Do you look like an oil slick within just an hour after washing your face? Me too! It’s a miserable feeling and it’s embarrassing. I can’t tell you how many family photos I’ve seen where my forehead is shining like a beacon.

While the skin care industry may be flooded with acne products, there aren’t as many choices as I’d like regarding true oil control. A lot of products claim to control oil but in many cases this means getting rid of oil that’s on the surface and not preventing an oily appearance. I’m constantly in search of a product that will truly alleviate oiliness all day.
I haven’t found any miracles but I do have some good tips that will get you through the day with minimal shine.

One of the most effective products I’ve tried is OC Eight Professional Mattifying Gel. I’ve heard rumor that this gel is a favorite among the American Idol makeup artists. It really works well to control shine for hours. It dries pretty thick so if you use a foundation or a foundation primer, let the gel dry about half-way and then apply your foundation or primer. I find that if I wait too long, I have trouble getting things to blend evenly.

Two other oil-control products that work well and don’t interfere with foundations and primers are Avene Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion and Exuviance Matte Perfection. These two might not be quite as effective as the OC Eight but you can apply anything over the top at any time without any worries. Both products feel practically undetectable on the skin.

After you’ve applied an oil control product and your foundation, I have found that a brushing of corn starch adds extra oil control. Yes, it sounds weird but the truth is that corn starch is actually very absorbent . It’s also natural , gentle and inexpensive to boot. I take a makeup brush and cover my entire face with a light dusting. Don’t over-do it or your face will look pasty and white. You might want to finish with an application of pressed powder to match your skin color.

If you have extremely oily skin, you probably won’t make it the whole day without breaking a shine. This is where blotting sheets come in handy. There is a whole line of Boscia Blotting Linens with various fragrances. I have to say that I don’t entirely agree with the claim that they don’t disturb your makeup. They do a little but it’s not too bad as long as you plan for it and can touch up your foundation if needed after you blot.

About a year ago I wrote about the show The Biggest Loser and how much success it has had. I am amazed at the number of people who follow the contestants and are inspired by their weight loss. My health club even has a similar program every year to promote weight loss and fitness.

Recently, Jillian Michaels, a personal trainer for The Biggest Loser came out with a product line for aiding in weight loss and management. There’s a product for detox, one for weight loss, one for fat burning and one for calorie control.

Does anyone have any experience with these Jillian Michaels products? I’m curious to know if they are effective. I’m definitely open to products that are intended to be supplemented with a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet and exercise rather than products intended to replace healthy habits.

Jillian Michaels Products include the following:

Jillian Michaels Quick Start Weight Loss System
Jillian Michaels Total Body Detox and Cleanse
Jillian Michaels Total Fat Burner
Jillian Michaels Calorie Control

I’ve had more and more people ask me about natural skin care lately. I think maybe the interest in climate change has inspired the desire to live more naturally every day, including in the way we care for our skin.

Many of us love the idea of going all-natural when it comes to skin care but I think it’s pretty rare to find someone who’s motivated enough to purchase pure botanicals or grow them in the garden and then apply them directly to the skin. Most of us are realists and so we rely on science on a daily basis for convenience and practicality. Let’s face it, straight plant extracts don’t usually behave like our typical cleansers and creams and that doesn’t sit well with the average consumer.

The skin care industry is certainly aware of the heightened demand for natural ingredients and there’s no doubt that it has indeed delivered on those demands. Recently I attended a training about a line of natural products from Sundari. It was pretty enlightening to learn about some of the benefits of various botanicals many of which you can’t even find in the United States. Anyone who’s not motivated enough to cultivate botanicals from the garden is definitely not going to trek through the Himalayas in search of natural ingredients.

Did you know that ylang ylang oil actually controls excess oil production on the skin? I’ve always been turned off by any product containing the word “oil” because of my shiny complexion. However, the Sundari Nurturing Line includes Sundari Essential Oil for Normal to Combination Skin containing ylang ylang oil. The ylang ylang actually normalizes sebaceous glands. It feels great when applied in small amounts and gently dabbed all over the face.

