Best Healthy Products for Your Skin Type

Oily Skin

People with oily skin, should be looking for light-weight, gel-based products that are oil-free.  Labels like "mattifying," "for blemish-prone skin," or "pore minimizing" are good for oily skin.  Try this healthy oily skin regiment with some of my favorite products:

• Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser ($8 in drugstores) features natural
  
  willowbark salicylic acid to fight blemishes.  And Neutrogena is a very affordable brand that can be found at most drug/grocery stores.
• Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Face Tonic ($30 on skinstore.com) is a cooling toner that will help remove excess oil and dirt that your cleanser left behind.
• AHAVA Purifying Mud Mask ($31 at Ulta) uses natural mud to draws out impurities from your complexion, leaving your pores squeaky clean and less acne-prone.
• Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum ($29 at Ulta) uses powerful natural ingredients like apples and aloe to calm skin, unclog pores, and even skin tone without overdrying your skin.
• JUARA Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer ($49 on dermstore.com) hydrates, while ginger helps purify pores and reduce shine.

Daytime

• Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA++ ($40 at Sephora)
• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - Light ($36 at Sephora)

Combination

Most people classify their skin as combination.  It's tricky balancing the drier areas of the face with the more oily ones.  In general, look for hydrating oil-free products, keeping a good mix of purifying/clarifying (will remove excess oil without overdrying dry areas) and moisturizing products. 

• Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash ($21 at Sephora)
  is the perfect product for combination skin.  It delicately balances the dry and oil areas of your face.
• NUDE Skincare Purify Toning Water ($26 at Sephora) removes impurities from the skin, purifies pores, soothes skin, and refines pores.
• Boscia Luminizing Black Mask ($34 at Sephora) is like a giant pore strip for your face that detoxifies oily areas, softens dry areas, and brightens the entire face.
• Philosophy Total Matteness Oil-Free Mattifying Pore Eraser ($40 at Sephora) improves skin appearance by minimizing pores.  It also helps control oil production, while leaving skin feeling soft.
• Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer ($27 at Sephora) is one of the brand's bestsellers.  It's a light-weight, oil-free, fast absorbing formula that has ginseng, a powerful antioxidant, as well as coffee beans to wake up your complexion.

Daytime

• Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 ($36 at Sephora)
• Alison Raffaele Face Forward Primer in Acne Response ($46 on beauty.com)

Normal

Since oil and dryness aren't a concern for people with normal skin, look for products that are balancing to maintain healthy levels of sebum, hydration, and nutrients.  Opt for products that will help boost radiance and aid with natural processes like cell repair.

• Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Cleansing Foam ($28 at Ulta) brightens and deep cleans pores without stripping skin of necessary oils.
  
• Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist ($34 at Sephora) simultaneously cleans and refines pores, while softening and hydrating skin.
• REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask ($55 at Whole Body)
  attacks aging, blemishes, and an uneven skin tone to reveal smoother, more radiant skin.
• Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate ($46 in department stores) is a blend of natural oils and Kiehl's technology.  It helps regenerate and repair skin when you're sleeping as well as replenish nutrients.
• Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation ($40 at Sephora) is a light moisturizer that uses Actiwhite and vitamin C to exfoliate, even complexion, and smooth as you sleep.

Daytime

• bareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30 at Sephora)
• Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer ($29 at Sephora)

Dry

If you have dry skin, steer clear of oil-free products.  Also, many sensitive skin and mature skin products are gentle and suitable for dry skin too.  Look for thicker, creamy consistencies, moisture trapping ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter, as well as skin-soothing ingredients such as vitamin E and fatty acids.

• REN Hydra-Calming Cleansing Milk ($28 at Whole Body) is a silky face cleanser that is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin and leaves your face feeling both clean and hydrated.
  
• Caudalie Moisturizing Toner ($28 at Sephora) has a serum-like feel that tightens pores and leaves skin soft to the touch.
• Manuka Doctor Apinourish Rejuvenating Face Mask ($85 at Sephora) penetrates deep into skin to bring moisture to the inner layers of the skin.  This product uses manuka honey, bee venom, and royal jelly, some of the most nourishing anti-aging ingredients in skincare.
• Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum ($48 at Sephora) is formulated with organic grape water to restore hydration deep into skin allowing it to feel soft and supple.
• Dior Hydra Life Pro-Youth Protective Creme SPF 15 ($56 at Sephora) creates a barrier that traps moisture in skin and protects against environmental stressors.

