Peeps.
Summer has taken its toll on my clients, and I've had an influx of people with two major issues the last several weeks:
redness and
dark spots. I even had a client with Melasma yesterday who requested a "fuller-coverage foundation" to cover up her dark spots. She told me not to worry, because she bleaches her skin year-round and usually by April/May it looks great again. I'm sorry - WHAT!? People. PEOPLE! We come from a generation of beauties who take pride in being pale. You don't
have to be a sun worshipper anymore! Hasn't Snooki taught us not to be afraid of bronzer??
(Mazel tov on the baby, btw!)
I then had a client who was in her early-mid twenties and feared that her freckles were becoming "dark spots." I tried not to roll my eyes as we came up with a solution:
My favorite skincare product,
Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel now comes in a trial size! Now all of you can experience the magic!
Caudalie's Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum is also amazing (super hydrating, soothing and makes your skin luminous!)
Lastly, although I didn't think she had dark spots, she picked up a bottle of
Clinique's Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. While I myself haven't tried it, I have heard rave reviews from my clients and colleagues. If you're suffering from Hyperpigmentation, give it a whirl!
Next up is for my sensitive peeps. So it turns out, sun exposure, hot weather and humidity can trigger Rosacea (amongst other things! - rosacea.org) Needless to say, summer is probably the worst season for us, and people are starting to notice with the change in seasons that it's time to undo some of the damage. What helps us sensitive-skinned gals from the past few months in the sun!?
Try using products with the following:
Lavender - It's been used for centuries to treat rashes, blemishes and rosacea. Erin's Faces has a Clarifying Serum that contains Essential Oil. It's great for sensitive skin (and congested) and is Organic! She also carries an Organic Lavender Body Wash that contains both Lavender and Chamomile (see below.) It's gentle enough for babies and is sulfate & paraben free.
Chamomile. It reduces inflammation and is soothing. You can also steep chamomile tea bags in warm water and place them on the affected areas.
Honey - Sorry vegans, this one's awesome. I've been straight up putting honey on my skin and it's nothing short of amazing. It's antibacterial, healing and soothing. Booya!
Green Tea - it's anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. It can also help reduce the skin's reaction to ultraviolet light. AmorePacific farms their own Green Tea for use in all of their products!
And, lastly, try Oatmeal - It soothes itchiness and dryness. It also promotes the skin's natural ability to protect itself from inflammatory attacks. (tiphero.com) I really like Ole Henriksen's Vitamin Plus moisturizer - it contains oatmeal and doesn't break me out. Woop woop!
Also be sure to check out products from
Avene, which is a line dedicated to using thermal spring water from the South of France to treat sensitive skin. Sounds amazing, right? And it is! I was fortunate enough to pick up some of their goodies while I was in Paris. They're also sold in the U.S. (and not ridiculously priced, might I add.) Click
here for more info!
HEADS UP: If you're red & blotchy, proceed with caution when getting color matched for a new foundation. Make sure you cancel the redness
before you try on! Certain artists often go darker or more yellow to try and hide the red patches. You look into the fluorescent-lit mirrors and don't realize what trap you've set yourself up into until you step outside or get your ass home and look at your face. So, my red & blotchy peeps, heed my advice. Don't go yellow.
Correct that shiz!
I'm not really into full-on green primers like
MUFE's,
Smashbox's or
Fusion Beauty's. I feel like they leave your face with an unpleasant film. What I
do love is a good corrector that's meant to be used sparingly underneath the foundation on those difficult areas, and this one I'd like to add to my list of
SHIT THAT WORKS. It's
Lorac's Oil-Free Neutralizer.
Ladies, this is
not a foundation. It simply neutralizes the skin! It's safe for sensitive skin (although - eep - it
does have parabens. Lo ciento!). $30 gets you 1 ounce which will last you forever and a day. Use a tiny bit - dab it in with your finger (warm it up into the skin) and pat it to blend only on the necessary areas. It can be a little drying sometimes so if you're already a bit parched then make sure to hydrate that area prior to or hell, mix that shit in with your moisturizer. I love it! It's a staple in my kit and I've been recommending it a lot to my clients over the years. More importantly, this sort of product allows you to really get a truer shade match for tinted moisturizer, powder, BB cream, foundation, or whatever the heck you use. (And then you're less likely to have that nasty jawline your-foundation-doesn't-match-your-skin crap going on!)
Want more information on why your skin might be so red? Click
here.
Just because it's end of summer doesn't mean it's the end of your SPF! Protect your skin and above all, love yourselves!
Happy Labor Day, Lovelies! xo
