The Ultra-Femme! Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Tags

BKR, bkr bottle, bkr bottles, bkr fluff water bottle, BKR in Houston, bkr water bottles, candles, Darphin, darphin body oil, darphin nourishing body oil, eco-friendly candles, feminine gifts for christmas, formaldehyde-free nail polish, gifts for girly girls, girly gifts for christmas, jessica "rolling rose" nail polish, jessica nail polish, kat burki candles, Kevyn Aucoin expert lipstick, paul & joe face powder, paul & joe midsummer nights dream face powder, paul and joe 001G face powder, petite clarity, petite clarity blush, petite clarity pouch, soy candles, truffle, truffle bag, truffle blush, truffle one, truffle petite, truffle petite clarity blush, truffle pouch

The Ultra-femme loves all things girly…she likes things that make her feel pampered, luxurious, and feminine. She likes shimmer, she likes things that smell good, that look flirty and fun, and stimulate her senses.

Note the items below are not to scale of one another…

 

A Bkr in “fluff” (shown), “boy”, “kitten”, “crush”, “bambi”, or “coco” will hold their beverages in luxe style! These fun-colored bottles look stylish, are easy to carry, and won’t leech BPA into beverages or change the taste. They are also dish-washer safe ($30).

B.) Paul & Joe Special Edition 001 G Face Powder- This powder is so pretty in the compact, she’ll almost hate to use it! All of the colors swirled together create a soft color suitable for most fair-medium complexions and can brighten sallow winter skin ($40).

C.) Kat Burki Candle- These candles are boxed so beautifullfy that she will get giddy just looking at the package! But the luxe soy-based candle inside is so delicately fragranced, in a beautiful glass container with a 60-hour burn time that she will fall in love all over again as soon as she lights it! ($48).

D.) Jessica Nail Polish in “Rolling Rose”- These cute teeny polishes come in such lovely colors! They have many others available but this beautiful creamy pink would look great on any woman. Plus, all Jessica nail polishes are formaldehyde and cruelty free!($5).

E.) Darphin Nourishing Satin Body Oil- FORGET body lotion. For the ultimate self-indulgence in body moisture, satin body oil is a MUST. Great for re-hydrating even the driest of knees and elbows–fabulous to give her gams a pretty gleam with her party dresses this season, and with a light, feminine scent, this oil is divine! All Darphin skincare products are naturally fragranced with essential oils and are paraben-free ($45).

F.) Kevyn Aucoin Expert Lipstick in “Hanabeth”- this line of lipsticks is to DIE FOR. She’ll swoon when she feels how it glides on like butter. All of the shades are lovely but this shade will flatter anyone. It actually has a balm-like quality to hydrate lips while leaving it with a beautiful nude shimmer. The magnetic case is so lovely as well…it looks like your lipstick is sitting on a little pedestal! It also has a nice delicate smell (& taste!) and is also paraben-free ($35).

G.) Truffle Petite Clarity in “Blush”- these petite clarity bags are wonderful for organizing her bag–she can manage receipts, contain her fave cosmetics, corral bobby pins, hair ties and other-what-have yous. They are also TSA-approved so she can fly through security when traveling, and look beautiful in even the most exquisite of designer bags ($32).

If you let us know you are purchasing a gift–we would be happy to gift wrap the item for you or put it in a gift bag with ribbon, complimentary!

Stay tuned for the minimalist gift guide next!…

Advertisement

Look Younger with Makeup

Tags

anti-aging makeup, Bye Bye Lidlines, Bye Bye Pores, cream blush, Darphin, de-hydrated skin, eye cream, eyebrow liner, Facade, Facade Beauty, Facade cosmetics, Facade eyeshadows, Facade lipstick, Facade makeup, filled-in eyebrows, HD finishing powder, Houston makeup artist, hydraskin serum, Isadore cream blush, it Cosmetics, Kevyn Aucoin cream blush, Kevyn Aucoin moist creamy glow, lash growth serums, lip plumper, LIPSMART, lipstick, look younger with makeup, mature makeup looks, mature women makeup, Natura Bisse, Natura Bisse Sheer Cure Eye, Paul & Joe, Paul & Joe Eyebrow Liner, poreless powder, Revitalash, shimmer eyeshadow crepey eyelids, shimmer makeup on older women, shimmer on aging skin, tips for anti-aging makeup, under eye darkness, YSL touche eclat

Try these tips to start looking (or KEEP looking) younger and more revitalized!

