Youthful Skin In 5 Easy Steps

Hello again! 

 Is it really possible to keep our skin young looking? Well...the answer is Yes it is possible to keep our skin youthful looking and radiant  as time moves on.  The way to achieve it is by using anti-aging products that are right for our skin, in combination with professional treatments from competent beauty professionals.  This way, fine lines, wrinkles, and damage caused by the sun can be kept at bay for a longer time.

By not providing adequate protection for our skin, we allow the fine lines and wrinkles to make their appearance,  and brown spots begin to show which along with and rough skin areas caused by the exposure of the skin to the sun, start to give clues about our age.

As we age, the skin itself is not producing as much collagen, and definitely the level of hyaluronic acid production is diminishing.  Furthermore, dead skin cells are accumulating  at a faster rate, and do not invisibly fall off as previously.   It is natural of course that as our skin is subjected to the environmental elements, it is more likely to show aging signs. 

SO...WHAT DO WE DO?

Here are the 5 important  (and easy) steps we should take to not only prevent, but also to start reversing the signs of aging.  

New Year’s resolutions for your skin

Happy New Year!  The new year brings us the opportunity to do away with all those bad skin care habits and reconsider our skin care routine.

Sun Protection is a Priority

Using sun protection on a daily basis all year round is not only essential to prevent sun damage, wrinkles and sun spots, but it is an important step in preventing skin cancer.  Over the course of time, the sun can impose significant hardships and damage to your skin, so it is important to use quality sun care products to protect from the skin from the damage caused by UVA/UVB rays.  

Exfoliation for glowing Skin

Regardless of your skin type, exfoliating  should be a very important step in your skin care routine.  The reason is that as we get older, our skin is not as efficient is disposing of dead skin cells and regenerating new ones.  The result is that dead skin cells start accumulating on the surface of the skin, clogging the pores and results in excess oil production. This leads to dull looking, rough and dry skin.  In addition the excess oil can lead to blemishes and acne. 

Skin Care after the Summer

Hello Ladies and WELCOME BACK from your summer holidays! 

Time to start taking care of our skin after all it has been through during these hot summer months.

The needs of our skin change with the seasons. Late summer and early autumn is the best time to start the restoration process of our skin by providing to the skin the tender love and care it needs.  The warm summer months have managed to make our skin more dry and clog the pores, leaving our skin looking dull. If we choose to ignore it, we leave the door wide open for the early visible signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven discoloration and freckles.  We therefore need to follow certain necessary steps to restore a soft, smooth, radiant and healthy skin.

Antioxidant care

Although we cannot undo damage to the skin caused by the UV rays, what we can do is protect it from future damage.  Due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA / UVB) the

7 Bad Habits that you Need to Stop Right Now

Hello Beautiful Ladies!

When it comes to caring for our skin, there are some things that we should not do, and some things that we should do better. So....here we go!

Use of unsuitable Sunscreens

Sunscreen and sun cream products are not all created equal. A good sun cream should effectively block both UVA (responsible for aging) and UVB rays (responsible for sun burns). If your sunscreen does not cover both types of rays, then better put it aside.  Furthermore, when it comes to sun creams, more is better. Do not hesitate to use an adequate amount. For good coverage of the face, neck, and décolleté you will need about a teaspoon of the product.

Postponing Anti-aging Prevention

We are all well aware that prevention is always better than the cure. It is therefore essential to begin preventative anti-aging treatments early. As a rule of thumb, eye creams should be used from the age of 18 and up, Serums from the age of 25 and up, and creams containing stronger anti-aging ingredients from the age of 35 and above. Of course these are just  guidelines. The main point is that if prevention starts early, then you can effectively delay the signs of aging before they even start to form, giving you smoother, more youthful skin for a greater period of time.

