Skincare Products + Skin Care Techniques

Skin Products & Devices

Skincare products & skin care techniques for skin problems. How to apply Retinol & Vitamin C. Anti-aging skincare. How to treat acne, brown spots, dry skin, wrinkles, Keratosis Pilaris. Skincare ingredient list. Skincare research. Skin care techniques, news, products, tutorials.

How to use anti-aging devices such as NuFace and Revive light therapy devices. Details on dermaplaning and cleansing devices. News of the latest skin care products.

CURRENT SKIN CARE OBSESSIONS: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid.

Beauty Food: WonderEsque Tri-Blade Compact Spiralizer

June 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

WonderEsque Tri-Blade Compact Spiralizer

You can have the best skin and hair care products in the world, but if your skin and hair aren’t healthy, it’s pretty hard to compensate, no matter how talented you are. So Style Chicks is going to be starting a feature called “Beauty Food” where we discuss foods and ways of cooking that lead to a healthier inside and a more vibrant outside.

Vegetable Noodles, more frequently referred to as “Zoodles”, are becoming quite popular, and with good reason. Vegetable noodles are a healthy alternative to carb laden pasta. Not only are making a low-cal swap-out, but you are adding valuable nutrients to your diet!

I’ve been interested in spiralized vegetables for awhile now, but the ones I looked seemed to require a little more elbow grease than I am willing to put in. So I was thrilled to find the WonderEsque Tri-Blade Compact Spiralizer: it looked easy to use, easy to clean up, versatile, and the price point is great. Plus the handle is a fun shade of pink!

This spiralizer comes with three blades: a Thick Spiral Blade, a Thin Spiral Blade, and a Ribbon Blade. A major plus for me is the de-coring feature; it automatically and cleanly keeps the core out of your spiralized vegetables.

Another big perk is the ease of use. The pictures I took were my first try using the Spiralizer. I’m no master chef, and nearly any kitchen gadget I use requires a test run before I get it right. With this spiralizer, I was able to get perfect, beautiful spirals the first time after reading through the easy to understand directions.

If you need inspiration for recipes, you will find endless mouth-watering ideas on the Internet, and don’t forget to check out Pinterest as well. Amazon also has many Kindle books with excellent recipes too.

I am currently enjoying sweet potato chips that I spiralized with the thin ribbon blade and then toasted. They are absolutely amazing, and so much more flavorful than what you find in the store (and sweet potatoes are fantastic for your skin!) My next projects are Zoodle Lo Mein and making decorative (and edible!) roses out of apples.

I am so happy with this spiralizer and can’t wait to keep using it!

WonderEsque Tri-Blade Compact Spiralizer

Primiracle Natural Hand and Body Lotion

June 9, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Primiracle Natural Hand and Body Lotion

Despite the careful use of daily sunscreen and moisturizers on my face, I have comparatively neglected my hands and body skin. In my quest to make up for lost skin care time, I found there are several choices when it comes to moisturizing the skin, but a surprising lack of products that are both natural and effective in skin repair and hydration, especially for sensitive skin. Since the skin is such a large organ, I want to be careful about what chemicals I unnecessarily use on my skin in the form of body washes and body lotions.

PriMiracle Natural Hand and Body Lotion contains Shea Butter, SunFlower Oil and Aloe Vera, three powerful moisturizers that can hold their own against chemical moisturizers any day. These three ingredients are assets to a hand and body lotion because they naturally provide so many protective and curative benefits to the skin. The PriMiracle lotion has several ingredients that not only make skin soft and hydrated but treat the skin as well, including problem skin such as acne prone, eczema and sensitive skin.

INGREDIENTS
Here is a brief overview of some of my favorite ingredients:

Aloe Vera. Most of us have tried Aloe Vera for soothing a sunburn, but that is just one of the many vast uses found in Aloe’s bag of tricks. Aloe Vera excels in remedying dry, flaky skin without being greasy or sticky. It has several of the same Amino Acids found in skin and hair, so it nourishes the skin and helps it look radiant and healthy. It also can reduce inflammation such as in a burn, a pimple or from sensitive skin conditions. The Gibberellin in aloe stimulates the growth of new cells. A hallmark of the PriMiracle line of skin care, Aloe Vera is a high impact hydration ingredient that addresses a variety of skin care woes.

Sunflower Oil is one of my favorite moisturizers because it is very effective even when used straight from the bottle. But it is a semi-greasy oil which makes application and dry down difficult. But when incorporated into a lotion or cream, Sunflower Oil it can be exceptionally useful. While Sunflower Oil is an effective moisturizer all on its’ own, it is also a carrier oil, so it enables the other active moisturizing ingredients to sink deeper into the skin and have more impact. Sunflower Oil is non-comedogenic so that it can be effective moisturizing acne prone areas. It soothes eczema, scarring, redness and irritation.

