Recently in Face Category

There are so many home use peels, I've used a lot of them and most have some effectiveness but I really have not noticed much differences among them. Until I tried the MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Peel. This is the first acid peel that has a 2 step process, first the acid (this is a blend of salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid) and then a neutralizer to stop the acid from continuing to penetrate the skin. This is the type of process you would get at a doctor's office. But let me back up. When you get a peel at a doctor's office, they need to use a neutralizer because the acid they use is super strong. But this neutralizer is still useful because it stops that annoying itching and stinging and calms the skin down. So it does serve a purpose but the acid itself is not strong enough to actually reverse aging, for that kind of result, you need to go to a doctor. What this will do is, it will remove the superficial layer of dead skin to reveal the nicer new skin below. You get super smooth skin and a youthful glow. For me, that's all I am asking for with a product like this. I have to say, my skin looks pretty damn good right now!!! If you use this daily, as it is intended, it might penetrate deep enough to have some effect on wrinkles but it would be subtle. After the first few uses, I didn't notice much of anything, but after more uses, I felt the acid intensify which means it took off the dead layers of skin and is getting deeper in the skin. Most doctors will tell you that daily use of this type of peel is effective but if nothing else it will prevent aging. And how do I know that? I just interviewed an Oculoplastic Surgeon and Liposculpture specialist and got the whole scoop on peels and other procedures. I will be posting that next week so make sure you check back for the very interesting and informative interview. MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, 30 Day supply for $78, 60 day is $128. For convenience, the 30 Day Supply Travel Packs is $80 and are individually wrapped like the wet wipes you get after you eat ribs.

Instyle has great tips on choosing the right foundation for your skin tone.  Of course it's best to go in person and allow a make up artist assist and asses you but at least this will give you an idea of how to choose one to best flatter your complexion.  I am Asian with yellow toned skin but I never buy yellow foundation, it just makes me look yellower!  I always choose one with a subtle pinkish beige undertone.  After you try a new foundation at a cosmetic counter, always walk over to the door to see what it looks like in natural lighting.  The golden cast from cosmetic counter lighting is deceiving!  And to avoid the aging mask like look, add a drop of your favorite moisturizer into your foundation before applying and you'll glow with the look of youth!   

This is one of those few all in one products that really stands up to "all" that it is promising, including incredible convenience. This loose powder in a leak-proof brush dispenser is a lightweight mineral powder that has SPF 30 and is anti-aging. I love love love mineral make up, it looks flawless without caking down your face to give you that flawlessness. The Micronized Titanium Dioxide mineral physically shields against UVA/UVB rays so you can enjoy the sun without worry. One quick pass around the face in the morning and you can head out the door. Throw this in your bag for quick easy reapplication with no mess. Bare Escentuals is all green with no harmful additives. Can something be this amazing? Yes, it can =) Comes in 3 tones for light, medium and tan skin. At Sephora for $28. Enter the code NATURALBAG at checkout and get 8 free samples.

In the interest of preventing aging, I have been using various creams and moisturizers to make sure my skin gets all the advantages it can get. I use heavy creams in the winter and lighter ones in the summer because it is either too heavy or not moisturizing enough so I have to play this balancing act. What I needed was something that my skin was thirsting for and now that I have switched to Darphin essential oils, my skin is thanking me profusely by acting calm and smooth and looking radiant! My skin sucks the oils right up like it has been needing it all its life. I have no problems putting oil on my skin, I love oils and don't have the notion that oils will clog my pores or give me pimples. And this certainly does none of that. The Darphin essential oils are light and the molecules are super small so it penetrates to the source. I used this for a week and I was hooked, no more trying to guess what I need, this is it! It also smells so incredible! Dr. Darphin was the first plastic surgeon to develop his own line in the 50' to prevent the need of surgery, it prevents aging by fighting free radicals, which is what damages the skin and causes wrinkles. There are different oils depending on what your skin type is. The Rose Aromatic Care is for normal skin. You should follow up with your regular moisturizer for full spectrum care. At Darphin for $80.

Best known for its highest quality stones and ability to combine gems in creations with extraordinary chromatic effects, Bvlgari is now exploring the beneficial properties of gem stones on the skin. Produced in Switzerland, each product contains Bvlgari Gem Essence; a formula of four extracts of fine and precious stones: sapphire, malachite, tourmaline and citrine. This unique formula provides three main benefits to the skin: radiance, nourishment and protection. There are three skincare programs: Precieuse Line, Lumiere Line and Cleansing Line. I received samples of the Precieuse line and am impressed with the luxurious and innovative line of skincare. The Serum Precieux felt lightweight but delivers a deeply hydrating formula that makes the skin appear younger immediately. It also left a very smooth texture which made it great to use during the day under make up. The night cream (Creme Precieuse Nuit) was equally impressive with a deeply nourishing texture that left my skin ultra soft and moisturized throughout the night. Available at Neiman Marcus North Park, call 214-363-8311 to order!

