BBQ’s and pool parties come hand in hand during these summer months. While men don’t even flinch about summer time, women tend to go into detox mode. All we need is a little bit of preparation tips & tricks to get the ball rolling and come prepared when that pool party arrives. So instead of biting your finger nails and becoming a detox princess, follow these guidelines…
After you’ve marked your special date on your calendar, the preparation can begin. You know you will be in a bikini soon, so what immediately comes to mind? Maybe we need a little bit of color, or spot treatments to concern areas? With the few weeks leading up to the event, we can exfoliate our body just like our faces a few times a week. This will get rid of all of the dead skin on the surface so that when we are ready to reveal our skin it will look healthy and smooth. In between exfoliation sessions, don’t forget about shaving. I know I am probably not the only one who likes to borrow good men’s shaving products. Grab some Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather. I say if it’s strong and comfortable enough for a man, then it would be bliss for a woman. After you shave, don’t forget to prevent and protect your freshly shaved areas with some ingrown hair/ bump fighters! For a suggestion, try Whish Flawless Bump Fighter.
The next prep step would be to pick out and apply a self tanner. We want to look golden and sun kissed at our events but without harm from the sun! We suggest that you take a look at the following self tan products:
They are all different options for different types of needs. They range from creams, to lotion/milk textures and even gel textures. These will get you glowing quickly and what a way to help slim up your figure too! Now that you are pretty much ready to flaunt your pool party body and smile, there are a few other items you should remember to stay flawless. Be sure you remember to always wear your preferred SPF products for the face and the body! If you need, there are always some relaxing and soothing after sun products as well. Click here for more info on after sun care.
You can also protect your hair during these weekend water & sun celebrations with products like:
Well I think we’ve pretty much covered as much as possible on how to prepare from head to toe. You should feel tan, toned, smooth and fit to stun when you arrive at your summer soiree. Oh, and don’t forget those designer shades!
We’re offering special 15% discount exclusive to our readers. Use promo code BLOG15 at SkinStore to save 15% for a limited time. It’s our way of saying “thank you” for being loyal readers!
Offer ends Monday, July 19, 2010.
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Determining your skin tone is essential when color matching foundation and selecting your most flattering makeup shades. Similar to selecting colors in clothing, the right hue can make you sparkle and shine. Complimentary colors enhance and brighten your complexion, while the wrong one makes you look drab and washed out.
Skin tones are separated into three general categories warm, cool and neutral. Keep in mind, within each skin tone there are different undertones or subtle hues in the skin. There are four basic undertones: yellow/orange, red/orange, blue/red and red. Warm skin tones have yellow/orange or red/orange undertones. While women with cool skin tones have blue/red or red undertones.
Use these helpful tips to determine your skin tone and better understand what colors best suit you.
Warm Skin Tone:
The majority of the population has a warm golden skin tone. Generally, people who have black, brown, blond, or red hair with brown, black or hazel eyes fall into this category. Women who have an olive complexion and tan easily also fall into this group. An easy way to determine your skin tone is by a simple vein test. If you look at the inside of your wrist (in natural light) and your veins look slightly green, then you have a warm skin tone.
The most flattering and natural makeup shades for warm skin tones are warm, earthy colors. Hues of brown, gold, bronze, olive, beige, champagne, sage green, cream, mocha, rust, and apricot are complimentary. Try to find foundations that are yellow or peach based and avoid foundations that have a pink or red base.
Cool Skin Tone:
Women with a cool skin tone have a pink, rosy undertone with subtle hints of blue. People with very fair skin, fine blond, black or brown hair with blue, green, or grey eyes most often fall into this category. A good indicator of a cooler complexion is if your skin is thinner, translucent, and sensitive or burns easily. If you look at the inside of your wrist and your veins appear to look slightly blue, then you have a cool under tone.
Cool skin tones most flattering and natural makeup shades are rich vibrant colors. Hues like navy, red, bright pink, raspberry, emerald green, plum, black, violet, turquoise and silver are complimentary. Look for foundations that are pink based and stay away from ones that have a yellow or orange base.
A common misconception for cool skin tones is to counteract redness by using a yellow based foundation. Using a foundation different from your natural skin tone masks your natural beauty. The wrong shade is often noticeable, leaving an orange or yellow ring around the jaw line. While the correct shade blends seamlessly, enhancing your natural skin tone.