Shea Butter intensely hydrates skin for extended periods of time and can treat several skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It is especially useful for dry skin patches such as on the heels of the feet, elbows, and cuticles.

Jojoba Oil is another favorite of mine since it is both a barrier oil and a carrier oil, so it supports other moisturizers ability to soothe the skin, and it protects the skin by providing a moisture seal barrier. Despite being an oil, it absorbs quickly. Jojoba’s structure is similar to skin’s natural oils, so it helps regulate smooth skin without leaving it too oily, whether your skin is dry, oily or normal.

Passion fruit seed oil, also known as Maracuja Oil, is rich in vitamin A and potassium to help keep skin healthy. It is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and naturally anti-itch. It is an excellent addition to anti-acne and sensitive skin care treatments.

Also important is what is NOT in this lotion, including no parabens, sulfate or harsh chemicals.

APPLICATION AND USE

It is a light to medium consistency, I use about a half-dollar size dollop for legs and arms, and another about the same size for torso and shoulders. I use it post-shower and let it soak for a bit while I towel off my hair and prep it for styling. I re-apply to my hands during the day and elbows as needed. I also use it at night on my hands, and my legs since summer has begun, and I want my skin smooth, flake-free and hydrated.

I love that this is unscented, that is a big perk for me since my skin is sensitive and my office is fragrance-free. And when I say unscented, I mean you smell nothing, there is no chemical scent to mask in this lotion. When I do wear scent, I prefer to use it deliberately instead of getting it from an all-over lotion. Being unscented allows for me to add a bit of scent whether perfume or scented oils, to this lotion directly, which is much more versatile and useful to me.

RESULTS
I found that after using the lotion for about a week, that I didn’t have to use it daily since it softened some dry and rough patches such as my knees, elbows, feet, and hands. So if I am in a rush after my shower, I can skip a day. Like many people, I wash my hands several times a day and use Hand Sanitizers, and with most hand creams, I must re-apply multiple times a day. But this lotion kept my hands soft all day with only once or twice a day use. I am especially pleased to find a quality hand lotion that lasts through the day.

Primiracle Natural Hand and Body Lotion

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash

June 6, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Summer is already here, and it is time to go into skin-softening overdrive for skin that has been covered up all winter such as arms, shoulders and legs. With the hot air and moisture-robbing air conditioning, and the sun, sand, and pool water, the skin on my legs can use all the help they can get. I like to switch to a gentle hydrating body wash in the summer to maximize my moisturizing efforts. If that is a natural product, all the better.

Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash is a hydrating cleanser that lathers enough to provide a good base for shaving my legs without excessively stripping moisture. I like that the cleansing ingredients are strong enough to clean and remove bacteria, sunscreen lotions or oils, yet there are plenty of gentle ingredients so that it can be used for even sensitive skin conditions such as eczema.

USE
The bottle recommends using the wash with use a loofah, washcloth or your hands. I also found it worked well with my Clarisonic Body Brush Head or a gentle sponge. Only a small amount of wash is needed, about the size of a quarter, and if I am also shaving my legs about a half dollar total. There is a sudsy lather, and it washes away cleanly without a residue.

SCENT
A fresh but very light scent of Tea Tree, Aloe Vera, and lemons while in use, it dries down to a not-detectible scent that does not conflict with any perfumes. The lemon scent is decidedly closer to a limoncello than an artificial Lemon Pledge. I wouldn’t mind if this scent lasted on the skin afterward but I really can’t smell it on myself after use.

INGREDIENTS
Aloe Vera: Did you have an Aloe Vera Plant in your home growing up? We did, and every time someone got a sunburn, out came a cutting of an Aloe leaf and the sticky goo from inside the leaf to soothe it. Aloe Vera hydrates the skin without making it greasy, and when combined with other ingredients, it does not leave the sticky feeling associated with a direct application. Aloe Vera increases the water content of the skin, moisturizing and plumping the skin with hydration. What I find particularly interesting about Aloe Vera is how it is useful for all skin types: it treats acne, it soothes and de-inflames eczema, it tones oily skin, it hydrates dry skin. Multi-purpose Aloe Vera has Gibberellin, which stimulates the growth of new cells. It also keeps flaky, dry skin at bay. A soothing moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated during cleansing, Aloe is a great addition to a body cleanser.

