Category: skin-care

Good Skin from Inside Out – Tips From Simple Skincare’s Experts

Did you know that Simple Skincare has its own group of experts to share all sorts of tips and tricks to keep our skin looking great? I didn’t until I was appointed an ambassador at the beginning of this year. In the interest of a new season, I thought today would be a great time to share some tips (ones that I hadn’t heard) to get us ready for the warmer months. And, I truly believe skin can look good from the inside out, so I am including tips from Simple Nutritionist, Ellie Krieger, especially since I am on a food lifestyle journey myself!

Limit Caffeine and Hydrate Deliciously!
You don’t need to give up your morning cup of Joe! A little caffeine is okay, but drinking too much caffeine can have some serious downsides, such as anxiety, restlessness and problems sleeping. If you need an energy boost, quenching your thirst with a more hydrating beverage, like water, may be just what you and your skin need, since one of the first signs of dehydration is fatigue, and getting enough water is important for nourishing healthy skin. For something with even more flavor and skin-loving benefits, try this watermelon water. Just put chunks of watermelon in your water pitcher, with some fresh mint leaves if you’d like, and let it sit for an hour or more to infuse the water with flavor. You can try this with cantaloupe or honeydew as well.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Smartly
Foods that quickly raise your blood sugar (called high glycemic foods), such as refined sugars and baked goods, may also contribute to increased skin oil production. For a sweet treat that is better for you and your skin, try fresh apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon instead of your usual dessert. It could help you help decrease shine and boost your confidence.

Tomatoes to Combat Fine Lines
Fine lines are a natural part of aging, but you may be able to help combat them with the right diet. Tomatoes contain an antioxidant that may reduce the appearance of fine lines. Try an easy spinach salad with chopped tomatoes. Top your salad with almonds or sunflower seeds; their vitamin E may also help protect against wrinkles. Add a splash of extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a dash of salt for a tasty and effective skin-loving salad.
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Berries For Brighter Skin
Healthy skin is lustrous and beautiful, and incorporating anti-oxidant rich foods into your diet may help keep it that way. For a powerful antioxidant boost, start your day with a berry bowl containing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. They all may help to combat dullness, helping you to maintain supple and radiant skin.

Under Eye Skin Health with Antioxidant-Rich Foods
Your eyes are the windows to your soul – and the skin surrounding them is some of the most sensitive skin on your face. So help keep your under eye skin healthy-looking with a healthy diet, including more antioxidant-rich foods, like red bell peppers and black beans. Put them together for a fantastic antioxidant-rich salsa. Just combine diced bell peppers with corn and black beans. Add a chopped jalapeño if you want a little heat. Toss together with some olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, a little fresh-ground pepper and a pinch of salt. Enjoy as a snack with baked tortilla chips or on top of grilled chicken or fish. Your taste-buds and your under eye skin will thank you.

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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.

Brand Spotlight: POE Purity of Elements Skin Care and GIVEAWAY

So far, my experience with POE has been exactly what this mother/daughter team set out to do: deliver super-charged ingredients for real results with products packed with pure minerals, botanicals and anti-oxidants. While the brand is still flying under the radar, I think it is worth paying attention to the products former Ryka CEO Sheri Poe and her daughter, artist Danielle Birrittella, POE are bringing to the table.

I’ve been using the Daily Purifying Polish and Copper Mineral Moisturizer. I’ve found them both to be soothing, yet active – straightforward, yet elegant. The founders philosophy of balance with transformation shines through.

At first I thought this polish was for use just a couple times of week like my other exfoliators. But actually it is a non-foaming gentle face cleanser with a fresh, fruity scent. The formula is packed with an antioxidant tea and berry blend and exfoliating micro-beads that help to gently remove dead skin cells, greatly helping with my flaky, dry skin. Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil delivers vitamin E, fatty acids and phospholipids, helping retain that all-too-good hydration. Mandarin Orange Peel Extract works as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant while Allantoin soothes skin.

One of my most favorite skin care items I’ve tried lately, this Copper Mineral Moisturizer reminds me of a lotion version of this. The formula is super packed with minerals to fight aging and rejuvinate skin. Copper, Zinc and Magnesium work to boost natural tissue-building processes. This, in turn, builds collagen and elastin. Copper peptides also promote healing by reducing the formation of scar tissue. Vitamin E moisturizes and works as an anti-oxidant. And Vitimin C helps fade discoloration. Like the polish, this moisturizer contains an antioxidant tea and berry blend.

Now for the fun part! POE and I have partnered to give away one POE Preventative Kit (pictured top) valued at $84. It contains:

My beloved Copper Mineral Moisturizer
The Daily Purifying Polish
Super Charged Copper Serum: mineral complex of copper, zinc and magnesium combined with hyaluronic acid
Pumpkin Perfecter Enzyme Mask: detoxifying gel mask with pure pumpkin
Eye Re-Treat with POE Peptides: eye cream containing elastin and POE Peptides help smooth, tone, and hydrate

Open to the US only. Enter using the widget below (if you are reading in an email or reader, be sure to click through to enter!):
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The POE – Purity of Elements product collection is available at purityofelements.com.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Three Mario Badescu Masks for Sensitivity

You probably know I fell hard for Mario Badescu from this post. Lately, my vanity MVPs have been clay-based masks that manage to deep clean and soothe all at the same time. These three masks are a great fit for those with drier, more sensitive skin. But I also think they would work for oily and acne-prone complexions – clay is a classic, proven ingredient for cleaning out pores that everyone could benefit from at least occasionally.

