Archive | Skincare RSS feed for this section

Kinerase Scar Therapy

18 Jan

If you have scars anywhere on your face and body that you are trying to get rid of, then you need to try Kinerase Scar Healing Therapy ($48 www.kinerase.com).  I have used this on new and old scars and it has made the new ones disappear and the old ones  lighten and become pretty much non-existent.  If you use this religiously for 1-2 months you will see the difference.  I know it is hard because you want instant results, but trust me this will work, just give it time.  I like this product because it is a silicone gel, so it does not dry and flake off like other scar treatment products.  You only need to use a tiny amount to cover the area and if you use it twice a day you will see results.  You can wear it under makeup, I apply it before I put on my moisturizer.  This tube will last you for a long time, I have only bought two tubes and I have been using it regularly for about 2 years.  The website and the counter consultant says you can use this on: every day scars, scars from cosmetic procedures, c-sections, accidents, burns etc…I have only used it on minor cuts and scrapes, so I can’t let you know how it works on large areas.  From the reviews I have read it also works very well on acne scarring.  I have used it on my face in places where I have picked at a blemish and it helped heal it and there was no scar.  I do not have intense ance scarring so I can’t speak to how well it heals that type of scar, but with the results I have had I think it would be perfect.  The overall results you should have is the scar should become smooth, the skin tone and color will even out and eventually new collagen production should be restored.  If you have tried a lot of different things or you haven’t tried anything at all, don’t waste your time and start here, this stuff is amazing!

Tags: , , , , ,

‘Hope In A Bottle’ Is Back!

15 Jan

 

One of the best things that ever happened to my skin was Philosophy’s ‘Hope In A Bottle’ ($39 www.philosophy.com).  It is a moisturizer for adult acne prone skin, but mainly focuses on congested skin.  I wear make-up every day and with all the hormones racing through my body sometimes my skin becomes simply congested.  When I was having these issues a couple of years ago and I was talking with my little sister, she recommended trying this.  Let me tell you, this should really be called ‘Miracle In a Bottle’.  This cleared my skin up and also moisturized it at the same time.  I was using it faithfully until last spring when the company decided to discontinue this product!  My sister and I were devastated!  They had another “similar” product but it did not feel the same or give the same results.  After a lot of hoping and praying, Philosophy finally decided to bring it back! The moisturizer is very light and is oil-free.  It goes on smooth and absorbs into your skin which makes it great for using before applying make-up.  It contains Salicylic Acid to combat break-outs and Vitamin E to help with inflammation.  It also has anti-aging properties to fight fine lines and wrinkles!  It has a clean smell, which you don’t really seem to notice at all.  I use it morning and night and it doesn’t dry my skin out all.  You can even put another moisturizer on top.  I really recommend this to anyone that is having trouble with break-outs.  This was my “go-to” product forever and I am so glad it is BACK!

Tags: , , , ,

Overnight Clearing Gel

12 Jan

We all know the curse that hormones can have on our skin.  Sometimes I get minor breakouts on my chest and they make me CRAZY!!  But, my sister had me try Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel ($45 www.dermalogica.com) and this gel is a miracle worker.  You apply a thin layer at night to the problem areas and by morning they are less inflamed.  This gel will calm skin down and gets rid of redness in an instant!  I use it on my chest and neck and even on my face from time to time.  It does have Salicylic Acid but it hasn’t caused my skin to dry out or become irritated.  I really like that it has no artificial fragrance or color because my skin is so sensitive and it reacts to anything with a fragrance.  I recommend trying this if you are having any stubborn breakouts on your body.  This will make them calm down and really treat and heal hem fast.  I apply this a couple of times a week since my breakouts are gone, I use it now as a prevention treatment.  This brand has really great products and I like them because they make your skin feel really “clean” after you use them.  The bottle will last you a while and it is totally worth it once you see the results!

Tags: , , ,

Drink Your H20!

