Search results matching tags 'make-over', 'anti-aging', 'cosmetics', and 'sun-damaged'

Key to Looking Younger! Education of Products and dermalogica and Jan Marini!

Karen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:22:00 GMT

My favorite skin care brands that I’ve used (or still use) personally are typically ones that I used professionally in the past. This is usually because I was thoroughly trained via classes and seminars put on by the brands themselves, attended aesthetic conferences with workshops, or simply taught by the brand or cosmeceutical or pharmaceutical rep within the office or spa.

When you’re professionally trained you understand how and why each product works whether by understanding the ingredients used, the science which makes it work (bio-availability and what part of the skin and underlying cells its affecting and why that is), indications for usage and what the expected outcome should be, as well as proper application technique (absorbability, mechanical means, steps, etc.).

When I think of the ultimate example of a brand that trains exceptionally well, two skin care companies come to mind. Dermalogica and Jan Marini! Both lines are phenomenally effective and results oriented, easy to use, indication specific and extremely professional. They are constantly evolving and are the leaders in cutting edge science in relation to skincare.

You can find both at many professional day and medical spas as well as many dermatology offices. I buy both my Dermalogica and my Jan Marini products at www.spalook.com because that’s much more convenient for me and they are a lot more competively priced.

You will never find me out of stock of my two favorite dermalogica and Jan Marini products as they are crucial to my skin care regimen and to my looks! LOL I always have a back up of each.

dermalogica AGE smart power rich is an amazing pharmaceutical strength treatment that moisturizes brilliantly, reverses the signs of aging, softens, firms and tones and stimulates cellular turnover and renewal. It’s pricey, but more than worth it. This is probably my pick for the best skincare product on the market.

Next is my Jan Marini C-ESTA Facial Mask. The effects are instant and absolutely amazing. I always use it before important occasions or when I want to look my ultimate best. It is seriously the closest thing to an instant facelift I’ve ever used. I can’t even begin to tell you how much you will love this mask!

Be Pretty with Prevage!

Karen — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:26:00 GMT

I was so excited a few years back when Prevage was coming out. I’d heard all about the new cutting edge science with regards to the active ingredient “idebenone.” However, when it finally hit the market and I bought some I soon found out I was allergic (or at least sensitive) to it. So I gave the brand new bottle to my sister who loved it and has used it since. And believe me she was extra thrilled with this little unexpected gift because she had previously suffered a severe allergic reaction to Botox, so she really wanted to find a quality, “results oriented” anti-aging product. And as it turned out, she found it in her (well my!) new bottle of Prevage. She’s reordered it many times since and it’s her veritable staple in her array of anti-aging creams. Recently I noticed in her drawer a new jar of Prevage that I had never seen before. So I thought, “Hmmm…I wonder if I should give it a try?” It may have been a dumb move and I would never want any of you to try a product that you may potentially be allergic to but I figured I could use a little plastic spoon to scoop a little out without contaminating her jar and place the cream on the inside of my elbow as a patch test. Well 24 hours later there were absolutely no signs of any sensitivity whatsoever so I decided to give it a try on my face. Normally I exfoliate my face while in the shower but I thought that I’d skip that step so as not to irritate my skin at all before trying the cream just as an additional precautionary measure. I applied it to my face with no feelings whatsoever of discomfort or redness and wore it throughout the day with no itching or problems at all. I applied again two nights later and used it every other day for a week. After week 1, I began using it daily at bedtime. It’s been two weeks and I’m happy to report I have had no problems with it at all…only amazing results! My skin looks so much fresher and younger. It’s that nice peaches and cream looking skin we’ve all searched high and low for.

The phenomenal night cream is called Prevage Anti-Aging Night Cream by Elizabeth Arden. It’s a blend of high performance moisturizers that nourish and infuse the skin with idebenone and Mega complex-A which leave you with a smoother, brighter, toned and radiant complexion. My skin also feels hydrated all day long. I love my skin. It’s more than just looking better…it’s repaired! I love Prevage Products!

The Beauty Ingredients Snob! Part One!

Karen — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:09:00 GMT

One of the main reasons I consider myself an expert in skincare is because I always want to know the “x” factor. I want to know why products work. And simply put the “x” factor is the active ingredient(s) within the product themselves.

