Stephie Estie

Skin Tip: Keeping Blackheads at Bay!

Happy Friday readers!

Blackheads are a main concern for most people but using a clay based mask helps decongest skin while exfoliating helps keep the skin’s surface clear from dead skin cells and debris that can accumulate over time. Just remember to exfoliate in moderation! 🙂

I will be at UCLA these next few days for an intensive course in Cosmetic Chemistry so my apologies if I can’t get to you right away but I will when I get a moment. 🙂

Have a safe and wonderful weekend,

Stephanie

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask Review!

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Hi everyone!  Thank you so much to all who sent me their well wishes!  I appreciate it!  I’m just waiting for the results now.

Today I have a review on a sample I received at Sephora from Fresh.  Here’s my take on this product. 🙂

Described as a mask that works in sync with the skin’s natural nighttime recovery process to achieve a lifted, firmer look by the morning. The intensely moisturizing treatment has a corset-like effect on the skin, giving the appearance of a visibly more defined, contoured complexion.”

Pros

Hydrating

Absorbs quickly

Not heavily scented

Good antioxidants

Cons

Pricey

Peptides are towards the bottom of the list

May not provide drastic firming results as claimed

Added fragrance

At a Quick Glance

Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester– peptide that can help strengthen skin (elastic fibers); sensitive skin soother and anti-aging ingredients.

Lychee– brightens, rejuvenates and protects skin caused by dehydration and UV damage.

Black Tea Ferment– provides anti aging effects and enhances skin smoothness.

 

Bottom Line: I think this product has a good range of anti-oxidants, including green tea, emollients and moisturizers and would be great for those who have normal, dry or combination skin that is looking for added moisture;my face felt nice and hydrated.  Although it doesn’t feel heavy and absorbs quickly, I wouldn’t recommend this for oily/acne prone skin.  It has peptides that can help strenghten the skin however I don’t feel it’s concentrated enough to make a drastic difference in respects to firming capabilities.  For the price, personally I would instead invest in a product that is more concentrated with peptides or a professional treatment if you’re looking for better firming properties. However, if you want a hydrating mask with great antioxidants and have the money to spend, this would be a great product to try out.

Have you tried this product? What are your thoughts? 

Stephanie 

Reader Question: What Causes Dark Circles?

 

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Hello everyone! Hoping everyone had a great Easter weekend!

I’ve been asked about what I recommend for dark circles before and more recently Katie from Plus+Beauty also mentioned this concern (hi Katie!).

Q: What’s good for dark circles under the eyes?

A:

Dark circles can be caused by:

  • Sun damage
  • Veins and/ or capillaries showing through the skin
  •  Allergies
  •  Genetics

What to Use/Do

  • Products with retinol or vitamin C can help brighten the area.
  • An eye cream with SPF and sunglasses can help prevent more darkening if it’s caused by the sun.
  • Talking to your doctor if allergies are the culprit to see what options are available
  •  A peach colored concealer can help neutralize the appearance of dark circles
  •  Sometimes fillers like Radiesse or light treatments can help.

Product Recommendations

  • Kate Somerville Line Release Under Eye Repair
  • Algenist Firming and Lifting Eye Gel
  • Dermaologica Total Eye Care SPF 15
  • Le Miuex Eye Wrinkle Corrector
  • Renee Rouleau Vitamin C Eye Brightener
  • Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer

These are a few products I have tried and liked but if you have another eye cream that works, please share!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

Stephanie

GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Review!

 

 

 

 

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Hello readers!  I’m still feeling pretty drained from these allergies but I wanted to leave you with a review on a sample I received of the Glam Glow ThirstyCleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser.

Described by GlamGlow as “a revolutionary Mud to Foam™ daily cleanser that combines the Power of Mud and the Performance of Foam for a NEW Daily Cleansing experience. THIRSTYCLEANSE™ transforms from a luxurious mud into a moisture-rich foaming lather to gently & effectively rinse away make-up, dirt & impurities while deeply moisturizing your skin. Designed For Men & Women of All Ages & All Skin Types. THIRSTYCLEANSE™ for a Super Hydrated Super Clean Complexion.”

My Brief Description

Coconut scented (reminiscent of a tanning lotion)

Tan colored

Initial creamy consistency upon application

Foams up when water is applied

My Take At First Glance

Before trying this, I was skeptical on how this mud to foam cleanser could be moisturizing.  After all, it contains sodium cocoamphoacetate, which when I researched found it to be a surfactant that causes a product to foam; this product also incorporates kaolin clay which is best used on oily skin types, due to its oil absorbing properties.  I had read good reviews though, so I put this information on the backburner and  decided to try it.

My Experience

Initially when I tried this, I was surprised by how creamy the product was when I applied it.  I had some glimmers of hope that this pleasantly scented cleanser might just be hydrating after all.  After I rinsed it off, my skin felt nice but unfortunately, this was short lived.  About 3 minutes later, my skin felt so dry and tight even after I applied my toner and moisturizer.  I added another layer of moisturizer and it helped somewhat but by morning, my skin had soaked up all the moisturizer, leaving my skin feeling very dry. (For the record, I have a combination skin type which you can learn about by clicking here.) I was able to squeeze about four uses out of this sample.  For my last use, I decided to try something out.  I also received a sample of Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask which is a hydrating night treatment and decided to apply this and leave overnight after using the ThirstyCleanse.  Well, my skin apparently soaked that up all too. 🙁

Final Thoughts

Normally, I give products about a month or so to come up with my final verdict but this is one exception.  This product is best suited for someone who has very oily skin but even at that, I wouldn’t suggest this as a daily cleanser as I found it to be far too stripping.  I would use this no more than 2 times per week if you’re oily.  Dry, sensitive, normal and combination should skip this one entirely.

