Beauty-From Head To Toe Blog

Take years off your body, by taking care of it!

There are several things that give away your age, or make you look older besides your face.  Let’s talk about it and see what you can do to stop the aging appearance and turn back the clock without having to spend your life savings.

What are these signs?

• The Biggest Is Sun Damage
• Thinning Hair
• Sagging Breasts
• Your Hands
• Lumpy Leg Veins

Today, let’s address the first one, and we will talk about the others later.

For many of us, when we were young we loved to sun bathe and lay in the sun for hours, getting that perfect tan.  Those early freckles were really your first warning of sun damage.  In your 30s and 40s, the UV exposure shows up in the form of broken blood vessels around your nose and on your cheeks, wrinkles around your eyes and lips and brown spots.  What can we do today to change or reverse this damage?

EASY OF THE BUDGET:

The first line of defense is to wear sunscreen every day all year long.  It will not do anything for the wrinkles and age spots, but it will prevent further damage and could help to reduce your risk of skin cancer.  Any drugstore brand with both UVA and UVB blockers will do.  Just use it!

Don’t use tanning bed, as they can cause further damage.   If you want to look tanned, use a auto tanner to color your skin. They can make you look as though you have been in the sun and cause no damage.

Products containing glycolic,  alpha hydroxy acid, hyaluronic acid or other fatty acids  appear to stimulate new collagen, which is damaged by the sun exposure.   Many of the Coup d’Eclat and Heliabrine products will help  with this.

NOT TOO EXPENSIVE:

Prescription retinols like Retin-A and Renova rev up collagen production and speed the cell changes, reversing signs of sun damage.  There are over the counter retinol creams, such as Coup d’Eclat Anti-Wrinkle Serum (047) and Heliabrine’s Helixence Time Recovery Serum (141) that do a superior job.

GOING FOR THE BIG FIX:

Glycolic or fruit acid chemical peels are done by your dermatologist.  They will improve skin tone and texture and give your face a fresher look.  Expect to pay between $200 and $500 per treatment.

Laser or light therapy is the most effective way to reverse sun damage.  Broken blood vessels can be treated with pulse dyed lasers in about three sessions at $400 to $500 a treatment.  Intense Pulsed Light treatments reduce pigmentation from sun damage.  You will require from one to four sessions at $300 to $500 a treatment.  The Fraxel laser, can reduce fine lines and diminish discoloration because it does deeper and stimulates collagen production.  These treatments run from $800 to $1500 per treatment and you will need from two to five sessions.

Wearing less make up is one of the simplest ways to look younger.  Surprising, isn’t it!   Just use your skin care products to bring out the natural glow.

Karla Buzzell

http:www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

Karla@Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

To continue what we were talking about yesterday:

Getting enough rest is very important.  The skin shows it, when we are over tired.  Figure out how much sleep your body needs, and make sure that you do not deprive yourself of rest.  If you are short of time, you can actually make up your deficit by spending extra time sleeping.  This is important!

Sleeping on a neck roll can really help to prevent marks on your face in the morning. These marks may go away during the day, but they do cause damage to the skin over time.  I have a difficult time with a neck roll, due to my arthritis, but I found that sleeping on a satin pillow case really made a difference.  It seemed silly to me at the beginning, and I purchased a very inexpensive one to try, but I found that my face looked much better in the morning, and so did my hair, an extra bonus!

Make sure that you cleanse your face every day. Using a washcloth to remove the cleanser helps to remove the dead skin cells as well.  If you do nothing else, always apply a moisturizer every morning.  This applies to any skin type.  Do not think because you have oily skin you do not need it.  You do.  (We will talk more in a future article about different skin types and their special needs.)

Remember to care for your eyes and lips too, as we talked about it the last article.

Before you go to bed,  make it a steadfast rule to cleanse your face.  This is very important to remove any makeup that might clog your pores, and all of the soil of the day.   I cannot emphasis how important this single step is!

It is important to keep your hands from your face.   They add soil and grime that gets ground in.  Also, we often lean our face on our elbows, and this can causes wrinkles to form from stretching the skin in the areas that we rest our hands. Makeup will enhance your beauty.

