Monday, July 21, 2014

Cetaphil Facial Cleanser Review

Many of my friends and clients are often asking me about daily skin care products.  One of the most common products I'm asked about is Cetaphil cleanser.  I think I get questions about Cetaphil due to it popularity with dermatologists.  In fact, even my old dermatologist recommended Cetaphil.  But Cetaphil and me did not have a good relationship. That is not to say it is not a good product.  It was just not a good product for my skin.  I was sensitive to Cetaphil.  For whatever reason, it left my skin irritated after several times using it. 

Here is what I found out about Cetaphil in regards to sensitive skin.
  • Cetaphil contains propelene glycol which is a vehicle used to deliver active products.  It has been recommended that those with allergies avoid propelene glycol.  
  • Cetaphil contains sodium lauryl sulfate.  You know that squeaky clean feeling you get after washing your face? That's due to sodium lauryl sulfate, a common ingredient added to face wash to make it foam.  The problem with sodium lauryl sulfate is that it strips the skin of the natural oils that our skin actually needs for protection. This causes surface dehydration which leads to skin sensitivity and irritation due to the damaged oil barrier. Surface dehydration brings on a whole host of issues.  It leads to irritation, dead cell accumulation, dull skin, and clogged pores.  What's more, because it removes the skin's natural, protective oil barrier, the body ends up producing more oil (the very thing you're trying to get rid of) to compensate.  The skin is no longer balanced.  It actually becomes more oily and more prone to breakouts.
  • Cetaphil contain parabens.  Parabens keep a product from spoiling by preventing harmful bacteria and fungi from growing inside it. It is well documented that some people may have a sensitivity and become irritated by parabens. This is the reason why so many products now promote "paraben free".
I believe it is best to avoid any chemicals that may irritate and stick to more natural paraben-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free cleansers.  I get asked what I use as a cleanser.  Currently I use two cleansers.  I use an organic gel cleanser by Juice in the AM to deep clean my pores. I then use an organic lotion based cleanser by Emminence in the PM to dissolve and melt away my makeup and calm my skin overnight.  This works for me and I think helps keeps my pores clean while avoiding drying my skin too much.  My skin feels very balanced with these products.

All the best,

Karen





Sunday, July 20, 2014

How Retinol Really WorksInfographic – Brought to you byNewBeauty.com

How to Determine Your Skin Type? Take this Quiz!

Many clients I see each day do not know their skin type.  How can you treat your skin properly if you don't know your skin type?  Take this great skin type quiz from celebrity esthetician, Renee Rouleau. I looooove her.  Knowing your skin type helps to determine which products are best suited for your skin.  


All the best,

Karen

Thursday, June 12, 2014

After some time away...

It's been quite a while since my last post.  My skin and my emotions went on a roller coaster the past month or so.  Right about the time I was starting my very first job as an esthetician, I suddenly started having terrible cystic breakouts on my lower cheeks and jaw.  At the time my dermatologist and myself chalked it up to stress, hormonal changes, and my skin sensitivities.  But, something seemed very wrong.  I was put on an antibiotic and still nothing changed.  Now I was on spiro and an antibiotic.  This is a lot for a girl who can hardly tolerate Tylenol.  Even with these meds the acne just got worse.  My face was red all the time - everywhere.  Even a minor breakout turned into a monster.  Every pimple turned cyst lasted weeks and would not heal.  At all.

Then two weeks ago, I put it together with some help of an esthetician I work with.  Could the Yaz birthcontrol I had been on for 2 months and 3 wks be causing my sudden terrible acne along with terrible anxiety I suddenly felt?  A lightbulb turned on.  I realized I had been breaking out almost to the day of starting Yaz but never put it together because I had been on Yaz for years and never had skin issues with it - in fact it made my skin breakout proof.  I figured it had to be me and my hormones, but it wasn't.  After stopping Yaz, my skin miraculously cleared up in 3 days.  The chronic redness, irritation, huge breakouts - gone.

I have been off Yaz for 2 wks and I feel like my self again.  My skin is healing and my spirits are high once again.