How many people knew that the elder flower has traditionally been used to combat respiratory ailments? Sundari uses the botanical in its Sundari Elder Flower Moisturizer for Normal to Combination Skin to protect and balance. The light-weight cream smells heavenly and feels wonderful.

Has anyone had the privilege of trying Sundari Products? Based on Sundari Reviews, I would say this brand is a hit with the lovers of natural products. I only sampled a few but there are many items containing beneficial extracts from Asia and India. These extracts have been used for centuries to heal and protect the skin. Sundari combines them with modern methods for practical application. The vast line certainly makes it easy and convenient to go all-natural with skin care.

I certainly have not been shy about my love for mineral makeup. When I started using the foundation, I was hooked. Yes, I had to experiment with the application to master the technique but once I did, I was really happy with the results.

One of my favorite brands is bareMinerals and since trying the bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation and the bareMinerals Multi-Tasking Minerals, I moved on to the bareMinerals All Over Face Color and an assortment of eye makeup included in the bareMinerals Hollywood Glamour Collection for Eyes . I am not the only one with raving bareMinerals Reviews.

The one thing I hadn’t tried until recently was lip color. Not long ago, several of my co-workers were raving about the bareMinerals Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polish. I’m a sucker for a good plumping gloss with nice, natural color. So of course I had to order one of these.

I can’t say enough good things. The plumping action is subtle and leaves me feeling tingly but with no sting. The color is natural looking and the gloss is thick and shimmery. I love the way it looks and it really lasts through several cups of tea unlike some glosses which come off onto my tea cup within a few sips.

Now that I have fallen in love with the Buxom color, I will move on to more bareMinerals Products. I just cannot get enough and I’m having a blast with all of the fun and flirty makeup in the collection. What’s more, bareMinerals keeps coming out with more stuff to try so the fun just never ends!

Every time I take or teach a class at the gym, the full length mirrors remind me of just how ghost white my legs are. Of course it doesn’t help that spring is here which also means summer is right around the corner which means I’ll be showing more skin.

There is no way I’m going to tan since I know how terrible the sun is for the skin so I’m left with two options, live with the pasty legs or go with the self-tanner. For years I considered the self-tanning option as a last resort because of the nasty smell on my skin afterwards. A lot of cheap drugstore self-tanners and gradual tanning lotions make the skin smell terrible and it lingers as long as the tan does. I have also had streaking and drip marks so bad that friends thought I was bleeding. I was determined to find a good product and being the guinea pig that I am, I have tried a zillion self-tanners. I happy to proclaim “mission accomplished”. I have definitely found a winner.

The winner hands down is TanTowel Plus Half Body Self Tanning Towelettes. I only use the half body because it’s really only my legs I want to tan. You can choose the TanTowel Plus Full Body Self Tanning Towelettes for the entire body. The towelettes are perfect for beginners since they’re fool-proof. You simply rub the towelette all over your skin so it’s impossible not to get even coverage. There’s no risk of drips or streaking. Once the product reacts with the skin, there is a slight smell but very faint, much lighter than most self-tanners I’ve used.

The other great thing about the towelettes is that they are absolutely portable so you can throw one in your bag when you travel so that you don’t lose that glow during your vacation. Check out other TanTowel Products to enhance the self-tanning process. Satisfied self-tanners have posted very good TanTowel Reviews.

This system by TanTowel is so perfect that I’m surprised other companies haven’t thought of it. Or have they? Maybe there is another self-tanning towelette out there. If so, I’m all ears.

I woke up this morning with the beginnings of an inflamed pimple on my chin. I hate mornings like these. Blemishes of the inflamed sort are the worst kind to deal with since they frequently take the longest to heal and leave behind marks that can linger for quite some time.

