Things You Probably Didn’t know about Sunscreen

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Skin Cancer Awareness month is coming to an end, but the long days of sun exposure pool-side or on the beach have just begun. You’ve heard over and over again you should wear sunscreen and why, but here are a few tips to get the best results and choose the right one for you!

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Look for a “broad spectrum” sunscreen. (i.e. one that protects against UVB and UVA rays. (UVB are the rays that burn— UVA are the rays that lead to aging! We definitely want protection from both!)

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For the best protection, slather on SPF 30.
An SPF rating of 15 means 93% of UVB rays are blocked and some UVA rays are blocked, while an SPF of 30  provides 97% UVB protection and about 30% more of the UVA rays. SPF 50 provides about 98% protection of UVB rays, marginally more UVA rays–and sunscreens higher than that go up just a fraction of a percent–no sunscreen blocks 100% of either UVA or UVB rays. In 1999 the FDA recommended sunscreens higher than an SPF 30 be labeled “30+” to prevent people from spending more time in the sun because they thought they had double the protection with a higher SPF number. Unfortunately, it was only a “recommendation”, and many companies get away with charging more for higher SPF values. (I typically notice a $1 difference between SPF 45 and SPF 55 in drugstores!)

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There are two different kinds of sunscreen: physical sunscreens and chemical sunscreens. Don’t let the word “chemical” scare you–they aren’t necessarily harmful, they just work in a different way.

A physical sunscreen physically creates a barrier over your skin. Think of it like when you see a woman asleep on the beach with her hand on her stomach—you just KNOW when she wakes up she will have a white silhouette of her hand where it was resting–it also physically created a barrier in this example. Physical sunscreens work in the same way by leaving a film or barrier on the skin, which is why they are also typically a little harder to rub in, and can at times feel heavy. Many times foundation that has sunscreen built-in contains a physical sunscreen.

You should use a physical sunscreen if:

• You need immediate protection. (You like to apply just before getting into the pool, or before a run first-thing in the morning)
• Your skin is particularly sensitive.

To identify a physical sunscreen look for ingredients: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. For instance, Try Skin Within Sun Protect & Repair SPF 40+.

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A chemical sunscreen, absorbs into the skin, and when stimulated by the sun creates a chemical reaction that neutralizes the damaging UV rays. Because it absorbs into the skin it typically feels more lightweight and allows makeup to be blended easily on top–however, the downside is that it takes about 30 minutes to start working, so you can’t apply it poolside and expect total protection—put it on before going outdoors for the best results.

You should use a chemical sunscreen if:

• You prefer a lightweight feel.
• You like layering it under makeup. (so it doesn’t reflect light in photos making your face look lighter than your body, even though it looks OK in person)

To identify a chemical sunscreen look for ingredients: Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl, or Methoxycinnamate.

Shy away from PABA– a very controversial chemical sunscreen that has reported side effects.

Many sunscreens combine both physical and chemical sunscreens to get the benefits both provide—by mixing the two, they can provide SOME protection right away but still keep it feeling light, easy to rub in, etc.

[For instance, Natura Bisse’s Cure Sheer Cream (SPF 20), C+C Vitamin Fluid (SPF 10), C+C Vitamin Cream (SPF 10), Oil-Free SPF 30, and Luminous Shield SPF 50, as well as Darphin’s Vital Protection SPF 50 ALL combine both physical and chemical sunscreens.]

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Use a sunscreen even under makeup with an SPF! We don’t always use enough makeup to get the full protection indicated by the SPF–especially if you only like to cover part of your face with foundation, you’re still left with exposure on your neck, chest, hairline, and ears. For a more thorough application, put on your sunscreen first. Then finish with your makeup.

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In order to get the full SPF protection, the average person needs to use about 1 oz of sunscreen to cover their entire body (about a shot glass’ worth). So that bottle you picked up that has 3.5 oz? It should only cover 3&1/2 applications for just ONE PERSON. So a family of 4 should have no problem taking care of one bottle per day at the beach. If you use less, you’ll still get protection, but you may only get a protection of 15 from your SPF 30 if you skimp, or a protection of 5 to 8 from your SPF 15!