7 Tips For year-round beauty

Hello Ladies,

Today, I would like to share with you 7 easy but necessary steps that we all need to follow year-round to maintain a beautiful and flawless face and body

Moisturizing after Bathing

Most of us enjoy a warm, relaxing bath or shower. Unfortunately it also tends to remove  valuable oils from our skin.  The easy solution to replace the lost hydration, is of course the use of moisturizing body creams,  many of which also offer added benefits such as firming and toning the skin.  A good way never to forget to use your body cream or lotion, is by keeping it in the shower. This way, by having it in sight, you will remember to use it. Finally, keep in mind that you need to apply the cream or lotion on your skin within ten minutes after finishing your bath so that the skin is not completely dry.

Daily Sun Care

Use your sun cream year-round! Yes you read that right. The sun cream should be applied in the winter as well.  The reason for this,  is that the harmful UVA and UVB rays are always present even when it is cloudy.  Of course, using a good sun cream is even more essential in  the warmer, summer months. 

The application of a good sun cream should be the last step in your daily beauty regime, and it is placed on the skin before your make-up application.  For the face and other sensitive areas (as well as for children) choose a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30, and even better, SPF 50 or 60.  Many of you, may also find it useful and convenient to use a sunscreens in spray form. These are very handy to have in your purse and in the car, and can be used throughout the day - even over your make-up. Finally, keep in mind that the lower the SPF value, the more often you need to repeat the application.

5 Tips for Summer Care!

Summer is closing in and it is time to review some tips on keeping our skin healthy and glowing through the hot summer months that will follow.

1. Exfoliation...cleaner, clearer, smoother 

 

Running the risk of sounding boring at times, I must state once more that exfoliation is imperative towards achieving a clean, smooth, glowing skin. Peeling will remove the layers of dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the epidermis. This is very important since the dead skin cells that accumulate cause congestion to the pores of the skin. Basically the skin cannot "breath", the pores get clogged and the skin is not able to receive proper hydration and other nutrients from products that we apply.

For most people exfoliation done once a week or every 10 days is probably adequate. I recommend you do your exfoliation in the evening, and follow it with an appropriate mask, and then with your night care cream. If you want to take it a step further, add an ampoule or serum (prior to the mask). The results will amaze you!

Special Skin Care - Closing on 40

If you are closing on your forties,  or perhaps you are already there,  it is now time to re-evaluate the care you provide to your skin.  Basically, you should now start to incorporate in your daily skin care regime, products with a bit more "robust" active ingredients. These will help your skin to cope with the increasing demands, restore damage that your skin has suffered, and protect it from future hardships.

You've probably noticed the increasing fine lines around your eyes, mouth and on the forehead. Perhaps your skin has also lost a little of its brightness and appears more dehydrated.  Well, the good news is that you have several options at your disposal that will help give your skin the boost it requires to be more healthy and glowing.

I am sure that, over the course of the past years, most of you have developed a good skin care regime, which may include daily cleansing , exfoliating and moisturizing.  However, now is the time to re-evaluate your skin's needs and adjust the care you provide to it.  How much adjustment you need to make?  Well, this depends on how much care you have been providing your skin thus far.

Increase the Daily Care of Your Skin

As mentioned earlier, you will now need to add to the daily care of your skin "robust " ingredients.  Anti-aging, collagen formation boosters such as Matryxil, Retinol, and of course  AHA ( alpha hydroxy acids), which also stimulate collagen synthesis, help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles resulting in a more radiant complexion.

In particular, products with AHA do an excellent job for smoothing the and improving the  skin tone, while products with Matryxil significantly increase the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, as well as the production of hyaluronic acid.

 

Retest Your Skin Type

Over time, our skin is loses collagen and moisture. In addition hyaluronic acid production falls to about 50%.  Because of these factors, our skin type also tends to change over time - for instance loss of hydration make our skin more dry.  Therefore, even if until now you had a normal skin type, you are now most likely to need products for dry skin.  I highly We recommend that you consider making a comprehensive skin analysis to determine the exact needs of your skin.  This way you will know exactly what kind of products you need to buy which will help your skin.

 

Make-Up Simplified

Unfortunately, as we age, many women tend to use more make-up to hide imperfections, such as fine lines, skin discoloration, etc.  Doing this has in fact the opposite effect. As more make-up and powder is used, a cakey complexion is formed on to the skin, and thin lines may also become more prominent since make-up enters into the grooves of the wrinkles. Prefer creamy make-up formulas, as the tends not to "sink" into the fine lines, and helps your skin look more cool and smooth.