Daytime

• bareMinerals Purely Nourishing Cream - Dry Skin ($28 at Sephora)
• Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Face Primer ($34 at Sephora)

**All product recommendations are toxin-free :)

What Does My Beauty Routine Look Like?

My birthday is right around the corner.  Like a true beauty addict, I can't help but think about my beauty routine as a 21-year-old, as I reflect back through the past year.  I figured I would share my daily beauty routine and the products that I use with you.

[Disclaimer:  don't be alarmed by how many products I use on a daily basis]


Morning Skincare:

• AHAVA Purifying Mud Soap ($10 at Ulta) as a gentle face cleanser.
• Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminee Anti-Wrinkle Serum ($62 at Sephora)
  to fight wrinkles and provide an antioxidant protection shield against free radicals and pollutants as I go through the day.
• Ole Henriksen Total Truth Vitamin C Eye Creme SPF 15 ($45 at Sephora) It's one of the very few natural eye creams that I can find with SPF, and it happens to feel really nice :)
• Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer SPF 15 Sensitive Skin ($9 at Ulta)

Makeup

• Smashbox Primer Photo Finish Lid Primer ($20 at Sephora)

• Almay Intense I-Color Smoky-I Kit for Brown Eyes ($7 at Ulta)
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Liner in Chocolate Shimmer ($23 at department stores)
• Eylure Naturalites Voluminous Eyelashes 020 ($6 in drugstores)
• Too Faced Liquif-Eye Eyeliner ($18 on toofaced.com) as an extra clear seal over eyeliner to ensure that it doesn't budge all day long.
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes ($19 at Sephora) on the bottom lashes (the falsies go on the top)
• Bobbi Brown Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($44 in department stores)
• Alison Raffaele Face Forward Primer SPF 15 - Acne Response ($46 on dermstore.com)
• Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup ($14 at Ulta)
• Alison Raffaele Incandescent Luminizer in Yellow ($28 on beauty.com) as an under eye concealer. The lighter color helps mask dark circles and highlight eye makeup.
• Alison Raffaele True Concealer ($25 on dermstore.com)

• Bobbi Brown Blush in Sand Pink ($26 in department stores)
• Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder in Warm Natural ($37 in department stores)
• Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish Powder ($28 on beauty.com)
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Rose Petal ($25 in department store) lipsticks often look more natural than lip glosses for everyday wear since they aren't as shiny.
• Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($29 at Sephora) to solidify your makeup on your face for the rest of the day.

Shower

• Jason Pure Natural Body Wash in Invigorating Rosewater ($12 on drugstore.com)
• Lily of the Desert Aloe Gelly ($10 at Whole Body)  is more natural and light-weight than a regular lotion and keeps skin soft and supple enough.  Afterwards, I also like to nourish skin by spritzing with:
• Solar Recover Save Your Skin Spray ($12 at Whole Body)
• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($9 at drugstores) on my hands and feet right before I sleep followed by covering my feet with:
• Yu-Be Heel & Elbow Moisturizing Socks ($13 on beauty.com) when I sleep.

Evening Skincare

• Bertolli Classic Olive Oil ($10 at grocery stores) as a makeup remover because it's more natural and better for your skin than baby oil
• JUARA Rice Facial Scrub ($29 on skinstore.com)
• JUARA Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner ($29 on dermstore.com)
• Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream ($44 at Sephora)
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum ($79 at Sephora)
• Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil ($46 at Ulta) as a brightening vitamin C moisturizer in the fall/winter or Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil ($48 at Sephora) as a vitamin E moisturizer to help fight against sun damage in the spring/summer.  The have vitamins that are more potent than those found in creams.
• EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere in Sweet Mint ($3 at Target)
• JUARA Rose & Willowbark Blemish Free Mask ($35 on skinstore.com) as a spot treatment for zits, white heads, and black heads (it works just as well as toothpaste doesn't leave skin red and over-dried)

Weekly Rituals 

• On Sunday nights, I give myself a face some extra attention to brighten up for the week ahead.  I wash my face with my Clarisonic Mia in Pink ($125 at Ulta) and use a JUARA Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask ($35 on skinstore.com) before applying my serums and moisturizers.  I also give the rest of my body some extra attention by swapping my aloe and essential oil spray for something more intensively hydrating, the Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime ($7.50 at Ulta).  