All the best,

Karen


Monday, April 28, 2014

Perricone Prescription Day 2

I've been following the Perricone Prescription for a day and half now.  I stated this program in hopes that it would help heal my breakouts faster, since each blemish and cyst seems to be active for a least two weeks before even beginning to calm down.  Then, it seems to take another two weeks to calm down the redness, irritation and post traumatic hyper-pigmentation caused by the blemish itself and the 14+ days of putting salicylic and everything else in the monster to help it heal faster, which obviously they never do....  I have never had this experience.  Most often if I breakout, the blemish is healed and gone within 10 days.

So today I woke up and could immediately tell my face felt calmer!  I actually was excited to look in the mirror.  My skin actually seems to be calming down!  It is noticeably less inflamed as it has been the past several weeks and two blemishes that were just not going away and hurt, do not hurt today!  Crazy!  I have not changed anything else in my skin care routine.  Though the diet is strict, it makes me want to keep going!

All the best,

Karen

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Starting the Perricone Prescription 3 Day Program

Though my skin seems to finally be settling down, it is far from perfect.  I am still embarrassed the state of my skin.  I have read a ton of blogs and found one that I identified with http://mychemicalpeel.blogspot.com.   In one of the blogs I read the blogger had followed the Perricone Prescription Program to help improve her skin.  I feel like at this point, I need to help my skin from the inside and thought this would be a good start since all I seem to be eating lately are craptastic foods!  I started The Perricone Prescription 3 day program today.  Actually, I am doing a 3 1/2 day program since technically I did not start until lunch today.  With the birthcontrol I recently started and all the stress I have felt lately (new job), my skin just can't seem to get healthy.

Here are some of the skin issues I have been experiencing the past several weeks:
- Blemishes that seem never heal and go away, even with diligently not picking.  I have had one pimple for 2 weeks now.  It is the same as 2 weeks ago even with treatment.
- General inflammation on lower jaw and neckline.
- Uneven tone due to post traumatic hyper-pigmentation.
- Dehydrated skin due to acne treatments.

I started taking Perricone's recommended vitamins, am going to buy his Vitamin C Ester Cream to calm and help even my skin tone and am eating non-inflammatory foods for the next 3 1/2 days. 

Goodbye alcohol, chips and salsa, coffee.  Hello eggs, salmon, blueberries, low sodium turkey, raw nuts, green tea, oatmeal (non instant), and green apples.  I will post a before picture tomorrow morning when I have no makeup on!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Glycolic Peel Follow Up

After some major purging of the skin following my first glycolic peel last week, it took until today, 5 days later, to actually not be completely embarrassed walking out of the house from being so broken out and peely.  Yuck.  But today, I did a second peel and my skin, though a bit flushed, is noticeably more smooth, except for some lingering post pimple trauma and a couple smaller breakouts that are still hanging around.  I did have two new  pimples pop up to the surface along my jaw right after the peel again (isn't that crazy?) but they are small and I am just considering this purging and my skin just needs to go through this phase.

I'll take it seeing as how my overall skin tone and texture seem to be improving significantly each day.  I really should start taking pictures to show the "before" and "after".  This morning my under eyes look so light (my dark circles seem to have have diminished - does glycolic do this?) and my face in general is so much smoother.  I keep feeling my forehead and upper cheeks - they are like a baby's bottom.  Not one bump nad my forehead lines have almost disappeared - from two peels!  I am going to do a series of 6 gylcolic's along with a few salicylic peels to keep the acne away.  2 down, 4 to go...

Also, I am keeping with my regime of reducing my oily skin oil production, regularly exfoliating my skin with the chemical peels along with a light daily salicylic cleanser in the AM.  I am continuing to use a water based oil-free moisturizer but I did switch and went back to my tried and true moisturizer I had used for years before starting school - Clinique Dramatically Different Gel Moisturizer.  I also switched my moisturizing / oil minimizing face oil to Josie Maran's Pure Argan Milk for sensitive skin. I am using this post peel and under moisturizer in the AM and PM.

I am hoping when I start work next week my skin will be fresh and in super good shape!