 

What Products do I recommend

There is a great variety of products that you can start using to enhance your skin care routine.  Click on the Hi-2 COSMETICS link to see some products I recommend to my clients. 

http://www.hi2cosmetics.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=54

Beauty Ingredients vs Time

Today let's talk about those ingredients that really help our skin and become our allies in our effort to eliminate the signs of aging that passage of time leaves our skin .  Of course , there are many ingredients today in cosmetic formulations (creams , masks , serums , ampoules , etc. ) which help the skin to address the signs of aging .  Nonetheless, today we will focus on five ingredients that are widely recognized for their therapeutic action on the skin. 

 

Hyaluronic acid

Perhaps the most well known ingredient to emerge in recent years. It%u2019s ability to bind extremely large quantities of moisture ( approximately 1000 times its molecular weight) contributes immensely to the production of collagen and elastin. It also provides protection against  free radicals. Hyaluronic acid is a substance produced by the body itself from the day we are born. However, the production of hyaluronic acid is reduced significantly over time. For example, at the age of 40, it  decreases to about 50 % while at the age of 60 the production is as low as 10%. It is therefore very important to replenish the skin with this valuable ingredient.

Some products I recommend to my clients are:

Hyaluron Emulsion 30 ml

Hyaluron Ampoules (6 x 2 ml)

Hyaluron Cream with 3 Ampoules

 

Retinol and Vitamin A

Together with Vitamin E , Vitamin A is often called the beauty vitamin. Retinol is also a form of vitamin A.  Vitamin A is known for its protective effect on the skin because it neutralizes free radicals and prevents deep wrinkle formation. It is also crucial for the development and structure of the skin. Other positive effects of vitamin A is that it normalizes the activity of the sebaceous glands and neutralizes keratinization of the skin.

Some products I recommend to my clients are:

 

Nanoparticles Exclusive  Cream 50 ml with 3 Ampoules

Vitamin A Cream 50 ml

EUR 26.50 Vitamin A Concentrate Ampoules (6 x 2 ml)

 

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a very important enzyme that protects cells, regenerates the skin and fights wrinkles . 

Specifically , coenzyme Q-10

 

Activates the skin. Young skin has great amounts of CoQ10 and thus has adequate energy %u2013 that is, energy required to repair the damage and make sure that the skin cells healthy.

 

Protects against photoaging - premature aging that is due to exposure of the skin to sunlight

 

Rejuvenates the skin and stimulates cell activity . The active skin cells can easily get rid of toxins and make much better use of nutrients.

 

Stimulates collagen production. Collagen is the protein that decreases as we age, which in turn leads to wrinkly skin

 

It is a powerful antioxidant that works against oxidative damage  (such as from the sun's UV rays , pollution , toxins , stress ) all of which lead to premature skin aging

Some products I recommend to my clients are:

Co enzyme Q-10 Ampoules (6 x 2 ml)

 

Vitamin E

 

Vitamin E is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that combats the harmful action of free radicals, and also protects and repairs the skin from damage caused by UV radiation . It also combats skin dryness by helping the skin to maintain its natural hydration .

 

Finally , clinical studies have shown that when creams with vitamin E are used before exposure to the sun and the UV rays, the skin suffers less from redness, swelling, and dryness.

Some products I recommend to my clients are:

Oxygenium Cream 50 ml  with 3 Ampoules

Nanoparticles Exclusive  Cream 50 ml with 3 Ampoules

La Creme - Pearl Skin 50 ml

 

 

Peptides

Mixtures of peptides are used in almost all skin care products.  They are especially effective skin care ingredients that help reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin quality. Furthermore, they increase the production of collagen and help skin to maintain a uniform appearance .

 

In recent year, we%u2019ve seen the emergence of peptide mixtures of peptides like Matrixyl, which stimulate the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid . Other popular mixtures of copper peptides are peptides , which reduce inflammation of the skin. Finally , some of the most innovative peptides are neuropeptides which ( according to clinical studies ) relax the muscles of the face, and therefore , reduce the appearance of wrinkles - similar effects as i.e. injection BOTOX.

