Beauty Brainstorm Blog

Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

 Taking care of your skin should be a top priority, since it’s the first thing people see, however only a percentage of the population actually research and know how to properly take care of their skin. Even some of those people who know how to take care of their skin don’t follow the proper steps to ensuring their skin looks its best.

Step 1:
Wash your face twice a day with three in one  gentle facial cleanser.  This cleanser should be one that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes all in one. A gentle facial cleanser that does all threeof these processes at one time, helps to keep skin looing more vibrant on a daily basis.

Step 2:
If you have acne, apply an acne fighting toner  to your skin with a q-tip to your blemishes. An acne fighting toner helps to further balance the PH in the skin.

Step 3:
Apply an oil free moisturizer with sunscreen for daily wear to prevent sun damage to your skin. The sun can damage your skin, just by getting in and out of your car through the day. You do not have to be attempting to get a tan to get skin damage, which is why it is important to wear an additional oil free moisturizer with sunscreen throughout the day.

At night an additional oil free moisturizer should be applied to your face, to help restore and heal any damage your skin has incurred throughout the day. 

Step 4:
Apply a face moisturizing lotion  twice a day to keep your skin from drying out.

If your skin dries it out during the winter winds, you should apply a special moisturizing facial mask  to restore your skin.

Using a microdermabrasion peel for your face is also a great way to keep your skin healthy. This kind of peel can be used twice a week to deeply cleanse your pores of bacteria.

Properly cleansing your face and using the right products at the right time, in the right manner will help to keep your skin looking healthy all year long. Your face is how people remember you; special attention should be done to take care of your skin, since it is the first thing people see. Have a beauty consultant to help you keep your skin healthy and balanced is a great way to ensure you look your best all year long.

Looking for tips to better take care of your skin, leaving it healthier than before? Follow the tips provided below and you will be sure to have healthier, better looking skin.

1. Dry hands this winter? Try swapping out ordinary hand lotion for a formula with SPF.  The sun’s UVA light prevents production of moisturizers in skin and is present 365 day/year; therefore the need to add a SPF to your lotion could prevent drying out of the skin.
2. Combat wrinkles with red colored fruit! Studies show that the anti-oxidants in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates block an enzyme that breaks down collagen, which leads to wrinkles.
3. Keep teeth white by drinking morning orange juice through a straw – a recent study shows that OJ softens tooth enamel which may make your teeth more susceptible to discoloration; you can rinse after, with a drink of water.
4. Make your joints strong with sesame seeds – 2 tablespoons supply more than 80% of your daily intake of copper, which is an anti-inflammatory that may ease arthritis pain.
5. Fight sun damage on your skin – take 2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds and supply yourself with 40% of RDA of Vitamin E, a known anti-oxidant that fights sun damage
6. Enhance a healthy heart with flaxseed – 2 tablespoons in your cereal is rich in alpha-linolenic acid that helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
7. Speaking of hearts – don’t overeat, this is the #1 thing you can do for your heart.  Studies show that we tend to eat almost 40% more in a group than by yourself. So be careful at the parties this season.
8. Look younger this coming year – In addition to using moisturizers to keep your skin young, blow dry hair smooth, get a manicure, and don’t forget the eye brows, shape them, it will make your eyes, pop.
9. Keep your skin young – start exercising, it gets the blood pumping which brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
10.  Do you have acne – not only should you use a great acne skin care product  but don’t forget to use moisturizer. If you are using prescription based acne medicine, they can dry your skin out, which may trigger inflammation.
11.  Hide lines with a facial highlighting pen – These amazing innovations contain light reflecting particles that optically smooth wrinkles.
12.  Use concealer to give skin a smooth youthful look – Why let age and nature own you, take charge and use an appropriate foundation to add the youthful look to your face.

Don’t you just love the Holidays?  Family, Friends and rich food.  During the Holidays most of us tend to overeat and drink which can lead to changes in our skin.  If you have dark circles under your eyes; overeating rich foods and drinking can aggravate them more.  Drinking more water will help flush the toxins out of your body and ultimately will make the look of your skin improve. 

Skin care is one of the most important things to remember at this time of the year, along with your health; but they both seem to be forgotten as the season moves on.  (If you really love the sweets and treats the holiday brings, look into healthy chocolate .  This chocolate is filled with Antioxidants that are important for your overall body, mind and great for the soul)!

If you would like to heal damaged and tired looking skin, then try Serum+C  from Mary Kay,  a new skin care product that was made to heal damaged and tired looking skin. It is made with 5 of the highest levels of Vitamin C from all over the world, Vitamin C aids in rejuvenating and reviving skin, making you look and feel better. All of our faces are exposed to bad air throughout the day, a reason we need a skin care product that helps to remove the bad particles from our faces, like a gentle facial cleanser. 

Applying healing skin care products to revitalize the damaged portions of your face will make people wonder how we keep our skin looking so healthy. An oil free facial moisturizer is also a key component to skin’s vitality

More goes into taking care of your skin, then just washing it once or twice a day. Lotions and serums should become a part of our daily defense, as well as preventive preparation for the Holiday fun. Try it, your skin will love you for it!