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Once you open a bottle of sunscreen, it only has a shelf-life of about 12 months. So that HUGE bottle you bought at Costco for your family vacation last summer won’t provide reliable protection this summer. But hopefully you used it up anyway in the fall and winter’s outdoor activities (soccer, football, hiking, biking, and skiing–the sun’s rays are still strong even in cooler months!)

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There’s no such thing as “healthy color” from the sun. Even the smallest change in skin tone actually indicates damage from the sun. It’s a reaction known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH for short) and it stimulates the melanin in your skin to try and build up it’s DEFENSES for the future–this is why after you have a little bit of a tan, it becomes harder to burn. With prolonged exposure, though, these melanocytes can over-multiply causing skin cancer or sun spots.

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Waterproof sunscreen is a myth. The FDA now requires labels to indicate they are water resistant instead and must be tested to last 40-80 minutes when test areas are completely submerged in water. So if you’re in the pool or ocean, or working up a sweat outdoors–you’ll still want to re-apply every hour or so to keep it from wearing off.

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Even though technically SPF 15 means it protects you from burning 15 times longer than you would without sunscreen–you still have to reapply every one or two hours. It wears off over time….Keep reapplying, and try staying indoors during noon and 2 pm when the sun is it’s strongest. Of course, it’s also not a bad idea to wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face (as well as the back of your neck) and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

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Many lipsticks, although not SPF-rated, have an SPF. Titanium Dioxide is a very common ingredient in lipstick. Slick one of these or a lip balm with an SPF on to protect your kisser!

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If you end up with a burn anyway–(it happens even to the most careful!), try reading my tips for soothing sunburn here! I bet you haven’t heard of all of these remedies before either!…

Summer Teen Makeup “Bootcamp”

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age-appropriate makeup, Facade, Facade Beauty, Lisa Jane Photography, makeup for teenagers, makeup for teens, makeup lesson, makeup lesson houston, Michael Carr Photography, Miley Cyrus makeup, Selena Gomez makeup, senior portrait makeup, Senior Portraits, Taylor Swift makeup, teen lessons, teen makeup, teen makeup lessons, teenager lessons

We LOVE our Facade women, but quite possibly, we adore our Facade GIRLS even more! Bring your special teen in this summer to learn tips and tricks for applying makeup! Teen lessons are about an hour and a half and cover everything from a basic skincare routine to day-to-day makeup and tips to pump it up for special occasions.

We think it’s very helpful (and important!) for girls to learn how to do makeup THE RIGHT WAY the first time! No raccoon rings of black eyeliner, or orange foundation in sight! Not only will she get a day of pampering and a confidence boost- but knowing how to do her own makeup in a pretty age-appropriate way gives her the basics to equip her for a life long of fabulous first impressions!

Between memorial day and labor day, Facade offers these lessons at just $50! Bring in your nieces, daughters, or best friend’s kids…we can even accommodate small parties! If your princess already has makeup, tell her to bring it and we would be happy to incorporate it in her lesson–Otherwise, we are happy to recommend new products that won’t cost you an absolute fortune.

We like, clean, pretty makeup that highlights HER most beautiful features- for a look that becomes effortless and timeless.

Also, If your teen is about to be a SENIOR in highschool, consider booking makeup for her senior portraits! The way makeup is done in photographs makes a remarkable difference in the outcome. Let us help her truly shine! Also, if you’re still looking for a great photographer, look no further than Lisa Jane or Michael Carr for the best photography Houston has to offer!

Call us at 713-552-1545 to schedule an appointment!

