Ladies strive to look their best when they apply their makeup. Beauty enhancements that improve your looks hide flaws and increase your self confidence. But what looked good on us at one time doesn’t always look flattering years later.
Here are some suggestions and tips on things to avoid as we approach 40 and beyond:
1. Dark eyeliner using liquid liner or pencils above your lash line: While this may look great in our younger years, as our eyelids age and we experience crepiness on our lid, hard lines from liners can call more attention to the fact that we no longer have tight skin around our eyelids. Instead consider using a lighter shade and apply a shadow to the base of your lash line and blend upward. The smoother line will help conceal the crepiness and blending upward draws less attention to sagging lids!
2. Dark eyeliner or eye shadow below your lower lash line: While this may have been all the rage during your night club days it’s just not the best thing for someone with lines. Instead consider keeping the area under your lower lash line neutral. Try adding some mascara to your lower lashes and even lining the inside of your lower eyelid with a white or light tan liner.
3. Staying true to one color scheme: Color schemes come and go. Colors that looked flattering on us in our younger years may not be in style now and can make you look outdated. Try picking up the latest edition of a glamour or fashion magazine and make note of what colors are in season and can freshen up your look.
4. Bronzers, glitters & sparkles: Using heavy bronzers, lots of glitter and sparkle can send out the message, “I’m desperate to look younger!” Try enhancing your look with just a touch of fun sparkle and shimmer. Remember a little bit of bling goes a long way… don’t overdo it!
5. Dark lip colors: While deep dark ruby red lip colors may have defined the Hollywood Glamour era and those colors are making a retro come back for gals in their twenties, using dark colors on your lips later in life can draw attention to aged hollow lips, lines around the lip area and project an overall dark unfriendly tone. Instead consider using a lighter, neutral shade of lip color and a little bit of lip gloss.
6. Too much makeup: Invest in a good quality foundation that meets your coverage needs without going overboard. Even out your skin tone, but remember…Less Is More!
7. Dry skin: Using makeup on dry or dehydrated skin can cause problems blending your makeup, call attention to dry flakes of skin and exacerbate fine lines and wrinkles! Using an oil free moisturizer or oil free makeup primer before can create a much more hydrated and smooth surface. I suggest a something with dimethicone to fill in fine lines and wrinkles and give you a soft silky texture!
8. Outdated Eyebrows: While most ladies take the time to tweeze their brows or get their brows waxed we need to remember with age all things start moving south! Try reshaping your brows lifting them up a little higher than usual and adjusting your arch a bit higher. A skilled esthetician knows how to do this!
So what are your do’s and don’ts for 40′s, 50′s and beyond?!
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Shea butter is a highly beneficial ingredient. It protects, nourishes and moisturizes the skin. Shea butter is an intensely nourishing ingredient perfect for use anywhere on the body. It is suitable for all skin types including dry skin, sensitive skin and even a baby’s skin. When added to soap, shea butter makes the soap milder and adds moisturizing properties. Shea butter also has natural antioxidant properties and contains cinnamic acid which provides UV protection.
L’Occitane is well known for its use of shea butter and has been using it in a variety of its beauty products for over 20 years.
Winter is here, the frost has arrived, our heaters are on, and we’re constantly washing our hands to avoid catching that winter cold! Is it no wonder that our hands have become dry, chapped and cracked. Treat your hands to an exfoliation and get rid of those dead skin cells, followed by regular use of a replenishing hand cream.
We recommend:
Whish Almond Three Whishes Sugar Scrub, a unique combination of Brown Sugar, Raspberry Seeds, Bamboo Powder and Organic Sugar Cane. Apply to wet hands and massage, rinse well with warm water, use once or twice a week to exfoliate dead skin cells.
Followed by:
L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, this super-creamy balm penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize your hands. Honey, Almond and Coconut Oil are blended with Shea Butter to create this unique and extremely effective moisturizer. Use daily as needed and after exfoliation.
Winter can be brutal! Take care of the hands that take care of you!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tell us what your favorites masque is – we’d love to hear!
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Summer of 2010 is in full swing and we hope you’re enjoying it to its fullest! Whether you’re playing on a sandy beach in Mexico, lounging by the pool in Las Vegas, or hiking the Himalayas in India you’re probably well equipped with a goody bag full of your favorite skin care products (you are, a SkinStore customer after all!) We always want to know what you’re toting around to keep your skin looking wonderful through the seasons- and we’re sure that you’re curious to see what our top favorites are, so we’ve compiled a list of THE top 10 must haves for this fabulous summer!
Clarisonic. ‘Nuff said! This is our number one seller, and for a good reason! The Clarisonic comes in three versions- Mia for travel, Classic for facial cleansing and exfoliation and Plus for facial exfoliation and cleansing as well as body use (perfect pedicure, anyone?). Clarisonic uses a sonic technology to cleanse deeply within the pores and is two times more effective than manual cleansing and six times more effective at removing make-up! Therefore with daily use of the Clarisonic you’ll prevent breakouts and clogged pores, and the exfoliating factor will make large pores appear smaller, and the texture of the skin much smoother! It’s great for all skin types and all ages. Staff favorite, customer favorite… we can’t say enough great things about this product!
