Treating tired, puffy eyes

What can be done about eye issues such as puffiness and bags?
One reason that the eye area is such a big concern is because it’s often the first area on the face to show signs of aging. Droopy, tired eyes can add five to 10 years to a person’s age – not something most people want!
Today’s skin care technology offers many products that will help reduce dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles and other concerns with the eye area.
Babor’s Sensational Eyes Gel supplies the skin with essential vitamins, promotes a smooth eye contour and calms the skin.
SkinCeuticals Eye Cream firms the skin and is safe to use on sensitive skin.
SkinMedica Uplifting Eye Serum is an oil-free formula that moisturizes the skin to eliminate puffiness, lines and under-eye circles.

Plump that pucker!

Everybody wants that full, pouty look for their lips. But not everyone wants to use fillers such as collagen.
If you want to stay up-to-date with full lip fashion, there are many products that naturally enhance the shape of the lip. Try using a lip product containing folic acid, menthol or Vitamin C ingredients, which increase blood flow to that area, giving you fuller lips, and will also help reduce the appearance of superficial lines.
theBalm has lip glosses in a variety of colors. Be sure to try Cocoa My Coconut – it’s a nude base color, which is what all the celebrities are wearing right now.
Colorescience Lip Serums provide reflective color and natural plumpers that help enhance the lips’ natural contours.

NEW! Fusion Beauty is a great new brand that makes Lip Fusion, an all-natural collagen-enhancing lip treatment. And their Lip Fusion XL is a super plumper with results that last up to 36 hours!

Solutions to Eczema

Eczema is an allergic reaction that produces itching, swelling, blistering, oozing and scaling of the skin and is common among children. Although usually limited to the face, neck, and folds of the knees and elbows, it can cover the entire body. Eczema is usually caused by an allergy to food, pollen or dust, but can also be caused by excess exposure to harsh soaps.
So how can you reduce eczema? Eliminating the underlying cause will calm the discomfort. Corticosteroids are often prescribed as a treatment, but many topical creams are available over-the-counter for less severe cases.
Nouriva Repair Moisturizing Cream will help reduce excessive dryness that is associated with eczema. It also contains no perfume, coloring, preservatives and is non-steroidal.
NeoStrata Bionic Lotion is a light moisturizing lotion containing vitamin E.
SBR Lipocream fortifies the skin’s barrier properties, helping your skin maintain the proper moisture level.

What causes acne – and what gets rid of it?

Acne is one of the main concerns people have to deal with when it comes to their skin. Acne is caused by plugging of the sebaceous gland, increased sebum production and bacteria build-up. There is also evidence that suggests acne is partly hereditary. Acne is most common during adolescence, yet it also affects adults.

One of the deterrents to effective control of the skin disorder is that acne is so common that it is neglected. Neglecting this problem can be a serious mistake because it can be reduced if not completely eliminated.

So what can we do to help our skin? Simple lifestyle changes will help alleviate most acne problems. Stress aggravates acne, so reducing stress factors will help. Drinking adequate water, 8-12 ounces of water daily, will also help; drinking water hydrates the skin, preventing clogged pores. Avoid stimulants like tea, coffee, tobacco and excessive sugar, as well as alcohol. Abrasive exfoliants can spread the acne bacteria. But most importantly, use a good skin care regimen that is specially recommended for acne skin.

Murad’s Acne Complex Kit offers great results, as does the Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement. Clients with serious acne should try PCA Skin’s Teen Acne System.

Botox Safety & Options

Botox Safety and Options

Botox has been creating smooth, wrinkle-free faces for a few years now, but there is still some controversy surrounding it.

Botox (derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum) is used to improve the appearance of moderate to severe signs of aging, including lines and wrinkles. Botox is injected with a very fine needle into a specific muscle that causes lines and wrinkles. This interrupts the portion of the nervous system responsible for contractions and movements of the facial muscles, creating a surface that is smooth and tight.

The treatment usually lasts 3 to 4 months, then gradually fades away. In clinical trials, 90% of men and women achieved improvement in the appearance of frown lines and wrinkles.

Although Botox is FDA approved, its long-term effects are still unknown. Certain medications can negatively interact with Botox. Temporary bruising is sometimes experienced, and some patients experience a slight drooping of the eyelid or loss of expression. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use Botox.

As with any procedure, people considering Botox should consult with their physician before going ahead with the treatment.

Nervous about the needle? There are many non-surgical solutions to decrease creases.

Babor Mimical Control Cream relieves micro-tension to soothe away expression lines on the face and the neck.
Freeze 24/7 Anti-Wrinkle Cream plumps and moisturizes the skin, reducing wrinkles, laugh lines, crows feet and other common signs of aging, as well as acne scars, enlarged pores and even stretch marks.

Cosmetic Brush Care

Do you know what’s on your makeup brushes?

Sanitation is vital to maintain both the appearance of your cosmetic brushes and of your face. When not properly cleaned, cosmetic brushes can hold millions of bacteria, which can be transferred to the skin.

Not only do they attract bacteria, but unsanitary brushes will also result in color build-up that will seem to affect the quality of your makeup. People with certain skin conditions or whose skin is being treated are more at risk to bacterial infection and should clean their brushes after each use.

Many cosmetic brands have brush cleaners that can improve the quality and longevity of a brush. Colorescience has the Aromatherapy Brush Cleaner, which uses essential oils such as citrus and tea tree to cleanse and purify.
Glominerals Brush Cleaner is full of soothing extracts that can be used on acne-prone skin.