I really have to exercise will-power when dealing with swollen zits. My instincts tell me that if a zit is really swollen, there must be something waiting to come out and if I squeeze hard enough, it will happen. In fact, I almost always end up making it much worse by tearing the skin and bruising the surrounding area. What’s worse, the mark that sticks around after the fact takes months to completely fade.

Take my advice and the advice of every expert out there and leave inflamed pimples alone. While swollen may not be pretty, bloody, scabby and bruised is much worse. Stick to your regular treatment routine, keeping the area clean and medicated. Most importantly, be patient. Aggravating your angry zit will only make it stick around longer.

I do like to add a couple of extra steps to my regular treatment regimen when I have an inflamed pimple. For one thing, I rub DDF Acne Control Treatment over the affected area twice a day to help break up congestion. This product is a non-greasy cream that is a great for sweeping pore blockage. You can use it all over the face or as a spot treatment. Blemishes definitely disappear faster when I use the treatment at least twice a day.

For a nightly spot treatment, I love to use Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask. This mask, when used all over and rinsed off, leaves your face deeply cleansed and purified but not irritated. I love it! As a spot treatment, it can really reduce swelling over night. Sure, I have to put up with my husband’s comments about smurf measles but it’s absolutely worth it when I see the results the next day. I love the fact that I never get any kind of a drying or irritating effect with this mask. If you try this method and are disappointed with the results the next morning, continue to spot treat the next couple of nights. Particularly nasty blemishes may take a few days to calm down.

I vow to continue to be patient with this pimple and keep my hands off. I know that if I can do that, the blemish will subside gracefully and I won’t be left with a scar.

Do you have your hair colored like I do? I really hate my natural hair shade so I get a full professional color regularly. The problem is that I can’t always get in soon enough to avoid the dreaded roots from becoming obvious. I’m sure that nobody else notices as much as I do but sometimes that last week is rough.

My colorist suggested I try baby powder since my hair is light blond. It does take the edge off of the dark roots but it also has a tendency to make my hair look a little gray and I am so not ready for gray hair!

I just spotted an interesting product online from Oscar Blandi – it’s called Oscar Blandi Colore Pen. It comes in several shades and can be used in between colorings or to hide touches of gray. What an interesting idea! I’m wondering how easy it is to use since it looks like you need to pull the hair away from the scalp and avoid actually getting it on your skin. It probably takes a little practice. Apparently it dries quickly and stays in until you wash it out.

Has anyone tried the Colorepen? Maybe you’ve tried a similar product? I have used Oscar Blandi Shampoos but don’t have experience with other Oscar Blandi Products. There are some really good Oscar Blandi Reviews out there. This seems to be a good solid brand with some great stuff.

So my last pedicure of the season was probably a good two months ago. After all, it’s hardly sandal season in most of the country. After removing the polish from my last self-pedicure, I realized that my nails are incredibly nasty. Repetitive pedicures have left everything yellow, brittle and scratched. That said, my mission is to get my nails back in shape before spring rolls around.

The first step is TALIKA Instant Manicure. OK, you caught me. Yes, anything that says manicure is for the hands but of course this works great for the feet as well. Until I heard about this product, I didn’t know such a think existed. It’s an effervescent powder that actually whitens the nails and deeply cleanses in between manicures or in this case pedicures. The whitening effect will continue if you use it regularly. Did I mention that the ingredients are 100% natural? What a plus!

Now that my toe nails are whitened and clean, I really need to get them stronger and thicker. This is where I turn to Barielle, the leaders in hand and foot care. The Barielle 10 Piece Natural Nail Care System is a must for nails that are in need of serious help. You get everything to strengthen and thicken nails, reduce cuticles and shape your nails.

I figure that a couple of months of TLC and my nails will be ready to go again. I have to say that everything I have talked about can also be used to maintain healthy nails during pedicure season. I’ll definitely have to continue into sandal season so I don’t run into the nasty toes to begin with.

