Colorescience:  Sunforgettable Brush SPF 30

I love this sun care/skin care product for its application ease, light feel and portability- not to mention it has received the Seal of Approval from the Skin Care Foundation of America. It provides SPF in an easy brush applicator which is perfect for reapplying throughout the day. The Sunforgettable brushes come with or without color making it ideal for women, men and even children. You can stick one in your purse, your child’s backpack and don’t forget your husband’s golf bag!

PCA:  Protecting Hydrator SPF 25 – pHaze 7

A favorite among dermatologist and estheticians, this emollient moisturizer is formulated to provide extra protection from UVA and UVB rays. It absorbs quickly, is fragrance-free and leaves your skin feeling soft. pHaze 7 has also received the Seal of Approval from the Skin Care Foundation of America.  I love moisturizer with SPF because it’s a double duty skincare product- it’s easy on your wallet and makes practicing safe sun care effortless. If you use this every morning, you won’t ever leave the house forgetting to apply sunscreen. Stock up for summer now!

Kinerase: PhotoFacials Sun Damage Reversal System

I just started using this morning and evening regimen of skin care products to reverse the sun damage I have from spending my summers at the beach. So far, so good!  The 3 step process (exfoliating wash, daytime and evening moisturizer) uses Kinetin to attack wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation and uneven texture caused by UV exposure. A clinical study showed that 89% of users saw an improvement in only 4 weeks. I’m on week 2 and my skin does feel smoother. I really like how evenly the moisturizer goes on and how light it feels. I’m optimistic for the final results!

Spread the word and be sure to practice SAFE sun exposure this summer.

Source: Flickr user massdistraction

Let’s start at the basics, you take a shower in the morning and the first thing you put on is probably a lotion or moisturizer because your skin may be a little dry from the hot water. You want to start the day off in the best mood possible and a natural body lotion can help contribute. My recommendation for a natural body lotion is Pangea Organics Hand and Body Lotion. This lotion has top grade essential oils in each formulation that deliver aromatherapy and aid in skin health improvement. It comes in 5 different variations that are all very therapeutic and nourishing to your skin. My two favorites are the French Chammomile with Sweet Orange and Lavender and Indian Lemongrass with Rosemary. Each of the scents has different therapeutic benefits so you may customize to your aromatic needs. If I’ll be out in the sun it’s extremely important to add sun care. I absolutely love Decleor’s Aromessence Solaire Body for its natural protection booster. For the alternative price, Coola suncare also offers a yummy smelling sun block that is waterproof and helps moisturize.

The next step in my regimen is incorporating a natural moisturizer. My sensitive skin is very touchy with chemicals, so switching to a natural moisturizer was easy and I noticed the difference almost immediately. Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer is amazing because it comes with a blend of firming peptides and vitamin C that help nourish and replenish the skin’s moisture level at the same time helping to build collagen. This moisturizer is made of 100% organic ingredients and Juice Beauty is dedicated to providing eco-conscious skincare. An easy way to bypass foundation in your beauty routine is to use a tinted moisturizer, but a lot of them have harmful ingredients. (One I happen to be completely allergic to) Suki Skin Care’s Tinted Active Moisturizer is an amazing multi-functioning product that helps firm, reduce inflammation and prevent premature aging. By using this in the morning you won’t have to go through the motions of a moisturizer and foundation/powder.

Source: flickr user aussiegall

Earth day is a day that everyone should take notice and it’s fun to get involved. It’s not just doing good for our mother earth but for yourself and your future. For more information on earth day and natural beauty products you can check out the rest of the fun natural cosmetics glow has in the natural and organic section. Make sure to take the steps to be beautiful and make sure that you’re helping our gorgeous earth at the same time. The best part about shopping online, is it’s the green way to shop. Beautiful earth, beautiful you.

How well is your skin holding up in the midst of our winter season? I thought I was taking good care of my skin until I started using iQ Derma’s Life Without Wrinkles moisturizer. Winter’s low humidity condition can cause dry, irritated, dry skin if not treated properly. So before you hit the slopes this winter season make sure you follow these skin care tips for the perfect complexion.

1. Bust out the humidifier

• With the windows sealed shut and the heat kicked up to high, your house could get very dry. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air; turn it on during the night and not only will you wake up with great skin but you’ll be well rested too!

2. Moisturize more

• Applying a moisturizer once a day is not enough; make sure to apply morning and night for the best glow you can get.

3. Don’t skip out on the sunscreen

• Sunscreen isn’t just for the summer months. The sun’s reflective powers are an issue all year round, 17% on the sand and 80% on the snow. Try using a moisturizer that has an SPF of 25 of higher in it to help protect your skin from UV rays.

4. Help your hands out

• Your hands are the thinnest part of your body and they need the most help because they have fewer oil glands than the rest of your body. Try carrying a travel size lotion bottle with you to keep your phalanges in tip top shape.

5. Grease your feet

• Cracked feet are never in style, so make sure you exfoliate and try using a foot lotion that contains petroleum or glycerin during the winter for extra protection.

6. Milk your face

• If you have extra dry skin, try to avoid all face masks, harsh peels, alcohol-based toners or astringents. All those products strip the oil from your face. Instead try a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are “deeply hydrating,” rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face.

7. Never leave home without your chapstick

• The skin on our lips is very thin and there are no oil glands to help protect them, so it is up to you to protect those bad boys.  Stay hydrated to keep your lips moisturized, Vitamin B helps keep your lips from cracking and don’t forget to stash chapstick in every place possible.

