Top Skin Care Tips for Winter

As you know I love, use and, recommend Paula’s Choice Skincare, which was recently purchased by Unilever, the makers of Dove soap, Q-Tips, Vim, and my favourite Hellmann’s mayonnaise. I have it on good authority that this acquisition means that PC will be available in Canada in the very near future. Here are my top skin care tips to combat the drying effects caused by the cruelest time of the year.

If you aren’t yet using Paula’s Choice Leave-On Chemical Exfoliators, now is the time!  Discover these powerhouse “facial-in-a-bottle” miracle workers that change the life of your skin. This is your fuss-free step to clearer, smoother, softer, and brighter complexion by gently dissolving and removing the trapped dead flaking skin cells on the surface that uncover the fresh, more hydrated, polished, brighter skin beneath — reveals more radiant, polished, younger-looking skin. Allows skin to better absorb follow-up products. AHA (Alpha Hydroxyl Acid) is the ideal exfoliant to address dry skin issues, improves the skin’s moisture content, and helps to repair signs of aging and sun damage. Can be alternated with BHA for extra hydration.

Bonus Beauty Buddies: Serums/Boosters

These potent, superhero, and efficacious elixirs share high doses of concentrated active ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and other skin-benefitting helpers that address the signs of aging, environmental damage at this time of year, and targets specific issues to deliver the results you desire. Serums and boosters penetrate the skin more deeply than a cream to treat and refine the skin’s surface and texture. Over time, you’ll notice the benefits of adding this simple extra step to your routine, helps meet your ultimate complexion goal. Here are my Top 4 that deliver without disappointment. Suitable for all skins. Feather-light, liquid formula absorbs quickly. Use alone or add to your moisturizer or serum.
Application: Apply before moisturizer to lock in its goodness.

Ascorbic Acid / Vitamin C Booster

Vitamin C is one of the best-researched and beneficial vitamins and antioxidants you can apply topically. With ongoing use, Vitamin C lessens the look of wrinkles and fine lines, reduces mild pigmentation and red marks, brightens uneven skin tone, reveals a more radiant complexion, and it provides soothing, skin-restoring benefits.  Available in different strengths.
Rx: PC C25 Super Booster | PC C15 Super Booster | The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid Booster

Super-hydrating, hyaluronic acid holds, binds, and replenishes moisture to the skin, revives dehydrated skin, smoothes and plumps to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 

Moisture Renewal Oil Booster

This concentrated, antioxidant-enriched booster relieves dry skin with a blend of pure, nourishing plant oils and skin-renewing ceramides. Helps provide hydrating, replenishing, and restoring benefits for sensitive skin, while nourishing and revitalizing dry, dull flaky skin. 

Evaluate and Upgrade Your Moisturizer

I so appreciate the fact that Paula’s Choice moisturizers come with and without SPF and in different formulas that tailor to the changes skin goes through in the winter. If you use a “normal to oil” formula moisturizer, you may want to consider switching to the “Normal to Dry” version for that extra boost of hydration, moisture, and nourishment. Advance your skin routine further by checking out the Clinical and Resist skin care collections as alternatives that take your skin care to the next level of loveliness with fortified and proven anti-ageing top shelf, superhero ingredients such as retinol, vitamin c, and peptides that repair, restore and revitalize complexion’s function, health, and radiance.

Pamper your skin when you apply moisturizer. Think of your moisturizer as a face shield that seals in boosters, treats the skin, protects, and prepares the way for long-lasting makeup. Massage around corners of eyes (Yes, Paula’s moisturizers are safe for the eye area negating the need for a separate product and step) nose and lips. Not rushing this essential protective shield removes the need for a “primer”.
Application: Apply after cleansing, toning, exfoliator, and booster/serum. 

Lip Love: Don’t forget your lips. Paula’s Choice Lip and Body Treatment Balm is most excellent in battling the dry and chapping effects for lips, cuticles, knees, and heels of feet. 

Eyebrow Hack: Use moisturizer to tame unruly brows and groom moustaches.

* Remember, SPF is an all-year-round anti-aging measure that protects skin against sun damage - the number one cause of aging issues like brown spots and wrinkles.

