Dry skin has lower levels of sebum causing the skin to become prone to sensitivity and environmental harm. Giving the skin proper nutrients that are naturally lacking for this skin type is important so the skin can produce its own defensive oils. Here are a few products that will put your skin on the path to rejuvenation and euphoria…for a price that fits your budget.

Make-Up Removers

 

Cleansers

Toners

Treatments

Daily Moisturizers

Night Moisturizers

Weekly Masks

Did you find this helpful? Leave us a comment below. Don’t have dry/sensitive skin? Be sure to check out my other article: Finding The Right Products – For Oily/Acne Prone Skin. Have Normal/Combination Skin?? Your recommendations are coming soon! Also, coming soon: Beauty and Body Products!

Products featured in this article:  Klorane Soothing Makeup Remover with Cornflower Extract, Susan Ciminelli Cleansing Milk, La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, Dr. Brandt Anti Irritant Comforting Cleanser, Elizabeth Arden Hydra Splash Alcohol Free Toner, Kerstin Florian Rose Tonic, Pevonia Face Oil, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, Avene Cold Crème, BABOR Baborganic Ultra Moisturizing Cream, Stiefel Impruv Natural Repair Cream, Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Goodnight Facial Cream, Avene Soothing Moisture Mask, Yonka Masque No 1.

Jacqueline Bissett once said that “Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful”.
The key is to not only look beautiful, but feel great too. That inner beauty, outer health stuff can seem a bit daunting at times. So it is my goal to keep the beauty exertion to a minimum to get maximum results.

 

A good suggestion would be to take notes on what you see on television or in magazines. You might like the look of Scarlett Johansson’s soft creamy skin or the way Sarah Jessica Parker always looks bronzy and fresh. True beauty does not mean having a professional makeup artist on hand and no budget. We can all look like celebrities without the expense.

 

Having been a makeup artist for years, I have learned that makeup looks better on hydrated and healthy skin. From teens to brides, to aging gracefully older women, makeup can only look as good as the skin beneath it. I suggest using a gentle exfoliate a couple times per week. Goodbye old skin, hello healthy glow! A great exfoliating product is the Jan Marini Skin Zyme. This is suitable for all skin types. This product will help to combat acne, hyperpigmentation and overall improvement of your skin’s texture and tone.

 

Next, you need a little moisture. Even if the oil is dripping down your face, you need to use an oil free moisturizer with SPF. For oily skin types try DDF Mattifying Oil Control UV Moisturizer SPF 15. This will help to provide a mattifying effect on the skin. If your skin is dry and sensitive try the Ole Henriksen Skin Insulator with SPF 15. This product is especially great to use for those cold winter months.

 

 After your skin has been perfected by the use of great skin care you are now ready to apply your makeup. For that fresh glowing look at any age try sweeping a light metallic shade (silver or a light gray looks fantastic) across your entire lid. Then apply an emerald or deep blue along the base of your lashes. This will add instant glamour to your eyes. Put on some mascara, a soft pink blush add some gloss and your done! A good rule of thumb at any age is to blend your shadows and choose eye colors to enhance the color of your natural eye. Try choosing the opposite color as your eye color, and you will see that opposites really do attract! For example for those brown eyed beauties try using a green or maroon shadow. If you have blue eyes a green or soft rose maroon shadow also will look fabulous. Another trick is to highlight under the brow using a light champagne or pearl white, you really will look wide eyed and awake for the rest of the day.

 

For the 40 and up gals we suggest using a skin primer with a matte based foundation to bring out your beauty. A matte based foundation will even your skin tone and hide those imperfections. We recommend the bareMinerals bareVitamins Prime Time, to use under your matte foundation. This primer is oil free, contains vitamins, and licorice extract. The licorice extract has natural skin brightening and age-defying benefits. Try topping off the look with a little bit of color for your cheeks. We recommend Fusion Beauty GlowFusion MicroTech Intuitive Active Bronzer in sunshine. This product is the first of its kind that contains topical-injectable technology. This helps to smooth, firm and protect the skin. It also contains a wrinkle relaxant and vitamin C to help with those age spots and fight nasty free radicals. This is a must try for those of us that want skin protection and age prevention.

 

True beauty is attainable at any age. The trick is to look like you, only better. Enhancing your best features will create your own personalized look. Who knows, there may be someone taking notes and noticing how put together and fabulous you look.