I pride myself on doing my holiday shopping early. Of course sometimes that means getting dirty looks from all of the panic-stricken last-minute shoppers. What can I say? I plan ahead and have never been a procrastinator.

I do however like to offer advice to anyone in need of last minute gifts. I have seen the lines at the mall and have decided that’s definitely not the way to go. Right now there are great online offers and companies offering shipping specials.

Spalook.com currently has quite an assortment of gifts in all price ranges for everyone on the typical shopper’s list. Check out their gifts page: http://spalook.com/Search/Search.aspx?avs=Gift|Y

Also, right now Spalook is running a deal where you can get free FedEx overnight shipping when you spend $100. How cool is that? If you need your gifts right away, this is a very convenient way to accomplish your goal. This deal is running through December 22nd.

I don’t have to tell any of you that it is cold season. You no doubt are either sick yourself or are hearing friends, family members and co-workers sniffling and coughing. It used to be that all anyone would take for a cold was over-the-counter remedies which may make your life a little more pleasant while you fight off the bug. However, they tend to dry out my nasal passages and throat and leave me feeling in a fog.

It’s not surprising that more people have turned to homeopathic treatments. Many of these alternatives offer folks relief without the side effects and worries of traditional medicines. I should however mention that it is important to do your homework before taking an alternative treatment. They don’t require FDA approval so many times, they have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness.

I have to make a pitch for my favorite homeopathic cold remedy which is from Nature’s Way. It’s called Umcka ColdCare and it’s made from pelargonium sidoides, a geranium found only in South Africa. The natives have used it for centuries to shorten the duration of all kinds of minor throat, sinus and brochial irritations and infections. I find that it really makes a huge difference in how long my cold lasts and how severe they are. If I take it at the first sign of a cold and continue using it two days past the end of my symptoms, I can pretty much function normally and avoid the over-the-counter cold medicines.

Do any of you out there use a homeopathic cold remedy? If so, tell us about it. If not, tell us why.

I have had quite a few holiday parties to attend lately and of course I always try to stand out at the festivities, making myself look a little bit different. I made sure I bought a new party dress but got to thinking about how else I could dress up my look a little.

While I was browsing for skin care products online, I found a really good article with tips on how to take a so-so holiday look to fabulous with a few simple steps. Talk about great ideas!

Check out the full article here: http://www.skinstore.com/holiday-glow.aspx

What’s really great is that these tips don’t require expensive trips to the salon. In this economy, everyone is looking for frugal ways to glam up their holiday looks.

If anyone else has good ideas, let us know!

Moved again this weekend...blah...  Needed a nice long hot bath last night to revive myself, but at the same time relax and even more importantly…stop my muscles from aching!

Anytime I feel this drained I think of three things…aromatherapy, Kerstin Florian products and Thalgo body products. And this time was no exception. Only problem was, I had to open two of my gifts that were intended for someone other than myself. But first thing this morning I reordered one of each so no worries that she won’t be getting her great gifts!

From Kerstin Florian (or more accurately my sister’s gift…sadly...Lol) I used the Uplifting Invigorating Experience Kit. This bath and body set helps to buff away dead skin cells while relaxing the body and mind. It has a chamomile bath scrub, a eucalyptus bathand an incredible foot cream and foot paddle. It was just what the doctor ordered. I felt completely renewed.

After my bath I used Thalgo Aromaceane Relax.  I applied it directly to my sore aching muscles and it worked wonders.
 
Breaking into my sister’s gifts was the best thing I could have done for myself…I just hope she doesn’t read this!!!

Ever since the first time I had ever used a Sothys body product I started noticing a softness and firmness to my skin that I hadn’t previously noticed. I would never allow my sagging knees to show, much less my upper legs. They always looked so flabby. But soon after I started using Sothys Secret Smoothing Body Balm I noticed a firmness to my legs that I hadn’t seen since I was in my twenties.

