Sarah Mahoney has published a nice summary of skin care tips on Women’s Health magazine.

Mahoney compares Skin care to retirement 401(k) plan. Patience is important as skin care treatments applied today will take time for results to be apparent. However, the same way you can compare your fitness results in terms of weight and endurance to those that do not stay fit, eventually you will hear the comments from friends; “You look the same”, or “you have not aged a bit”. Here is Mahoney’s guide to an easy skin care routine for preventing the signs of aging.

Step 1: Skin Cleanser

The first step is to start with clean skin. It makes the rest of the skin-care treatments more effective. You can try a gentle cleanser that leaves protective oils and moisture behind (Mahoney recommends Dove Beauty Bar and Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar.) The article quoted Francesca J. Fusco, M.D; “For an extra boost, use a product made with alpha-hydroxy acids, or AHAs, to exfoliate the dead cells, help plump up your skin, and give a healthy glow,”. AHAs make the outermost layer of skin stronger and more resistant to irritation.

Step 2: Anti-Aging Serum

What is a serum? Does it sound like something straight from chemistry lab? These potent anti aging treatment formulas have concentrated power in small doses. The best anti-aging contain antioxidants (look for vitamins C and E and green tea) or peptides (amino-acid chains believed to bolster the skin’s collagen production), according to Diane Berson, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Blend a few drops onto freshly cleansed skin—it absorbs better when pores are wide open.

Step 3: Moisturizer

Ever wondered what causes the look of dry skin? Mahoney explaines that when skin cells become dehydrated, they shrivel up, making skin look older, dull in tone and texture, and even wrinkled. That is why your hands can look older during winter. The dry skin exacerbates wrinkle folds and deepens the skin creases. The same thing can happen to facial skin. Yohini Appa, Ph.D., a researcher at Neutrogena added, “free radicals can penetrate more easily through dry skin to attack the layers of collagen and elastin.” This is the fast track to saggy skin. Look for a lightweight formula that has an SPF of at least 25 and contains petrolatum or glycerin, the gold standards for moisture retention.

Step 4: Sunscreen

It is well known that the sun is a serious threat to any effort to slow the aging process. UV rays cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and cell breakdown. The sun screen tip is very important. Mahoney mentions that your best defense is to be thorough with your sunscreen. Use a sunscreen moisturizer or buy a foundation with SPF, especially if you will be out for more than an hour or so. When shopping online for cosmetics, look for sunscreen products that contain ingredients Parsol 1789 or Mexoryl. Both ingredients both block deep-penetrating UVA rays effectively. And reapply often.

Step 5: Retinoid

Anti-aging ingredients aren’t immediate people-pleasers; they need time to do their good deeds. Take, for example, retinoids. These vitamin A-derivatives—prescription-strength are sold as Retin-A and Renova; the similar but less powerful over-the-counter version is retinol—smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, help even out skin tone, and may even reverse the effects of UV exposure. However, they can make skin more sensitive to UV light, so doctors recommend applying a night cream before bed. That way, the retinoids are active while your body is repairing itself during sleep.

Step 6: Sleep

Getting plenty of shut-eye is as good for your complexion as it is for your body. When medical researchers at Cornell University deprived eleven women of sleep for just one night, it was enough to deplete their skin’s defenses. To make the most of your sleep, the general recommendation is to try to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Also, consider using a humidifier to keep your skin moist and help your nighttime treatment sink into your pores if you live in a dry climate.

There is a correct way to apply skin care products.  A recent article quoted Martin Weinstock, M.D., a professor of dermatology at Brown University, “You have to put it on before you go out, you have to put on enough of it, you have to reapply sun screen while you’re out, and you have to be sure not to wipe it off.”

Skin Care Products101:

There are a variety of chemical sunscreens as well as physical sunscreens available when you look to buy cosmetics online. Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin for protection. Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin for protection. Some examples of UVB chemical sunscreens are Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone, and Octyl salicylate. In order to be considered full-spectrum, UVA blockers are added such as Oxybenzone and Avobenzone (Parsol 1789). Physical sunscreens contain Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide, which reflect UVA and UVB rays. Physical sunscreens and sunblocks are ideal for those with sensitive or reactive skin. If your trouble with sunscreens is the thick, goopy mess they can sometimes create, you’re in luck. Sunscreens are now available in a variety of textures and consistencies. You can use a light mist, a translucent or bronzing powder, a light lotion, or a more traditional, moisturizing cream.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has highlighted several facial skin care. A key issue is that melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, causing more than 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. It’s also the most common form of skin cancer for young adults age 25-29. The best way to prevent melanoma is with diligent, daily application of sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater. In the case of moles and birth marks, learn the “ABCDEs” of monitoring them, and examine skin regularly for irregularities. Risk of melanoma increases with new or atypical moles, a family history of melanoma or a history of any type of skin cancer. Experts suggest seeing a dermatologist for a thorough skin exam on a regular basis. Everyone, however, benefits from an annual cancer screening.