My Favorite Things 2013

Hope everyone had a wonderful 2013!  It was certainly a great year for the beauty industry.  Some really innovative cosmetics launched in 2013.  Here are some of my some of my favorite hot and healthy new products from this year:

1.  DERMAdoctor DD Cream 15-Benefits-In-1 Dermatologically Defining BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($38 at Sephora)  
DD creams have been getting more and more beauty buzz everyday.  If you were impressed by the multi-tasking abilities of BB and CC creams, you'll love DD creams.  They combine the best of both worlds...the anti-aging qualities of BB creams with the color correction of CC creams.  And of course, they still have the protection, hydration, and coverage of both products.  I think we'll be seeing tons of DD displays at Sephora and Ulta pretty soon, but the first major DD to hit the market is made by DERMAdoctor and launched a few months ago.  It provides good coverage and has mineral-derived SPF (always a plus!). 

2.  Murad Essential-C Sun Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 35 PA+++ ($25 at Sephora)  

The first rule in skincare is sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!  Unlike traditional drugstore sunscreen sticks, the Murad Sun Balm is really light-weight and non-greasy.  It also contains vitamin C, which provides antioxidant protection against the sun and evens skin tone as you're wearing it.  Plus, the vitamin C gives the balm a refreshing citrus smell, rather than the heavy sunscreen smell that you find with a lot of drugstore sunscreen sticks.  For days on the beach, stick to sun products that are lotions with physical sunblocks for optimal protection against the sun.  However, the Murad Sun Balm's convenient size and application makes it great for throwing in your purse...perfect for retouching your sunscreen on a sunny day or applying sunscreen on the go. 

3.  Philosophy Total Matteness Oil-Free Mattefying Pore Eraser ($40 at Sephora)
One way to make skin look firmer and more even is by minimizing pores.  In addition to your toner, the Philosophy Pore Eraser can help!  Natural bamboo extracts help mattify excess oil, and lentil seed extract helps refine pores.  Overall, it's tough to find a good mattifying product that isn't necessarily geared for those with acne, but the Pore Eraser seems to do the trick.  Additionally, this product is unique from other oily-skin treatments because it does not dry out skin and will even leave it soft to the touch.


4.  Ole Henriksen Perfect Truth CC Eye Creme Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($26 at Sephora)
Most CC products available are for your face, but Ole Henriksen makes a CC creme for your eyes too.  Like a typical eye creme, it works to firm, hydrate, brighten, and depuff.  It also contains SPF and pigments to provide coverage around the eye area, making it ideal for day wear.  In fact, every woman should be wearing an eye cream - morning and night - in order to most effectively protect the delicate eye area.  And a little under eye concealer goes a long way, making your entire complexion appear more even, awake, and radiant.  Definitely a daily makeup must!  So, now you can combine applying your eye creme and your under eye concealer into one, easy step.  

5.  Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge ($18 at Sephora) 
It's not only about what cleanser you use to wash your face, but also how you wash your face.  Clarisonic brushes have gotten popular recently, but sometimes they are a little too harsh to use every day.  Instead, try pumping your face wash onto Boscia's new cleansing sponge.  It is super soft and gentle enough to use daily, even around the eye area.  At the same time, it provides very mild exfoliation.  Infused with Japanese konjac root, this sponge will help detoxify, soften, and brighten as it cleanses.  Much more effective than your average drugstore sponge!

Those are some of my favorite things from 2013.  I'm super excited to see the products to come in 2014.  Happy New Year everyone!

Ways You Age

There are tons of environmental factors and behaviors that theoretically can age us.  But which ones really do age us and why?