Bvlgari Serum Precieuse here

Bvlgari Creme Precieuse Nuit here.

Photos from People.com

My boyfriend is originally from Cali and I'm already dreading him going back to visit his family next week because most every time he goes (even if it's to go skiing in Tahoe), he comes back with a tan and then we stand together and I feel even more self-conscious about my paleness! That said while I don't think I'll ever get over my self-consciousness about my pale skin, I've come to terms with the fact that you can have a healthy summer glow without having a tan -- rosy checks and glossy lips are sometimes all it takes! I'm loving Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess line -- Beauty Snob Tina gave a great run down of the products that anyone interested in the line should check-out! They've got some nice colors to complement lighter skin tones (despite being called Bronze Goddess:)!) -- love the browns in the eyeshadow palette and they blend well together (just a slight hint of sparkle and the palette is also a relatively good deal at $38). I'm not a huge fan of the fragrance because it's very coconuty, but it does have that beachy smell that will make you feel like it's summer even on a cool spring day. To complement the brown shades I mixed some luminizing foundation in with my regular one (though LORAC makes a great Luminizing Powder that could also work), added a hint of powder blush (Prescriptives has some great ones), and finished-off with a clear gloss (though a creamy lipstick could do as well and I actually remember reading that Jennifer Anniston sometimes dabs a bit of Chanel Hydrabase Lipstick in Coco Red on the apples of her cheeks!). What do you use to achieve a sexy summer glow?

I have been traveling non stop and not only have I not had time for my regular facials, my skin is in serious need of reviving. I finally got time to pamper myself at home with this Glycolactic Peel from REN. The people behind REN reminds me of Ben & Jerry, they love what they do and they want to make the world greener by doing things better. It is a totally green line using only renewable ingredients that are 100% natural and organic. This Glycolactic Peel has fruit enzyme and acids that is very gentle but totally powerful for a major pore cleanse and dead skin cell removal. I hate that part of the facial when they squeeze your face to death, I stopped doing facials like that and it is totally unnecessary when you use fruit acids and enzymes to remove that stuff. This will clean your pores completely, including any blackhead you may have. The morning after the peel, my skin looks peachy and flush. For the best results, I use a scrub the day after the peel to help with the skin renewal by removing any access dead skin that is on the surface. You will be amazed by the fresh skin that is yours!! The only caveat is, this peel does make you itchy and tingly while it's on and it needs to stay on for a full 10 minutes to have its full effect, but trust me, it is worth 10 minutes of a very slight discomfort. I walk around the house with it on and check emails or whatever to distract me. It is a peach color so you won't scare anyone with it on! REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask at Sephora for $55.

I spent the afternoon playing at the Bobbi Brown make up counter at Neiman Marcus and am loving the new platinum collection! I look best in silvery shades (it perks up my brown eyes) and pink of course is universally flattering so this is really a perfect collection for many of us! The collection features the new limited-edition Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick which comes in a unique metallic silver finish and contains five bars of color that will beautifully highlight cheeks or anywhere you want to add shimmer. The shades included: soft pink, platinum, bright pink, golden coral and rose that can be blended together or used individually. (Jump for more!) The Platinum Collection is available on counter and at www.bobbibrown.com!

Kick start your summer with a healthy glow from Estee Lauder's summer Vivid Garden illuminating powder. I am now officially in summer mode now that we're in daylight savings time. I get a bit of color during the summer no matter how much sunblock I use so I put away from bronzer and use a light and subtle blush like this beautiful new combination for a brightening glow. This swirly flower pattern gives you lots of options, you can use the lighter shades as highlights for brow bones and under the eyes (it makes you look fresh and alert!) and use more pink on the cheeks if you want more color. The slight smidge of gold will warm your natural tone for added radiance. Plus, the flowers are so pretty you just want to have it with you all summer long to remind you how beautiful life is =) I am in a gooshy mood today, can you tell? At Estee Lauder for $32.

For those special occasions, I put on way too much make up but it is so much fun! The un-fun part is taking it off and worrying that I am rubbing too much and pulling too hard on my skin. I have make up remover and oils and all that but it still takes some time to work things out. Balms Away is a blend of oils like vitamins A, C, and E that hydrate and restore the skin while is melts away the make up. It breaks up even water proof mascara easily so you don't have to rub and rub and rub and all the ingredients are made to be good for your skin so you get the benefits of that while it's working. I tested this out by putting on the most massive amounts of black eyeshadow, water proof mascara, stage make up and red lipstick. I used a liberal amount but I think I over did it because this stuff is powerful, within a minute I was able to wipe off everything entirely clean! Mind you, I did this at a makeup counter and not at home so it was a huge risk because I could have ended up walking around all day with make up stains and looking like a crazy woman. I would have used water to get this off so I can avoid the rubbing altogether. There are no harmful or synthetic ingredients, just goodness to make you fresh again. At Balms Away at Sephora for $20.