Peel Season is Here!!!

We are about 2 days away from fall! And we get a full moon along with the official day. :)
I love fall for so many reasons! The beautiful color changes in the leaves, the crisp air, pumpkins, fall fashion, and PEELS! Spring and fall are the perfect times to get peel treatments. Time to shed the summer and get ready for a radiant winter.
Have you had facial peels before? I would love to know your experiences with peel treatments.
With the proper at home care these treatments can be very productive for many types of skin concerns. My personal favorite skin to work with is acne. But, with any epidermal focus comes imperative communication between the technician and the client at hand.
Allergies MUST be covered. That means food allergies, medications, etc. The clients Fitzpatrick scale is another imperative piece of information necessary to create a proper client profile.

So, what is a peel? How do they work? These are very common questions I hear. I also notice a timidness clients have to receive a facial peel. Not all peels are created equal. There are many different solution strength levels and combinations.
But, lets start with the basics. Peels are designed to resurface the skin, by bringing new skin cells up to the surface at a more rapid rate. In doing so the old skin cells begin to shed, thus creating a "peeling". Some peels are mild enough to give results without the downtime of sloughing dead skin off. You would just have a tightness to your skin and possibly feel a bit dry, maybe including flaky patches. These types of mild treatments begin to show long term effects with a series, usually about 3-6 treatments.
Medical peel treatments typically offer downtime. The treatments can be pretty strong with some discomfort. The results can appear quicker, meaning less treatments. But you will most likely be peeling. Depending on the treatment had you could have what looks and feels like a bad sunburn/windburn. Chapped, dry, red, flaky skin.
Now, don't think I am not for medical treatments. I feel that at times the medical peels and/or laser treatments should be a last resort because of the downtime and how pricey they can be. I also believe that you don't have to be so invasive to get the results you want.
There are many types of peels available. Some of the most commonly used are:
Glycolic Acid - Great for targeting wrinkles, fine lines and firmness.
Lactic Acid - A more mild resurfacer perfect for the sensitive.
Salicylic Acid - Helps alleviate inflammation, bacteria and is great for acne prone.

Depending on the company that is manufacturing these products, sometimes they are blended. For example Image creates a Lactic/Kojic Acid blend. Kojic Acid is derived from several species of fungi. It is a melanocyte suppressant. (It helps with dark spots in the skin)

All in all, there is a peel treatment for everyone. Ask your skin care professional what their suggestions would be for you to achieve the desired skin!


Do you have any specific questions you would like answered about this topic? Pick my brain! :)


Fun Fact: Glycolic Acid, a commonly used ingredient for resurfacing, is found in some sugar crops. Including sugar cane!

Sun!

Got back from our beautiful vacation a couple days ago. It was beautiful! Hawaii is probably, well at least at this point, my favorite place to be. I always feel at home and find peace within myself there. I still don't know why I got on the plane to come back to Cali. But, on the positive side I am going to start surfing again. I haven't been out for maybe 5-7 years! I just gotta get a good wetsuit, the waters out here are freezing!

So, let's talk about the fact that the sun is out and we will hopefully all be able to enjoy a beautiful summer! Sun rays are stronger than most think. Both UVA and UVB penetrate our atmosphere and play huge roles in premature skin aging, eye damage, and skin cancers. They can also suppress the immune system, reducing our body's ability to fight off these and other maladies. I always say, "Our first defense against solar damage is Solar Defense!"
Even if you are working in an office I recommend my clients apply at the very minimum a 15 SPF. These sun rays, especially the UVA, can penetrate through glass and our clothing.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. That doesn't mean the amount of protection you are receiving from the product. It indicates how long it will take those UVB rays to get your skin red while using a sunscreen verses no sunscreen. Example: If you applied an SPF 15 it will take 15 times longer to redden than without it.
Both UVA and UVB are damaging to the skin. Which is why finding a broad spectrum SPF is necessary. Now, I also believe that finding sunscreens with a zinc base are the most beneficial. Zinc Oxide protects against UVB,UVA2, UVA1 rays. It's the only ingredient that gives that much protection and is nearly insoluble in water.
The other big mistake is not reapplying. You must reapply about every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Now, go have fun, enjoy the summer and please protect your skin. It's the only one ya got!


