BOO! Happy All Hallows Eve! While your bunnies, ghosts, princesses and pirates are out trick-or-treating, treat yourself to a masque of your own, here are our favorite skin treats… no tricks involved:

Purifying masques
Oily and acne-prone skin types benefit from a weekly purifying masque. Purifying masques help to minimize the appearance of large pores while drawing out impurities and excess sebum. A purifying masque is typically clay based and contains anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.

SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque
Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask

Exfoliating masques
Everyone should exfoliate! An exfoliating masque will remove dead skin cells from your skin. Exfoliating masques provide brightening, purifying and tightening benefits. After exfoliating, treatment products will penetrate deeper into the skin.

ARCONA Raspberry Resurfacing Peel
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel

Brightening masques
Dull skin can benefit from a brightening masque. Brightening masques are infused with glow-getting antioxidant ingredients like berry extracts and vitamin C.

Alchimie Forever Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask
Korres Wild Rose Instant Brightening And Illuminating Vitamin C Mask

Soothing masques:
If you’ve over-exfoliated, or if you have sensitive skin, or if you’re looking to calm a sunburn then soothing masques are for you! A soothing masque will deposit cooling, calming and hydrating ingredients into the skin.

Sundari Apricot and Shea Hydra Soothing Mask
Pevonia Soothing Sensitive Skin Mask

Hydrating masques

Dry skin loves a hydrating masque. Hydrating masques contain moisture-driving ingredients like sodium hyaluronate, essential oils, kernel oils and shea butter which soften the skin.

June Jacobs Intensive Age Defying Hydrating Masque
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque

Have a blast masquing! No costumes necessary!

Tell us what your favorites masque is – we’d love to hear!

Like this blog and share it with your friends on Facebook! Or leave us a comment, questions, or feedback – if you have a question, one of our estheticians will respond to you directly when you supply your email address in your response, remember, email addresses are not posted with your comment.

Do you ever feel like there is not enough blotting paper in the world to combat your oily, shiny skin? Do you walk outside on a hot, summer day and feel your makeup immediately start sliding off of your face? Do you walk outside on a cold, winter day and still experience the same problem? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, let me introduce you to your new best friend…Vichy Normaderm PRO Mat!

My own battle with excess oil and shine has been ongoing for as long as I can remember. Always on the search, it seemed like I was constantly spending time and money trying to find something that worked for me, but to no avail. Now, I have FINALLY found that product…thank you Vichy for creating the perfect product for me!

This oil-free moisturizer is my multitasking miracle! It absorbs quickly, works fantastic as a foundation base, instantly mattifies and keeps me shine-free for hours. Another great feature about this product is that it also contains an SPF 15. UV rays are another cause of excess oil production. As if we needed another reason to wear our sunscreen.

I can already hear you asking “How does it work?” Vichy Normaderm PRO Mat contains microspheres that provide that beautiful, instantly matte finish while the Vitamin CG (a stable precursor to Vitamin C) slowly releases throughout the day to actually regulate your body’s own sebum production. So not only does PRO Mat work as an anti-shine quick fix, it also provides long-term benefits.

Whether you’re looking to improve your physique, complexion, or overall health these wonder foods gotcha covered.

Broccoli: Your mother always told you to eat your vegetables. It’s time to start listening! Loaded with vitamin C, broccoli aides with iron absorption, prevents the formation of cataracts and may help defend against the common cold. This versatile veggie is also high in folic acid, which is often taken as a supplement during pregnancy.

Spinach: PopEye the sailor man shouldn’t be the only one eating spinach. Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. It’s extremely low in calories (40 calories per cup) yet high in vitamins. Just one cup of this leafy green surpasses your daily requirement of vitamin A and K. It contains more than 20 valuable nutrients including fiber, calcium and protein.

Cinnamon: Sprinkle away! Cinnamon has so many wonderful benefits. Not only does cinnamon naturally suppress your appetite, it’s antibacterial, helps regulate blood sugar, lowers LDL cholesterol and it’s a great source of fiber, iron and calcium. Plus, a simple whiff of cinnamon boosts memory and cognitive function according to a study conducted by Dr. P. Zoladz at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences.

Raw Honey: Instead of a spoonful of sugar in your tea, swap it out with honey. Honey is Mother Nature’s own sweetener. Among the many accolades of honey are its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Some countries even use it to aide in wound healing. It’s also believed to be helpful for allergy sufferers. Eating the honey of local bees in your area may prevent seasonal allergies. Bees pollinate neighboring plants, and the pollen eventually ends up in the honey. Ingesting the honey builds your body’s natural tolerance to seasonal allergies.

