Monday, January 25, 2010

Mineral Make-up lines I LOVE!





I absolutely LOVE mineral make-up and as an Esthetician I highly recommend it for all of my clients. I am not going to lie I have used MAC make-up for years and I LOVE their eye colors, liners, etc. HOWEVER, for my skin and for everyones skin I highly suggest mineral makeup.

Two lines that I support and promote as much as possible:

GloMinerals: www.glominerals.com
SmoakShop: www.smoakshop.com (Model Shanna Moakler's line)


Due to the fact that mineral make-up is non-comedogenic, which means it does not block the pores of the skin but instead allows the skin to breathe, mineral makeup is very appealing for those women with sensitive skin. So for those women who suffer with rosacea, dryness, acne or other skin ailments, utilizing mineral makeup permits them to take advantage of a skin-friendly product which will not exacerbate their problems. As well, the prime ingredients used in mineral makeup are, unlike most makeup, inorganic, which means that bacteria and microbes cannot live in the makeup and infect the skin. The fact that the ingredients are inorganic also means that no preservatives need be included and that the makeup will have a long shelf life, so long as reasonable care is taken to apply the makeup with clean brushes.

The best mineral makeups contain a number of ingredients designed for the purpose of improving the well-being of the skin. These may include a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB sun protection, as well as zinc, magnesium and some anti-inflammatories. For women who complain of oily skin, mineral makeup can provide an excellent solution. The usual chemical-based applications are very oily, due to the oils they contain. These oils cause a lot of issues, especially in women with an oily complexion. These issues can be avoided by using mineral-based makeup, since no oils are used in their manufacture.

So the benefits of mineral makeup over traditional cosmetics are quite significant. Mineral makeup does not damage the skin with damaging oils and chemical additives. It does not block the skin's pores or provide a breeding ground for bacteria. It usually includes beneficial ingredients to guard the skin from the sun’s harmful rays and to feed and nourish it. And it provides the wearer with a healthy and natural aura. So it is little wonder mineral makeup is flying off the shelves.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Welcome to 2010!

Happy New Year to all! I cannot believe its already 2010! Its also the time of year when our skin decides to change and get flaky, dry, chapped, etc. And no matter how much moisture we put on our skin whether its lotions, moisturizers, etc it still doesn't seem to help.


As an Aesthetician I get clients who constantly are dry during this time of year and being that we live in California one day can be 40 degrees and the next day can be 70 degrees. Our skin goes into shock when this happens and the barrier of our skin tends to well..."freak" out.

Tips for winter months:

1. The first thing you need to do is cut out the hot showers. I know this is what you look forward to during the winter after working and coming home through the cold rain, sleet or snow; however, this is bad for your skin. Long, hot showers strip skin of its natural moisture. Instead, take a short lukewarm shower, pat dry and apply a moisturizer containing humectants, emollients and occlusives. Avoid moisturizers with alcohol and fragrance during the winter as they can dry skin more.

2. Heating your home is also a problem for skin during the winter months. Central heating systems rob air of moisture, which can have adverse effects on skin by making skin dry, flaky and itchy. Purchasing and using a humidifier can help reduce the damage to skin done by winter heating systems. If possible, turn central air as low as possible to keep the air in your home from drying out.

3. Do not forego the sunscreen in the winter. The sun is still strong in the winter and your skin still needs the protection that you give it during the summer months. Furthermore, if you live where there is snow on the ground for much of the winter you especially need sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun reflecting off the snow and ice.

Suggested Skin care healers:

1. Hyaluronic Acid: Such as Epicuren's Moisture Surge, Arcona's Hydrating Serum, etc

*Hyaluronic acid binds moisture to the skin. Can be mixed w/ a moisturizer to add more Moisture*

2. Lip Balm: Epicuren's Tea Tree Oil SPF 15 Lip Balm

3. Lots of water!

4. Try some of these home made masks that help with dryness!

Nourishing mask for dry skin: mix 1 oz of cucumber juice, 1.5 oz of vegetable oil and 1 oz of lanolin cream. Apply on your face and throat for 10-15 min, then rinse the mask with warm water or herbal extract. Follow with your moisturizer.

If you have dry skin and tendency to pigmentation, mix 1 tea spoon of honey, 1 tea spoon of cottage cheese, 1 tea spoon of vegetable oil and 2 g of boric acid. Apply the mask on your face and throat for 15 min. Rinse it with warm water or herbal tea. Follow with your moisturizer.