Lemons are an antioxidant cleansing agent rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C assists with collagen production. Lemons also serve as a toner for the skin. Over time, they lighten dark areas such as elbows and knees and make skin appear clear and bright.

Tea Tree Oil has multiple skin care benefits including antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which provide protection against a whole host of infections.

Eucalyptus Oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, so it heals irritation and insect bites. It also soothes and treats acne and inflammation. It has an invigorating sensation when used within a skin wash.

Lavendin Oil is an invigorating form of lavender that repels mosquitos and soothes tired, aching muscles and reduces inflammation. Unlike the lavender variant that causes one to feel sleepy, this stimulating ingredient makes for a great morning pick-me-up in the shower.

RESULTS
I like that this body wash is all natural yet still leaves my skin clean and moisturized. The fine line between a body wash that is overly harsh on the skin and one that is not robust enough to remove toxins and dirt from the beach or being outside is a delicate balance. The proper ingredients in a body wash are essential, or else you negate all your diligent moisturizing efforts. I like the combination of ingredients to both clean, protect, moisturize and invigorate, and I love the lemon scent. It is powerful enough to remove residual bug sprays and sunscreen from an outdoor picnic outing yet gentle enough not to deplete skin of natural oils. A small amount goes a long way towards soft, clean skin.

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash

I Max Ceramide-Post Chemical Peel-Soothing and Moisturizing Cream

June 5, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I Max Ceramide-Post Chemical Peel-Soothing and Moisturizing Cream

WHY USE A CERAMIDE CREAM AFTER A PEEL?
I find Glycolic peels to be very beneficial for the skin for shrinking pores, lightening dark spots and reducing the appearance of wrinkles while leaving skin smooth and fresh. AHA’s are often more effective for people with sensitive skin or aging skin because they break up the cement-like glue that holds the dead skin together, so dead skin just melts off, revealing fresher new skin underneath. The longer you can tolerate leaving the AHA on your skin, generally 15-30 minutes, the better.

The problem is that it is easy to over-do it and leave skin red and irritated and in need of some soothing barrier to moisturize and protect the skin. Skin can also require a protective ceramide moisture barrier due to eczema or psoriasis.

This I Max Ceramide Cream is for use after a chemical peel such as any Glycolic Acid AHA peels or other at-home peels that may cause irritation and redness on the skin. It helps skin quickly recover from a peel.

HOW TO USE THIS CREAM POST-PEEL
I use this cream immediately after I do an at home Glycolic Acid Peel because this cream is effective enough to allow me to leave the acid treatment on my skin for longer time spans and get maximum benefit from the peels. After use, the redness subsides within a few hours and the next day my skin is smooth with no indication of swelling, inflammation, dryness or redness. This cream is also useful if you get any chemical peel or too much sun resulting in dryness and redness.

Even if the skin has not been exposed to harsh chemicals or peels, I find this Ceramide cream can make for a soothing and hydrating facial mask for an at-home spa treat. I slather my face with the cream and give my face and neck and decolletage good gentle massage to help the cream soak in, and I leave the cream on for 30 minutes to an hour while I watch TV. I gently remove any remaining cream with a tissue and the next day my skin is soft and supple.

APPLICATION:
This is a very thick, rich cream without notable scent. It is emollient but not sticky or slick, and once it is massaged in it is not oily or greasy. It should be massaged in well for 2-3 minutes. I apply it and add more as needed because a small amount goes a long way. It comes with a small spatula which I like.

INGREDIENTS:
A key ingredient in this cream is Ceramide, which prevents loss of water and keeps skin moist and supple. The loss of Ceramide due to aging or exposure to harsh chemicals, such as those in peels, acne medicines, and some abrasive face soaps can disrupt this layer and result in dry, dull, irritated and sometimes blotchy red skin.

Additional ingredients include Vitamin A, B’s, and C, all of which nourish and improve the skin. Since they are paired with deep moisturizing ingredients within the cream, they are not too harsh even for very sensitive skin.

RESULTS:
As an at-home spa treat for dry, lackluster skin, as a treatment to restore Ceramide balance after a peel, or as a protective barrier for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, this Ceramide-Post Chemical Peel-Soothing and Moisturizing Cream provides the important protective layer to restore much-needed moisture balance to the skin. I find that after an AHA peel that this cream reduces my “downtime” due to skin redness and irritation and lets me get the most out of my at-home peel skin care treatments.

Good price, effective and recommended product for use after at-home peels and treatments.

I Max Ceramide-Post Chemical Peel-Soothing and Moisturizing Cream