Beautiful Skin Blog by Belisi

The idea of adding to my beauty arsenal sort of terrifies me. For starters, I like to think my current products are working for me. Secondly, which product do I trade in? Which products can I use together? And then I think about all the different kinds of products on the market that all claim to do pretty much the same thing: brighten, tighten, lift, glow, erase wrinkles, age spots, and undereye circles and pay your taxes. Okay, not the last part.

So where do I start? I realize that sometimes a routine can become stagnant and a little change is a good thing. As the seasons change or if I'm in a new climate, chances are I should probably consider adjusting my skincare routine. One rule for me is that the products should derive from natural ingredients. Call me crazy but I just don't believe that any human-made ingredient can trump nature. That being said, sometimes nature is messy--and gross. The idea of smearing fresh egg whites on my face makes me cringe. It's just too close to nature. So sometimes scientists have to refine it. I've heard about the beauty benefits of egg whites before--that it's great for lifting and firming the face--and now it comes in a non-yucky product by JOEY called Egg Cream. It doesn't have a fancy name but the results it induces are ambitious.

JOEY claims that its nature-inspired Egg Cream tones, tightens, firms, contours, smooths, improves skin textures, hydrates and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. The company reports that studies confirm that when used regularly, there is a reduction of the appearance of superficial lines by 36% and an increase in skin firmness by 21% within 4 weeks. Is it true? I just ordered mine, so I'll let you know!

::A. Covington for Beautiful Me

Admit it or not but we’re all secretly hoping for a magic potion to keep Father Time at bay. While I won’t give up hope, I realize there really isn’t a fountain of youth. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and age “gracefully”.

Retinol has been around for a while—available originally through dermatogolists to treat hyperpigmentation, photodamage, and pore size.  Today, many products include retinol. Great, right? Saves a trip to the dermatologist. Unfortunatley, not all Retinol products are created equally. 

So how do you choose the most effective Retinol product for your needs and using it properly to get the results you want?

Follow these tips:

• Retinol products containing pure and stable Vitamin A are most effective. Retinol’s structure allows it to immediately get to work improving skin’s appearance. In contrast, Retinol esters (pro retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate, etc.) first have to be converted into Retinol before they can begin to work.

• Retinol fights fine lines and deep wrinkles. Whether you want to prevent future signs of aging or want to appear years younger (or both!), there’s a Retinol product suited to your needs. For deeper wrinkles, opt for a formula that offers an ultra-effective combination of Retinol and an Essential Mineral Complex.

• Retinol’s strength is not only determined by its concentration.  Retinol’s effectiveness relies heavily on its formulation and delivery system. A product containing a higher percentage level of Retinol will not necessarily work better or faster.

• Retinol must penetrate skin to improve it. Delivering Retinol in an encapsulated form enables it to penetrate into the skin’s surface, improving performance. Many other over-the-counter products only topically coat the skin, compromising results.
• Retinol can degrade if not packaged properly. An air-tight, opaque tube or bottle helps maintain the formula’s stability by preventing oxygen or UV-light penetration.

• Retinol works best when introduced gradually to your regimen. Using Retinol is like training for a marathon. Slowly build up your tolerance level—begin by applying a product containing Retinol every other day. Once your skin adjusts to this effective ingredient, you’ll be able to incorporate it into a daily skincare regimen with little chance of flaking or redness.

• Retinol products can be safely used on sunny days. You don’t have to forego Retinol’s anti-aging benefits during daytime hours. A formula containing SPF 30 will provide adequate protection from the sun’s rays like RoC’s newest product Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer With SPF 30.

• Retinol will complement AHA (Alpha hydroxy acids). Alpha hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin, enabling Retinol to penetrate into the skin’s surface even more efficiently. A product containing both ingredients is best used at night to avoid sensitivity.

• Retinol can help prevent the signs of premature aging. Early use of products containing pure and stable Retinol will help to combat fine lines before they start to appear noticeable, so skin continues to look years younger than it’s true age.

• Retinol improves more than just wrinkles. It not only reduces the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles, but also improves skin tone, the signs of photodamage and pore size. Combined with sun protection, it’s the gold standard in anti-aging.

::A. Covington for Beautiful Me

Ultra hydrating mask leaves skin smooth

If you live in a seasonal climate, you’re skin is taking a beating from the harsh winds and the super dry air. Even if you live in a warm climate, you still need to feed your skin to keep wrinkles and blemishes at bay. One easy to get extra moisture is with a moisture mask like the Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Mask ($45). Slather on the hydrating mask and 20 minutes later your skin is left feeling soft and revitalized.

First it was healthy food; then came a push for sustainable living. Now even clothes are organic. It only makes sense that the products you put on your body are good for you too.

From shampoo to lipstick and perfume to face creams, you can now live an entirely all-natural existence (won’t you sleep better at night?)

Fragrance that does a body good

LAVANILA has introduced what they claim is “the World's Premier Healthy Fragrance.” The concept is novel: instead of loading fragrances with harsh synthetic ingredients that dry and damage skin, they use healthy ingredients that nurture and condition the body with each spray. In a time when everyone’s concerned about global warming (er, global climate change), and toxic chemicals, this product launch couldn’t be any timelier.