All the best,

Karen

Friday, April 4, 2014

My Post Glycolic Peel Results - Day 2

My skin erupted yesterday after my first glycolic peel.  Now, not only do I still have my two scars from school  (one under my eye and one on my cheek) but every clogged pore on my face, chin and jaw has now formed into massive red mounds and marks. I know this is "purging" at its finest but I thought I had already purged.  I am done purging.  I am so sad and once again feel like such a phony.

 

Monday, March 31, 2014

How Do You Care for Oily and Acne Prone Skin?


I am 42 years old and instead of battling my wrinkles, I am battling my acne.  I am beyond frustrated.  Up until 2 years ago when I went off the pill, I had clear skin and was only concerned about fine lines.  What a problem! I recently went back on the pill but my breakouts keep coming.  I am trying to see the bright side of dealing with adult acne - that I have now done a ton of research into treating oily and acne prone skin.  Hopefully this will be a benefit to my clients!

In school we were taught that oily skin needs to be balanced.  One of the worst things you can do to oily and acne-prone skin is to strip it by cleansing too often, use drying / irritating products and exfoliating the skin too much.  Compromising our protective skin barrier, a mixture of oil and sweat leads to  irritated and dehydrated skin which then in turn leads to more breakouts.  

But HOW do you BALANCE oily acne-prone skin???  Like I said, I have been in major research mode.  The first thing I have been researching is how do you "balance" oily and acne-prone skin? What does it take???

Well, here is what I have so far:

1.  Oily skin produces more oil than normal skin. That said, shouldn't we be "calming down oil production" in oily and acne-prone skin in order to balance it?  By calming down oil production, we may be able to calm down clogged pores and breakouts.  Right?  Maybe? To calm down oil production, we need to use products that will help reduce oil production but also keep us hydrated and our moisture barrier protected.  If our moisture barrier is damaged or stripped, our skin signals for MORE oil to be made. Not good for oily skin so we want our skin hydrated, protected, just with the right stuff.  Keeping our skin hydrated and balanced is a difficult because as acne sufferers know, hydrating our skin tends to bring on acne since many cleansers and moisturizers just add more oil to our skin or contain irritation products that aggravate acne. 

So what a girl to do?  Well, for the past week I have been working to calm down my oily skin production while also keeping my skin hydrated with non-pore clogging, non-irritating  organic ingredients.  I also am avoiding products that contain high percentages of acne ingredients.  

2.  Oily and acne-prone skin tends to have a slower rate of cell turnover.  Basically our skin cells don't exfoliate as fast as they should.  They get trapped in the oil which then leads to clogged pores, an infection and then a pimple.   To help with cell turnover, I have been chemically exfoliating with an AHA, glycolic acid, and a BHA, salicylic acid, to promote cell turnover and keep my pores clear from bacteria and cell buildup.  I am avoiding any manual exfoliation which can be too irritating and aggravate my skin.  My results so far:   I not only have NOT had any new breakout's but my hundreds of small clogged pores on my cheeks and jawline are almost non-existent.  I can't remember the last time my skin was smooth on my jaw and lower cheeks.  Also, my skin redness and irritation is gone! Freaking gone! I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Here is my current skin care routine for the past week:

-Cleanse AM and PM with a gentle acidic cleanser containing salicylic acid that helps to unclog pores and is anti-bacterial.  This cleanser is not organic.  I have been using a cleanser by Philosophy which contains a very small amount of salicylic (1%). It's enough to help reduce oil but not completely strip my skin like some cleansers.

- Tone with an alcohol free toner to remove any remaining residue

- Moisturize AM and PM with an oil-free moisturizer by Juice.  It is non-pore clogging.  It is also free of parabens and preservatives that can irritate acne prone sensitive skin. 

-  In place of serums, which tend to clog my pores, I've been adding 3 or 4 drops of Jojoba oil, which is a non-pore clogging organic oil, to my Juice oil-free moisturizer both in the AM and PM.  Jojoba mimics our natural skin oil and may actually trick our skin into producing less oil. BTW, This has been amazing!  Amazing!!!  It is so calming, not greasy feeling and does not clog my pores. 

