Excited to share a video featuring some tips on how to layer your products for the best results!
The way you layer your skin care products can have a major impact on how well they actually work. We've got celebrity aesthetician Jordana Mattioli here to share her best kept secrets on how to layer skin care products like a pro.
For me, Botox is as commonplace as toothpaste, but from some, the idea of freezing your muscles is still terrifying! Here's what you need to know.
What exactly is it and how does it work? Botox is a brand from the pharmaceutical company, Allergan. Its botulinum toxin (a purified version of the bacteria that causes botulism) that prohibits nerves from delivering their signal to muscles, typically in your face. Its also referred to as a 'neurotoxin'. It blocks the ability of the nerve ending to secrete acetylcholine, which the muscle needs in order to contract. By blocking these nerve endings, the muscles in your face stay in a relaxed position so you stop scrunching, and when you stop scrunching, the wrinkle disappears. It can be used preventatively if you do happen to have really strong muscle movement; Botox essentially freezes the muscle, so leaving you unable to make a scrunching wrinkle-causing expression, any wrinkles from these muscles will take longer to develop.
How long has it been around, and how we do we know its safe? Scientists have been playing around with this stuff for over a hundred years! In 1989, it got approval to treat eyelid spasms. Throughout the nineties, it was used to treat bladder spasms, writer's cramp, excessive sweating, even cerebral palsy in kids. Finally, in 2002, Botox got approved by the FDA to treat wrinkles, and continues to get FDA approvals for other uses.
Where in your face do you get it and does it hurt? Though Botox can be used many places, the most common areas are crow's feet around the eyes, frown lines between the eyebrows, and furrows on the forehead. Some doctors can make lines on the neck smooth out also! If you have excessing sweating, Botox can also get injected into the glands under the arms. Getting needles in your armpits totally hurts for a minute but is really nice to sweat less during those really hot months. Injections on the face are much easier, you feel each pinch, but as soon as its done, there is zero pain. There can be a bit of bruising, but its rare, and staying off anything that can thin your blood for 48 hours prior can help minimize bruising.
How long does it last? Botox typically wears off in three to four months. If you're using it under your arms, it can actually last up to nine months.When it does wear off, everything will go back to normal but it won't happen overnight.
What are the side effects? Any drug can have side effects. The most common issues are headaches and bruises, poking needles in your face will usually do that..
Are there any alternatives? Nothing can relax the muscle like Botox, but certain skin care treatments can improve the look of wrinkles. High doses of vitamin A applied topically (like retinoids) are the most studied topical skin care ingredient to improve wrinkles. Treatments like micro-current devices done in a facial, or home care gadgets can improve these types of lines, but need to be done consistently to keep the results looking good.
What age should I start getting Botox? These type of procedures aren't for everyone, and thats ok! If you are interested in anti-aging procedures, and want to stay ahead of pre-mature aging, Botox can be a really great, inexpensive treatment for you. There is no right or wrong age, Botox isn't an age thing, its a muscle thing. I have seen teenage girls with deep forehead wrinkles, that doesn't mean they should be doing it, but just to give an idea that there isn't a particular age when wrinkles appear due to strong muscles. On the flip side, I've seen women in their fifties and sixties with super smooth foreheads, who may never need Botox. Again, its all about how much muscle movement you have. Personally, my forehead has been getting Botox since I was about 25, and can actually go longer now in between treatments instead of exactly every 4 months.
The nurse at my dentist offers Botox, can I do it with them? I wouldn't. I saw a sign in my gyno's office that they now offered Botox. I get it, everyone wants a piece of the pie. Over 6 million Botox procedures were performed in 2014 and surely reports of next year will be even higher. Your dentist and gyno both get extensive medical training, but there are specialities within medicine for a reason. So even though a nurse can administer this, but they don't have anywhere near the training a doctor has. See a board certified (very important!) dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
It's time to throw out your guys' Irish Spring and Axe deodorant. Don't even ask, just toss it. But replace it with some luxe new goodies, that you might even be tempted to borrow. Most of guys I see for skincare at the office usually have come my way from their significant other; but they still want their own face products. I had picked up some really (realllyyyy) nice candles from Baxter at Saturday's Surf and had the chance to try some of their body and skincare recently. This line is old school having started in the late 60s, and now has an array of hair, body and skin products. The first thing you'll notice is the packaging in the happiest hues of blues and greens, which ooze cali vibes, and i can proudly display in my shower. Secondly, all the products I tried don't have that awful polo sport smell most lines geared towards men have. Most importantly, the following products I played around with had a nice array of ingredients; more details below!