Coconut Milk: For those of you that are lactose intolerant, coconut milk is a great dairy free alternative. You’re still getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals of milk without the upset tummy. Coconut milk is rich in calcium, potassium, chloride, and vitamin A and E. It’s also proven to improve bone and dental health. In fact, you may even find yourself with fewer cases of the cold; coconut boosts the immune system, fighting off germs and bacteria. Coconut milk is also widely used in beauty products to hydrate, repair and heal the skin and hair.

Garlic: The medicinal properties of garlic have been used for centuries. Folklore attributes garlic to preventing everything from mosquito bites, the plague, and yes, even vampires. Although these claims are unfounded, it’s nice to imagine that they are true. Modern science has deemed garlic as a powerful antioxidant containing Vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, which stop the damaging effects of free radicals. It has also been found to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, according to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

A few simple tweaks in your diet can pay off with a multitude of health benefits! So, eat up!

So it’s nothing new that money may be tight for everyone these days, even for the avid spa goers. There are priorities like kids, appointments, friends and family to attend to. Relaxing a little usually falls to the bottom of our to-do list. Here are some great products and tips for an at home facial, that will guarantee refreshing results.

The DIY facial consists of a few main components. You need just an hour of your day, a few products, and a calm mind. It is important to relax and have a little fun. You may want to get your kids involved by putting a mud or clay mask on them. Otherwise your spa getaway can be a solo project, or a fun time with your girlfriends.

Supplies:

• Warm towels (hand towels work perfectly)
• Cleanser, toner, exfoliator, mask, treatment, moisturizer, eye cream.
• Tea bags or cucumbers for the eyes. To use up the leftovers, you can make an iced tea or sip on some cucumber water while you relax.
• Hand or body lotion and cuticle oil if you have it. (olive oil is a great alternative to soften hands and cuticles).
• Essential oil of your choice. Any health food or specialty store should have a selection. Pick the scent that speaks to you and enjoy.
  Applicators for products: A paint or nylon foundation brush will work great for your applying your mask.
• Quiet place to lay down with relaxing music. This is simply a must!

Tip: You can store very hot towels inside of a large ziploc bag by rolling them up; this will keep them warm for a little while. For a longer lasting approach, try putting water on the bottom of your crock pot, enough to cover the bottom and fold up a few wet hot towels. Then put the lid on and presto… instant hot towel cabby! You can also put a few drops of essential oil into the pot for an aromatic experience.

While you’re masking you can give yourself a nice hand and arm massage. First apply your cuticle oil generously, and then follow with the body moisturizer of your choice. You also may have one of those spa foot tubs lying around from a few Christmas’ ago, now is the perfect time to dust it off and put it to use. You can place a few drops of essential oil in the water and enjoy a relaxing foot soak. For some bubbles add a teaspoon of bubble bath or shower gel to the water and enjoy. Hot towels will also come in handy for your foot bath.

After you cleanse remove with hot towel. Then apply a toner or water to your skin. You then will want to apply an exfoliator of your choice. For something quick, easy and non messy try an exfoliating peel pad. The Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel/2 Steps is an amazing two step treatment with real results. For the lips you can use a little brown sugar and a few drops of water or olive oil (if you have some honey you can a little to the paste), this will give you a smooth finish for soft,  healthy lips. After you have exfoliated and cleansed your skin and lips off with a towel you will want to apply a mask of your choice for 10-15 minutes.

Click here for some ideas on homemade masks.

After masking in pure bliss you will want to apply a treatment serum of your choice. You will need to go out into daylight and face the world after your relaxing facial so choose an antioxidant serum like Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. This will hydrate and protect your skin from free radical damage. Lastly, don’t forget the moisturizer preferably one that contains an SPF and an eye cream. Moisturizing your skin will seal in the benefits of the facial and also soften and hydrate your skin. An eye cream will do the same and will make your under eyes feel hydrated all day long. Try the Lisa Hoffman Spa Facial Eye Treatment. This is a weekly eye treatment just perfect for that spa facial experience. In every good facial your Esthetician will finish off with a lip balm or treatment, don’t forget this step just because you’re at home. The lips are important too!

We hope you take steps to put yourself first sometimes. You can try these simple tips and tricks for a luxurious facial all in the comfort of your own home.

Lately, everyone is on a quest to either retain their youth they have, or turn back the hands of time to look younger. For those of us with pocket books that are not so deep as to afford cosmetic surgery (if needed), an injectable medicine with little to no down time sounds attractive!

But what exactly is Botox and where does it come from? In a nutshell Botox Cosmetic by Allergan is a low dosage of botulinum toxin that temporarily relaxes or temporarily paralyzes facial muscles. It was approved by the FDA in 1989 for limited use for eyelid spasms and crossed eyes. By 2002 it had been approved for use on moderate or severe frown lines and lines between the brows. By temporarily paralyzing select facial muscles, it can decrease your facial muscle’s ability to contract. The result is less wrinkling of the skin from repeated muscle movement. The results are temporary and can last anywhere from 3 – 6 months depending on the number of follow up treatments. Botox can also be used to treat hyperhydrosis or extreme sweating.