Skin Tip: An SPF 15 sunscreen screens 93 percent of the sun’s UVB rays; SPF 30 protects against 97 percent; and SPF 50, 98 percent.

Ok, OK!

I really am not good at this blog thing. Well, at least being consistent with it. :-\ Things have been crazy though, in my defense. In the past few months I've moved and work got so insane, I didn't even have time to make my flowers! Things have slowed down at The Spa recently and another esthetician was finally hired, so we aren't short staffed anymore. Yay!
Last night I cranked out a ton of flowers! Beautiful colors too, I have some gorgeous jewel tones and of course I got started on the red for Valentines Day and green for March. I also was asked to sell them out of a local store, so I really needed to step it up and make as much as my little fingers will allow.

So, since this blog is supposed to be about Aesthetics, let's talk about some skin care! I am loving B. Kamins. Absolutely amazing line. They use their Bio-Maple™ compound, a phenomenal exclusive ingredient that is in all of their products. This ingredient creates a gentle, hydrating and mildly exfoliating line.One of my many favorites from B. Kamins is the Vegetable Cleanser. This cleanser is oil free, fragrance free and is gentle enough for any skin type, even rosacea. It is also great for eye makeup removal! Oh, and P.S. it's made from corn! Yeah, crazy.

So, there you have it. I could go on and on about this product and so many others from B. Kamins. We can get into more of them next time. :)

Holy Flowers!

My tush hurts from sitting and making flowers all day yesterday! I am in need of a "model" for my collection of flowers from yesterday, but I will share some of what I have already made.

They are selling like hotcakes at the salon where my mom works, Bella A'more. Incredible! They aren't doing as well on Etsy as I would have hoped, but I am keeping my chin up.

Although, I did my first online order the other day! In fact it was a custom order! She didn't leave any feedback, but she wrote me an e-mail telling me how much she loved it and how perfect it was going to look with her dress for an event she was going to. (She was new to Etsy, so I figured she must not realize how much we count on feedback at times.)


All in all, still pretty awesome. I mean hey, my creation went to New Orleans! What a fun thought. Someone from another state is wearing and enjoying my creation. Love it. ;)

Today, I am going to clean my room. It's a nightmare. Then, I need to find a good bead store. And of course make more flowers!

Ciao for now loves.

Wow. Wow. Wow! LIFE!

So sorry, things have been going crazy! Got a new job within a fairly large corporate spa, and the training has been intense! They use some incredible skin care lines that I have been using on and off for a while now, B. Kamins and Image, I LOVE them! I will get into each of them and my product favorites as I begin to write more again. As I totally intend to.
I also started a side project that I am so excited about! I am making some adorable flower hair clips that I would like to sell on etsy. Only problem is that I can't make them fast enough, they sell before I can list them!

But, back to skin. My favorite :)
I am going to try and switch off from one to the other. There are so many products in each line that I like and want to share and it can be over whelming. There is just so much!
Let me start with a little background on Image today. The company was founded in 2003 and has been approved and is sold all over the US, Europe, Switzerland and the Middle East.
They believe in their products being:

• paraben free
• not tested on animals
• no petrochemicals
• no chemical preservatives
• fragrance is 100% composed of essential oils
• full of active ingredients and has so much to offer for every skin type.

They were one of the first companies to remove parabens from their line in 2007.

I wanted to give you a little background on the company because I strongly believe in this product and back up this entire line 100%. I use it, love it and am always excited to keep learning more!
I will go into each division and talk about my favorites first, so keep checking back. And if you have any questions HOLLA!

Wow! Time is flying!

Well, I would like to start off by saying Happy Father's Day! And I would like to apologize for neglecting my little blog here. Things have been busy with the job hunting, which I think are over, thank God!