Neutral Skin Tone:
If you find yourself not fitting into either the warm or cool category you may have a neutral skin tone. Luckily for neutral ladies, they look great in any color, warm or cool. Experimenting with a wide variety of colors will help determine what best suits you.
Look for foundations that are neutral in color, neither too yellow nor pink.
The right color choices for your skin tone will enhance and enliven your appearance. Simply put these helpful hints to use and be prepared for glowing compliments!
It’s no secret that glowing skin resonates with youth and good health. Here are the cardinal rules that you can follow to ensure pretty, radiant skin.
Diet: A healthy diet provides for healthy skin. To ensure that your complexion glows eat lots of vegetables, berries, fruits, healthy grains, calcium-rich foods like milk, yogurt and buttermilk. Incorporate healthy proteins like chicken and tofu, and omega-rich foods like fish and nuts. Eating healthily will not only make you feel better and healthier, it’ll also contribute to pretty, fresh, youthful and glowing skin!
Antioxidants: it’s a buzz word for a good reason. Antioxidants ward off aging (and many health problems) by protecting our cells from free radicals and oxidative stress. While a diet rich in antioxidants will contribute to healthy skin from the inside out, antioxidant-rich topical treatments that we apply to our skin will also help to ward off oxidative stress externally, resulting in a bright and even complexion. Topical antioxidant treatments come in many forms; serums, gels, lotions, creams, even built into cleansers and sunscreen products that we use… so there’s no excuse to not use an antioxidant product!
Sunscreen: Everyone should wear a sunscreen daily, even when it’s overcast the sun’s harmful rays penetrate through the clouds and can seriously damage our skin. Sun damaged skin is dull, lackluster and drab. It can also develop sun spots and excess freckles, resulting in an unsightly and uneven coloration. Skin cancer is caused by sun damage and can be prevented through regular use of sunscreen. There are many available sunscreen formulations on the market, so everyone will have their favorite (& no excuse to forgo one)!
Exfoliation: Just as everyone should wear a sunscreen, everyone should also exfoliate. Exfoliation is key to smooth, radiant skin. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells (which make the skin look lifeless and dull) and it helps to even the skin tone, so if you have existing sun damage or hyperpigmentation, exfoliating regularly can help to lessen the appearance of bothersome spots. Manual exfoliants have small granules to remove dead skin cells- look for products that contain jojoba beads, which are rounded particles that effectively scrub the skin. If you prefer a chemical exfoliant an alpha hydroxyl acid will do the trick; look for products that contain glycolic, lactic, citric, malic or mandelic acid. If you prefer a very gentle exfoliant, try enzymes which eat dead skin cells without disturbing the healthy skin barrier.
Hydration: Hydrated skin is plump and dewy, so everyone must use a moisturizer (even the oiliest skin types need to hydrate with a light, oil-free moisturizer). A moisturizer will lock hydration into the skin so treatment products can work more effectively- and a moisturizer will ward off premature aging too!
Remember that you can fake a little bit of a glow too- use illuminating products that boost the skin’s radiance, here are some of our favorites:
Philosophy Divine Illumination; what makes this anti-aging moisturizer especially unique are light diffusers and natural skin enhancers that help give skin luminosity for a healthy glow.
Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15; Skin instantly looks softer and younger with this handy multi-tasker. It delivers a hint of sheer coverage, subtle shimmer, SPF 15 and added moisture in one effortless application.?
What comes to mind when we mention “Grandpa’s Cologne”… a brisk aftershave with a lot of alcohol, a sensory overload of musk, spice, leather and tobacco? Let’s face it, for decades men’s fragrances were very limited and stereotyped. Colognes and aftershaves needed to exude a machismo usually associated with the manly images that were programmed into our heads by our fathers or grandfathers. The first time we used cologne or aftershave was our “right of passage”, when dad so proudly put his hand on our shoulder, welcoming us into manhood!
Oh how things have changed! (Thank goodness!) Men have so many more choices in fragrance today than we did just 10 or 20 years ago. But with so many options where do you start?
First of all you need to ask yourself, “What statement am I trying to make with this fragrance?” Do I want someone to walk by me and notice how clean and fresh I smell? Am I trying to give a distinct smell that’s “me” just to capture someone’s attention that I like? Do I want to distinguish myself amongst a room full of people by having a captivating smell that no one has ever experienced before? Whichever your goal, make sure you understand what the goal is and how your choice in fragrance will achieve that.