Daily Face Wash this is a gel, its fragrance free, has coconut derived cleansing agents so its not harsh, and a shot of aloe for soothing.
Under Eye Complex fragrance free with a light but hydrating texture, and in a tube (no messy jars). vitamins, ginkgo for reducing puffiness, and fatty acids for free radical protection.
Oil Free Moisturizer lightweight texture, fragrance free, and won't leave you with a shiny face. vitamin a (the best!), vitamin e, and antioxidants like green tea.
Body Wash a gel formula, but the jojoba and plant based cleansing agents make it hydrating. comes in three unisex scents, but i especially love the 'italian lime and pomegranite'
Deodorant it's probably wishful thinking but i truly feel mens deodorant (and shavers!) just work better. and i can get behind this fresh citrus smell, and that it's alcohol and aluminum free.
The Candles oh the candles! these soy wax candles come in collections of three different scents per series. plus some special editions for saturdays surf and union made. i'm partial to any of the scents in the 'white wood' series with notes like bergamot and vetiver - so fresh so clean.
Is it worth it? This is probably the one question I get asked the most about some "luxury" skin care lines. I put "luxury" in quotes because the idea that a face cream must be expensive to be effective is, simply put, a lie. Advertising and packaging play a huge role in how we look at a skin care product, and I'll be the first to admit that first impressions are extremely important; the smell of a cream, the feel, the sound the jar makes when you open it..
There are undoubtedly certain items you absolutely get what you pay for, but skin care does not have to be one of them. A product must comply with the FDA and list ingredients, so as they say, the proof is in the puddin'. Lets take a look at what is exactly in this $155/1oz cream. I'll highlight some of the ingredients that can be cause of concern, with a summary following the list.
The ingredients..
Seaweed (Algae) Extract: we don't know the exact types in here, as in a family that includes more than 20,000 different known species. A number of species have been used for good purposes, but some algae are also potential skin irritants.
Mineral Oil: an emollient, nonirritating moisturizing ingredient derived from petroleum
Petrolatum: emollient and anti-irritant (vaseline is pure petrolatum)
Glycerin: natural or synthetic, glycerin is a humectant, readily absorbs water from other sources
Isohexadecane: an emollient component of petroleum
Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract: a known fragrance allergen that contains fragrance chemicals bergapten and limonene, both of which can cause what's known as a phototoxic reaction when applied to skin that's then exposed to sunlight.
