Since most dry winter skin is due to external causes, it responds well to external skin care treatment.  Treating dry skin is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin.  To keep skin soft and supple, your goal is not to add moisture to the skin but to keep the moisture in.

Some winter wise tips:

1) Avoid Hot Baths and take lukewarm showers and baths.  If your skin, including your face turns red, the water is too hot.

2) Apply moisturizing skincare when skin is slightly damp to trap moisture still on your skin.  Pat skin dry rather than rub with a towel before applying moisturizer.

3) Use non-comedeogenic, emollient rich ingredients such as silicons, oils, butters & humectants ( glycerin, amino acids, hyaluronic acid) in your skincare and foundation products to keep moisture in and prevent TEWL (trans epidermal water loss).

4) Avoid harsh soaps & frequent cleansing as the skin becomes dry from stripping away the skin’s natural protective oils.  Look for milder, fragrance free & alcohol free soaps & toners rich in glycerin & emollients.

5) Exfoliate weekly because moisturizer penetration is more effective.

6) Turn on the humidifier especially in winter to keep moisture in the air.  Cold, harsh weather and wind are outdoor causes, furnaces and space heaters are the inside culprits.  Humidifiers get more moisture ( up to 30%) in the air thus helping the skin from drying out.

7) As the condition of your skin changes, change your skincare routine accordingly.  Consider layering rich, oil based moisturizer and foundation to create all day protection to retain more moisture.  A strong protective barrier also prevents toxins, pollutants, sensitizers, allergens and irritants to enter the skin and cause red, sensitive, irritated skin.

8) Itchy clothing can be problematic, no matter how much you want to wear a certain sweater, if its uncomfortable, don’t wear it or at least wear a cotton under shirt as a protective layer.

9) Dry skin can be a sign of more serious health conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, hypothyroidism or malnutrition.  See a physician for treatment.

Hope these healthy & smart winter tips help your skin survive this winter!

The skin around our eyes are naturally the thinnest, and as we age skin looses elasticity and regenerating structural elements such as collagen, elastic, as well as the fat layers under the skin. The loss of these elements cause tired looking, hallow, wrinkled and sagging eye areas. Let’s all face it… eye aging is inevitable.

The 3 most common visible signs of aging around the eyes are actually so common you may not even think of them as signs of aging…

1)      Under eye circles can be an inherited trait related to bone structure an skin pigment, with prominent pooling of veins and poor blood circulation. It is bluish in colour giving the look of darkness under the eyes and in the upper inner corners. As skin loses elasticity the look of bags under the eyes can accompany darkness.

2)      Puffy eyes are caused by fluid accumulation. Stress and aging results in the loss of elastic weakened tissue and reduced fat production which can make the skin look saggy, resulting in a droopy looking effect that can make you look tired and older.

3)     Crows feet are small fine lines found on the outer corners of the ye that extend outward. These fine lines can also appear as wrinkles… a dead giveaway as a sign of aging. It is important to keep the delicate eye area supple and moisturized to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

TIP: Try EyePrep FX, an anti-aging instant eye smoothing primer that binds concealer and eye shadows to lids while soothing, hydrating and reducing undereye puffiness. The EyePrep FX has an active ingredient called Haloxyl that works to loosen blood fragments to lighten dark undereye circles and Eyeliss which treats the puffy bags under the eyes.

Lips need protection, hydration and TLC.  Generally speaking, most women wear lipstick or lipgloss for cosmetic reasons-to provide colour and maybe to help prevent chapped lips.  Now that dry winter cold and winds are starting, we need to think about the delicate skin that covers our lips.

Technology now allows for multi purpose lip products that help bring lips back to younger days, restoring collagen and providing time released hydration.  Adding vitamins to the formula keeps lips nourished and healthy; having SPF protection helps keep UV exposure at bay.  Mint Glaze FX Fortifying Lip Treat-MINT Primer ( SPF 15)  helps to smooth lines and adds shine to whatever colour is worn on top.  Used alone, it’s clear, glossy, minty (peppermint oil added) making lips appear fuller and softer.  Mint Tint FX Tinted Anti-Age Lip Glaze which is available in 7 beautiful shades has all the benefits of the clear Mint Glaze FX but without the SPF.

So treat your lips with extra care and attention and remember to avoid licking them as the enzymes in saliva just dries lips even more!

In this day and age, products that can accomplish multi tasks are the ones to look for; why buy products that serve only one purpose when there are products out there that can offer multi uses?

Cover FX’s Skin Prep FX is an amazing anti-aging primer/serum that preps skin for makeup and also doubles us as skin care.  Aside from the pro raves, this nifty little tube of serum moonlights as an all purpose multi-tasker.  Here are just a few unconventional tried and tested ways Skin Prep FX can come to your rescue:

1)       Pop some serum on a mosquito bite to soothe the itchiness and irritated area

2)       If the weather turns your hair frizzy and out of control?  Rub a pea sized amount of the serum into your hands and run your hands through your hair to tame those frizzies!

3)       Busted cuticles and hang nails?  Rub a dime sized amount of the serum over hands to soften and nourish them.

4)       Got eczema or psoriasis?  Soothe the itch with the serum and restore the skin’s barrier.

5)       Guys can use the serum post-shave to soften and protect the skin.

6)       And best of all, Skin Prep FX should be worn at night before sleep, while your skin repairs itself as an anti-aging serum.

There are truths and myths about acne which is the most common condition that dermatologists treat in their practices.  The physical and psychological damage that having acne causes are detrimental to the person’s over all health.  Understanding the underlying causes of acne helps with inner awareness and outer appearance.  Separating the myth from the truth leads to a greater awareness of how to look at acne differently.