1.) Moisturize!

Think of your skin cells like grapes vs raisins. Cells with plenty of water are plump and smooth– cells without it look shriveled and collapsed. For de-hydrated skin (i.e. skin lacking water NOT oil) try Darphin’s hydraskin serum, $75– what they like to call “the little black dress of skincare” because everyone could and should have one! Dry skin (lacking oil) might switch to a richer cream. Also drink plenty of water!

 

 

 

 

2.) Use a liquid to illuminate under the eyes.

Natura Bisse Sheer Cure Eye cream, $115,  mimics the pretty glow from YSL’s Touche Eclat–but has something YSL doesn’t–powerful anti-aging benefits! Fighting under eye darkness and puffs, while lifting and firming. Plus sheer iridescence that gives skin under the eyes vitality! Avoid using thick concealers on this area: it thins as we age, causing this to look worse not better.

3.)Use a translucent powder.

Our hearts flutter a little when we think about Bye Bye Pores from IT Cosmetics, $24. It’s so finely milled that it doesn’t settle in and hi-light fine lines and wrinkles. Instead it creates a sort of “veil” like effect: diffusing and softening the appearance of the skin, and making larger pores magically appear smaller!
4.)Use cream/liquid blushes.

Cream Blushes keep the skin looking dewy and hydrated instead of dry and powdery. Apply it to the apples of the cheeks- where you would NATURALLY flush for the most youthful–and natural–look. We’re gaga for the 8 new shades from Kevyn Aucoin, $24–
pictured here in shade “Isadore”.

 

 

5.) Fill in eyebrows.

Whether it’s from over-tweezing or just becoming sparser over time–brows tend to lose their density as we age. Get the youthful look back by delicately coloring the skin between hairs in the brow. Paul & Joe’s “skinny brow” pencils, $22, are slim like mechanical pencils which makes it possible to draw in individual hairs-without fear of looking like Groucho Marx!

 

6.) Start with a shadow primer.

A primer not only increases wear-time of your eyeshadows–the best ones also help smooth the appearance of the tissue on the eyelid which can start to look crepe-y as the aging process takes over. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lid Lines, $25, not only does these things but also contains green tea, vitamin K, and collagen for their anti-aging benefits. Win-win!

7. Don’t be so scared of shimmer!

Seemingly every woman over 35 thinks she can’t wear shimmer– Unfortunately many makeup artists helped spread this falsehood. But look at Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, and Helen Mirin above and YOU tell ME they don’t look great! I double dare you! The key is to LIMIT shimmers to a few areas. All of these ladies have dewy glowing cheeks, and a highlight somewhere on the eye. Diane Keaton chose to highlight the inner corner of her eye–giving it that glint like she’s up to something. Mirin and Sarandon chose to highlight the browbone. The trick is to use shimmer on the FIRMEST part of the eye to show off how smooth it is! Using shimmer adds dimension and interest to your look. A face done entirely in matts looks dull and lifeless–and you want to GLOW! Try any number of our beautiful Facade eyeshadows with a satin or pearl finish, $18.50 each.

8.) Try a lash serum!

Long, dense lashes are a sign of youth and vitality. If yours are starting to diminish, try undoing the damage with a lash growth serum. We love Revitalash, $100, which goes on once a day like a liquid liner and helps generate new growth while conditioning lashes. It’s even better that there are no reported side effects like with the prescription, Latisse.

 

9.) Plump your lips!

We’re not talking about that over-injected bee-stung look–we just want to restore fullness from your youth.Lipsmart, $30, keeps skin cells in the lip hydrated so they remain plump and smooth (remember the raisin metaphor earlier?)

10.) Try on a NUDE lipstick.