 - In the PM, I've been adding a teaspoon of Aloe Vera along with the Jojoba oil to my Juice oil-free moisturizer to help hydrate and protect my skin overnight. 

- Glycolic and Salicylic peels weekly. Glycolic has the the smallest molecule of all AHA's and penetrates the deepest helping to exfoliate and turn over skin cells so you are less prone to breakout.  It is really great for acne-prone skin AND wrinkles!  Double Yay!  Salicylic is anti-bacterial.  It penetrates into the hair follicle to clear the follicle of bacteria.  This prevents new pimples from forming and faster healing of current breakout's.  Salicylic also eats up dead top cells like pac man revealing fresher skin and reducing post-tramatic hyper-pigmentation.  So far this is helping tons!

Today, I am going to give myself a stronger glycolic peel to further help with on my path to healthy, clear skin.  I plan to keep alternating glycolic and salicylic each week to help prevent any further breakouts and to help keep my skin smooth and healthy.

All the best,

Karen

Sunday, March 30, 2014

My Esthetican Job Update!

I had a practical interview with Zazu Spa & Salon Friday evening.  They are a boutique spa and I love the environment and atmosphere.  It is everything I was looking for in a position.  I got the job and we are just working on my part-time hours.  They are a family owned business and seem to have the best interests of their employees at heart.  I am so excited! 


Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hottest New Makeup Colors for Spring 2014

I love makeup and all the amazing colors that not only transform our faces but our mood as well.  Who hasn't swiped on a bright pink lip and suddenly feels fresh and pretty? 

Each season, Pantone, the global authority on color, studies the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring us the season's stand-out color trends.  Their list for this Spring includes Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid.  Such a beautiful color and compliments a range of skin tones.
This Spring's palette is a broad spectrum of pastel colors and hot bold colors.  The colors are designed to be worn alone or can be combined for a more current, in-trend look.


 


Here are my favorites!

 All the best,

Karen


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Asha Esthetician Practical Interview Follow up

A couple days ago I went in for a practical interview at Asha Salon & Spa.  I'm not really sure where to start. 

I was told to show up at least 15 minutes early to setup and get prepared.  I arrived 20 minutes early and sat and waited, and waited, and waited.  This same thing happened at my first interview.  I actually had to walk up to the desk because I really thought they forgot.  No big deal but I started to wonder if this was the norm.  Finally Miss Manager approached and led me to the spa.  I had never seen the spa.  My first interview was super rushed. I was swept out the door before even having a chance to realize I did not have a tour.

Miss Manager led me into a treatment room to start the practical interview.  We agreed to start with the brazilian.  As I started to prepare for the treatment, I realized I was in serious need of a lot of supplies.  Miss Manager had brought about six large size strips of wax paper into the room.  This is way too few strips for a brazilian wax.  They were also the wrong size.  She had brought me large strips that are typically used on legs and arms. Okay, deep breath.  Holy waxing nightmare and I haven't even started.  I felt a bad feeling rising in my belly.  But I could work with it.  I asked her for scissors, more strips, prep treatment if any, post treament product.

While prepping, I noticed the room was very dark.  In fact I could hardly see.  I turned the lights up but I still could not see.  Crud.  I was racing to get everything prepared.  I tested the hard and soft wax. The wax in the warmers was very different from wax I have ever used.  The hard wax seemed like taffy.  Maybe it was not warm enough?  I tested it on my arm.  When I went to pull it off it seemed to crack and break.  Double crud.  The soft wax seemed fine and looked like honey.  I figured it was fine but made sure it was on the setting I have used at school and at home.  I hoped it would be alright having never used it before.

Miss Manager brought  a FEW more strips. Really?  They were crazy sizes.  Some super duper long, some smaller than my palm.  Really?  I got more sticks.  Time to start.

