Vbeam Laser, the scoop!

Due to what I believe is a combination of mild rosacea and overzealous use of a Buf Puf as a teenager, I had quite a few broken capillaries on my cheeks, chin, and nose. For a good part of my twenties, I accepted my facial redness as something I'd just have to live with. I tried all kinds of different skincare products, from anti-redness creams with supposed 'capillary-strengthening' ingredients such as horse chestnut, licorice root, vitamin K, etc. to a variety of prescription creams, gels, and lotions. The thing is, once the capillaries are visible, no cream is going to get rid of them. So then I set out to cover them with all kinds of green-tinted day creams, concealers, bases, and finishing powders. Yes, green does indeed cancel red, but then you have to cover the green with more makeup, which only added to my skin problems. I spent a lot of money and wasted a lot of time, so I was thrilled when Vbeam laser became an option for me.

'It's like little rubber bands, snapping on your face'

How many times have you heard this phrase used to describe laser procedures? Well, I'm here to tell you Vbeam is a hell of a lot more painful than that. It's really more like thick rubber bands (that are on fire) being pulled back really far, and then snapped hard on your face. At first you think, this isn't so bad, but after 5 minutes or so of being zapped all over at a rate of about one snap per second, you literally feel like you've stuck your face in a hornet's nest. The laser machine itself makes a lot of strange sounds, and you hear a 'splat-crunch' noise with every shot. I do get some comic relief when the technician, whose first language is French, tells me to 'watch out!' as she does more sensitive areas (such as the tip of the nose) as if I should jump off the table and run away or something. I usually end up laughing and I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm crazy. Anyway, afterwards, you feel the burn for at least a half hour and you may have bruising or swelling. I only have bruising sometimes, but I always have the swelling, which goes away after a few days. The difference is visible almost immediately, but it takes about a month to see the full result.

So why do I do this? It sounds terrible and unfortunately (as with most beauty treatments) it does hurt, but the results are still well worth it if you suffer from facial redness and rosacea. Along with vaporizing all those tiny broken blood vessels that make skin look uneven, it also diminishes fine lines and shrinks the pores. I love the way it gives me a clear, snow-white porcelain complexion. My skin is less oily and I rarely have breakouts. So far, this is my tenth Vbeam laser treatment. The first time, I did a series of 6 treatments, once a month. Now I just do touch-ups once or twice a year.

So if you're tired of wasting money on ineffective or temporary solutions like 'redness relieving' creams, 'calming' lotions, and green concealers, I highly recommend Vbeam laser. It is a proven, effective, and safe treatment. At $225 CAD per session, the results are worth every penny.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil: Fabulous

I always consider myself extremely lucky when I find a skincare product that a) doesn't irritate my sensitive skin or cause my rosacea to flare up, b) doesn't clog my pores and c) actually delivers what it promises. I had been using the same facial cleanser (a product recommended by my dermatologist) for the last 8 years, thinking that this was as good it was going to get for me. Though it didn't irritate my skin, unfortunately this cleanser never really did a great job of removing my makeup or making my face feel really clean. So, I have always been on the look out for a cleanser that would thoroughly, yet gently, do the job.

I think I have found my holy grail of facial cleansers in DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.

I had been hearing about this product for a while, but it wasn't until I saw a full-page ad for it in Elle France that I was reminded that I really should give it a try. I ordered the smaller-sized bottle (2.3 fl. oz. for $12.50 CAD) and with it received 6 samples, and a $5-off coupon for my next order. Nice.

I am pleased to report (after 3 weeks of use) that not only does it dissolve all traces of makeup, dirt, and excess oil, it seems to really deep clean my pores, making them less congested and less visible. My skin never feels dry or tight after using this, and I haven't had any breakouts or other reactions. My face is soft and glowing, so much though, that I seriously thought I might be pregnant again. I'm not though, it's just the DHC.

