• WorldWide

    What Makes Us Look Older Than We Want To Appear?

    I don’t mind getting wiser and more experienced. But like most women, I wish that wisdom wouldn’t show up on my face. Signs of aging can be quite hard to identify, though. It’s not always easy to figure out why we’re looking older. And it’s not always easy to figure out how to undo it either.

    There are dozens of signs that we are starting to age. It may start with your hair thinning. Perhaps you even have a gray or two. Dying your hair can hide those grays. Many good color products also provide nourishing creams to ensure your hair doesn’t become damaged. Keeping your hair moisturized can help it retain that soft, glossy look of youth.

    Our bodies will also give away our age over time. As soon as you have children, the body becomes a different shape. Between childbearing and menopause, the body will go through a lot of hormonal changes. You may find your joints become achier, and your muscles lose their tone. The skin on the upper arms, tummy, and chest can start to sag too. Gentle exercises every day can help keep you firm.

    It’s the face that gives away our age most. Pores can become enlarged as we get older. You may not be as susceptible to blemishes as you once were, but discoloration can still occur. Dark circles under the eyes make us look tired even if we had a good night of sleep. And puffy bags and eyelids can make us look much older than we are. Plenty of drinks of water and lots of exercises can help flush those excess fluids out.

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    Over time, the skin will sag. You might already be noticing those jowls along your chin line. Cheek bones also lose their definition as the skin folds over itself along the nose line. It is possible to lift these areas of the skin. There are several surgical procedures to pull back and lift up the skin. Alternatively, you can try Ultherapy that uses ultrasound rather than surgery to give you a lift.

    Clever techniques of makeup application can also hide the signs of aging that affect you the most. But there are also many ways to delay the onset of these signs too. Avoiding processed food, tobacco and alcohol can help a lot. Daily exercise will also keep your circulation healthy. It can help combat any weight gain that occurs as we get older. And exercise will also keep your muscles toned.

    There are even exercises you can do for your face to help those muscles stay toned. Regular exfoliation will remove all the dull, dead skin cells from the surface. This will reveal healthier, younger looking ones beneath. And whitening your teeth can help give you a fresher, younger look too. Our smiles make us look more relaxed, vibrant and energetic. These are all signs of youth!

    You don’t have to put up with those early signs of aging as they appear. Lifestyle changes can help keep them away for longer. And a good beauty routine will make sure your skin is in the best possible condition it can be. Feel good and look good today.  

  • Las Vegas,  London,  Los Angeles,  New York,  Toronto,  WorldWide

    Valentine’s Day Skincare Prep

    Want to look and feel your best for that special Valentine’s Day date? Stock up on these skincare essentials to avoid embarrassing issues we all face – from blemishes to dry lips to the undeniable stress sweat – we got you covered so you’re left feeling confident and worry-free with your significant other!

    biore

    Avoid irritating blemishes from showing up, and wash your face with new Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser for a deep clean and gentle exfoliation. This daily liquid cleanser gives you a deep exfoliating clean without being rough on dry spots. Ideal for combination skin, the oil-free formula contains cleansing ingredients that excavate grime and oil from pores. At the same time, the formula gently smooths away dead cells. You end up with skin that’s fresh, silky-soft and luminous. ($7.99)

     

    skinspa

    Nobody wants to kiss dry, chapped lips! Get smooth, soft and hydrated lips thanks to the SkinTreat Spa Intensive Lip Care Gel Patch. Enriched with moisturizing Shea butter, the gel blends antioxidant-rich cranberry extract with nourishing jojoba oil and Vitamin E, delivering long-lasting nourishment and nutrition deep into lips for a supple, smooth smile. Especially made with a unique lip-shaped patch, this advanced hydrogel formula is the most effective and convenient way to protect lips and sensitive lip areas. ($9.99; amazon.com)
    ban

    Don’t let embarrassing sweat show through your clothes – apply Ban Roll-On Deodorant before you head out the door!Traditional antiperspirant/deodorants merely mask odors and reduce odor-causing sweat in general, while Ban’sbreakthrough technology specifically targets and virtually eliminates (not cover up) spicy and s-odor that other antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind. Ban Roll-On Deodorant glides on easily with a formula that provides an outstanding24 hours of invisible protection against odor wetness. ($4.99, Drug and Mass Retailers)

  • Las Vegas

    Biotin Burst: Stronger Nails & Radiant Skin

    NEL-12939-1Feed Your Skin With Delectable Bursts of Nutrients!

    2013- “Best of Natural Beauty” Better Nutrition Magazine
    2013- “Best Beauty Supplement” Delicious Living Magazine

    • Collagen Type 1 & 3 For Firm, Smooth Skin & Strong Hair & Nails
    • Hyaluronic Acid For Skin Hydration & Renewal
    • Vitamin C:  Collagen Enhancer
    • All Natural Formula Bursting With Delicious Flavor

    Screen Shot 2015-12-12 at 9.17.18 PM

    Having beautiful & radiant skin has never been so easy- or so delicious.  NeoCell Beauty Bursts deliver high absorption beauty nutrients in delectable, gourmet soft chews.  Collagen Type 1 & 3 is the body’s beauty protein & strengthens skin, hair & nails.  Hyaluronic Acid is know as “Nature’s Moisturizer” & hydrates the skin.  Vitamin C is essential to boosting collagen in the skin.  Together, these three beauty nutrients work together to build beautiful skin from the inside out.*

    #neocell biotin bursts are gourmet vitamins that tastes like starbursts
  • WorldWide

    My Experience with @FakeBake Self-Tanner

    Being born and raised in Miami, I took the warm, sunny weather and beaches for granted. It wasn’t until I moved to New York that I realized I had also been taking sun-kissed skin for granted. Since I’d always lived in a sunny climate, I never experienced the effects of little-to-no direct sun for months on my skin. As the deep, cold winter set in I lost shades of color — and I wanted my glow back!