I work out of a few different places, but my main place of business has been working at The Tattoo Room. It's a tattoo shop located just off the Kuehner Dr. exit from the 118 freeway. A few months ago Skin & Ink magazine came out to do a feature on the owner, Danielle Oberosler. A phenomenal artist, tattooer and mother. I had the pleasure of doing her makeup and she landed the cover of the August 2009 issue! Plus, a 7 page article!!

The article is beautifully written and the pictures of her work are amazing. I am very fortunate to be working alongside this strong incredible woman.

www.thetattooroom.com

Happy Mother's Day

Whew! Today was crazy! I think this is the first time I got to sit down all day! I started today out by cleaning up the house and getting things ready for the BBQ we were having. I gave my momma a manicure and pedicure, which was great. I'm not the manicurist in the house she is, so that was fun! She always gives me the BEST mani/pedi's, so I thought it would be nice to return the favor.
My sister and I did everything, well besides the BBQing that's dad's deal. We set up, chopped, made a few trips to the market, made dessert, cleaned up... non-stop! All in all it was great. The food was delicious and the company was fabulous!

I have gotten a few incredible job offers this week and tomorrow I get to find out the details! I am so anxious, you would think I was searching for my first job! I have taken risks in my career, and those risks I took didn't really work out. I can honestly say that I am happy I did make risky moves, I wouldn't have the doors I have open today without those experiences. So, wish me luck!

Chin Up!

So, I have to say I am totally in love with my logo. Once again, Mark Ayoub has blown me away!
Things have been pretty slow, and I've even been considering getting maybe a bartending job for the evenings. But, I am so not a drinker! I don't even know what drinks are what!! My friend who bartends says it's really simple, we'll see.
I am trying not to get too down on myself, I knew starting my own business was not going to be easy, especially this year. But, I wasn't happy with what I had going on before. Which is why I moved back home with my parents. I also understood that moving my business from Westlake Village to Simi Valley was not going to make things any easier! I need to be thankful for what I DO have though, and what I do have are amazing clients that travel from Agoura, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and even Hawaii to come see me!
I am still waiting on a response for a room I will be sharing with Brandi at Bella A'More so I can get back into facials and more body waxing services. And hopefully it hasn't been too long to contact my facial clients!

I can feel it in the air though, things are going to pick up. Summer is right around the corner and tax returns will hopefully be good for everyone!

Skin Tip! If you have an inflamed angry pimple the best thing you can do is not touch it! Get an Aspirin and some Witch Hazel. Mix into a paste and apply as a spot treatment only. Aspirin is a form of Salicylic Acid, which will help with inflammation, bacteria and pain. Witch Hazel is a great astringent and helps to fight acne. Both of these can be purchased at your local drug store!
Please don't use rubbing alcohol or peroxide, they are too aggressive!

Spring Specials!

I am so excited to announce I will be working with P!ay Hair Lounge! We are going to be having a little client appreciation special running! I will be offering $10 off first time brow waxing clients. P!ay is a fun, fashion forward, energetic and extremely educated hair salon. They were chosen by Bumble & Bumble, an animal friendly and environmentally friendly line. The staff at P!ay are costantly continuing there education keeping them up to date on every fashion trend.

Mark Ayoub | Photography

I am very excited to share more of Mark's photography and skills with you all! His love for what he does shines through his photographs capturing each and every moment of your special day. "It is an honor to be the person that captures the emotion, the love, the laughter, the happiness, and the memories." -Mark Ayoub | Photography
I felt it was extremely thoughtful and generous for Mark to make me this awesome slide show of my makeup work. So professional and aesthetic! Thank you again!

Just Thought I Would Share...

I was excited to see my makeup work in an add for a photographer in the February edition of the 805 magazine! This was a wedding I had worked on at the Moorpark Country Club a while back. I have worked a few weddings there and think the location is quite beautiful.
The photographer, Mark Ayoub, has a fabulous portfolio and I highly recommend taking a peek!
His work is romantic, soft and unique.

Attention Curly GIrls!

