my toiletry tuesday base layer post is in need of an update! here’s what i’ve been using recently. maybe it’s the pregnancy. maybe it’s the nightly clarisonic deep clean. but either way, i am loving what is happening with my skin lately and i’m certain the above products contribute to it.
- r.l. linden & co. thousand petal beautifying mist || i spray this all over my face first thing when i get out of the shower (i also use this if i need a refresher during the day).
- arcona eye dew
|| gives a nice dewy look to the eyes but also, after consistent use, works to brighten and plump skin. i don’t know if it’s actually plumping my skin but my eyes, which are naturally dark and a bit sunken, have never looked more awake.
- r.l. linden & co coffee & tea facial serum || this is still in the beta testing stages but i am already begging them to make it a permanent part of their line. it makes my face tingle and adds a nice, natural, moisturizing oil to my skin.
- tilvee argan & sea buckthorn age-defying cream || i’ve been using this almost three years now and i have no intention of stopping. it’s a nice heavy cream, perfect for morning and night, that settles into the skin nicely and works its magic. ideal for dry weather climates.
- r.l. linden & co. la balmba rose healing balm || used on my lips and any random dry patches on my face (corners of mouth, edge of nose, even my forehead!).
- tom’s deodorant || what’s there to say about deodorant? besides: stop using the stuff with aluminum in it!
- kiehl’s creme de corps || i like it but i don’t LOVE it. suggestions for a good all-over body cream are currently being accepted. i’m looking for something without a ton of ingredients (i use coconut oil from time to time but am not sold on that either).
- egyptian magic all purpose skin cream
|| i use this on my growing belly, stretch marks (frowny face), and dry patches on elbows or knees. it took me a while to warm up to it but i love love love this heavy lotion.
- jenna hipp essential nail & hand cream
|| i fell in love with jenna hipp’s products at base coat nail salon. i have always been on the search for the perfect hand cream and this is where i got to stop looking.
today’s toiletry tuesday is brought to you by me dear friend, seabron, a skin-care professional who also happens to be the woman who gave me my first bikini wax(!). her skin is flawless–think porcelain doll with perfectly pink cheeks. and while some of it may be genetic, she’s also been diligent about taking good care of it and educating others on how to do the same. i invited her here to share some of her secrets on accessible, everyday ways we can (and should!) be taking care of our skin. take it away, seabron…
Since becoming a skin care therapist, I have loved learning about how we can keep our skin looking young without invasive procedures. A huge component of this is making sure we choose ingredients in our products that combat the very things that make our skin age. Here are five reasons why our skin ages and five all-star anti-aging ingredients you should look for when choosing your products.
1. free radicals || ingredient that works: green/white tea || Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist
Free radicals are unstable molecules that have lost an electron. To make up for the lost electron, they steal one from other nearby molecules leading to a cascade of oxidative damage that ultimately leads to early aging. It’s like an apple slice being left on a counter; over several hours we see it turn brown due to oxygen exposure. Antioxidants are able to stabilize free radicals by donating the missing electron to the molecule. Green and white teas have a huge concentration of polyphenols that quench free radicals.
2. slow cell renewal and turnover || ingredient that works: lactic acid || Philosophy Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging Lactic Acid Cleanser
We start to lose 1% of our collagen from our dermis (the deepest layer of skin) every year after age 30. In addition to that (as if it’s not sad enough) our cell turnover slows down. Slow cell turnover leads to a buildup of dead skin cells and gives us a dull lackluster appearance. Lactic acid is able to dissolve the “glue” that holds the dead cells together, effectively exfoliating them off. Lactic acid is also less irritating than other alpha-hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid) and inhibits melanin to reduce the appearance of age or sun spots.
3. slowed collagen synthesis || ingredient that works: retinol || Image Ageless Total Retinol A Crème
I like to use the mattress analogy when thinking about collagen. When we are young, our mattress is plump, has resistance and is even on the surface. As we age, collagen and elastin get cross-linked and production slows down resulting in a lumpy uneven mattress (think: wrinkles). Retinol is derived from Vitamin A and when applied topically, activates collagen-producing fibroblasts in our dermis.
4. dehydration || ingredient that works: hyaluronic acid || Dermae Hydrating Night Crème with Hyaluronic Acid
Dehydration is a simple lack of water in our skin. When our skin is dehydrated it may feel tight, rough and become easily irritated and inflamed. There are many people who think they have “sensitive skin” who are mistaking that uncommon skin condition for chronic dehydration. I see dehydrated skin in 4 out of 5 clients (this dry Colorado climate is partly to blame!) Hyaluronic Acid holds 1000 times its weight in water, plumping the deeper tissues in our dermis and keeping that hydration there. (editor’s note: i have the day creme pictured above. the night creme looks exactly the same. i didn’t catch it until publication and i’m not changing it so deal).