Paul & Joe Midsummer’s Night 2012 Summer Collection

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face color g, Fairie Kisses lipgloss, Fairie Queen nail enamel, faune face color, lipgloss g, Little Dream lipgloss, Love Potion lipgloss, Midsummer's Night 2012 Summer, Midsummer's Night Dream, nail enamel g, nubile face color, Nymph face color, Paul & Joe Beaute, Paul & Joe Midsummer's Night, Pixie nail enamel, shimmering body lotion g, shimmering face powder g, Sprite nail enamel

Paul & Joe never fails to disappoint with their limited edition collections. Check out the latest: from their summer collection inspired by Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Beautiful pops of fluorescent tones mixed with soft pinks and scattered with fairy dust…

Shimmering Face Powder G, $40. The colors swirled together give a beautiful illumination to the entire face. The beautiful butterfly image won’t just swirl off after the first few uses–the powder is colored like that all the way to the bottom of the pan!

 

 

 

 

Nail Enamel G, $14. 028 is flecked with glitter, 029 is a gorgeous opalescent color that reminds us of mother of pearl, and 030 has micro-glitter.

lipgloss G, $22. 001 (“Love Potion) is scented like strawberry vanilla, 002 (“Fairie Kisses”) green apple vanilla, and 003 (“little dream”) is orange vanilla.

Don’t be shy of 002–it’s very sheer and reads almost like a clear tone. Great for adding warmth and shine to coral or nude lip tones!

Face color G, $24. We’re in love with every one of these tones! Available in 001 Nymph, 002 Nubile, and 003 Faune- which is great for a bronzy look with a little touch of rose. dust over cheekbones and nose for that almost-too-much sun, frisky look!

Shimmering body lotion G, $40.

A hydrating gel spiked with sparkle, that leaves behind a light fruity scent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have all of these items currently in stock in the store! We are not currently carrying the limited edition self-select eye shadow colors. Stop in to try any of these, or give us a call at 713-552-1545 and ask to speak with Kate if you would like to order. You can also reach us via email at facadeuptown@aol.com

(We are happy to ship!- anywhere outside of TX is tax-free!)

Weddings at Facade

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bridal makeup, bridesmaid makeup, Brooke & Jeff, Brooke Bentley, Brooke Bently, Cakewalk films, Corinne Williams, Facade, Facade Beauty, Facade cosmetics, Facade makeup, Kate Block, makeup for brides, makeup for weddings, mother of the bride makeup, Party Face, Wedding makeup

What a fabulous film shared with us by the people of “Cakewalk Films”. The video includes footage they captured of Facade bride, Brooke, along with her mother and bridesmaids while they had their makeup done in our store. Watch and see how and where the magic happens! The video highlights the work of Facade owner, Corinne Williams, and Senior Staff Artist, Kate Block!

For more information about makeup for weddings and other special occasions, please visit our website or call the store at 713-552-1545.

Introducing Kevyn Aucoin

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Aucoin, curled lashes, curling lashes, eyelash curler, eyelash curlers, Face Forward, Kevyn, Kevyn Aucoin, lash curler, lash curlers, Making Faces, Shu curler, Shu Uemura, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Shu Uemura replacement pad

Facade is BEYOND excited to announce the debut of KEVYN AUCOIN in our store! This legendary makeup artist and author of best-selling books Making Faces and Face Forward, was (and still is) incredibly respected in the beauty industry.

Kevyn was interested in makeup from the time he was a child, and frequently did his sisters’ makeup and photographed the results with a Polaroid camera—something he’d do throughout his career. Afraid to buy makeup, he would shoplift it. The guilt of stealing and fear of getting caught made him stop. Later in life, he enrolled in beauty school and had hoped to learn more about applying makeup, but ended up teaching the class instead.

At 18, he worked in a small corner of an exclusive women’s store in his hometown Lafayette, Louisiana. But the women were uncomfortable with a man doing their makeup. Thelma Aucoin (his mother) recalled, “It was $30 for a makeup lesson, and these were women who paid $3,000 for a dress, but they’d never let him.”

Now, Kevyn’s impeccable eye for color and all things elegant is embodied in this sexy, innovative, and yet classic makeup collection.

To top it all off, what really got us going was finding out HE was the original designer of the Shu Umeura lash curler we fell in love with years ago. When it was discontinued, we couldn’t find a replacement we liked nearly as much–This is the answer to our prayer! For $20, you’ll get a new lash curler, and an extra replacement lash pad!

