Skin Care

I love getting a little color during the summer months, but tanning beds and laying out for hours on end aren’t ideal. There are so many products and services out there that can provide you with a glowing tan without having to withstand the sun’s harmful rays. I had never tried a self-tanning product before picking up Kate Somerville’s Somer360° Tanning Towelettes, but now I’m totally hooked.

I put the Somer360 Tanning Towelettes to the ultimate test a couple of weeks ago during a weekend trip to Florida for a wedding. My skin was pasty and pale from months of cold Chicago weather, but I applied a towelette before heading out to the pool. Although its scent wasn’t the best, it didn’t last too long, and it was pretty easy to apply. It wasn’t streaky at all and within 2 or 3 hours, I had a healthy glow. I didn’t look like a overly tan Jersey Shore reject and it gave me a natural-looking, medium tan. The only issue I had was a part of my leg where I clearly just missed a spot. (Whoops.)

My new glow lasted about 3 days and looked great! To see for yourself, pick some up at Sephora.

I’ll admit- before I tried the DDF Revolve 400x Micro-polishing System, I was a tad skeptical- but now a few weeks in, I am a true believer. The at home system promises to deliver microdermabrasion in just 2 minutes a week without the harmful side effects of having crystal blasted at and then sucked off your skin.  To be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of micro-dermabrasion for that very reason- my skin is often left very red and raw after the procedure but I always go back to get it because I do love how clear and glowing my face is during the healing process as fresh skin grows in. (more…)

I recently received a bath and body recommendation from a very strange source for a very non-trendy, no frills product. In this specific case, a man. Yes, I am writing about my new favorite body wash, which was introduced to me by my manly friend who has an interest in all-natural bath and body products. Even more surprisingly, this particular product, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castille Soap has been in existence since 1948, has a very unique product history, and literally has 17 uses other than a liquid body wash!

The soap comes in a variety of scents, but I was most intrigued by the almond variety, which smells deliciously like almond extract. This particular product is made completely from free trade ingredients including organic extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil, and vitamin E, and are certified under the USDA Natural Organic Program. Many natural bath products lack the “foaming” quality mainstream products offer, but just a small squirt of this soap on an exfoliating loofah will lathing unlike any other natural bodywash I’ve used. Plus, it doesn’t hurt (but may expand my waistline) that the almond scent has me running to the kitchen baking almond cookies after my showers!

Dr. Bronner’s has a huge selection of bath and body products I’m itching to try, as soon as I go through my stash of existing soaps, lotions, and balms. I purchased my soap from the terrific Whole Foods Body store down the street for $10, but is also available at Vitamin Shoppe and local natural product stores nationwide.

When the weather gets really hot in Los Angeles, I turn into a big, sweaty mess.  I’m definitely not one of those girls who can glide effortlessly through the heat, looking like it doesn’t even bother her. Nope. I’m lucky enough to be the one with her hair stuck to her face and a permanent cold drink in her hand to cool down with.  (Preferably an Ice Blended from The Coffee Bean).  Since I know this about myself, I like to carry around things in my bag that will help with the overheating.

My latest find is Philosophy’s Hope Springs Eternal hydrating mist.  It comes in a portable-sized (5 ounces) spray bottle that you spritz on your face whenever your skin is feeling dry or it seems like you need a little pick me up (which, if you’re like me, is most of the time).  The spray ups your skin’s moisture level due to the over 250 minerals and nutrients in it. (How crazy is that number, by the way?  250!)  It also has a really fresh, revitalizing scent.  I can’t really describe it very well, but to me, it just smells like a spa, but not in a lavender-y, put you to sleep kind of way.  More like in a wake you up and make you able to tackle the day kind of way. It’s basically like spritzing your skin with vitamins several times a day, but vitamins that smell amazing and have the added bonus of cooling you off at the same time.  (In fact, as I’m writing this, it occurs to me that I  could actually keep this spray in the refrigerator during the summer and take it out when I’m on the go for an even colder spritz when the temperature hits triple digits).

Best of all, the spray is only $20 and it’s definitely worth it for a product that makes me feel human again during a long day.  (Or during a heat wave.  Or when I’m working crazy hours.  The list is endless…) Get yours at Sephora.com.

We all want younger looking skin, but how many of us actually know the science behind aging and skin? Although I claim to care about my skin, I have to admit that I definitely don’t keep up with the latest research on skin. When I was sent a copy of the book Your Skin, Younger for review, I almost read the whole thing in one sitting. Written by Drs. Alan C. Logan, Mark G. Rubin, and Phillip M. Levy, experts in naturopathic medicine and dermatology, it’s an easy and interesting read all about what it takes to keep your skin looking young–naturally.