I went to the Long Beach Convention (International Salon & Spa Expo) and found a product line called Mixed Chicks. Now, I don't do hair but I can't even tell you how much I am loving this line!
They keep their alcohol content low in their product, which in turn creates less frizz! Yay! My hair is not sticky, greasy, nor does the product feel heavy.
I purchased 3 products shampoo, conditioner, and a leave in. I would also like to add their prices are incredibly affordable, and you are getting salon quality products.

I had locks for about 8 years, I do not call them 'dread' locks for we having nothing in this life to dread. They were past my tush and I wanted a different look. Eight years ago the products they had out to offer a girl with my hair type didn't help. I used a hot comb to straighten my hair, which in turn fried it. I tried the straightening products I even tried perming. Nothing worked. Plus, I surfed and the salt water didn't help my situation much.
My hair would mat up on its own so I thought, why not just let it do what it wants to do. I met Pattye Anderson the amazing woman who transformed my kinky mess into beautiful, no gorgeous, locks that I loved for eight years of my life. I got stopped everywhere I went.
But, they were getting too long to do much with and I needed something else. My mother and I along with plenty of Argan Oil actually brushed them out. So, I have been on mission to find a product that would tame the mane. :)

I've been using this line for about 2 weeks now, and I love it! You should check them out!

Facts Don't Lie: Petition for Safe Cosmetics

Did you know many of the ingredients found in the beauty products we all use every day including childrens' personal care items may be dangerous?
There are more than 10,500 ingredients found in these products and only 11% have been tested for safety.[4] The Environmental Working Group provided startling information from a recent study:

• 33% contain ingredients linked to cancer.
• 45% contain ingredients that may be harmful to the reproductive system or to a baby's development.[1]
• 60% have ingredients that can act like estrogen or disrupt hormones.

Women who use hair color have a 50% higher risk of developing a cancer known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, The National Cancer Institute reported.
The FDA investigated talcum powder, an ingredient widely used in cosmetics. They found of the 40 tested 39 contained asbestos, a known carcinogen.[2]

So, what are your thoughts thus far? Is it really worth it? Some years ago cosmetologists began complaining of memory loss, headaches, asthma, and other respiratory problems. The government evaluated & studied 2,983 chemicals, finding 884 to be toxic. They found:

• 314 chemicals cause biological mutations
• 218 chemicals cause reproductive complications
• 778 chemicals cause acute toxicity
• 146 chemicals cause cancer tumors
• 376 chemicals cause skin and eye irritations[3]

Not much was done to help protect the men and women making a living in the beauty & health industry. There was even less done to protect consumers! Every day we apply these harmful and toxic ingredients unknowingly.

Why Aren't They Safe?
The guidelines used to regulate cosmetics were developed over 40 years ago. Then, scientists didn't believe what we applied to our skin was significantly absorbed if at all. Now, scientists very well know our body absorbs quite a bit, which is why we have medications, lotions, and other topical treatments. Many of them used because of the speed at which our skin will allow these products to enter.
The Cosmetics Office of the FDA is incredibly understaffed and underfunded. The man-power needed to search out the dangerous toxins in our products is just not there.[2]

Real Regulations.
The European Union, not being as limited as the FDA, did the research and discovered the many dangerous ingredients in their cosmetics and other personal care items. In fact, they banned hundreds of ingredients that were known or at least highly suspected to cause cancer, birth defects or genetic mutations.
Now, I don't know about you, but the fact that other countries around the world banned these products is enough for me to be upset that we are still being sold these items expecting to think our purchase was safe because it says "organic" or "herbal".

I have found through the website of safe cosmetics many startling facts that have got others moving to petition congress for safer ingredients in our products. I signed the petition and am hoping you will as well.


Petition Congress for Safe Cosmetics

Please join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing this petition. We'll use it to tell our representatives in Congress that we need safer products and smarter laws to protect us from toxic chemicals in personal care products!

Chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other adverse health effects do not belong in products we use on our bodies. Major loopholes in federal law allow the $50 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of virtually any chemical into personal care products with no required safety assessment, no required monitoring of health effects and inadequate labeling requirements.