Drop by Facade or call us at 713-552-1545 and ask to speak to KATE to experience just a little of his magic…

Sunburn Solutions

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We’ve all been there: you applied sunscreen–maybe even re-applied, but got burned anyway. Once it’s happened, there’s no going back; but there ARE things you can do to help alleviate the pain and speed your skin’s recovery.

May is actually skin cancer awareness month–which is ideal since in many of the United States it marks the opening of local pools, summer vacation, and generally more time spent outdoors. I encourage you to practice prevention by wearing sunscreen, reapplying, wearing a hat, and staying indoors or in the shade during the time when the sun’s rays are strongest. But in the event you’ve sustained a burn despite this, here’s what to do:

1.) Take ibuprofen. Everyone knows sunburns hurt–but for some reason, not everyone thinks about taking pain medicine for it! Not only does it help with the sensations of pain, but ibuprofen also actually has anti-inflammatory effects–and that’s exactly what sunburn is-inflammation. Take it according to label directions.

2.) Use Aloe Vera Gel. Ooooh so original. I know everyone has heard this before. But what haven’t you heard?

• AVOID ALOE VERA GELS WITH ALCOHOL AS AN INGREDIENT. Surprisingly–most aloe vera gels found in drugstores DO have alcohol as an ingredient. Alcohol can be incredibly drying for the skin and is therefor incredibly counterproductive. So when choosing aloe LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS. Generally speaking, the gels that are clear are less likely to have alcohol added. Green or blue goo–are much more likely. CVS makes a good one, plus you can find several in natural foods stores OR you can grow your own aloe plant at home! When needed, simply break apart a leaf and squeeze or scrape out the jelly-like sap. Apply directly to skin. It’s so effective, even hospitals use it on 2nd and 3rd degree burn victims.
• FOR PARTICULARLY BAD BURNS, LOOK FOR ONE SPIKED WITH LIDOCAINE.
  Lidocaine is a topical pain-killer. Unfortunately, something’s gotta give: if it contains lidocaine, it will also contain alcohol. I reserve using this for a particularly bad sunburn where the pain is really intense. Try using the formula with lidocaine the first couple of days to take the edge off–then try switching to the pure aloe vera formula after to surge the skin with moisture. Be SURE to follow directions on the label- lidocaine is a powerful ingredient, and you CAN use too much. Even though you want the pain gone yesterday there have even been reported cases of DEATH caused by misuse of topical products like icy hot. Just like other over-the-counter drugs, though, it is safe when used according to directions.

3.)Become a foodie. Try bathing in a luke-warm bath infused with cucumber slices and chamomile tea. Both of which have moisturizing, soothing properties on the skin.

4.) Be sure to drink plenty of water. Your skin and body can easily become dehydrated from a day soaking up too much sun. Be sure to replenish it.

5.)Up your antioxidants and protein.

• internally: try taking vitamin C which boosts your immune system (and therefor your body’s ability to heal) and taking fish oil, which helps lubricate the skin from the inside out–if it also happens to have DHA it also has anti-inflammatory benefits as well.
• externally: Try Darphin Aromatic Seaweed Bath and Shower Gel, $70 for 17 oz. Algae or seaweed proteins help moisten and strengthen damaged skin. Also, absolutely fabulous for repairing stressed skin is Natura Bisse‘s C+C Vitamin collection. The C+C Vitamin Complex, $190 for 1 oz, has the highest concentration of active ingredients to quench skin on your face, neck, and chest with powerful antioxidant vitamin C, to repair free radical damage plus collagen to firm and strengthen skin.  The C+C Vitamin Body Cream, $95 for 8.8 oz, provides these same things plus added moisture: great for arms, legs, back or tummy.

