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.

With the humidity index on the rise, women are compiling their arsenal of hair products in order to defend against the dreaded frizz that will ravage their hair. Here is some advice to help you build your arsenal.

First, frizzy hair is caused by two things. The first we are all familiar with and that is humidity. Humidity will cause your hair to grow about 20% in mass – just by walking outside to your car! If humidity is between 70% and 100%, your hair mass will even double! That means it will expand up to 40% – just by walking outside. The second thing that causes frizz is friction. Yes folks, friction. Your hair has a lot of texture in it and when it rubs up against other hairs, it will build mass, thus causing frizz. So, now we know the two major contributors to frizz, let’s talk explore the tools and products that combat this problem.

The first and most important thing you can do to fight frizz is take care of your hair. Yes, that seems like an obvious answer but one that we typically don’t follow. The more damage that you have from split ends, coloring, chemicals, etc, the more damage you have to the cuticles in your hair, making them open to moisture (humidity) and friction. So, don’t skip or hold out on hair cuts and make sure you are doing cleansing and conditioning treatments.

Now, onto products. There is an exciting new production on the market called No Frizz by Living Proof. It rejects the ingredients used in other frizz care products, which is Silicone. Rather, they worked with a scientist and found a new ingredient (PolyfluoroEster) that coats each hair fiber in a thin shield that keeps the water out of the cuticles of your hair, thus avoiding frizz. They have a whole line of anti-frizz products, including the “Straight Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair” that won the Cosmetic Executive Women’s Beauty Insider’s Choice Award. A 4 oz bottle will cost $24. A couple other products that work well include the John Freida “Frizz Ease” collection, especially the Overnight Repair Formula. It will help repair breakage and split ends and contains a “blend of conditioning agents and a humectant, plus an infusion of chamomile extract.” It is lightweight and won’t leave any residue on your pillow. A 1.69 fluid oz bottle runs about $9. Another great product line is Aussi 3 minute Miracle deep conditioning treatment. It uses “intense, fortifying conditioners” that deeply condition hair and repair dry, damaged hair. An 8 oz bottle runs about $7. OK, so this next product is a very cool, very stylish shower cap. It is called the Zazz Shower Cap and it is made of waterproof, ultra-thin Italian vinyl fabric. Unlike regular shower caps, the Zazz cap has a a thin stretch elastic and ribbon detailing that protects the hairline from getting wet, thus causing frizz. It’s super cute and comes in all different styles. It costs about $36. I had to include a picture of one of the caps as they are so cute!

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.

Yep, summer is just around the corner. That means it is time to start paying attention to those feet again, especially with all the wear and tear they take over the winter and during those excruciating work out sessions. So, here are a few products that help replenish and revive nasty “winter” feet….and they are reasonably priced!

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme ($9 for a 4.34 oz. tube): This product is 99.4% natural and consists mainly of coconut oil, peppermint and rosemary oils. It promises to prevent and protect dry, cracked or rough skin with deeply penetrating emollient botanical oils. The only down side (if this really is one) is that it feels pretty greasy and takes some time to rub into the foot. But you will see results pretty quickly. If you don’t believe me, check out the customer ratings on the Burt’s Bees website – this miracle product gets a 97% recommendation rate.

PediFix Deep Healing Foot Cream ($10 for a 4 oz. jar): This cream features mineral oil, urea, lanolin and vitamins A,D & E. It is non greasy and is said to moisturize dry skin, soften calluses and revitalizes feet. Also noted to be great for people with diabetes. The website says is softens in just one application, which is true but will require several applications to really cure dry, callused feet.

Barielle Total Foot Care Cream ($20 for a 4 oz. jar): Made of Glycerin, Paraffin Beeswax, Sunflower Oil, Lanolin and Vitamin E and is one of the more popular foot creams on the market. Directions say to rub it into your feet twice a day and cover with warm socks for best results, which doesn’t help if you live a pretty hectic lifestyle. But even without the socks, the cream does a great job of eliminating dry feet and cracked heels. Also, it won Allure’s “Best of Beauty” award.

Dr. Scholl’s For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream ($5 for a 3.5 oz. tube): This non-greasy, fragrance free cream is formulated to repair and protect dry, cracked skin. Key ingredients include Aloe and Palm Kernel Oil. You put it on just before bed time and it works to soothe and soften cracked skin as well as to repair moisture in your feet. It is truly amazing and feels great after a long day!

Sephora’s BODY Super Supreme Foot Balm ($20 for a 5 oz. tube): The website promises that this balm will immediately nourishe, relieve, and refresh even the most tired and damaged feet. It is a non greasy formula with ingredients such as soft almond oil; shea butter; and peppermint, cypress, and sage essential oils. Reviewers gave it a 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Sephora website.

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!

Looking at the beauty isle, you can tell that most everyone on this planet wants to regain their youthful appearance. However, those beauty items could be having the opposite effect. Here are five mistakes people make which can add years to their appearance.

1. Caking on the Foundation AND Choosing the Wrong Color Foundation. These two missteps can add years to your look. Women will try to add more foundation where there are wrinkles to try and smooth them out. That is not the way to go. Rather, when applying foundation, take a sponge and blot the areas where you have wrinkles to get rid of the excess. Also, only use foundation where absolutely necessary…The more of your natural face we see, the younger you will actually appear. Also, use a sheer foundation or a tinted moisturizer. The key is to have your skin well hydrated which will automatically make it look fresh and youthful. Second part is choosing the correct color. Often, women will choose a foundation that is too light for their complexion and end up looking washed out – they then try to cake on more foundation (see above for results of caked on foundation). Rather, choose a foundation which is a shade or two darker than your tone and make sure it has luminescent particles in it. This will hide any pigmentation or sun damage and give your face a healthy looking glow.

