January 31, 2008

Did you ever hear that putting scotch tape on your lips is a quick (and inexpensive!) way to exfoliate them?  I tried this many times- particularly over and over again out of boredom when things were slow at my former job (an interesting habit to watch I suppose!)-but never felt the benefits from it.  Instead, here are my top 2 picks for lip ointments:

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Been using this for over 10 years (wonder how many Eight Hours that is!!).  Would categorize it as “heavy” and “sticky” but works wonders to soothe and moisturize the lips.  Great to apply at night.  This is the Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.  …

Posted by Jacqueline at 11:13 am    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Love your Lips
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/exfoliate-your-lips-better-try-best-lip-balms/

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January 28, 2008

A basic moisturizer will serve to soothe the skin and allow it to retain water.  Sounds simple, right?  Far from it! Currently, there are a vast amount of moisturizers to choose from, and it can be difficult to pick just one.  Should you pay for a luxury brand, or is there an equivalent “drugstore” brand that is just as effective?  Should you focus on anti-aging, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, or just anti-all??  Can adding Collagen and Elastin directly to a moisturizer improve the appearance of the skin?  How about ingredients such as Sake, Caviar, Seaweed, Silk Protein, Rare Botanicals, or even Human Foreskin?!

There are several misconceptions about moisturizers.  For instance, some manufacturers claim their over-the-counter products penetrate layers of the skin and …

Posted by Jacqueline at 9:20 pm    COMMENTS (2)
Category: Moisturizers
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/have-moisturizers-become-too-confusing/

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January 25, 2008

Do you fnd that your skin is getting drier and more itchy in the cold weather?  Not surprisingly, between hot showers and heated rooms, winter takes its toll on the skin.  Discussing cleansing may bit of (ahem) delicate subject, but want to share a couple of tips to help your skin stay more hydrated.  First, be sure to apply a good moisturizer (see Moisturizer Tips) right after the shower when the skin is damp.  This will help retain moisture in the skin and enhance hydration.  Second, be mindful of the areas you need to wash.  Of course, as a Beauty Beat avid reader :)  you will only choose to use a high-quality Soap, but it may not be necessary to wash all areas of …

Posted by Jacqueline at 1:06 pm    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Cleansers
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/cleanse-free-no-scrub-a-dub/

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January 23, 2008

Last night I ran out of my new favorite eye serum Relastin, available at Amazon, and was deciding to just skip the eye cream portion of the evening when I spotted my small bottle of Jojoba Oil in the cabinet.  Jojoba (pronounced Ho-Ho-bah) Oil is extracted and cold pressed from the jojoba bean.  This natural oil is an excellent emollient and moisturizer for the skin and hair.  It is a superior conditioner, moisturizer, and cleanser that aids in softening the skin, as well as promoting healthy hair and scalp.  It has also been reported to help with wrinkles and stretch marks.  Jojoba oil is one of the closest possible matches to human sebum (oil).  

Since Jojoba Oil is completely natural, it can be purchased in …

Posted by Jacqueline at 8:06 pm    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Ingredients
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/ho-ho-jojoba-oil/

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January 22, 2008

Many skin care products tout the beneficial effects of Vitamins as ingredients.  Applied topically, the following have been shown to be effective: 

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that is effective in helping reduce the appearance of fine facial wrinkles and improving skin texture.  Use of topical Vitamin A causes increased sun sensitivity so it is strongly recommended to use an effective sunscreen.  Tretinoin is a potent derivative of Vitamin A and it is one of the few substances whose anti-aging effects on the skin have been widely documented.  Retinol and Retinyl Palmitate are also derivatives of Vitamin A.

Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3, also known as Niacinamide, has been shown to be an effective topical ingredient that helps with skin texture and tone, …

Posted by Jacqueline at 9:55 am    COMMENTS (0)
Category: Antioxidants, Ingredients
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/take-or-apply-your-vitamins/

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January 18, 2008

Hydroquinone, a skin bleaching, or lightening, compound reduces pigmentation associated with brown spots, freckles, melasma, and darker skin by inhibiting melanin production.  There is controversy surrounding the topical use of this skin-lightening agent.

