Light therapy is something that has been around in the beauty world for quite some time now. I always get a kick out of watching the 1939 movie “The Women” starring Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. (Some of us remember images of Joan Crawford with a green cold cream mask on, YIKES!) In the movie you see what the glamorous day spas for women were like during that era, and all the bizarre treatments and beauty devices; one of those including light therapy.
Typical light therapy from decades ago would involve giving a client a relaxing facial followed by either oils, creams, or masks and the use of either a white, blue, or red lamp depending on the skin type and desired result. Clients would typically relax on the spa bed for several minutes allowing the product and light to penetrate.
OH HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED! The light therapy used today is an entirely new era of advanced technology. Comparing the old school light therapy lamps to the technology used in the Baby Quasars is like comparing apples to oranges.
The Baby Quasar utilizes the latest technology with specific wavelengths of infrared and natural light energy to stimulate skin cells. The Baby Quasar Red uses light to stimulate blood flow, cellular metabolism, and collagen production. The Baby Quasar Blue uses light to kill acne bacteria deep within the pores. When the Baby Quasar Red and Baby Quasar Blue are used in combination, clinical studies have shown an even greater benefit in treating inflammatory acne.
Ongoing use of the Baby Quasar Red and Baby Quasar Blue can help to reduce acne breakouts and inflammation, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce pore size, increase blood flow and circulation, replace damage skin cells over time, and accelerate your skin’s deep healing.
For years and years I have been plagued with ongoing spurts of acne breakouts at the base of my hairline. The technical term is Scalp Folliculitis. They come and go, and no matter what products or treatments I have tried nothing seems to work. We recently completed training with a Baby Quasar representative and we were fortunate enough to have a Baby Quasar Power Pack to use. After just 5 treatments I have seen a significant
reduction in breakouts and the areas of skin that had deep inflammation are now healing!
The Baby Quasar products are a revolutionary break through in skin care technology. I know once you purchase a Baby Quasar Power Pack and begin your new regimen, you will be hooked!
Is your face round like Kirsten Dunst’s? Or is it heart shaped like Reese Witherspoon’s? Perhaps it’s square like Jennifer Garner’s. Or maybe it’s oval like Jessica Alba’s. Whatever your face shape may be, there’s a way of balancing to bring out your best, and diffuse your worst. Here are some great make-up tips to suit your shape:
Round shaped: If your face is literally round- with a balance of width between the jawbone and brow bone, and a little roundness to the cheeks, give your face depth, definition and contour by way of bronzer. Swirl a bushy brush in some bronzer (we like NUXE Poudre Eclat Prodigieux Multi-Usage Compact Bronzing Powder) and draw a ‘3’ on both sides of your face; starting the top of the 3 at the corner of your forehead, pulling the 3 through to the cheekbone and ending the 3 at the jaw. A smoky eye in shimmery brown or grey will bring out your most sparkly feature and give your face even more depth and definition.
Heart shaped: If you have a razor sharp chin and prominent cheekbones draw attention away with a soft pink cheek (bareMinerals Blush – Giddy Pink is lovely), and a pop of color on the lips (red is exquisite, plum is sultry, pink is cheerful- what’s your favorite?). Also, draw attention to the eyes with bronze and gray shades- but don’t give the eye too much structure with liner, instead use soft shadows and a smidgen of mascara to make the eyes really pop.
Square shaped: You’ve got structure all over- it seems that square shaped faces usually come paired with a strong nose too. Use sheer washes of color to soften the linear look- shimmery shades make the skin look flawless, luminous and ethereal. Build buxom lashes and draw the attention to your gorgeous eyes. We love Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black for crazy lengths and volume.
Oval shaped: Oval beauties have soft angles, and are elongated at the sides. To help cut down the length of your face use bronzer and brush to paint a bit of a horizon across your cheeks; this will bring out the width of the face. We love new Philosophy The Supernatural You Make Me Blush Hugs Kisses Powder Duo. Oval shapes also do really well with the cat-eye look because it virtually extends the width of the face. Use black eyeliner or a stiff shadow brush to fan out smoky shadow at the corner of the eye. Meow!
