Find the perfect foundation
03 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in Perfect Foundation Tags: Cosmetics, Foundation, Skin
Technological advancement can be beautiful. Science is responsible for a whole new crop of foundations that are formulated to look like your own skin (Try Estee Lauder Minute Makeup Crème Stick Foundation or Clarins Ultra-Satin foundation.) “When you get the shade right, these products can make you look incredible,” says New York City makeup artist Martel Thompson. But the converse is true, too: the wrong shade can make flaws look a lot worse than they actually are. So, how are you supposed to find your perfect foundation? The easiest way is to head to your favorite cosmetics counter and make the salesperson do the work for you. Ask her to apply a few prospective shades to a small section of your face. Then, ask for a small mirror, go outside and examine your skin in daylight. If any of the shades seems to disappear, you’ve found your match. If not, keep trying—your diligence will pay off. – Olivia Vale
Supplementally Speaking
10 Dec 2009 2 Comments
in High Diet, Stronger Hair Growth, More Vigorous Hair Growth, Bitter Taste, Biologically Active Sulfur, Supportive Substance, Most Abundant Minerals, Strong Bone, Strong Teeth Tags: Skin-care Products, Skin, Blood Vessels, Diet, Hair Care Products, Rich Diet, Raw Foods, Mineral-rich Food, Nutrient-dense Food, Organic Vegetables, organic Juices, Super-food Blends, MSM Supplementation, Hair Growth, Organic Sulfur, Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane (MSM), Water-soluble, Solid Substance, White Substance, Odorless Substance, Active Sulfur, Silica, Abundant Minerals, Cartilage, Muscles, Teeth, Bone, Tissue formation, Silicon-rich diet, Aging skin, Aging Nails, Aging Hair, High-quality, Silicon-rich supplements, Radish, Romaine Lettuce, New Zealand spinach, Burdock Root and Oats, skins of Cucumbers, Bell Pepper, Tomatoes
A proponent of a diet rich in raw foods, Wolfe believes that “our diet must be raw, mineral-rich, and nutrient-dense to achieve the extraordinary result we are seeing.” Wolfe recommends a diet high in seeds, a wide variety of organic vegetables and juices and super-food blends. He also supports MSM supplementation: “The first thing you will notice after taking MSM is that your hair growth will be stronger and more vigorous.”
An organic sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains, MSM, or methyl-sulfonyl-methane, is a water-soluble, solid substance. White and odorless, MSM has a slightly bitter taste and dissolves very easily, releasing bone-, skin- and hair-helping, biologically active sulfur. When MSM was fed to folks who were interested in improved hair health, nearly every participant showed increased hair growth when compared with a group taking a lookalike substance, according to Ronald M. Lawrence, MD, PhD, assistant clinical professor of the UCLA School of Medicine. An additional 30% showed improvement in hair brilliance.
Another supportive substance, silica, is one of the most abundant minerals on earth. In addition to its presence in sand, quartz and granite, the mineral is found in blood vessels, cartilage, muscles, skin and teeth, with the highest concentration found in nails and hair. A precursor to strong bone, teeth and connective tissue formation, a silicon-rich diet can improve the condition of aging skin, nails and hair. Silica is versatile in that it can be utilized both internally and externally, via high-quality, silicon-rich supplements and skin and hair care products. Foods high in silica include radish, romaine lettuce, New Zealand spinach, burdock root and oats, along with the skins of cucumbers, bell peppers and tomatoes. – Susan Weiner
Preventing facial spider veins
01 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
in Broken Capillaries, Cool Face, Daily Sunscreen, Damage Elasticity, Strengthen Blood Vessels, Visible Veins Tags: Blood Vessels, Breakage, Capillaries, Dilated Capillaries, Elasticity, Facial Spider Veins, Hot Beverages, Hot Tubs, Laser, Moisturizer, Saunas, Skin, Spicy Foods, Sunscreen, UV Rays, Veins, Vitamin K, Wrinkles
Q: I tend to get broken capillaries on my face. I know I can get the existing ones zapped with a laser, but how can I prevent them in the first place?
A: there is no guaranteed way to prevent broken capillaries, but NYC-based dermatologist Steven Victor, M.D., passed along these tips for keeping dilated capillaries under control. His Rx: ● Treat your skin gently. Don’t scrub your face, but do apply a sunscreen daily since UV rays can damage elasticity. ● Keep your face cool. (Heat dilates capillaries.) stay away from hot tubs, saunas, spicy foods and hot beverages. ● Go easy with Retin-A and retinols—they may help prevent wrinkles but they also thin the skin, which can result in more visible veins.
A little pampering also may be helpful. Magda Lenski, owner of the Ula Day Spa, in NYC, suggests using a treatment containing vitamin K. vitamin K has been shown to help strengthen blood vessels, which may help minimize breakage. Try a cream such as DDF Vitamin k Cream (at Sephora or call 877-737-4672). Or try Eris Forte Inter Ampoules for Dilated Capillaried, a serum applied under moisturizer (available at Ula Day Spa, 212-343-2376). Whatever vitamin K product you choose, it will do little good unless you follow Dr. Victor’s guidelines as well. – Carol Straley
Steal his stuff
06 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment
in Daily Face Scrub, Dry Skin, Good Grooming, Large Particles Tags: Appeal, Bikini Line, Dace Scrub, Exfoliator, Face Products, Grooming Good, Hardier skin, His Stuff, Manly smell, Particles, Razor, Razor Burn, Sensitive Area, Shave Oil, Shave Soothers, Shaving Cream, Silky Skin, Skin, Smoother Shave, Subtler Scents, Super Moisturizing
It used to be you would use a guy’s product only in a pinch—the manly smell was a dead giveaway. But as subtler scents encourage crossover appeal (women buy about half of Kiehl’s spicy Pour Homme line, for instance), it’s time to give his grooming goods another go.
Scrubs Men have hardier skin, so their exfoliators have larger particles, making their face products (such as Neutrogena Razor Defense Daily Face Scrub) extra effective on you back, elbows and legs.
Shave soothers Men’s shaving cream is supper moisturizing—ideal for preventing razor burn on your dry skin. (Try Fresh Shaving Cream). Filch his shave oil, too. Dab it on your bikini line for a smoother shave in a sensitive area. Silky skin definitely has crossover appeal. –Nina Willdorf
