Dedicated Posts

What’s a Twitter party, you say? Well it’s a real time conversation hosted on Twitter (naturally) which can be accessed by using the #SimpleSummer hastag. If you click on the hashtag, you can follow the conversation of the party and chip in yourself!

So… what’s the party chatter all about? Well, Simple’s resident dermatologist,Dr. Jennifer Segal, will be taking over the @SimpleSkincare handle and addressing any and all summer skincare questions you have. Accidently got sunburnt even though you put on the SPF? She’ll tell you how to alleviate the burn ASAP and prevent it from happening again. Skin breaking out in the humidity? Dr. Segal to the rescue! Make sure you bring all your questions to the party to get expert advice and immediate answers.

And what’s a party without party favors? Joining the party gets you an automatic $2 off coupon for any Simple moisturizer product (like this Replenishing Rich Moisturizer, which is perfect for nights when you’re sleeping in the AC) for EVERY participant (a link to the coupon will be tweeted during the party). Plus, we’ll be randomly selecting winners throughout the party to win Simple gift baskets, which include Simple products and $50 American Express gift cards.

See ya guys there soon! I’ll be @tdailyobsession – looking forward to chatting!

Sensitive skin or not, one of the most important beauty-musts is to get enough sleep. Of course, this sounds way easier than done, especially for busy urban professionals students, mothers, late night YouTube surfers… ok, so everyone. But getting enough rest is key, not only because it helps us stay healthy and happy, but because sleep actually helps the skin fight the aging process.

A Beverly Hills based dermatologist, Dr. Harold Lancer, told the LA Times that during sleep is when the skin produces collagen, which we all know is what helps keeps the skin supple, smooth and wrinkle free. And it’s not just about getting enough sleep- it’s also about getting quality sleep. As the body settles into deep sleep, growth hormones help initiate cell and tissue repair which results in healthier skin. But if you’re only sleeping intermittently, or not reaching the deepest stage of rest- Delta Sleep- those growth hormones actually don’t kick into action. The result? Skin that takes longer to heal and in some cases, even causing it to break out in rashes. And as us sensitive-skinned gals know, we’ll take all the help we can get to keep our skin healthy and happy! (more…)

As part of my ambassadorship with Simple Skincare I have been learning, learning, learning- all the facts about sensitive skin! Below, I share 5 facts that I recently discovered about sensitive skin- and some may be a bit surprising!

1.There are many different types of sensitive skin, but they all have one characteristic in common: inflammation.

According to dermatologists, there are four distinct types of sensitive skin: acne, rosacea, burning and stinging, and contact dermatitis (condition where skin becomes irritated after contact with a substance. This can either be caused by irritant or allergic reaction). The common theme among all these types of sensitive skin? Inflammation, which leads to redness and irritation. So when taking care of sensitive skin, look for products with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Vitamin B5. Using a daily moisturizer with B5, like Simple’s Hydrating Light Moisturizer helps keep inflammation at bay.

2.Spicy foods can trigger skin inflammation

We often think about products that trigger sensitive skin irritation to be things that we actually put on our face. But what we put in our body can also cause irritation. External heat is a factor that contributes to skin inflammation, so hot spicy foods and drinks can actually cause your skin to freak out. Guess it’s time to lay off the Tobasco!

3. People who get rashes or irritated from skincare products are most commonly allergic to fragrance, preservatives, formaldehyde, and dyes.

If you experience frequent irritation from skincare, you might actually be allergic to fragrance, preservatives, artificial colors or formaldehyde. When you are allergic to a product, your body starts making antibodies to fight the substance, which leads to reactions and inflammation. You might not even know that you’re allergic to these substances without undergoing patch testing, but it’s probably a safe bet to lay off any products with irritating ingredients if you find that a lot of products don’t “work” for you. All of Simple products – including my personal summer favorite, their Moisturizing Facial Wash — are free of fragrances and dyes.

4. Many organic products can actually lead to skin irritation because they contain essential oils and fragrances that cause allergies.

Many people might think that if a product is natural or organic, then it must be safe for their sensitive skin. Not so! Many oils and natural fragrances and florals can actually trigger allergies (I mean… this DOES make sense) so use caution even when something is marked organic. The best bet? Find a product that doesn’t pack in any unnecessary ingredients and stick to a fragrance-free policy.

5.You don’t need to have diagnosed sensitive skin to use sensitive skincare products.

Whether you are genetically predisposed to sensitive skin or just feel mild irritation or dryness, you should be conscious of what you put on your skin. Sensitive skincare products, such as Simple, actually work and are effective for everyone. There’s really no need to put anything harsh or unnecessary on your skin regardless of whether you react to it or not. The best solution, I’ve learned, is always to keep things simple.