5. sun exposure || ingredient that works: sunscreen || CeraVe Broad Spectrum Face Lotion SPF 50
This. Is. So. Important. It does not matter what the weather is like or if you’re going to be inside all day, or if you think you don’t have a tendency to burn. You must wear sunscreen. Unfortunately, incidences of skin cancer are going up and it is our duty to pass on healthy sun habits to our friends, family and younger generations. Physical sunscreens use natural minerals (like zinc and titanium) to block and reflect UVA and UVB rays on the surface of the skin. Chemical sunscreens act as a sponge, absorbing rays and converting them to less damaging radiation. Chemical sunscreens are fine if tolerated well, but are more likely to irritate the skin and are not immediately active (they take about 20 minutes to start working). Whatever you choose, make sure it says “broad spectrum” and get out there and practice safe sun!
seabron works at m.pulse at the cherry creek. if your skin needs a pick-me-up, contact them for an appointment and request seabron!
never underestimate the power of the perfect lipstick. i keep all of mine in a linen pouch in my purse to choose based on my outfit and/or my mood. and don’t forget that sometimes all you need is some nice lip balm and, in the sun, spf.
they all look the same in my board above but i swear they’re not! 1. nars shanghai express: great for that dark red sultry look. || 2. lipstick queen jean queen: perfect for everyday jeans and t-shirt outfits where you may just want to accentuate your lips without changing their color. || 3. mac ruby woo: the ultimate red. this shade looks good on everyone and is your classic, bright, sexy red (pictured below). || 4. nars heat wave: more funky than the others, this is a bold coral with an orangey tint. fun for late, summer nights. || 5. r.l. linden beauty & co la balmba rosa healing rose balm: i use this as needed moisturizing my kissers and right before i go to bed. || 6. lipstick queen medieval: want that bitten lip look? this shade is actually a sheer gloss that adds a tint of red; it’s all vitamin E and pigment. || 7. sun bum lip balm w spf 30: protects your lips for the rays.
i’m on the hunt for a nice light pink (as you can see i tend to lean toward RED). any suggestions for a muted pink?
here i am wearing mac ruby woo. photos by harper point.
i’m back w a new edition of toiletry tuesday!: recommend sun protection for mama and baby.
living in denver, we’ve got both high altitude and consistent sun (on average, 300 days out of the year!). higher altitude means stronger UV rays, not bc you’re closer to the sun–as i’ve heard been said– but bc the atmosphere is thinner and so absorbs less UV rays than a lower altitude w denser atmosphere. (interesting read: what factors determine UV strength.) so these geographic reasons, coupled with the facts that skin cancer runs in my family and my fair skin and blue eyes makes me prone to sunburn, i’ve really learned the importance of protecting my skin from those harmful rays. (i can also thank my mother for this as she was the one who constantly told me how beautiful my pale skin and blue eyes are while also firmly reminding me that pale skin and blue eyes mixed w my family’s history of skin cancer are no joking matter. she was never amused when she saw me slathering on tanning oil at the beach, knowing well before i did that i was kidding myself if i thought it would turn me into a dark brown goddess. ha.)
shown above are my daily go-tos for sun protection for my daughter and i. in the list below, i’ve also mentioned some items not pictured. what i have here is not the end all be all of sun protection but so far, for us, it’s proven pretty darn effective.
1. on my face i use neutrogena ultra-sheer sunblock || 2. for ramona, all over, i use neutrogena pure & free sunscreen || 3. lip trip by mountain ocean is my go-to for lip protection (runner up is the sun bum lip balm) || 4. i never leave home without my straw cloche || 5. all over, for me, is sun bum’s SPF 50 moisturizing sunscreen lotion || 6. sunglasses! jasper by warby parker || 7. neutrogena’s pure & free sunscreen stick makes it easy for me to thoroughly get ramona’s face and ears covered. || not pictured: a bonnet and a rash guard for ramona.
important things to remember when protecting yourself from the sun:
1. use sunscreen that says “broad spectrum” on it. this will protect from both UVA and UVB rays. || 2. sunscreen w SPFs of greater than 50 generally aren’t doing much more than the 50 does. || 3. sunscreens aren’t ever really totally water resistent. you should be reapplying at least every 80 minutes, certainly more if in the water or toweling off or after major sweating. || 4. you should be applying at least a golf ball size amount of sun screen every time || 5. spray sunscreens are less effective in that people tend to apply less sunscreen to their skin, even if they feel they are getting full coverage || 6. avoid the sun between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00. || 7. don’t forget the hats, sunglasses, and cover-ups!
after a full day’s work and a full face of day-old lotion and sunscreen and make-up, it’s time to get my face squeaky clean for a good night’s sleep. typically, nighttime routines should be more intense than washing your face in the morning (i use facial bar soap and daily scrub in the AM, but often people just splash w water or use face wipes. whatever works!) bc there’s typically a lot more gunk on there. the above items are what i use (or really want to have to be able to use!).
clockwise from left
- i start with origins clean energy gentle cleansing oil. i rub it all over my dry face and this helps to loosen and remove make-up. then i rinse w warm water.
- after that, i wash my face with luvalla hydrating milk cleanser with a facial sea sponge. an esthetician from ten thousand waves introduced me to it and said that it would work great on my larger pores. it’s sold at whole foods in santa fe, but in denver i have to order it online.
- the next two items, the neutrogena fresh foaming cleanser and the clarisonic mia, are not items i own. however, i’ve used them w great results in the past (my mom got a mia for christmas and i tried to sneak it home with me). i’d use these products together on nights when i’ve worn more make-up than usual (nights out or at the restaurant) or days spent digging in the dirt or caked in sunscreen and sand at the beach.
- repeats i use morning and night are the thayers rose petal witch hazel toner and clinique all about eyes.
- and then finally, my miracle stuff: tilvee age-defying creme w argan & sea buckthorn (made locally in golden, co). this stuff is luxurious and smells great and a little goes a long way. if i didn’t need sunscreen on a daily basis, this would be my night and day moisturizer.
what’s your nighttime routine? any products you swear by?
welcome