A few case studies have revealed evidence for several behaviors that are thought to expedite the onset of signs of aging.  Check it out:

Culprit #1:  Not washing your face

Evidence:  A woman didn't wash her face for 30 days (left: before, right: after).  A dermatologist estimated that it aged her skin by about 10 years.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2380419/What-sleeping-make-does-skin-Our-shocking-experiment-exposes-happens.html

Why?  Aside from allowing for skin irritation and acne-forming oil and bacteria to develop on her skin, not washing her makeup off every night definitely contributed to the aging process.  Your skin needs a certain amount of oxygen and moisture to repair and regenerate properly when you sleep, which is tough to do with makeup sitting on your skin.  In addition, pollutants and free radicals in the air get on our skin from simply walking around outside every day.  You need to cleanse your face to not only remove oil, germs, and makeup, but also to remove free radicals, which accelerate the skin aging process.

Solution:  Wash your face each night before you go to bed.  If you have oily/combination skin, try a gel-based cleanser like the Boscia Detoxifying Black Mask ($28 at Sephora).  For normal or dryer skin types, try a creamier formula like the Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus with Antioxidant Complex Moisturizing Cleanser ($22 on amazon.com).


Culprit #2:  Sun Exposure

Evidence:  A 69-year-old man, who spent 28 years as a truck driver, had much more pronounced signs of aging on the left side of his face, which had been exposed to the sun as he was driving, than the right side of this face.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57446898-10391704/trucker-accumulates-skin-damage-on-left-side-of-his-face-after-28-years-on-the-road/ 

Why?  The UV radiation that is emitted from the sun is extremely hot and so powerful that it can penetrate glass (like car windows).  Our bodies in general were not made to be able to tolerate this heat for prolonged periods of time.  For example, in addition to feeling tired or dehydrated, the sun can play a part in the formation of cataracts.  While exposure to short-term, intense sunlight (like at the beach) can burn us, prolonged and consistent exposure to any sunlight can help in the formation of both sunspots and wrinkles.  

Solution:  Wear a heavy, physical sunblock like the Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Sunscreen SPF 40 Face Cream ($28 at Sephora) during your days at the beach.  Don't forget that the sun is out every day, so it's important to apply a moisturizer with SPF like the bareMinerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30 at Sephora) every morning.  And for those times, you end up exposing yourself to more sunlight than you intended (driving on a sunny day), whip the Murad Essential-C Sun Balm Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($25 at Sephora) out of purse and quickly glide the stick formula over your skin. 


Culprit #3:  Not Moisturizing Adequately

Evidence:  A woman's wrinkles diminished and skin tone evened around the eye area after using an eye cream for a few weeks (absolutely no retouching involved!).

Why?  First, your skin needs hydration to retain a natural moisture balance that allows it to appear healthy and undergo processes such as cell regeneration.  So when you moisturize, you are allowing your skin to function at its best.  Moisturizing also makes your skin more supple and elastic, which can make it more resilient to stretching when you rub it, laugh, etc.  Specifically, the skin around the eye area is particularly fragile and thin, so wrinkles can really easily develop there.  Lines around the eye and lip can get further exaggerated as we laugh and smile.  Eye and lip creams, in particular, can provide a better level of hydration and richer nutrients to prevent wrinkles in this area.

Solution:  Moisturize both day and night, so your skin is hydrated 24/7.  While your daily moisturizer should be a little lighter and contain SPF, your evening moisturizer should be a little bit heavier because your skin loses moisture as you sleep.  Additionally, your evening moisturizer should be packed with nutrients to best assist your skin in the rejuvenation process that occurs during your slumber.  For your eye and lip areas, try a more heavy duty product like the Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream ($49 at Sephora). 

Culprit #4:  Smoking

Evidence:  The picture below shows identical twin sisters.  The one of the left is a non-smoker, and the one of the right has been smoking for 29 years.

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/smoking/see-how-smoking-prematurely-ages-your-skin

Why?  As many of us know, smoking is detrimental to your overall health.  The damage that it does to your organs and systems will be reflected in your skin through sagging around the eyes and nose and discoloration of certain areas of the face.  In addition, facial gestures during smoking can lead to wrinkles around the mouth and chin areas faster than you would hope.

