Skin discoloration such as hyperpigmentation, freckles and age spots can occur from many reasons such as years of spending time in the sun, hormones, pollution, stress and free radicals. Any one of these can cause an excessive amount of melanin to be produced which then causes those dreaded brown spots to show up. To reverse the appearance of these brown spots and reveal your healthier, younger skin DDF has created the Discoloration Reversal-POD. Their sponge like applicator exfoliates and hydrates your skin on the area where hyperpigmentation occurs and allows for deep skin penetration of the new Micro-Radiance Complex so maximum results for a more even-toned skin are achieved.  Available at SkinStore.com

Mascara is never any fun to apply especially first thing in the morning, half of it ends up on the skin which leaves more time wasted for cleanup.  Thankfully an innovative new lash accessory may make applying mascara actually fun.  Spinlash, a battery operated lash device that has a rotating brush coats mascara perfectly removing any clumping and even adding a nice curl while evening out the mascara applied.  The great thing is that even though Spinlash comes with it’s own mascara it can be used with any brand of mascara. Definitely worth a try for all us lash obsessed ladies!

When it comes to your night time skin care routine there is one product you must not leave out, especially if you are prone to acne, hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.  This must have anti-aging wonder is Retin-A, also known as Retinoids, has been used for over 35 years as an acne treatment then eventually becoming FDA approved for use as a cosmetic product for skin rejuvenation.  Retinol, which is the protein in the cells of Retin-A plays a major role in the development of tissues and organs as well as the immune system.  Retin-A, when applied as a cream or gel produces a mild superficial peel of the top layer of the skin known as the “epidermis” which works to strengthen and thicken the outer layer of skin producing more collagen which is something our body loses as we age.  Retin-A also affects our deeper “dermis” layer causing skin cells to regenerate faster therefore ridding the skin of the old cells and replacing with healthy new cells.  The result is a smooth, glowing and more youthful looking complexion.

Retin-A is a key element in our anti-aging treatment that removes the effects of sun damage, hyperpigmentation and helps to soften wrinkles and improve acne.  There may be some irritation with use on sensitive skin such as redness, drying and flaking.  What’s recommended then is that you combine Retin-A with a moisturizer.  Use consistently to benefit from the results and wear sunscreen daily!

Ok, this woman holding the bottle of esente above is not only the founder of the company but can you believe she is a 50 year old grandmother! Her name is Victoria Nash and if her youthful look is the result of using the esente line of skin care products we all need to give them a try.  

The esente line was created to be both preventative as well as restorative, offering many benefits that are referred to as the “e” factor - eliminating imperfections, enhancing cell function, extracting impurity, exfoliating and many others. 

Science, of course is behind the Physioceutical collection.  Pharmaceutical grade ingredients combined with ocean derived Oligo elements, peptides and other natural ingredients offer tremendous long term benefits to keeping skin beautiful, youthful and radiant. For more information visit esente.com and for your chance to win a free esente sampler just click here to enter. 

One of my most favorite skin cleansers around is the Arcona Toner Tea Bar. Packed full of antioxidants, the Toner Tea Bar includes green and black tea to protect your skin against any free radical damage. It also keeps skin tight and toned while minimizing the appearance of pores. It really makes you skin feel amazing with consistent daily use. 

Applying foundation has just been made easy with this egg shaped sponge called the Beautyblender.  The creation of 2 hollywood makeup artists, Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz, both experts in creating the perfect flawless finish for their celebrity clients. The unique patent pending elliptical shape offers a quick foundation fix and easy application from the standard sharp edged designs.  The Beautyblender smooth suede texture is soft to the touch and allows for blending perfection, even for those hard to reach spots.  What you end up with is a professional finish and a flawless complexion.  The Beautyblender sponge also comes with it’s own cleansing solution so no need to throw away.

One of the reasons why I don’t really wear foundation too much is I can never seem to find a shade that will match my skin perfectly and even though I do use mineral powders for a smooth finish the skin care, makeup products I have used to even out my skin tone have been the kind to lighten and brighten your complexion like CA Botana’s Doctor Schwab Flawless Skin Fluid or Dr. Perricone’s Ceramic Skin Smoother. 