 

Products featured in this article: Jan Marini Skin Zyme, DDF Mattifying Oil Control UV Moisturizer SPF 15, Ole Henriksen Skin Insulator with SPF 15, bareMinerals bareVitamins Prime Time, Fusion Beauty GlowFusion MicroTech Intuitive Active Bronzer.

How do I know when my cosmetics products will expire? What is the expiration date of my face cream? The list of questions about when cosmetics and skin care will expire will continue to be on our top 10 list of common questions.

 

To answer this question, it is important to note that though the FDA requires manufactures to declare information regarding product ingredients, and proper labeling and/or packaging that does not mislead, currently no requirement exists for cosmetics or skin care manufacturers to supply expiration dates. There are a few exceptions such as, products containing sun protection factors, and certain over the counter treatment type ingredients that may be in some acne and hair care products.

 

Knowing that expiration dates are not required on skin care and cosmetic products is highly important. Now more than ever, consumer education becomes a critical element in making sure that the skin care products you use daily are safe, free from contaminates, and not spoiled. So how long is too long, one may ask? In the age of the recessionista, skin care and cosmetics is one area you will not want to be over conservative on, don’t fall into the snare of saving your old product to save money; it’s just not worth it.

 

Have you ever seen the label to the right? Do you know what it means? Take a look at some of your products; you may be surprised to see it on a large portion of them. Though not required here in the U.S. many manufacturers are adopting European Union’s system for regulating open product shelf life. In the example to the right, the symbol represents a guideline of a 12 month shelf life AFTER the product has been opened. Good to know! But there is a flaw, you still have to use your noodle when it comes to product safety, so if you share products, use your fingers in products, expose them to heat or any other contamination factors, you need to be aware that your products may need to be replaced sooner, the label is just a guideline.

 

From a skin care perspective, some products have a one-two year shelf life before they are opened and some even longer. Once a product has been opened, shelf life varies however; it is the contamination factor that becomes an area of concern. Cosmetics shelf life also varies and I would not recommend long term unopened storage for most cosmetics. Again, once opened, the clock starts ticking, don’t let it be a bacteria time bomb! As a general rule, common sense play’s a huge part in making sure that your products are safe, there are no hard fast rules, just merely smart guidelines and suggestions.

 

General safety guidelines:

 

• Don’t share your products with friends (avoid testers, and don’t borrow any product either, you don’t know where that product has been, that is just gross)
• Wash your hands before use, and always keep the outside of your containers clean (I used single application alcohol swabs for my containers)
• Store product in a cool, dry, dark place
• Securely replace product caps, lids, or other opening device after each use
• If your products color, consistency, smell or texture changes, throw it out (product with Vitamin C will change color if exposed to oxygen or sunlight)
• Don’t stick your fingers in your product jars, single use applicators like a sponge, cotton swab, or a cosmetic spatula are best (no double dipping)
• Wash your brushes at least once per month and disinfect between uses
• Don’t expose or store your product where temperatures can heat up like in your car for example.
• Don’t add any water, or even worse, saliva to your products (again, that is just gross)
• Never, never, never use products in multiple areas, for example, using an eye liner simultaneously as your lip liner (gross!) germs from your mouth can transfer to your eyes
• If you get an eye infection, don’t use any eye products and make sure you promptly toss out all product you had used before you got the infection, better to be safe than sorry!
• If you have acne, it is extremely important that you understand that using product can not only exacerbate your concern, but applicators can become loaded with bacteria which can further spread acne to other areas of your face. Never apply product to an open lesion and always use clean fresh applicators

 

Specifics:

 

Mascara:                          At least every 3 mos. Dropped it? Toss it!

Eyeliner (pencil):                Sharpened daily, you can use for up to 18 mos.

Eyeliner (liquid):                 Up to 3-6 mos. Dropped it? Toss it!

Eye Shadow (cream):          Up to 6 mos.

Eye Shadow (powder):        Up to 18-24 mos.

Concealer:                        Up to 12 mos. (sooner if used up to the eye)

Foundation:                       Up to 12 mos.

Powder:                            Up to 18 mos.

Blush/Bronzer (powder):      Up to 18 mos.

Blush (cream):                   Up to 6-12 mos.

Lip Liner:                          Up to 12 mos.

Lip Stick/Gloss:                  Up to 18 mos.