If you decide Botox is for you please make sure you see a qualified, trained physician or dermatologist. Botox is available by prescription only from a doctor. Botox “parties” have become a popular event where a licensed physician will offer services at a discounted rate if someone gets a group of people together and hosts the event. The concern is that although the doctor may be licensed to administer injectables, the doctor that attends the “party” may not be trained in the specialty of facial muscles and the administering of a facial muscle relaxant.

If the thought of needles and injections doesn’t sit well with you, you may want to consider some alternatives. There are products on the market that can give you an instant lifting and firming of the skin that lasts for several hours and some products have accumulative results.

For instant results:

Alchimie Forever’s Alexandrite Firming Gel for Neck and Bust is ideal to rejuvenate the delicate neck and décolleté area. The gel lifts and firms the skin, helping to impart a more toned and youthful appearance to this often-forgotten part of the body. It can also be used on the facial area and jaw line. The gel absorbs quickly, is not oily or sticky, and helps to prevent shine and reduce pore size.

Kinerase Extreme Lift Face is the alternative to physician administered injectables. This one of a kind formula fills in mild to moderate wrinkles for immediate, undeniable, proven results. It also visibly smoothes and fills trouble spots like forehead furrows, frown lines and crow’s feet. There is no discomfort or loss of facial expression and results are reversible within a day.

Dr. Brandt Lineless Lines No More is a filler and volumizer. It is formulated to help to fill and plump smile lines and nasolabial folds from the inside out, visibly decreasing the depth of wrinkles and folds while smoothing skin’s texture and appearance. Lineless Lines No More promotes youthful-looking skin. Can also be used on an ongoing basis for accumulative results.

For cumulative results:

Strivectin Instant Facial Sculpting Cream is an excellent product to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet. It also accentuates your cheekbones and jaw line as it lifts, tightens and tones your skin… making your face look more sculpted, youthful and defined. You may need to use the product for at least 4 weeks before seeing results and you will need to continue to use it to maintain results. So far I’ve had excellent results!

Kinerase Restructure Firming Face Cream Cream goes beyond stimulating collagen production to target critical elastin protein coils, combining the clinically-proven anti-aging power of Kinetin with revolutionary elastin-strengthening technology. Skin is deeply moisturized, contours are lifted and toned, and expression wrinkles are visibly smoothed.

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology

Botox Cosmetic

Arnold William Klein, MD

During the week my worst fear, I repeat my WORST fear, is that my alarm will not go off when it’s time for me to wake up, causing me to have a melt down and then leaving me only 15 minutes until I have to leave for work. Agghhh just thinking about it is stressing me out! So in preparation I have practiced a 5 Minute Face that I’ll be able to do in dire situations such as waking up late or in “emergency” circumstances. Emergency, as in the Nordstrom’s half yearly sale is ending or “The Situation” is currently at the pool letting girls touch his abs- Hello!! Whatever it may be, you’ve got to be primped and prepared.

1st Step – Apply your base (1 minute)
I suggest a tinted moisturizer. In my option tinted moisturizer goes on better with your fingers in the same motion you would apply a typical face moisturizer. Foundations apply better with a brush, but you don’t have time to mess around with that today. Stila Sheer Tinted Mositurizer is great.

2nd Step – Conceal (1 minute and 30 seconds)
Apply your concealer under your eye area to cover any dark circles. Apply in a sweeping fan motion from the inside corner or the eye to the outside corner. Then dab with your ring finger to hide any lines or wrinkles. Also apply all over the lid to conceal any discoloration. Take the last 30 seconds to cover any blemishes or red areas on the face. Try Dermablend Quick Fix.

3rd Step – Set with a powder (30 seconds)
Take your powder and quickly apply only in your T-zone to absorb any oil in one swift sweep around your face. That’s it!

4th Step – Shadow, liner, mascara (2 minutes)
Use a shadow that is highlighting and illuminating all over the lid. I love Stila Eye Shadow Pan – Moonlight for this job. This step should take only 30 seconds.

Next, apply a teal or purple liner only in your waterline. Using a colored liner is a very easy way to jazz up your look when you don’t have the time to apply color on your lids. This step should take between 30 – 45 seconds. Also, applying within the water line is super easy since you’re just filling in empty space. No need (and no time!) to perfect a straight line with lining on top of the lid. If I have the few seconds to spare I will also take my liner brush and smudge the liner in between my lashes to create a darker depth to my lashes.