Was this article helpful? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,

Stephanie 

 

 

 

 

Skin Tip: Ingredient Lists and Antioxidants!

It’s Friday readers and that means my weekly skin tip! 🙂

Those of you that have been following my blog for a while now know that I am a huge advocate for antioxidants in skincare ingredients, especially vitamin C.  However, if you happen to read the label and see that the antioxidants are listed towards the bottom of the list, chances are they were added to preserve the product and not intended to be active ingredients.  Sometimes, this could be the reason why a certain product that claims to ‘fade spots’ or ‘help brighten your look’ isn’t as effective as you would like it to be. For a guide on how to decipher other names for antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, click on each link.

Have a great weekend everyone and don’t forget to check out my giveaway by clicking here. 🙂

Stephanie 

Monarch Beauty Giveaway!

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day readers!

As promised, here are the products and information regarding my giveaway.  I was introduced not only to this organic brand in esthetics school but also to the biochemist who formulates these wonderful products- and incredibly knowledgeable and sweet man! While this line isn’t well known, these three products are my absolute favorites that I would love to share with you.

Herbal Milky Cleanser is a cream based cleanser that doubles as a makeup remover.

Transforming Toner is a soothing and refreshing mist that feels great after cleansing and perfect for the upcoming warmer weather.

Peptide Vitamin C Serum  is an amazing anti-aging serum that contains 15% vitamin C in the gentle form of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, white tea extract and peptides.

 

So, if these look like products you’d be interested in trying out, simply follow the instructions below. 🙂

1) Make sure you are following my blog (subscribe and/or ‘Like’ me on Facebook)

2) Reblog or share any one of my posts if you can.

3) Comment on this post and tell me what you skin care or beauty topic/issue you would like to see discussed on my blog.

4) Open to U.S. residents only. (Hoping to add international in the future!)

***The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, 2015.***

Good luck and thank you so much for reading! 

Stephanie

 

Why AHAs Are Important in Anti-Aging Skincare!

Hi everyone!  How was your weekend?  My week is off to a great start.  I was able to attend a special event at the International Dermal Institute headed by Jane Wurwand who is the founder of Dermalogica.  Such an amazing and inspirational woman!  Her motivational speech was beyond fantastic and she has a lovely sense of humor and heart.  Also, I found out I won the giveaway hosted by Maiko from SkinConciergeMaiko! Yay!  Check out her blog for other awesome reviews and tips. 🙂

Alright, enough about that.  Let’s get right to the topic of today’s post which is alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs.

What are Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

Technically speaking, alpha hydroxy acids “are a group of water-soluble carboxylic acids that work to release the desmosomes that hold skin cells together.”  Hmmm. I fear I lost you guys. 🙂 In plain English, they are naturally occurring mild acids used as chemical exfoliants that help shed off dead skin cells.  They are hydrophilic (attracted to water) and are pH dependent meaning they require a lower pH to be effective.

Why are they Beneficial?

AHAs are highly coveted and present in many anti-aging products/treatments for the following reasons:

  • Allows for easier exfoliation
  • Increased cell turnover (hello glowing skin)
  • Stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin (something that decreases over time)
  • Firm the skin
  • Smooth and improve skin texture
  • Reduce lines and pigmentation
  • Leads to a more youthful appearance and feel
  • Increase ceramides (hydration)

*Note: Overly and aggressively exfoliating the skin can result in sensitive itchy red skin.

What are the Different Types of Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

  • Lactic acid– derived from milk
  • Glycolic acid-derived from sugar
  • Citric acid- derived from citrus fruits
  • Tartaric acid- derived from grapes
  • Mandelic acid- derived from bitter almonds
  • Malic acid- derived from sour apples

*A special note on AHAs:  Overly and aggressively exfoliating the skin, with or without AHAs can result in sensitive itchy red skin.  Also, when using AHAs, you’re more sensitive to the sun and more prone to burning so sunscreen is crucial! 

I hope you found this information helpful and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. 🙂

Have a good Tuesday,

Stephanie

 

Reader Question: Treatments for Hyperpigmentation!

 

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Hi readers!  Anyone else excited that it is Thursday? 🙂

Someone recently asked me about what they can do regarding sun spots.  What is commonly referred to as sun spots or age spots is hyperpigmentation. Simplified, hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin (brown pigment that gives skin color) that causes the darkening of the skin.  Below are causes of hyperpigmentation along with possible treatments.

Causes of Hyperpigmentation

  • Overexposure to sun, tanning beds, fluorescent and ambient lighting
  • Hormones/ Pregnancy
  • Medications- birthcontrol, thyroid, hormone replacement therapy (*Note: Never discontinue medication without the approval of your physician)
  • Stress
  • Inflammation/trauma caused by heat, acne, wounds, burns, eczema, etc
  • Age

Treatment Options

  • Exfoliation/chemical peels such as TCA, Jessner’s peels or lactic acid peels
  • Increased cell turnover with retinol/retinoids (Retin-A)
  • IPL/Laser
  • LED Light Therapy
  • Skincare products that contain arbutin, kojic acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), lactic acid, azelaic acid, phytic acid, and licorice extract.  Hydroquinone is another option available but it is a controversial ingredient that has a high risk of creating skin sensitivity.  Hydroquinone also must be used in 3/6 month cycles meaning you can only use it for a few months at a time and then cycle off.
  • Sunscreen!  Important no matter what!  None of the above treatments will be effective if you don’t protect your skin from sun damage-you’ll end up right back where you started and can even cause more pigmentation problems.

Remember that these are guidelines and the treatment option that will work best for you depends on a consultation with a skincare professional/dermatologist.

I hope this was helpful. 🙂

Thanks for reading,

Stephanie