It doesn’t have to be paler than your mouth–try something close to your natural lip tone. When you’re concerned about feathering in lines around your mouth bright colors are your WORST enemy! So instead try something a little more understated. Plus, when lips have lost volume very bright or very dark colors can make the mouth look even smaller. For suggestions from Facade, refer to our earlier entry: “The Perfect Pout“. Don’t believe you can get away with “not wearing enough color”? Look at those pictures of Susan, Diane, and Helen again! Their lips definitely aren’t loud!

Sunburn Solutions

Tags

alcohol-free aloe vera gel, algae, aloe plant, aloe vera, aloe vera gel, aloe vera with lidocaine, antioxidants, C+C Vitamin Body Cream, C+C Vitamin Complex, collagen, Darphin, Darphin Aromatic Seaweed Bath & shower Gel, fish oil, fish oil to treat sunburn, ibuprofen to treat sunburn, Natura Bisse, Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Collection, Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Line, seaweed, sunburn, sunburn pain, sunburn relief, sunburn remedies, sunburn secrets, sunburn solutions, sunburn treatments, vitamin C, vitamin c to treat sunburn

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!)

Make your skincare work harder!

Tags

acne, AHA, alpha hydroxy acid, anti-aging, beta hydroxy acid, BHA, chemical exfoliation, Clarisonic, Clarisonic mia, Darphin, Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion, enzymatic exfoliation, enzyme, enzyme exfoliation, enzyme peel, exfoliate, exfoliation, Facade, Glyco Extreme Peel, glycolic peel, Ilona, Ilona Soft Polish, mechanical exfoliation, Natura Bisse, Tolerance Enzyme Peel

There is so much conflicting information about skincare out there, and SO many kinds of products to choose from. But this piece of information is RARELY disputed: by exfoliating your skin, you can BOOST the effects of your other skincare.

So you’ve made an investment in a fabulous serum and/or moisturizer–GET YOUR MONEY’S WORTH!

What is exfoliating? Essentially, it is removing excess cells from the surface of your skin, or cells that have not been expelled within your pores, to allow the oil in your skin to be wicked to the surface properly. This boosts the radiance of your skin, prevents oil blockages resulting in breakouts, and allows your own natural oils to lubricate the skin on the surface as it should. Not only that, but exfoliation increases the circulation of your skin, and smooths the texture of the skin, giving that always-sought-after “glow”.

How does it help other products work better? One of the main things that separates great skin care from mediocre is it’s ability to penetrate the skin. If it only penetrates the very surface levels of the skin, it cannot incite much change. The deeper it goes, the better it can work. By exfoliating to make sure that pores are not blocked by excess skin cells, you will allow your products to push deeper–affecting the newest skin cells as they are being made. The lower levels of the skin are where collagen and elastin are produced, and also where the skin’s color (melanin) is produced. These affect the elasticity, smoothness, and color of the skin–which are our primary aging concerns! The powerful (and costly!) ingredients in skincare really aren’t helpful if they can’t reach–and treat–these layers of the skin.

How should I exfoliate?
Here are your options!:

1.)The most common kind of exfoliation is mechanical exfoliation. It’s physically removing the skin cells from the surface of the skin-almost like sanding or buffing it off. This can be done with a scrub that has a grit to it like Natura Bisse’s C+C vitamin scrub, $65, which uses aluminum oxide-the same ingredient used in professional microdermabrasion treatments. Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion, $80, uses jojoba and silica beads. We recommend these types of particles over things liked crushed nuts and pits, since these can have jagged edges that cause microscopic tears in the skin, and as a result- irritation. Mechanical exfoliation can ALSO be done with a brush, like the ever-popular Clarisonic!

The Clarisonic Mia in lavender, $119.

The clarisonic doesn’t rotate, but rather oscillates-it quickly rotates back and forth, to exfoliate and cleanse the skin without tearing or pulling. Available in a variety of colors and models ($119-$225), with brush heads ranging from soft/delicate, to stiff/tough to satisfy different skin needs. Just like a toothbrush, the brush head needs to be replaced every 3 months. Although their site recommends using it every day, I like to use mine every other day. Scrubs, should generally be used 2-3 times a week.