Most department stores have counters with specialists who will work with you to help you learn the latest trend in makeup.   They will give you a make over at no cost.   This can be important, so that you know what the current look is, and you do not look dated.   It also helps you realize how lovely you can look.

As you age, it is important to spend a few minutes each day looking your best.  A simple makeup routine takes very little time and it can work wonders to help you look and feel younger.   When you look good, you naturally feel better.

There is more to our skincare than just our face.  Other parts of our body play a part in our skin care, too.  We need to take care of the entire body,  so that we don’t give away our age with skin on our hands, feet and other parts of our body.

Don’t forget to care for your hands.  They play a big part in showing your age.  Simply by caring for them with products that reduce spots, and keeping them moisturized, with daily care you can make your hands look years younger.  Wear gloves when you do household chores and the kitchen cleanup.  If you have a hard time wearing gloves, as I do, at least put a product on your hands to protect them from harsh chemicals.  Keep hand care products on your window sill in the kitchen, so that you remember to use it after doing the dishes or other cleaning around the house.

Your neck and decolletage area needs special care.  Make sure that you use sunscreen on this area to protect it from damage.  When caring for your face, make sure that you extend your products down from your face. Use extra cream on your chest to avoid the wrinkled appearance that it can get.  Always use a moisturizer on your body when you get out of the shower or bath, while the skin is still moist.  It will absorb the product better at that time and you will get much more benefit from it.

Lastly, don’t forget your feet!  You want to be beautiful from head to toe!  Feet get tired from the stress we put them through. If you have time, use bath salts to stimulate the circulation, decongest and promote healing. A pumice sponge will remove the rough skin and calluses.  Use relaxing cream to relieve tension, soreness and pain, or a gel to instantly relief your feet and legs.  Do you have diabetes?  If so, use a cream especially designed for the care of diabetic feet.

With all of these hints you will be well on your way to beautiful skin!  Please feel free to comment and add your suggestions!

Karla

http://www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

DO YOU CAR FOR YOUR SKIN TO SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS?  WHAT CAN YOU DO?

When I was young, I never gave my skin much thought or attention.  I remember having a lady, who was selling makeup, tell me about the importance of caring for my skin, but it did not mean much to me at the time.  As I raised my children, etc, it was enough to just get up in the morning and start the day.  Skincare and makeup did not fit into my routine.

Due to my vanity, as I grew older, I started to think about taking care of myself.  I would see women older than me, who looked younger.  I started researching what they were doing.   The main thing was taking care of their skin.

Heredity does play a part in what you look like, but anyone can enhance their own beauty.  There are many things you can do to work on changing yourself and even reversing the aging process.

Facial exercises do work.  I thought that this was silly when I first started to do this.  If you already have sagging and wrinkled skin, it will be more work, but you can start looking better than you have in years.  In the meantime, while you are getting your face toned, try using an instant face lift. This will take away that tired look and give a glow to the skin.  Some products only work for that time, but the product I use is a treatment also.  With the exercises and the face lift treatment, you can save a great deal of money on surgery to try and improve your looks.

Diet also plays a big part in how your skin looks.  If you are not watching what you eat and eating the foods that have lots of antioxidants in them, your skin will not be getting the benefits it needs to look its best.   I need help with this one.  If you want to give some of your hints on this, please do.

Always wear sunglasses when outside!  This may seem a small thing, but it is hugely important!  The sun makes you squint and you will form wrinkles around your eyes and forehead.  Start using an eye serum to reduce the lines around your eyes.

I know that you have heard this before, but I will say it again.  Don’t smoke!  I used to be a very heavy smoker, and I started to see pucker lines around my mouth, before I had any other lines on my face.  I think that my vanity really helped me stop smoking.  Back then, there were no products available for the lips, but today, there is lip balm that you can use to volumize your lips and reduce the wrinkles around them at the same time.

I have been told that I give away my emotions when I talk.  This is hard on the face, as it can cause frown lines and furrows, especially between the brows, from where I was constantly talking with my face!   This is a very hard habit to break.  I have found that it takes conscious effort to change this.   I have become aware of it and have found that by keeping these areas treated with moisturizer that they have softened with time.  Also, special anti-wrinkle serum treatments can be very helpful in this endeavor.