 

Remember, to save a little money is a good thing! But whatever you do, don’t take a chance on bad product! If it smells funky, changes color or texture, toss it! Product containing natural ingredients can spoil more quickly, but colors can also vary from batch to batch, just be aware of your purchase date and the date you opened the product. Products containing Vitamin C can change color to become more amber, this is natural, BUT if you have had the product open for an extended period of time, it may be time for a replacement. My final suggestion, use a sharpie to mark the purchase dates as well as the open dates on each of your products. In the end, it could save you more money, expense and pain by reducing your risk of infection or ugly side effects associated with putting bad product on your face.

 

Sources: Paula’s Choice, FDA, FDA Cosmetics Guidance.

If you’ve ever wanted that perfect smoky eye look you know it is not as easy as it appears. When dealing with the eye area it looks as easy as cake…it can be if you have the proper instructions. The basic smoky eye can be achieved in about four easy steps.

 

First you’d want to select some complementary colors to use for your eye area. For people with lighter eyes and hair, we’d suggest using purple shades or lighter shades of brown. For people with darker eyes and hair, we’d suggest darker shades of brown and black. You want two similar eye colors which are about 2 shades different from each other. One shade on the lighter side of the color spectrum and one shade on the darker side of the spectrum, but not too big of a gap. You will also need either, a silver shade for lighter skin and a white/ gold shade for people with darker skin tones for a highlighter. Your last two product tools for this look will be eyeliner and mascara.

 

First apply your lighter shade eye shadow over your entire lid as your base. Next you would want to use the darker shade to use in the eye contour area or crease area of the lid. To make your eye area appear bigger, extend the darker shade a little above the crease area as well. Using a blending brush, start from the inner eye area and in short circular strokes blend the two shades to the outer section of the eye. The two shades should completely blend into each other, leaving no harsh looking lines around the eye area. To really accentuate the eyes, always make sure that the area on the outer corner is your darkest area. After everything is blended together, apply your highlighter shade to the area below the brow bone. Do not apply the highlighter past the inner corner or outer corner of the eyebrow. Your last couple steps are to apply your eyeliner and mascara which complete your “ready to go out dancing” perfect smoky eye. If you are unsure of which colors to choose and still confused on exactly how to apply the colors, you can purchase products like Stila’s Smoky Eye Palette. They have a few different color options to choose from and they provide an electronic voice box which walks you through each step on how to apply your smoky eye.

 

For more information about Stila’s Smoky Eye Palette, visit us at SkinStore!

A passing glance may have more power than you thought. With the bat of an eye, men are left pining and women wondering how to mimic that sultry stare.  False eyelashes are the quickest and easiest way to vamp up any look, whether it may be a night out on the town or your wedding day.

 

Women are often frightened by the notion of false eyelashes. This may possibly be because of past tribulations or the assumption they are too difficult to apply on your own.  False eyelashes should not be a part of your everyday beauty regimen, rather a treat for special occasions. Gather round darlings, and discover just how easy it is to apply fake lashes without unnecessary drama.

 

Step 1:

Measure your eye and trim the lashes to fit your own individual eye shape. You may choose to only add lashes to the outside corner of the eyes. This creates a more natural, wispy look. Or for the more daring diva, apply the whole lash strip for a dramatic effect.

 

Step 2:

Bend the lash strip so that it curves and fits well along your natural lash line. Tip: Hold the lash against the curve of your thumb for 20 seconds, so that the shape holds.

 

Step 3:

Apply a thin layer of clear eyelash adhesive to the edge of the lash strip. You may find it easier to first apply the glue to the back of your hand and then dab the glue on the strip from there. This ensures you will not accidently apply too much glue. Allow 10-15 seconds for the glue to become tacky before applying the lashes.

 

Step 4:

Make sure to apply mascara to your natural lashes before applying the false lashes. It is crucial to curl your natural lashes after applying mascara, but before applying the false lashes. The false lashes will blend-in much better when your natural lashes are curled.

 

Step 5:

Apply lashes as close as possible to the natural lash line and press firmly against the skin. Hold for 10 seconds, allowing glue to adhere. Check to make sure the lashes are placed correctly and press lightly for 30 more seconds to allow glue to dry.

 

Step 6:

Once the glue has dried, touch up with a thin line of liquid eyeliner and a coat of mascara to fully blend lashes together.

 

Finito! Your sultry look is complete! Remember practice makes perfect and do not postpone applying fake lashes for the first time right before a big event. After just a few applications, you’ll be a pro!

