A Dustin' of Makeup
Dustin Sanders ~ Makeup Artist
BEAUTY 101
Truth About Skin
March 18 2013
The Skin is the largest body organ and requires a daily regimen of care to maintain. The most effective skin care should be coupled with overall healthy lifestyle choices. In addition to common sense, other factors that affect basic healthy skin include age, heredity and underlying medical conditions.
Dermatologist and medical professionals agree that the most important basic skin care advice is to stay out of the sun. According to MayoClinic.com, ultraviolet rays are at the core of a number of skin problems, ranging from dryness and wrinkles to rashes and skin cancer. You should avoid the sun during its peak between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and wear sunscreen whenever you are exposed to the harmful rays.
Dry skin is one of the most common conditions that can cause a lot of skin problems and can be alleviated by reducing the amount of soap used. Only use soap on places that attract bacteria and cause odor such as armpits and genitals. Face washes should be minimal and limited to mild products. Also, be sure to use products that are meant for your skin type. Washes with salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide can be very harsh and drying to the skin. Try to choose lines that are meant to neutralize the skin and keep it "normal". Tone skin after washing to maintain healthy pH levels in the skin. Reduce baths and showers to maintain healthy skin as well and only use lukewarm water no hot water to prevent dryness.
Your skin will be the healthiest when it's moist. Thick and heavy moisturizers that hold in skin's natural moisture are best, according to MedlinePlus. Oil and creams should be applied at least two times a day and immediately following bathing. Use a humidifier in dry rooms to increase moisture in the air and keep skin moist. Always drink plenty of water to improve skin health.
Free radicals are substances that come from pollution, dirt and toxins in food. They can be harmful to healthy skin! Consume omega-3 fatty acids to reduce free radicals, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Fatty acids come from foods such as fish, nuts and olive oil.
Sources: LIVESTRONG.COM
Healthy Lifestyle = Healthy Skin
March 18 2013
The skin is the largest organ in the body so the right diet should always be your first step in taking care of you and your skin! As with most health benefits it comes down to lifestyle. The things you can do to make the skin more beautiful are very similar to what you can do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift you spirits and live longer and better. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep and eat well.
What we look for when it comes to a beautiful skin diet and why it works on traits like smoothness and tone:
1. Seafood is high in omega 3 fatty acids and zinc. Increasing omega 3 intake can reduce dryness and inflammation, which can cause skin to age. They also help to keep arteries clear which improves circulation. Good circulation is crucial to healthy skin.
Zinc can help fight acne because it's involved in the metabolizing process of testosterone. Zinc also assists in new cell production and the sloughing off of dead skin, which gives skin a healthy glow.
You'll also find these benefits in flaxseed oil and walnuts.
2. Citrus Fruit has vitamin C which helps to keep skin smooth and taut. It is a prime skincare ingredient in tons of beauty creams. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen which is a protein that forms the basic structure of skin [source: Discovery Health]. Collagen breakdown speeds up significantly around age 35 and can leave the skin saggy [source: RealAge]. Extra vitamin C in your diet can help tighten skin and prevent wrinkles. It also has antioxidant properties that fight free radicals that damage cells and prematurely age your face.
3. Red and green veggies have vitamin A and beta-carotene which can brighten and smooth skin. Orange red veggies are packed full of beta-carotene. Our bodies convert this into vitamin A, which acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin A also gives you anti-acne benefits. It has been used in acne medications (think Retin-A) for years.
Green leafy foods provide tons of Vitamin A as well which aids in the skin producing new cells and getting rid of old ones, cellular turn over. This reduces dryness and keeps your face looking bright and young.
4. Nuts provide us with vitamin E which aids in keeping the skin young and soft. It is another vitamin that has to do with antioxidant activity. It combats skin-aging free radicals and it aids in protecting the skin from sun damage due to UV-sunlight-generated free radicals [source: self]. Vitamin E also has the ability to help the skin retain moisture which relieves dryness and makes the skin look younger. If you pair it with selenium it can enhance vitamin E's antioxidant abilities.
5. Whole grains have components such as rutin and B-vitamins which help clean and moisturize skin. whole foods are basically unprocessed. Buckwheat is a source of rutin, an antioxidant that combats inflammation related skin damage. Wheat germ provides biotin which assists cells in processing fats. Without enough biotin in your diet skin can become dry and scaly.