Solution:  Stop smoking!


Culprit #5:  Dehydration

Evidence:  A woman, who was drinking less than the recommended water intake, began to drink 3 liters of water per day.  Just 4 weeks later, her skin looked noticeably healthier and more youthful.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2480491/How-drinking-litres-water-day-took-years-face.html

Why?  Afterall, our bodies are composed of about 70% water, which is vital to our functioning.  In terms of skincare, water helps flush out toxins that make us more prone to blemishes.  The natural glow and reduced appearance of wrinkles in the right-hand photo can be explained by the fact that water helps maintain the moisture balance that keeps skin soft, making our skin more supple and elastic.

Solution:  It is recommended that we drink at least 8 cups of water per day.  Many of us don't actually keep track of how much water we're drinking.  So to make sure that you're drinking enough, set aside at least 4 pint-sized water bottles each morning to finish by the end of the day.  


In addition, there are a few correlates with aging that haven't been proved with concrete photos like the ones mentioned above.  However, there are scientific explanations for them. 

Culprit #6:  Poor Diet

Explanation:  Like the rest of your organs, your skin needs vitamins and nutrients.  The foods that are good for your skin are the foods that are good for you in general.  Eating tons of fruits and vegetables will help protect your skin and the rest of your body with antioxidants.  Specifically, foods like oranges that contain vitamin C can promote skin cell turnover, and foods like turmeric, a part of the ginger family, work to brighten your complexion.  Working to incorporate them into your diet as well as into your skincare products can bring on a multi-pronged attacked against aging. 

Solution:  Sometimes, it can be hard or unappealing to eat these foods in place of others or as snacks in addition to regular meals.  The easiest way to work skin-healthy ingredients into your diet is by subtly adding them to your meals.  If you're cooking pasta, simply throw in some extra green veggies, add some turmeric powder to your sauce, or squeeze a citrus fruit into your drink.



Culprit #7:  Lack of Exercise

Explanation:  Mild to moderate aerobic exercise (super rigorous exercise can put a lot of pressure on your skin) can help prevent wrinkle formation by helping maintain a healthy balance of moisture and oil to keep your skin supple and elastic.  It also promotes circulation and stimulates new cell growth, which give your complexion a nice, natural glow.  Sweating while you work out can help flush your skin of toxins...just remember to cleanse afterwards to prevent acne and odor.   

Solution:  Exercise doesn't have to mean buying a gym membership or finding an extra hour in the day to jog.  Simply take the long walking route to work in the morning or swap the elevator for the stairs :)


Culprit #8:  Not Enough Sleep

Explanation:  In general, the PM is a night for your body to regroup and recharge for the next day.  As a part of this process, your skin is regenerating skin and drying to recover from the damage of the day.  If you're not getting efficient and enough sleep, you're denying your skin this opportunity.  

Solution:  It's definitely hard to squeeze more hours of sleep in with our busy schedules.  So, instead try to work on getting quality sleep.  Soothing pre-bed routines such as a taking warm bath, drinking herbal tea, or reading a good book can help calm the mind and prepare your body for optimal sleep mode.  Also, remember to avoid caffeine in the evenings and staring a at computer screen too late at night (the stimulating lights keep you awake).


Lastly, there is one proposed correlation with aging that has received rather mixed results:

Culprit #9:  Pulling

Theory:  Some people speculate that consistent stretching on the skin can promote wrinkles.  For example, we often hear that it is best to sleep on your back with a silk pillowcase to prevent crease lines and tugging that occurs when your face is on a pillow.  There really hasn't been any "evidence" or scientific explanation for this assertion (because it's pretty tough to measure), though many hypothesize that the link exists.  In my opinion, it makes sense that constant pulling can stretch the skin, and it's better to avoid it just in case.

Solution:  Only use gentle, upward motions when massaging your face or applying products.  In addition, use your ring finger to apply cream around delicate areas like the eyes and lips.  Your ring finger gives you the least amount of control, so you exert less pressure on it when you smooth cream into your skin.  As for pillow wrinkles, you can try a silk pillowcase.  The Pond's Institute even recently came out with an Illuminage Skin Rejuvenating Pillowcase with Copper Oxide ($60 at Bergdorf Goodman).  Copper is a mineral that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and is embedded in the fibers of this

pillowcase.  Not to mention that it's super soft too.  If anyone tries it, let me know what you think!



