Calendula, also known as English Marigold has been used to heal injuries, relieve dry chapped skin, and reduce inflammation for centuries. People in ancient Rome also used it as a fever reducer. In modern day skincare the oil extracted from the flower petal is thought to have detoxifying properties and act as an antiseptic. Calendula treats a variety of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and even sunburns. Even the most sensitive skin can benefit from its healing properties as it comforts and calms dry irritated skin.

A continual sensitive skin customer favorite is Jurlique Calendula Cream. It’s a soothing, non-greasy cream is rich in Calendula and Witch Hazel to restore and condition delicate skin. It’s ideal for the most sensitive skin and leaves the skin feeling comfortable and refreshed.

If you have more problematic skin, we love Kerstin Florian Clarifying Vita-Marine Masque. It deep cleanses to eliminate impurities, refines and brightens the skin. Key ingredient Calendula calms and soothes redness and reduces inflammation.

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Chicken skin, skin bumps, call it what you will. The medical name for this condition is “Keratosis Pilaris” or “KP”.  I have had KP since I was a little girl. I would get teased about it constantly and it made me grow very insecure about my skin. I have it pretty bad on my upper arms and thighs. It has improved with age, but it will never go away. Luckily, I am able to keep the inflammation to a minimum with a few topical products, similar to the ones I have listed below.

What is KP? Keratosis Pilaris is a harmless genetic skin condition that appears as small bumps on the upper arms and thighs, Although it can be present anywhere on the body (except the palms of the hands and feet.) KP is a build up of keratin (the material our hair, skin and nails is made up of), causing the hair follicles to clog, forming a bump on the skin’s surface. KP can worsen during the cooler months when the skin becomes drier or with hormonal changes, such as pregnancy.

There is no cure for KP, but there are a few treatment options. Results do vary, based on the severity of the KP. You want to look for creams and lotions containing Lactic Acid and/or Glycolic Acid.  Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid exfoliates the skin helping to smooth the bumps and slough off dead skin cells. Extra Virgin Coconut oil is an alternative treatment, for those of you who prefer a more natural product. Lather extra virgin coconut oil on your skin before you take a shower and gentle scrub with a loofah. You may also use the extra virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer after you shower.

Skinstore.com carries a few products specifically designed to help treat KP;

Glytone KP Kit

M2 Skin Technologies Body Refinish 15%

Lierac Paris Super Body Cream for Ultra Dry and Keratotic Skin

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Cleaning your makeup brushes is a chore. If you have a lot of brushes (like, yours truly) it can be pretty time consuming. It can also take up a fair amount of bathroom counter space as well. None the less, it must be done. Makeup brushes can hold bacteria that can lead to acne breakouts, dermatitis, or even infection. I know you are asking yourself “How often should you wash them?” Well, you should wash the brushes you use to apply powder, blush or bronzer once a week and wash the brushes used on the eyes and lips after every other use. I love to clean mine with a clarifying shampoo. It gets the “gunk” out. After shampooing them you want to lay them flat on a clean dry towel to air dry. Once the brushes are dry, they feel silky and are clean as a whistle. You will even notice a difference in how easily the products just glide on.

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Millions of people have stretch marks, but do we really know what causes them? Stretch marks can be caused from an influx of hormones so that is why we generally see them during our adolescent years and during pregnancy. Some studies suggest that stretch marks are not caused from the skin stretching, but rather appear in the dermis of the skin when there is an increase in hormones.

Stretch marks occur when the elastic fibers in the dermis of the skin become damaged or expand too much, thus causing scarring the skin to scar. The most common areas of stretch marks are usually on the thighs,hips,abdomen, arms, and breasts. This is especially true if you are pregnant or experience an extreme weight loss or gain. When people gain weight hormones are produced and metabolized by fat cells.

To help lessen the appearance of stretch marks you can try cocoa or shea butter, vitamin E and A, or even a good sunless tanner. A prescription retinoid will help to boost collagen and elastin so this may help the appearance of stretch marks, over the counter retinol products may be a good choice too. It is best to use a product on a newer stretch mark for a period of time to get the full benefits. Laser therapy could be an option for some, but can be quite costly so it is important to weigh your options first.

One product you may want to give a try before opting for surgery is Strivectin SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles. The new and improved SD contains a patented formula known as NIA-114 which will help to strengthen and improve the texture of your skin by rebuilding skin layers. The new Strivectin SD also contains added peptides to improve wrinkles and stretch marks and will help to keep the skin hydrated and healthy. It will also help cell turnover which will even out skin tone and help to fade discolorations.

It is best to consult your doctor first for the best treatment options especially if you are pregnant or have any skin sensitivity.

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Found most commonly on the legs and ankles, varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. These veins are caused by weakened valves in your legs. When the one-way valves are working properly they direct blood flow upwards toward your heart. When they are not functioning correctly, blood collects in your legs and pressure builds up causing the veins to become large, weak and twist. Varicose veins run in families, but age, weight gain, pregnancy, and standing\sitting for long periods of time are also common causes. At home treatment may be all you need to ease your symptoms and keep them from getting worse.

• Wear compression stockings
• Elevate your legs
• Avoid long periods of standing and sitting
• Exercise

The Phytomer Beautiful Legs Blemish Eraser Cream can also be massaged gently over the legs in an upward motion to help with appearance and imperfections on the legs.

Other signs and symptoms of Varicose Veins may be: swelling in legs and feet,

Itching over the vein, color changes in the skin, dry skin, inflammation, and scaling. Varicose veins typically are not a serious problem but in some cases it can be a sign of blockage in deeper veins and need treatment. If you have any of these signs or symptoms we recommend contacting your physician.