Whole grains instead of processed carbohydrates can improve complexion. Processed flours can encourage acne because it can cause insulin to spike.
Avocados and mushrooms can provide similar benefits.
6. Water is needed by every system in the body to function and skin is no exception! How much water to drink really depends on your body size and level of activity. Remember about 20% of the water we get already comes from the food we eat and other beverages.
To truly drink for your skin, try replacing harmful liquids to the complexion like soda, alcohol and sugary juices with those that are good for it. Water, green tea and sugar-free pomegranate juice are a few amazing choices.
A healthy body means healthy skin! Feed your body good, healthy foods, exercise, plenty of rest and keep your stress low and your skin will reap the benefits!
sources: Discovery Health
Skin Care Skin Care Skin Care
March 18 2013
I can not stress enough the importance of skin care! As I've mentioned in the above post your skin is the largest organ your body has but did you know that it is the last organ to receive benefits from all that you ingest? So, while eating right and drinking plenty of water is very important we still have to use the right skin care to aid our skin.
First, choose the right skin care routine for you. Ask yourself a few questions:
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Is my skin dry, oily, normal or combination? Do you feel you need to blot oil several times a day? If so then you're oily. Do you feel when you get out of the shower you have a little tightness through the cheeks but the rest of your face feels fine? Then you are a bit more combination. Do you feel tightness all over after a shower? Then you're dry. Do you really feel no particular issue? That would mean you have normal skin.
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Do I have any aging concerns? Do you see fine lines, wrinkles or sagging skin?
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Is there any sun damage or dark spots on my face?
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How many steps am I willing to commit too each day/night?
Once you've asked yourself a few simple questions then you have an idea what it is you're looking for in your skin care routine.
Your routine should, at minimum, consist of cleanser, toner, exfoliant, day cream, night cream and eye cream. I'll discuss the importance of each later as well as the additional steps you can do to make the skin look even better.
Second, do your research. Find out what skin care line gives you all the benefits that you're looking for. What line has the research to back up what they say. What awards have been won and why. I always tell my ladies that skin care is one of the two things you should always spend your money on because you really do get what you pay for.
Third, make your purchase. Be proud of yourself for making and investment in your skin and taking that step to take better care of it and yourself! It is NEVER to late.
Finally, commit to it. You've done your home work and you've made your purchase now lets make it a habit. Stick to it and reap the rewards as you and those around you start to see the benefits!
Now lets talk about the skin care. We all need a face wash that is suited for our skin type and that has a texture that we enjoy. That can be a gel, a foam, a cream or liquid. Each types has its own way of pulling dirt and impurities off the skin and out of the pores. You should wash your face every night to clean the dirt and/or makeup from the day off. You do not have to wash every morning if you don't want to.
After you've washed your face you need to tone it. Cleansers as well as chemicals found in our water today can throw the pH levels in the skin out of whack. A toners is meant to bring the pH back to normal. The other benefits of using a toner are that it helps remove any dirt or makeup that might have been missed while cleansing and it provides a layer of hydration that we can begin to lock in once we apply our moisturizer. Each toner may have additional benefits beyond what is mentioned here. Just look at the bottle to find out what they'll do for you. Just remember not all toners have alcohol or witch hazel and act as an astringent. Some are more like rose water and others can be toning lotions for dry skin. While you should always cleans at night you should tone day and night. While you sleep you sweet and those impurities sit on the surface of the skin so toning will wipe them away.
Now that you have cleansed and toned the skin it's time to apply serums, most go on before moisturizing but be sure to read the instructions to make sure. You do not have to use a serum but I always recommend them. Think of a time that you wanted to lose weight. While dieting and exercise can get you to your goal taking a supplement can get you there twice as fast. That's what a serum can do for you. While moisturizers can and will address your concerns we all want to see results faster so lets add a serum to get us there.