Although Hydroquinone was approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics in the United States, it’s been banned in several countries including Europe, Japan, and Australia.  However, in August 2006, the FDA proposed a ban on over-the-counter products that contain this ingredient.  These products contain up to 2% of Hydroquinone compared to prescription products which contain up to 4%.  Common prescription products include Tri-Luma, Lustra, and EpiQuin Micro.  The reason for the recently proposed ban is due to studies in rodents that showed “some evidence” Hydroquinone may be carcinogenic …

Posted by Jacqueline at 8:56 am    COMMENTS (0)
Category: Ingredients
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/hydroquinone-skin-lightener-or-bleached-whale/

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January 14, 2008

As many of us are now experiencing the winter weather (albeit global warming winter), it is still important to wear sunscreen each day.  Why you ask?  Well here is a brief synopsis of the difference between UVA and UVB rays, and how they are present year-round!

Ultra-Violet A Radiation (UVA)
UVA rays emitted by the sun are the deepest penetrating UV radiation.  UVA rays cause wrinkles and premature aging in the skin.  Additionally, the effects of UVA rays are cumulative, and may contribute to DNA damage as well as skin cancer.  UVA light can penetrate windows and, due to its longer wavelength, filters deeper into the skin than UVB light.  Most sunscreens contain an SPF to protect against UVB rays.  Subsequently, it is important to …

Posted by Jacqueline at 1:19 pm    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Sun Protection
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/ultraviolet-rays-the-difference-between-a-and-b/

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January 10, 2008

The use of Green Tea Extract in skin care products is one of my favorite ingredients.  Green Tea contains the potent antioxidant Flavonoid Phytochemicals, also referred to as Polyphenols.  The percentage of Polyphenols found in Green Tea is significantly higher than that contained in Black Tea. 

There have been a number of studies demonstrating the beneficial use of Green Tea in skin care.  Applied topically, Green Tea has been shown to reduce sun damage by inhibiting Free Radicals and lessening inflammation caused by Ultraviolet Rays.  In effect, Green Tea may work synergistically with sunscreen to further enhance sun protection.  Additionally. the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Green Tea may help to slow down the signs of aging.  Beauty Beat recommends looking for products that …

Posted by Jacqueline at 3:22 pm    COMMENTS (0)
Category: Ingredients
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/green-tea-its-easy-being-green/

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January 8, 2008

Ever wonder what the terms Dermatologist Approved or Dermatologist Tested actually mean on a product’s label?  Although many popular skin care products cite these claims on their products labels, Beauty Beat reader beware!  These terms are misleading and confusing. 

There is no industry-wide standard or industry-wide definition as to what “Dermatologist Tested” or “Dermatologist Approved” mean.  Unlike the uniform, streamlined labeling the FDA requires a company meet in order to include sunscreen claims on a product, these terms are loosely used and not regulated.  As a result, we are just left guessing.  Does it mean the product is kind to the skin?  Maybe is good on sensitive skin?  Does it mean it helps with fine lines and sun damage?  Or just not cause an allergic reaction? 

Since there is no standard definition to …

Posted by Jacqueline at 10:37 am    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Beauty Beat Undercover
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/dermatologist-approved-fact-or-fiction/

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January 7, 2008

There are many issues to contend with during pregnancy, one of the least in which you may want to worry about are changes to the skin.  Melasma, known as the “mask of pregnancy” (sounds so ominous!), are dark patches of skin that may appear on on the face in the second and third trimesters.  These splotchy-type patches range in color from a pale beige to a darker brown, and are caused by pregnancy hormones.  These hormones can trigger hyperpigmentation which causes patches of the skin to darken.

Sun exposure may worsen the hyperpigmentation so a good way to control it is to wear a proper sunscreen and avoid the sun.  Beauty Beat recommends using a sunscreen that contains Mexoryl, Avobenzone, Titanium Dioxide, Helioplex, or Zinc Oxide.  Melasma may fade post-pregnancy but, once it appears, …

Posted by Jacqueline at 10:17 am    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Pregnancy
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/melasma-the-mask-of-pregnancy/

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January 2, 2008

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce the appearance of fine facial wrinkles and improve skin texture.  Vitamin A has been shown to help with fine wrinkles, brown spots, and surface roughness caused by sun damage and the natural aging process.  Since Vitamin A affects the physical structure of the skin, a prescription is required for products such as Retin-A or Renova. 

Vitamin A works on the deeper layers of the skin where fine wrinkling and pigment changes may occur.  Although it does not eliminate wrinkles or reverse sun-damaged and aged skin, Vitamin A works to increase the thickness of the epidermal level.  This, in turn, helps the skin look younger and fuller.  Additionally, it has been shown to reduce brown spots and …

Posted by Jacqueline at 6:35 pm    COMMENTS (1)
Category: Ingredients
Permalink/Trackback: http://www.mybeautybeat.com/blog/vitamin-a-help-your-skin-avoid-the-post-holiday-blues/

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