Reference: www.webmd.com

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Melasma is a dark skin discoloration that appears on areas of the face that are exposed to the sun. A uniform brown color may appear on the cheeks, forehead, nose, upper lip, or chin. It is often symmetrical on both sides of the face. Melasma is a very common skin condition that most often affects women that are pregnant, women that are taking oral contraceptives, or women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause. Melasma is associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Melasma doesn’t cause any other symptoms besides skin discoloration which is only of cosmetic concern. Your physician can easily diagnose the condition based upon the appearance of your skin.

Melasma can be treated with a variety of topical creams. For severe cases your doctor may recommend seeing a dermatologist for laser treatments. Avoiding the sun and using sunscreen are crucial to preventing melasma. Melasma often fades several months after giving birth or stopping the use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. It may return with additional pregnancies or use of medication again.

SkinStore.com offers a wide selection of products that help fade melasma. For use during pregnancy we suggest Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum.  Caudalie is a natural baby safe alternative to stronger treatments that are not safe for use until after pregnancy, but please make sure to ask your doctor first before using any new products in your regimen. Vinoperfect Radiance Serum brightens and smoothes the skin boosting radiance. Your complexion looks more even improving the overall skin tone and clarity.

If you are not pregnant or nursing we suggest iS Clinical White Lightening Complex. White Lightening  Complex effectively brightens and lightens skin with beneficial moisturizing properties. Using an innovative blend of lightening ingredients and pharmaceutical grade botanicals, this formula concentrates on not one or two but all five mechanisms that address hyperpigmentation.

In addition to using these great products, it’s crucial to use a sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 30. We love La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50. It’s a 100% mineral UV protection sunscreen that is super lightweight, non-greasy, and does not leave a white residue perfect for everyday use.

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

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We are so excited to announce our latest giveaway! Starting now, through November 10th you can enter to win 1 of 10 Juara Glow on the Go Travel Kits! ($42 value)

This brightening kit contains 5 amazing products to help awaken and enliven dull, tired skin! All products are even approved for airline travel.

Want to win a kit? Enter now!

Seeking a gorgeous flawless complexion, but your skin isn’t quite up to par? No worries doll, simply fake it! First apply a makeup primer to even out your skin tone while prepping your skin for seamless makeup application. We love Laura Gellar Tinted Spackle Under Makeup Primer! Next, camouflage any unsightly blemishes with a yellow-based concealer to counteract redness. Use a concealer brush and blend outward. Amazing Cosmetics A Little Amazing Light Golden concealer is a must have in your makeup bag! Lastly, apply the finishing touches with Too Faced Amazing Face SPF Foundation powder. Voila, you’re done! Complexion perfection!

The LightStim Anti-Aging light is a non-invasive treatment that will help to reduce the signs of aging and help to restore a healthy radiance within your skin. The LightStim is similar to a LED treatment you would receive from a licensed professional but has a smaller handle making it easier to use at home and more affordable. Many people prefer an anti-aging product such as the LightStim because it is safe, non-invasive, and does not require surgery. The LightStim is very easy to use and in just 20 minutes a day will really help the overall condition of your skin.

The LightStim uses advanced red and infrared LED’s to help support and create collagen and elastin in the skin. LED stands for light emitting diode. Diodes will give off energy in the form of light in a powerful and efficient way. The same way that plants absorb the energy from the sun to stimulate cells and build new proteins, the LED light therapy in the LightStim will help your skin cells to regenerate but with no UV exposure. The LightStim is able to send light rays to the cells of your skin which fuels it to produce more collagen and elastin. Collagen will help to plump up your skin so it will help to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, while elastin will help to firm and strengthen skin to prevent sagging.

The additional benefits of the LightStim include: reducing pore size, smoothing the texture of the skin, making the skin more even toned and radiant, firming and toning aging skin, and can be used to decrease puffiness around the eye area. In fact the LightStim anti-aging light is over-the-counter FDA cleared for periorbital wrinkles around the eye area. The LightStim can penetrate through the epidermis and into the dermal layer of skin, over time the dermal layer will fill up with collagen causing the wrinkle to be pushed out. This will help to plump the skin and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. The LightStim can also soften rough and dry skin by restoring its youthful appearance.

You want to use your LightStim 5-7 days a week for a total of 20 minutes at a time for at least 2 months to receive the full benefits of the product. If you are using a Retinoid or benzoyl peroxide you will want to apply these products only after you use the LightStim.

Anyone can use the LightStim Anti-Aging light, but it is best to consult your doctor or dermatologist first before beginning any new regimen.

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The microdermabrasion system by NuBrillance is brand new to SkinStore.com, but has been used in doctors’ offices and clinics for many years because of its effectiveness.

The NuBrilliance microdermabrasion system uses gentle crystal free technology to exfoliate and resurface the skin. The diamond tip wand will get rid of dead skin cells while the vacuum suction will help to stimulate collagen production and help to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For people with sensitive skin that cannot use a microdermabrasion system, NuBrillance is a great alternative because it has adjustable settings and does not scratch or irritate the skin.

You can save time and money in the long run by not going to a doctor’s office because you can use the NuBrillance Microdermabrasion System right at home. You can also use this product on other areas that may look dry and dull, like on the hands, arms, legs, and even décolletage. NuBrillance is the first and only at-home micodermabrasion device that uses suction combined with real laser-cut diamonds to promote cell growth and a smoother, more youthful appearance. The NuBrillance Microdermabrasion System will help to address hyper pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, and enlarged pores.

All skin types should start out using the system on the lowest setting, then very gradually work their way up to a higher level, making sure to use very light pressure. If you have concerns about using a microdermabrasion system please consult your dermatologist first before beginning any regimen. You should also make sure you are using a daily sunscreen of at least an SPF30 or higher to protect your skin.

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