Now its time for mascara! No time to curl so just directly apply. You have the remaining 45 seconds–1 minute to apply your mascara. I like bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara Black.

5th Step – Blush and gloss (1 minute)
Lastly, do your cheesiest smile and apply your blush to the apples of your cheeks and use a highlighter on you check bones or a bronzer in the appropriate places. Take 15 seconds of the apples and 15 seconds for the highlighter/bronzer. The final 30 seconds is for your gloss, apply and go girl!

While Arcona is a new line to SkinStore.com, the company has been offering high quality and effective products for quite a few years, since 1989 to be exact. The Arcona philosophy is that everyone’s skin can and should look beautiful at any age. This is regardless of history or damage that we may have done to our skin. This line offers second chances for those of us that have mistreated our skin, an opportunity to undo the damage caused by the sun, lifestyle and stress. Arcona offers renewed hope, at an affordable price with unbelievable results. “It will change your life-you’ll glow” is the Arcona’s coined saying and we can see why.

Let’s start with the basics, the basic 5 that is.  AM routine- Step 1: Exfoliate/Cleanse. Step 2: Hydrate.  Step 3: Protect. PM Step 4: Cleanse/Tone. Step 5: Regenerate.

The products within the basic 5 will vary depending on your skin type and concerns. The combination of the five products will speed up and strengthen the skin’s renewal process. Arcona recommends using their line exclusively for two-six weeks to achieve maximum results. Arcona also has great eye products, masks, exfoliators, and firming treatments you can add in to your basic 5 regimen.

To make it easy Arcona has 6 different kits to customize every skin type and concern.

I am currently using the basic five kit for normal skin. I was a little skeptical about using a bar soap on my baby skin, but let me tell you the Toner Tea Bar is amazing. It removes all the impurities in the skin with no uncomfortable drying effect. Not to mention the smell is amazing, it’s my favorite scent of any of their products. After a deep cleanse I use the Golden Grain Gommage about once a week, alternating with the amazing Gentle Solution as my exfoliator about twice weekly. I then apply the Magic White Ice as my daily hydrator and Desert Mist in the AM. Again I was a little suspicious about using just a serum as a hydrator and not an actual moisturizer, excluding my daily sunscreen. To my surprise I have not needed to use another moisturizer. Arcona believes that conventional moisturizers can clog the pores because they sit on the surface of skin and can not penetrate deep within the skin where the real moisture is needed. Their products are constantly stimulating and renewing your skin. It’s kind of like cross training your skin to constantly keep it from slacking and looking dull and unhealthy.

Arcona uses cosmeceutical-grade ingredients that are cold pressed at very low temperatures. This means that products are made in smaller batches using this process so that they stay active and effective. Arcona does not contain any binders, fillers, perfumes, parabens or any toxic ingredients.

This all natural line delivers real results putting it at the top of my beauty product list. Just be careful… once you try it, there’s no turning back!

We are wrapping up our celebration of Customer Service Week. Every year we honor our Customer Support team for the great work they do. This year we chose a Halloween theme. The office has been decked out with spooktacular décor. All week long our Customer Support team has participated in fun team-building activities and games. They’ve been treated with tasty delights each day with an extravagant lunch today.

Did you know?

• Our Customer Support team consists entirely of estheticians, certified make-up artists, cosmetologists and beauty gurus. We even have a nail technician!

• Our Customer Support team won the Bizrate Circle of Excellence Award, which Bizrate says is earned by retailers who go above and beyond the norm to provide exceptional service to their online customers. This award is special because it is based solely on customer feedback.

• All of our representatives attend monthly educational product trainings provided by the manufacturers of the many brands that we carry.

We’d like to share some photos of this week’s events with you.

It’s week three of the SkinStore Blog anniversary giveaway!

If you haven’t heard, we are giving away one $100.00USD SkinStore gift certificate each week through October 20th!

Join us each week to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of four grand prizes!

Like us on Facebook to get all the latest details about the contest! Follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute offers, steals & deals, insider updates and beauty secrets.

To enter this week’s giveaway:

“Like” SkinStore on Facebook and then post your response to the question below by leaving us a comment on our blog. Please note that you must enter a valid first name and email address in order for us to contact you in the event that you are the randomly selected winner! Rest assured your email address will NOT post with your comment.

Question: Our current key ingredient this month is Geranium. We love it because it helps balance the levels of sebum in your skin, making it excellent for both oily and dry skin types. Post a comment telling us what your favorite ingredient is and why. Get an extra entry by posting a link to a SkinStore product that contains your ingredient.

Entry for this giveaway is now closed.

Valid entries must comply with the official rules of the SkinStore Blog Anniversary Giveaway.

Official Rules