 

Some products I recommend to my clients are:

Anti-Aging Cream 50 ml w/ 3 ampoules

La Creme - Gold Skin 50 ml

That's all for today ladies. Until our next appointment ... Be Beautiful!

It is Time to Put Our Masks On!

Hello Ladies it has been a while since I wrote something but here I go again and promise to have more timely updates this time.   It is getting harder and harder to juggle managing a business, dealing with employees and customers, conducting seminars, and raising 2 kids.   Oh well!  Today let's talk about why masks are an important part of any skin care regime. 

The use of a high quality, appropriate  mask should be part of our beauty regime. That’s it.  There is no room for discussion or excuses such as – it takes time, or it is a boring procedure.

Whatever the needs of our skin may be, there is an appropriate mask that will provide the optimum care that our skin needs.

The benefits to our skin are numerous, and masks provide visible effects in a short time.  The only other types of products that offer greater concentrations of active substances are ampoules and serums (but we will talk about these at a later date)

As I mentioned, we have at our disposal a great selection of masks, which depending of the active ingredients they contain, offermany benefits to the skin. Masks can be creamy. In a gel, thick consistency, etc. Some masks can even be left on the skin without the need to remove them after a certain time.

 

My recommendation is that masks can be applied 2 or even 3 times a week.  I also recommend that once a week you perform a peeling prior to placing the mask.   Of course in all cases we clean our skin using a cleanser and tonic.  Depending on the mask, we let it take effect for 15-20 minutes and then remove with lukewarm water.

 
Let's See Some of The Choices of Masks - You can find more information about the products by clicking on the link. - Remember you enjoy 25%-35% discount on all products mentioned!

 

Special Care

Problematic skin and acne prone skins have a tendency for infections and irritations and as such demands effective but gentle care. These include specialized products which contain calming, antiseptic ingredients that will eliminate irritations, and balance the skin.

 
Products I recommend to my clients 


Silky Mask 40 ml

Silky Mask is a soothing mask which can be applied to impure problem skin with acne, oily skin, and combination skin.  
 
 
Sensitive
 
Sensitive skins usually suffer from luck of moisture and elasticity. The right products should be able to stimulate the natural skin processes, balance moisture, and improve the resilience of the skin.

 
Products I recommend to my clients

 

Sensitive Mask provides a pleasant, relaxed feeling. It leaves the complexion feeling smooth, younger and fr

 

Anti - Aging

Something I hear often from my clients, is the wrong assumption that masks, especially those with anti-aging ingredients, are only intended for older, more mature skins. The rule is simple! If the skin has a need for the ingredients that a mask offers then there is no age classification for the mask. Of course we would not recommend a strong anti-aging mask to an 18 or 20 year old, but certainly from the age of 25 onwards there is no problem, provided that the skin has a need for special care.

There are several choices for anti-aging masks using high technology ingredients, and which combine amino acids, vitamins, proteins, collagen, hyalluronic acid, and other excellent active ingredients. Depending on the mask they offer regeneration and rejuvenation, moisture, anti toxin activity, and active ingredients which visibly diminish wrinkles or in many cases make smaller lines disappear.

I present you only some of the many masks I recommend to my clients. 

ARTBIO STEM CELL MASK 200 ML A unique anti-aging mask which keeps the skin youthful looking thanks to the special ingredients of the extract of the alpine rose stem cells it contains. It’s active ingredients are promote cell rejuvenation and provide cell protection.	Oxygenium Mask 200 ml Oxygenium Mask is a fast- penetrating cream mask that will make your skin look radiant within minutes.	Caviar Mask 200 ml A true anti-ageing mask, rich in nutritional elements
Hyaluron-Silk Mask 200 ml The Hyaluron Silk mask is an extra moisturizing mask for demanding skin. Due to its extreme hydrophilic properties (2 % of hyaluronic acid can bind 98 % of water), it has an excellent filling effect on lines and wrinkles.	BioKur Orange-Ginger Mask 50 ml A rich and aromatic mask which refreshes tired skin.The ginger and orange extracts it contains stimulate the skin's metabolism while the shea butter and the valuable argan oil leave the skin soft, smooth and totally refreshed.	AND A MASK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EYES Anti-Wrinkle Lifting Eye Mask 40 ml It moisturizes, refreshes and immediately tenses.