I was prepared to do a fairly easy brazilian.  After all, they wouldn't honestly have me wax someone that was very hairy down there without knowing my skills???  I mean, I am confident in my skills but this whole time I kept wondering why they were starting with a brazilian?  I am right out of school.  I am by no way a waxologist.  I still wonder if I should have just suspended this whole thing and said, "why don't we start with legs and go from there?"  Makes sense to me.  I can get used to the wax and the employer gets to see that I can handle wax. Win, win right?
I started.  After taking one look at Miss Manager, I realized I had a big job.  I could hardly see but I could tell there was a lot of hair.  I cleansed and started.  Though the soft wax was set to what I am used to with the soft waxes I have used, it must have been too cool for this type of wax.  On my first application I could tell it was too thick.  I turned it up more.  I was fumbling because I was not used to their wax and here I was applying it to a manager.  I got to the most challenging part of a brazilian and I just could not see hair direction growth...1) because it was crazy freaking dark in the room and 2) because her hair was long and thick.  I decided to use hard was for this area.  I had been trying to avoid hard wax because I was concerned about the consistency but being a good esthetician, I know you should always use hard wax when you can not see the hair direction.  Why?  Because if you use soft wax and don't pull the right way, you can not go over the same area with soft again.  You will rip the skin.  Soft wax exfoliates the skin.  If you use hard wax and don't get some hairs, you can reapply soft wax over that area because hard wax only pull hairs out.  It does not exfoliate the skin.  I went for it.  I applied the hard wax and hope for the best.  I applied a damp towel to help cool the hard wax and it stuck to the wax!  What?  NO!  That is not supposed to happen!  I went to pull the wax and it would not budge.  When I finally got it going, the hard wax crumbled and cracked while pulling. It was a mess.  I got the hair off but parts of the was remained on the skin!  I am not sure if this type of hard wax is just meant for small areas and not big areas? Did I need to apply oil under this type of hard wax?  I have never used this wax and felt like a failure.  They told me ahead of time not to worry about knowing their products yet but I feel I should have been given a bit more info before I started.  Being new to interviewing and practical interviews, I am just not sure what I should have done.  I completed the procedure and everything was fine but I had a growing concern about training.  After all, I am just out of school. 

The facial was fine.  I wasn't given much info about the products but read the backs and felt like I had a good grasp.  There were not a lot of products for her skin type, actually not a lot of products in general.  Miss M had oily skin with clogged pores and dehydrated cheeks and clear marks of post tramatic hyper pigmentation and current whiteheads and papules.  I really wanted to use products for oily skin and congestion.  I did have some sort of chemical enzyme exfoliant but it did not seem like a professionI strength.  Was this to be as the exfoliant?  The directions said not to wipe off.  Was this an over-the-counter night time gel I was to use in place of an enzyme or peel?  I felt very unprepared.  I was given one small bowl and tiny bowl and one brush.  I was fumbling around and trying to figure out the steamer, etc.  When I asked about the steamer and said I was going to preheat it, I was told not to preheat the steamer because it starts in 20 seconds.  I chose to preheat it.  Thankfully I did as it did not heat up fast at all.  

Looking back I realize that  Miss M was probably not an esthetician.  She probably had no idea what I needed and where things were so that is why I ended up with so few items. 

There is not a lot of training with Asha.  I was told I would have two days.  Two days to learn all of their techniques, get familiar and comfortable with their wax, practice, learn their different facials, treatments, etc.  I am a bit concerned.  I am just starting my career and feel I have a ton to learn.  I love the idea of working in a lifestyle spa but am worried about the level of support and training.

On a good note, I interviewed at a smaller boutique spa yesterday.  The manager I met with was extremely professional and lovely.  She was prompt, polished and seemed to really care about the training and development of all her employees.  It is a busy spa and has a great reputation.  I used to go there to get my hair done and loved it.    I am going in Monday to give a facial to a veteran esthetician.  The manager wants me to work with her to figure out my strength and areas I may need to develop so they can put a plan into place to help me succeed.  I was impressed and loved that they care so much about their employees.

Keep you updated!

Karen

Sunday, March 23, 2014

My Job Interview at Asha Spa

Last week I interviewed at Asha Lifestyle Spa.  It is near my house, offers part-time options and is a beautiful spa in a great location.  When I say beautiful I mean stunning!  It is luxiurious and no detail was over-looked.  When you walk into their spa, it feels like you want to stay there forever drinking lemon infused water and eating snacks in in the spa lounge while wrapped up in a thick terry robe.  Ahhh.

