Stephie Estie

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 

Skin Tip: Potential Skin Irritants!

 

Happy Friday readers!  I was dismissed from jury duty so everything should be back to normal next week.

I met up with Karla, a fellow esthetician friend, last Sunday and the conversation drifted to potential skin irritants.  Sometimes when our skin feels itchy or sensitive, it may be caused by the detergent you use to wash your clothes.  Interestingly, and I’ve experienced this myself, dryer sheets can also be a culprit in this matter.  Always consult your physician as your case can be something else entirely but this is also a good thing to watch out for and keep in mind.

Have a great weekend everyone and I will be posting my giveaway details next Tuesday! 

Stephanie  

Skin Tip: Saving Hands!

If you are experiencing dry hands this season, follow these guidelines:

1) Wash with warm water, not hot as this further strips your dry skin.

2) If you’re hands are not cracked, use a mixture of sugar and coconut oil to exfoliate your hands at night.

3) Follow up with your favorite body butter or hand cream and if needed, use gloves to seal in moisture.

Have a great weekend! 

Stephanie 

Skin Tip: Pregnancy and Essential Oils!

Essential oils are great in aiding relaxation or giving you an energy boost.  However, if you’re pregnant, consult your physician if you are planning on using them as their small molecular structure allows them to be absorbed into your bloodstream and may cause problems.

Have a good weekend and I’ll see you next week,

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  

Skin Tip: Exfoliate While Adding Hydration!

Using exfoliants that contain lactic acid not only help remove dull, flaky skin but in the long term, they also provide added moisturizing properties that makes this perfect to use in colder weather.  Always follow up with SPF and use them 2-3 times per week or as otherwise directed.

*Side note: If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see I decided on purchasing the Real Techniques blush brush to replace my MAC one.  Thank you all so much for your help!  I appreciate all the suggestions! Be on the lookout for a review soon.

Have a safe and warm weekend and as always, I’m here for any questions you guys have. 🙂

Stephanie 

Skin Tip: Simple Sugar Lip Scrub!

Treat your lips to a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day weekend with an easy scrub.  Just combine small amounts of sugar (brown sugar also works) and honey, apply the mixture on your lips and buff away dead and flaky skin.  Remove with warm water and top it off with your favorite lip balm.  The end result?  A soft, kissable pout.  Bonus: Your lip color will apply more smoothly and evenly.

Personal update:  I know I have been MIA for the last few days and I apologize but I was slammed with some kind of variation of the flu.  I’ve been battling a stubborn fever, congestion that makes my head feel it’s ready to explode and a painful ear infection. 🙁 I know I have some catching up to do and comments to get back to so please bear some patience-I will get back to you. 🙂

I hope all of you have a lovely weekend and thank you for the support.

Stephanie    

Skin Tip: Dealing With Product Overload!

Peptides! Retinol! Alpha hydroxy acids!

These are all fantastic ingredients in skincare but do you need them all once? Not necessarily.  In fact, using products with too many active ingredients all at once can result in irritated skin.  Always introduce these products slowly into your skincare regimen, use small amounts and follow your esthetician’s/docotor’s protocol on how to use them.  And, if you happen to experience product overload, stick to a basic routine: basic cleanser, basic toner and moisturizer until your symptoms subside.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend, 

Stephanie 

   

Skin Tip: Consistency is Key to Great Skin!

It’s Friday readers which means my weekly skin tip. 🙂

Once you find the right products for your skin, you’re half-way to achieving healthy skin.  However, you need to establish a consistent routine to maintain your results.  Think of it in terms of a workout routine -sticking to it long term will yield results.

See you next week,

Stephanie     

Skin Tip: Adding Hydration to Oily Skin!

When you have oily skin that’s feeling a little bit dry and tight, switching to a heavier moisturizer results in hydration but at the same time can also make you breakout.  Mixing a few drops of a  hydrating serum formulated with hyaluronic acid into your moisturizer increases your skin’s water content (something all skin types can benefit from), adding moisture without the heaviness of an oil.

My favorite to use is Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster but brands like Kate Somerville, PCA Skin, Renee Rouleau and Dr. Dennis Gross carry similar products.

Thanks for tuning in and I’ll see you next week,

Stephanie