Once we've applied our serum(s), unless you chose to skip that step. It's time for our moisturizers. You should have three day, night and eye cream. Why you may ask? We our day cream is typically going to have SPF which is going to be very important in blocking the harmful rays that damage the skin. You need a separate cream at night for a couple reasons: You don't want to sleep in a cream with SPF because it prevents the skin from breathing while you sleep and will hinder skins natural repair process as well as clog pores. You do not hydrate for approximately eight hours and your body temperature rises while you sleep causing the skin to become more dehydrated. Finally, your skin repairs while you sleep so you need ingredients in your night routine that will aid in this process. You need a separate cream for the eye area because it is the thinnest skin on the body and has no glands. The cream you put around eyes needs to be formulated in a way that it will benefit this delicate skin and it needs to be tested safe to use around the eye area, most face moisturizers are not tested for this.
Additional products you should use or may want to think about are:
An exfoliant to help buff away the dead skin from the surface. This will leave the complexion more refined. It will bring a healthy glow back to the skin. You will get more benefit from those amazing creams and serums that you've purchased and the product will last you longer as you will not be using nearly as much due to dead skin acting as a sponge and absorbing most your product before it penetrates to the skin you can improve. You'll also notice your foundation will look better, you'll use less due to less imperfections and it will last longer through the day. You only need to exfoliate about twice a week.
A mask can be very beneficial just choose the right one for your skin type and concerns. A clay mask can help acne pron skin and to tighten pores while a hydrating mask is grate for dry or dehydrated skin.
Getting a facial about once a month is another great idea if you have the time and budget.
Just try and you'll see in no time you'll have the skin that you've been dreaming of!
Top Lancome Skin Care Picks
March 19 2013
These are my personal top Lancome skin care picks, click on images to go to the Lancome website and learn more or to purchase one of these amazing producst
Cleansing & Toning:
Bi-facil - This award-winning phenomenon gently whisks away all types of eye makeup, even waterproof. Lifts off all types of eye makeup, even waterproof mascara, while conditioning the skin. Leaves eyes feeling cool and refreshed, with no oily residue. No wonder there’s a cult following.
Creme Radiance - This gentle cream-to-foam cleanser with antioxidant White Lotus and soothing Rose de France penetrates deep into the pores without over-drying to gently remove makeup, even waterproof, dissolve impurities and purify the skin.
Tonique Douceur - Soothing and cooling, this alcohol-free, pH balanced freshener gently tones and refines skin without drying or depleting natural oils. Formulated with skin-softening distilled flower-water, this ultra-refreshing formula gives skin a cool, hydrated feeling.
Eau Fraiche Douceur - Pamper and purify your skin with this refreshing cleansing water that instantly removes face, lip and eye makeup in one easy step. This magic formula with gentle Micellar Technology cleansing agents and soothing Rose de France, lifts and removes makeup and impurities, even waterproof and long-wear formulas, with no need to rinse. Perfect when you're on the go!
Serums:
Genefique - Since its introduction in 2009 Genefique has won 130 awards world wide. It intensely hydrates and promotes skin's natural exfoliation, a characteristic of young skin. See visibly younger skin in just 7 days. Skin looks as if lit from within – breathtaking radiant. Skin feels cushiony soft and velvety to the touch. Its tone becomes astonishingly even, its texture dramatically refined. Keep an eye out for an upgrade to this already amazing product!
Visionnair - In 4 weeks wrinkles, pores and uneveness are visibly corrected. This serum is AMAZING and seeing is believing! If you have acne problems I personally found this is the one for you. Not only will it help to even texture and tone of skin correcting acne scarring but, after using it on the recommendation of a colleague, I found that my breakout issue all but disappeared. Now this is not a claim that Lancome makes and everyone's skin is different but I took a chance once someone told me the same thing and it worked for me!
Genefique Yeux Light Pearls - With it's stainless steel light pearl applicator you will apply the product precisely around the contours of the eye while giving your eyes a nice cooling massage. Puffiness will be deflated, dark circles will be diminished, eye area will be smoothed and fine lines and wrinkles will be minimized. It's your one stop shop for virtually all your concerns for the eye area. It can be used alone or under your favorite eye cream.
Moisture:
Absolue Precious Cells - By far is this the most amazing moisturizer that I have seen! If you have concerns about damage that's been done to your skin over the years, feel like you've lost radiance in your skin and want firmer skin with less lines and wrinkles this is your pick. Hydrates skin to feel more dense. Cream melts into the skin and envelops the skin in silky comfort. Skin texture is luxuriously refined and has a more uniform color. Crow's feet, laugh lines and wrinkles appear reduced. The skin recovers the visible signs of younger skin. Moisturizing enough for dry skin and formulated for all skin types. Seeing the deference this amazing moisturizer did for my mom made me a true believer! Again seeing is believing so try it for yourself! *Also available in eye!