Think of back in the day when women simply lathered a thick coating of cold cream on their face. It does indeed make your face feel softer and more hydrated but could it possibly repair or nourish? Not likely. The only way in my opinion to facilitate a physiological action would be to shrink the molecules of the active ingredients or add a delivery system to get those ingredients to the deeper cells in the skin. This is where collagen production takes place. Additionally, the superficial layers must be exfoliated and again ingredients play a key role in that action as well.

I will be doing a whole series on ingredients over the next few days or however long it takes to convey the importance of these complex pieces of the skincare and beauty regimen puzzle.

Today I’d just like you to take a look at the many verbs in the word “ingredients” below. These verbs are potentially what you can reasonably expect when you choose products with the correct ingredients for your specific indications and needs.

Improves and illuminates
Nourishes
Gives a lift and protects
Repairs, refines, relieves, reveals and resurfaces
Exfoliates, enhances and evens out color
Detoxifies and diminishes
Invigorates and increases circulation
Enhances and encourages
Nurses redness, blemishes and other skin conditions
Tightens and tones
Softens, stimulates and strengthens

Next time…we’re going to take a look at my favorite skincare ingredients!

Peter Thomas Roth...What's New?

Karen — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:53:00 GMT

I love how you can shop by category on many of the SkinStore.com brand pages. For instance, a lot of the bigger brands are broken down by things like face, lips, body, etc. for quicker, easier access to the specific product or type of product you’re looking for.

But my favorite tab is on their Peter Thomas Roth page. It’s the “what’s new” tab. I can’t tell you how many times I’m asked that question. Everyone always wants to know what’s new in the skincare industry or what new product has come out lately for specific brands.

When I last checked there were four new products available so I decided to purchase two of them. PTR products offer Peter Thomas Roth Brows To Die For and Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Primer. And since I’ve started using these two products I can see why PTR chose the names for them that they did! I now have brows to die for…and the primer certainly promotes a flawless unwrinkled complexion!

Peter Thomas Roth Brows To Die For is a nourishing conditioner for thinning, sparse or over plucked brows. After using it daily for just a couple of weeks my brows are thicker, fuller and much more stunning!

Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Primer is a lightweight product that prepares my skin for the ultimate foundation application. Wrinkles are filled, pores are minimized and tone and texture are refined. It’s loaded with a patent pending blend of peptides that promote wrinkle relaxation and I’m thrilled with both the immediate and long term effects and results.

When you want to know not only what’s new, but also extremely effective…check out Peter Thomas Roth!!!

Deb's Dynamic Eye Creams! Zo Skin Health, Perricone MD, EmergnC, and Sundari!

Karen — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:31:00 GMT

My girlfriend Debbie obsesses over eye cream and it always makes me laugh because she has the best eyes ever! Her brows are lifted and her eyelids are not saggy and the bottoms of her eyes have no bags or dark circles. And then it hit me that maybe the fact that she obsesses over eye products is exactly why her eye area is so beautiful!

I asked her what she uses and she gave me a list that only a true skincare junky would appreciate. I’ve always tried to use a single product that treats all eye issues, but she uses one for each specific issue and I’m thinking that perhaps she’s on to something!

Deb’s favorite all around “multi-tasking” eye cream is from Zo Skin Health:

ZO Skin Health Olluminate Intense Eye Repair
Benefits include repairing fine lines and wrinkles both instantly and cumulatively. It also reduces puffiness and dark circles. It increases tone and hydration and boosts collagen production and health. It also protects against the free radical damage..

Deb’s favorite for an effective lift is courtesy Perricone MD products:

Perricone MD High Potency Eye Lift
This product lifts and firms the delicate skin around the eye. Fine lines and wrinkles are diminished and future wrinkles are prevented.

Deb’s favorite for dark circles is brought to you by EmergnC's Eye line:

EmergnC Lighten Up Under Eye Circle Fighter
Say goodbye to dark circles with this amazing potent product. It fights both superficial and original causes of dark circles under the eyes. It also strenghtens the skin and lightens it as well.