Start now and keep at it, and you can have beautiful skin.

We will get back to this later with more on skin care. Keep coming back!

Karla

http://www.Beauty-fromHeadToToe.com

Make a Beautiful List! and see a more beautiful you! 

1. Give your skin a fresh start. Stress induced skin problems can last for weeks. Refresh your skin now. Try a face mask. They stay on longer than lotions, so their active ingredients penetrate deeper.

2. Add relaxation to your daily calendar. This might seem silly or unavailable, but if you spend just 10 minutes a day relaxing, you will be amazed at how this helps your skin. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes and visualize yourself in a beautiful state.  Stress is a real wrinkle builder and you don’t want that!

3. Take your vitamins-on your face! Retinol and Vitamin C will boost collagen production and has great anti-aging properties. Enhance the effect with CENTELLA ASIATICA liposomes, a plant which acts on collagen synthesis and exerts a “re-pumping” effect on the skin: it re-pumps the interior and smooths the surface, making the skin look visibly younger.

4. Take oral vitamins. This boosts your skin’s health. Many doctors take daily vitamins for its beautifying powers as much as for the overall health benefits.

5. Volumize your lips up to 350%! Combat thinning, dryness, and appearance of wrinkles. All of this in a small tube! A powerful anti-aging product producing 60% reduction in free radicals from the first application. Contains no irritants to cause soreness, no wax or barrier film, yet giving maximum protection.

6. Have a recipe for beating acne breakouts. Every one seems to have a pimple every once in a while be aggressive and use a multi-step approach. Start with a warm compress, like a washcloth soaked in hot water, and apply for 10 minutes. Next, apply treatment products. One expert, Francesca Fusco, MD, a dermatologist in New York City, says to “pile on” your products, using a product with collagen-caprylic acid, which promotes the elimination of microbial germs, soothes skin irritation and prevents recurrence,  and a product that works on inflammation.  Let them sit for an hour before rinsing off.

7. Give yourself a face lift!  You no longer have to go to the spa for this treatment.  This natural face ampoule not only lifts and brightens the face in 3 minutes, it is also a thorough treatment which hydrates, firms and regenerates as it is applied. It can be used as often as desired, in the evening after a hard day, in the morning to wake and tone your face, or every day to maintain your skin and shield it from the harsh effects of modern life.

8. Keep your skin hydrated. Don’t just use moisturizer in the morning and hope for the best. Use it through out the day if needed. Especially if you go to the gym, you need to reapply it. Again later in the day, when you start feeling tired, apply again. At night your skin needs the added benefit of a night cream, to be able to work on the skin all night.

9. Don’t rely on just lotions for below your chin.  Use a good body cream to repair the skin and leave it supple and smooth.

Take these steps and you will see a more beautiful you!

Karla

Karla@beauty-fromheadtotoe.com

http://www.beauty-fromheadtotoe.com

Do you love to go to the spa, or wish you could, but for some reason, you are unable to? Have you thought about giving yourself a spa treatment at home?  For less that the cost of one visit to the spa, you can purchase the products that will enable you to treat yourself to more than one wonderful treatment in the privacy of your own home.

Start with a luxurious soak in the bath.  Light a scented candle. Lay back and relax. If you have cellulite, use a slimming soap to help slough away dead skin and break down cellulite.

When you get out, use an exfoliating cream to slough away old skin so that new, younger skin can surface.  Rinse this off.  You can also apply Slimming Gel to inhibit the creation of new fat deposits, if you need this.

Next apply a rich, hydrating body cream to soothe and protect even the your skin. If you decide to shave your legs and underarms during this session, be sure and apply a post depilatory gel to sooth your skin, reduce inflammation and redness and to rejuvenate skin.  As an added benefit it retards hair growth making hair removal necessary less often.

Next, if you have time, give yourself a pedicure. Check out my blog, Pedicures For Summer, which explains how to give yourself a quality pedicure at home.

This will complete your body spa treatment and you will love it and feel gorgeous!