The Lancome logo is a trademarked logo. Lancome and L'Oreal are in no way affiliated with this website and the trademarked logo, as well as product images, are the property of Lancome and L'Oreal and are for illustration purposes only. This blog is interdependently written and operated by the blogger and all opinions in this blog are personal opinions not that of Lancome or L'Oreal. If there are any issues with the use of these images please notify the blogger immediately and they will be removed. The links provided are for the ease of those reading the blog to connect to the products that they may want to learn more about.
Complexion Perfection
April 9 2013
Having that flawless complexion is easier than you may think. As stated in my past articles your first step is a healthy lifestyle and the right skincare!
First, make sure to exfoliate to keep the complexion more even toned and refined. Dead surface skin can dull the complexion and create a more uneven skin tone.
Second, apply your moisturizer as directed. Makeup will go on more smoothly if applied on freshly moisturized skin.
Third, use a primer. Think of when you paint a car, wall or canvas. You prime before you apply foundation to help smooth over imperfection such as larger pores and fine lines. I recommend even using your primer if you're not going to wear a foundation because it helps to soften the look of imperfections when worn alone. You also get added bonuses from wearing a primer! The primer acts as a barrier between the skin and the outside world. That means it helps to extend the wear of your foundation and it helps to lock in those awesome serums and moisturizers that you use!
Fourth, apply your perfectly matched foundation. When choosing the foundation that's right for you think about what benefits do you want from your foundation, how much coverage and what finish you're looking for. I always recommend spending money on a good foundation that gives you everything you are looking for. Go to a cosmetics counter and have a beauty adviser at the counter match you to the perfect color, if you try to go to Walmart or CVS and pick out your own color and it's wrong then you may not be able to return it.
You should always find a perfect match to your complexion not lighter or darker. I like to recommend matching the color of you chest not the color of your face. Typically, we do a good job of keeping our face protected from the sun which in turn causes our face to be a little lighter than the rest of our body. If you match the color of your chest then when someone looks at you they'll see one even complexion all over and not a face that doesn't match the rest of the body.
When you apply your foundation put a small amount on the back of your hand and use a brush to smooth it over your face, it'll save you two bottles a year and allows for more control and even coverage. Some brands, such as Laura Mercier, prefer you use a different method than the brush based on the formulation of the foundation but the beauty adviser that matches you should be able to tell you the best way to apply their product.
After you have smoothed the foundation over the skin if there are any places where redness or unevenness show through take a little foundation and with your brush pat a heavier coverage just over those spots and blend.
Fifth, if needed, apply concealer. "Concealer after foundation?", you may ask. How do you know what needs to be concealed before you apply foundation? This will help you to wear less makeup. Your foundation may provide enough coverage that you don't need concealer.
When choosing the concealer, since you are using it over the foundation, it needs to be a fairly close match in color to your foundation.
If you do choose to use a concealer, apply a small amount on the back of your hand and warm it with your concealer brush. Apply the concealer just to the areas that need a little more coverage a blend into your foundation.
Finally, use a powder to set your foundation. Whenever you apply cream or liquid makeup to the face it must be set with a powder. These days not all powders are made alike. Again, spend your money on a good powder! Skincare and complexion are two places I always recommend spending a little extra money for what's right and what works. While you're getting your foundation matched up at the counter have them match you with a powder as well. You'll want to ask yourself again what benefits you want, how much coverage and what kind of finish. If you're oily then choose a matte finish and possibly oil control. If you're dry choose a more luminous finish and definitely a more finely milled powder.
When using the powder to set your foundation always use a brush, it will pick up a lot less product, so you don't end up with far to much coverage. Less is more! Tap off any excess powder from the brush then gently roll the brush through the t-zone area and blend out through the rest of the face.
Now that you have a beautiful and even complexion remember you just erased all the color and definition from your face. You'll need to go back and apply blush and/or bronzer to give a little color and shape back to the face.