So I got to thinking, man if this product can firm up my legs like this I just wonder if it could firm up my newly sagging face and neck. So I searched for Sothys products and not only found some great products for my face but a line specifically dedicated to sagging skin! I had no idea they even had such a thing. It’s called Sothys Total Cohesion line. I zealously clicked on the link and boy did I ever hit pay dirt!

I immediately ordered Sothys Total Cohesion Anti-Sagging Satin Cream. It Targets sagging skin to dramatically redensify and firm slackened skin. And I ordered Total Cohesion Shaping Neck Cream which also is stellar when it comes to lifting and tightening loose sagging skin. And not only does it work wonders on my neck it has lifted and toned my jowls beautifully.

I’m soooo sold on Sothys Specialized Care!

Ok all you Clarisonic fans - you know how you can’t live without your beloved Clarisonic? You know how it pains you to have to do without on trips because you don’t have room or can’t charge it while you’re away?

Clarisonic just came out with the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System. This has all of the great qualities of the classic Clarisonic but it’s a smaller, more convenient travel-sized version with an international charger. So even if you’re going to Europe for the whole summer with a small carry-on bag, you don’t have to be without your favorite cleansing tool. Did they cover everything or what?

I have been hearing glowing Clarisonic Reviews from readers for quite some time. There’s just nothing like it. There was a huge wave of purchasers when Oprah put the Clarisonic on her favorite list and most of those customers have been very happy with their Clarisonics, so much so that having to do without it for even a day is rough. Once you’ve experienced the ultimate skin cleansing, it’s just hard to go back.

Out of all of the Clarisonic Products, this one is sure to be one of the biggest crowd pleasers due to its compact size. Many of us lead lives on the go and convenience is key. As much of a slave as I am to my beauty regimen, it’s not easy lugging full sized tools and products around. This sure simplifies things.

Has anyone out there been lucky enough to try the new Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System? Please write in and tell us about your experience.

I had such a nice response from our readers about yesterday’s aromatherapy article that I thought I’d write a little more today about it. I thought I’d share with you all what type of reaction is provoked by certain essential and precious oils’ individual scents. Additionally I will list my favorite brands that use aromatherapy for its beneficial therapeutic effects as well.

Keep in mind there are many uses for aromatherapy other than skincare. Also keep in mind that they need to be used correctly in order to be effective and safe. This is just a brief overview of some uses in skin, bath and body care. Additionally, there is a lot more to this science such as blending, using the correct carrier oils, using quality ingredients and much more.

Therapeutic Uses for blends:

These are some of the product descriptions I found in Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath and Shower Oil Collection when I read about some of the products in the set individually. This is probably going to be the gift I give most this year.  It is the most amazing gift that will put a huge smile on the faces of all those on your gift list and it’s under 50 dollars! It’s like the gift of beauty, pampering and health all in one package. It will make whoever receives it feel very special. And that’s what the season is all about!

One blend of Pink Grapefruit, Rosemary and Juniper Berry helps to revive you from feeling sluggish.

Wild Chamomile, Petitgrain and Frankincense blend helps to clear your mind and focus your thoughts.

Geranium, Frankincense and Rose to helps to create a sense of harmony to the body and mind.

Lavender and Peppermint blend will relieve the feeling of being hot and bothered.

Eucalyptus, Pine and Tea Tree are effective in stimulating your senses, and have long been used to clear the head, nose and chest.

Vetivert, Chamomile and Sandalwood instills peace and tranquility.

Geranium, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang blend is perfect for uplifting and energizing.

Here are a few definitions I found on Dictionary.com and Wikipedia.

aromatherapy a•ro•ma•ther•a•py (ə-rō'mə-thěr'ə-pē)

The use of selected fragrant substances in lotions and inhalants in an effort to affect mood and promote health.

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and similar aromatic compounds from plants, for the purpose of improving a person's mood, cognitive function or health.