Rejuvenating masks: grate 1 piece of squash, add 1 tea spoon of ground oatmeal and apply the mix on your face and throat for 15-20 min.
You can also apply slices of raw squash on your face and throat for 20 min. Rinse both masks with raw milk.

Anti wrinkle mask for dry skin: grate some cabbage and boil it in milk until the cabbage becomes very soft. Apply the mask for 20 min on your face and throat.
For very dry skin mix 1 table spoon of boiled cabbage, 1 raw egg and 1 table spoon of vegetable oil. Apply the mask for 20 min.

Flaxseed mask soothes dry skin and helps if dry skin is peeling. Also flax seeds help dry skin to absorb the moisture. Take 1 table spoon of flax seeds, add 1 glass of boiling water and boil it until it thickens. Apply the mask on your face for 15 min and rinse it with warm water or herbal tea. Follow with your moisturizer.

Nourishing anti wrinkle mask for dry skin: mix 2 table spoons of cottage cheese with 2 table spoons of vegetable oil. Apply the mask for 15-20 min.

Honey masks nourish your skin and erase wrinkles, but they are not recommended if you have red capillaries on your face.
Mix 2 table spoons of honey 1 table spoon of olive oil and heat it ( on steam bath ) until the mask becomes more fluid. Apply the mask on your face, cover it with a gauze cloth and leave it for 20 min. Rinse it with warm water.

If you have red capillaries on your face, wet a cotton towel in raw potato juice and apply it on your cleansed face for 30 min. You can also drink 2 oz of fresh potato juice 3-4 times a day before meals.
Honey mask for dry skin for winter time: mix 2 table spoons of honey, 1 yogurt ( not sweet ) and 1 tea spoon of grated grapefruit peel. Apply the mask on your face and throat for 15 min. Wash it off with cool black tea and follow with your moisturizer. Honey will absorb the toxins, yogurt will sooth and nourish your skin and grapefruit peel will help with your skin elasticity.

Mask for very thin, dry and withered skin: mash 2 peaches, add 1 tea spoon of lemon juice. Apply on your face and throat for 15-20 min. Wash it off with warm water and follow with your moisturizer.

Mask for very dry, whithered and peeling skin: mix 1 raw egg yolk with 1 table spoon of warm vegetable oil and add a mix of 1/2 tea spoon of water and 1/2 tea spoon of lemon juice. Apply 3 layers of the mask on your face and throat. Wait until the first layer dries a little bit before applying the next layer. Rinse the mask with warm and then cool water. Use it 2-3 times a week for 4-6 weeks.

Soothing and refreshing mask for dry skin: mix 2-3 table spoons of grated melon, 1 raw egg yolk and 1 table spoon of sour cream. Apply the mask for 20 min on your face and throat. Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your moisturizer.

Excellent anti aging mask for dry wrinkled skin: mash 1 persimmon ( it is a gresource of iodine and beta carotene ) and add 1 table spoon of cream or milk . Apply the mask on your face and throat for 15-20 min. Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your moisturizer.

This great extract will help with very dry and irritated skin: take 3 table spoons ofchamomile and add 1 glass of hot milk. Let it sit for a few minutes. Take a cotton towel, hold both ends of the towel and put the middle of the towel into the extract, squeeze it a little bit and apply on your face starting from your chin, then your cheeks and your eyes and your forehead. Leave a hole for your nose and connect both ends of the towel. Keep it for 20 min. Rinse your face with water.

The tomato mask will lighten and tone up dry skin. Mash 1 tomato and add 1 table spoon of sour cream. Apply the mask for 20-30 min.

Great potato mask for dry wrinkled skin: boil 1 potato, mash it and add 1 raw egg yolk and 1 table spoon of milk. Apply the mask on your face and throat for 20 min. Wash it off with warm water or herbal tea.

Nourishing anti wrinkle mask for dry skin: boil some beans until they are soft. Mush the beans and add 1 table spoon of vegetable oil and 1 table spoon of cream. Apply the mask on your face and throat for 30 min. Wash it off with warm water.

Excellent nourishing mask: mix 1 part of cottage cheese, 1 part of olive oil and 1 part of milk. Apply the mask for 20 min.

Do not throw away mandarine peel when you eat mandarines or tangerines. Save it, let it dry on the air and grind it in your coffee grinder. This powder is a great base for revitalizing and nourishing masks for dry skin. Mix 1 tea spoon of the powder with 1 raw egg yolk and 1 tea spoon of sour cream. Apply the mask for 20 min on your face and throat. Wash it off with warm water and follow with your moisturizer.