Skincare: Back to Basics

Can you believe we spend $50 billion on skin products each year?

According to Dr. OZ...Among the hundreds of ingredients in skincare only a few make a real difference. These three have the best scientific backing:

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid or Retin-A, retinyl propionate, and retinaldehyde): In its various forms, vitamin A increases elastin, collagen, and the natural moisturizer hyaluronic acid in the skin. It's the only thing you can apply to repair sun damage, giving you a smoother, less wrinkled complexion.

Vitamin C  Also stimulates collagen and elastin growth and helps thwart free radicals. (Vitamin C rapidly breaks down when exposed to light and oxygen, so the jar should be opaque and kept sealed.)

Vitamin E  An antioxidant, Vitamin E acts to slow wrinkle production. Some research suggests it may also help protect against skin cancer. (Must be in the form of DL-alpha-tocopherol to make a difference, so read the ingredients on the label.)

Dr. Oz says,
You need to have Vitamin A, C, and E, to help prevent aging. In addition to this he recommends niacin, and he added that we need to exfoliate. Brown spots are staining the skins. The dermatologist recommended using a sunscreen to help prevent the staining. You can go to a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon to get bleaching creams, laser therapy or chemical peels to help make the brown spots disappear. The dermatologist said that the Retin is the version of Vitamin A that treats the skin.  According to Dr. Oz we shed skin all the time.

It's important to have a cream containing these ingredients. Here's some recommendations: Olay Regenerist $19, Clinique Moisture In –Control $38, and Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Supplement $60.

BBU Palettes- Its a love/hate relationship

I'm always looking for space savers for my Artist kit.  Toting numerous bottles, pans, and containers to and from makeup gigs can quickly become a burden.  Well, I formally introduce you to Bobbi Brown's BBU Artist Palettes.  I am lusting after them.  They are wonderful for anyone that does makeup or wants to do a little more. Simple, compact and everything at hand.  It consists of all 19 shades of foundation, 9 correctors and 12 concealers.  That is some love on a brush. The only down fall with these bad boys is the $250 dent it will make in your pocket book. Ouch. One of the best parts about this palette- you can refill them as you go.

As if Bobbi hasn't done enough already.   She has a palette for all of her lip colors, Even better!  Tailor-made for lipstick aficionados- and anyone who wants to bring out their inner artist!  42 shades plus a retractable lip brush for $200.

 

These glorious palettes are limited edition.  The lip palette is still available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com

If your set on the foundation palette good luck searching!

Basics of Foundation

When choosing a foundation it really comes down to knowing what You want.  Then you can be on a hunt for the perfect foundation. For those of you that are saying, 'Well, I don't really know what I want' here's some questions to ask yourself.

Do I want a natural finish or more coverage?

Do I like a healthy glow or matte finish?

What's my skin like- dry, normal, oily?

Do I want spf in my foundation or can I get it in my moisturizer?

Access Your Skin 

This would be your next step.  So many of us do not pay close enough attention to our skin.  Truthfully we all need to be our own skincare experts.  No one knows our skin better than us. All we need is to learn the basics.  First and foremost, skin is constantly changing day by day.  Our environment and lifestyle play a big part in our overall skin appearance.  Where as winter and summer do too. Even as we get older our skin changes.  Indoor ac or heat, too much sun exposure can effect your skin too. Most importantly take care of your skin! We only have one. We cannot reverse what is done but we can prevent and protect. So, its normal to have more than one cream to attend to your skin's daily needs.

Here's some recommendations when choosing a foundation. Remember skin looks its best when it's hydrated.  If you're dry don't choose a matte foundation or skip out on using a moisturizer. I don't know what it is about the south but women just think they are oily all the time when their skin look like a dry cracked lake. If your face is tight after you wash it.. you are dry! If you can pinch your cheeks and it doesn't bounce back.. you are dry! If you're oily an oil-free or matte foundation would be your best choice. Oily, meaning sopping grease before you leave home in the morning. Normal skin begins to shine around mid-day Because that's normal.

When deciding a color:

When looking for the right foundation color keep in mind you want a foundation with a yellow/golden base. This will look more natural even if you have any pinkish undertones. If you own a pink foundation, please, throw it away. Mineral foundations too.

When matching a color, if it looks too chalky= it's too light. If it looks to yellow= it's too dark. You want something that will disappear into the skin hence a more natural finish for a heavier coverage.  Keep in mind you don't want to hide you want to enhance!

Also, for darker skin tones ask yourself if you would like to see more golden or cinnamon in your skin. A lot of the time you may find the skin can be two-toned. Darker on the outer part of the face and lighter through the center. If you are going with a heavier coverage you will have to decide which tone to go with.

Try Bobbi Brown's foundations; they have a wide array of color. I would suggest a more natural finish like her Skin Foundation. It evens skin-tone but doesn't completely take it away your true coloring. Truly a modern foundation that offers invisible, weightless coverage. It looks like skin, not makeup. Long-wearing, minimizes the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and offers broad spectrum UV protection. Ideal for all skin types.

Erin Whitlock Wedding

Here is a wedding I had the privilege to do in Greenville, SC.  It really couldn't have been with a more beautiful girl.  Erin also has got into modeling and has recommended me to a couple people!  A special thanks-  xo www.beautyintervention.com