4 Jan

I absolutely hate water.  I don’t know why but I have hated drinking water my whole life.  I am trying to get better about it and I must say it has become easier as I am getting older.  I am always reading how one of the best ways to great skin and great health is drinking enough water everyday.  I don’t think it really matters if you drink it out of a fancy water bottle or straight from the kitchen sink, really it just matters if you drink it!  I try to drink at least 48-64oz. It is hard and some days are better than others.  To make it easier on myself I have a water bottle that is 33oz so I know that once I drink two, I have reached my goal.  Drinking only two bottles seems like a lot less than drinking a bunch of smaller glasses…it is all psychological.  Anyways, no matter how your drink it, make sure you stay hydrated so that your skin and health are at their best!  CHEERS!

Tags: , ,

Natural Daily Scrub

27 Dec

 

I was really curious about the Neutrogena Naturals line when I started to see the commercials.  As you can tell from reading this blog my curiosity got the best of my and I decided to try the Neutrogena Naturals Pore Purifying Scrub  ($8 www.neutrogena.com).  What makes this a “natural” product?  Well, instead of having chemicals in the scrub to help cleanse the skin, it has natural plant ingredients.  This product contains willow bark, which is great for clearing the skin and fighting blemishes.  The Neutrogena website is a great place to read about their Natural product line, it provides a lot of information which will help you determine whether or not natural products are something you want to try.  I really like this product because it is gentle enough for daily use.  I use a small amount and when you put it on your skin it feels gentle but you feel “clean” and like it has done its job.   When I use a product, especially a scrub, I like my skin to have that “clean” feeling afterwards and that something is “working” while it is on my skin.  Some natural products don’t give me that feeling but when I use this product I get the feeling that it is doing its job!  If you are interested in using natural products I think this is a good line to try.  It is easy to access and very affordable.  Try one of the products first to get a feel for the line, if you enjoy it then invest in the others.  Good luck and cheers to natural beauty!

Tags: , , , ,

Tone It Up!

26 Dec

 

I have always been on the fence about toner…I mean really, what is it for anyway?  Recently when I was having some blemishes one of my “Beauty Guru’s” recommended trying a gentle toner.  She said it would “help to cleanse and calm the skin before I put on my moisturizer.”  I was a little skeptical but I decided to give it a try.  The toner she recommended was Clarins Toning Lotion For Normal or Dry Skin ($20-$30 www.Clarinsusa.com).  It has chamomile in it which helps to calm the skin but it does not have strong odor or plant smell.  I use it in the morning and it has really refreshes my skin.  It does not make  my skin tight or dry it out like other toners, it is refreshing and feels like you are putting something that is healing on the skin.  If you are not using a toner but need to complete your cleansing program, try this gentle toner from Clarins.   They also have an option for Combination or Oily Skin.  The bottle us HUGE!  You get 70z.-14oz. depending on the size you buy.  I really am enjoying this refreshing toner as part of my morning routine and if you haven’t tried a toner get a sample of this and give it a try!

Tags: ,

Daily Dose of Vitamins

23 Dec

 

I have been taking vitamins for my hair for past 10 years.  For the past five years I have been taking  Schiff Hair,Skin & Nail Vitamins and these are by far the best.  I experimented with all different kinds of hair vitamins.  I used all the different expensive ones that you buy at the department store and tons of different brands from the drugstore.  I saw the Schiff vitamins in my local drugstore  about 5 years ago and have been using them ever since!  It takes about 1 month to see any results from any vitamin or supplement.  My hair and nails began to grow like weeds!  I had  a really short bob hairstyle at the time and I was constantantly having to get it trimmed.  Then last year I decided to grow my hair out and it is already down my back!  My hair  grows so fast that  my hair colorist has even started taking hair vitamins!  Along with your hair looking healthier, you will also notice that your nails  begin to grow faster  and  are stronger.  I was a nail biter for many years and had really weak, thin nails…now they are strong and they are a great length and I have stopped biting!  I can’t tell you how great the  results are from these vitamins, you really need to try them for yourself.  I take one to two pills every night before bedtime.  I prefer to take vitamins at night so that they are easier on my stomach.  You will begin to  notice results after a month and with continued use things will only get better!  You can go onto the Schiff website and search for a store that sells these vitamins near  you! ($17 www.schiffvitamins.com)

 

Tags:

Kissable Lips All Year Long!