Last night however I saw a commercial from Almay on their  Smart Shade Foundation.  Basically the foundation goes on as a white lotion which contains microscopic color beads that once they make contact with your skin are activated and transform into your skin’s perfect shade. Now that’s pretty smart!  The foundation also has an SPF 15 and natural antioxidants like grapeseed, gingko biloba and ginseng that keeps your skin glowing.

Fake lashes sometimes take a long time to apply and getting them perfect can also be a challenge.  Eyelash extensions are wonderful and yes i’m addicted but sometimes we miss our touchup appointment and next thing you know they’re gone! So what’s a girl to do?  Definitely not leave home without our long, lush lashes that’s for sure! Imju Fiberwig mascara may be an alternative solution.  Just think fake lashes in a tube that you paint on. It’s the number one selling product in Japan and I guess for good reason.  Fiberwig when applied adds fibers to your lashes making them appear thicker and longer.  The more coats you apply the more volume and thickness. There is actually a long lash kit that you can purchase that comes with a DVD to show you “How to Go Beyond Mascara with Fiberwig” and create dramatic lash length and intensity.  I will definitly be trying out this innovative mascara and reporting back…

It’s amazing to see how much science is starting to play a part in our beauty regimen.  Keeping skin youthful, firm, radiant and of course wrinkle-free is what we are all seeking. Many wonderful result oriented products have made their way onto the beauty scene and as companies continue to research and develop new products we start seeing even better products with faster results. 

One such company AminoGenesis has introduced the power of Amino Acids into their revolutionary new skin care line. Amino acids are known as the essential building blocks of all life, an important and necessary ingredient for cell renewal and collagen production.  AminoGenesis with founder Dr. T. Joseph Lin, Ph.D have developed the first ever amino acid based skin care line focused on nourishing the skin with these ingredients that become depleted from our body over time due to external conditions as well as the natural aging process. 

The skin care line consists of 17 plant-derived amino acids that aid in the production of collagen and elastin.  Amazing results can be seen after only 1 week of daily use!  Click here to see some before and after pictures.  

Products include the Photolagen AGF which is a full strength, non-prescription formula that treats major skin issues such as sun damage, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation as well as improving the skin’s overall texture and elasticity.  To strengthen and tighten facial connective tissues Tripeptinon was created. Basically a face lift in a jar, this 40 day capsule treatment includes three powerful anti-aging technologies that address surface and underlying skin issues. For the eyes the Counter Clockwise under-eye treatment delivers moisture and nutrients to soothe and refresh; and for total body hydration Cocoon Total Body Emollient uses 17 amino acids to help penetrate the lotion immediately into the skin giving it a healthy hydrated glow.

It’s wonderful to know that science is keeping us beautiful!

Yes, there is a fountain of youth and it arrived at my front door today in a canister with big black letters that read TOKI.  A japenese product developed by Lanelabs, TOKI means porcelain-like skin and all the women in Japan have it and the women in america want it. 

Toki is unlike other anti-aging products we use since most are a topical cream or serum and cannot penetrate deep into the dermal or lower layers of the skin. 

TOKI is rather a powdered lemon flavored collagen drink that you mix into a hot or cold beverage and drink up to 3 times per day.  It contains Active collagen, Calcium and Mucopolysaccharides that include hyaluronic acid which is produced by the body naturally and gives our skin it’s volume and elasticity, but as we age we do not produce as much.  By taking internally in the form of a drink, essential nutrients are able to travel through the blood stream and into the dermis layer improving your skin’s texture and appearance.  Clinical studies have shown that TOKI can actually diminish fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.  It can also improve overall elasticity of the skin resulting in a more youthful appearance and of course porcelain skin. Sounds good to me - well here I go my first TOKI experience added to my morning green tea… tastes good.  I will keep you posted on my results.  In the meantime click here for before and after pictures as well as additional information.

Now this is one cool looking brush.  The Kabuki makeup brush by adesign has a patent pending pointed design that covers more area in less time allowing for fast and easy makeup application. Use with foundations, moisturizers and masks.