LAVANILA's sensual vanilla blends are meant to “captivate the senses” but they also nurture the skin with a healthy dose of pure essential oils, 100 percent natural botanicals, and super antioxidant technology—so it’s good for you and the environment (Al Gore would be proud).

Plant those smackers

When you think of corn you might picture neighborhood barbeques and roudy children with corn on the cob dribble running down their chins. You probably never thought about wearing it on your lips. CARGO invites you to change how you think about corn, an abundant renewable resource. PlantLove™ Botanical Lipstick is made entirely out of environmentally friendly corn. 

The manufacturing process emits less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of “global warming”. The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds, so all you have to do is moisten, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers to grow! Now that’s using the “whole animal” if you know what I mean. Even if you don’t buy into the global warming theory, you’ll love the smooth and silky texture, which is infused with Orchid Complex™ and meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba and shea butter. Plus, CARGO is donating $2 from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Five of the PlantLove lipsticks were designed by your favorite celebrities:

-Evangeline: Evangeline Lily
-Lindsay: Lindsay Lohan
-Maria: Maria Menounos
-Mariska: Mariska Hargitay
-Sarah: Sarah Chalke

Somebody CARES

Stella McCartney is well known for her stance on the environment and cruelty-free products (oh yeah, her dad’s famous too), and now she’s come out with her own line of certified organic skincare. CARE by Stella McCartney is a luxury line skincare treatments formulated with 100 percent organic active ingredients and zero percent petrochemicals or silicones. Examples of products include her Purifying Foaming Cleanser that not only washes away makeup and impurities, it’s designed to leave your skin looking fresh, soft, and radiant through the organic extracts hawthorn and horsetail. Her Toning Floral Water the antioxidant green tea and linden blossom extracts to tone and soothe—and help enhance the action of the 5 Benefits Moisturizers. The Nourishing Elixir blends natural oils, and a mix of soybean, nigella sativa, and musk rose rich in omega 3 and essential fatty acids to help firm and revitalize the skin.

Lancôme turns eco-chic

L’oreal owned cosmetics giant Lancome has announced its eco-chic initiatives for 2007—initiatives that promise to help combat the damage done by the environment to humans and help prevent damage to the environment by humans.

One of the most exciting initiatives is the launch in June 2007 of Primordiale Cell Defense, which focuses on neutralizing 99 percent of the damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure, pollution, and temperature extremes. An integral part of the eco-chic program is a strategic partnership with Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about climate change. In the second half of 2007, the four Lancôme boutiques located in New York’s Upper West Side; Short Hills, NJ; Dallas, TX; and Santa Clara, CA, will go Carbonfree.

The new herbal experience

Everybody remembers those annoying-slightly uncomfortable Herbal Essence commercials where the actor who uses the product enjoys it a little too much. When you use these new shampoos by Vogue International, you may be tempted to express your delight. Fortunately you’ll be in the privacy of your shower, so feel free to let out a squeal of delight. The shampoos, appropriately called Organix, feature simply delicious scents like Soft & Silky Vanilla, which combines smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils with silk amino proteins to strengthen and seal the hair’s cuticles. Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-breaking Serum will keep fly-aways and split ends at bay, and make you smell good enough to eat (be warned, strangers may stand a little closer to you). All of the products in their five collections are sulfate free and contain active organic ingredients. See, you don’t have to suffer in the name of saving the planet!

What are your favorite environment-friendly/good for you products? Don't keep them a secret, share the love!

~A. Covington for Belisi  Fashions

So maybe the idea of slathering raw hoherney on your face is getting a little too close to nature. That’s okay, there are plenty of products out there that offer all the great benefits of honey, without the sticky residue.

Honey Harvest Face Cream

A gentle blend of propolis, honey, and royal jelly soothes skin, as grape-seed oil fights free radicals, protecting your face from aggressive external elements.

Mimosa Hair Honey

There’s nothing like a mimosa to start the day right. This herbal-infused pomade controls frizzies and adds shine with a sweet citrus scent. Protective alkanet root and annatto seeds keeps color bright, while the pomade tames and softens unruly hair.

Honey Snap Out of It Scrub

Squeeze a drop of this almond paste with moisturizing honey and you’ll snap right out of that groggy stupor. It cleans and exfoliates all-in-one.

Jo Malone Green Tea/Honey Eye Cream

A blend of antioxidant-rich Green Tea, Vitamin C and honey help hydrate the skin  and reduce the appearance of undereye circles.

Laura Mercier Créme Brulee Honey Bath

Bath-time has never been this good. A rich delicious combination of caramel, peony petals and vanilla notes infused with vitamins A and E, plus natural ingredients such as sage, rosemary, lavender, ivy and papaya extracts work together to firm, lift, purify and tone skin.

L'Occitane Honey Body Balm

Propolis, Honey and Royal Jelly nourish skin the way only nature can. The luxurious gel texture turns creamy when applied, and quickly absorbs leaving skin silky soft and softly fragranced.

Lip Repair EX SPF 18

Did you know that chapped lips make you look older? This lip repair aid promotes collagen production to smooth the lip surface with silk-guanine and softens and heals with beta carotene, vitamin C, and royal jelly extract.