6.) Avoid exfoliating your skin. (For now.)I’m always touting the benefits of exfoliating your skin–but let the clarisonic, scrubs, and peels have a few weeks off. Your skin is already trying to re-generate and turn over, and doesn’t need assistance from these types of products. Not to mention using something that feels like sandpaper on already burned skin is less than comfortable. Also discontinue any products with AHA’s in them—cleansers, serums, and other products containing these will really STING!

7.) Cover up. Wear light-weight long-sleeved tissue T’s or other lightweight clothing that covers if you must be in the sun with your sunburn. (Not to mention, of course- sunscreen!)

Primed and Ready

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Bye Bye Lid Lines, CLASSIFIED Cosmetics, Diego Dalla Palma, Diego Dalla Palma Universal Makeup Base, ERA primer, Eye shadow Primer, Face Primer, Girlactik Beauty, Girlactik Eye Glazes, it Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Primer, Makeup Base, Makeup Primer, mascara primer, Revitamash Volumizing Primer, Revitlash, Shadow Primer, Skin Primer

There’s been a lot of buzz about primers over the years, but how do you know if you need one? What do they do and how do they work?

FOR THE FACE

Generally speaking, primers for the face are similar to paint primers for your walls–they create a clean canvas for your foundation to adhere to– often resulting in more even coverage and longer wear.Many of them also act somewhat like a “spackle” too, by lightly filling in large pores and fine lines, creating a more smooth look for skin with textural imperfections.

That being said- primers may not be worth it to some girls. As far as longevity goes, our Facade Natural Touch Foundation and Classified ERA Spray-On Foundation are already waterproof, and Ilona Realistic True-To-Skin Foundation is water resistant! Even in Houston’s OVER THE TOP humidity, it’s not going anywhere! But if texture, or even tone are still a concern—a primer might be for you. But in addition to primers for the face, there are now primers for lashes and lids! Here’s the skinny:

Diego Dalla Palma Universal Makeup Base, $42.00, 1.0 fl oz.

This primer has a really luxurious, velvety feel. It gives the skin a smoother, more even texture. This silicone-free formula uses glycerin instead so it feels light-NEVER greasy! No ick-factor here.

Classified Cosmetics Primer, (aerosol spray), $30.00, 25 fl oz.

This revolutionary primer has taken after it’s foundation big sister- Just like the foundation, you shake and gently mist it on the face. It imparts a pretty glow that radiates even under foundation and visibly leaves skin silky.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Primer$42.00, .34 fl oz.

A silky, lightweight primer that imparts a flawless pore-free finish. Also free of silicone, with a glycerine base to hydrate the skin without clogging problem skin.

FOR EYES

it Cosmetics BYE BYE LID LINES, $25, .25 fl oz.

This primer smooths the texture of crepe-y lids, prevents shadows from creasing, and helps your shadows go on looking TRUE to the color in the pan. It also helps provide longer wear, so there isn’t any reason your shadow can’t work overtime! Apply with the wand, and use your finger or a sable brush to smooth over the entire lid. Fabulous especially for smoothing the appearance of thinning or aging skin.

Girlactik EYE GLAZES, $18, .20 fl oz.

These are a GODSEND for lids everywhere. Several water-proof shades to choose from– won’t even BUDGE through tears or sweat. We use these all the time on brides and bridal parties. These glazes combine a primer and shadow TOGETHER. We love a 2-for-1! Layer shadows OVER it, and it will increase their staying power as well, or layer other glazes! Gorgeous! Also great for smudging a little color under lower lashes for a CONTROLLED smudgy, sexy look that won’t smear afterward!

Revitalash Volumizing Lash Primer, $24, .25 fl oz.

Compatible with ANY mascara, this primer doesn’t have the fibers in it the old primers had-this is a transparent gel formula that coats each lash adding fullness and length. Never clumps, flakes, or looks heavy. Great for everyday OR special occasions. If you’re a multiple-coat mascara girl- you have GOT to try this–it will cut your work at least in half! Apply mascara as usual after.

Dear 16-year-old Me…

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malignant melanoma, melanoma, skin cancer, SPF, squamous cell carcinoma, sunblock, sunscreen

Watch this wonderful, direct and informative video.