When can I start???

After interviewing last week with one of the managers, I got a call for a practical interview which I go in to do on Tuesday.  A practical interview is when you show your skills.  My guess is a practical is done for a few reasons.  1) It allows the place of employment to make sure you are a right fit in regards to bed side manner, professionalism, working under pressure.  2) That you have "solid technique" and skills and though you may need some training, you are ready to work on clients. And, 3) That you can function on your own if thrown in.  There are probably a few others but this is what I thought of off the top of my head.
I am going to be doing a 1 hour facial and then a brazilian bikini wax.  I have to tell you that I am nervous.  I am fine with the actual facial and wax but I have never used their products, will be in a new room I have never been in before, and I don't their techniques or procedures.  I am SURE mine are quite different.

Insert "deep breath" here.

I can do this.  Here is hoping I am celebrating Tuesday night!  :0

All the best,

Karen  

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Can Drinking More Water Help Hydrate My Skin?

When I tell clients that their skin is dehydrated, many of them are puzzled at that statement.  I was too when I was in school and first told I had dehydrated skin.  Like me, most of clients drink large amounts of water and practically pee their brains out all day.  But we are not plants.  Ha!  I love that comparison. Unlike plants, water does not go straight to our skin.  Water is vital to body parts such as our digestive system, our circulation system and our kidney's.  Before water goes to our cells, it goes to these systems to keep us alive and functioning.  Water makes it to our skin cells last and from there, has to travel up several layers of skin to reach the top epidermal layer cells before we see any skin benefits. Its a pretty long road to travel. In addition to traveling all this way, our skin is constantly losing water through Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL), especially when our natural barrier function has been damaged.

To really hydrate our skin, we need to nourish it on the outside and protect our natural skin barrier which is a mixture of oil and sweat on the top of our skin that protects our skin.  Without our natural lipid barrier, our skin quickly losses water and becomes dehydrated and irritated.  Basically, our skin is unprotected and prone to irritation and sensitivities.

In addition to frequent internal hydration, your skin should be regularly hydrated on the outside by using a moisturizer and a daily serum specific for your skin type.  Try not to go without moisturizer even if you have oily skin as your barrier is unprotected.  Instead look for an oil free, non pore clogging moisturizer like Juice Oil Free Moisturizer which I love.  It is an organic moisturizer, free of parabens and pore clogging ingredients.  It is really great and surprisingly hydrating.

All the best,

Karen

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Benefits of a Facial Massage


A good facial massage can do wonders to our skin.  After receiving a facial massage my clients are often shocked at how youthful and toned their skin looks.  I include an anti-aging or lymphatic drainage massage with every facial.  They are amazing at revitalizing the skin and make you look like you just had a mini facelift.

Here are some of the benefits of a facial massage:
- Increases blood flow and circulation, which helps to nourish skin.
- Increases oxygen to the skin which helps revitalize and repair skin.
- Increases cell metabolism which helps the skin look younger.
- Detoxifies and rids the skin and body of toxins. 
- Reduces eye and sinus congestion..
- Tones the facial muscles.
- Tightens tissues and reduces sagging skin. 
- Helps with product penetration.
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Lightly exfoliates the skin to reveal fresher, brighter skin.
- Reduces stress.
- Creates deep mind and body relaxation.

All the best,

Karen

Thursday, March 6, 2014

My Last day of Esthetician School

 
Tomorrow is my last day of school at International Skin Beauty Academy.  I am both sad but so excited.  I am sad because I will miss my friends, I will my teachers, I will miss Dr. Doran and her funny sense of humor.  Ha!  But, every new beginning is some other beginning's end. To begin working and being a "real" esthetician I can not stay at school forever - though Dr. Doran has offered! I have started to interview for positions and am getting quite a few interviews so that is exciting!  I can't wait to just jump in and start!  My plan until I have the right position in place is to work out of my home and also work on clients in the school clinic.

