinguished Duke professor, faculty-member, chemist, and Dermatologist, Dr Sheldon Pinnell published more than 200 articles and studies on topical antioxidants.
Known (by me, at least!) as the grandfather of topical antioxidants, Dr Pinnell developed this product based on much of his research. This serum has gone on to become and remain the cornerstone of Skinceuticals collection. Dr Pinnell had formulated the perfect C Serum: the right PH, the right percentage of C, and the perfect C-stabilizers: Vitamin E and Ferulic acid.
This emollient-like serum can be perfect for normal-to-dry skin types. Side note: Most reviews on the product describe it as 'featherweight', but I find that most oily- types find it too heavy, likely because of the Vitamin E.
➢ Fact 2
I love this formulation in particular because of its reservoir effect: once it is in the skin, it stays there for about 3 days- which makes it great for sweating runners and outdoor-lovers. This also says to me: "It really gets in there!"
(Keep things consistent and apply every day though).
➢ Fact 3
It also reduces inflammation in UV-irradiated cells. Slather this on afterwards if you happen to get a sunburn on vacay in Barbados. (But I know you won't get a sunburn, right?!)
Here's a link to learn more about it (the science!)
Until Next time, Stay Fabulous, My Friends!
Love Lobster?? Read On! The Top Ten Anti-Aging Foods
It's (of course) not just the products we use ON our skin that helps us fight the good fight, it's what we put iN our bodies that can help our skin, too. Make sure you're eating the right ones! Health.com brings us the top ten antiaging foods:
- Coffee (bio-actives can help fend off melanoma)
- Watermelon
- Pomegranate
- Blueberries
- Lobster (woohoo! Did we even need another reason to love lobster? It's anti-inflammatory effects can have a beneficial effect on the skin)
- Kale
- Eggs
- Walnuts
- Avocado
- Cantaloupe (this one was a surprise to me, but beta carotene makes this one a win!)
Read the whole article here: Health.com
And until next time, stay fabulous my friends!
My 2015 Look Good Feel Better Badge
Been meaning to post my 4-Year Badge, proud to be a workshop leader for this wonderful program! Hope is Beautiful! Check it out here: http://helpbetterbegin.org/
@Lgfb #lookgoodfeelbetterfoundation #acs #lgfb2015 #lgfbvolunteer #helpbetterbegin
Until Next Time, Stay Fabulous My Friends!
Before and After: my Halo Laser Treatment Results!
While it's a little embarrassing to reveal what my complexion looked like before, the results are TOO GOOD to not to share. Here are the before-and-after Visia Imager photos from my Halo Resurfacing. (no foundation/concealer, moisturizer, or anything on the skin in either pic). I've been meaning to share these for a while, I am SO happy with my results! What is Halo? Halo laser is the first of it's kind: a hybrid (ablative and non-ablative) fractionated laser. Translation: 2 different wavelengths of laser fire off at the exact same time. Down-time is a fraction of any other fractionated laser out there- (you can wear makeup out the door) - and the results are exponentially better from my perspective. It's almost like having double the treatment with amazingly little social downtime, if any.
If you are on the fence about this procedure, I would urge you to go for it.
My Results: a reduction of pore size, almost no breakouts anymore, reduction in discoloration and hyperpigmentation, a tightening of the skin, improvement in texture and a noticeable glow or luminosity... probably why they called it Halo.
My Plan: Moving forward, I plan to get a Halo once a year to maintain- now that my skin is so improved, I'm spoiled!
Check out Halo at Erickson Dermatology here
and click here to see more Halo Before and After's
Until Next time, stay fabulous, my friends!
Game Changing Kybella is FDA approved
Look for this double chin treatment at a cosmetic physician near you, coming soon! From MedEstheticsmag.com:
KYBELLA injection (deoxycholic acid, KYTHERA Biopharmaceutcials), also known as ATX-101, has been FDA approved for contouring moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with submental fat in adults. KYBELLA is a nonhuman and non-animal formulation of deoxycholic acid that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into subcutaneous fat, the drug destroys fat cells. The approval was based on the results of over 20 clinical studies involving more than 2,600 male and female patients.
read the full article here: http://medestheticsmag.com/kybella-injectable-approved-double-chin
And until next time, stay fabulous my friends!