If you have a minor irritation/reaction to a product, using a cotton pad dipped in cold regular milk can soothe irritation and calm any redness. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse. Make sure you aren’t allergic to dairy.
*If you have a major reaction, such as blistering or hives, contact your primary physician or dermatologist and follow their instructions; taking a Benadryl may help symptoms but again, ask your physician if it’s okay.
Until next week,
Stephanie
With fall practically right around the corner, here’s a couple of my favorite things I look forward to this season.
First on the list: pumpkins! With everything pumpkin flavored or scented abound, one of my favorite pumpkin related items are pumpkin peels. With glowing skin as a trend, a pumpkin peel can be a great way to attain this look-more about this in a future post!
Fall makeup trends! Of course you don’t need to adhere to these trends-makeup is after all a representation of your unique style- but here’s a brief overview of what’s ‘in’, this season.
Eyes: Blue shadow seems to be the dominate color followed by metallic silver, bronze and gold liquid shadows and liners. Liner and lashes take inspiration from the 1960’s (think Twiggy).
Lips: Depending on the look you want to exude, lips can range from shades of burgundy, velvet purple or red. Natural lips were also seen everywhere during Fashion Week.
Cheeks: Stick to natural shades of blush (or even bronzer) to balance out the eyes or lips.
Tea! Although any time is a great for tea, I just love the idea of curling up with a cup of hot tea on a cold night to unwind. Yes, I am obsessed with anything lavender 🙂
TV shows: By far one of my favorite shows, Once Upon A Time! Fairy tale stories, villains and awesome makeup. Other shows I am really looking forward to: Revenge, Bones,and Criminal Minds.
Scents: Season scented soaps to envelop your senses with!
Candles! Always a great way to end a day with while sipping tea.
What’s your favorite aspect of fall?
I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was pretty eventful as I attended The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa in Long Beach! It’s an event held for professionals in the skin care, beauty and wellness industry where you can attend workshops, advanced education seminars and purchase products. Translation: heaven for a beauty junkie like me! Here’s a small recap of my day.
The badge we receive for the day of the event- very nice.
First purchase was at the Skin Script booth. I got the Pomegranate Antioxidant Cleanser, 15% Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum, and the Ageless Skin Moisturizer, with Aloe and Co-Q10.
Another Skin Script purchase. This one is their holiday special Spiced Cider Facial which includes the Apple Orchard Enzyme and Autumn Spice Hydrating Mask. Unlike the Skin Script items above though, you need a license to purchase these.
I stopped by the Ilike booth which has an ‘organic’ line of products. After speaking to one of the representatives, I bought the Sour Cherry Gel Mask for my combination skin. *Note: I put organic in quotes because there isn’t a universal standard on what is deemed organic.
The Eminence booth was crowded all the time and filled with on-going demonstrations but I managed to squeeze in to scope out their ‘organic’ line. I ended up getting the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant (an exfoliator that seems similar to Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant) and Strawberry Rhubarb Masque with Hyaluronic Acid, again a mask for my combination skin.
Though I received a ton of informational pamphlets and brochures from other exhibitors there, I’m highly interested in checking out these products in the future: (h2t) for their pumpkin peel (it smells AMAZING and will hopefully be ordering it soon), Circadia by Dr. Pugliese, Dermapen, Rhonda Allison and Image Skincare.
Always great to receive free trade industry magazines!
By the end of the day I was exhausted! It’s a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by soo many different products, demonstrations, information, devices, samples (not pictured here) and people. I concluded my day with a seminar on the Hydrafacial- a modified version of microdermabrasion- and a facial with an (h2t) 30% pumpkin peel. Pure bliss.
I will post reviews on the products once I have an opportunity to try them out! What conventions do you look forward to? IMATS? The Makeup Show? Other? I’d love to know!
If you suffer from rosacea or skin that’s easily flushed, alcohol, emotions, spicy foods, sun exposure, heat, very cold temperatures, and even nicotine can cause the tiny muscles in blood vessels to relax, therefore flooding the skin with blood.
