Beauty And The Blog

Shopping for anti-aging products and skin care in general on the internet can be tricky. Of course if you already have used a product and know you like it you’re fine. But what if you don’t know what to choose. Or worse… your own skin type.

I have found in the past, by asking a few direct skin related questions, that many women are wrong about what type of skin they have. Therefore, they are treating it wrong, with a product inappropriate for them. That would mean two things for them. No results, and possibly, worse skin problems.

It is really important for you to know your skin type before you begin to treat your skin for any issue or problem, including anti-aging. So when you go to a site to check out products… is there a tool there to guide you to the right stuff? Is there a questionnaire? Is there an online “Live Chat” so you can get quick info? Can you make a call to a real human about the products?

Well, guess what. I wouldn’t buy skin care of any sort from a site that did not provide those amenities. You are blindly spending money on guesses. How many products do you have right now in your cabinet or drawer that didn’t help you or made your skin worse than it was to start with?

Personally, I don’t have any. In part because as an esthetician (not in a spa anymore though) I know what works, I know my skin type, and I know that my skin changes through the seasons and with age.  When I am ready to try something new I want to be able to either fill in a questionnaire to discover which new products will suit me best, or speak via phone or live chat to a knowledgeable representative of the company.

Wouldn’t you prefer to do that as well? If you knew where to find such a site would you make use of it?

Think about buying with confidence. Think about return policies if a recommendation does not work for you. And hey! How bout being able to buy high quality skin care from a site that has no actual store front so there is no overhead cost incorporated into the cost of your product.

If all that sounds good to you, and it sure as heck should, I have a couple of great places to recommend.

My all time favorite is Paula’s Choice. Amazing products, great 60 day return policy, skin type questionnaire, live chat, and a customer service number where you can speak with a real human. What could be better? Oh yeah…. fair and affordable pricing! They have that, too!

Another site that I use for certain products is Mario Badescu Skin Care. You will find a questionnaire here as well. You may use an email form to ask a direct question as well as find articles and guides for skin types and anti-aging issues. You can also call them to order or get information from a real human. There is a 30 day return policy. Pricing, again is affordable.

One last thing. I have repeated over and over how I feel about product packaging. Paula’s Choice does the better job on that. But ultimately, the choice is yours.

Now, a bit about Affiliate Disclosure…..

Photo by i-blame-celia

If you’re into anti-aging you have most certainly heard of Botox. And even if you aren’t you’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard at least something about it.

Botox use, as we know it so far in the cosmetic and anti-aging world, is used to eliminate those furrows between your eyebrows.

But, hold onto your hat. There are new and interesting uses being employed. Whether you are brave enough to actually try any of them may be another story, but they are interesting!

How about lifting your breasts? And the result being close to an actual surgical lift? Don’t like the shape of your nose? Well, guess what. Now you can change it with a Botox loaded pin prick of a tiny needle.

How about your smile? Seeing too much of the upper teeth and gums? Fix that, too. And what about the shape of your eyes? Just can’t achieve that wide set, doe-eyed look you’re after with liner and shadow? Another little stick of the Botox needle can produce that as well.

Any of this interest you? Are you brave enough? All of these treatments are fairly new. So finding a doctor who has the experience to do the best job may not be an easy task. And having that experience is key.

Want more details? Get the whole scoop by checking out the WebMD Feature from “Marie Claire” Magazine By Sarah Z. Wexler.

Then, come on back and tell me what you think. I know what I think, and I am chicken, LOL! Uhuh, you do it first…..

Photo by revelaendin

Of course you have seen them. Just about every women’s magazine has them. You know, those articles where they tout what the beauty editor claims is the best skin care or anti-aging products. Or often it is based on a reader’s poll.

Do you believe the products receiving these “Beauty Awards” are truly the best you can get? Do you run right out and stock up? Or do you do a little research of your own first, like finding out the list of ingredients and what they really can or can’t do?

I have wondered at times if some of these ‘awards’ are based on advertising dollars. What do you think?

And if it is “Reader’s Choice”, do you really think the average reader (not you of course, you read this blog, wink..) knows what the right combination of ingredients are? Are they voting/nominating these products because they smell great? Or maybe because it is a highly advertised product, so therefore, it must be great? Read the rest of this entry »

Okay…. Yes, this is a blog about skin care and avoiding wrinkles as best we can. But this is just too funny to not post. The video is by Anita Reinfroe , and you can see more hilarity by the lady on YouTube. Laugh and enjoy!

Summer. We all love it. Warm weather, beaches, lakes. Barbecues, outdoor social events, sun, bronzed skin.

Wait a minute…. Sun? Bronzed skin? What are you thinking? Caught ya! See, I wasn’t really thinking that, I know better.

Are you still stuck in the mind set that a Beach Beauty has to be a Bronzed Beauty?  So, so wrong.

Let’s think for a moment about what is beautiful when it comes to our skin. For myself, I think smooth, satiny silk skin. I think skin with a glow from within. Lovely, even tone and texture. Minimal wrinkles and lines. And importantly, skin the color you were born with.

What do you think when you consider what beautiful skin is?

Are you thinking bronzed, tanned skin? If you are you have some surprises to look forward to in the future. Are you aware that nearly all the signs of aging skin are caused by the sun (and tanning beds, don’t be fooled into thinking that is a safe option), followed by smoke and general neglect.

Here is what that bronzed tan skin will ‘gift’ you with in the future…  Leathery and/or crepe paper texture (that’s pretty… huh?) and dark spots. I was being nice, I mean age spots  (ohh, those are nice). Larger patches of discoloration (even nicer). Wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. Yup, that all sounds like just what you want, right? Read the rest of this entry »