Some things I will miss from school:
1. Our crazy funny conversations around the waxing tables, in the classroom and during lunch.
2. Getting regular facials
3. Talking to my girlfriend and fellow classmate each and every morning on the phone on the way to school.
4.  Getting to try all new products and machines each day.
5.  My friends
6.  Potbellies runs in 20 minutes or less!
7.  Our South of the Border after school margaritas!

All the best, Karen

Product Review - Keep the Peace by Philosophy

I am a product junkie.  Seriously, I have a problem.  I can't resist the little trial sized packages of stuff at the Ulta & Sephore checkout.  They get me every time! My latest was a small sample of a pore minimizer that was kind of crappy and balled up on the skin but that said, I have found some great products too!

So, I have been walking around with red irritated skin the last few days.  I break out, use product to get rid of breakouts and then turn irritated.  It's never ending!  But, that's another story.

Yesterday I found a terrific little product that is MAGIC with my red skin and suprisingly with my wrinkles and other flaws.  

Serious Awesomeness. 

It's called "Keep the Peace" by Philosophy.  I do love Philosophy.  Where have you been all my life "Keep the Peace"?  It's a color corrector that also has SPF 20.  And, it also seems to act as a primer!  A really good primer.  How awesome is that???  I apply after my moisturizer and have been wearing it alone or under makeup.  It is undetectable so you can wear it when you work out to hide redness and also under my makeup.  It eliminates ALL my redness and smooths out my skin without a cakiness or make-upy look. 

Ahhh, the little things in life that bring so much happiness!

Peace out!

Sephora is so great with samples and carries Philosophy.  If you have a Sephora near you and would like to try this product, stop in and see if you can score a sample first!  Also, here is the link:
 http://www.sephora.com/keep-the-peace-protective-color-corrector-spf-20-P286407


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

8 Biggest Mistakes you're Making with Your Eyebrows

I think I mentioned I have a slight obsession with eyebrows.  In fact, I just posted about how to maintain your eyebrows at home.

Here is an article my friend Stacey passed on to me from MSN.com.  Enjoy!

8 biggest mistakes you're making with your eyebrows

1. Overplucking
Daily plucking is strangely satisfying for some, yet the pros warn against it. Brow specialists Michelle Wu and Santi Garay at Browhaus, an international brow and lash grooming company, say tweezing about once every three weeks is best. That way, hairs that may be on different schedules have time to grow out, which will make your brows look more even. "Overplucked brows don’t frame the face very well," says Wu. Plus, the full eyebrow has been trendy for awhile and is showing no signs of going away.

2. Using an old pair of tweezers
If hairs are slipping through your tweezers or you're struggling to bring the two points together, it's time to invest in some new tools. And don't let them get all gunky in your makeup bag: Clean them with a dab of isopropyl alcohol after each use to avoid bacterial build-up.

3. Taking too much off the sides
To avoid the dreaded unibrow, some women tend to overpluck the space between their brows. "A larger space between the eyes make the nose look bigger and eyes too far apart," says Malynda Vigliotti, owner of Boom Boom Brow Bar in New York City. The beginning of your eyebrow should line up with the bridge of your nose — not the outer edge of your nostril. “The further in, the better,” Vigliotti adds. Don't overdo it when it comes to the outer brows, either. To find out where your eyebrow should end, imagine a diagonal line from the corner of your nose to the outside corner of your eye. It may help to use a pencil as a visual guide.

4. Making too much of an arch
Rainbow- or paisley-shaped brows leave a face looking perpetually surprised. Find your natural arch by looking for your eyebrow's highest point, normally about two-thirds of the way from the inside of your brow (it's not supposed to be perfectly centered). Tweeze below the brow to create a lift. If you have lighter brows, Vigliotti suggests using a brow powder to shade in the shape before plucking to help you see what you're doing better. Then, pluck around that shape — but no more than that.

5. Forgetting the top
As we said, tweezing below the brow can create a nice lift — but don’t neglect the top, Joey Healy, celebrity eyebrow stylist, told Good Housekeeping. “You want a nice, thick brow,” he says. “But there’s a difference between thick and polished, and thick and messy.” Keep the above-brow area free of stray hairs, as they tend to look more noticeable there.