Deb’s favorite for puffiness is a Sundari Firming line product:

Sundari Gotu Kola and Boswellia Firming Eye Serum
This eye contour treatment was formulated (via Ayurvedic wisdom) to prevent puffiness and reduce visible bags under the eyes. Ingredients soothe and tighten the skin around the eyes.

After a lot of thought…Dermalogica is still Numero Uno with me!

Karen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:51:00 GMT

Being a skincare expert for over 25 years I’m often asked what is the best skincare brand I’ve ever used both personally and professionally. The problem with that question is oftentimes there are too many variables to answer with just one brand. What I’ve found is that usually the person asking the question is that they want to know what the best brand is for them…and even more specifically the products within the brand to address their specific skin issues. So as you can see individual needs and indications are what’s important when recommending products; not just an umbrella answer of one brand.

Having said that; I’m asked that question so often that I decided I would consider all of the hundreds of brands I’ve tried and used both personally and professionally and on a variety of skin issues and make a well informed, educated decision on exactly what brand I would answer as my choice for being the best.

After taking into consideration brand reputation, results, variety of products within the brand, ease of use, ingredients, ratings and reviews from users as well as dispensing professionals I have come up with my answer.

Without a doubt, no reservations, I’m going to say hands down, the best skincare brand available today as well as way back when I started has to be Dermalogica.

Dermalogica uses only quality, results-oriented ingredients and will not sell their soul by using artificial colors, fragrances and cheap fillers such as mineral oil. And not only do they not use ‘bad for your skin’ fillers; they spend top dollar using ingredients that are proven to treat and repair your skin so that it’s as healthy as it has the potential to be. Their philosophy being that beautiful skin is indeed healthy skin!

Here’s a list of my top ten all time favorite Dermalogica products. Typically when I do my top ten lists of anything I rarely put them in any specific order. However, I’ve decided to place these in order (albeit reverse) because the last five or in this case the top five are not only my favorite skincare products within this incredible Dermalogica brand but I would be remiss if I didn’t say they were my top five beauty products of all time period (regardless of brand or line)!

10. Dermalogica Essential Cleansing Solution
9. Dermalogica Multi Active Toner
8. Dermalogica ChromaWhite TRx Brightening Regimen
7. Dermalogica AGE Smart Antioxidant Hydramist
6. Dermalogica MediBac Clearing Adult Acne Treatment Kit
5. Dermalogica Precleanse
4. Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant
3. Dermalogica AGE Smart Multivitamin Power Firm
2. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

And my number one pick for the very best Dermalogica product (and in my opinion...the very best skin care product ever made!) is numero uno!

1.Dermalogica AGE Smart Power Rich

These are my favorite Dermalogica products. However, the whole line is spectacular and you can find all of these superior products at SpaLook.com. Hope you’re as impressed as I am with Dermalogica (after having a relationship with them for over 25 years). Experience really does speak volumes!

Elizabeth Arden…My Royal Regimen! Part 3!

Karen — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:06:00 GMT

I told you I would reveal my incredible Elizabeth Arden regimen and here it is...

Cleanser: Elizabeth Arden 2 in 1 Cleanser from the Basic Skincare Line. For those of you who know me…I like to find the best cleanser that doesn’t dry out my already dry skin and I refuse to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a cleanser. I’d rather save my cash for the good stuff…like serums, and anti-aging treatments! I’ve also rarely used toners in my life but I love that this cleanser has one built right in. My skin looks clarified, radiant and my pores minimized. And all for under twenty bucks!!

Eyes: Holy Cow…if you can only get one thing from my regimen…this would be it! I love my Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Lift and Strengthening Eye Capsules. This product is out of the Ceramide line and has the name gold aptly placed in the title…this is the proverbial treasure in my regimen. These little precious gems erase my lines and wrinkles around my eyes and even lift my sagging eyebrows. In addition my eyes look brighter and less puffy. Love it!!!

Targeting deeper wrinkles: Ok actually there are two things you might want to consider if you can only get one…lol! This is another treasure from the Ceramide line and the best part it not only works overtime, but you get immediate results as well! Take a look at my Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Targeted Line Concentrate. Oh my goodness…great product!