Sources:

1. Malkan, S. Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers ; 2007

2. Winter, R. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. New York: Three Rivers Press; 1999

3. Dadd, D. Home Dafe Home. New York: Putnam; 1997

4. Environmentsal Working Group. Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. 2007. Available at www.cosmeticdatabase.com.

This information was also taken from a brochure found at x1tools.com

New Device For Acne

Amazing. CLARO from CLRS technology received FDA approval for treatment mild to moderate inflammatory acne. This is the first hand-held device to use IPL (intense pulsed light) that you can use to treat acne in the comfort of your home!
Available by prescription only CLARO sends a series of light pulses in 6 seconds which safely penetrate into the skin reducing inflammation and ridding the area of acne causing bacteria. The company is also claiming the device is painless, has no side effects, or excessive dryness.

I have worked with doctors and know that one of the better treatments for inflammatory acne is having a series of IPL treatments. Seeing the results I became a firm believer and recommended the treatment for patients I knew would not get far with what I could do for them.

What is IPL?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is clinically-proven and is regarded as one of the most important advancements in acne treatment. IPL uses Heat and Light for a fast and effective treatment in treating acne. IPL has been used for decades by physicians to treat acne. Shown through clinical studies, IPL treatments are as good as if not more powerful than prescription antibiotics.

Want more on this? Visit CLARO!

Permanent Cosmetic Q & A's

I have been getting a lot of questions about permanent makeup and thought I should address some of the most common questions.

I'm Afraid of Pain Does Permanent Makeup Have to Hurt A Lot?
New topical anesthetics have been developed especially for permanent makeup. These creams and gels are applied to the desired area before and during the procedure to assure you of the most comfortable experience possible. Some people describe the sensation as a "tingling" feeling. Most people experience some discomfort, especially during lip color procedures. It is common to hear there was not as much pain as was expected. As the numbing begins to wear off cold packs are very soothing to the area.

How Will I Look After My Procedure?
You'll look like you have had a good cry for several hours following the eyeliner procedure. It is advised to apply ice for 10 minutes at a time during these first few hours. Also, it is important to wear sunglasses, as your eyes may be temporarily sensitive to light.
Eyebrows will have the least swelling.
Lip color involves temporary swelling. Lips will look puffy and much brighter than desired color. Let your technician know if you have a history of fever blisters so your doctor can prescribe the proper medication.

How Long Will My Permanent Makeup Last?
Permanent makeup is long lasting. However, as you become accustomed to your new makeup, it is not uncommon to want more. You will want to freshen up your new makeup every couple of years. The darker the color, such as black, the longer it will stay unchanged in your skin. Natural, delicate colors are often times more vulnerable to the effects of the sun, swimming, skin care products and break down by the body. No pigment is FDA approved for tattoos. Both organic and inorganic colors may be used to achieve the desired color.

Easy Tips For Healthy Skin

I've said it before and I will say it a million times, spending a fortune on skin care is unnecessary. It's tempting when we walk into a spa and see all the pretty shiny boxes and bottles lined up to think there has to be a miracle considering technology. But, with money for most being tighter than ever today what are you really purchasing? Are you purchasing the miracle cleanser or just the pretty packaging. Let's go over the little things that you might not realize could be the source of your skin problems and try to make keeping your skin healthy simple.


One of the most common problems I see are allergies to products. Cleansers with harsh detergents can aggravate the skin. If your cleanser has copious amounts of foam, it most likely contains sodium laurel sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate. These sulfates are inexpensive ingredients frequently used in toothpaste, soaps, shampoos, cleaning supplies, etc. These ingredients when applied to the skin can give that "squeaky clean" feeling also creating a tight feel to the skin. The reason your skin feels this way is because the sulfates have stripped the necessary lipids from your skin. Thus, causing possible dryness, breakouts, eczyma, etc.

*Using a cream or fat based cleanser helps to remove makeup better, give you a more effective yet gentle cleanse, and keep that protective lipid layer intact. It took me a bit to get used to a cleanser that didn't foam, but I must say my skin has forever changed. An oil based cleanser is great for anyone, even if you have breakouts. Remember oil is not bad! Oil keeps our skin hydrated, nourished and young!