Sun exposure and genetics certainly play a part in the visible signs of aging skin, but so do stress, diet, intestinal function, and even cooking techniques! The book suggests steaming, boiling, stewing, simmering, and poaching your food as much as possible to avoid oxidative stress and collagen destruction. These things can ultimately cause wrinkles, so the authors include recipes that incorporate healthy cooking techniques, as well as healthy skin foods. Who knew that even the color of foods has been proven to affect the aging of your skin? Your meals should always have deeply colored fruits and vegetables.

The part of Your Skin, Younger that is most relevant to my life is about stress. Studies have shown that stress compromises the barrier function of your skin, causing water loss and creating more inflammatory chemicals. In short, stress affects your skin more than you think. The authors provide tons of tips on how to reduce the stress in your life, starting with getting a good night’s beauty rest, which I am certainly taking to heart.

If you want to learn more about natural ways to get younger looking skin, be sure check out Your Skin, Younger, available for $14.95 at Amazon.com.

After a particularly long and stressful few months at work, I knew that my skin needed some serious attention to get it back to looking like its normal self.  I was sort of mulling over my options, trying to figure out what would be the best course of action to give it some TLC, but when I heard that Dermalogica was offering a special Spring Cleaning Treatment, I knew I’d found my answer.

Dermalogica is one of my favorite skin care destinations in Los Angeles.  (You can read about one of my earlier treatments here).  It’s located on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, which is a great street for shopping and lunch (or even just a walk with some people watching thrown in).  Dermalogica has a big, welcoming space there – it’s all open windows and sunshine even when you’re inside, which just makes me happy.  I hadn’t been there in awhile, so I had a few cups of their special brand of tea (it’s so popular that you can even buy some to take home and make yourself!) while I filled out a questionnaire about my skin and the specific concerns I had for it.  As usual, you can pick your own kind of music for the treatment and I went for some acoustic tunes.  (Tori Amos is actually a really relaxing person to listen to while you’re getting a treatment.  Who knew?) (more…)

Recently, I got the chance to have some of the women from Priori come to my office and give the women (and a few of the men!) mini-facials.  It was a really nice break in the middle of a hectic work week (and it made me pretty popular around the office!)  I was also able to get a bunch of their products to test out and while I liked them all, I found a few that are definitely going to be a permanent part of my product rotation from now on.

Priori has several different lines of products, but the one that suits me the most is the CoffeeBerry Natureceuticals.  The line is based around the most potent source of antioxidants that’s found in nature – CoffeeBerry extract.  (I’m going to pretend that this means that all the overpriced caramel lattes I’ve ingested were actually somewhat good for me).  CoffeeBerry extract is actually three times more potent than green tea and it gives you great anti-aging benefits (such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles) so it’s definitely a great choice for those of us who are determined to look young for as long as possible. (more…)

I’m one of those people who hates washing their face out of the shower. Getting water all over the bathroom sink, in my hair, and all over my clothes isn’t particularly appealing, especially at nighttime before heading to bed. After complaining to my mom that I should take better care of my skin at nighttime, she gifted a package of Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes. Problem solved!

I’ve used other face wipes in the past, but never re-buy them because I’m simply not happy with them; sure, they remove makeup and allegedly do all sorts of things to make my skin look and feel better, but more often than not, leave my sensitive face stinging and unhappy. What’s great about the Break Naked Wipes is that they’re gentle. After inspecting the package, I learn they’re fragrance free, toxin free, cruelty free, natural, and biodegradable, which left me wondering “so, what DO they have in them?!” This product is proof that natural ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, argan oil, cucumber, and vitamin E can work wonders in cleaning the skin and removing makeup. Even better, a portion of the sales go towards protecting polar bears, endangered animals whose lives have been dramatically affected by global warming.

Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes are available on the Josie Maran Cosmetics website or at Sephora for $12 (package of 30 wipes).

I’m a total freak about wearing an SPF every day, but I’m also very particular about what I’ll put on my face because a lot of products don’t really agree with the rest of my skin care regime.  I’ve been using La Mer’s SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid for awhile now and I’m totally in love.  You use it over your moisturizer, which I like because it lets me still get the hydration from my favorite moisturizers with the added SPF 30 protection in the morning.  It goes on so silky and smooth and blends right into my skin and it leaves it super soft.  It’s the perfect first step in my morning regime and since it’s La Mer, I’m totally confident that it’s one of the best things I can be doing for my skin.

It’s not cheap, but as far as La Mer goes, I don’t find it very expensive either – the tube is $65 for 1.4 ounces, but a little goes a long way, so it should last you plenty of time to make the purchase well worth it.  And if you haven’t used a La Mer product yet, this is a great one to start with.  Find yours at www.cremedelamer.com.