Antioxidants. Chances are, you’re spending a lot of time outdoors during the summer chasing after kids, swimming, playing outdoor sports and barbequing… while you may be religiously applying sunscreen to protect your skin, you may not be applying antioxidants which ward off free radicals that cause lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Antioxidant serums are a great way to go, because they’re light in consistency so they won’t feel heavy on the skin and they soak right in to provide up to twenty four hours of broad-spectrum antioxidant protection without reapplication! We’re fans of CE Ferulic which provides a potent vitamin C (which has brightening benefits) in addition to power-house antioxidant ingredients like hydrating vitamin E and Ferulic acid.
Sunscreen. Everybody knows that sunscreen protection is the utmost important factor in keeping your skin healthy! Thank goodness for savvy chemists who know how to formulate sunscreen in uber-elegant recipes. Since it hit the market in May, SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 has been selling like hotcakes! We have trouble keeping this stuff in stock. It’s a one of its kind physical sunscreen that’s a transparent, mattifying liquid that is paraben-free and offers true broad spectrum coverage from UVA and UVB rays, it’s great for all skin types and ages and stays put without feeling heavy or greasy, and it doesn’t have an unpleasant sunscreen smell! And while SkinCeuticals has created an amazing formula for the face, La Roche Posay (another renowned SPF pioneer) has created La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Melt In Sunscreen Milk which is great for the body. This fast absorbing, non-greasy milk provides SPF 60 and broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with the breakthrough Cell-Ox Shield, to protect your skin, even at the cellular level.
Don’t neglect your hair. You have face and body covered! But that leaves out your luscious locks. Keep your hair looking its best with protective hair products. Since the sun can be dehydrating to your skin, it can also be super dehydrating to your hair too (straw hair = yuck!), use a leave-in conditioner that has a UV filter. We enjoy Rene Furterer Okara 2 Phase Leave-In Protective Conditioner CPF 80 because it not only has a potent UV filter but it also keeps the hair smooth, shiny and polished with its Okara complex.
Fake it. You’re probably thinking that all of this SPF protection will not allow for you to get any color! So cheat the sun and the sun damage, and instead of baking it…get good at faking it! There are hundreds of self tanners that’ll give you a beautiful golden glow! TanTowel Plus Full Body Self Tanning Towelettes are a great way to getting tan, they’re odorless and SO easy to use! This tan is easy to apply and because the self-tanning liquid is in a handy towel it’s virtually mess free! PLUS NO streaking! We promise!
Hydrate. What about dry skin? In the summertime our skin is frequently exposed to sun, sand, salty ocean water or chlorine from the pool. We tend to hydrate more frequently and diligently in the other seasons when it’s colder or dryer out, but our summer skin needs moisture too, and very much so after excess exposure to the elements. Rehydrate your skin with L’Occitane Cupuacu After-Sun Balm Lotion, it’s our summer favorite! This after sun lotion is formulated with organic vegetable butter of Cupuaçu, which is the ideal ingredient to intensely hydrate and regenerate skin after sun exposure because it holds four times its weight in water, therefore providing immense hydration without feeling greasy.
To ward off dehydration on the go, it’s great to throw a refreshing spray into your beach tote. Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Neroli Water is a delight to use because it’s soothing, hydrating and refreshing and can be used all of the body, or on the face… and it won’t disturb make-up!
Conceal. A blemish here, a sun spot there, dark circles from lack of sleep (there are too many fun things to do in the summer)… what’s a gal to do to stay looking fresh and feeling fabulous? Concealer is the magic wand of a make-up maven. This summer we’re in love with Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer because of its highly pigmented formula that’s also water resistant. It erases dark circles, blemishes, broken capillaries, sun damage and redness with only using a tiny amount of product (and we mean TINY!) a little tube will last and last and last.
Nail Time. Every girl knows that a perfect pedicure is a summer MUST. Coral always looks hot on the fingernails and is absolutely amazing for toes in the sweet summer time (bonus: corals and yellows visually intensify your tan). SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Love and Happiness is a gorgeous coral orange crème that looks fantastic when paired with strappy golden sandals!
Poet William Carlos Williams has said “In summer, the song sings itself”, and boy wasn’t he right! Enjoy this gorgeous weather, throw some hot dogs on the grill, read a great book, and lather on the SPF! Now that you’ve got a list of our TOP 10 summer favorites it’s easy to choose great summer products! What are your top picks?
Certain items are excluded from offers. Each product detail page indicates if the promotion does not apply. Promo codes may not apply to already discounted items.
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.
This is a follow up to my article about essential oils. Here are some products SkinStore carries that you may find helpful that contain aromatic blends of essential oils and extracts to calm the mind, refresh the body and beautify the skin.
Hair
Phyto Phytopolleine Botanical Scalp Treatment: This product has a blend of 100% essential oils to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth while controlling oil production. Essential oils include lemon peel oil, rosemary, sage, cajeput, and cypress.