The goal is make sure that the bronzer and blush in your cosmetic stash make a great team when used together. Bronzer is used to warm up the complexion. Bronzer does not take the place of blush, which is adds color to the cheeks. The concern some shoppers have when they buy makeup online is that bronzer will make you look artificial, or the blush leaves you looking like a clown from the Ringling circus, you have not found the right shades of blush and bronzer face makeup for your complexion. Here are three simple blush and Clinique Bronzer pairings to work with either light, medium to dark complexions.

1. Blushing Orchid Blush + Clinique Sunkissed Bronzer. The pink blush and light gold toned bronzer is designed for women who have fair skin, including freckled skin.

2. Jane Blushing Petal blush + Clinique Sunblushed Bronzer. The blush is more of a rose color and combined with the terra-cotta bronzer work well for the woman with dark honey or light brown hair and skin that easily tans.

3. Jane Blushing Plum blush + Clinique Sunswept bronzer. The blush color is a darker shade of pink red similar to the color of watermelon, and combined with the deep bronzer flatter women with dark hair and eyes, and are especially great for olive skin tones that need a brighter spot of color to accentuate the brown colored features.

If you are going to dive into the cosmetic market, you should start do your research and understand the industry so you can help the consumers buying make up online. When you look at the online cosmetics industry, you first have to understand the relationships between the manufacturers, the specialty retailers, the department stores, and the close out/discontinued makeup web retailers. We won’t even discuss the concern about counterfeit makeup.  We read recently of an online make-up retailer in a lawsuit with a supplier that sold it counterfeit cosmetics. The other general trends when you begin to research the cosmetics market is the ingredients and the lab testing. Specifically, are the ingredients toxic? Does the manufacturer test on animals?  So as we develop our review of the makeup cosmetics market, we will evaluate each manufacturer, their best selling products, and some of the best places to find them.

As we launch into this series of cosmetic ratings and reviews, we decided to use our proprietary analysis to find the current hot cosmetic on the internet. The current top five list includes Mary Kay, Chanel, and Clinique, but the mass consumer is out searching for the current pop star of cosmetics, M.A.C. cosmetics.  MAC stands for Makeup Art Cosmetics and is gaining market share in department stores. This market share gain may have been helped by the recent new owner, Estee Lauder. MAC Cosmetics products are reasonably priced considering their superior quality to other similarly-priced brands. Furthermore, jobs with MAC are highly sought after, whether at the main company or at a department store. Since the makeup line is popular, the shrewd cosmetics salespeople know where to post their resume. Mac makeup as a company is known to not use animal testing on their finished products. The main reason to shop for MAC is for the makeup. They also have a dual strategy of targeting professional makeup artists, or those that would like to look like they were made up by a professional. Since professional makeup artists like to use neutral toned foundations and matte eye shadows and blushes, they tend to find what they needs with MAC cosmetic color selections.  Another interesting strategy from MAC is their relationships to merchandise the cosmetics line with Hello Kitty and Barbie. Barbie license holder Mattel says it has forged a deal with cosmetic specialist MAC that should see Barbie branded cosmetics aimed at adults

The most popular products from Mac cosmetics is the foundations, specifically the cream to powder foundation, Studio Tech Foundation, that offers the satin finish.

Mac Lip Care, 1.45g/0.05oz Lip Pencil – Currant for Women

Keeping skin soft and healthy during winter months can be a challenge even for regular spa clients, but it’s harder for the many men who would rather keep their facials and exfoliating treatments to a minimum.

Simple morning skin care regimen can help keep your complexion from flaking or cracking during cold dry winters. The first step is to start with a clean face ever morning using a cleanser that contains glycolic acid, which experts says has natural exfoliating qualities.