2.) Using enzymes. Enzymes work by essentially digesting the excess skin cells. The most common enzymes found in skin care products are bromelain, from the pineapple, and papain, from the papaya- making this a natural, generally gentle solution! Instead of only removing the cells on the surface of the skin, enzymes can penetrate more deeply- cleaning even inside each pore. Great products to try are Natura Bisse’s NEW Tolerance Enzyme Peel, $155 and Ilona Soft Polish Exfoliating Cream, $57. These kind of at-home treatments can be used as often as every other day, but should be done at least 1-2x per week.

3.) Your final option is an acid peel. There are many kinds of acids out there, from BHA’s (beta hydroxy acids: usually salicylic acid) to AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Even though some people shy away from this because of the scary “chemical” names, all of these are derived from nature- glycolic from sugar cane, lactic from milk, tartaric from wine, citric from citrus fruit, and malic from apples.)This works in a similar way to the enzyme peels, except it is typically more agressive. These can also penetrate the pores, but instead of digesting the cells, it essentially creates a controlled acid burn to remove the necessary cells. It sounds scary, but products formulated for at-home use (vs. spa or medical use) are regulated to give predictable results. Just be sure to READ THE DIRECTIONS, and discontinue use of any products containing retinol or other AHA’s a few days before and after giving yourself an at-home peel. (These ingredients will deepen the peel, but could do so in a way that isn’t easy to control, so it’s best to avoid them from mixing). One of our favorites, since it stops working after 15 minutes preventing you from going too far and scorching your skin is Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel, $225. It contains a blend of several effective acids including Glycolic, which even has purported moisturizing properties! This product is meant to be used 1-2x per week for 6 weeks. They recommend 6 weeks on the product, and 6 weeks off– try one of the other methods of exfoliation (mechanical or enzyme) on your 6 weeks off!

Come in to our store, or give us a call at 713-552-1545 and we can help recommend the right kind of product for you! We can also ship!

Even if the product picks I have mentioned above aren’t readily available to you, look for the ingredients I have mentioned to find a solution that works for you!

 

Bright Eyed and Bushy-tailed

Tags

anti-fatigue smoothing eye gel, crows feet, Darphin, diamond extreme eye cream, eye cream, eye gel, massage to de-puff eye, massage to increase circulation around eye, Natura Bisse, puffy eyes, stimul-eye gel, Stimulskin Plus eye cream, under-eye circles, Wrinkle Corrective Eye Contour Cream

Whether your complaints are puffs, under-eye circles, or crows feet–this trick will help your eye gel or cream do a LOT more for you!

Not too long ago, professionals told you to use your ring finger (purportedly the weakest of your fingers) to gently tap eye cream to the delicate skin around the eye.

But studies have proven that this technique isn’t actually the best. Although the tissue around the eye IS in fact, delicate–massage has many benefits. In fact, they’ve been recognized by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, ages ago. Massage even in this area helps drain extra fluids that may be causing puffiness. It also is THE best way to encourage the product to penetrate. The deeper it penetrates, the MORE benefits you will see from it, and the FASTER you will see them too! Especially if you have been ill, tired, had too much to drink the night before, or are suffering from allergies, THIS will help you look fresh and perky!

It doesn’t have to take forever, and you don’t have to make a point of it EVERY time–but next time you’re putting on your eye gel or cream give it a try! You shouldn’t have to use a lot of product, but enough that your fingers will glide (not tug) across your skin. Use your index or middle finger to draw circles around the orbit of the eye, changing the diameter of the circle as you go so you cover all of the skin under the eye and even on the eyelid. You can use slightly firmer pressure under the eye than on the lid–remember–firm but gentle.

On the outer corner of the eyes, use a small circular motion  or massage ACROSS any fine lines or wrinkles…imagine that your skin is a garment you’re trying to iron and your skull is the ironing board.