Don't forget that our skin is a living organism. Do not cut corners when it comes to the care of your skin, and do not miss out in experiencing the many benefits that the use of a good mask has to offer to your skin care regime!

Until my next post...Be Beautiful!

Cleansing is Absolutely Necessary!

Why Cleansing Is Important

Cleansing is perhaps the most important aspect in your daily skin care regime, as long as you use the right products for your skin and you do not overdo it.

 

If you think that cleansing your face is necessary only if you are wearing make up, eye shadows or lipstick, think again. Even if you have no make-up on, you need to clean your face to remove daily dust collection and air pollution.  You will be surprised as to how much dirt will be removed from an otherwise clean looking face.

 

Not using the right products may result in a dehydrated skin, with a tendency for peeling, and with an unbalanced pH.

 

Just as you choose the correct cream type for your skin, the same is true for the cleansing products you use.

Good Bye Summer…Time for Autumn Care

Hello ladies!

After all the hardships endured by our skin during the hot summer months, it’s time to provide it with the proper love and care it deserves and so urgently needs.

A combination of things such as the sun, the salt from the sea, and perhaps neglecting to do proper cleansing of our skin with a cleanser and lotion, are all factors that contributed to our skin being in need of immediate care and rejuvenation.

So today, let us look at some of the ways that will help us to restore vitality and radiance back to our skin.

Peeling (scrub)

Peeling is one very important step we can take that will lead us to a more bright and refreshed  complexion and a healthy looking skin.  Since dead skin cells and other environmental impurities  “block” the surface of the skin, it is understandable that no matter what products we use on our skin, they will not have the desired perfect result, since they will not be able to penetrate effectively into the skin.   

It is time for Peeling! And I don’t mean chemical peeling.

I know that most, if not all of you, try your best to take care of your skin using day creams, night creams, eye creams, and even the occasional mask and serum or ampoules. How many of you though, take the time to include in your skin care routine the necessary peeling that should be done once a week.

Why is Peeling/Scrubbing important?

It helps our constant struggle against aging. Now this should be a good enough reason to include it in our skin care routine.

Scrubbing removes dead skin cells so that your skin can “breath” . In addition, the process of scrubbing stimulates the blood and lymph flow which has a direct effect on cell regeneration.

Imagine how much more effective the various creams and masks you use on your skin would be, if you skin is clean of all the dead skin cells, and thus able to absorb better and faster those nourishing cream preparations you present it with.

When to use scrub or peeling?

Regular Soap: Friend or Enemy to the Skin?

A reader sent me a question today,  whether using regular soap for daily cleansing of the face is ok.

Hmm………I personally always advice my clients never EVER to use a regular bar of soap for the daily cleansing of their face.  The reason is that soap tends to dry the skin out, and usually regular bars of soap do not offer any additional benefits to the skin.  Again, this is my own personal opinion and what I tell my clients.

Having said that, the only time I would give in and feel a little comfortable with a client using soap is in cases of clients with acne.  In such cases, it may also used for cleansing of the back where acne can also be present.    Nonetheless, I would still recommend special cleansing products that are specifically for acne/problematic or oily skin.

If you do have to use soap (either regular bar or in liquid form) do so by first creating a rich lather on your wet skin, and then rinse thoroughly and carefully using plenty of tepid water.

DON’T’ use it to clean the area around the eyes! The skin in this area is very fine and sensitive, and special eye cleansing products should be used.

Needless to say that an appropriate tonic lotion should be used afterwards in order to remove any residues, and most importantly to balance the ph balance of the skin.

Please do send me any and all your questions…I promise that I will answer you as promptly as possible.

Until the next post….Be Beautiful!