To help alleviate symptoms, you can spritz your face with mineral water or take a frozen water bottle and hold it on your neck for a couple of minutes to constrict blood vessels.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend- it came by so quick but I’m not complaining. 🙂
If you suffer from rosacea or skin that’s easily flushed, alcohol, emotions, spicy foods, sun exposure, heat, very cold temperatures, and even nicotine can cause the tiny muscles in blood vessels to relax, therefore flooding the skin with blood.
To help alleviate symptoms, you can spritz your face with mineral water or take a frozen water bottle and hold it on your neck for a couple of minutes to constrict blood vessels.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend- it came by so quick but I’m not complaining. 🙂
What’s one thing college students, new parents, teenagers and more than half of the American population have in common?
Sleep deprivation.
As important as it is to get enough sleep, a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation in 2002 concluded that “74% of American adults experience a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more and 39% get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight.” Recently, The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement suggesting an 8:30 a.m. or later school start time for middle and high school students and with good reason.
Research has shown that young people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to suffer depression, be involved in car accidents and have lower test scores. Lack of sleep is also a risk factor for weight gain and can disrupt the body’s regulation of blood sugar. An increase in stress-hormone levels contribute to an elevated rise in blood pressure and promote inflammatory changes associated with chronic disease, including heart disease and diabetes.
Much More Than Just A Phrase
We’ve all heard about needing our ‘beauty sleep’ but it turns out this phrase isn’t just superficial-it can accelerate the aging process! On a visual level, not receiving the crucial shut-eye results in a dull complexion because when you are tired, blood doesn’t flow efficiently; fine lines also appear more prominent. On a deeper level, your skin, as well as your whole body, transitions into repair mode when you sleep. New skin cells grow and replace older cells. An increase in inflammatory cells in the body lead to a breakdown in collagen and hyaluronic acid, both of which assist in giving skin it’s glow, bounce and translucency.
A Look at ‘Beauty Sleep’ by the Hour
Perhaps Charles Perrault’s tale The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods was inadvertently on to something, except let’s replace the 100 years with the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. (Yet another example of how I love to tie beauty and literature together!)
Hours 1-3: The deepest sleep of the night, your body produces the most human growth hormone- critical to skin and hair repair.
Hours 4-5: Deep sleep shortens and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins. There’s also an increase in melatonin, a hormone with potent antioxidant properties to combat oxidative stress.
Hours 6-8: This is when you get the most REM sleep. Your skin’s temperature reaches its lowest point, enabling muscles to relax and allowing skin its deepest recovery.
Solutions to Promote Better Sleep
Sometimes sleep doesn’t come easily so if you have trouble sleeping, try these suggestions.
Hope you all had a lovely weekend. What helps you catch more Zzzzz’s?
Disclaimer: The contents on this website, and any related links, are provided for general informational purposes and should NOT be considered medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. Please consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions about a particular health condition.
Keep chamomile tea bags in your kitchen! Although chamomile is best known for alleviating an upset stomach or helping induce sleep, a wet chamomile tea bag can soothe stressed skin and a chamomile compress can help reduce irritation.
*Note: Always perform a patch test to avoid adverse effects.
Wishing you a relaxing weekend!
I was honored with a nomination for the One Lovely Blog Award by the awesome Cameron from Threads! I’m truly grateful for this as I’m still getting the hang of how all of this blogging world works so thank you Cameron for taking the time to nominate me. Anyone who is interested in fashion should definitely check out Threads 🙂
Rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.
2. List the rules and display the award.
3. Include seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate five or more bloggers and let them know about the award.
5. Display the award and follow the blogger who nominated you (if not already!)
Facts:
1. I helped out with makeup at USC’s dance production Alice in Wonderland
2. I was able to meet and assist celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau
3. My eyes appear hazel in bright light or when I wear pink eyeshadow
4. When something is bothering me, cleaning helps me sort out my thoughts
5. I first learned to drive stick shift…but that didn’t last too long
6. My favorite food is Italian
7. I have a dance background in tap, ballet and jazz
Nominees: Some great blogs that I enjoy reading
http://jacquienavarro.wordpress.com/
http://lifeaslisaknowsit.com/
http://leahpereyra.com/
http://simplyquaintblog.wordpress.com/
http://megjacobsblog.com/
Since healthy skin works from the inside out, here’s another idea inspired by drinks I grew up with that are great for beating the summer heat: tamarind water, also known as agua de tamarindo!