So I will have another glass of wine after all...

www.dhccare.com

Idebenone: Restoring my faith in 'hope in a jar'

Last week I started using Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Night Cream. I had been reading so much news lately (in almost every magazine out there) about how idebenone (the magic ingredient in Prevage) is the best new antioxidant out there, and one of the strongest, so naturally I just had to try. Besides, my skin had been looking really tired and withered lately, I needed something to perk me up. I'm happy to report that so far, I LOVE IT!!! In only one week, my skin seems firmer, pores smaller, and my fine lines (and not-so-fine creases in my forehead) are looking less noticeable. Hallelujah, right? Not so fast, I have also been reading user reviews of Prevage claiming allergic reactions weeks and even months after using it on a regular basis. So far though, no reviewers are saying that it's ineffective, and some even go as far as to say that people who had reactions may be using Prevage incorrectly. In any case, you definitely want to do the recommended patch test before you apply it all over your face. I'm being cautious, not using too much, and crossing my fingers and toes that my skin loves it forever, or at least until the next best, must-have thing comes along.

UPDATE (August, 2009): I am crazy about Prevage and have since started using the Anti-aging Treatment instead of the night cream, which I found a touch heavy for the warmer weather. No reactions whatsoever, and my skin looks great!

http://www.prevage.com/

A huge can of Crisco in my bathroom!

Apparently Crisco comes in smaller quantities, though my stupid grocery store only had the gigantic 3 lb can. This is the same stupid grocery store that has been out of frozen spinach for more than a month, so I should have known there wouldn't be much selection. In fact, this grocery store makes me so angry I'd like to kick it in the crotch, (if it had a crotch) and not only for it's lack of spinach and big-ass cans of Crisco..

So what was my attraction to try Crisco as a moisturizer? Well, most moisturizing products meant for the skin can contain stuff like parabens, propylene glycol, and a bunch of other ingredients I'm a little wary of slathering on my body after every shower I'll take for the rest of my life. I was very excited to try Crisco's scent-free simple formula of soybean and cottonseed oils, and of course the price is nice. I had also heard the rumour that Crisco is used as skincare in hospitals. A friend of mine confirmed that this is actually true, and if they use it at the hospital, it must be great (just like the food, ha ha) right?

So, the first time I tried Crisco was straight out of the shower, applying while my skin was still a little damp to 'seal in the moisture' just like we've all been instructed to do by every magazine ever. My first impression: this is pretty greasy stuff. I didn't dare try it on my face. It took some time to massage into my skin, all the while I avoided the temptation to glance at myself in the bathroom mirror, strike a pose, and say 'hey there, Crisco tits'... At first, I thought my skin felt fairly hydrated, but a couple of hours later it felt tight and needed more moisturizing. You know the feeling you get after you've used a dry oil type of product? Subsequent applications left my skin feeling the same, oily but not very moisturized, unfortunately. Most hydrating creams, lotions, etc., are oil and water emulsions. The oil traps the water on the skin. Crisco contains no water. Also, the hydrogenation process makes the oils solid, so at first I had the impression I was putting something thicker on my body. It was time-consuming to have to re-apply it several times throughout the day just so I wouldn't feel so itchy.

While I won't be using this as a moisturizer, I still think it could be useful. Crisco would be great for shining up your legs in the summer, and because it has no fragrance it won't compete with your perfume. You could even mix a little shimmer powder in with it. Mix in a few drops of essential oil, and Crisco's texture makes it perfect for massage. Now there's an idea for their next ad campaign.

My verdict: Crisco is better for pies, not thighs.

UPDATE: My daughter has since broken my pretty soap dispenser in the picture :(

Non-beauty products as beauty products?

