Category: skin-care

New SimpleSense Tool from Simple Skincare

I am a total sucker for personalization. If your skin is anything like mine, it doesn’t just fall cleanly into one category. It can be dry, sensitive and even break out. Beyond that, I’ve come to focus more and more on routines like nutrition, sleep and exercise – outside of products – and how they affect my complexion.

Simple Skincare must have heard my tune, because their newest tool looks not only at your skincare regimen, but also your diet, exercise, lifestyle and stress levels to determine a routine for better skin. The Simple Sense questionnaire only takes about five minutes, but is a great way to take inventory of how you are treating your skin.

After answering questions, I had an ah-ha moment. Of the three focus areas Simple suggested I hone into, one was sleep. It really needs to be more of a priority for me. Another was “Polish”, so important for that radiant skin I crave. Swing by the Simple Skincare website and take Simple Sense and let me know in the comments if you had any ah-ha moments with your results!

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

Top Five for May

I’m loving all this silky, healing goodness for the start of the spring. While I am whipping my body into shape for some swimwear, I am also working on my skin and hair, wanting it hydrated and still natural looking. So for you today: a little top five round up of what is rocking my world lately.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil is from one of those iconic drugstore brands but totally revamped to make me fall in love all over again. This oil helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks or just regular ole dry skin. My uneven and ultra-dry legs have been loving this stuff right out of the shower. The Rapidermal® Absorption Systeme® means just a short wait before you can throw on clothes. Also know this can be used on the face or as a bath oil. Made in USA.

Flower Face the World Tinted Moisturizer is part of Drew Barrymore’s new makeup line exclusively at Wal-Mart. I was tripping over myself to try out the collection, particularly when I heard how it performs luxe at drugstore prices. The tinted moisturizer, available in 11 shades, is a light-coverage, luminous cream. It hides perfections and smooths with out cakey heaviness. Even my dry skin gets plenty of moisture. I can honestly say I have been reaching exclusively for this as my BB Cream/Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer since it landed in my hot little hands.

Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser, another gem from Net-a-Porter’s new beauty section, is a ultra-high quality foaming cleanser. The A-list isn’t shy about signing the praises of this cleanser. It gently exfoliates and prevents breakouts while aromatherapy works to relax and recharge. Its namesake ayurvedic anti-aging Amla Extract is rich in Vitamin C while Hawaiian Green Papaya enzymes exfoliate.

POE Pumpkin Perfecter Enzyme Mask might smell very fall but those active pumpkin enzymes are perfect to embrace all year round. The anti-oxidant rich pure pumpkin promotes cellular turnover. The gentle formula would work for more sensitive skin types and can be used up to three times a week.

L’Oreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm promises to repairs a year of damage in one use – sign me UP! Even though I don’t chemically treat my hair, I have seen some more damage around the ends over the past year. The luxurious balm works to instantly improve the appearance of split ends, rough ends, weakness and dullness. After one use my hair was silkier and shiner. One of the biggest bonuses? My hair wasn’t weighted down. It was still bouncy and full.

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Favorite SPF Lotions for the Face

If you aren’t already getting your mug nice and protected every morning, now is the time to start. SPF is crucial and (along with retinoids) the only thing proven to prevent aging. Here are my current top five for both under makeup and for a day at the pool:

Hampton Sun SPF15 Super Hydrating Face Cream manages to be lightweight and super nourishing. The Calendula soothes my redness-prone skin while Canadian Willow Bark calms. I love how it quickly absorbs and is powered with gentle zinc oxide. Fragrance and oil free.

CeraVe SPF Sunscreen Stick is relatively new to the market, but you should be able to find this in your drugstore. Perfect for on the go, this stick is also powered with the gentle physical-only sunscreens. The formula finishes dry with no greasy residue.