Without sun protection, it’s “Rays today, raisins tomorrow.” — Loretta Young, Actress

Please use this link: bit.ly/ddbxpaula to place your Paula’s Choice Skincare order. I receive a small commission for spreading the word about this amazing skin care line.  Thank you.

Jumpstart your skin with a new way of exfoliating

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t include skin care consultations in my studio makeup services. The condition of our skin plays a vital role in portraying overall health and well being and it determines how makeup applies, looks, and lasts. When it comes to beauty and biology, our skin is our most personal and precious possession!

Now that fall is here, we can go beyond summertime’s basic cleansing and moisturizing routine and give our skin a brand-new start. Exfoliating is one of the best things we can do for our skin. Exfoliating sloughs away the last traces of summer tans the same time as it prepares our skin for the most brutal time of year--winter. Like any organ in our bodies, skin needs to be stimulated to perform at its peak, and just as exercise makes our hearts beat faster, exfoliating jump-starts our skin’s function and appearance.

Until now, we’ve had a choice between massage-in and rinse-off scrubs made with ground nuts and seeds, the scrubs made with granular synthetic micro beads, and the more-recent liquid chemical exfoliants. I’ve never been a fan of scrubs made with ground nuts and seeds because they commonly have jagged, rough edges that can cause microscopic tears and scratches on the skin. I have seen too many clients whose redness and skin sensitivity was caused by applying a scrub too aggressively and using it too often--sometimes twice a day. The nut and seed exfoliants work better for your feet, elbows, and other areas on the body where the skin is thicker and more tolerant. 

The synthetic micro-plastic beads found in some skin cleansers and scrubs are damaging marine life and water eco-systems because they are not biodegradable. So, I recommend chemical exfoliants that are similar in texture to toners or light lotions. For convenience and performance, I prefer these “leave on” products for working their magic above and below skin level. Chemical exfoliants come from the dermatological world of micro dermabrasion and chemical peels offered at dermatologists’ offices and medical spas. Stay away from the on-line scrubs whose concentrations are often way too high for personal, at-home use.

Regular, gentle chemical exfoliation is an easy step in elevating your skin care regime. As well as maintaining healthy skin, exfoliating treats uneven skin tone and texture by smoothing lines and wrinkles. Who doesn’t want that? For over 15 years, I‘ve been using Paula’s Choice products and recommending them on Cityline. Brilliantly formulated and affordable, Paula’s Choice bases its ingredients on published, scientific skin care research. PC exfoliants work to dissolve the glue-like substance that traps built-up dead skin cells, sloughing off those cells to uncover the fresh, new skin beneath. These products smooth and soften the skin, which allow follow-up moisturizer and serums to completely absorb. As well, they penetrate deep to stimulate the collagen synthesis/factory via peptides, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. Collagen generates new cells and improves skin structure, function, and clarity for softer, smoother, plumper, less-lined and wrinkled skin.

Paula’s Choice exfoliants

Paula’s Choice exfoliants come in different formulas and strengths. Each has special qualities you’ll want to consider when deciding which one to use:

AHA (Alpha Hydroxyl Acid) is typically made with glycolic or lactic acid, which is preferred for sun-damaged and dry skin. It dissolves flaking skin on the surface and improves the skin’s moisture content. AHA helps to repair signs of aging and sun damage to reveal new, radiant, polished, younger-looking skin. 

BHA (Beta Hydroxyl Acid) is a salicylic acid best suited for oily, acne-prone skin, and for treating blackhead and blemishes. This oil-soluble acid penetrates deep into each pore’s lining to flush out, unclog, and dissolve blackheads. BHA visibly shrinks the pores’ appearance. Also, its anti-redness and anti-inflammatory qualities treat acne and sensitive, reddened skin (including rosacea).

Chemical exfoliants go on as easy as a toner or lotion. No rinsing off, or left-behind grains and grime. Choose a formula that is compatible with your skin type: liquid and gels are ideal for combination and oily skins; choose a lotion for drier skins. Begin with the lowest strength and apply after cleanser and toner, but before serum and moisturizer/sunscreen. Results are seen almost immediately, and with dedicated use, exfoliating continues to improve skin’s appearance over time. Visit www.paulaschoice.com to learn more and place your order. Try their sampling program for new products and travel-size convenience.  

PAULA'S CHOICE EXFOLIANTS