2. Too much concealer under the eyes. The skin under our eyes thins out as we age so as in tip one, you need to be careful not to cake on the concealer as it will have the same aging effects. Rather, go light with the concealer and use a brush to apply it (rather than your fingers). The brush will distribute the concealer more evenly. Another tip is to only put the concealer in the dark ares – not the entire eye.

3. Applying Blush to the apples of your cheeks. As you age, the apples of your cheeks will start to sag. So, applying blush to them will only highlight the problem. Rather, start at the highest point of your cheekbone (avoid getting too close to the nose) and brush upward. Use a large blush brush that can cover teh entire cheekbone with one swipe. Now to tackle blush colors. Avoid the deeper or brighter colors and opt for a neutral rose color. It is perfect for all skin tones and will give you a subtle glow and brighten up your face.

4. Using dark or extreme lip colors and skipping the liner. As you age, your lip line will tend to fade or lighten. This can cause lipstick to bleed past the line. By simply lining your lips with a clear lip liner, you can avoid this from happening and not look too flamboyant with your lips. Also, avoid colors that are “heavy” like brights, darks, metallics or iridescents. These will look too heavy on your face. Try a neutral rose color and consider a light lip gloss which will also brighten your face. Another tip when it comes to lips. If you are going to put on lipstick or gloss, don’t skip the rest of your face…At least apply some bronzer and mascara to balance out your face.

5. Eyeliner and mascara on the lower lids. They will highlight your crow’s feet and dark circles. Instead, keep the liner and mascara on the top lids only. When applying mascara be sure to use an eyelash curler first as it is the easiest way to make your eyes look bigger. Then, apply a deep black mascara that is not too thick. The black will make the whites of your eyes look whiter and the lighter formula will help you avoid the caked on look. When applying liner, start thin at the corner of your eyes and thicken as you get to the edge of your eyes. It will make your eyes look bright and open.

Whether you have straight, curly, wavy, short or long, you can take some very simple steps to achieve illustrious shine to your hair.

You are what you eat. Same is true for a healthy, shiny mane. It is important to eat foods rich in protein, iron and omega 3 fatty fats as these help boost your shine over time. So, eat foods like greens, sweet potatoes, red meat, greens, nuts, fish, eggs, beans, dairy products, avocados, salmon and flaxseed oil. Also, take a vitamin E supplement or simply buy hair products that have Vitamin E in them.

Try to avoid shampoos that contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Ammonium Laureth Sulfate. These will strip your hair and make it look dull. Try L’oreal Everpure shampoo ($7, drugstores). However, milder shampoos won’t be able to get rid of silicone or wax. So, you may have to experiment with these shampoos to see what works best on your hair.

Condition, condition, condition. There seems to be a myth out there that alleges over conditioning hair will lead to greasy hair. That is just not true. In fact, you should condition every time you shampoo your hair. Choose nutrient rich conditioners that have avocado oil, olive oil, or shea butter. These nutrients will not only moisturize your hair but also fill in any cracks in the hair shaft. Also, a deep conditioning treatment once a week recommended. You don’t have to go to the salon or even buy product at the store. Some simple home remedies include smearing mayo on dry hair (avoid getting it close to hairline or scalp). Work it into the hair and wrap with plastic wrap or plastic bag for an hour. Then wet, shampoo and rinse. Another technique is mixing 2-4 egg yolks (depending on length and thickness of hair) with olive oil. Put mixture on after shampooing hair and leave in for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water. Honey mixed with aloe vera is another deep conditioning remedy. Mix condition with aloe vera and honey (equal parts) and leave in for 10 minutes.

Blonds – dab lemon juice on hair and then rinse. Brunettes and red heads – apple cider vinegar. This step during the rinsing process will help bring out mega shine!

Don’t rub your hair with a towel. Rather, blot or gently squeeze hair with a towel. Also, don’t brush wet hair. Use your fingers to gently de-tangle hair. Use a heat-resistant product on your hair before drying. Matrix Sleek Look Iron Smoother works great!

Try to avoid using a blow dryer and heated hair tools daily. Let your hair air dry once or twice a week. Skip the straightener and go for a wind blown look on the weekends. Also, if you do use heated hair tools, make sure they are ionic hair straighteners and blow dryers. This will protect your hair from too much damage. Finally, avoid using product every day as well. It can cause buildup and reduce the shine in your hair.

Use a shine serum on wet or dry hair. Be sure it is water soluble or you will have a hard time getting it to wash out of your hair. Try Redken Glass ($14 salons).

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.

Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick

The creamiest, richest, smoothest lip colour you can imagine. Our revolutionary gel formula delivers the shine of a gloss, the comfort of a lipstick. Drenches lips in moist, lush colour that glides on buttery-soft, feels luxuriously smooth.

First, line lips with a coordinating shade of Quickliner For Lips. Then smooth Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick onto lips, following curves of natural lip line.
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With the Lip Brush, apply a new sheer shade of Colour Surge Buttershine Lipstick, and blend into lip-line. Wear together with a gloss for a super-wet look. For more tips check out Clinique’s Global Artist Makeup Tips.

Quickliner for Lips
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