We've talked about using scrubs, exfoliating, and touched the topic of peels. (We will get into peels more later) Over exfoliating can lead to injured skin. I see it all the time. This is why I love the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush! It's beeps to tell you to move on to another area of your skin so you don't over exfoliate. We tend to want to scrub our skin with products that are either too aggressive and use them for too long on our skin. Our skin just needs about a minute of daily gentle exfoliation.


More and more I see the use of Retinols, a form of vitamin A, on young and mature skin types. Which are great, retinols are proven to prevent fine lines and reduce wrinkles we already have, we just need to make sure to keep the percentage used topically low for younger skin. It's great for helping control acne, smooth down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, or even be used as a wrinkle deterrent. Just be sure to use your sunscreen everyday!! And if you are getting waxed be sure to let the technician know you are using retinols and how often.


Many think that if they have oily skin a moisturizer isn't needed. I don't care what skin type you have, a good hydrator is a must. Most of them have nutrients that our skin needs after a good cleanse. It will also help with oil production believe it or not.
When we cleanse our skin, we have cleaned off the a lot of the oil that we need. Leaving our sebaceous glands, oil glands, to over produce compensating for what is lost. Thus leaving us even more oily in the long run. It's about finding what hydrator is going to work for your skin type.


Cleansing your skin after you wash out hair products out is a great guideline to follow. Most of our conditioners and other hair care products have coconut oil and other skin clogging ingredients that we don't want to leave on the skin.


Getting facials once a month with a knowledgeable and professional skin care therapist can be a great skin booster. Your skin takes an average of about 2-3 weeks to get used to a new product. So, if you breakout from a facial it could be from the product used or the extractions moving all the "junk" from under your skin up to the surface for clearer skin.


Sunscreen is huge. Even when you are working indoors the use of sunscreen is imperative. All the quick unprotected trips to the car and back add up! Tinted moisturizers are great too, but I still recommend a good SPF base. And always remember your neck and chest!



Tip: A great sunscreen I found and absolutely love, COOLA. It's organic, affordable, and doesn't feel greasy or leave a funky tint to my skin, try the cucumber face lotion.

Make-Up 101

I don't like rules, never have they always frustrate me. This is why makeup is so fun! There are no rules for makeup, just guidelines that you may choose to follow, manipulate, or go against completely. Makeup should be fun, not fascist.

As one of my heroes, Kevyn Aucoin said, "No matter how artistic a person is, without quality tools and products even a genius like Michelangelo would not have been able to paint the Sistine Chapel."
Now, I am not saying by any means that to achieve great makeup you need to go out and make an expensive purchase. It's about finding what works for you and accumulating what you like.
There is no "magic" makeup, it's all in the application. There are going to be cosmetic lines that you may have allergies to, don't like the way they go on, or just don't work for you. It's your choice.

In the next articles I am going to go over different looks you can easily create at home and what tools work best with what products. For today we are just going to go over different tricks and tips I have picked up and use to make your experience with makeup painless.

First things first, when you are doing your makeup a good tip is to start with your eyes. Especially if you are going to be using darker colors. Reason being, when you apply powders to the eye area we usually create a bit of a mess under our eyes. So, instead of perfecting everything, and having to wipe off the fabulous job we did with our concealer and blending because some darker powder fell where we didn't really want it, let's just make it easy and start with our eyes. *Mascara is last*
For all day wear with no creasing of our eyeshadow an eyeshadow primer really does the job. You will find your eyeshadow goes on truer to color and stays put all day! Also, using a powder as an eyeliner instead of a pencil, you will have little to no migration throughout your day as well. Pencils are made of wax, and wax combined with our body temperature melts, thus giving us "raccoon eyes". Powder can be used wet or dry depending on the look you are going to achieve.

So, our eyes are done except for mascara. The following area I like to work on is cleaning up the under eye with some makeup remover. Now, let's talk about concealer. With concealer I believe less is more, especially under the eye. We don't want to look like we caked everything on! Besides, we still have foundation to apply and that will cover as well. I apply concealer under eyes sparingly and I also conceal any blemishes or imperfections I want to cover up. A good guideline to follow is to also feather out the concealer so there is no hard line, this will help with your application of your next step.