Some of our absolute favorites for the eye area are:

Natura Bisse Stimul-Eye Gel $68
Natura Bisse Diamond Eye Cream $195
Darphin Anti-Fatigue Eye Gel $38
Darphin Wrinkle Corrective Eye Contour $75
Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye Cream $125

These hands were made for holdin’

Tags

Darphin, Darphin Aromatic Hand Cream, Natura Bisse, Natura Bisse Spa Hand Silk, Natura Bisse Tensolift Hand

We’re all about feeling touchable this Valentine’s—so keep your hands worthy of hand-holding by beginning to use a great hand cream NOW! Make it go farther by using a quality scrub first, or try making your own sugar scrub using white sugar, a few drops of your favorite essential oil, a few drops of lemon juice, and a few drops of olive oil. Scrub well and rinse–then apply one of these hand creams to still-damp hands.

Try

Darphin Aromatic Hand Cream $40, has a light texture, with skin-softening and anti-aging ingredients.

Natura Bisse Spa Hand Silk hand cream $35, a slightly richer texture, which includes sunscreen and a formula that lasts several hours.

or

Natura Bisse Tensolift Hand Cream $105, which contains powerful anti-aging ingredients that reduce the appearance of age spots, and increase the elasticity of the skin on hands.

De-Coding Cosmetic Labeling Symbols

Tags

12M symbol, 6M symbol, Coalition for Consumer Information in Cosmetics, cosmetic labeling, cosmetic symbols, cruelty free, Darphin, expiration symbol, FSC, green dot, Ilona, it Cosmetics, jar with lid symbol, Jessica, leaping bunny, makeup expiration, Natura Bisse, not tested on animals, Paul & Joe, period after opening, PETA, Revitalash, T Le Clerc, use after opening date

There are so many symbols on your products–I bet many of them look familiar to you.  But do you have any idea what they mean? There are so many it can be confusing, but many of them convey very important information! From skin care, body products, makeup, and even shampoo, many boxes, bottles, and jars don one or more of these symbols. Some are on inner packaging (the product itself) and others are on outer packing (the box the product comes in).

The Period After Opening (PAO) symbol is commonly found on packages of creamy or liquid cosmetics formulations. It indicates how long the product is safe for use after opening. “12M” in this example means that the product will be good for 12 months after opening. The quantity is typically in “M” for months, and the number of months can vary. If you know you’ve bought it before that time frame or you can’t honestly remember when the last time you used the product was, odds are you should toss it! In the future, you could write the date it was opened on the bottom of the jar using a permanent marker. If your product does not carry this symbol it may simply have a stamp saying something like “EXPIRES 10/30/2013”. I know from experience how tough it can be to throw out expired products- especially when they’re expensive–but the fact is that the ingredients are no longer stable or the ingredients are breaking down by the time indicated. This makes the product less effective, and potentially unsafe since it can easily harbor bacteria. Sunscreens are especially important to throw out after the time indicated because  the SPF may not be consistent with its labeling if the ingredients have begun to break down. If the product smells rancid, has turned a different color, or has changed texture–it’s safest just to get rid of it. You can help your products last longer by keeping them out of direct sunlight, or extreme temperature changes.  This symbol is found on products by Darphin, Ilona, Natura Bisse, it cosmetics, T Le Clerc, Paul & Joe, Jessica by Jessana, and Revitalash (to name just a few) all of which, we carry at Facade.

The Estimated Sign symbol appears next to the mass or volume of a product on its packaging. It certifies that the actual contents of the package comply with specific criteria for estimation (basically, it promises that it has as much of the product in the container as it says it does). This is also on many products including Darphin, Ilona, Natura Bisse, Paul & Joe, Classified Cosmetics ERA Spray, and T Le Clerc.

The Refer to Insert symbol means that additional information is included in a separate leaflet or insert in the packaging. The box, bottle, or jar, may not have had enough room to print thorough instructions or precautions.  This can be found on products by Darphin, Natura Bisse, Paul & Joe, and Revitalash, for example. It’s likely worth your while to read carefully any information included with skin care to make sure it’s used properly.

The Green Dot symbol  lets consumers know that the manufacturer of the product contributes to the cost of recovery and recycling.  This can be with household waste collected by the authorities, or in containers in public places such as parks and outside supermarkets. The system is financed by a green dot license fee paid by the producers of the products. Fees vary by country and are based on the material used in packaging (eg paper, plastic, metal, wood, cardboard, etc). It began in Germany, and now is extended to many parts of Europe. Essentially–the system encourages manufacturers to cut down on packaging as this saves them the cost of license fees.  It is one of the most commonly seen symbols on cosmetic packaging and is often confused with the recycling symbol–it does NOT, however mean that the package is fully recyclable. It appears on products like Darphin, Natura Bisse, Jessica, Ilona, Classified Cosmetics, and T Le Clerc.

