Short Summer? Keep it beautiful!

With the new "Balanced School year" here in Washoe County this year, many of my young school age friends are having more than a tough time finding employment this summer. I mean really, who wants to hire a person to train them for 6 weeks just to have them leave again. Enter the new generation of self employed, self motivated and self starters to find the answer. 

I would like to introduce a friend of mine that is one of the brightest, smart, young entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. She has a passion for makeup and specializes in Bridal Looks and Makeovers. Heidi is heading off to beauty school this fall after graduating from Galena High a couple of weeks ago. But she is not waiting till fall to get a jump on the career path she has chosen. She has signed up as an independent beauty consultant  with Mary Kay for her summer job. 

I thought is would be interesting this week to hear from one of the beauty industries "up and coming" to see what Heidi's best tips would be on how to stay beautiful and keep it cool this summer. Here's what she has to offer.

1. Self tanner! We should all be minimizing our exposure to the sun. But if you are going to hang out at Tahoe this summer you need some color. Just remember to exfoliate before, to avoid streaks.
2. Mary Kay carries this great set of products called Satin Hands. This includes a hand softener, a smoothing scrub, (which works great to scrub the self tanner off your hands after applying) and a hand lotion that moisturizers for 24 hours and will last through up to three washes! You can use these products on your feet for great summer feet! But I do suggest getting a pumice bar to scrub at your heels also.
3. UV protection for your hair. No, your hair cannot get sun burnt but the sun can fade hair color and dry it out. Bumble and Bumble makes a UV hair primer for $24. You also want to use this to avoid burning your scalp.
4. Are you trying to grow your hair? I sure am! Here are a few things I do to help hair growth. Massage your scalp for at least a minute a day (I do this in the shower). Minimize heat damage by simply not using heat stylers as often and using heat protectant when you do.
5. Now that we are all wearing shorts, we tend to shave our legs more often. Using baby oil gel as your shaving "cream" allows for your razor to last longer and it helps moisturize your legs at the same time! 
6. Typically your makeup is more minimalist in the summer so one of the best assets to play up is a beautiful full lip. I have a line of  lip sticks called True Dimensions. I think this line is a grab because it is an anti-aging lip stick! The lip stick contains ingredients to help boost collagen in your lips which makes them look fuller. And they come in 20 different shades!
7. Did you know that layering a scented lotion over a matching scent perfume intensifies the scent and it will last twice as long? This is helpful when you are out in the sun breaking a sweat.
   
   
   Do you have some great summer tips you would like to share? We would love to hear them! Please post a comment below. Share with your friends! Sharing is caring!! ;)
   Thanks for stopping by the blog! See you next week! 
   Michon :)
   
   
   
   Heidi Hunter is an independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay that lives here in Reno. She is passionate about her new up and coming career and excited to help others discover their ideal beauty experience.  
   You can shop Heidi's Mary Kay page here.
   You can also see contact Heidi on her business Facebook page here. 

Spring Clean Your Pores

It's been a long dry, typical winter here in the high desert of Reno, NV. You may be used to this but your skin is not going to be reaping the rewards of it. Dry heat and low humidity can make your skin dull and flakey. Exfoliating or chemically removing dead skin cells can reveal bright new, fresh skin cells underneath. This is a great time of year to get a chemical peel or a microdermabrasion done. We are typically not out in the sun too frequently this time of year and you have less of a chance of getting overheated, which is something you want to avoid after a resurfacing treatment.
Here are 4 great reasons to do a little spring cleaning on your skin this month.

