Waxing can be intimidating and can also vary from salon to salon. I find it hard to find a good wax and as an esthetician I’m probably harder to please than anyone else. So here are my waxing tips:

1. Most salons have done away with the pre-waxing cleansing. With salons trying to pump out as many services as possible the pre-wax treatment can be seen as too time consuming and not necessary for the outcome. However missing the pre-wax cleanse can cause breakouts, ingrown hairs and irritation, because hair is slippery from our body oils and the wax doesn’t grip it as effectively. I know estheticians have turned to baby powder to combat this problem, but you’re better to have clean skin going in. If you’re going during or after work, wash in the morning but skip the lotion on the areas you’re having waxed. Bring a travel pack of face wipes or baby wipes with you to remove deodorant right before you leave for your appointment.
   
   
   

2. Help out your esthetician. Bruising can occur because the skin wasn’t stretched properly when the wax was ripped off. Bruising can also occur because the wax wasn’t pulled off parallel to the skin, but rather straight out. Wherever your being waxed, help out by pulling the skin taut in the opposite direction the wax is being pulled off. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can help and how, but I know I’ve often been told “don’t worry, just try to relax,” and then bruised.
   
   
   

3. Trim your bikini line. If you don’t go bare down there, trim the hair you want to keep. This helps because the area will be more visible and you don’t risk those painful stray hairs from being pulled. I suggest picking up an electric beard-trimming razor with guards. This is much easier and faster than trimming with scissors and the guard ensures that the hair will be clipped evenly, looking the best. The other thing to remember about the bikini line is to be specific about what you want. The standard bikini wax is generally not enough for the average woman. Somewhere in between the standard (which isn’t standard) and the Brazilian lies the European wax. Most salons don’t offer it or call it that on their menu; you have to ask for it. You have to tell them you want the in-between and show them where you want hair removed.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. The oil or lotion they put on you after your wax is not necessarily the best after care. It works for the time between your wax for a couple hours until you get home, but you should invest in some good at-home after care. I suggest Tend Skin and a soothing face cream. (A face cream will tell you if it’s non-comedogenic, or won’t clog pores, a body lotion won’t). What I use: Pevonia Soothing Sensitive Skin Cream. It reduces redness and sensitivity.

5. Take preventative measures. Take Tylenol or ibuprophen 45 minutes before you go, this will help pain and swelling. Also, try not to wax 3 days before or after your period, you are most sensitive at these times.

We would like to introduce our newest beauty supply store, SkinStore.com!

They offer excellent prices, a wide range of products and bring discounts and coupons to you on a much more regular basis.

We have been extremely happy with their service and hope you will too.

Serums are attached with words like “concentrated” and “potent” which means they are every woman’s dream in a jar.

Those pretty glass bottles sometimes accompanied with a dropper and a huge price tag, can bring any cosmetic junkie to their knees.

But what really is a serum?

Serums are light, usually water based liquids that deliver a large dose of “active ingredients” into your skin.

The difference with serums is that they contain no emollients. There is nothing between the ingredients and your skin. They go directly into your skin. Most serums do not moisturize. They contain lots of water so that they can deliver agents like Vitamin C and green tea extract more effectively.

Choose a serum based on what it does. Cocktails of vitamins and antioxidants are great to layer underneath your moisturizer. Even those serums that do moisturize a bit should be layered under your moisturizer in the winter or dry months. If you live where you have humid summers, then this particular product can be enough hydration for day. Other great serums to try: Novita Spa Advanced Perfecting Serum A.M. Booster, Doll Face Mimosa AM Protective Serum, (great for all skin types), Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum, and Ultima Botolift Maximum Performance Face Serum.

Apply serum after cleansing and toning to skin that has been patted dry but still a bit moist. And gently massage it in. Never rub or pull at the skin. Let it sit on your face for 30 seconds or so and follow with your regular moisturizer. Remember to always wear sunscreen, especially if you are using vitamin C or A (A is retinol) as sunlight can cause hyperpigmentation, or dark spots.

It is that time of year, that we make our resolutions. The major one on many people’s list is to quit smoking. To encourage you we have put together some of those horrible little tidbits that can help you through your cravings.

We all know that smoking causes pre-mature wrinkling of the skin. Smoking robs the skin of oxygen leaving it dull, dry and sluggish.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 toxins many of which are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and are taken by the blood right into the structure of your skin.

Smoking cigarettes reduces the efficiency with which the skin can regenerate itself – smoking causes the constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels at the top layers of the skin which in turn reduces blood supply (to the skin). It is the reduced blood supply which causes a reduction in the availability of oxygen (which is necessary for all living cells) and the removal of waste products, dead cell fragments etc… which provide the necessary environment for regeneration.

Cigarette smoking causes the blood vessels at the top layers of the skin to constrict and so reducing the oxygen level in the blood there. This thickens the blood and reduces the levels of collagen in the skin (it is actually because of this that smoking is also associated with slow or incomplete healing of wounds).