Microcrystalline Wax: highly refined wax derived from petroleum
Lanolin Alcohol: an emollient, thick substance derived from the sebaceous glands of sheep
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil: an emollient non-fragrant plant oil that contains vitamin e and some minerals
Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil: fragrant plant oil that is a potent skin irritant due to its chemical components
Magnesium Sulfate: a thickening agent commonly known as Epsom salt
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed, an emollient non-fragrant plant oil that contains vitamin e and some minerals
Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder: a plant derived antioxidant
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake: a non-fragrant , anti- inflammatory emollient plant oil, source of fatty acids skin can use, including linoleic acid
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal: a non-fragrant emollient plant oil
Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate: referred to as chelating agents, these are ingredients that inactivate metallic ions to prevent the deterioration
Copper Gluconate: a mineral with antioixdant action
Calcium Gluconate: a mineral with anti-inflammatory properties
Magnesium Gluconate: a mineral with antibacterial properties
Zinc Gluconate: a mineral with anti-inflammatory action
Paraffin: a waxy, petroleum-based substance used as a thickener
Tocopheryl Succinate: vitamin e, an antioxidant
Niacin: aka vitamin B3 , a potent cell-communicating ingredient that offers multiple benefits for skin
Beta-Carotene: antioxidant
Decyl Oleate: skin-conditioning agent derived from the esters of decyl alcohol and oleic acid
Aluminum Distearate: a aluminum salt derived thickener
Octyldodecanol: a fatt alcohol based thickener
Citric Acid: used to balance the pH of a product
Cyanocobalamin: a common form of vitamin b12, but limited research it has any benefit when applied topically
Magnesium Stearate: thickener
Panthenol: alcohol form of vitamin B, a humectant
Limonene: a chemical constituent of many fragrant natural ingredients (citrus oils or pine trees or species of the mint family), can cause contact dermatitis
Geraniol: an alcohol used for scent, common allergen
Linalool: Fragrant component of lavender and coriander that can be a potent skin irritant
Hydroxycitronellal: syntheic scent, common allergen
Citronellol: plant dervied, used for fragrance, common allergen
Benzyl Salicylate: an alcohol known to cause contact dermatitis
Citral: synthetic used for fragrance, known to cause contact dermatitis
Methylchloroisothiazolinone: a preservative also known as Kathon CG, common allergen
Fragrance: a blend of synthetic or fragrant plant oils that are often skin irritants
BOTTOM LINE: First, this is packaged in a jar, so the few antioxidants that are in this will become ineffective very quickly. Second, the claims in this mix of algae (that we aren't even sure of the exact types of used in this product) are a must have for skin are completely unsubstantiated. Third, there are way too many irritants that could be a problem for skin. And lastly, the price is absurd for what your getting. This is easily a "skip don't splurge" product.
Once you figure out the cause of dark circles, they become a little easier to effectively treat. The easiest way to do this is press on them gently. If they lighten up for a second , they are probably caused by little blood vessels showing up under the skin, where skin under the eye is thinner). If they don't, then it might be excess pigment, caused by sun exposure or even be hereditary.
THE QUICK FIX A under concealer should have good coverage, be easy to blend, and most importantly not crease. Always start with an eye cream or a under eye primer and let that soak in for at least a minute before applying concealer. Im always on the lookout for amazing formulas, heres my faves right now that have great coverage, contain good skincare ingredients, and have light diffusing properties :
smashbox photo finish under eye primer: has a little sheer luminous tint, perfect for prepping the under eyes before concealer
cle de peau concealer: this twist up stick formula is so richly pigmented, it could last years. but please don't keep it that long.
clinique airbrush concealer: this is my i don't have time to put on concealer concealer, because its super sheer & comes in a click pen style applicator, no separate brush needed!
nars radiant creamy concealer: creamy and hydrating, tons of shade options.
THE LONG TERM With most things in life, I always recommend trying the easy way first. For little blood vessels, try a cream at night that contains a retinoid. Retinoids are proven to build collagen and thicken the skin, which can help make the veins and blood vessels less visible. Start out with an over the counter version like Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Triple Eye Correction Serum. Once that runs out, talk to your dermatologist about a prescription retinoid to use at night. Tretinoin cream in a .025% strength seems to be well tolerated around the eyes. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you can also try an over the counter antihistamine which can really help lessen the appearance of blood vessels. If you don't get enough improvement, a little medical intervention can help. Your dermatologist can do a few tiny injections of a hyaluronic acid filler which would sit closer to the surface of the skin and help cover the blood vessels.
If your dealing with under eye circles that are pigment related (and not blood vessels), the easiest option is to lighten them with a brightening cream. Some ingredients to look for are licorice, kojic acid, and hydroqunione. My top picks are Kate Sommerville Spot Reducing Concetrate or Philosophy Miracle Worker Dark Spot Corrector. These usually take about 4 weeks before you'll start seeing results. For more dramatic improvement, you can try a few laser treatments to remove the pigment. A few Clear and Brilliant or Fraxel treatments will erase any darkness over 3 to 5 treatments with little downtime.
