Vitamin C is good 4 You

And your skin. Are you using it?

Anti-oxidants protect skin from future sun damage as well as repairing cells of past damage (those darn free radicals). Let me say that again, Vitamin C helps the skin repair itself!

It helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which slows down with age – hence the wrinkles.

Internal consumption is extremely good for skin as well. Buffered Vitamin C has always been recommended as a good choice for better body absorption.  Vitamin C is water soluble so you if it’s not absorbed by the body, it leaves.  We need to replenish daily because look at all the health benefits..

3 of my favorites are:

Dr. Spiller Vitamin C Line (serum, day & night cream)

Rodan + Fields Reverse Line (vitamin c & retinol combo) and the Sunscreen is the most hydrating I’ve ever used!

Avalon Organics Vitamin C renewal (lip balm)

So whether it’s finding a skincare line with Vitamin C, throwing an orange slice into your tea/water, munching on C based veggies (bell pepper, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, tomatoes) or supplementing your diet with buffered C (especially during cold & flu season) – start rev-ing UP your anti-aging routine today.

Your skin & body will THANK YOU!

Why didn’t I Moisturize my chest?

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s STOP reading this! Get up & immediately run to your bathroom, grab your moisturizer and slather it on your chest. You still have time to save your skin.

If you’re over 30 or in your 40s; sigh, smile & look down.. And ask yourself the same question on my mind, “WHY didn’t I moisturize my chest consistently while I was moisturizing my face all these years?” Ughhhh.

Now that I’m in my 40s I see all of the sun damage that I’ve earned without sunscreen, the tiny wrinkles from side sleeping and dehydration lines from lack of moisturizer.

We always take the time & care to keep our faces looking young and beautiful – maybe we even remember our necks. But why do we always forget our décolleté?

My mom didn’t really stress it was a big deal or nag me to go any further than my neck.. Well, I’m here to remind you always do your décolleté! Exfoliate, hydrate & repeat. Sleep on your back whenever possible (or invest in these chest protecting pads : http://www.silcskin.com/) and whatever you do, NEVER leave the house without applying sunscreen!

If I could go back and give my 18-year-old self one beauty tip it would be this: “Moisturize your body daily & NEVER leave out your chest.” While you exfoliating your face, exfoliate your chest. When you apply moisturizer to your face, continue down your neck and end on your chest. When was last time you exfoliated your chest more than twice, more than once a week?

The good news is, we can’t reverse the clock but we can at least slow it down. Start hydrating your décolleté right now!

So what would I tell my 40-year-old self if I was 80: “Take good care of your teeth and go floss immediately.”

Why Toner? Do you use it?

I never thought I needed Toner.  Then I started studying skincare & aromatherapy.  I did a test on my face.. this is what I found:

Now at 42, I have noticed a BIG difference in the tone of my skin, brightness, firmness & lack of breakouts since using toner regularly.

I have noticed my girlfriend Dia’s face change too.  Her freckles are softer, less wrinkles, more brightness and more hydrated skin.

It’s GOOD for your skin!  Just cleanse and apply then follow with your fav moisturizer.  I love to use hydrosols as well – aromatherapy & skincare combined!

PS. This video screenshot is both of us without any makeup on our SKIN.. (only eyes.. LOL)

Super-charge ur moisturizer w/ this ingredient

Hellllllllo Hyaluronic Acid. 

I tell everyone this is like ‘little fingers’ that come off your skin, grab the moisturizer and pull it deep into the lower dermal layers.  It has also been referred to as “miracle/fountain of youth” ingredient.. but let’s not get crazy.

Here’s the scientific explanation and some drugstore picks.  I just recommend finding a serum with hyaluronic acid in it (I love Epicuren’s Moist Surge) and apply it to a clean face before moisturizer or mix with your moisturizer for application.  Any dry skin will see improvement and I love hydrating for anti-aging!

The other great hydration secret is to apply moisturizer to WET skin.  We all know the best time to moisturize our body is just after a shower.  Skin is still damp and the lotion locks in the moisture.

So mist your face,

grab ur hyaluronic acid serum,

apply to your face (and neck).

Then follow with your favorite moisturizer.  This will super-charge your product & your skin will glow with gratitude!

Mixing Your Summer Foundation

So porcelain is the new “healthy glow” – we don’t want to bathe in the sun and lay in the tanning beds anymore.. (well, maybe we do but we KNOW we shouldn’t).  So with summer beginning TODAY (Happy First Day of Summer 2012), it is time to tan your face the healthy way – with makeup!

These are my Top 3 picks for deepening your foundation for the summer to give you a safe tan:

Light coverage: Take a deeper liquid foundation and mix it with a light moisturizer (with SPF included) for a beautiful TINTED MOISTURIZER. (the moisturizer corrects a color too dark for your skintone)  1 drop of foundation with 1 drop of moisturizer, blend it together and you have a beautiful LIGHT tinted moisturizer.

~ You can also try a product like Advanced Mineral Makeup which is a ‘liquid’ mineral makeup. (Light coverage and great natural SPF with the zinc & titanium dioxide already in the makeup).

Med coverage: Take a tinted moisturizer and mix in the next shade up or a darker liquid foundation together. This will give you amore coverage and an airbrushed look.

~ I love mixing Laura Mercier’s oil-free tinted moisturizer & silk creme foundation – the blend is flawless. (I use this combo on all models during photo print shoots for a natural flawless finish.)

Full coverage: Creme foundation is always a heavier coverage, but I love using this combination: Cinema Secrets professional cream foundation or MUD creme foundation. Wet a sponge (not soaking wet just slightly damp) and dip into the foundation container then apply. Great coverage, less heavy application. Makes a cream into a beautifully blended thick liquid.

~ Applying self tanners or airbrush tanning will also intensify the color of your skintone. You avoid damage from UVA/UVB rays and when applied daily, can maintain a healthy tan. Mixing your self-tanner with moisturizer is an easy way to control and blend the product without strange streaking or over application.  (Remember your skin may be tan, but you still need to apply the SUNSCREEN!)

Have a Beautiful Summer.. enjoy your healthy glow! And ALWAYS add a Smile!

Recipes for a Beautiful Summer..