The highest ranked (best) foam facial cleanser is the La Prairie which scored very well for cleaning during recent product testing. Generally, the facial cleanser helps removed dead skin cells and dirt which makes for an easier shave, and spa consultants seem to consider shaving in the showers a better option because the steam softens the beard and hairs and making it easier to get a clean shave with less razor burn. Another tip is to use a non foaming cream or gel. The more air that you have in the foam, the harder it is for the blade to get close to the skin. Seek out shaving creams or gels with aloe vera beads that break as you shave dispersing moisturizer during the process. After shaving,  a mans face could use an astringent toner that has low alcohol content for less drying and includes ingredients for such as chamomile or calendula that are hydrating for the skin. Other key ingredients to look for are Aloe Vera and wheat germ in moisturizers and should be applied after the toner. At the end, dabs of a light cream with super moisturizing ingredient like shea butter around the eyes where the skin is most sensitive. This skin care routine at night is simpler he typically splashes water on his face to clean it, and then uses a high performance moisturizer as a night cream.

Two or more nights during winter, it is recommended to use an exfoliater in place of a regular cleanser in order to do a more thorough job of getting rid of dry skin. It may be uneccessary to have hydrating facials during the winter if you are using products consistently and effectively. You are essentially doing the same thing that facials are doing but every day.

The settlement is from a class action suit filed on behalf of people who bought cosmetics between May 1994 and July 2003. The suit accused the stores of conspiring to fix prices. The retailers did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which requires them to give away $175 million in cosmetics. The cosmetics are full-sized products that vary from mascara to body lotion. Stores are scheduled to have this up and offered through Jan. 27, however, the supplies will be as they last — one per customer as supplies last.

Now the cosmetic item not mentioned in cosmetics settlement, is nail polish. However, maybe the customers will buy some cosmetics while they are in the store.  This may make for a good deal for retailers. The retail sector is reeling with what’s being called the worst holiday season in 40 years. The deal gets shoppers in their stores, and managers said they see it as an opportunity. The current hot nail polish that has shown up in searches and currently is a best seller on major online retailers is OPI Nail Polish.  OPI has been in business for more than 25 years and the company’s polishes are popular with catchy memorable names. OPI makes one of the most popular nail polish colors, I’m Not Really A Waitress, which is a pretty shade of red. The marketing for OPI Nail Polish is clever, and sales and searches are basically votes that OPI Nail Polish is the consumer’s choice for manicures and pedicures. OPI brushes are wider than normal polishes. OPI polishes come in 0.5 fluid ounce bottles.

The order was as follows:

1. OPI nail polish
2. Essie nail polish
3. Chanel nail polish
4. China Glaze nail polish
5. Zoya nail polish
6. Orly nail polish
7. Cover Girl nail polish
8. Revlon nail polish
9. NARS nail polish
10. Lippman nail polish

What are the most popular nail polish colors? The current best selling shade is pink. Could this be due to the upcoming Valentines Day Holiday? Below are some tips when handling the new bottle of OPI.

Nail Polish 101: Reviews, Tips, and Brands for complementing the free makeup.

The real question when selecting the nail polish is to think about the reason you are painting your nails. If it is a black-tie event, then consider the color of your dress. Red polish looks great on toenails or fingernails. To match your skin tone, hold up many different shades of red to see what looks best with your skin tone. If you can’t tell, then paint each nail a different shade.

For a fun look in the summer, try a pastel blue, pink, purple or green on your toes. This is something that is exposed in flip flops, but hidden in the office. That said, avoid this look on your fingers, it is too informal on the hands and may look juvenile.

For a cool look in the winter, try out a shade of very dark (almost black) red. Again, try different shades on your nails to see what looks best with your skin tone. Usually dark colors with a purple-blue base look better on darker skin and colors with a reddish-orange base look best on lighter skin.

Step4

To make your sheer colors show on your nails, start with one coat of a frost color. Then do a coat or two of your sheer. This will give you a lighter base to work with and will allow you to use less coats to get it to show up

If your nail polish is starting to peal, don’t peel or chip it by hand that will also peal away layers from the nail weakening and damaging it. Don’t overuse any kind of nail-polish remover. Use a minimal amount on the nail and avoid getting too much on the cuticle and skin. Nail polish protects the nail from stains, physical trauma, and acts as a barrier to chemicals. Use it but don`t overuse it or it may stain and dry nails. Don’t change your nail polish more than about once a week. Nail polish remover is made of harsh chemicals, and can dry out your nails.