The oily/acne prone type individual usually instinctively wants to remove as much oil and shine from their face ASAP. Keep in mind that it is key that you do not strip your skin of its essential oils or you will put your skin in “protection mode”, the result is that your skin will naturally be stimulated to produce more sebum. Here are some helpful product comparisons for your skin type – you get to decide which one works for your budget.

 

Make-Up Removers

 

Cleansers

 

Toners/Astringents

 

All Over Treatments

 

Spot Treatments

 

Daily Moisturizers

 

Night Moisturizers

 

Weekly Masks

 

A majority of the time, oily skin can be a passing phase. So with patience and a proper skin care regimen your oily skin will no longer have to feel like a burden, it will be something you’re proud of.

 

Don’t have oily/acne prone skin? Be sure to check out my other article: Dry/Sensitive Skin. Coming Soon: Normal/Combination Skin & Bath and Beauty Products!

 

Want more recommendations? Get your own personal consultation now at SkinStore with Product Advisor, developed by our estheticians! 

 

Products featured in this article: Boscia Purifying Cleanser, Yonka Gel Nettoyant, Stiefel PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash, Euoko A-10 Matte Foam, La Roche Posay Effaclar Toner Astringent Lotion, Euoko A-20 Matte Water, Glytone Acne Gel, Exuviance Night Renewal Hydragel, Neutrogena on the Spot Acne Treatment, Pevonia Spot Treatment, SensiClear Blemish Free Acne Treatment Lotion, Kinerase Clear Skin Moisture Light, PCA SKIN pHaze 18 Clearskin, Jan Marini Age Intervention Transitions, Glytone Acne Facial Masque, Cellex-C Betaplex Clear Complexion Masque.

 

Get your complete skincare fix at www.SkinStore.com!

Summer may be over, but summer hair has not gone out of style just yet. There’s nothing sexier than tousled waves and it’s a definite plus that it’s a ‘do’ according to all the trendy magazines. Just flip through Vogue and you’ll find mane mavens galore gracing the pages with their shiny, luscious waves. What’s great about tousled waves is that you don’t need to call Frederic Fekkai to do your hair; with his products you can skip your styling appointment! I find that Frederic Fekkai’s Marine Summer Hair Beachcomber Leave-In Conditioner is outstanding for making waves.  Wash your hair, spray a bit of Summer Hair Beachcomber Leave-In Conditioner throughout your whole head, then blow-dry or better yet, air dry. Once your hair is dry twist small sections of your hair and sprits once more with Frederic Fekkai’s Marine Summer Hair Beachcomber Leave-In Conditioner and… voila! Perfect, polished waves without mess or stress!

So here we are at the beginning of another holiday season, with gift lists in hand, we are off to our favorite retail locations and websites to find all the right gifts for all of the special people in our life!  

 

This year, many of us are choosing to slim down our holiday budget, but we still want to give gifts that are meaningful. As reported on the Today show, even Neiman Marcus has gotten into the spirit of savings by offering almost 50 percent of the items in their holiday catalog at $250 or less! With that being said, for those of us who will not be giving small aircraft or luxury cars as gifts this year, the gift of scent can be a perfect option.

 

Gentlemen, you should know that the woman in your life probably loves perfume, but she may not always want to purchase it herself. Surprise her! The Calvin Klein Woman’s Coffret Set offers a selection of half ounce or sample sizes of all the hottest scents. Euphoria, Eternity, Secret Obsession, CK One, and Obsession for Women, they are all included (supplies may be limited!).

 

Another option is the CLEAN Coffret Holiday Set. Get 1oz. size of each scent including the Original Eau de Parfum, Shower Fresh, Simply Soap, and Warm Cotton. CLEAN is a fresh smelling line of scent that is not over stated. The scents are soft and wear well through the day.

 

Ladies, you know you love it when your man smells super delicious! Kenneth Cole Black is a classic, it smells clean and fresh. The Kenneth Cole Black Gift Set includes the Black Eau de Toilette, travel size, after shave gel and the deodorant. This set is perfect for the man on the go and it smells Yummy!

 

Whether you are spending a little or a lot this year, fragrance can be the perfect gift of choice. Stop in at the SkinStore.com Fragrance department and check out all of the goodies. Even the teens and tweens will be happy; we have the Harajuku Lovers, 10 varieties to choose from!

 

Products featured in this article: Calvin Klein Woman’s Coffret Set, CLEAN Coffret Holiday Set, Kenneth Cole Black Gift Set, Harajuku Lovers.