Next we will talk about a spa treatment for your face.  Check back soon.  Stay Beautiful!   Karla

Karla@Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

http://www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

The 4th of July.  Independent Day.  That means different things to different people.  The 4th is a USA holiday, but I celebrate independence everyday.  I just want to be independent from wrinkles!

I never want to look my real age!   Therefore I use products that help to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles that might appear, and I use products to give my face a firm lift.  Call me vain, or call me silly, I really do not care.  I know that my skin appears to be much younger looking than I am.

Heredity plays a part in how our skin ages, but if you just depend upon that to keep your skin nice, forget it!  You must do your part.

When should you start caring for your skin and using anti-aging products?  As soon as you can!   You cannot just wake up one morning and say, “Oh, I think I will start preserving my skin.”   Take care of it each and every day and you will retain your beautiful skin for years to come.  You do not wait to care for anything after it gets worn.  Think about that new dress.  Would you wait until it was dirty and wrinkled to start caring for it?  Of course not.  The same goes for your new car, or anything else you own.  So why not do the same for your skin.  You will have it longer than any of your belongings and it will serve you well if you care for it.

What steps should you take?  First and foremost, wash your face twice a day.  In the morning, although you have no makeup on, the skin has been producing oils during the sleep cycle, so you need to lightly wash before you apply any makeup.  Again, in the evening, NEVER go to bed without washing your face.  You need to remove the soil from the day, even if you did not apply any makeup, but especially if you did.  Allow your skin to breath while you sleep.

Regardless of what type of skin you have, moisturizer is important, if you apply nothing else.  This helps to hydrate the skin and retain the natural moisture the skin produces.

Make sure that you use products that are formulated to your skin type, whether it is dry, oily, sensitive or acne prone.  Remember that you want to normalize your skin as much as possible. We have a complete line to assist you on our site.

After you have the basic products to keep your skin well cared for, you can experiment with what products work the best to assist you in preventing aging.  If you are very young, perhaps a firming product or something to prevent fine lines is all you will need to start.  Try some of the products in our Heliabrine line.   This line also has products for more mature skin.

The Helixience line assists with the more mature skin, helping to remove brown spots, loss of elasticity, and wrinkles.

The Coup d’ Eclat line also has several excellent products to assist you with firming and conditioning your skin.

Whatever you do, do something.  Do not wait until you are extremely wrinkles to start.  Although you can reverse some of the hard lines, it is far easier to work on it and keep it young, rather than waiting and having to work really hard to make a change.

Karla

karla@beauty-fromheadtotoe.com

http://www.beauty-fromheadtotoe.com

Using a Quality Product for Nail Care

Ecrinal is a unique line of nail care products.

Nails have to be both supple and resistant. Ecrinal has selected ingredients which combine maximum efficacy and the ability to restore damaged nails. Ecrinal products are guaranteed free of acetone, formaldehyde and toluene.
Ecrinal nail products contain A.N.P. (horse mane extract), and cysteine-keratin compound which is referred to as liquid fingernail:

• Aids in the acceleration of nail growth
• Promote thicker, stronger, healthier nails with whiter tips and brighter nail beds
• Gets rid of ridges
• Eliminates damage caused by artificial nails

Soft Nails -(Over-hydrated)

Use the Strengthening Cream to moisturize and  Nail Strengthener with Silk Lipesters to protect.

Brittle, Dry Nails

Use the Strengthening Cream to moisturize and the Nail Strengthener with Silk Lipesters to protect.
Follow with the Clear and Shiny Top Coat to protect, and also strengthen and boost the nail’s natural resistance.

Nails Ridges

Use the Strengthening Cream to replenish the nails at the base.
Use the Cuticle Softening Gel (if cuticles fail to grow back, this exerts pressure on the nail and may leave marks).
Follow with the Flexible Base Coat to render the surface smooth and healthy looking.

Cracked and Splitting Nails

Use the Strengthening Cream for healthy renewal of the damaged nail, and the Nail Strengthener with Silk Lipesters to reinforce internal cohesion of the nail structure.

Yellow Nails - (discolored by colored polishes)

Use the Strengthening Cream to nourish.
Follow with the Flexible Base Coat to immediately improve the appearance of the nails. Continue to use base coat to protect the nails from further yellowing.