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Anti-Aging Sunscreen has long been a favorite (initially reviewed here). It is the trifecta, offering hydration, UV protection and anti-aging benefits. The unique formula keeps the sunscreen in a “reservoir” on the skin, maximizing effectiveness.

Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid-Lotion Sunblock SPF 55 gives you superior sun protection without clogging pores. The water-light texture is weightless, letting skin breathe. At the same time, it is water-resistant, oil-free and fragrance-free. Not only does it look great under makeup, but also works for those days when outdoor activites call for a feather-weight SPF.

ZO Skin Health ‘Oclipse’ Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 is the ultimate sunscreen for under a full face of makeup. This stuff has a silky texture with nude coloring. It has no coverage but avoids that nasty white cast. Not only does it have broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection but it blocks natural melanin – BONUS!

Three Dry Skin Saviors

Sometimes you have to bring in the big guns. When my skin is seriously dry, I turn to these three guys to get me back on track:

Mustela Cold Cream is technically for infants but who cares!? It is packed with almond oil and nutrients and gentle enough for the youngest of skin. The lotion is on the thicker side with a beach-y scent.

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream is a rich balm that seriously gets me glowing (I also love it for cuticles and as a salve on scrapes and burns). This huge tub will last you forever.

Weleda Skin Food is one of those natural cult-classics. I use this rich lotion everywhere – especially after a marathon dish washing session. But don’t hesistate using this on the face, elbows and even your lips. Lavender, rosemary and sweet orange oil give it a botanical and invigorating smell.

NEW: Kiehl’s ‘Skin Rescuer’ Stress-Minimizing Daily Hydrator

It is almost like Kiehl’s read my mind. After three six plane trips in four weeks and diving into a retin-A prescription, my skin is stressed! And regular anxiety can actually translate into redness and irritation. Did I mention my work email has been on the fritz for two whole days? UGH. Skin Rescuer is just what the doctor ordered for some tender loving care for this mug.

In the mornings, I’ve been layering Skin Rescuer under Kate Somerville Daily Deflector for a super-charged hydration and added sun protection. I really don’t mind the lack of sun protection in Skin Rescuer. I feel like Kiehl’s was appropriately focused on healing properties. I have found that my skin has perked up, appearing less red and dehydrated.

Not only does Skin Rescuer heal. Rosa Gallica Botanical Extract helps minimize skin’s visible response to stress over the longer term. While a rare sugar, Mannose, protects skin while it recovers.

The texture and feel of the lotion is very straightforward, much like other Kiehl’s favorites. I can’t detect any scent. The weight is balanced – nourishing but not heavy. And I am a huge fan of pump dispensers – just feels a bit more clean. Cheers to whipping my skin into shape just in time for summer!

Inspired by Pastel Makeup for Spring

Spring has me craving pastels. I love the look of a light feminine face as we welcome the warmer weather. It is also a great time to experiment with lighter versions of bold shades like mint green eyeshadow – surprisingly beautiful! Here are my picks for some of the Easter egg inspired shades:

Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Color in Oleander is the softest sweetest pink and this cream formula applies like a breeze.

Guerlain ‘Maxi Shine – Gloss d’Enfer’ Lip Gloss has insane shine, giving this pretty pink an even bigger impact.

For those who want to try out a higher impact, pastel eye, try Dior ‘5 Couleurs – Haute Couture’ Eyeshadow Palette. And this formula makes these powders creamy and beautifully blendable.

Deborah Lippmann Rockin’ Robbin Glitter Nail Polish features the glitter Lippmann is so good at but this time with Staccato effect, using black glitter against a pastel backdrop for a unique look!

Lancôme ‘Aquatic Essence’ Eye Palette has copper and brown mixed in with blue pastels to make the shades so wearable!

I like to prep my skin using Simple Skincare Hydrating Light Moisturizer. I haven’t found any other moisturizers that manage to balance nourishing properties while being ultra-lightweight. And bonus that the formula is chock full of vitamins to help improve the appearance of my skin over the long term.

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.