    Fortunately, I go to Miami at least once a winter for a little fun in the sun… but what about the rest of the cold-weather months? I’ve brushed bronzer over my cheeks and forehead.  I’ve also used a slightly darker foundation to achieve a warmer tone. These were all great makeup tricks for my face but the rest of my body would just have to be ignored.

    As a woman of color, it didn’t cross my mind to go to any other measures to get the color I craved, but then I got the opportunity to try Fake Bake self-tanner.

    FakeBake

    I had second thoughts when the package first arrived. I didn’t think this product was necessarily formulated for my skin color and didn’t want to end up looking like a black version of a Jersey Shore cast member! Fake Bake sat in the corner for a week or two. But one evening, as I packed to go to Miami the next morning, I decided to go for it. Not sure what my train of thought was… perhaps if the fake tan was a travesty I could correct it with a real tan?

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    fakebake3

    The Fake Bake Flawless Gift Set included Fake Bake Flawless Self-Tan Liquid, a professional application mitt, spay pump and plastic gloves — and a bonus lip gloss and compact mirror. I read the instructions, which seemed easy enough, and then got started.

    With purple, latex gloves on, I sprayed the liquid on my skin and massaged it in with the mitt. I alternated that application technique with spraying it directly onto the mitt, depending on which part of my body I was trying to reach. I even used it on my face (since it’s safe to use there). As I rubbed the lightly pina colada-scented lotion into my skin, I could see my impulse decision was a good one. The application process was quick and not the least bit messy.

    The instructions said it was best to let it sit over night. I was a little worried about leaving stains on my sheets. Even though it rinsed out very easily from the mitt and the instructions said the organic color pigment wouldn’t stain fabrics because it’s not a stain or dye, I put on black pants and a long-sleeved shirt to be on the safe side. In the morning, I woke up, took a shower and rinsed off the excess. The result was a natural, glowing tan that I was extremely pleased with.

    fakebakeresults

    The instructions say that using it before tanning in the sun will accelerate the results, which was true in my experience. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and so glad I discovered this secret for warming up my skin tone when there’s no sun to be found.

    For more info, visit www.fakebake.com.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • New York,  WorldWide

    Keep Calm and Stay Moisturized this Winter

    Whenever someone finds out I’m from Miami around this time of year, they always ask: “How do you deal with the cold?” Well, my first winter was definitely a shock, but after seven and a half years I can handle it just as well as any New Yorker.

    Now, the one thing I can’t get used to is the extreme winter dryness. Between the lack of humidity outside and the parching effects of indoor heat, it’s an endless battle keeping my hair and skin properly moisturized. And this crazy polar vortex sure isn’t helping things!

    But fortunately, I’ve just been armed with some moisture essentials to help get me through the long harsh winter:

    nyakio Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub
    coffeescrub3

    This body scrub is a unique fusion of Kenyan coffee beans, sugar, mongongo nut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil, that removes dull skin while smoothing, moisturizing and revealing more youthful-looking skin.

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    It has a non-oily, thick, jelly-like texture — which means your shower won’t turn into a slip & slide as you rinse off. The unisex scent is light and earthy with just a hint of energizing coffee. The exfoliating scrubbers did their job without being too rough and left my skin feeling very soft and moisturized.
    ($55)

    St. Ives Naturally Energizing Citrus & Vitamin C Fresh Hydration Lotion
    StIves

    Moisturizing, convenient and smells like juicy grapefruit? Sign me up! Made with grapefruit extract, vitamin C and 100% natural moisturizers, this easy-to-apply lotion sprays on lightly and is quickly absorbed, leaving your skin energized and refreshed. This is perfect for mornings when I need a blast of moisture and quick!
    ($5.99 – $7.99)

    Essence of Beauty Wind Kissed Body & Hand Cream
    lotion

    The scent is described as “a vision of spring flowers dancing in the breeze” with a “delicate harmony of cotton flower, mimosa, white amber and a whisper of soft musk” — and seriously, that’s exactly what the lotion smells like. This soft scented, quick absorbing lotion is definitely a treat! And a plus… it’s artificial dye & paraben free.
    ($6.99)

    Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Leave-in Conditioning Foam
    Nexxus

    Low humidity in the winter means an abundance of good hair days, but it’s a double-edged sword because your hair starts feeling like hay if you don’t keep it moisturized. This leave-in, made with glycerin, deeply hydrates hair and helps make it more manageable and flexible for styling.

    moisturehairfoam

    The foam can be used in either wet or dry hair. I’m currently wearing my natural hair blown out and I just pumped some product in my hands, rubbed them together and smoothed on. It smells great and tamed my flyaways.
    ($14.99)

  • New York,  Toronto

    Back to School Giveaway!

    Less than 1 month until Back to School and for us grown ups, Fashion Week. Put your fresh face forward with clear skin! Here is a $100 giveaway from our friends at Clearasil.

    1.       Maintain a regular skin cleansing regimen

    2.       Pay attention to your diet

    3.       Add essential fatty acids

    4.       Drink more water

    5.       Get more sleep

    6.       Make sunscreen your best friend

    7.       Avoid smoking and alcohol

    8.       Visit your dermatologist once a year

    To win this giveaway, leave a comment but clicking the black comment box on the top left with your contact info! 🙂