1. Reduces signs of aging. As you we age our skin becomes dryer and less elastic. It can also be rougher in texture and thicker. Multiple layers of dead skin can accumulate and create a duller appearance to your skin. Peels will remove this build up and brighten up your lack luster complexion. 
2. Help with trouble skin. Exfoliation helps acne-prone skin by sloughing off dead skin cells that may be clogging pores and causing blackheads and pimples. By properly removing a few layers of buildup you will see immediate results. Note: You must follow up with proper, non-comdemic moisturizer to replace the moisture lost so that you body doesn't think it needs to produce extra oil!
3. Minimizes pores. Dirt can get stuck down in those pores and before you know it they are clogged and will start to get congested and begin looking larger and larger. Clay masks work especially well on enlarged pores. Follow up with a nice exfoliation of chemicals or microderm usually results in removing at least a couple of layers of old dusty skin. 
4. Improves texture. As we age our skin naturally slows in cellular turn over. Chemical or manual removal of this buildup can help to speed up the skin renewal process. Beautiful fresh skin has to be generated to replace what has been taken. This process also encourages the skin to plump up there by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

So when you are done with your windows and your blinds and tired of all that buildup in your house all winter, don't forget your skin! It needs a little TLC as well. And now is the best time to do it!
Happy Spring Cleaning (if there is such a thing).
See you next time,
Michon :)

Summer Beauty Must Haves!

Hot enough for you Reno?! Wow! In light of all this heat, I thought it would be a good time to share some of the hottest new beauty items on the market this year. With 4th of July weekend coming right up, you should stock up on these items to make your weekend as carefree and beautiful as possible. First up...

Model in a Bottle. This product was brought to my attention by a client of mine who bought a bottle on vacation. Caroline is a Reno blogger as well, and takes her job of informing the public about food allergies and asthma on her blog here very seriously. So when she started texting me after her lipstick amazingly lasted through her entire day of events, which included eating and drinking of course, I thought I should take note. Online reviews for the product are great.  Nothing is hotter than lips that are well defined, beautiful and lasting.

The BIO BB and SPF line by Lira Clinical. This product is a must have for all women on the go this summer. The Beauty Balm tint is a comprehensive system that incorporates new advances in anti-aging, camouflage, and sun protection all in one! Three products in one gets you out of the bathroom and out on the beach that much faster. It doesn't get any better than that!

ST TROPEZ sunless tanning system. If you are allergic to the sun like me, and you don't want to have to pass out sunglasses to everyone on the beach before you make your appearance, you will love this product. It gives a sensational tan with no orangy afterglow. You must be meticulous when applying to keep it from streaking, but with a little practice the results are impressive. The reveiws for this product are off the hook from most of my customers and from what I have found online. Available at Sephora at the Summit Mall.

CND Vinylux weekly polish. This nail polish is a fantastic, durable, long lasting polish. It does not require a uv light to cure and it's durablity actually increases with natural light exposure. There is no base coat, so drying time is cut down, and it comes in super cool fun summer shades. The "vinyl" in the color actually makes the polish more flexible. The result, less chipping. Available at fine salons everywhere. Check it out!

Mango Mend Treatment Balm.  This extreme moisturizing and conditioning hand ointment is exactly what you need when you have been out digging in the garden or playing in the sand or surf. I like to apply a thin coat to my hands right before bed to allow the beneficial oils, vitamins and extracts to soak in for a full 7 to 8 hours. And it smells yummy to boot! Available at Image Artistic and other fine salons.

One last must have for summer is the Artown App! Not much makes Reno a more beautiful place to live than Artown. Now there is an app for your phone so that you won't miss a minute of the great events that are happening all over town this month! It even has a calendar on it to invite friends, share on Facebook or Twitter, and it is free! 

That is it for this edition of product reviews. Hope you are able to beat the heat the next couple of weeks and enjoy some cool stuff! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

If you come across any cool new products that you would like to share I would love to hear about them! Leave a comment below. 

See you next week. 

Michon :)

Rosacea Triggers

Today I got the lovely news that I have Rosacea. This skin disorder typically begins after age 30 and the tell-tell signs are redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Eventually the redness becomes ruddier and more persistent. In other words you look like a hot mess, and not like the picture! I had a feeling this would be my diagnosis but I was in denial and wanted to stay there. I had been using very aggressive products with a bunch of retinals and AHAs to combat this 'condition' I felt I had, only to find out that I was using the exact opposite of what would be helpful. So today I have been studying up on what causes rosacea and what triggers it. According to the National Rosacea Society, there are 16 million of us being diagnosed. With summer in full swing, (heat and sun being big triggers) I thought I would share what I have learned from my doctor and from the wonderful world wide web!

