If you are a frequent flier, you know that your skin takes a beating. You will notice that your skins starts to show signs of dryness, dehydration as well as looking dull, showing fine lines, redness and irritation. The other problem frequent fliers face is packing their skin care products so that they pass inspection at the air port. Well, I stumbled upon a product called, Air Repair Skin Care, which is the only skin care system that was created not only to combat the effects flying has on your skin but also is packaged specifically for travel; The kit is packaged in a see-through travel bag for carry-on convenience.

The ingredients in the skin care system include Hyaluronic Acid (moisture retention), Cloudberry Seed Oil (a powerful anti-oxidant) and Heat Shock Proteins (climate-adjusting) which are supposed to produce superior results for your travel weary skin. No matter what the climate, this product is supposed to work and produce maximal results. The web-site claims the following:

* Targeted, double-duty products help soothe and heal, restoring skin’s health and radiance.
* Carry-on compliant, with enough product to get you through a month’s worth of travel or more.
* For use on every skin type and in all climates.
* Ideal for daily skin care use.

The Air Repair Kit runs about $65 and includes the following:

1. Air Repair Beauty Balm: Complexion-Boosting Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid (2 oz tube)
2. Air Repair Super-Hydrating Eye Cream: Soothing, Line-Minimizing Formulation (1 oz bottle)
3. Air Repair Soothing Facial Cleansing Milk: with Chamomile and Arnica Extracts (2 oz bottle)
4. Air Repair Complexion Quenching Facial Mist: Refreshing Facial Toner and Hydrator (2 oz spray bottle)
5. Air Repair Rescue Balm: All-Purpose Skin Salve and Lip Balm (.9 oz tube)

This kit has been highlighted in Allure Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Beauty BFF, The Rachel Ray Show and many others and a favorite among celebrities.

How many products do you have in your beauty arsenal? Wouldn’t it be nice to do more with less? Well, I came across this little jar of magic and had to share with all of you. Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream is a multi-use product for the entire body. It is supposedly based on the same ingredients used by Cleopatra. Hmmm, not sure I believe that since I researched this product and it has only been on the market since 1991, but who knows. Anyway, this all natural product can not only be used to soften your skin – place it on your feet before bed, add socks and you will have soft skin in the morning. Some other neat applications include applying it to your splits ends, adding it to your powder eyeshadow to make a creamy, sultry eyeshadow. Use it to highlight your cheekbones as well.

The cream is a unique mixture of all natural ingredients, including olive oil, bees wax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis. A 4 oz jar will cost around $30 and the easiest place to find it is online.

Some tips from the experts regarding habits to break in order to achieve healthy, clear skin.

Tanning: Long known to age your skin. But do you know why? Well, dermatologist, Flor Mayoral, explains: “In trying to protect itself from continued exposure to the sun, skin thickens and produces melanin, the pigment that darkens cells. Any pigment change from UVA or UVB light can cause premature aging and increase the likelihood of skin cancer.” Mayoral also says that tanning beds are just as bad, if not worse, since they emit concentrated UVA light, which penetrates deeper than the combination of UVA and UVB rays found in sunlight. Also, DON’T SKIP THE SUNSCREEN! Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays which help avoid wrinkled, saggy skin along with sun spots. Use a SPF 30 at minimum and reapply every 2 hours.

Popping Zits: Squeezing a pimple is a bad choice as it will only push bacteria deeper into the pores. This little act will not only potentially cause inflammation, infection and scarring but will also DOUBLE the time it actually takes to get rid of the pimple. Also, be weary of treating your breakouts with excessive amounts of benzoyl peroxide as it can damage the skin and create more irritation. Rather, try a spot treatment with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (or less) at bed time and again in the morning.

Stop Smoking and Cut Back on Alcohol: Not only will it kill you (enough of a reason for me) but over time you will develop deep wrinkles and blotchy skin. According to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, every decade of smoking results in a perceived extra 2.5 years of age. When it comes to drinking, moderation is key. According to dermatologist, Fredric Brandt, alcohol increases the level inflammatory agents in the bloodstream—”which can hasten skin sagging over time.”

