Safe Cosmetics 101

BEAUTY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOXIC!

Here is a great link to check out if you have concerns about the products you and your family maybe putting on your body that contain toxic chemicals. Safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/

Think about the many products you use on your body throughout the day.  Everything we put on our skin and on our hair goes into our bloodstream.

Apriori Beauty is one of only 300+ companies on the Safecosmetics.org list.  As an esthetician, I am becoming increasingly aware of ingredients in cosmetics.  This is why I have chosen to be a Beauty Consultant for Apriori Beauty.

Are you looking for safer cosmetics?  Try Apriori Beauty today with their 30-day money back guarantee.  Their product line is created to help slow the aging process of your skin. Click here to view all Apriori Beauty's products.  aprioribeauty.com/bydana

I can be contacted at danaface12@yahoo for any questions or skin concerns you may have.

SHOULD YOU GET FILLERS? HERE'S HOW TO TELL... BY FAITH XUE (Skin 2.17/15)

Should You Get Fillers? Here’s How to Tell

Skin | 02.17.15 by Faith Xue

The word “filler” usually doesn't have the most positive of connotations: Filler conversations are boring; filler relationships suck; and filler anything is usually just something to pass the time until a better option comes along. Fillers in regards to your face, however, are a different story. They can enhance and improve, taking years off your appearance. To find out exactly how fillers work and what the appropriate age is to consider them, we spoke with Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Dr. John Diaz, and asked him all our pressing questions. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about fillers!

• THE FACTS

In case you have no idea what fillers actually are, Diaz explains that it’s a term used to refer to a variety of medical products “designed to rejuvenate the face by filling in areas of volume loss.” Some of the most common brands? Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, Boletro, and Artefil. Diaz says all fillers have two things in common: “One is that they target lines, wrinkles, and volume loss by filling in the areas, unlike Botox, which works by relaxing muscles. Secondly, all fillers, regardless of how they are packaged, must be prepared in syringes and injected using small needles. No surgery or incisions are required.” 

So, you’re plumping up your skin with a substance under the skin—how long is the result supposed to last? And um, how painful is the process really? Diaz says hyaluronic acid-based fillers, like Juvederm, can last anywhere from six months to a whole year. “Consistent treatments will give you optimal results and you may need less filler over time,” he says. Diaz says that Voluma is a type of filler that has a slightly different composition and can actually last up to two full years. As for pain, Juvederm contains an anesthetic called lidocaine that helps numb the injected area, which Diaz promises will relieve any discomfort, as will icing and applying a topical numbing agent.

• FILLERS VS BOTOX

We talked about Botox, too, recently as a way to get rid of lines and wrinkles. So, what’s the difference? “Botox works very differently from fillers,” Diaz says. “Botox cannot fill in any lines or wrinkles, or areas of volume loss. Botox works by relaxing the muscles that pull on skin and cause lines and wrinkle to form.” Diaz also mentions that, in general, the areas that respond the best to Botox are located in the upper one third of the face—this includes the lines around the eyes, the lines between the eyebrows, and the lines on the forehead. Fillers work best for areas in the middle and lower third of the face.

• TELLTALE SIGNS

So... how are you supposed to know if you’re a good candidate for fillers? Diaz says that one of the biggest telltale signs is a noticeable depending of the nasolabial folds (these are the deep lines that form next to your mouth, aka marionette lines). Another sign? If you notice your once-prominent cheekbones deflating, especially when you look at your face at an angle, fillers can help. “It’s aesthetically pleasing to have a defined curvature over this area,” Diaz says. “Once the curvature begins to flatten, fillers can be used to restore the shape in this area.”

• A SURPRISING USE

If you’re young/lucky/both and don’t have deepening lines or a deflating cheekbones, Diaz says that some younger people still get fillers for a surprising reason: to improve their bone structure. Um, what? “For example, there are many young patients who may have very weak bone structure around the cheek or the jaw,” he says. “In most of these cases, the lack of fullness is not due to aging, but rather genetics.” So in case you really, really want Karlie Kloss’ cheekbones, at least you know of this untraditional means to an end. Diaz does warn that fillers should be used by adults, only; they can hinder the bone structure if it isn’t fully developed. 

And finally, one last word of advice? Diaz says to always, always seek treatment and advice from a doctor who is board certified in either plastic surgery or dermatology. “Unfortunately, there are many doctors out there who are not plastic surgeons or dermatologists who are claiming to be board certified in cosmetic surgery or cosmetic treatments,” he says. “These are not actual specialties and represent titles which can be claimed by anyone with a medical degree, even if they are in another specialty entirely.” Good to know—we’ve seen too many scary botched jobs to ignore this advice. 

DO I REALLY NEED A TONER?

 

We  know we need to cleanse and moisturize our skin,  but use a toner?  Who cares? Toners are taking their place along with serums and creams on beauty counters.  But why should we tone? What does a toner do?