Bitten Nails

Use the Bitter Nail Polish on the nail and finger tip once daily.
To encourage re-growth, massage with the Strengthening Cream daily.

Acrylic Nail Damage Repair

Acrylic Nail Damage Repair Serum is recommended for all artificial nail users . This ultra-concentrated serum moisturizes, nourishes and strengthens damaged nails. Also helps soothe any irritations of the nail contour and eliminates hangnails. This product can be used daily, over your polish.

Use these products for your special needs, and you can have healthy, lovely nails.

Karla

http://www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

About Your Nails

Nails, hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are all considered superficial body growth.

Nails are a smooth, semi-durable plate consisting primarily of the protein Keratin, which is rich in sulfur and sulfurated amino-acids (cystine, methionine). Nails also contain mineral ions (calcium, iron) and, of course, water. Their surface is protected by a lipid film, which gives them their polished appearance.

Nails grow continuously along the surface of the finger (the nail bed) at an approximate rate of 0.1mm a day on fingers and half that for the toes. The horny limbus (the visible part of the nail) is replaced every 6 months on the hands and every 12 months on the feet.

Nails grow more quickly:

• in daytime than night
• in summer than winter
• in adults than children
• in women (particularly during pregnancy) than men
• on the hand that is used most often

Nails are produced constantly by the matrix, which is particularly visible on the thumb, as a whitish half-moon called the lunula. The hidden part of the matrix is beneath a fold of skin, at the base of the nail. The cuticle is the small piece of skin that frames the nail and protects the matrix.

Nail Care Guidance

Several times a day your nails are subjected to a variety of traumas which caused nail problems such as split nails, dry nails, finger nail ridges, fingernail lines, and brittle nails.

Don’t:

• do house-work without gloves: gloves provide protection from harsh cleaning substances and damage to the nails and matrix
• over expose hands to water: just like the skin on your hands, nails become fragile; the protective lipid film is destroyed and then nail becomes soft
• over use nail polish: some nail polishes use pigments that migrate towards the nail plate and deeply impregnate them with this discoloration; even after polish has been removed, the nail retains this unsightly color
• use a formaldehyde-based hardener: even if the effect is striking from the the very first application, the nail very quickly becomes crumbly, brittle and yellow (formaldehyde destroys the structure of the keratin and diminishes the resiliency)
• use artificial nails: the nails cannot breathe and may be severely damaged by certain resin-based glues and harsh chemicals. In some cases they become subjected to fungal infections
• use metal nail-files: as they are hard, they cause repeated trauma (striations). Use a pliable emery file instead

DO:

• stimulate the nail by massaging: massaging the tips of your fingers stimulates the blood and lymph circulations; tapping your fingers is also stimulating
• give your nails a rest: if you must use nail polish, give your nails a holiday one week in every month. Nail polish gives the nail a hermetic coating which stops it taking in oxygen
• eat a balanced and varied diet: with plenty of vitamins and minerals
• relax: a little relaxation makes up for long hours of stress and is also good for healthy nails

We carry a quality line of hand and nail products to meet your needs.  Check back and we will discuss them further in the next article.

Karla

http://www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

Summer is the time to pay careful attention to your skin. It is so easy to not protect yourself from the hot rays of the sun. Even riding in the car can expose you to the harmful rays.

I am sure that you know the absolute necessity to wear sunscreen, but do you go further to make sure that your skin is nurtured to keep it supple?

Often times in the summer, it is necessary to change your skin care regiment. Due to the added ingredients in sunscreen, often your skin will become oily. This can be avoided by keeping a meticulous routine of cleansing your skin every evening and changing to products that contain less cream. If you are like me, I naturally have a tendency to have ample oil in my skin, therefore I use only gels to cleanse my face. I love the Heliabrine HA cleansing gel. This is gentle for all skin types, so it is safe to use on sensitive skin as well.

The rest of your body needs to be nourished also. Make sure that you do not allow your skin dry out. Often times we bath more in the summer and this can cause the skin to lose moisture. Using a product like Heliabrine Satin Cream for the Body after your shower will keep your skin supple. If your skin is especially dry try using Heliabrine Moisturizing Body Milk. This helps to replenish the skin and balance it.

