Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a limited edition skin care set: the new Clarisonic Mia ™ Sonic Skin Cleaning System, Arcona Booster Defense Serum, and Arcona Magic White Ice. To be honest, I have seen the Clarisonic brushes in the past and been afraid to try it because I wasn’t sure if it would be too harsh for my skin. However, after just one use, I immediately fell in love with it. It left my skin feeling clean and smooth.

After cleansing, I applied the Magic White Ice all over my face and the Booster Defense Serum on my neck and around the eyes. Both left my skin feeling hydrated without the greasy stickiness.

If you’re looking for something new to help clear up your skin and hydrate without the heavy moisturizers, then I recommend checking out the Clarisonic and Arcona combination.

This partnership between Clarisonic and Arcona is fabulous and will only be around for a limited time! So be sure to order yours today.

Photo Credit: Beauty.com

Here’s what she had to say:

“I would like to try this because I have acne ridden skin with large pores-most foundations simply peel off my skin after a few hours, sometimes little bits of foundation flake off on to my clothes or the flakes simply sit on my face until I brush them off. I haven’t been able to find a makeup that works and does not have the flaking issue.”

We hope you enjoy your prize!

Photo Credit: Saida Online Magazine

This weekend, I started to look into what is available to begin my battle with the signs of aging. In the skin care aisle at a local grocery store, there were many name brand creams like Olay® and RoC® that claimed to reduce the signs of aging. Though their prices were attractive, they didn’t seem very effective and I was sure the results would not last very long. Then I thought to go down to Sephora. There, I found a much more refined taste of specialty facial creams, but they were also quite expensive. There were so many to choose from too, and many of the creams came in 1 oz. or 2 oz. jars, small amounts that I’m sure I’d go through quickly.

Given that I like to see results right away, I started looking beyond facial creams and into non-surgical facial treatment. Fortunately, there are many facial treatments that do completely eliminate laugh lines, crow’s feet, and even deep wrinkles for older women. Botox® is by far the most popular choice to treat wrinkles; there are also artificial fillers that are used for wrinkles. From what I’ve read, many professional plastic surgeons assure that no matter what you hear about creams that promise to completely erase fine lines and wrinkles, there are no substitutes quite like Botox and injectables. They cost a few hundred dollars but results last several months. Despite the price, I like that I wouldn’t have to apply a cream every night and the results would be immediate and last five to six months.

To get rid of my dull complexion, I’m considering microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. In a microdermabrasion, the top layer of the skin is removed by a special exfoliate, revealing newer and fresher skin underneath. Microdermabrasion is usually over a hundred dollars and results typically last a few months. Chemical peels are another great way to rejuvenate the skin. For a more youthful look, a special combination solution of skin safe acid is used to remove the outermost, most damaged layer of skin, revealing a more even skin tone. These usually rub between $200 and $300; results for a microdermabrasion, while depending on the type of acid used, chemical peel results can last from a few months to over 20 years.

If I make a few adjustments in my budget now, hopefully sometime before summer I can have at least one facial treatment done. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to follow my favorite budget beauty tips and of course, daily basic skin care. Come summertime, I’ll be sure to wear sunglasses everyday. Not only do sunglasses protect the sensitive area around the eyes, which is often the first place on the face to show signs of aging, but they’re also a great fashion statement.

I am just beginning my battle with the signs of aging. Before I choose a facial treatment, what do you recommend? Have you ever considered any non-surgical facial treatments, or do you know anyone who has?

Photo Credit: Elle Magazine and Modern Mom

Hi Elana,

I wanted to add a little spice to my wardrobe. My clothes are mostly black, white, and gray; I think it is just easy and those colors go with everything. Lately, I have been wanting to get experimental with colors, but unfortunately I don’t want to buy an entire new wardrobe. How can I gradually add more colors to my usual black, white, and gray outfits?

~YuckNotYou

A: [I love your e-mail “yucknotyou.” What is your name?]

I think “gradually” is the key word here. Do you have a pair of earrings or a necklace with some nice color? What about a pink scarf? The good news is that your wardrobe consists of the most basic shades, which means that you can work in any color, and it will work. If you are not yet comfortable wearing pieces, such as a royal blue top or a red flannel top – no worries! For many people, it takes time becoming accustomed to wearing color. So in order for you to keep your head high and maintain a strong level of confidence, I suggest that it would be best for you to start with accessories, be it scarves, headbands, jewelry, belts, brooches, etc. Camisoles with either a bright or soft hue, which can be worn underneath a sheer shirt or in layering with a shorter shirt, offers a subtle pop of color as well. You can get nearly everything I have mentioned (including the camis) for under $10 at Forever 21.