November is here and so is the time that our temperature typically begins changing as well.  Colder weather and stronger winds can leave your skin feeling dry and scaly during these winter months. Keeping your skin protected from this type of damage is important to the vitality of your skin for years to come.

The skin care products you use during this time could mean the survival of the flesh over the next few months. According to Dr. Oz, soaps can take off the protective layer of oil from your skin, which can leave your skin chapped and itchy. Dr. Oz suggests using an oil on your skin first, then a deep scrub to cleanse the skin, after deep cleansing your pores, it is wise to add another layer of a face moisturizing lotion  to restore the essential protective layer of your skin.

When you follow these steps it will help to protect your skin from wind damage and the cold. There are several facial scrubs  that can help keep your skin glowing.  Facial scrubs are good to use once or twice a week depending on your type of skin to deeply cleanse your face.  Just remember to always follow up with an extra hydration .

Do you like Oysters?  Vitamin D and Zinc are found in oysters and it has been proven that together this vitamin and mineral combination can keep your skin healthy during dry weather!

We have all heard of eating healthy for a healthy life.  Eat low fat foods, all natural, not processed; eat in moderation; stay away from Trans fat, sugars and fried foods.  But did you know that certain types of foods can complement a skincare program?  They can, according to Fitness Magazine ;

• Pomegranates – Soft skin is good skin.  This fruit is packed with Vitamin C, a key ingredient that guards against the wrinkling effects of sun damage.  The juice in these seeds contains two compounds that fight sun damage.  The first fights free radicals and the second can increase your body’s capacity to preserve collagen, which is the sub-dermal connective tissues that makes skin look smooth and plump. 
• Blueberries – Smooth those fine lines with this awesome fruit that contains more anti-oxidants than almost any other food.  These anti-oxidants result in extra protection against skin damaging free radicals that can come from the sun, stress or over-exercise (running). 
• Kale and Spinach – Firm your skin  with Spinach and Kale.  Spinach is loaded with beta-carotene and lutein, two nutrients that have been shown to improve skin elasticity.  Kale and Spinach both have powerful anti-oxidants that help guard against damage by the sun. 
• Cold Water Fish – Want to reduce redness in the skin?  Sardines, Salmon and Mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids which help keep moisture in the skin.
• Green Tea – In addition to using Timewise Age Fighting Skin Care Products ; drinking green tea can help reduce those annoying brown spots. 
• Olive Oil – Want a healthy glow?  Olive Oil contains the “good fats” of omega-3’s, which can improve circulation, leaving skin rosy and supple.

 You can get all of this from JuicePlus  and from Mary Kay’s Timewise Replensing Serum+c

Be smart, eat healthy, use a quality skincare products,  add in some of the key foods above and enjoy life “out loud”.

Well we are well into the second week of October and on a lot of school teachers minds are, what can my students use to raise funds for their school during the Holiday season this year?

The average fundraising opportunities continue to stay the same year after year; students are selling cookie dough, wrapping paper and gifts people can order out of magazines. But there is a fundraising opportunity many schools may not know about or haven’t tapped into yet. Schools can take advantage of a fundraising opportunity using skin care through Mary Kay with Meridee Cole.

How Does This Work?

Students will receive a Mary Kay catalogue with all the skin care products including age fighting face wash, moisturizer and skin repairs. Makeup products like cover up, eye shadow, mascara and blush. Women’s beauty products like Satin Hands, perfume, and revitalizing body care products. Featured men’s skin care products have  cologne, shaving cream and body wash. 

The simplicity is that anyone who wants to support the fundraiser, simply goes online to www.marykay.com/merideecole and places the order from there.  All they need to do is to enter in the organizations name in the comments section.  There is no inventory to handle; no money to turn in, no deliveries to be done; Meridee does it all.  A check for 20% of the purchases goes back to organization.  It couldn’t be easier!

Fundraising with skin care is fun, helpful to the school and also helps to improve people’s life. Contact Meridee to set up a fundraising opportunity with skin care.

Premature aging, a hot topic in the world of beauty right now! No one wants to age quicker than they should, but what most individuals don’t know is how to stop that premature aging. There are many things that can aid in stopping premature aging beginning with making healthy decisions from an early age, to taking care of your skin on a daily basis.

Ways to manage the aging process:

• Exercise Regularly
• Eat Healthy
• Avoid Stress & Practice Balance
• Avoid excessive sunlight
• Use quality skin care products

Did you know that many household items also contribute to premature aging?  According to Dr. Oz  there are many products in our closets and cupboards that contribute to aging and can shave years of our lives.  For example:

High Fructose Corn Syrup– this is a type of sugar that has been processed and combined with corn syrup, produces a cheap and easily dissolving sweetener.  The downside is that this same sweetener is also absorbed quickly by the liver, where it is converted into fat.   Combine that with the brain that doesn’t recognize high fructose corn syrup as food, and it never shuts off the appetite center….so you stay hungry, and eat more. Your blood sugar rises, insulin is recruited to help metabolize it and then you crash.. and then you are hungry again!  This is found in soft drinks, fruit juices, salad dressings and baked goods.  Read the labels. 