Foundation! We are almost done!! When you are trying to find the right color for your foundation the best place to test is your jawline. Your wrist and your face don't match! Put a few different strips along your jaw, running from jawline to where your neck and jaw meet, and compare the colors to find the best suited color for you. Also, when the seasons change you might want to double check and make sure your skin and foundation are still matching. Try not using a foundation color too dark or too light in comparison to your actual skin color, there is always bronzer.
Starting the application from the center of our face and blending out towards our ears and also, make sure you don't forget your neck!

Now, we are ready for our final touches. This is when I like to fill in the brows with some powder if they need it and apply my blush.
There are no rules for where your blush should go. Another common misconception. I use my blush as a bronzer, I apply it where ever the sun would kiss us. Cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Some like their blush on the apples of their cheeks and others like applying it just below. It's up to you, be creative!
You can curl your eyelashes if you like, or you can just go ahead and apply your mascara. I like to start on the bottom lashes first and then do the top. Reason being, when you apply mascara to the bottom lashes we typically look up. So, if you already had mascara on your top lashes you might get left with little dots on your eyelid.
And, last but not least, lips. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. This part is completely up to you and your look. If you want to line them, go for it. If you want lipstick go for it. Or, gloss 'em up!

I want you to always keep in mind that these are steps that I like to follow. They make my applications easier and faster. If you find something that works better for you, great! Share it with me, maybe I can use it too.
Whatever you do , don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. Keep it fun, creative and easy!

The Clarisonic Skin Care Brush

Let me just start out by saying this is the most effective tool anyone can use daily for superior cleansing and exfoliating. I have been an avid Clarisonic user and promoter for about the past 4 years. My own skin care routine, along with my clients, has forever changed.
This brush can be used with just about any skin type, in fact there are many dermatologists that recommend or should I say prescribe it for even the most sensitive of skin! (i.e. seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea and acne)

From the makers of the Sonicare toothbrush, the Clarisonic has revolutionized the skin care industry. I like to say that clean skin is the most important part of any routine, it's always the first step to healthy skin. But, we also need to take a look at how clean we are getting our skin.
Just using your hands to "scrub" your skin doesn't effectively remove or help dislodge dirt and oil from all those little pores and wrinkles. There are so many free radicals in our air today constantly attacking and creating a mess of our skin.

What sets this brush apart from all the others sounding so similar on the market today?
The Clarisonic uses technology to effectively yet gently enough loosen dirt and oil to help give you that deeper cleanse! They use a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second. Clarisonic even did a study and found that in 60 seconds this micro-massage action within this brush:

• Removes 6x more makeup than manual cleansing
• Improves the appearance of your skin tone including fine lines, wrinkles and pore size
  
• Allows for better penetration of products allowing them to work as they should
• Helps with skin sensitivities twice as effectively as manual cleansing
• Allows a closer longer lasting shave
  

The Clarisonic's movements are oscillating making a huge difference. Using a brush making circular movements creates friction and unnecessary pulling. This can create premature wrinkles, skin irritations, and redness.

Many spas, skin care therapists and dermatologists have jumped on the band wagon going as far as using the Clarisonic in their facial treatments. They are finding that peels, masks and other treatments are more effective in the treatment room.
I always give my clients the feel test. I do a cleanse have them feel their skin, and then on the second cleanse I use the Clarisonic have them take another feel and they all have the same reaction, "It's so soft!"
I know it is a pricey investment, but it's an investment for a healthy, smooth, glowing skin! You will find that your makeup goes on better, your breakouts will subside, your overall texture will be improved... How much better does it get!

Tip: When switching over to a new product your skin needs approximately 2-3 weeks to adjust.

*most of my stats are from Clarisonic themselves! Check them out!

To Exfoliate or Not to Exfoliate? That is the Question!