With your love for grays and black, there are other basic shades that you may feel comfortable with. Navy, chocolate brown, beige, and olive green may give you a nice transition into other darker hues that still bring color to your wardrobe. Target is my favorite place to go in search of jackets, blouses, and slacks in such colors. Go to the sales racks, and you are likely to find quality pieces for under 20 bucks.

I would also suggest browsing through fashion magazines to see how the pros do it. Lucky Magazine is a great resource to subscribe to. It even includes “yes,” “no,” and “maybe” stickers that you can post next to the items!

But ultimately, “yucknotyou,” be proud of your signature style, because black, white, and gray are classic and never go out of style.

~Elana

Q: What is the best foundation for someone with sensitive skin?
When I use eye shadow, my eyes sting throughout the day. Is there a gentle eye shadow product that will work for me? What about a mineral makeup?

A: When dealing with sensitive skin, it is always best to consult with a dermatologist or professional makeup artist to find products that will work best for you. However, in regards to your question about mineral makeup and sensitive skin; many mineral makeup products are great for sensitive skin, because they are mainly made of natural ingredients.  Also, try products that are hypoallergenic. Bare Minerals is a great mineral makeup line and Almay has many hypoallergenic products.

~Dre

Have a question for one of our Beauty Chatters? Head over to our About page to contact us directly.

Photo Credit: Photobucket and Pure Mineral Makeup Kit

When I got the opportunity to try out Luxtural’s three-step program- mystique foundation (facial deep hydrating rainy mist), sophisticated veil (facial anti-aging deep moisturizing serum), and silk premonition (facial deep moisturizing anti-aging lotion); I was definitely up for the challenge, considering the products were hypoallergenic and natural.

Going forth with a positive attitude, to my dismay, my skin started to get dry within two days of trying the product. I decided to ignore the red rash on my cheeks and continue using it; still keeping my positive attitude intact. Four days into use, the redness started getting worse- my cheeks itched and looked like I was constantly blushing.

At that point, I gave up. In light of my situation, I did like the mystique foundation; my face felt cool and refreshed when applying the mist. The best part is that the mist can be applied over make-up; however, I could not continue use of any of the products.

Even though Luxtural didn’t give me the results I wanted, I needed a second opinion considering it had nothing to do with the product, just my skin condition. My fellow Beauty Chatter, Elana, decided to give Luxtural a shot.

Here is what she had to say:

“My skin is normal-to-oily, rarely reacting negatively with new skincare — this is true when I started using Luxtural. Versus trying the collection by itself, I did mix it up with my other lines. I liked the idea of easing new products into my regimen. So far, it’s refreshing and didn’t leave my skin overly dry, which is great for nighttime use. I hate going to sleep with dried-out skin! Plus, the cute tubes are perfect amongst my plethora of products.”

I think that our two different experiences with this product show that there is not one skin care line that will work for everyone.

To learn more about Luxtural products, feel free to visit their Web site.

Photo Credit: Chic Today and Luxtural.com

If you’re looking for a little help in figuring out what actually works, take a look at my review on the new book by Daniel Yarosh, Ph.D., The Science of Perfect Skin – Understanding Skin-Care Myths and Miracles for Radiant Skin at Any Age. Now you can learn how to read a product label and the type of skin care regimen that actually works for you!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rpr Marketing Communications

As I typically do where trends are concerned, I came a little late to the mineral pigments party. My foray into this brave, not-so-new world was long overdue – so recently, I opted to finally give pigments a try. Skin care obsessive that I am, I already knew that ColoreScience, which is popular with dermatologists and plastic surgeons because of the company’s focus on skin protection, was the right brand to start out with.

 I picked up the ColoreScience Skin Perfecting Kit, which contains their Line Tamer (a really good nighttime skin care product), Corrector Kit, “Sunforgettable” loose translucent powder, and a calming aromatherapy gem spritzer. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Um, ok…where’s the mineral pigment?” Read on, my lovelies…this is the important part!

 The ColoreScience Pressed Mineral Pigment Compact, (sold separately), is available in three shades, designed for great coverage, and provides lasting sun protection. Does it contain sunscreen? Not in the sense that their other products do; rather than an actual SPF, the pressed pigment compact is made up of minerals like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. In addition, it has Vitamins A and E…anyone remember what they do for our skin? Plus, it’s naturally-scented with rose geranium, lavender, and sandalwood.