Azulene Calming Mask is loaded with anti-inflammatory Azulene to comfort red or irritated skin. After a little over eager exfoliation or glycolic treatment, this can snap my skin back into calmness. Also great for razor burn or post-waxing. The consistency is a thicker paste, but the clay formula does not harden. The clay and wheat starch work to clear skin of impurities. Best if you are feeling very sensitive.

Flower & Tonic Mask is more active, perfect when you really want to go after congested skin. Last weekend, I was really bad about washing my face. And when I returned home, I atoned for my sins with this pore-clearing treatment. While the Kaolin (clay) absorbs dirt and oil, Balsam Peru soothes redness and irritation. I feel a tad bit tight after using this mask, but it is perfect for a deep cleaning treatment.

Cucumber Tonic Mask is going to be clutch during the summer months when I am so prone to redness and blackheads – hello, sweaty heat! The cooling clay is made with Cucumber Extract to smooth and revive skin while it deep cleans. This mask is a great balance of the two above, when you want cleansing action but still are experiencing some sensitivity.

How to Use: Apply a thin layer of mask on clean skin avoiding eye area. Wait 15-20 minutes and rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

Mario Badescu products are also available at Nordstrom where it is triple points time now through March 24th!

Pre-Party Prep for a Festive Weekend

Anyone else planning for some festive fun this weekend? You can tell by my manicure above, I’m in the spirit (it is Essie Pretty Edgy). I am sure this will be a relatively boozy weekend with St. Patrick’s Day, wedding festivities and seeing old friends. So, with that in mind…

Just because we are partying doesn’t mean we don’t want to look our best, right? I’m sticking to these tips to ensure my skin looks its fresh and I can avoid feeling horrible after one too many.

Tonight (and every night), I am going to ensure my skin is super hydrated and nourished with Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer. It replinishes skin and is packed with Pro-Vitamin B5 known to help restore, soften and smooth.
I am going to shoot for alternating water with every “adult beverage”. This ensures you pace yourself and stay hydrated. Bonus points if you can hunt down lemon – it helps detoxify the liver and speed metabolism.
It is easy to get carried away and forget to reapply sunscreen while you are celebrating over brunch on a patio or at a backyard BBQ. I’m tossing Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15 in my purse for frequent reapplication. The lightweight formula is easy to wear with a non-greasy feel.
No excuses here – I keep Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes right by my bed so no matter how tired I am, that makeup is coming off. I also love the Simple Skincare Eye Make-Up Remover Pads for the delicate eye area.

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.

Skin Care Mixology: 4 Boosters from Intraceuticals

I’m like a mixologist when it comes to skin care. Other than my tried and true retinol, I’ll change it up on a day to day basis: some days I’ll add a little Vitamin C and others a little Antioxidant. A little of this… a little of that. Intraceuticals had exactly this approach in mind when they developed their Boosters, designed to be mixed with your daily serum or used on their own. They come in handy when you are trying to spot treat certain areas (for instance, Vitamin C on my hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks). Here are the details on the four “flavors” if you will. I think they all come in pretty handy!

VITAMIN C+3 BOOSTER contains three forms of Vitamin C to fight premature aging, irregular tone and sun damage. The Vitamin C acts to fight free radical damage while protecting skin. It also works in collagen synthesis to improve skin texture. I mostly grab for this stuff because it can brighten and correct hyper-pigmentation. This booster should be primarily used in the morning and plays well with the Collagen+ Booster. If you are really going after hyper-pigmentation, use this with the Vitamin A+ Booster at night as well.

COLLAGEN+ BOOSTER is packed with peptides to renew and rejuvinate skin, plumping volume and tightening. It really can target fine lines and wrinkles while hydrating and adding radiance. Because this has such a beautiful immediate effect, I like using it in the morning under makeup. It also works well at night while skin is working hard to regenerate skin. You can add this to the Vitamin C+3 Booster in the morning, and Vitamin A+ Booster in the evening.

ANTIOXIDANT+ BOOSTER targets dull skin by revitalizing and detoxing. Perfect for after late nights or travel, it can improve dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. And the natural antioxidants sourced from the Australian Rainforest can give the complexion a more radiant and even look. Antioxidant+ Booster is designed to be used in the morning.

VITAMIN A+ BOOSTER, my most beloved skin care ingredients, does it all. Vitamin A can treat blemishes, visible pores, sun damage, uneven texture or deep wrinkles. This Booster is formulated with a “release on demand” form of Vitamin A to increase potency while reducing irritation. Vitamin A + Booster is should be used at night. It works particularly well with the Collagen+ Booster. Make sure to use twice a week, then gradually increase frequency to every other night. Vitamin A can cause irritation in those who have never used it.

Confused yet? If so, I found this chart so very helpful – create your cocktail of booster based on what skin issue you are dealing with:

You can find your closest Intraceuticals clinic here.

Dr. Jart Water Fuse Water-Sure Gel

Sometimes, I come across a product that just has “it” – something I’ve been wanting so badly but never quite knew it. Dr. Jart Water Fuse Water-Sure Gel landed on my desk on a day I had just returned from a quick trip. Airplane air is not kind. And my skin was dehydrated and itchy.

This bouncy gel is loaded with hyaluronic acid and does one of the best jobs of rehabilitating dry skin of any product I’ve tried. The cool refreshing formula binds to my skin without being sticky. A thin layer quickly absorbs leaving skin supple and plump. And olive leaf and cranberry work to improve the skin barrier to boost elasticity.

At night, I’ve been layering another night cream for an extra rich routine, but it is adequately hydrating on its own. The gel texture also makes this ideal for those with more combo/oily skin. The gel has a slightly floral scent that dissipates quickly. And I am so appreciative of the included spatula (working hard to keep my skincare germ free).

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.