Alexandra Richmond, Mintel's senior beauty analyst, said: "These latest findings highlight a lack of information available on cosmetic sell-by dates. Repeated exposure to bacteria from the mouth affects lip colour cosmetics, while out-of-date mascara and eye pencils can raise the risk of infections. Natural and organic products containing fewer or no preservatives have a shorter shelf-life than conventional products and therefore potentially harbor higher levels of bacteria."
Interestingly enough, Dr. Oz (of Oprah Winfrey show fame) kicked off his new TV show with a segment on the dangers of using yucky (unclean) or old cosmetics. The bacteria found in cosmetics can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even meningitis!
Dr. Oz shared the following tips:
As a licensed esthetician, I am going to say something very controversial. I respect Paula Begoun. I don't always agree with her, but I respect her. There, I said it. For those of you who are not familiar with Paula, she is dubbed "The Cosmetics Cop". She wrote the immensely popular "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" which exposed the cream of the crop from the crap in the world of beauty products. She has appeared as a beauty expert on countless TV shows ranging from CNN to Oprah.
Its controversial to respect Paula because many estheticians truly believe that the best products are "professional" products. Its not hard to understand why since "professional" products can only be sold in spas and dr. offices and if we, as estheticians, endorse over the counter products, that's taking money straight out of our wallets. And as you can imagine, many in the beauty industry (i.e. cosmetics companies) have issues with Paula, especially when she pans their products. But what Paula attempts to do is separate fact from fiction - distinguish the actual performance of a product from its claims by consulting with cosmetic chemists, analyzing the latest medical research and testing each individual product.
In this video, Paula addresses eye creams. Paula asserts that there is no need for eye creams because, for the most part, they contain the same ingredients as face creams and claims for the need for eye creams are bogus. I challenge you to read labels and see if Paula's assertions are true. Let me know what you find!
In this audio post, I talk about how pH testing your skin care products can lead to healthier skin and better skin care purchases!
To purchase a pH testing set, you can visit - www.spaelegance.com.
Recently, I was told that I have been ingesting the wrong type of protein to recover from my workouts. I bought an e-book from Jennifer Nicole Lee (if only I could look like her after 3 kids) and in it she recommends that women back away from soy protein and switch to whey protein instead. She also recommends all kinds of great things to add to your protein shakes like organic coconut oil, flax seeds (for essential omega 3s), and egg whites (actually makes the shake super frothy and adds extra protein).
So when I heard that there was shake mix on the market that is supposed to boost hair, skin and nails, it really piqued my interest. I have to say, I'm completed fascinated by the growing number of beautyceuticals hitting the market these days (BeutyScoop, Borba, Glowelle, etc).
Developed by a duo of plastic surgeons, BeautyScoop billed as the "edible beauty accessory". Its been featured in DailyCandy and the Today Show and has received endorsements from Ricki Lake (really?) and Marcia Gay Harden. It's key ingredients are safflower oil, canola oil (which contains omega-3s), assorted peptides and proteins for anti-aging (both soy AND whey), and biotin (known for strengthening hair and nails). And it apparently tastes like vanilla and you can mix it with water, juice, or milk. This may be the newest addition to my daily shake regimen!
Another beauty drink making news these days is Glowelle. Developed by a team of women over at Nestle, Glowelle is an all natural drink that is packed with anti-oxidants (green and white tea extract, pomegranate extract, and goji berry extract) meant to restore the skin's radiance. Its only sold at Neiman Marcus and comes in two flavors - Raspberry Jasmine and Pomegranant Lychee. The formulation comes in packets that can be added to water (complete with their own satchel that fits in your purse, although it looks like a tampon holder), or in pre-mixed bottles (that are quite chic).
So what's the scoop? Its undeniable that a diet rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins leads to luscious, beautiful, skin and hair - just look at people who live in the Mediterranean! It also helps us to feel better which in turn allows us to view ourselves more positively, more radiant. However, I am also a firm believer that genetics also plays a huge role in determining how our skin, hair, and nails will glow and grow. Ultimately, it will never be a bad thing to add more vitamins and anti-oxidants to our diets, but there are no magic pills (or shakes) out there. Some people will require more aggressive treatments depending on their individual conditions.
I was cleaning out my bathroom last weekend and I came across my "secondary stash" of cosmetics - you know, not the stuff you use everyday but the stuff that you use every now and then. In the stash was:
- A set of eyeshadows that I was talked into buying during a visit to a MAC counter (I should have known better)
- A lipstick that I used to LOVE but now looks a little bit "juvenile"
- Eye cream that was a GWP that I never used
- Blush that my girlfriend left while preparing for a girl's night out
- Mascara that I was duped into buying from QVC (I actually have two b/c I bought the same mascara twice, lol).
As an esthetician, I tell people to regularly rotate their cosmetics to avoid infection, yet I have no idea how long I have had my own make-up!
Martha Kempner of the DC Examiner says, "Knowing when to toss your cosmetic products can be especially important for items with active ingredients such as sunscreens, glycolic acid, retinol or hydroquinone, all of which lose efficacy with age. And in the case of sunscreen or block, even a minor change in the strength of the SPF can lead to a dangerous sunburn or sun damage. Also, certain skin types, such as acneic or sensitive, will want to be aware of using old, expired products as this can lead to further breakouts, redness, or flakiness. "
Here are some guidelines:
Natural products have even shorter shelf lives due to lack of preservatives.