Now, for novices like me, a word to the wise: I’ve found that this product blends more smoothly, and appears far more attractive, if it’s applied to moisturized skin. So, if you happen to purchase the Line Tamer, dab some on about 10 minutes before applying the pigment (or just use your favorite moisturizer). Oh, and the aforementioned Corrector Kit? It’s a little palette that contains multiple pigment colors, so you can blend the shades you need to achieve optimal pigment correction (this is great if you have recently undergone facial rejuvenation).

To order ColoreScience products, check out www.colorescience.com or search for an online retailer who carries their line.

Photo credit: Beauty and Fashion Tech

• Vitamin C Day Treatment
• Vitamin C Night Treatment
• Vitamin C Body Lotion

We then asked her to provide us with a product review. Here is what Regina had to say:

“I am so excited to submit my review for Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C products.  I used the products for two weeks and I could “C” a difference.  The day cream is light enough that I could use it under my makeup.   I tend to be oily in the T-Zone, but the night cream is not too heavy even for me!  I also liked the pump bottles, I hate to stick my hands in jars of cream.  I must also mention that the bright yellow bottles look very pretty on my vanity (this is important also!). 
 
My favorite product of the three I reviewed is the body lotion.  The light citrus scent was very pleasant and not overpowering.  It is a rich cream but absorbs easily and left my skin feeling heavenly and left me feeling pampered.  I will definitely be buying another Vitamin C body lotion!
 
Although results were not dramatic during the two week trial period, I could see and feel a difference in my face and body and hope that with continued use I will see the results of using Vitamin C products years down the road.”

Thanks Regina! We are happy you enjoyed this giveaway.

Photo creadit: Elizabeth Grant

My latest skin care choice has been DDF (Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula) Protect and Correct. It’s a UV moisturizer with SPF 15 that’s ideal for keeping skin healthy and beautiful. Not only does this UV moisturizer work to protect the skin, it is also designed to minimize existing sun damage. In fact, since the line was developed by a dermatologist, it is designed to “deliver effective results backed by professional knowledge.”

Upon opening the box and removing the Protect and Correct, I was pleased with the sleek silver bottle, amused that the lotion had an iridescent shine, happy that the scent was mild, and thrilled that the product shielded me from the sun’s rays.

I wore this stuff at Calico a month ago in the scorching heat and didn’t even turn the lightest shade of pink. I did; however, get a little burnt when I recently went to the beach. BUT, I only applied Protect and Correct once and was in the sun for several hours without reapplying. That’s user error, not the product’s fault.

Protect and Correct is priced pretty steeply at $58 a bottle, but it seems to work and there is free shipping on all orders. Head over to the DDF Web site for more information.

Photo credits: DDF.com and my camera

I know it is “darkest before the dawn,” but I hate that when I try to adopt a skin care routine, the problem increases. Honestly, it makes me want to avoid washing my face altogether. To tell you the truth, I usually just remove my makeup and call it a night.

BUT, as a beauty editor, I am constantly receiving and trying out new products. Most of the time I do so apprehensively because I know that these tests will result in breakouts. However, I feel it my duty to give a fair review of the item in question so that readers can forgo buying products that don’t live up to their promises.

The latest skin care regimen? PCA Skin. The company has a pretty impressive resume. Their site claims that they have been the leaders in clinical skin care for over 20 years, and they are accredited as the originator of advanced blended chemical peel formulations.

So in other words, they know their stuff.

Despite PCA’s impressive list of accomplishments, I still felt overwhelmed as soon as I received these products. You see, each morning and night there are a series of washes and creams to apply to the face. Multiple steps + laziness= intimidation!

I literally had to force myself to take the time to use this routine. And I’m not even sure that I needed to use all the steps, but I did. As expected, the acne began to appear. Yuck! I will say though, the acne gel did do a pretty good job of reducing the unsightly bumps. But I think I prefer no washing and no pimples, rather than washing, pimples, then improvement with gel.

Maybe it just boils down to my face being too acne prone for this system. Perhaps, I needed to have tested PCA’s acne care specifically. It may very well be better suited for someone with more normal skin.  In fact, this is probably the smart, correct way to achieve healthy skin.

Now that the two weeks of testing PCA Skin are over (that’s the amount of time Beauty Chatters take to review skin care products), I am face wash free again. I know it’s bad, I just prefer skipping the whole getting-worse-before-getting-better stage.

Please tell me I’m not alone in my skin care—sorry, lack of skincare—routine! Do any of you approach washing and caring for your face the same as I do?

Photo credits: Cool Beauty Tips and PCA Skin