Anyone is a candidate for a toner. A toner is no longer used to clean the face.  In fact, when you use a toner on a cotton pad after you cleanse your face, there should not be any traces of dirt on your pad.  Toners have a purpose. Depending on your type of skin, a toner can have several actions. A toner can be used as an astringent to remove excess oil that your cleanser may have left behind.  Some toners are used to balance the pH of the skin after it is cleansed.  People with sensitive skin or rosacea use a toner for soothing or hydration. Toners can have anti-aging benefits and help prepare the skin for the moisturizer that works synergistically with that toner.  Toners can be a help for a cure-all depending on the person’s skincare needs.

How do You Use Toner?

Toners are quick and easy to use. Following washing and patting your skin dry, you apply your toner on a cotton pad to the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.  Then apply your serum and moisturizer, and of course, sunblock during the day.

What other ingredients should you look for in a toner?

Avoid toners with alcohol because alcohol is overly drying, strips the skin of moisture, and ultimately does more harm than good. If acne is your biggest skin concern, look for ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Things like aloe extract, glycerin, rosewater, or calendula will soothe and draw moisture into the skin. There is a solution for whatever your skin problem. 

My favorite for anti-aging is Celloxylin Face Activating Tonic from Apriori Beauty. This toner helps skin retain moisture, no alcohol or drying ingredients and pH correct to protect skin’s barrier functions. The Celloxylin Face Activating Tonic prepares surface cells to receive and optimize the anti-aging benefits of the NutrientReservoir in  Apriori Beauty’s serums and moisturizers. The Celloxylin Face Activating Tonic gives my skin an ultra-cooling feeling after using it.  I apply my Apriori Beauty Firming Complex during the days and PSR Next Serum at night while the skin is still moist after using the Actvating Tonic.

Is Toner Worth It?

Ultimately, that’s for you to decide. If you don’t use a toner, it isn’t  as bad for your skin as skipping cleansing, but working one into your routine can make a visible difference. It’s an extra step in your beauty routine that can pay off in the long run. But me, I need a toner.

You can purchase my favorite Activating Tonic from Apriori Beauty at aprioribeauty.com/bydana.  If you would like to always get 20% off all your anti-aging or sensitive skin products, join me as a beauty consultant with Apriori Beauty with the purchase of thieir amazing Pure Detox mask + $5.00   All of Apriori Beauty’s products are on the safe cosmetics.org list. Paraben free, cruelty free and gluten free skincare.

ARE YOU GUILTY OF SLEEPING WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON?

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When I ask my clients this question, I hear a pause, and then, well, they answer: sometimes..

It happens to the best of us. Right before going to bed, you feel too tired to go through the whole cleansing routine.  However, cleansing your skin before bed is imperative.

Going to bed with makeup on is not just bad for your pillowcase but can lead to clogged pores and can cause stretching of your pores and collagen breakdown.  (Collagen helps keep your skin firm and taut.) 

Makeup Foundation is thick and the large particle and pigments break down over the day and prevent microcirculation, which helps renew skin. Our skin repairs itself at night by generating new skin cells after we slough off the dead skin cells via face washing. If you are not washing your face before bed, then you are missing the best opportunity to improve the performance of your anti-aging products.  Your skin will absorb more antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients while your skin is resting, therefore giving you more radiant results.

Our skin collects dirt, dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria during the day. This build up settles into pores, causing breakouts like blackheads, whiteheads, cysts and acne overnight. If you have acne and are using topical for your acne, make sure your face is clean so your products can penetrated.

Sleeping with eye makeup on (mascara, specifically) can cause skin and eye irritation, making it prone to infection.  If eye makeup is not removed daily there is an increased possibility of an allergic reaction or blepharitis.  Your eyelashes can become brittle and break easily if you do not remove your mascara.

Sleeping with any leftover lipstick can result in dryness and chapped lips.  With highly-pigmented lipstricks, scrub your lips with your wash cloth or exfoliating cleanser to fully remove before bed.  Then apply an antioxidant lip cream such as Apriori Beauty’s Eye + Lip Age Eraser to add moisture to your lips and Apriori Beauty’s anti-aging Nutrient Reservoir.

Have I convinced you of the importance of washing your face thoroughly before going to bed? I hope so.
What is my favorite cleanser to use:

My favorite cleanser:  Apriori Beauty Crème Cleanse removes dirt and impurities from the skin’s surface and deep within pores.  It even removes eye make-up without causing irritation! Crème Cleanse uses ingredients derived from coconut to create luxurious foaming without stripping skin of essential oils.   It delivers the benefits of Apriori Beauty’s Anti-aging Nutrient Reservoir. Leaves skin refreshed, not tight and dry! No sodium lauryl sulfate.  Rinses clean, leaving skin visibly smooth.

All of Apriori Beauty's products are on the safecosmetics.org list .  To purchase this fabulous cleanser, go to Aprioribeauty.com/bydana.

Want to get all your anti-aging skincare products that are free of parabens and gluten free for 20% savings or more?  Become an Apriori Beauty Consultant.  Contact me at danaface12@yahoo.com and ask me how.  No need to be an esthetician, however, if you are, you do not need to stock inventory.