-http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/skin.htm

There are also new studies being done that are proving that smoking thins the skin. We also know that smoking yellows the skin and nails. Smoking also ages the skin the whole body over. It’s not just your face.

Smoking has also been linked to hair loss due to the fact that healthy hair and scalp relies on a healthy supply of oxygenated blood that is rich in nutrients. When we smoke we lose blood circulation, thus nutrients and oxygen can’t get to the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.

Women who smoke at least one pack of cigarettes a day have a 50% chance of growing more facial hair. This was discovered at the Medical College of Wisconsin. It has to do with the effects of smoking on the ovaries and the production of hormones. (http://beauty.about.com/library/bltips86.htm)

If this isn’t enough, you really do stink when you smoke. Once you stop smoking for a few days and you are around someone who smokes, they smell horrible, even if they haven’t had a cigarette for a an hour. It can take many months to get the cigarette smell out of clothes and your house.

Last, but definitely not least, is the cost factor. Do the math. How much do you smoke every day, multiply that by one week, then one month, then one year. See how much money you would saving, and then add up the cost of a year’s worth of your favorite beauty products. I’d bet that if you quit smoking, you could buy all or close to all of your products for the year.

For help with quitting smoking visit: http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/

Everyone’s dream is to have flawless skin. There are many factors involved in achieving this goal. Here we outline the major ones.

The main thing, and the best place to start is moisturizing and cleansing. Cleansing, as we know removes impurities and dead cells. Moisturizing replaces the moisture we lose when we cleanse. Cleansing twice daily (morning and night) is appropriate for everyone. I know people with oily skin that are tempted to cleanse more often, but if you are oily and you strip the skin from over-cleansing, your body will compensate by producing more oil.

You need a good cleanser that will remove makeup (always use remover on eyes though). You need a moisturizer for your skin type, and keep in mind, SPF all year round, and you’ll need a heavier cream in winter and a lighter one in the summer.

I recommend the Biotherm line as a starting place for everyone. It is a mid-priced product line, with a system for each skin type. You’ll find Biotherm here at CosmeticMall.com

If you have scars or acne pits, using a primer before applying makeup can make these less visible. This includes large pores. The primer fills in all the holes so the foundation goes on super smooth. If you are acne prone, look for an oil-free primer. Our fav primers include Bodyography Spotlight Luminizing Eye Primer

Foundation is important when you are looking for flawless skin. Buy a formula that is made for your skin type. If you prefer a lighter coverage, go for a tinted moisturizer. Our favorite tinted moisturizers are: Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer Medium Tint, Estee Lauder Daywear Plus Spf 15 Tinted Moisturizer Medium.

Use concelaer on under eye circles and blemishes. If your circles are really bad try a brightening pen. Benefit makes a great one!

We’ve been talking makeup so far, but keep in mind we are not trying to hide your face. We are masking imperfections, but we still want your face to shine forward.

When choosing products it is important to know your skin type. You must use products formulated for your skin to get the most out of your products and time. To see what your skin type is visit Enchanted Body (scroll down to the middle of the page for the skin type section).

Over exfoliating the skin can actually have the opposite effect that we are after. It can leave skin red and inflamed to later give way to dullness and dryness. Once every 7-10 days is sufficient for exfoliate, always follow with a moisturizer and be gentle when scrubbing. Scrubs we love: BeBeautiful Cleansing Scrub, Biotherm Biosource Clarifying Exfoliating Gel. I know many people have jumped on the microdermabrasion band wagon, but I urge to not use these too often. You can seriously damage tissue using these products.

The other biggest factor when trying to achieve a flawless look is diet, sleep and exercise. Diet plays a huge role in the beauty of your skin. High fat, high sugar, high salt diets make the organs sluggish (remember sin is an organ too!), so your kidneys and liver can’t deal with toxins as well, and that means the skin works overtime to get those toxins out. If your body is working at it’s optimal level your skin will be clear and radiant. Water intake is important to keep skin hydrated from the inside out. Nutrients from fruits and veggies can also keep acne and wrinkles at bay. Look for antioxidant rich foods such as blueberries, and dark leafy greens. The phytochemicals in fruits are also good food for the skin and organs. Try your best to consume as many whole foods as you can, skip the take out because they are usually high fat, high salt. Your diet should be based on fruits and vegetables and add lean proteins.

Exercise is very important in keeping beautiful. You expel toxins when you sweat, keep the body functioning at it’s optimal level, and it kicks in your endorphins which can make you feel happier and give you more energy. Even if it as simple as a brisk 20 minute walk after supper, you’ll feel and look better.

Sleep is the best thing you can do for body. While we sleep the body expels toxins, and engages in tissue repair. Getting a good night sleep is just as important as what you put on your face. Sleep also helps get rid of those dark under eye circles and repair wounds like pimples. Use a night cream to help reap the best benefits of a good night sleep.