Scrubs are an important part of our skin care routine. New skin cells are created every 30 days in the lowest layer of our skin, the dermis. Over time our skin cells begin to move to the surface of our skin and become more acidic and within time become keratinized. Which is what protects us from environmental elements. As we get older our skin cells metabolize slower and uneven which gives the skin a rough and dry feel. By exfoliating we can remove the outer most layer and reveal the new smooth skin beneath. This removal of the outer layer also helps to unclog pores, keep our skin clean, can help reduce acne breakouts, and even get a closer shave.
But, what scrub is best suited for your skin type? Is Organic better than Synthetic? How often should a scrub be used? When should it be used?
These are all common questions we all ask ourselves when shopping around for an exfoliate. I always thought an Organic scrub has to be better than Synthetic, but found that my skin seems to know otherwise.
First, lets talk about the 2 different types of exfoliation we can achieve. There's mechanical which involves the physical use of an abrasive element against the skin. Some examples are microfiber cloths, micro-bead facial scrubs, crushed nut shells, sugar or salt, sponges, brushes, micro dermabrasion, etc.
Then, we have chemical exfoliation which can be used alone or in combination with an abrasive matter. Usually containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, fruit enzymes, citric acid, or malic acid. It may also involve the use of Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Beta-Hyrdoxy Acids (BHA) which can be applied by your dermatologist or be purchased at lower concentrations over the counter for use at home.
Now, I have found that when exfoliating at home using a scrub with synthetic beads works better on my skin than crushed nuts. Typically the beads as you scrub have some type of oil (jojoba is the most common) inside them, and as they break down the oil is then released to provide moisture and more importantly providing glide on the skin. Friction and pulling too harshly on your skin can promote breakouts, premature wrinkles and just irritated skin.
I have also found that though the use of salicylic acid is great for inflammation and reducing redness moderation is always best. Which brings me to the next question, how often?

Always consult with your physician or skin care therapist for best results.

• If you have Sensitive Skin or what I like to call Reactive Skin, I would say using a scrub with synthetic beads about once to twice a week would be great. Make sure it's gentle! BHA's are great for this skin type as well.

• If you have Normal Skin once to twice a week would be great for you too! You could even mix it up with an enzyme treatment every once in a while.

• Combination Skin or Undecided Skin types really do well with exfoliation! Helps to keep that skin clear of trouble. You could probably exfoliate with a VERY gentle exfoliate ever day to every other day. This is my skin type and I use the Clarisonic skin care brush twice a day everyday. I could go on for days about that brush, we'll leave that for another blog!

• Acne Prone Skin, this skin type is angry. If you think about anger it's red, swollen, upset, and will not listen! The best type of exfoliation for this skin type is Chemical, definitely. Using an abrasive scrub is, well... Abrasive! It can spread the bacteria and cause more damage than good. Using an Alpha Hydroxy or even Beta Hydroxy topical is the most beneficial. Depending on the severity of the acne and the strength of the acid(s) applied this could be done as often as every day to once a month.

A good sunscreen with a MINIMUM Sun Protection Factor of 30 should always be applied to the face, neck and chest daily, especially after exfoliating.
A scrub should always be used after cleansing the skin. In fact I will go as far to say that I believe a good cleansing should be done before anything we do to our skin.
Exfoliation also allows for better penetration of other products we apply to our skin. Don't forget there is such a thing as over doing it too, your skin will feel overly sensitive and dry.

Tip: Always remember whatever you do to your face, should be done to your neck and chest! You don't want to have a beautiful youthful smooth face and a wrinkled neck!

10 Good Reasons for Permanent Makeup

• Convenience - you just need more time
• Allergies - to ordinary make-up, you may have sensitive skin
• Eye Issues - wear glasses or contact lenses, had lasik surgery, eyes constantly water
• Arthritis - painful hands
  
• Difficulty - seeing, applying make-up or you don't like the way it smears & disappears
• Aging - changes in lips, brows, eyes
• Active - Outdoor lifestyles
  
• Natural - if you like a no make-up look and want to enhance features
  
• Lost Hair - you've lost hair from alopecia, chemotherapy, accidents, burns, or cosmetic surgery
  
• Replacement - of skin color where cosmetic tattooing can help