Using Dirty Application Brushes: Dirty makeup brushes can clog pores but also cause serious bacterial infections. To keep em clean, clean them once every 3-4 weeks with a gentle shampoo. There are specialized formulas out there but baby shampoo works just as well!

Overexfoliating: While exfoliating is an important step in healthy skin, doing it too often will have the opposite effect! Excessive exfoliating can increase oil production, spread bacterial and therefore worsen breakouts. Dermatologist, Fredric Brandt explains, “the upper layer of skin forms a protective barrier against the environment. Removing too many cells can increase moisture loss, sensitivity, dryness, and irritation.” So, if your skin is sensitive, it is recommended you use a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid or Retin-A once a week. If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate up to twice a week with a grainy scrub.

Not Washing Your Face Before Bed: Going to bed with a days worth of makeup and oil build up will lead to clogged pores and of course pimples. Also, a little known fact is that while you are sleeping, your body temperature increases, which can increase the absorption of what ever is on your skin. So, get rid of the makeup and oil!

Eating Junky, Processed Food: According to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, those who age high-protein foods and whole grains had less break outs. According to Dr. Baumann, “High-glycemic foods cause your blood sugar to rise, triggering a surge of insulin. The insulin stimulates oil-producing hormones called androgens, leaving you with pimples.” Some skin healthy food choices include peanut butter, nuts, and avocado.

Product Overload: Dermatologist, Patricia Wexler said, “I ask patients to walk me through their routine, and they bring in shopping bags full of products. They add things without checking to see whether they’re duplicating ingredients or realizing that some aren’t compatible.” This can potentially cause the active ingredients in the products to cancel each other out. Or, if the products have the same ingredients, the skin can become irritated or damaged. Dr. Baumann explains, “Negative interactions are most likely to happen if someone is treating different problems at the same time, such as sun-damaged skin and adult acne, and the ingredients are either too harsh together or incompatible.” Ingredients such as retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and benzoyl peroxide tend to be overused. If you have products with the same ingredients, consult with a dermatologist or try to apply them at different times of day.

Yes, it is true….Facials for your back side are popping up in spas all over the country. The trend is becoming quite popular and just in time for swimsuit season. The promise is that you will walk away with a firmer, tighter, toner butt. The treatments involve cleansing, exfoliation, microdermabrasion, steaming, a mask and LED light therapy…as well as a massage. These processes are supposed to help detox, eliminate bacteria and acne, tighten up and reduce the appearance of cellulite. There are even places that include spray tan to help even up your skin tone back there. The sessions last about an hour. Down side? The treatments cost between $650 and $800 per session. Of course, if you can’t afford as spa treatment, why not ask your partner for one? Simply follow the steps for a normal facial, using products that match your skin type. When done, return the favor!

Caring for your skin is a lifelong process and one that will bring you a youthful and radiant glow. The two things you need to focus on in order to achieve bright, beautiful skin are your skins texture and tone.

As you age, your skin cells turn over at a slower rate. This, along with sun damage, will hinder the way your skin is supposed to reflect light, thus making your skin look ashy and sallow. Also, over time, your skin will build up layers of dry, dead skin which also affect its texture. Here are some tips to help you achieve and maintain bright, beautiful skin.

1. Keep your skin protected from the sun and keep it well hydrated. Sun damage is easy to see on men and women’s faces as it affects the tone and texture of their skin. Also, if your skin is not kept hydrated (drinking water), it can tend to cause your skin to look ashy. Use a good SPF (many moisturizers have SPF built right in) and drink lots of water throughout the day.

2. Exfoliate weekly. This simple step (and the one most often skipped) will remove the top layer of dead skin cells. Those are the skin cells which hold the discoloration from sun damage. This step alone can immediatly brighten your skin. Investing in a microderabrasion kit will pay dividends in the tone and texture of your skin. Lancome Resurface-C Microdermabrasion Skin Polishing System is a great kit and highly recommended.