Tamarind is a sweet and sour fruit that is rich in tartaric acid, which is a powerful antioxidant and a good source of iron, thiamin, niacin and vitamin C. Antioxidants can help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, guarding your cells from damage and vitamin C helps the body repair itself. Tamarind can be found in any market that appeals to Hispanic, Asian and Indian cultures. To make tamarind water, follow below.
10-15 tamarind pods
Water (about 10 cups)
Sweetener of choice
1) Take the tamarind pods and remove the outer shell and any veins (strings) that may be attached. Discard the shells and veins.
2) Place the inner portion of the tamarind (looks like seeds) inside a pot and boil for about 25-30 minutes.
3) After 25-30 minutes, remove from stove and let it cool down completely.
4) Once the tamarind water has cooled down, squeeze the remaining pulp from the seeds with clean hands and discard the seeds.
5) Next, blend the water and pulp in a blender and pour into a pitcher after running it through a sieve.
6) Lightly sweeten to taste (emphasis on the lightly!) and enjoy! You can always add a bit more water to dilute some of the tartness without having to add tons of sugar.
Hope you enjoyed this post!
I’ve heard some great things about LUSH so when I came across this store, I stopped by to check out what they have. If you’ve never heard of LUSH, they are a company that prides themselves on creating and selling fresh, handmade products with little to no preservative and they support humanitarian, environmental and animal rights causes. Their items range from shower gels, face masks, hair products and makeup among other little knick knacks. After glancing at their products, I decided on a face mask and shower gel.
The Sacred Truth Fresh Faced Mask
LUSH describes this mask as being for dry or mature skin but I definitely think combination/oily skin would benefit from this a bit more. The reason? It’s made with kaolin clay which helps remove sebum and removes impurities from the skin- not too ideal if you have dry to very dry skin. Among other ingredients, this mask also has honey ( a great humectant and antibacterial ingredient), shea butter, green tea, yogurt and fresh papaya juice, whose enzymes provide an exfoliating effect. After using this mask, my face did seem a bit brighter and smoother and my T-zone was less oily.
Pros
$6.95 for 2.1 oz
The bottom of the jar lists the date it was made, the person who made it and the date you should discard it
Handmade and fresh
Enzymes provide a gentler exfoliation effect
Nice cooling effect (especially for hot, summer days and nights!)
Cons
Because it is fresh, it needs to be stored in the fridge
Only sold in stores because it needs to be kept in the fridge
The smell- you either love it or hate it. Not the best smell in my opinion but tolerable
You get a good amount of product for the price but because it doesn’t have preservatives, it needs to be tossed out sooner than most products. Use it as a body treatment (i.e. your back and décolleté) so you don’t waste the product.
Can enhance your complexion but don’t expect major changes
It’s Raining Men Shower Gel
lushusa.com
Absolutely LOVE this shower gel! My skin is pretty sensitive to shower gels and I usually stick to Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash since it’s the only body wash that doesn’t irritate me or cause my skin to itch. So, needless to say I am very wary of trying anything new but I gave this a try and gladly so. It smells amazing-think honey, citrus and bergamot- and leaves skin super soft. I find the scent to be very soothing and the best part is no adverse reactions on me as of yet.
Pros
Moisturizes your skin and leaves skin soft even if I forget to moisturize
Leaves behind a faint scent that is not overwhelming
A little bit of product goes a long way
The bottle states when it was made and when to discard
Several sizes available
Cons
There is added fragrance so if you’re sensitive or allergic, tread with caution
Main ingredient is honey so if you’re allergic to it or to bees, steer clear
Price- it’s a bit more pricier than most body washes found in drugstores- $9.95, 3.3 oz; $$18.95, 8.4 oz; $28.95, 16.9 oz
Bottom Line- I think they have some great products to try but I was disappointed a lot of the products meant for the face have ground almonds in them. Ground nuts and fruits can be too abrasive for the delicate skin on your face and cause microscopic tears-save this knees, elbows and feet. Also, as I stated before, these can enhance your complexion but if you’re wanting professional results, this wouldn’t be the best line.
Have you tried LUSH products? What do you think about them?