If you are gardening or playing outside sports, your hands can become dried out. I find that the Vital Citral creams work wonders. Just remember to use them daily to maintain lovely hands.

Take a few minutes to take care of your skin.  You are well worth it!  Enjoy your summer and stay beautiful!

If you have any questions, I am only an email away.

Karla@Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

http://www.Beauty-FromHeadToToe.com

With this being Memorial Day weekend, it makes me think of the kick off of summer. That reminds me that I will be wearing more open toed shoes and sandals and exposing my feet to the public. It is time to get our feet looking and feeling their best.

Taking care of your feet is something you should be doing all year long, but it is especially important in the summer months, because they are more exposed to the elements and we treat them rougher than in the rest of the year.

I used to go to the salon and have pedicures, but I found them to be stressful and worrisome. Many people think of this as a time to relax, but for me I was never sure who was going to be working on me and what skill level they had. It seems as though the salons who offer fast foot care do not make appointments for any one worker, but instead whoever is free is who will take care of the customer. I also worried about the sanitation of the tools and equipment. This is an important factor when having work done on your feet, as infections can be very detrimental.

What do you look for at a salon? First off, check to see the cleanliness of the workstations and how the tools are sanitized. It is perfectly acceptable if you ask any questions you might have, and by all means, leave if you have any discomfort.

Do not allow the technician to cut your cuticles, as they act as a barrier to protect the feet. Have them pushed back instead. Cutting the cuticle exposes your body to viruses, bacteria and fungus.

Although it might feel good, whirlpools tubs for the feet are very hard to sterilize, as the germs and dirt get into the jets. It takes time to get them clean, and often there is not enough time between clients to sufficiently sanitize them. If the salon uses whirlpool tubs, be the first client of the day, after the equipment has had the night to soak clean. It is much better to have the technician use a metal tub to soak your feet in, as they can be easily and quickly disinfected.

Did you know that a technician removing dead skin off of your feet with a razor is illegal in most states? It surely has not stopped the practice! Demand that your feet are treated with a pumice stone, file or scrub instead. If you need further work done on the stubborn calluses, or if you have multiple conditions, such as cracked soles, calluses, or corns, seek the help of a podiatrist. Do not allow a salon tech to do this job.

For me, I have found that I can get a better pedicure at home. You can either do it yourself, or make it a fun time and have one or several friends get together for a spa treatment time and help one another. This is much more relaxing than worrying about what is lurking at the local foot parlor, and it can be a good time to catch up on the current gossip and spend time with good friends.

Where do you start?

1. Start your self pedicure by clipping your nails and take off the old polish. Do not just polish over the old lacquer, as many people seem to do. It is important that you remove it, so that you can make sure that your nails are in healthy condition.
2. Use a Pumice Sponge to take off the dead skin and stubborn calluses.
3. Now is the time to soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes with Footbath Salts, and then exfoliate them with Foot Pealing Cream. You can do this on your feet, heals and also your legs and ankles. After this rinse thoroughly.
4. Push back your cuticles using a manicure stick. Do this very gently so as not to tear the skin. Then use the stick to clean under your toenails.
5. Put  a Relaxing Cream on feet and legs. Then clean the nail bed with polish remover. If you have problems with diabetes, apply Akildia for Diabetic Feet. This can help to avoid foot problems.
6. If your nails are brittle, apply a nail strengthener. Then apply a base coat, Protecting Base Coat, a color enamel of your choice and Clear and Shiny Top Coat. Wait at least 20 minutes for the toenails to dry. This is the time when you can set back and relax. If you are alone, make that phone call to a friend that you have not had time to do, or if you are sharing your time with friends, now it the time to chat.
7. Have special tools for the use of your feet. Even if you own your own tools, they need to be sanitized after each use. Soak the metal tools in rubbing alcohol for 25 minutes and then seal them in a plastic bag.

I hope that this is helpful for you. My line of nail products can help with maintaining your feet. Check out the weekly special.

Happy Summer!   Karla