Myth                                                                                                           Truth

Acne is a cosmetic condition                                                           Depression is more common in acne patients than those without acne

Sweating helps clear acne                                                                  Sweating can make acne worse and acne increases during summer months

Over cleansing helps decrease acne                                               Harsh cleansers cause irritation which increases acne

Acne goes away on its own                                                                 Without treatment, acne increases and scarring can occur

Squeezing blemishes helps                                                                 Picking increases inflammation and scarring

Cosmetics cause acne                                                                           Safe to use, oil free, non-comedogenic products

Diet contributes to acne                                                                      There is no proof supporting food causes acne breakouts

There is no known way to prevent acne development.  It is not caused by poor hygiene, sweating or eating chocolate, fries or pizza.  The condition can be treated and there are over the counter/prescription products that bring relief to this confidence destroying issue.

Hyperpigmentation is an overproduction of melanin caused by either the sun, hormones or an inflammatory response.  So say Dermatologists but at the end of the day, darker areas of pigment is not necessarily what we want to see on our skin.

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition that occurs when more than normal amounts of melanin are produced leading to dark pigmentation in the skin.  The sun is the main culprit of why this darkness appears but hormonal changes or a reaction to an injury endured by the skin (inflammation) like acne, eczema or even a cut or burn can cause discolouration.

When dark skin experiences discolouration, it appears as dark black or brown spots or patches.  Lighter skin tones, which have fewer or less active melanocytes, see more red and pink spots and patches.

Prevention and protection are the key elements to keep in mind to avoid making this problem worse.  That is why sunscreen and sun avoidance are key to any workable therapy.  All of Cover FX foundations-Cover FX cream foundation (SPF 30), Natural FX (SPF 15), Powder FX (SPF 10), Mineral FX (SPF 15), Skin Tint FX (SPF 30) are recommended for coverage in the sun as environmental protection.  Brite Prep FX (SPF 50) is an excellent primer that helps to protect and prevent future damaging hyperpigmentation.

Be smart, protect the skin you’re in!

Hydroquinone, as a bleaching agent, is very effective in lightening up hyperpigmented areas of the skin.  The first step to fight hyperpigmentation is to stop the source of the pigmentation by blocking the enzyme that activates the creation of melanin.  Hydroquinone suppresses the enzyme tyrosinase which is linked to creating melanin.  The dark blotches found on the skin may be a result of freckles, age spots, eczema scars and acne scars.  Hydroquinone is a topical cream for external use only and may cause reactions like: irritation, itching, burning and stinging . Most dermatologists agree that hydroquinone works best when used in conjunction with a retinoid which exfoliates the skin and allows for the ingredient to penetrate properly.

Glycolic acids and chemical peels can also improve discolouration.  Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid weaken the glue that makes dead skin cells linger on the skin’s surface.  Using this acid along with hydroquinone and other skin lighteners allows the brightening ingredients to better penetrate the skin.

Light laser treatments deal with hyperpigmentation on the skin’s surface.  IPL (Intense Pulse Laser) targets pigment in the cells to destroy that pigment.  Dark freckles that do not respond to topical products may respond much better to laser.  Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is recommended for textured hyperpigmented areas because this laser penetrates deeper into the dermis due to its longer wavelengths.

Ablative lasers treat hyperpigmentation in the deeper layers of the skin.  Fractional lasers work well for significant hyperpigmentation or uneven complexions because they deliver energy deep within to break up discolouration.  Microscopic wounds are created to deeply exfoliate the top layer and prompt new, healthy skin.

Brite Prep FX with SPF 50 is an ideal product for those who have any type of hyperpigmentation.  Used as a lightening and brightening primer, Brite Prep FX also protects skin from further sun and environmental damage.  You can never have too much sun protection!

I don’t know about you, but every time I hear the words skin cancer, I start looking at my skin with suspicious eyes!  The traditional way of detecting skin cancer has now added a fifth warning sign.  Dermatologists recommend that you get to know your freckles and moles and watch for changes or appearances of new “ residents” on your skin.  Since having a really good look at your back is difficult, have a family member or friend check the skin on your back and back of legs a couple of times a year.

What do the letters ABCDE stand for?  What are the warning signs?

• A–Asymmetrical–unevenly shaped
• B–Border–irregular
• C–Colour–dark brown or black
• D–Diameter–larger than a pencil eraser
• E–Evolving–changing

Familiarize yourself with pictures of skin cancer so you are capable of detecting anything suspicious.  If you are concerned, consult with your doctor because early diagnosis and treatment are essential to good health!

Go to www.skincancer.org for further information.

We had an incredible day at the Skin of Color Seminar in NY this past Saturday!

Our booth was one of the busiest because 1) Cover FX was the only cosmetic company featured at the seminar 2) I was doing live demonstrations on patients with vitiligo, melasma  and acne scars 3) our before and after pictures were so amazing!  Dermatologists want to recommend safe and effective products to their patients and since we are an immediate solution for so many patients, the medical community responded!  Jenny, Michelle and I were rushed off our feet trying to speak to everyone and make sure that we gave out our canvas bags filled with information and products to all the doctors.

We were the last booth to break down our display because we were so swamped with dealing with the doctors who had come to seminar to find out what is new and exciting to take back to the practices.  It is so rewarding to see how importance corrective cosmetics are in the medical world.  We will be back next year to do the same and more since the Skin of Color Seminar is growing in reputation and popularity!