1. Hot Temperatures. This can be anything from a hot bath, sauna,  exercise, or too much sun. The one thing the dermatologist stressed to me is that I NEED to be wearing my sun screen even if I am not going outside. People with rosacea are very sun sensitive. 
2. Skin Care products that cause stinging or redness. Stay away from drying cleansers, retinols, alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acids, and the like. Be kind to your skin and use hydrating cleansers and anti-inflamatory cosmetics and moisturizers. 
3. Vitamin D. A new study is being considered now. One study group found that patients with rosacea had an average vitamin D level 25 percent higher than the healthy individuals in the group. Something to consider. I am faithful with my daily D3, but now that it is summer and I am getting more D naturally I think I will back off of it for a bit and see if that helps.
4. Beverages. Alcohol, especially red wine, (excuse me while I sob into my pillow for a bit), beer, bourbon, gin, vodka, or champagne. Hot drinks including, hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Ok, my tea is usually luke warm by the time I drink it so I am safe there, but my wine, oh, this could be problematic. Have to work on that one. ;)
5. Foods. Wow! The list of foods that I found really shocked me. Here is the complete list. (Note that not all foods effect all people with rosacea the same way. The recommendation is to keep a food diary and make note when you get flair ups).  Wouldn't you know it, chocolate is on the list along with spicy foods!! OMGosh! Life is not fair! 

Okay, my pity party is over now. I just thought I would share this little tidbit that I learned today. I will be on the look out for more information on the subject. Gratefully, I have found a new skincare line that will be aiding me in my skin's recovery. Lira Clinical, as I mentioned in last week's post ,actually has an anti-inflamitory line which is specifically what my dermatologist suggested.

Let me know if you have had anything that has worked particularly well for you or any of your family members that may have had to deal with this disorder. I would love to hear it. Please share this with a friend or to Facebook or any place your like to share.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Have a great week!

Sincerely, 

Michon :)

State of the art skincare!

What else would I rather do than go to a class on skin care on my day off? Not much. Well, maybe... a day at the beach could win out now and again. But honestly I had a fantastic day Monday at the Grand Sierra Resort learning about all the newest, most innovative, natural and cutting edge products on the market as of December 2012! Yes! Brand new and nothing else in skin care like it anywhere! I would like to highlight just a few of the magnificent ingredients that will now, be the only things I will be putting on my face.

• Mastiha is an ancient arabic gum that is antibacterial, anti-fungal and contains antioxidants. It is not hard to imagine why having such an amazing product in your skin care line would be beneficial. 
• Collodial Gold and Silver are minerals that are highly beneficial to the skin. They stabilize the collagen, stimulates the glands, are anti-bacteral, kill viruses and speed up healing. 
• Copper is a mineral that strengthens the blood circulation, improves elasticity and is also anti-microbibial. 
• Teprenone is an anti-aging ingredient that it designed to keep your telomeres from shortening. Telomeres are the end of the strands of DNA for your skin. (imagine that little plastic end of your shoelace that protects them from fraying). Those are what telomeres are to your skin. 
• Plant Stem cells are primary cells from which life is born. Stem cells have the capacity of self-renewal and producing identical cells.
• Progeline and Cyclopeptide-5 are the newest peptides on the market. These peptides communicate directly with the cell and slow the aging down by reducing the toxic protein Progerin. 

If you are a person that enjoys using quality products on your skin and you enjoy products you can't get at Walmart you need to look into this line. The price point is very comparable to anything you will get at the high end stores but the ingredients are far superior and clinically prescriptive. So at the end of the day I have to say that I feel incredibly lucky. Lira Clinical has some amazing products that I am taking back to the studio with confidence that I am doing the absolute best thing I can with the technology available at the this time for my clients skin. 

