Nia Long's Beauty Secrets

After watching the stunning Nia Long host Black Girls Rock, I hopped on my labtop and did some goggling. I can't help but wonder how she stays looking so young. I mean she doesn't look like she has aged one bit. I came across a slideshow on bet.com that highlights 15 or so of Nia Long's "beauty secrets". I was so happy to find out that many of the products I love Nia uses as well. Clarisonic being one of them! Follow the link to see how Nia manages to wow us with her natural beauty everytime she hits the screen.

Product Showcase: CLARISONIC!!!

While in Sephora on a beauty haul with my sister, I was approached by a sales associate to test the Clarisonic. Being the Savvy Aesthetician I am, I didn't need a tutorial on this ingenious creation. I, for one, love the Clarisonic and would advise everyone to buy one---in a perfect world. Seriously, if you suffer from blackheads, dull skin, or simply want your skin to look more radiant then the Clarisonic is for you. The Clarisonic uses micro massage action to thoroughly clean skin and reduce the appearance of pore skin. This product is gentle yet deep cleansing, allowing products to absorb better ultimately leading to healthier skin. It isn't cheap, the Clarisonic is $195, but the one speed Clarisonic Mia is only $149. You can learn more and shop at http://clarisonic.com/us/. Now offering engraving options to make for the perfect Christmas gift for those wanting beautiful skin!!!

Makeup with Margoux

My very first fashion show!!! I assisted celebrity makeup artist Margoux Leroux http://blog.margouxleroux.com/ at Black Fashion Focus and learned A LOT! All the models looked gorgeous after we made them up with some products that grace the counters of your local drugstores. My favorite place to get affordable makeup is CVS, but like most peoples' experience, you can't try before you buy when shopping there. Getting the chance to "play" in a celebrity makeup artist kit gave me the chance to use some of the best products that have the best prices.

Eucerin--Best Moisturizers

This thick creme moisturizer is great for evening out a dry skin type. It is dermatologist recommended and great for the most sensitive skin. A little goes a long way. CVS $9

Clear Gloss

During the fashion show we did alot of "touching up". I never used so much clear gloss in my life. We must have went through half a tube, but it really helped to have a liner base, lip color, and coats and coats or clear lip on top so that the color could POP for the camera!

Wet n Wild Lip Liners---Yes, cheap and it does the trick!!

Essence of Beauty brushes blended our colors fabulously and also can be found at CVS.

Cell Phones and Breakouts

While driving to work I was listening to the radio and certainly wasn't too jazzed to find out that cell phone were on the list of the top 5 dirtiest surfaces. I mean I know that cell phones can get dirty, but I didn't know they were up there with money and public toilet seats. So then of course I started thinking about my skin! Ever wonder why your right cheek stays with papules and pustules....clean your cell phone!!!! Yes, dirty cell phones can cause breakouts the same way old makeup and soiled pillow cases can.

Stress Low=Skin Glow!!!

If you notice that your skin acts up whenever your stress levels are high you may want to do your complexion a favor---calm down! Pychodermatology is a field that is growing as dermatologist take a more integrated approach to the correlation between the mind and the body (specifically the skin). Studies show that skin disorders like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and of course acne tend to flare up when stress levels are high.

Interestingly, Bruce Katz, MD, director of the Juva Skin and Laser Center and the director of the cosmetic surgery and laser clinic at Mount Sinai Medical School, explains it this way: "It's the target organ theory, and certain people have different target organs that channel stress," he tells WebMD. "Some people get ulcers, some people get migraines, and other people get rashes as the skin is their target organ," he says (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/effects-of-stress-on-your-skin).

Make sure to keep your body and your skin in balance!

Lycopene for Lunch?

On my lunch break I was trying to decide if I should try the pasta with tomatoe and basil or the chicken alfredo. Then I remembered, Lycopene! I ended up choosing the pasta with tomatoe and basil, because tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that neutralizes free radicals and offers a small dose of sun protection. The best way to receive the benefits of lycopene would be eating cooked tomatoes (i.e. Marinera sauce)or even applying lycopene topically. One of my favorite brands Eminence Organics of Hungary sells a Tomatoe Sun Protection SPF 16 cream that is excellent for the skin. Since lycopene is fat soluble with small molecules, if applied topically it absorbs very well into the skin to nourish it. So next time you're at the pasta station and you have to choose red or white, you know what to do!

Topic of the Week: Ethnic Skin Concerns

Asian and dark skin in particular often suffer from hyperpigmentation caused by scarring (from acne, etc.), certain medications, inflammation from skin damage and sun damage .

This past week I had a lot of clients with darker skin and hyperpigmentation issues. I was asked tons of questions on how to lighten dark spots.