Second, fragrances are categorized by their underlying tones: spice, woodsy, aromatic, citrus, floral, and aquatic. When you go into a department or fragrance store, don’t be afraid to ask which fragrances are in a certain category. After smelling several in each category you will be able to narrow your search. Some fragrances are now designed to be Unisex, fragrances for both men and women. They usually have a clean, fresh, aquatic theme and don’t sway toward any typical masculine or feminine notes.
Third, once you find a fragrance you like, spray some on and wear it for about 30 – 60 minutes before you decide. Fragrances have multiple levels of notes. The first layer is what you smell fresh from the bottle and sprayed on. The second layer is what remains later after you’ve sprayed it on and the first layer has blended in. The third layer is some of the undertone notes that help to make up the key ingredients of the fragrance. This smell remains consistent and should not change. Also be aware fragrances change with everyone’s chemistry! What smells great on a buddy may seem totally different on you after reacting to your body’s chemistry.
Fourth, notice how I keep using the term “fragrance”? Fragrances are broken down into different levels of potency or how strong they are. The term “Perfume” or “Parfum” describes the fragrance level and not simply a woman’s fragrance. From strongest to lightest, the order is as follows: Parfum, Eu De Parfum, Eu De Toilette, and (deodorants, body washes, bath oils etc.) Colognes are a body spray that fall in the Eu De Toilette category and smell strong when first applied, but fade quickly. The higher up you are in the fragrance intensity the more costly. Example one half ounce of Parfum oil may cost $250 and up, whereas your favorite Eu De Toilette (cologne) may cost $45 for a 4 ounce bottle.
Finally choose a fragrance that’s not a cheapie or “our version of”. Inexpensive or knock off fragrances are made of lower grade ingredients that can overwhelm everyone around you. There’s nothing worse than being remembered for how bad your cologne smelled. In my opinion I’d rather smell clean from having showered and wearing clean clothes and wearing no fragrance, than smelling offensive and cheap from a poor choice in cologne.
Spritz on that manly fragrance and step into the world with confidence!
SpaRitual Open Minded Organic Sugar Scrub – This is a great body scrub for dry dull skin types. Great to use before a self tanning product is applied for better application and longer lasting results.
Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel – You can use this peel as a weekly skin boost. The peel contains alpha hydroxy acids to gently, yet effectively exfoliate and brighten your skin. This product also comes in a sensitive skin formulation. Allure magazine gives this peel their seal of approval.
Melvita Essentials Firming Mask – This mask works great for dry, aging skin in need of moisture. You can also leave it on overnight for added hydration.
There are many different products out there that are natural, gentle, and effective.
If you are not familiar with Jurlique, you may want to look at the great products they have to offer. If you are already an avid Jurlique user, you should check out their new Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator. This is a great treatment you can add in to your regimen a few times weekly. You can leave this on for only 5 minutes to achieve clear radiant skin.
This exfoliator contains natural fruit extracts and enzymes to resurface and brighten the skin the natural way. Jurlique’s signature ingredient marshmallow root will detoxify, soothe inflammation, and condition the skin. This product also contains willow bark extract which helps to stimulate cell renewal and is a natural antiseptic and anti-flammatory.
This product is suitable for all skin types, but people who want a skin boost are going to love this product. The Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator will also assist in the effectiveness of other products that you may be using. It is going to help to firm, even out skin tone, and reduce fine lines.
As always you will want to wear a daily sunscreen if you are going to be using this product or any others that have skin resurfacing results. Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30+ would be an excellent choice. This is a broad spectrum sunscreen with Vitamin E to give the skin additional protection and antioxidant benefits.
There are a million different options, products and brands to choose from these days when it comes to beauty. If you are a newcomer to the industry or even one who has dabbled in the industry, it can still be an overwhelming market. It has been surveyed time and time again that one of the major factors when deciding on what products to buy, comes from either word of mouth or consumer ratings. So… my gift to all of you is a list of award winning and highly recognized products that are available on SkinStore.com. (Please keep in mind however, that if a product isn’t on this list it does NOT mean it’s not a great product! Many products are underrated and even under recognized!)
So for those who prefer to listen to their fellow beauty connoisseurs, this is just a simple list of used and loved products. Hopefully this helps when looking for new products to add to your regimen. It feels good to know where to turn to when in doubt and I’ve got you covered!