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

Ahh Forth of July.. if there’s one holiday that screams basking in the sun for hours on end, this would be it.  Whether you’re going to be enjoying the Fourth on water (my favorite!) or at an outdoor bar or picnicking in the park, it is essential to pay extra attention to your skin.  In fact, even if you’re an “apply products during the morning and then forget about it all day” kind of gal, the all-day outdoor activities will definitely require dropping some essential products into your summer bag to go. So what are my must-haves? Read on to find out!  (more…)

Gals with sensitive skin can have it rough when it comes to the elements. Dry, chafed skin in the winter, allergic reactions in the spring and the hot sun wreaking havoc on skin in the summer … well you get the idea.  (Those flowers above? Beautiful to look at- but not so much fun for those with allergies!)

When your skin’s acting up, Simple Skincare offers gentle solutions that are kind to skin. The first step, of course, is to avoid products that irritate skin, such as anything with harsh chemicals or fragrances. All of Simple’s products are made with no dyes, no artificial perfumes and no harsh irritants, so you can rest assured that you’re not putting anything on your skin that could aggravate it more. (more…)

Hope Solo, goalkeeper of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (and for the Sounder’s Women team from my old hometown- go Seattle), recently announced she is teaming up with Simple Skincare. As an ambassador, I was invited to meet her at an event a couple weeks ago and was really impressed with her story (she has sensitive skin too!) and her healthy attitude towards her career and life, on and off the field. She truly believes in facial skincare products that make her skincare routine simple. “My philosophy is look good, feel good, play good – and I live by this every day,” she said. “Simple looks at skincare the way that I look at life – the choices I make have an impact on my skin and I am mindful of maintaining a balance.”

In the video above, Hope shares some of her favorite products and what’s new in store for her!

Also, you can also check out Hope’s skincare routine, tips and enter to win a trip to L.A. to meet her via the Hope’s Simple Skincare Escape sweepstakes – just visit escapewithhope.com!

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine stood in front of a rack of Simple Skincare products in Duane Reade, looked at them and then left because she didn’t know what to buy. Later she texted me and said she really wanted to try the line, but didn’t know what worked for her. Of course, I offered up my favorites, but I also realized that what works for my skin doesn’t necessarily work for everyone else.

Luckily, the folks over at Simple Skincare put together a handy new (and free!) Skin Health Consultation quiz to help you figure out exactly what products you need. Though the quiz is short, it’s also very specific and delivers the advice customized to your skin type. Don’t know if you have combination skin? Exactly how sensitive is your skin? Not sure what a T-Zone is? No worries- the quiz doesn’t throw around any beauty lingo- it just asks you the basics like “Is your forehead oily?” The one question that did get me- “How many glasses of water do you drink per day?” I’m ashamed to state the answer! (more…)

I pare this down for the office…

Some people have shoe drawers, some have food drawers, but I have a beauty drawer at the office. The truth of the matter is, I know when I’m settling into a new workplace once my beauty drawer is fully stocked with all the goodies to keep me glowing during the day and ready to take me from work to evening.

So what are the essential beauty products to keep at the office?  I pare them down to the basic necessities- read on to find out! (more…)

My grandmother, who is 86, and has enjoyed a life of soft and smooth skin let me in on a secret once while I was battling all kinds of skin problems.  Her secret was to shelve all the irritating scrubs, masques and treatments I was layering on my skin.  Her whole life, she said, she only used 1 product on her face- a gentle soap and water. Well, I don’t think I could survive on just soap (I mean my skin does need moisturizer every day), but I took the spirit of her advice to heart: only to use the bare essentials and to let your skin breathe. This is particularly important if you have sensitive skin, since the more products you layer on, the more likely it is that something will end up irritating it.

We already discussed in a previous post, that sensitive skin can be triggered or worsened by using products with added irritants such as fragrance and dyes. Makeup can also be cause for potential sensitive skin flare-ups, since it masks skin. But even if you’re steering clear of those ingredients and using makeup that doesn’t irritate your skin, it’s still good to keep your skincare routine Simple.

So what are the must haves? (more…)

There’s something about March that seems to make me extra tired.  Maybe it’s because the weather changes day-to-day, causing me to feel extra blah on gray days.  Maybe it’s because it’s cold and rainy and I’m so antsy for spring. Maybe it’s because I have extra sensitive skin in between seasons. Or maybe it’s just because it’s always one of the busiest times at work.  Oh yeah, and Daylight Savings doesn’t help either. All I’m saying is, March is tough and I’m always looking for some extra help in the energy department.

The folks over at  Simple Skincare asked me to share some of my favorite pick-me-up tips.  Let me know if you use the same tactics and what some of your tips are! (more…)