Some companies, such as Paragon Cosmetics, are coming the rescue by placing an icon on products indicating how long the product will last once opened. The icon looks like a little jar of cream and features a number and the letter M. The number represents the number of months the user should keep the product before tossing it.
Or you can always write your own expiration date on the products once you open them by using a Sharpie!
Its definitely time to do some spring cleaning in my make-up drawer!
Hey Beauties!! Sorry for the LOOONG delay since my last post. It has been quite a month for me! But enough about me, let's talk about you! Lisa K. from Washington, DC is facing this problem: "I have a counter full of products that I am supposed to apply each morning. I have a feeling that I'm not putting my these things on the right order. Is there a rule of thumb that I should follow?"
Well Lisa, the short answer is YES! There is a method to the madness. You should be applying products in order of their weight - "thinner feeling" products go on first, and "heavier products" go on last. This is done to ensure that products are properly absorbed into the skin in the right way. Here's a quick rundown of how you should be applying products:
(1) Make-up Remover - I suggest using a make-up removing product whenever possible to remove make-up instead of relying on your cleanser. Most cleansers are effective but you want to make sure that ALL traces of make-up are removed during the cleansing process.
(2) Cleanser - use a skin type appropriate cleanser.
(3) Exfoliant- gently, especially if you're doing it more than 2x per week. Great for prepping the skin for the introduction of active ingredients.
(4) Toner - only if it contains active ingredients. Recently, I have been LOVING Boots Skin Brightening Toner which is only $7 from CVS. It contains a bevy of alpha-hydroxy acids as well as other fantastic plant extracts. If a toner does not contain actives, its just hyped-up water and a wasted purchase.
(5) Serum - especially if you have mature/dehydrated skin. Look for something that contains hyaluronic acid for maximum hydration.
(6) Treatment - especially for those of you that spot treat acne, blemishes, discoloration, etc.
(7) Moisturizer - with a skin type appropriate skin moisturizer.
(8) Sunscreen - Sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. I am not a huge fan of double-duty products (those that contain sunscreen). I think think it should be applied independently of make-up and should be reapplied at least once during the day for those a with especially fair or sensitive skins (i.e. burns easily, tans minimally).
(9) Makeup- should always be applied last. If you would like to mix a bit of foundation into your moisturizer for a tinted moisturizer, that's completely fine. Just make sure that you apply your sunscreen as well.
One quick tip - I recommend exfoliating at night. By exfoliating at night, you give your skin the full night to rejuvenate itself and you'll wake up with a great glow. Also, daytime exfoliation leaves your skin more susceptible to the damage done by UVA/UVB rays, which means that if you exfoliate during the day, you'll have to be especially diligent about using sunscreen!
OK, I thought I had heard of everything related to skin care. Magic creams and potions, injections, and even skin care drinks. Now, linen manufacturers are introducing....beauty bedding??
That's right several bedding manufacturers have developed pillows, sheets, blankets, and mattresses infused with skin care ingredients such as aloe, seaweed, and even copper. Mattress manufacturers are infusing the ingredients into the mattress ticking (the material that covers the mattress). Some others are enclosing the ingredients into small micro-capsules (woven into the fabric) which break open when pressure is applied.
There are proponents and opponents on both sides. One dermatologist stated that copper bedding may be beneficial for those with acne and others are more cautious since not many in-depth studies have been conducted.
The products are priced anywhere from $70 for pillow cases to $1499 for mattress sets.
Copper bedding by Cupron Copper Technology is sold exclusively by Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Prices range from $20-$150, depending on the item.
Here's the skinny - its unlikely that these items will produce lasting results on the skin due to the delivery method. In order for ingredients to be most effective, they must be able to penetrate the dermis. As with most products, topical treatments often produce only temporary results. Further, the ingredients being delivered - aloe, copper, and seaweed - can be found in many products that have undergone in-depth testing.
Bottom line - save your money. If you want to buy great sheets, invest in high thread-counts!
For eons, women have had a love affair with chocolate.....sweet, creamy, melt-in-your mouth chocolate. And for almost as long, women have been told that the object of their affection could be one of the leading reasons why their skin is breaking out. And since some of you may have consumed more than the averge amount of chocolate last week, I thought I thought I would clear up the chocolate-causing-pimples myth once and for all.
Here's the deal, several studies have been published - most notably the report published in the Journal of Family Practice in 2005 by researchers at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia - that say that there is only a small connection between chocolate and skin blemishes. Of the various types of chocolate, dark chocolate appears to cause no blemishes. The incidence of blemishes caused by milk chocolate is slightly higher but its not due to the cocoa, its due its sugar content. There is definitely a skin-nutrition connection. Typically, the cleaner your diet, the clearer your skin. There are studies that show foods with a higher glycemic index such as refined carbohydrates (the "whites" - bread, potatoes, and pasta)and sweets may be linked with breakouts.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study of men ages 15 to 25 that found that those who spent 12 weeks on a diet of protein and low-glycemic slow-metabolizing carbohydrates reduced their acne by twice as much as participants in a control group. Studies have also found that a low-sugar, low-refined-carb diet that reduces the level of insulin in the blood also lowers the level of androgens, a hormone that stimulates the glands in the skin to produce oil and, hence, zits. The increase in androgen toward the end of the menstrual cycle helps explain why some women get monthly breakouts.
So, if you are going to reach for a bite of chocolate - make it dark chocolate. In addition to having a low glycemic index, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants (anti-aging ingredients) and flavinoids - which keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries. And most importantly, no zits! Sweet!!