The takeaways?  There are multiple factors that contribute to aging, though we don't necessarily know which ones contribute more.  The best way to prevent wrinkles and sunspots is to approach the aging process holistically, paying extra attention to "proven" causes of aging like sun exposure and proper skincare.  Just remember that fighting aging is about good wrinkle creams AND good general health behaviors.

**All product recommendations are healthy! 

Pumpkins: Why they're great for your skin!

Fall is in full bloom, which means that it's pumpkin time!  From all of the jack-o-lanterns on front porches to pumpkin spiced lattes in coffee shops, there are a ton of pumpkin products around during this time of the year.  Did you know that pumpkins are great for your skin too?  

Here are some of the benefits:

• Antioxidant protection against free radical damage.
• Pumpkin enzymes and acids provide mild exfoliation to soften skin.
• Pumpkin extracts contain vitamin A and C to help promote cell turnover, and boost radiance.
• Pumpkin oils are rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that help calm skin, regulate oil production, and fight blemishes.

...and it does it all naturally!

Luckily, there are a few fabulous healthy, pumpkin skincare products.  Try this autumn-inspired bedtime regiment:

1.  Cleanse with the MyChelle Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser ($18 at Whole Body).  In addition

to pumpkin extract, it has honey enzymes and algae extracts to help detoxify and soften even the most sensitive skin.

2.  Exfoliate with the DermaQuest Mini Pumpkin Peel ($22 on skinmedix.com) with pumpkin puree for mild exfoliation and skin nourishment.

3.  Tone with the Rhonda Allison Pumpkin Rinse ($14 on skincarebyalana.com).  This product uses pumpkin extract in conjunction with other beneficial ingredients like honey extract to help maintain a proper pH balance, moisturize, freshen, and protect the skin.

4.  Treat your skin to the Eminence Pumpkin Latte Hydration Masque ($52 on skin1.com), which is packed with tons of powerful skincare ingredients such as pumpkin puree, aloe, willowbark, green tea, orange pulp, and avocado oil to provide deep hydration as well as nutrients to soothe, condition, repair, and protect.

5.  Brighten your complexion with the Om Aroma & Co. Pumpkin Seed Night Organic Serum ($58 at omaroma.com) to boost radiance by promoting cell regeneration and locking in moisture.  Rose hip oil also works to even out your skin tone and lighten dark spots.

6.  Moisturize with the MyChelle Pumpkin Renew Cream ($27 at Whole Body), formulated with pumpkin seed oil as well as organic shea butter to provide skin-saving nutrients and

long-lasting hydration while still allowing your skin to breathe.


Currently, there aren't many pumpkin-based products on the mass market.  MyChelle is one of the few brands that has a really nice selection of pumpkin products, and I have yet to try one of their products that I didn't like.  Also, unlike some of the other pumpkin brands, which are sold exclusively online,

MyChelle can be conveniently found at Whole Foods.  Just double check that you are buying a product that actually contains pumpkin and isn't simply pumpkin-scented when you're shopping. 

Don't forget that eating pumpkin can be great for your skin too!  Whether you add a scoop of pumpkin puree to your oatmeal in the morning, pick up a pumpkin muffin on your way home from work, or split a slice of pumpkin pie with a friend, your skin will enjoy it as much as your taste buds do.

Are you a part of the BB bandwagon or CC crew?

Beauty for Life wouldn't be a beauty blog without at least 1 post about BB and CC cremes.  So here it is:

If you haven't heard, BB's have been the latest buzz in beauty within the past few years. Although they've been around in Asia for a while, they made it over to the Western world around 2 years ago.  Companies ranging from Palmer's to Chanel have branched out to make these facial products.  Overall, they offer a few more benefits than tinted moisturizers do.  Like tinted moisturizers, BB's and CC's are hydrating and may provide SPF protection. How are they different?  First, BB's and CC's provide a slightly heavier coverage than a tinted moisturizer, which offers a sheerer coverage.  They also combine multiple skincare products - moisturizer (hydrates), primer (protects and smoothes), serum (repairs and protects, foundation (blurs imperfections and evens skin tone) - into one, easy step.  