About 7 years ago, on a beauty messageboard, I read about a fantastic facial treatment. It was cheap and easy to find in any grocery store, many already had some in their own fridge. Supposedly it made your skin baby-soft and glowy, cleaned out and shrunk pores, and was the best exfoliant ever. The miracle product was Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. So of course I ran out and bought myself a jar of the stuff, and as per directions (not on the jar, of course) slathered it all over my face, and allowed it to sit for 10 minutes. It started to burn pretty quickly, but I stuck it out until the kitchen timer went off, the smell stinging my eyes. Then, following the directions, I massaged my face until the 'miracle mask' began to roll off in little balls, taking dead skin with it. My face was smooth alright, on fire, but smooth until later on that evening when it grew a little crust to protect itself. The next morning I woke up to a tight, scaly, irritated face. Must have been that high vinegar content, I'm guessing. To make a long story short, my skin was really screwed up for weeks afterward, and others had very similar results. I even think it may have been a hoax. My husband still teases me about it. PLEASE don't try it at home, unless you are making a salad...

I am constantly reading about non-beauty products being used as beauty products. Why have we always been so fascinated by this? I am definitely interested in saving a few bucks, we all are these days. In these tough financial times, maybe we all have a little 'hope in a jar' of something inexpensive and readily available in our own households being an alternative to those expensive products we love so much. So here are three I will be testing out and reviewing just for you:

Crisco Vegetable Shortening (as a moisturizer)

Monistat (as a makeup primer)

Preparation H (since we've all been hearing about it for years as an eye treatment)

Wish me luck! More to come.

How to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy

Having worked with models who gain 50 lbs with their pregnancies and 3 months later are back to doing bathing suit shoots, I had a few tricks up my sleeve to avoid stretch marks during my pregnancy. Their advice worked, and so I pass on their wisdom to you:

1. Get in your best shape ever before you get pregnant so that your skin can accommodate the weight gain. Also, if you're at a healthy weight you'll have more chance of conceiving.

2. Don't gain more than the recommended 25-35 pounds, not good for you or baby. I gained 30 and it was a cinch to lose and I didn't diet (another reason breastfeeding is fabulous).

3. Drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits and veggies to stay hydrated.

4. Eat lots of good fats, very important for skin's elasticity.

5. Keep moving, long walks are great.

6. 'You must put oil! Start now! We only have one skin!' This is according to my Brazilian-model friend who has 3 children and looks disgustingly fabulous. I had just found out I was pregnant, so nowhere near beginning to show in the tummy, but apparently that's the time to start caring for the skin. The oil she recommended was sweet almond oil (easily found in pharmacies) and I applied it at least 5 times a day to my belly, hips, boobs, and thighs, as per her instructions.

7. A couple of other products that were recommended to me that I liked were Clarins Tonic Oil (a product French women swear by) and Mustela 9 Months Stretch Mark Cream. I didn't use them as often as the sweet almond oil though, I preferred to use something more natural since I was applying so often.

And there you have it. Though I must mention that even if I did get a belly full of stretch marks, gain 100 pounds, ruin my vagina, or any other things a first-time Mom worries about, it would still have truly been worth it. Of course you don't realize that until after your baby is born. When it's your first pregnancy life's still all about you and your worries about yourself, and when baby comes along things change so drastically. Enjoy your solitude, the anticipation, and take good care of yourself. Enjoy your pregnancy.

A product I love (I have many, so more to come!)

Now that winter is fast approaching, soon we will not only be continuously subjected to Christmas music wherever we go, but our lips and cuticles may become cracked and dry. I don't know which is worse. Just kidding, it's the Christmas music for of course, because the lips and cuticles we can actually do something about.

One of my favourite cheap beauty products is 100% lanolin, readily found in pharmacies as 'nipple ointment' for breastfeeding moms. It's all-natural, has no scent or taste, and is super, super thick and soothing. A little goes a very long way, and one tube lasts me almost a year. Try it as a night treatment and you will notice a difference in the morning, even after only one use. As a makeup artist, it's been pretty much my duty to try every lip balm and cuticle cream out there and though I'd love to be able to recommend something more fancy-shmancy, this is really the best, and it will only set you back about ten bucks.