What’s your face shape and have these tips helped you? Leave us a comment below.
For those of you wanting the benefit of microdermabrasion without all the cost involved we have some excellent choices for you. But what exactly is the definition of this fancy word? Dermabrasion is the use of a physical exfoliant to remove or rub off the top layer of dead skin cells. The result is a fresh layer of newer skin cells revealing a more glowing, healthy skin, less fine lines and wrinkles, and fewer sun spots or hyperpigmentation.
Microdermabrasion is usually done at either a dermatologist’s office or estheticians salon or spa. The “micro” part comes with the use of micro aluminum oxide crystals that are blasted onto the skin with air pressure and immediately vacuumed off the skin. Microdermabrasion has little if any down time.
SkinStore has some wonderful at home tools that provide you the opportunity to get similar results to microdermabrasion without the office or spa appointments, or the associated cost.
If you prefer a tool instead of a product you can use this by itself:
The Personal Microderm Tool Kit
Removes the thin layer of dead skin cells so that rejuvenation creams and serums can sink deeper into the skin and work more effectively…Greatly enhances poor, dull skin texture by gently resurfacing the superficial skin layers…Polishes and reduces fine, crêpe lines on the cheeks generally caused by aging and sun damage…DVD and written directions included.
If you prefer a product instead of a tool you can use one of the following by themselves:
ZO Skin Health Offects Exfoliating Polish
Round magnesium crystals exfoliate dead skin cells, increase epidermal turnover and create a clearer, smoother, more even-toned complexion.
Lierac Paris Micro Abrasion Exfoliating Smoothing Cream This stimulating smoothing cream contains alumina crystals for deep-down exfoliation and urea for optimum comfort, giving an immediate radiance-boosting effect, refined skin texture and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion
Magnesium oxide crystals polish away dead skin cells leaving skin radiant. These diamond shaped crystals exfoliate evenly without scratching or irritating the skin while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and improving the overall texture of the skin. Helps clear acne prone skin and improves scars. Ideal for the face, arms, hands and neck.
As with any skin resurfacing product, either chemical or physical, it is imperative to use an SPF of 20 or higher after having a resurfacing done. Not protecting your newly revealed skin cells can cause damage from UVA/UVB rays and cause your skin to rapidly age. SkinMedica TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer SPF 20 is a great choice.
Restore that youthful healthy glow to your skin and have everyone wondering how you did it!
Which do you prefer: “in office” microdermabrasion or “at home” microdermabrasion? Leave us a comment below!
Are your locks not looking so luscious lately? Shiny, happy hair may be easier than you thought. Simply, scour the contents of your fridge and viola your strands are back in the game! All you need is apple juice, apple cider vinegar and pear juice for an easy at home remedy.
Apples not only keep the doctor away, but also revive tired, dull, over processed tresses. Apples contain key vitamins and are loaded with potassium to help strengthen your hair. Studies have also shown that apple polyphenols stimulate hair growth.
Pear juice is added to the mix, which contains a low pH balance. A low pH is crucial because it changes the hair’s electric charge, allowing the cuticle to lie flat. When the hair lies flat, light is reflected imparting a shinier appearance.
Last, but certainly not least is Apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is highly acidic, quickly removing excess oil from the scalp and waxy buildup. The hair is left squeaky clean, glossy and manageable.
Ingredients: 1 cup of apple juice, 1 cup of pear juice, and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Directions: Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature and mix well before application. Apply treatment to freshly washed hair and leave on for three minutes. Rinse and condition hair as usual. Use as needed, when your locks require some extra good lovin’.
Here at SkinStore, we believe knowledge is key when it comes to skincare and beauty! That’s why we have created Product Talk, an interactive Q&A feature for our customers. It’s a powerful, yet simple tool!