Chlorine Bleach – Household bleach contains a chemical called sodium hypo chloride and is used to whiten clothes and kill germs.  However, it evaporates quickly and infiltrates your nose, eyes, throat, skin and lungs.  This invasion leads to a deterioration in cells in those areas and hastens aging.  A good alternative, according to Dr. Oz is baking soda; white vinegar or alcohol and peroxide based products.

Trans Fats – This is a type of unsaturated fat that is made saturated during the manufacturing process that adds a molecule of hydrogen.  The raise in hydrogen oils raise bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol.  The result is that this can cause a host of cardiovascular diseases.  Look in your cupboard and remove anything that has hydrogenated oil on the label.

Be careful of the household products you use in your home, take good care of your body inside and out by eating healthy and using quality skincare products and don’t forget the basics listed above and enjoy a healthy fruitful abundant life!

Dangerous Make-up   – volume 2

In volume 1 of this two part Dangerous Make-up series we talked about what bad bacteria in make-up could do to your skin. Now, I want to take you a little deeper into the realm of dangerous make-up and focus mainly on what you put on your eyes and the bad habits you may have created every night before you go to bed.

Mascara and eye make-up are great things! The right eye make-up combination can really make your eyes pop. And mascara, forget it nothing else can compare when it comes to making your lashes look long and lustrious!

But did you know, that combination that makes your eyes so beautiful through the day, can be very harmful to your eyes and skin at night? So harmful that the habits you have created at bedtime could be causing your skin to be irritated, or even worse your eyelashes to fall out!

Mascara and eye make-up should not be taken to bed with you. They both should be removed every night with an oil free eye make-up remover.  By not removing your eye make-up, you are encouraging the production of eye mites, which can cause eye lashes to fall out.  These are often called; Demodex mites.  These nasty little buggers can cause a variety of other problems including;

• Widened pores. Usually starts on the nose and cheeks.
• Acne. Forms include pimples, pustules, papules, popular eruption etc.
• Red skin. Usually appears on the lower sides of the nose, forehead and cheeks.
• Itching eye brows.
• Excess of facial oils.
• Demodedic rosacea.
• Swollen nose.

You want an oil free eye make-up remover that gently removes eye makeup, including waterproof mascara, without tugging or pulling the delicate skin in the eye area. It should not leave your skin dry.

When people speak a certain way, they speak with a certain accent, dialect, tone, or attitude, these are not easily changed. The way we speak becomes who we are. Let’s say for instance you want to learn a new language, in order to learn the language, you have to be open to change the way you pronounce your words, say your words and change the instances in which they are used. Rumor has it, if you want to create a habit you need to say something 16 times in a row or do an activity for 16 weeks straight, before it becomes a habit.

To learn a language, one should practice it for that period of time also, which will allow the language to become a part of you. The same is true with the habits you have created including: exercise, eating, and skin care.  All of these should be practiced differently and consistently for change to occur.

Habits that should be positively changed include:

• Habits for buying products -  Are you buying the things you need that help to promote financial success and peace of mind, or only the things you want without putting much thought into it? This habit should be instilled into every child as they grow up.
• Habits for taking care of your skin - Do you have a strategy to take care of your skin to ensure you look the best you can as you age?
• Habits for exercising: Daily exercise helps to create a free and balanced mind, promoting healthy living.
• Habits for healthy eating – do you choose to eat foods that allow you to function at full capacity or only half?
• Habits for how you view your life – when you wake up in the morning do you focus on the negative or the positive?

Living in negativity or positivity is the most important part to leading a healthy life. Take a look at your life, do you see the life around you or the clouds you are in. Are you always looking to escape your life or would you be happy if: fill in the blank; or are you happy as you are and the fill in the blank just enhances that person you are happy with.

My son always had a saying when he played sports….if you look good you play good. Reflecting back on that, I think that while he said it because he wanted a new Under Armour Shirt, it had a deeper meaning for me. 

I love to help people protect their skin and by doing so, their outside looks good.  There are a number of ways to protect your skin: sunscreen, cosmetic products, protective clothing including hats, and tinting your car windows, allows you to enjoy  the morning , afternoon and early evening sun without damaging your skin.

Do you know the proper ways to repair and protect your skin?

Lets talk about sunscreens, there are a ton on the market,  so how do you know if yours is worthy of putting on your skin? 

Here are some tips;

• Is it approved by the Cancer Foundation?
• Does it contain UVA (aging rays) AND UVB (Burning rays) protection?
• Do you wear it everyday at least on your Face….no matter what (not just to the beach/pool)?
• Does it feel greasy…(hint: sunscreen should not feel greasy, it should absorb right into skin)?

Sunscreen should be worn everyday at least on your face to protect against skin cancer, sun spots and wrinkles. Both men and women should wear sunscreen on a daily basis at least on their face, and everyone should put sunscreen on every part of exposed skin, when they know they will be in the sun for long periods of time.