Day Cream: My day cream is a multi-tasker from the Intervene line. Elizabeth Arden Intervene Pause and Effect Moisture Lotion SPF15. My skin looks dewy and luminous. It’s lightweight yet I feel luxuriously hydrated. And I don’t have to add another sun block on top as it’s got a sun protection factor of 15 built right in.

Night Time: This is where I let my treatment products work. I like my uber ingredients to work in the middle of the night when sleep is regenerating all my cells. I use two products from the Basic Skincare line at night. They are awesome! Elizabeth Arden Overnight Success Skin Renewal Serum and Good Nights Sleep Restoring Cream. The words Renewal and Restoring in each name speak volumes. I’ve never awaken with skin this gorgeous in my life!

Elizabeth Arden! Part Two!

Karen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:30:00 GMT

So today I said I’d chat about the individual lines within the superb Elizabeth Arden brand. I also mentioned I’d share with you my very own Elizabeth Arden products I use in my all inclusive Elizabeth Arden regimen!

First a little about each of the lines:

Basic Skincare: Every regimen needs the basics and beautiful skin starts with a basic regimen. Whether you individualize and/or potentiate your regimen with serums and treatments or not; skin needs to be cleansed, moisturized, and protected twice daily to remain beautiful and get even more gorgeous. And the fact that Elizabeth Arden uses the ultimate in ingredients and offers products for all skin types means that you’ll be even further ahead than most skincare lines. In fact, I’m not so sure basic is the best word for this line… with night creams, serums, and specialized eye treatments. It’s way beyond basic!!!

Ceramide: “The Elizabeth Arden Ceramide line infuses innovative, age-fighting ingredients with luxurious textures and scents for the ultimate in anti-aging skin care.” My thought: Ceramide line kicks all anti-aging lines butts! It’s formulated with cutting edge science and it’s worth its weight in gold!!! One of its ingredients is know as SNAP-8 and it does just that…your skin is so firm and the elasticity is so greatly improved you feel like you can practically see it snap back…bye bye sagging skin!

Eight Hour Cream: This particular Elizabeth Arden line has been around since 1930! That speaks volumes! If you want a moisturizing seal that heals, quench’s, and protects your skin for a full eight hours all you need to do is look at this line. It’s a winter must-have!!!

Green Tea: Indulge in hydration and decadent luxury with Camellia Oliefera Leaf Extract…aka Green tea! And now Elizabeth Arden has formulated a body butter with it along with shea butter, aloe, macadamia nut oil and kukui nut oil…It doesn’t get any better than that for the skin of the body!!

Intervene: The award winning Intervene line is a line of products that repairs and prevents the signs of aging. It is formulated with a specialized technology from a botanical extract from the Narcissus Tazetta Bulb. The Intervene liquid foundation is the ultimate in anti-aging makeup..

Pretty: Oh this line speaks for itself right within its name! Elizabeth Arden Pretty is a line of products that are formulated with the most beautiful floral scents. “Pretty is a spirited floral fragrance of exceptional charm. The floral heart is surrounded by a mélange of fruits, wrapped in a well-rounded background of serene woods. At its core is a premiere ingredient, Petalia.” The bottom line is…you will definitely feel pretty!

Pure Finish: Love mineral makeup? Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish paints a flawless face that stays gorgeous all day long. The lightweight powder goes on so ultra sheer almost as if it’s an airbrushed finish…but yet covers imperfections beautifully. You’re left with corrected skin that looks younger, luminous and oh so radiant.

Red Door: You’ve got to check out the Red Door fragrance line. This gorgeous scent is formulated in an array of products. Here are the notes of the sexy, sophisticated and stylish fragrance...

Top Note: Ylang-Ylang and Vibrant Red Roses
Middle Note: Oriental Orchid, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Moroccan Orange Flowers, Forest Lilies, Rich Freesia, Carnation and Wild Violets
Base Note: Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Spicy Vetiver and Honey

I’m thinking my secret regimen is going to have to wait till next week to reveal. This was a whole lot of good Elizabeth Arden info without it! But no worries…I will reveal!

Elizabeth Arden...Shining lines within a Stellar Brand!