Depending on the severity of your case here are my recommendations for treating hyperpigmentation:

1. Sunblock-This is a critical first step in protecting your skin and ensuring that hyperpigmentation does not worsen. A must for anyone prone to hyperpigmentation (i.e. dark sensitive skin)

2. Aveda's Embrightenment Line-Ascorbyl Glucoside (a vitamin C derivative), mulberry root, and grape extracts work together to rid dark spots. I personally have worked with these products and can tell you that nearly all clients said they seen results. Insider Tip: the toner, serum, and moisturizer have the most active ingredients, so make sure to purchase at least 2 of these items for your regimen.

2. Chemical Peels and/or Microdermabrasion-My recommendation would be to go to a medical spa or dermatologist if you want either of these treatments to be aggresive and effective. Bare in mind, skin that hyperpigments easily is already sensitive in a way but, if your skin is SUPER sensitive, these methods might not be your first choice.

3. Laser-I'd like to highlight a renowned dermatologist, Dr. Battle of Cultura Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Center (http://www.culturamed.com/), who patented a laser and procedure called "Complexion Blending" that I've heard works wonders for ethnic skin that suffers from hyperpigmentation. I plan on scheduling a consultation to see what his skin gurus recommend and of course I'll post a review!!!

**Be sure to not over do any kind of aggresive treatment intended to treat hyperpigmentation, if you do it could lead to lightening the skin too much and result in hypopigmentation** But that's a different topic for another day:)

GOT MILK? GET GREAT SKIN!

I've never been a milk drinker, but recently I've found that milk does more for the skin than I thought. Of course Aveda taught me that lactic acid which is derived from milk is found in many mild peels that are on the market and serves as a great exfoliant. Now I know that simple whole milk is the best way to exfoliate sensitive skin. The lactic acid gives a light chemical peel and the fatty acids moisturize the skin. All you have to do is take a bowl of whole milk, soak a washcloth in it, squeeze out the excess, and let the clothe sit on your face for about 3-4 minutes. Repeat the motions as necessary and open your eyes to brighter, healthier skin!!! Who knew an effective peel could be so simple.

LAS VEGAS SPA REVIEWS

So I just got back from a great trip to Las Vegas and while I was there I was fortunate enough to visit a few spas. Well, there are pros and cons to everything so I guess that's whats keeps the universe "balanced". The same goes for the spa world. The spas I visited were all huge, with excellent amenities that you can use all day with the purchase of a treatment. The great thing about these spas is that you can really relax without a time limit and use amenities you wouldn't find at your ordinary day spa. However, the draw back for me is that the personal service and warmth seemed to be missing. At each of these facilities I felt more like a number. The service providers, with the exception of one, were friendly, but didn't put forth the effort that local spa professional do. I guess one major reason for this would be because they know most people are on vacation and they do not feel the need to try hard to build a loyal clientele. So I say all that to say>>If you are into personal service and affordable prices, stick to your neighborhood spas. If you like more of a resort, gym feeling, with state of the art equipment that will allow you the serenity and time to completely relax then resort spas are for you. Also I feel that the best services to receive in terms of value and benefit would be massage therapy as opposed to facials. Getting a skin care treatment at a mega spa is very costly and hard to keep up if you don't continue the regimen at home. Out of the three resort spas I visited while in Vegas I would have to say: Qua Baths and Spa, Spa Mandalay, then Canyon Ranch would be my ranking from most to least favorite.

LAS VEGAS MEGA SPAS

Foodies love to go to Paris, Fashionistas can't get enough of New York, but a Spa Goers dream is VEGAS. Yes, it is probably surprising to know that the city know for sin is also a hotspot for lavish, luxorious, resort spas. With every theme you could possibly imagine, signature treatments, and A+ hospitality, if you are an avid spa goer you should definitely put Vegas on your "to go" list. Spas are by no means a cheap hobby, especially the spa treatments in Vegas. However, here is a tip that I tell people who are looking to visit a couple different spas while in Vegas but don't want to spend so much. **All the resorts offer services, but they also offer spa passes. Spa passes allow you access into the spa and grant you use of all the facilities, but without a treatment. ** These are great to purchase at resorts like Caesar's Palace or The Venetian, because the spa itself has so much to offer (steam rooms, hot tubs, mediation rooms, etc.). I'll be back next week with some reviews!

Tip of the Week from Dr. Ellen Marmur author of "Simple Skin Beauty"

So according to accomplished NYC dermatologist Ellen Marmur, for people with extremely dry/sensitive skin, cleansing twice a day is not only unnecessary but could worsen your skin's condition. Since washing the face rids the skin of oils (which dry and sensitive skin need) she recommends cleansing only at night to wash away dirt, debris, and makeup. Then in the morning awaken your face with a warm washcloth then a splash of cold water. The splash of cold water is the best way to quickly brighten your complexion and make pores appear smaller, because cold water is a vasocontrictor (closes blood vessels). So far I have been following Dr. Marmur's advice and have noticed that when it comes to skin care less really is more!