Here’s how it works: While on SkinStore, find a product that you would like to learn more about. Click the “Product Talk” tab under the product photo to access the tool. To ask a question, click the “Ask a New Question” button. To answer, click the question to open it, and click the “Answer this Question” button. You can even also vote for the best answers to questions. It’s your community.
Now is your chance to help us build the beauty community and to be a voice! We pulled a few unanswered questions from community members who would love to hear about your beauty experience and get your feedback on some products that you may have already tried. We encourage you to share your knowledge and experience. Click on the questions below to answer them (you may be asked to log in or register).
Lets be honest, one of the greatest perks of my job is the abundance of products I get to try. I’m like a kid in a candy shop when something new comes our way. Not only do I want to try any new products because I’m obsessed, but also so I can better educate our customers about the products we carry.
Now, this type of situation comes with its goods and its bads. The good? A seemingly endless supply of products at my disposal, doing at-home facials when I feel up for it, having a variety of gifts readily available and getting to try something new whenever I’m bored.
The bad? Products go bad before you get a chance to use them and the biggest downer of all… a random breakout caused by a product. When I jump back and forth from different products or use too many at once, my skin will tell me it’s had enough and punishes me. I guess I can’t say it’s “random” because it’s obvious why it happened… the greedy got to me… too many products at once. Sigh….So what to do now? Here’s a guide to all you over-users and abusers that love products as much as I do…
Step One: Purge and Purify
Action: You need to remove all the impurities. Therefore things are most likely going to get worse before they can get any better.
Now that you’ve read about inflammation you’re probably thinking that you have to quit eating carbohydrates and sugary foods altogether. I didn’t mean to scare you away from food! But I do want you to stay away from refined, packaged, sugary foods that are bringing you down (and making your belly bulge). So the next time you find yourself reaching for a bag of chips, French fries, or something sugary, resist the urge and try one of these delicious and nutritious alternatives instead:
Eat this not that:
Eat asparagus instead of white potatoes. White potatoes are starchy and easily converted into sugar. Fried potatoes (like French fries) are a double-whammy against your immune system, so instead try grilled or steamed asparagus. It’s delicious and loaded with antioxidants.
Eat slow-cooked oatmeal instead of sugary cereals. Are you really still eating colorful cereal? Isn’t it time to grow up? Try slow-cooked oatmeal, it may take a tiny bit longer to make but its benefits are commendable. Steel-cut oatmeal is best; cook it with milk, water, or soymilk and enjoy! It has fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is a great jump-start to your busy day.
Eat olive oil instead of ranch dressing. Skip the ranch, thousand island, Caesar, or even Italian dressing, it’s not doing any good. Instead try extra virgin olive oil mixed with lemon juice and a little salt and pepper for a delicious and healthful alternative to conventional salad dressing.
Eat fruit instead of chips. When you experience a craving for something sweet or salty, reach for a kiwi, a peach, or a plum instead. These fruits satisfy like sweets do, and provide long-term benefits too; antioxidants, fiber, vitamins…. basically everything that refined food doesn’t have.
These foods provide carbohydrates without spiking your insulin levels, they also break down much more slowly than simple carbs, therefore you stay full for a longer period of time… no cravings, no excess weight gain!
What’s your favorite healthy snack? We would love to know. Leave us a comment below!
Light therapy is something that has been around in the beauty world for quite some time now. I always get a kick out of watching the 1939 movie “The Women” starring Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. (Some of us remember images of Joan Crawford with a green cold cream mask on, YIKES!) In the movie you see what the glamorous day spas for women were like during that era, and all the bizarre treatments and beauty devices; one of those including light therapy.
Is your face round like Kirsten Dunst’s? Or is it heart shaped like Reese Witherspoon’s? Perhaps it’s square like Jennifer Garner’s. Or maybe it’s oval like Jessica Alba’s. Whatever your face shape may be, there’s a way of balancing to bring out your best, and diffuse your worst. Here are some great make-up tips to suit your shape:
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