8. Avoid hot baths / Shorten your shower

• Hot water steals from the skin moisture causing dry skin, so it’s best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can’t live without your scorching hot showers, try to keep them short and try showering only once per day

9. Stay hydrated

• Fruits and vegetables in your daily diet release a lot of water to your system. Hydrate from the inside out.

10. Ditch the deodorized soaps

• Stick to milder soaps that won’t strip the essential oil from your body’s surface.

Stay warm,

Jehan

SOURCE: flickr user John Steven Fernandez

Winter is great for many things; giving and receiving fabulous gifts, seeing loved ones, overindulging at holiday parties, making resolutions we absolutely always keep, but there’s one thing that winter is bad for, our skin. Even those of us “blessed” with oily skin can experience dry, flakey, irritated skin in the cold winter months. Here a few tips on how to do winter skin care the right way.

The first thing you should do is take care of yourself by drinking plenty of fluids (no, hot chocolate doesn’t count) and make sure you are getting enough Omega-3s to keep skin supple. A healthy diet is half the battle when it comes to having healthy skin, but adding a moisture-rich face cream will give your thirsty cells that extra boost to keep your complexion looking dewy even when it’s frosty out.

Some moisturizers are full of antioxidants that help draw out toxins and soothe angry skin. These are great for all skin types, as you can never stop fighting those free radicals, considering they literally are balls of energy that keep going and going.

Another thing to keep in mind during the crisper months, is to not stay away from products that contain oils, even if you are acne prone. Many oils, like Jojoba, actually help control sebum production, and will cause you to have a healthier balance to your skin. I was dedicated to everything oil free and mattifying, but after experimenting with oils, I was shocked to see my skin become normal over night.

Some of my favorite moisturizers for winter contain some really amazing ingredients. ALCHIMIE FOREVER’s Kantic+ Intensely Nourishing Cream has both antioxidants and jojoba oil, so it nourishes while detoxifying. Another really advanced formula is SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream, which is rich in vitamin C, A, and E, as well as essential fatty acids, just in case you didn’t take your supplements that day. If you are looking for a lighter moisturizer that will last all day, PHYTOMER’s  HydraContinue Instant Moisture Cream is a great choice.

Keeping your body and skin hydrated through the winter months might be a little bit challenging, but with these few tips, hopefully your cheeks will stay as pink and plump as a sugar plum fairy’s.

Along with losing his ability to walk, he also suffered with a strange side-effect where his parasympathetic nervous system was not able to register temperature, so he couldn’t sweat. This led to clogged pores and chronic breakouts. No other skin care treatments were working, so along with his father who is a physician, they developed botanically-based formulas that effectively cleared up Francesco’s skin entirely.

All Clark’s Botanicals products today feature Jasmine Absolute, an oil that naturally rebalances the skin. Derived from nocturnally-blooming flowers, this extract is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and works to heal a large range of skin types.

When, Where & Why:

Daily gentle exfoliation is good for all parts of the body. You may not realize it but you probably are already exfoliating; – like brushing your hair relieves scalp tension and removes dead skin cells from the hair follicle hence helping hair grown and tension. (I learned that one from my wonderful hair dresser -you know who you are!).  Exfoliating (also know as skin brushing) improves circulation and skin cell turnover which helps your body release toxins that might be building up in the blood stream or skin.  The more you exfoliate the faster your release the toxins through your body’s natural cleansing system.

A GOOD Scrub:

Places like your back, feet and hands tend to get neglected. Be sure to give them a good scrubbing. It will keep those areas nice and supple. Try a good sugar scrub for daily exfoliation – the sugar crystals are gentle and don’t leave a sticky residue.  My fave is Shower Sherbert by Me Bath. The brand has so many options for fragrance you can’t help but find one you love.

Quick tip for hands: Thanks to Allure Magazine for a great suggestion. Use a Microdermabrasion paste on the back of your hands to keep them looking radiant. My favorite is Microdermabrasion Body by Dr. Brandt.  The trick is to keep them moisturize as well, especially with the winter months approaching.

Don’t forget…

It’s important to note that some moisturizers and treatment products have ingredients that promote skin cell turnover, ingredients like Alpha Hydroxy Acids. When using these products be sure to be gentle to your skin and protect it with sunscreen daily.

SOURCE: flickr user: Evan Romine

Skin Care Tips: In the spirit of back to school I thought I would tackle a subject that many of us have dealt with since middle school and some still struggle with it post college graduation! You know what I’m talking about pizza face!
Don’t worry, I’m not here to lecture you on the ABCs of acne, I’m just handing you the cheat sheet so you can be the master of your own skin. Follow this super simple skin care routine and you’ll be surprised how the right products can make all the difference.

A.M. ROUTINE:
1. Wash your face with a cleanser that contains salicylic acid—it clears the pores of excess sebum which cause breakouts. This personally helps me control blackheads.
2. Apply a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin from over drying. One with glycolic acid would score you some extra credit because it exfoliates dead skin cells, which in turn keep pores clean and clear.
3. Protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays with an oil-free sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, no matter the season!

P.M. ROUTINE:
1. Start your night routine by washing your face again with your morning cleanser that contains salicylic acid.
2. Follow with a calming night cream to prevent inflammation. Look for products with ingredients like green or white tea or chamomile extract.
3. Attack those pesky pimples at night—a spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. Concentrations range from 2.5% to 10% so choose a product accordingly, but 5% should be strong enough for spot treating.  Make sure the formula is dry before you hit the sheets to avoid bleaching your pillowcase!