Karen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:16:00 GMT

I’m always preaching about how it’s ok to choose products from different lines to design the perfect regimen. However, that’s because I rarely find a complete regimen that covers all one’s individual needs effectively and entirely. Additionally, I have favorites from certain lines that I had refused to give up…and because of that…I’ve discovered along the way that if I want to throw in a particular favorite product with an ingredient such as vitamin C or a particular peptide into my regimen from another line…the regimen works just as well as if all the products were from within the same brand. In other words, I didn’t just theorize it…I lived it. And it worked.

Having said that, I’ve recently found a brand that literally has all the ingredients I use within its whole line. Not only do they have all my required ingredients and steps within their brand…they all work so extremely well that I would have no reason to step out of line sporadically here and there. Additionally, this regimen makes me kind of wonder if perhaps there is something to keeping within the same brand. Like perhaps it seems that one product potentiates the next. Darn...I just hate it when I have to eat my words!! Nah…I couldn’t have been wrong all together…I think it’s just that Elizabeth Arden is so good that it’s extremely difficult to not find a perfect product for any particular need. Besides if a woman is going to show me up…It would certainly have to be Liz, because she definitely knows more about this biz than me. She’s been the real deal when it comes to beauty…and I’m honored to represent!

I think besides the fact that Elizabeth Arden has been a huge leader in the beauty industry for a very long time; the products are easy to understand due to the lines within the whole line model. We’ve all heard of Elizabeth Arden products at some point whether it’s buying a product from a department store or visiting the famed Red Door Spa. But for me, certain ingredients and terms in skincare and cosmetics have always stood out and have long helped me do easier product searching and research. And as per usual the folks at Elizabeth Arden…have listened to all of us whether we are professionals within the business or ordinary customers who know what they want when it comes to beauty.

Here’s the deal: Elizabeth Arden has many stellar products. But because it’s a beauty brand that has so many products (that do so many different things); the smart folks at the company have placed different products within different lines within the whole brand. In a word or two…it’s lines within a great line!

Today I’ll list the lines and tomorrow I’ll chat a little more about each of the lines and share with you my very own ultimate Elizabeth Arden regimen!

Elizabeth Arden Lines:

Elizabeth Arden has been around for close to a hundred years. It has always been equated with quality upscale products and cutting edge science within the beauty industry. Whether you’re in need of a new lipstick, a basic skincare regimen, or the latest innovation in reversing aging skin, there is an Arden product or formulation for you.

Look Day Spa Gorgeous in Three Minutes with Z. Bigatti!

Karen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:14:00 GMT

I think I can speak for most women when I say for the most part we like sex to last longer than three minutes; however, when it comes to beauty treatments three minutes is a dream come true! There aren’t many you can apply and remove in three minutes. Most treatments such as masks and peels take around 15 minutes before you can remove them.

Readers I give you the ultimate in three minute rejuvenation! I got the scoop at a Z. Bigatti training for professionals that I recently had the pleasure of attending.

Before this training I had already loved a few Z Bigatti products that I had tried in the past some of which I still wouldn’t be without. Namely, Z Bigatti Re-Storation Treatment! However, it’s a tad pricey so I tend to be very frugal with my supply. Even my best of friends are unaware of my stash! That’s my “for very special events only” cream! Hands off!

Well, it turns out this amazing upscale line has a few other little sleepers that I was completely unaware of. You must try two Z. Bigatti treatments that will give you an incredible, radiant glow in 180 seconds!

Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Dew-Hydrating Facial Mask is a five star rated three to five minute mask that is packed with mega hydration along with antioxidants and other nourishing anti-aging ingredients that will leave your stressed out skin youthful, revitalized, firm and dewy soft!

Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Impact Fruit Enzyme Facial Mask is an incredible three minute peel type mask that exfoliates, clarifies, minimizes pore size and improves your skin’s texture. Those little enzymes pack quite a punch leaving your face radiant, silky, smooth and repaired for the clearest complexion that I know of with a home treatment.

Keep in mind that Z. Bigatti is not a cheap brand and you’re gonna have to dig a little deeper when you become an uber Z. Bigatti fan like me. But…you’ll definitely get what you paid for and save that little precious commodity that we refer to as precious time.