The Ecocert symbol indicates that the product or product manufacturer is certified by Ecocert regarding their practices in relation to organic, fair trade, and sustainable development efforts. Darphin’s Aromatic Care or Aromatic Elixirs sport this symbol.

The Forest Stewardship Council (or FSC) has a few different On-product Labels, each meaning different things-all promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests. Darphin’s newest outer packaging bears the “Mixed Sources” symbol. Click on the link above to view the symbol and learn more about their standards.

There are also various “cruelty free logos” out there, including the The Not Tested on Animals logo is supported by Choose Cruelty Free (CCF), the Leaping Bunny symbol supported by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), and the Cruelty Free logo supported by PETA. (it cosmetics sports the cruelty free logo on all of their products- BYEBYE Under-Eye, BYEBYE Pores, BYEBYE lid lines, etc).

Keep in mind that many companies do not use animal testing for their products or ingredients, or may use organic ingredients–but acquiring these certifications takes a lot of time and money–which ultimately raises the cost of the product.

Also important– the recycling symbol! This symbol is typically imprinted into the (typically plastic) container the product comes in, or may be printed on the outer (paper or cardboard) packaging. The recycle logo will have a number in the center. Different cities accept different types of plastic and your recycling center may not accept them all. The City of Houston, however DOES accept almost all plastics, and if recycling isn’t picked up where you live, there are several drop off centers locally.

There are many symbols out there. These are just several of those most commonly found–especially in our store. There are also symbols for products that are highly flammable, are vegan, are organic, or aerosols that do not emit CFC’s. Many of these SAY exactly that. You’ll start noticing these symbols EVERYWHERE now!

See Spot Run…

Tags

age spots, Darphin, Diamond White, Glyco Extreme Peel, hyperpigmentation, melanin, Melaperfect, Natura Bisse, sun damage

Summer has finally come to a close and it’s time to un-do all the damage that barbeques, pool parties and beach-side vacations have done.

Whether it’s due to the sun, or a hormonal fluctuation (pregnancy, menopause, or some medications) hyper pigmentation shows up as a response to trauma, leaving skin tone dappled with darker spots or patches. These products employ NEW technology to prevent future spots from forming too.

Quick Comparison:

Darphin Melaperfect 1 fl oz/ 30 ml $95

Diamond White 1.7 fl oz/ 50 ml $315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Our Darphin rep, Shawn, says Melaperfect works by minimizing clusters of melanin (the molecule that produces color in the skin) into ultra-thin particles, reducing visibility. It also exfoliates to provide skin with luminosity and an even texture. Then antioxidants prevent recurrence of dark spots from forming. Melaperfect can be used in conjunction with other serums like Arovita C, Hydraskin, Stimulskin Plus, or Predermine. If you do this, use it AFTER your serum, but BEFORE your cream! According to their clinical trials, after 8 weeks, dark spots were reduced by 50%.

Our Natura Bisse rep, Scott, says Diamond White works by using an ingredient that enters the nucleus (center of the cell) to regulate (and minimize) production of melanin directly at it’s source.  This product also exfoliates and provides the skin with antioxidants. Most importantly, it claims not to increase future photo-sensitivity. Diamond White should NOT be layered with other serums. Use it like any other serum before a moisturizer and/or sunscreen. If you would like to continue using another serum, try using it in the AM, and Diamond White in the PM. Cure Pure Serum or C+C complex are great choices.

The benefits of both of these products can be accelerated by also using a deeper exfoliating treatment 1-2x weekly; this helps the serums penetrate deeper and more quickly-bringing you results sooner. One of our favorites is Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel: 1 fl oz/ 30 ml $245. The cost of these products can be steep, yes–but it’s far cheaper than a series of peels or laser treatments to treat the same problem. Plus, we will happily give you samples of any of these products if you would like to try them before purchasing!