The amount of coverage as well as the finish (dewy, matte, natural, satin, etc.) will vary based on a brand and/or product.  In addition, both the number and types of skin benefits such as anti-oxidant protection or radiance boosting, which you would get from a serum, will vary by brand and/or product. For example, the REN Satin Perfection BB Cream Sunscreen ($38 at Sephora) has photo-rejuvenation technology to diminish the look of fine lines, while the Dr. Brandt CC Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($39 at Sephora) has brightening ruby crystal complex and vitamin C. 

Then, how are BB's different than CC's?  Essentially, BB or beauty/blemish balm, and CC or complexion correcting creams are very similar.  The only differences are, compared to BB's, the focus of CC's are on color correction for issues like redness or dark spots, meaning that they often have slightly heavier coverage, a lighter feel, and contain more vitamin C than BB's.  On the other hand, BB's have a little bit of a lighter coverage and generally have the advantage when it comes to antioxidants and age-slowing ingredients.

Here are some of my recommendations broken out by skin type.  Just FYI all of these products are toxin-free and are formulated with physical sunblocks.

Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of healthy BB's and CC's on drugstore shelves currently.  The ones that I do really like are the Physicians Formula Super BB All-In-1 Beauty Balm Cream SPF 30 ($15 at Ulta) and the oil-free Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-In-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF 30 ($9 at Ulta).  For a CC cream, try the Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair CC Cream SPF 18 ($16 at Ulta).  

Recently, some new types of CC products have launched on the market:

• Try a BB in powder form with the Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Powder ($14 at Ulta) or in a creamy compact with the Too Faced Air Buffed BB Creme Complete Coverage Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen ($39 at Sephora)

• Try a creamy compact CC with the  Dr. Jart+ CC Essence Balm ($42 at Sephora), Perfekt Skin Protection CC Creme SPF 30 ($42 at Sephora), or the Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact ($60 at Sephora)

In addition, BB/CC's have been branching out to other products besides just creams.  Tarte makes a BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen ($34 at Sephora), and Physicians Formula makes a Super BB All-In-1 Beauty Balm Concealer ($14 at Ulta). One thing to watch out for is the use of the terms, "BB" or "CC."  Usually, when we throw these terms around, they refer to a tinted facial moisturizer product.  However, sometimes these terms are slapped on products to describe their complexion correcting benefits even though they may not actually be providing coverage.  For example, the Ole Henriksen Perfect Truth CC Eye Cream is a sheer cream that simply eliminates dark circles under the eye area.  So make sure the label says pigmented!

I think that BB/CC creams are a must-have for every girl.  Why?  Well, moisturizers with SPF are a must in the mornings.  For those of you, who use foundation on top, a CC will combine the moisture and coverage steps into one.  For those of you, who don't wear facial makeup, replace your regular moisturizer with a BB.  Just make sure that like with all sun protective creams, you apply an adequate amount.  BB/CC's are often healthier for your skin (allow it to breathe and offer protective benefits) and easier to apply (no brush or sponge necessary).  Plus, a hint of color never hurts!  

Personally, I opt for a BB for daily wear and foundation for special occasions because even though BB's offer good coverage, I find that they still don't cover as well as a traditional foundation.  And hey!  I don't forget about tinted moisturizers.  They're great for layering under foundation or as a light-weight moisturizers with sheer coverage on a hot day.

In the end, by merging the worlds of skincare and makeup together, BB/CC's are a part of the recent growing trend of makeup that's good for your skin.  And watch out!  DD's, which stands for dynamic do-all, are coming next with even more benefits in 1 tube.  By combining the anti-oxidant power of BB's and the color correction of CC's and adding even more powerful anti-aging technologies, they bring you the best of both worlds.  Brands like Dermadoctor ($38 at Sephora) and Pur Minerals ($35 at Ulta) already produce a DD cremes.

Are you a BB, CC, or DD kind of gal?