As we all know, many changes occur while going through menopause. Decreased estrogen levels cause the skin to become thinner and more prone to damage. It is crucial to keep the skin hydrated and protected from harmful UV rays. Besides the standard sunscreen and moisturizer routine, women can also make beneficial diet choices for added skin benefits. The next time you prepare a meal, try to incorporate these ingredients:
Essential Fatty Acids: Load up on foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and nuts. Omega-3 keeps skin hydrated and supple. A weekly sushi splurge will keep your skin glowing from the inside out!
Phytoestrogens: In recent studies, women who consume high amounts of soy had fewer complaints regarding menopause symptoms. Individuals who eat soy consistently had fewer hot flashes, increased bone density, and a lower risk of heart disease.
Polyphenols: Grape polyphenols, found in red wine and grape skins are beneficial for pre and post menopausal women. Resveratol, found in grape polyphenols has been proven to lower the risk of coronary heart disease. Don’t be modest; indulge in a glass of wine over dinner and cheers to better health!
I’ve had three cups of black coffee this morning. I’m wide awake but my newly-bleached teeth are not so pearly white anymore. Stained, lackluster teeth are not in this season. Coffee breath isn’t very sexy, either. But I have no toothbrush, and I haven’t got mouthwash. I won’t smack my gum in the morning meeting with the boss. I will, however, call on the little tooth fairy that I hide in my drawer. Amidst the candies, business cards, paper clips, hides a box of GoSMILE Touch Up’s. These portable, single-dose ampoules work like a mid-day brush, specifically targeting the bacteria that cause bad breath and refreshing the entire mouth, these ampoules to help polish teeth after and between whitenings so teeth stay lustrous and pretty! And these handy dandy touch ups come in a wide array of flavors. Fresh Mint is a classic staple. Watermelon Mint is yummy and sweet, and Green Apple is tangy and sour. White teeth for everyone! Hoorah!
Why is it that men are commonly referred to as “distinguished” when they have salt and pepper hair, yet women don’t receive the same props? The locks of silver haired male icons Richard Gere, Harrison Ford and Sean Connery drip sex appeal, though they are well on their way to over the hill. Is it a societal norm instilled through the media or is there a genetic factor that contributes to this phenomenon?
Society may influence our perceptions of male and female beauty, but science has a lot to do with it! Men’s skin is thicker than women’s because of male hormones i.e. testosterone. Consequently, women are more susceptible to damaging UV rays because their skin is much thinner than men’s. This is why men generally have fewer wrinkles than women, which in turn keeps their skin looking younger.
As women enter the big M, the lack of estrogen depletes the skin of collagen and elastin, making the skin vulnerable and less resilient. Men’s skin also thins as they age, but at a much slower rate, roughly 1% per year. Women’s skin is much more likely to suffer from hyperpigmentation and rough texture because of an increased sensitivity to sun damage. Whereas men are less susceptible to damaging UV rays because their thicker skin acts as a shield to the sun. Sun damage accounts for roughly 80 percent of the aging process to the skin. As always (women especially) don’t forgot the sun block! We like La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Melt In Sunscreen Milk and SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30. For oily skin types we suggest La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid.
Many other factors also contribute to the aging process such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet and genetics. Living a clean and healthy lifestyle will help you age gracefully into your golden years.
lotion/milk textures and even gel textures. These will get you glowing quickly and what a way to help slim up your figure too! Now that you are pretty much ready to flaunt your pool party body and smile, there are a few other items you should remember to stay flawless. Be sure you remember to always wear your preferred SPF products for the face and the body! If you need, there are always some relaxing and soothing after sun products as well. Click here for more info on after sun care.
Determining your skin tone is essential when color matching foundation and selecting your most flattering makeup shades. Similar to selecting colors in clothing, the right hue can make you sparkle and shine. Complimentary colors enhance and brighten your complexion, while the wrong one makes you look drab and washed out.
It’s no secret that glowing skin resonates with youth and good health. Here are the cardinal rules that you can follow to ensure pretty, radiant skin.
What comes to mind when we mention “Grandpa’s Cologne”… a brisk aftershave with a lot of alcohol, a sensory overload of musk, spice, leather and tobacco? Let’s face it, for decades men’s fragrances were very limited and stereotyped. Colognes and aftershaves needed to exude a machismo usually associated with the manly images that were programmed into our heads by our fathers or grandfathers. The first time we used cologne or aftershave was our “right of passage”, when dad so proudly put his hand on our shoulder, welcoming us into manhood!
This smell remains consistent and should not change. Also be aware fragrances change with everyone’s chemistry! What smells great on a buddy may seem totally different on you after reacting to your body’s chemistry.
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