 

Source: MSNBC

Looking for a new way to exfoliate? Have we got a product for you! SkinCeuticals has recently launched Retexturing Activator, which uses a chemical exfoliant that is unlike any other. The revolutionary product surpasses the results of a 20% glycolic daily use treatment!

 

We all love our tried and true alpha hydroxyl acid for exfoliation, but sometimes it can become irritating to our skin and can cause sensitivity to the sun. Alpha hydroxyl acid works by dissolving the glue like substance between dead skin cells thereby allowing the dead cells to slough off. The SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator works differently. This patent pending product stimulates the protease enzyme in your skin that aides in your natural exfoliation and hydration.  

 

The protease enzyme basically herds the skin cells to the surface of your skin, where they can turn into a corneocyte. Corneocytes are a component of the stratum corneum layer of the skin and contain proteins and some other water soluble substances that help your skin’s barrier to function properly, keeping you well hydrated and protecting you from any cellular damage. Once these protease enzyme have done their job, the corneocytes are ready to fall off (natural exfoliation).  Proteases help keep this process moving so that you can produce new skin cells faster and keep your skin’s barrier in proper shape. This even helps to prevent acne from forming since the dead skin cells aren’t able to collect and bind together to clog your pores.

 

If your protease enzymes are stimulated, then your cell renewal rate will be increased because you are naturally shedding skin cells faster. Your body will produce new healthy cells to fill their place. What does this mean for you? Healthier, younger looking, more hydrated, even toned skin! Without the irritation!

 

So now you may be asking “what exactly is the active ingredient that makes this product so fantastic?” There are a couple of amazing ingredients; the one we are most excited about is the Hydroxyethyl Urea/ Aminosulfonic Acid Compound. SkinCeuticals uses this ingredient in a 25% concentration. The SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator also contains Kombucha and Hyaluronic Acid.

 

Learn more about this product at SkinStore!

 

Written by our Special Guest Writer Marie!

Looking good comes in all color variations. These days vampires seem to be everywhere! Just because they are the “big craze” of late, doesn’t mean our skin has to mimic their pale, sallow looking skin tones. We all know that a little color in our skin helps us appear healthy. Whether you tan in a bed (hopefully on a rare occasion) or utilize temporary tanning methods, it’s nice to have products that will help maintain and protect your color.

 

The first tip to help optimize your tan is exfoliation of your skin. It has always been an important part of your regular skin care regimen, so why wouldn’t you follow through on the rest of your body? Exfoliating your body will smooth out your skin and rid your skin of all the dead skin cells. This process will help prep the skin for an even and more efficient spray tan application. As far as regular tanning goes, it also helps smooth the skin texture and will help to enhance your skins natural process of melanin production. Not only can different exfoliations help rid the skin of dead cells, but some can offer antioxidant protection, help balance your skin PH levels, and even tone your skin as well. Some popular body exfoliating products include Belli Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator, Sundari Gotu Kola and Walnut Body Exfoliator, and AHAVA Gentle Body Exfoliator.

 

To help maintain your tan, there are a few different options to choose from. You can choose to use self tanners to enhance or build color when your tan starts to fade. We’d recommend products such as Decleor Aroma Sun SPF 8 Hydrating Self Tanning Milk or kits such as Fake Bake Self Tanning Lotion Tri-Pack, which includes all of the tanning essentials. In addition to the previously listed products, there are also body moisturizers which contain ingredients that help extend the life of your tan. These moisturizers usually offer benefits like replenishing your skin’s moisture, firming the skin, smoothing the skin’s texture, and even help aid in skin repair while utilizing tanning beds. Alchimie Forever has a highly rated after sun product available, as does Lancaster when searching for good suggestions for a tan extender.

 

If you are someone who enjoys having a little color on your skin, we suggest you follow the regimen suggested above for optimal results. If you are going to take the time to invest on giving your skin some color, you may as well make sure you get the best value for your dollar! Pamper yourself and go get that golden, glamorous glow!

 

Products featured in this blog: Belli Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator, Sundari Gotu Kola and Walnut Body Exfoliator, AHAVA Gentle Body Exfoliator, Decleor Aroma Sun SPF 8 Hydrating Self Tanning Milk, Fake Bake Self Tanning Lotion Tri-Pack, Alchimie Forever, Lancaster.

 

Visit us at www.SkinStore.com, we’d love to help you find all of your skincare needs.