6. Overusing your eyebrow pencil
Just a few feathery strokes with an eyebrow pencil (never an eye pencil; it won't adhere as well) can take your brows from so-so to gorgeous and well-defined. Pick a brow pencil a shade lighter than your eyebrows. “Brows that are too dark look harsh and fake,” says Garay. Use light strokes to shade in any patchy areas, and trace the natural shape of your brows. “The point is to shadow, not draw in your brows,” says Vigliotti. If a pencil is too much for you, Vigliotti suggests using an angled brush dipped in a brow powder that's about a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color.

7. Waxing when you're using anti-aging retinoid creams
Prescription and over-the-counter anti-aging retinoid creams boost collagen, unclog pores, and speed up cell turnover. But they can also wreak havoc on your skin if you wax your eyebrows. “Retinoids make skin extra-sensitive and thin,” says Vigliotti. “Waxing can cause painful tearing. Stick to tweezing, if you’re using a retinoid.” Dermatologists recommend waiting six weeks after discontinuing the use of topical retinoids before booking an eyebrow wax.

8. Never seeing a brow professional
If you're at all unsure about your brow look, or made a mistake like overplucking and want to fix it, get yourself to a brow bar. Even if you only see a pro once or twice a year, they can help you find the natural shape of your brow and give you helpful guidelines for your at-home routine. "Eyebrows have the power to draw attention to the eyes, making them the focal point of your whole face, and thus, can make or break your appearance," says Wu.

 

Celebrity PhotoShop Before and After Photos

This is the year of the never ending winter.  It is March 4th and it is snowing.  My skin is dehydrated and irritated from this never ending cold weather.  Between my skin being a mess right now and falling out of my daily workout routine, I not feeling the best.  Seeing all the beautiful actresses at the Oscars and the swimsuit models in the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit addition does not help things. 

I was looking for before and after pictures from the Oscars and came across these celebrity before and after using Photoshop photos.  I thought it was an interesting look at what it takes for a person to look "perfect".  In almost all cases the before picture was already really, really beautiful but clearly in the eyes of magazine editors, even these gorgeous ladies need work.  In all the photos the skin tone has been evened out, wrinkles reduced or erased, skin lightened, makeup darkened, areas highlighted, puffiness reduced, and freckles eliminated.  Isn't that crazy?  This is what we are comparing ourselves to.  It makes me feel much better and more accepting of my dark circles and current uneven skin tone.  :)

All the best.

Karen

Monday, March 3, 2014

Oscars 2014 Best Skin & Makeup

I love, love, love watching the Oscars.  It all about the fashion and makeup for me though.  I would rather watch the red carpet than the actual Oscars.  Here is who I thought won best look hands down!  Charlize Theron looked AMAZING! Want to copy her mod look?  Makeup artist, Pati Dubroff for Dior Beauty, spilled all the details on Charlize's makeup Oscar night.


The makeup look was all about Twiggy,” Dubroff told PEOPLE, adding that She was inspired by the ‘60s mod vibe that she saw on the runways in Milan. “Twiggy and the cool girls, they each had their own thing that was part of their personality.”

Dubroff started by using two primers to prep the star’s face and applied foundation where needed. Dubroff used a soft gloss (in this case, Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Frisson) for the lip and a peachy blush on the cheeks. She then added a little brow definition before focusing on the eyes — and more specifically, the lashes.

“The upper lashes were delicate, not too extreme. They didn’t feel like a reality star,” Dubroff says. “False lashes can look refined. They don’t have to have a trashy factor. Lashes have gotten a really bad rap from certain people!”
Here’s Dubroff’s recipe for instant Twiggy eyes:
Step 1: Use a liquid pen at the base and apply from one end to the other (don’t create a wing).
Step 2: Add upper and lower lashes.
Step 3: Finish with a couple of coats of mascara – but not too much!

VoilĂ ! Instantaneous edgy eyes with a vintage twist.

All the best,

Karen