If you have any questions or would like to hear more about this amazing new skin care line please just drop me a line and I will hook you up with free samples. 

The product will sell itself to you! It is amazing!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Sincerely,
Michon :)

Mini Escapes

Spring break is over and the tax man has been paid, so it seems all that we have to look forward to is longer days (yeah!!), and yard work. Well, all work and no play makes for a sad Jack and a pitiful Jill. There is no time left in the schedule to get away and enjoy long weekends for awhile yet, but you need to think of a way to refresh yourself. Here are some solutions that may help you through a mundane work week, which you can do on your lunch hour. Pampering services done in less than sixty minutes. 

Think of them as little mini escapes...

• Blow out: Letting someone else do the work for you can make you feel valued and special. Especially if you have thick curly hair or you have a meeting later that you would like to look stunning for. 
• Manicure: A basic manicure will take approximately 30 minutes, leaving you time to eat and read a chapter in your novel. Going back to work with pretty patties makes anyone feel pampered.
• Massage: No undressing, no oily mess to deal with. You can get a 10, 15, or 20 minute neck and shoulder massage that will leave you feeling great for the rest of the day. 
• Mini Facial: Get a 30-minute facial. Hydration facials can be done quickly by avoiding the eye area. With a quick application of tinted BB cream and a touch of blusher, you will go back to work glowing.
• Quick Style: Come in with clean dry hair and have your stylist whip up something fun. Try a messy bun or a low swung bun with a braid twisted into it. Here is a link to my favorite quick styles to try.
• Sunless Tan: Weekends of shorts or capris coming up and those legs have not seen daylight in months? Spray tan is the ticket. Pacific Tan even has a coupon out for buy 2 sessions-get one free!  
• Waxing: Get an eyebrow, leg, lip or bikini wax on your lunch hour and save yourself the extra running around on the weekend trying to fit it all in. Now there is an invigorating way to spend your afternoon. 

I hope you find a few ways to give yourself some R&R this month. And while you are doing so, remember that Mother’s Day is on May 12th and any or all of these would make a great gift for that woman who takes care of everyone else all the time!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Happy Spring!

It is looking like it may stick around this time! 

Michon :)

Surprising Acne Causers!

In honor of some of my favorite Reno clients, teenagers,  I thought this would be a timely post for you, since you’re out of school and actually have time to check the blog!  :)
A new landmark compilation of studies has been done showing that 50 years of research may in fact prove once and for all that there is a link between diet and acne. The study is showing that we should be looking at diet, in combination with hormones. And you may be surprised by a few of the culprits at the source of the problem.

1. Milk is being called out as one. One particular study showed a definite link between teenage boys and the consumption of milk.
2. Eating a diet high on the GI index (glycemic index). These foods would include processed sugars of any kind and even breads and potatoes. Here is a complete list of high GI foods to avoid. 
3. Fish Oil. Although it is suppose to be great for your health in every other way some studies are popping up showing that it actually increases the production of testosterone, which is a huge culprit in the cause of acne for teenagers in particular.
4. Eat more soy products. Soy creates more estregon in the body than whole proteins such as beef and chicken. This is recommended more for teens and not adults. (Adults should shy away from soy, due to the breast cancer connection for now).  It will give you the protein you need without the added testosterone. 
5. Not enough water. Your skin is comprised of 90% water. If your diet is not in sink with this ratio that could add to your problem. Try to keep your diet, water based, lots of fruits and veggies. Raw, preferably and if you hate them raw try to steam them lightly, to retain as much moisture and vitamins as possible. 

Sadly this may or may not be the cure, or end to the dislike of your skin at the moment. But it may help a bit. I am very passionate about this subject, having such a problem as I did as a teen. And I have three daughters that are struggling with the same issues, so this subject is very near and dear to my heart.

Thanks for checking in on my blog. If you have any tips or ideas that have helped you to get closer to your ideal skin and avoid acne I would LOVE to hear them. 

Please leave your comments in the link below.