Rene Furterer Complexe 5 Regenerating Plant Extract:You will want to keep this product in your shower and use once a week, trust me! It has a pleasant citrus smell that makes you feel like you are really treating yourself and your hair to something wonderful. Essential oils include orange, lavender, and thyme.
Body
Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Harmony Body Oil:This is an old favorite of mine, and it works great for at home spa treatments. Mix a few drops with an unscented lotion, massage into skin and enjoy. Essential oils included in this product are lavender, geranium, mandarin, and grapefruit oil.
Melvita Plant Oils Hemp Oil: This is wonderful body oil and it can also be used on the face. You can use this product alone or with a moisturizer. It is extremely hydrating without any greasy sticky leftovers.
Archipelago Botanicals Grapefruit Body Lotion: This lotion has a nice fragrance without being overpowering. There are plenty of essential oils such as orange, grape seed and jojoba oil to hydrate and protect your skin.
Face
Sundari Essential Oil for Dry Skin: This is a great skin booster for someone with dry dull skin looking to add some hydration. A blend of almond, sesame, orange and rose oil make this an excellent product for repairing and brightening the skin.
Yonka Pamplemousse PG:Works great for those oily combination skin types. It also will help lighten and brighten your skin with Yonka’s custom blend of essential oils.
Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer: This is a nice matte finish moisturizer that works best for oily to combination skin types. It instantly hydrates your skin with a blend of fruit extracts such as apple, grape, and aloe juice. Antioxidants of Vitamin A,C, B5, and E have also been included to protect the skin.
Bath products
Molton Brown Intoxicating Davana Blossom Foaming Bath Oil:Contains a blend of essential oils that are just what your skin needs to stay fresh and hydrated. Also makes a wonderful gift for someone would could use a little luxury.
Jurlique Lavender Silk Finishing Powder:This light textured powder works perfect for anyone that wants to hide a little shine on their face, without covering up your best features.
DuWop Venom Gloss Berry Chill: This adds gloss and shine while hydrating and conditioning your lips because it contains jojoba and avocado oil. It also has a plumping effect, so pucker up!
Poof…wrinkles be gone! Don’t you wish it was that easy to make wrinkles vanish from your pretty face? We all know that with consistency and the use of the right products, over time an even complexion can be attained. What is sometimes overlooked however, is products that can give instant gratification to your long days.
Instant gratification products are products that will fill in, plump, and create an even appearance to the skin. Usually after application, they will start working in about 1-5 minutes and will provide results that last anywhere between 6-8 hours throughout the day. There are two main ingredients that are in instant gratification products as well as various others. First there is Argireline which acts to keep the muscles in your skin relaxed and smooth by blocking transmission from the muscle to the skin. Next you’d want to look for GABA in your products for instant results. GABA stands for gamma amino butyric acid and it is a breakthrough complex that releases the skin’s own muscle relaxers to calm and relax the skin. So if you want a smooth canvas before makeup application or a smooth clear complexion to display, look for instant gratification products. An added bonus is that with most of these types of products you’ll also receive long term benefits with continued use as well. Here is just a short list of some recommended instant gratification products:
Judging product results can be very tricky. How do you know the product you purchased is working for you? How can you tell if the product is doing what it claims? How can you be sure you even purchased the correct product for the skin concern you have?
It is very important to start at the beginning and write down a list of what skin concerns you have. I would suggest a list of top ten or five concerns arranged from highest to least importance. Identify what concerns need the most attention to detail and start there.
Before you go any further be aware that you need to be using (at the bare minimum) a cleanser, toner and moisturizer (in that order). Using one product alone and not using any other skincare products will limit the effectiveness and results of that one product.
Many times customers with aged or acneic skin call in with concerns about their skin feeling dry, tight or peeling after having used a retinol based product. Upon further consultation I usually find that customers are using the correct product, but the retinol level may be too high. Some brands offer retinol in graduating levels. Unfortunately sometimes in haste we may choose the most potent level thinking it will give us the best or quickest results. In fact retinol products that have graduating levels are designed for you to use them at the lower level first. You can then graduate upwards once your skin has adjusted. You can stop increasing the potency level once you find a level that works for you. Also retinol based products do cause a certain level of drying and peeling.
Be sure to give the product time to work. Ordering a product to address your skin concerns and using it for a few days or a week or two may not be enough time. You may need to use the product(s) for 4-6 weeks before you see noticeable results. Set up a skincare regimen through your esthetician or dermatologist and stick to it.
Finally, set realistic goals and expectations. Thirty years of neglecting to use sunscreen and prolonged sun exposure throughout your early years will not be corrected with one jar of the latest skin care cream in one month! Have someone take a photograph of your face and neck area before you begin to treat that area. Take another photograph at the end of each week. At the end of that four to six week period then compare your first week and last week photos and judge the results.
As always if you are uncertain what products to use you can contact us and we would be happy to help design a skin care regimen for you!
You can also get your own personal consultation now at SkinStore with Product Advisor, developed by our estheticians!
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