A powerful combo

I've got a great skincare routine going on right now that I just have to tell you about. There are three products I've been using religiously for about two weeks, and I can really notice the difference. My skin is brighter and healthier looking, and my fine lines are disappearing.

I've sung their praises before, but I can't say enough good things about Kiehls. One of my favorite products is their Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate. It has Pure Vitamin C 10.5% which is great for wrinkles, but easier on your skin than retinol. I use this under my eyes nearly every night.

Because Kiehls rocks, they send you samples with every purchase, so I tried out their Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate, and I LOVE it. This also has Vitamin C and is great for firming skin and reducing wrinkles. I use this at night after the eye cream. It's light enough that you may need another moisturizer if you don't live in a humid climate like Chicago.

Then in the mornings I use their Double Strength Deep Wrinkle Filler under my eyes and on my forehead to help fill in lines under my make-up. I then use a moisturizer on top with an SPF of 30+.

The combo of these three is truly remarkable!

Good luck and keep looking beautiful!

Expert help for under eye circles and more

As promised, here's the link to the second part of my interview with Scott-Vincent Borba, the man behind the very popular Borba Skin Care line. He's got some great tips, including a suggestion for dark under eye circles. Yay!

Good luck and keep looking beautiful!

Celeb Skin Care Expert Answers Burning Beauty Questions

Celeb skin care expert Scott-Vincent Borba, the man behind the very popular Borba Skin Care line, was kind enough to answer my questions about how to get beautiful skin. (Isn't he cute too?) His answer on cleansing may surprise you.

Check out the article here!

Good luck and keep looking beautiful!





Don't forget to cleanse after the gym

During my monthly facial this week, the esthetician spent tons of time doing extractions (getting all the gunk out of my pores), and trust me, it was painful. I was tearing up, but I didn't ask her to stop because I wanted clean skin.

She then asked me if I workout a lot, and I said "yes". She said she could tell I did, and that I didn't wash my face afterwards, hence why I needed so many extractions. (Dang! I was hoping she'd say, "I could tell because your bum is rock hard.") I realized after I workout, I usually do other things before I shower, like laundry, working on my computer or cleaning house. Come to find out, this is not good for my skin.

According to Well and Good NYC, "You don't want a cocktail of dirt, oil, and bodily fluids clinging to your skin, affecting its pH, and clogging your pores." They say if you don't have a sink, no problem. There are plenty of facial wipes on the market now, like Arcona's Triad Pads. You know I'm totally buying these! They sound like a refreshing way to cleanse your skin on the go.

Good luck and keep looking beautiful!




The Skinny on Botox

In life, there are two kinds of women. Women who get Botox and brag about its fabulousness, and those who get Botox, but lie and say they don't. Haha.

August 2007

A lot of you have asked me about Botox, and here's the deal: it rocks. Yes it's expensive and it hurts to get done, but it's truly the best thing for smoothing out lines and wrinkles. Another great advantage is that it helps your skin in the future. He's a blurb from Dr. Oz's website...

"The longer patients use it, the better they look, as the body actually "heals in" wrinkles when they are not continually recreated."

I've definitely noticed this on my face. I haven't used Botox in about 6 months, but my crow's feet are much less defined these days thanks to this and the other treatments and products I use.

The most common place to get Botox is between the eyebrows where a lot of people have those deep lines from years of furrowing their brows. (Like Carrie on Sex and the City for the first 3 seasons--noticably gone in later seasons.) You can also get it done in your forehead, crow's feet or around the mouth.

July 2010

Botox is about $12-$15 a unit (that's in Chicago, probably less in other places) and according to Dr. Oz, you usually need 13-30 units for the vertical lines on the forehead, 10-20 for the horizontal ones, 8-20 for crow's feet and 5-10 for around the mouth. I just found out Refine Medical Spa in Chicago is offering $10 a unit for one day only, Tuesday, July 26th. Call (312) 867-0600. Score!

Before you get it done, ask the doctor to numb the area and they usually have those little stress balls you can squeeze in your hands. Also, remember to breath so you don't pass out!

Keep in mind, everyone and their brother is offering Botox these days. There's a deal in Chicago today to get it done cheaper at a dentist's office. Don't do that. Only go to a plastic surgeon or dermatologist with a good education and reputation. You can find a doctor in your area here. Don't get fooled with good deals, because your safety is the first priority!

Good luck and keep looking beautiful!