3. Find a great cleanser that works for your skin and DON’T over-cleanse your face! It is important that you do some legwork here and try out a bunch of cleansers in order to find the one that works with your skin’s tone and texture. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin. Also, try only washing your face at night to avoid over-cleansing. In the morning simply splash your face with some warm water if you want a pick me up.

4. Use a moisturizer that has a hint of shimmer in it. The shimmer in the moisturizer will reflect light (which has the added bonus of hiding any imperfections on your skin). Nivea Silky Shimmer lotion is great as is Jergens Soft Shimmer Skin Radiance Moisturizer.

5. We have all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” Well, that is very true when it comes to your skin! Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants can help heal and smooth out the texture of your skin. Foods like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or foods rich in vitamin C all can help heal damaged skin.

I always knew seaweed was good for the skin. It contains calcium and other minerals according to my mother and aunts. So eating lots of them was always a yes-yes. It’s real good if you buy those seaweed (Nori) packets and eat them with rice. Mmmmm.
Browsing through the July 2007 issue of Lucky, the featured secret ingredient for the month was Seaweed. From candles to foundation, they featured products that contained the powerful ingredient. Seaweed as Lucky writer, Dawn Spinner explains, filters in hundred of gallons of water daily, leaving the seaweed to soak up minerals like zinc, selenium, and magnesium, and synthesizes at least a dozen vitamins (a dozen vitamins!! No need for Centrum?), seaweed is then one of the most nutrient-rich substances on earth. In products, it restores both skin and hair, and also your inner spirit since it has a subtle, calming marine scent. Here is the list of products featured and I’ve added their links (either click on the name of the product or the picture of the product), in case you’d like to read for yourself what these products are made of and if you’d like to buy them yourself. Enjoy.

Candle: D.L. & Co. Seaweed Absolute Candle – ensures a light and sweet scent with the pretty kelp pattern to brighten up any day.
Hair Mist: Nexxus Phyto Organics Sea Swell Texture Mist – strengthens your hair and protects your color from the sun.

Foundation: Sue Devitt 70% Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation – covers redness, smooths lines, and leaves the right amount of glow!

Body Scrub: Davie Gate Sea Grass Skin Smoothing Body Scrub
Shampoo: Freeman Beauty Sea Kelp Smoothing Shampoo
Conditioner: Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Conditioner

Shower Gel: Molton Brown Energising Seamoss Bath & Shower

Moisturizer: AquaTanica Spa Sea Moisture Gel Souffle – Cool texture, a gel-cream hybrid that sinks in instantly, and leaves you with a dewy, sexy sheen.

My sisters and I got this for our dear mother for Mothers day!
We got the face lifting serum, the line diminishing serum, and the Creme de la Mer that should firm up the skin.
Our very friendly LaMer sales consultant went through each and every step that should be taken once applying the serum and finishing up with the cream. The face lifting serum should be applied and patted across the face (you only need two drops on your palm), then with the line diminishing serum go over the wrinkles using your ring finger pat them on the lines gently. My mom apparently felt a tightening feel once she was done applying this serum. Finish up with the cream, where you literally PAT them on your face and neck instead of the usual rubbing it in.

The cream can be applied once or twice a day. Also, the serum and the cream last for about 8 – 12 months, regarding how much you apply to your face.

My mom was really happy about it by the end of the day and her face did look extra glowy too. Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers out there!

How is water good for you skin? According to Diane Iron, who wrote the book The Worlds’ Best Kept Beauty Secrets, water is the best beauty treatment you can give your skin. Drinking 8-10 glasses a day will replenish your skin and of course you may not realize it but give you the beauty treatment you’ve always been dying for. Drinking water moisturizes your skin. Water is essential to maintaining elasticity and suppleness and helps prevent dryness.

Water gives the ability to maintaining skin health as well as overall health. Drinking water helps flush toxins out, appropriate water intake lessens the burden on your kidneys and liver.