22 Dec

 

I have always had dry lips.  I hate using chapstick because I am a lipstick person.  When the weather started to change this Fall and started to get really cold, my lips became so dry and even cracked.  I did some research and read a lot of great reviews about “The Lip Balm” from La Mer.  I knew that their other products were great but I had actually not tried anything from this line before.  I decided to give “The Lip Balm” a try as a solution for my “aching” lips.  I used this product for one night and saw results by the next morning!  When I woke up the cracked areas of my lips had healed and the moisture had been restored.  When you read about this product on their website it says “Applied at night, lips are renewed by morning.”  I was a skeptic I must admit but it worked overnight just as the website said!  this is a pricey product but you get a large amount in the container and you only need a small amount with each application.  I apply this every night as the last step of my beauty routine and in the morning before I apply lipstick.  My lips have been so soft since I started using this it is amazing!  It even has a nice mint flavor and the La Mer Specialist at the Counter told me that it helps to keep your breath fresh!  If you are looking for something to rejuvenate your lips and keep them soft all the time go and get a sample of “The Lip Balm” from La Mer, you won’t be disappointed! ($45 www.cremedelamer.com)

Tags: , ,

Beauty Bar

20 Dec

I have been using the Dove Beauty Bar as my body wash for 10 years!  It was actually recommended to me by my gynecologist when I was in high school!  She advised that you should never use scented body washes or body oils because they can lead to bacterial vaginal infections as well as yeast infections.  I am a little bit of a “germ freak” so I immediately when out and bought the Dove Unscented Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar ($5-$11) and have been using it ever since!  I like to feel really clean after I get out of the shower which is why I like using this so much.  It doesn’t leave a scent so when you use your favorite perfume or lotion, that is all you can smell.  You shouldn’t spend a fortune on body wash either, because you are only using it to clean your skin and then rinsing it down the drain.  The great thing about Dove is they have a lot of different beauty bar options to choose from that will fit your skin type.  They even sell it in body wash form if you do not want to use the beauty bar.  Each beauty bar also has ‘Moisturizing Cream’ which makes your skin feel really soft.   Also, it is great for travel and if you forget it in the hotel room, you won’t be mad at yourself for leaving your “expensive” body wash behind.  Check out all the different beauty bars on the Dove website at www.dove.com

 

Tags: , ,

Less is More

16 Dec

 

 

I always hate it when people say “less is more”…why? I can’t really tell  you, but I do.  I love beauty products, but recently I was using sooo many different ones and I was loving so many different ones that I was using everything all at once!  You can only imagine what happened…my skin FREAKED OUT!  After consulting with my Beauty Guru’s I took their advice and went back to these simple steps:

  1. Washing with a gentle cleanser AM/PM (Using the Clarisonic at Night)
  2. Moisturizing both AM/PM with a moisturizer that does  not have any Acne fighting products or retinol etc…
  3. Exfoliating Once a week using a gentle face scrub

I have very sensitive skin and sometimes I get excited about products and want to use them all which in turn counter acts the whole point of them.  If you are having breakouts and you never had breakouts before, try simplifying your routine and/or eliminating products one at a time from your routine for at least 5 days to see what is the causing these breakouts.  Remember also to monitor your high hormonal times to make sure that they are not the culprit either.  Here is a list of good products that are gentle and way to get back to balancing your skin and/or starting a basic skin care regimen:

  1.   Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7-$12 www.drugstore.com)
  2.  Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer ($65-$120 www.katesomerville.com)
  3. ExfoliKate Gentle or Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($65 www.katesomerville.com)

These items will get you back to the basics.  When you are shopping, make sure to look for words such as “gentle”, “hypoallergenic”, or “daily” these usually mean the product is for frequent use and won’t over dry or irritate your skin.  Then you can start re-introducing or introducing new serums, treatments, or masks gradually so that you can still have fun with your beauty products!  Trust me on this “less is more” when it comes to skin care, I had to learn the hard way.

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →