Jazzing Up A Staple Wardrobe Item - The Classic White Shirt - Tips From Dawn Del Russo

Yesterday I stumbled across some of Dawn Del Russo's youtube videos.  She is a lifestyle and fashion expert who is a frequent video blogger giving lots of GREAT advice to her fans for free.  As I am starting a new job next week I really liked this video but all of her videos are really good.  There are over 500 of them on Youtube so check her out for some fashion tips and inspiration.



Here is her Facebook page if you want to stay on top of what she is doing.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dawn-Del-Russo/56430210824

Another great radio clip on how to shop on a budget:

My New Amazing Skin Care Regime - Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser, Dermalogica Multi Active Toner, Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Block

Product Review for September - Dermalogica Skin Care Products - Gets 10/10 stars **********

I am sure everyone has heard about the Dermologica skin care range by now.  It has gotten so popular now that all types of retail outlets are stocking it, not just health and beauty spas anymore.  I had been meaning to check it out for several years after hearing a friend of mine raving about it but I never got around to it.  I found a really good Irish website selling the products at a reduced rate last month so I decided to give it a try. (www.millies.ie)

I was not happy with the BDR range I had invested in last March at all.  The cleanser left my face feeling greasy and the moisturizer never felt very nice going on.  They did not sell a toner either as they had told me it was not necessary.  Since I switched over from Yonka to the BDR range I noticed my skin had become dull and more prone to the occasional spot.  So with the BDR cleanser nearly gone I figured it was about time I tried giving Dermalogica a try.  

I chose the Dermal Clay Cleanser as it provides a deep cleansing  to oily skin which is something I suffer with.  What a great soap!  As it is going on it feels so smooth and cold like a clay mask.  As you start to lather it on your skin a refreshing tingling sensation starts as a result of the menthol in the product.  It leaves your skin feeling really clean and revitalized.

The next step in my new regime is to spray the Multi Active Toner all over my face and neck.  I love the fact that it is in a spray bottle.  I cant count how many times I have bought toners to go with a new cleanser and moisturizer and forgot to use it or didn't make the time.  This is probably because I never use to see any real benefit to them.  However I enjoy spraying this toner on my face because I start to feel a tingling sensation right away which just makes me picture my pores just tightening up and any excess oil just getting zapped!  Since I have started using this my skin is so much smoother and clearer and my pores have been reduced in size.  This toner is also supposed to help get the skin ready to absorb more moisture when you apply your moisturizer. I promise it really is a great product and will not just sit on your bathroom shelf somewhere.

The final step then is to apply the Oil Free Matte Block moisturizer.  This has an SPF 20 to help protect against sun damage like freckles and wrinkles.  It definitely does what it says on the tin - maintain an all day matte finish!  It also contains green tea to help calm inflammation caused by breakouts. It has a nice texture and smell and goes on light enough but still feels nourishing to the skin.

I have given this product range a 10 out of 10 because my skin looks amazing since I started to use it.  I saw a difference after 1 week. I also received a free exfoliant kit but I have not used that yet.  

I also bought an exfoliating face brush from Dermalogica.  This unfortunately was a waste of money and was a bit on the expensive side.  I do not like it at all.  I thought it would have more of an exfoliating effect but it does not.  I dont think I will ever use it again so it was a total waste of money.  

Instead I recommend you use Loofah Face Pads.  I still use them with my cleanser and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Your skin feels so smooth and your makeup looks so much better.  You can pick these up in most chemists or pharmacies but I just found a link for a really cheap offer - 12 for £2.99.  Usually you only get 3 for that price! http://www.superfooduk.com/loofah-facial-pads-12-pieces-645-p.asp

So if you are in the market now to try something new I highly suggest you try Dermologica, especially if you have oily skin and are prone to the odd breakout.  If not keep it in mind for the future. I actually look forward to my skin care regime now and I think Dermalogica and I have a long future together!

Have You Heard About The Next Big Thing In Skin Care and Makeup? BB Cream Loved by the Asian Market!

BB Cream, also known as, Blemish Balm Cream, is a pore-refining cream that regulates sebum secretion while creating a flawless and matte complexion without feeling greasy. It is huge in Asia right now and it is only a matter of time before it hits the Western market with a bang because it is a truly amazing beauty product. 

I describe it to people as basically a combination between foundation and blemish cream.  It feels like a tinted moisturiser going on your skin but it gives the coverage of a foundation.  It leaves your skin feeling moisturised and smooth with a glowing complexion and pores greatly reduced in size.  I use it as my day time foundation now and my skin has never looked better.  It can also be used a base for foundation if you have more severe break outs that need extra coverage. The best part is that it is also healing the skin while it acts as a foundation giving coverage.  This product would get 6 out of 5 star ratings from me, it really is amazing.

Wikipedia has this to say about BB cream:

 Originally formulated in Germany, it was initially used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and refine highly sensitive skin while providing light coverage for post-laser scars, acne and other blemishes.

In recent years BB cream has gained a huge following for its skin-regenerating properties and is now also widely used in Asia to provide natural-looking skin coverage. Korean celebrities and cosmetic companies were the first to discover BB cream, and its popularity has now spread from Korea to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South East Asia.

BB creams come in a variety of different formulations. Some are said to have skin whitening or brightening properties, others are anti-acne, some are anti-wrinkle, some are intended to even out skin tone, and yet others to lighten blemish scars. BB creams are sometimes used like a primer under foundation, and if tinted can replace foundation.

The Main Benefits:

* Provides a natural glowing "no makeup" look

* Provides as much coverage as a foundation yet does not clog your pores or leave you with that sticky heavy feeling.

* Works pretty much like a tinted moisturizer and a primer

* Conceals and gets rid of all types of pigmentation, discoloration, acne and other blemishes

* Has that power to  soften, smoothen and refine skin

* Encourages skin regeneration to create and maintain youthful skin

* Contains UV Protection for healthy skin (SPF levels differ for each brand/product)

* Anti-wrinkle and skin-lightening benefits (available for some variants)

*Alleviates under eye circles

Personally I have only tried Skin Food Brand of BB cream because I am a huge fan of Skin Food products.  Below is a link to the product I have been using.  Depending on your complexion you may want to opt for a darker shade. It is also very reasonably priced compared to some of the more up market foundations. Other well known brands are BRTC, Skin 79, Missha, Etude and The Face Shop.

This is an absolute must try this season, trust me you wont regret it :)

Salon Microdermabrasion v At Home Microdermabrasion

Several of my close friends have asked me lately what I have been doing with my skin because it looks so much healthier. So I decided to write a series of articles on my new skin care regime I implemented this month that is working a charm for me!  The first part of the regime began with salon microdermabrasion.

For several years now I have been dying to try microdermabrasion in the beauty salon as I had heard so many good things about it.  Its known to clear out your pores, reduce fine lines and get the circulation going in your skin to give off a radiant glow. Well this month I finally got a treatment done in a salon in Dublin that used the crystal method.  

After the first treatment my skin looked and felt amazing.  However this only lasted for 3 or 4 days.  When I got the second treatment done a couple weeks later, my skin did not look or feel any better at all.  I decided to try the at home kit I had been given as christmas gift and it worked wonders on my skin.  My skin was softer, smoother and more radiant.  It cleaned out all of my pores and made my makeup go on so smoothly.  Between the exfoliation brush and scrub and the buffer this is a truly fantastic product and so affordable.  The moisturiser that comes with it is also really nice and smells gorgeous.

Based on this I would recommend anyone who is considering this procedure to try using the at home kit first.  It is only a fraction of the cost and more effective.  Plus you can do it in the comfort of your own home whenever you want.  Try doing this to your skin once or twice a week for best results.

The Von Berg microdermabrasion set can be found with this link to amazon!

The Magic of Tomatoes!

Do you know the part of the tomato with the stem that you always slice off and throw out? Well what if I told you that instead of wasting that part you could use it as an exfoliator for your face?  Follow these steps:

1.   Cut off a slice of the tomato with the stem still attached. 
 

2.   Pour out some white granulated sugar on a small plate.
 

3.   Now hold on to the stem of the tomato slice and dip it into the sugar.


4.    Rub this tomato slice all over your face in a circular motion.

5.   
Re-dip the tomato slice into the sugar as needed.
 

6.   Leave the juice of the tomato on your skin for 5-10 minutes and then wash with lukewarm water.

Your skin will feel lovely and soft after this treatment as it scrubs away all the dead skin. I usually do this before my egg facial once a week (You will find a separate blog on this in the hair and beauty section).  This is also a great way to exfoliate when you are away from home if you forgot to pack your facial exfoliator.

The use of tomatoes for skin care is ideal because of their cooling and astringent properties. They are rich in vitamin C, which is great for acne and brightening dull skin. Tomatoes also contain vitamin A, which is needed for building healthy skin. Their naturally acidic properties help balance the skin and get rid of excessive oil. 

Tomatoes are also fabulous for our skin because they contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which fights the signs of ageing. Lycopene is a great antioxidant for the skin because it provides protection from environmental damage. It helps cells grow and reproduce, thus improving the skins texture. Improving cellular functions is also essential to keeping the skin looking young. Lycopene strengthens the skin by enhancing its ability to produce collagen and reducing the DNA damage that leads to wrinkles.

Considering how good tomatoes are for our skin, it is no surprise then that so many new skin care products have tomatoes in them!   

Burt's Bees does one of my favourite facial soaps called Garden Tomato Complexion Soap for people with normal to oily skin.  I really like it because it is 96.80 percent natural so it doesnt contain any of the harmful chemicals that so many beauty products do.  It contains a vegetable soap base, fragrance, tomato powder and aloe barbadensis.  Not only does the Garden Tomato Soap combat sagging skin and unbalanced pH conditions, it smells absolutely wonderful. 

If you are looking for a great moisturizer made with tomatoes then try another one of my favourite products. Yes To Tomatoes Totally Tranquil Facial Hydrating Lotion balances and hydrates normal to oily skin. It is made from 99.6% natural ingredients including organic tomatoes, watermelon, chamomile and Dead Sea minerals. It smells lovely and it is just the perfect consistency for my skin.  It goes on nice and thick but still feels really light.  I highly recommend this product to anyone who likes natural products at a great price.

The Egg Facial

One of the best and cheapest facials you can give yourself is the egg facial.  It may sound gross but it really works! Not only does it dry out the oils from your skin, it is also a natural whitening product. It helps to reduce scarring and sun damage.




Follow these simple steps:

1.   Break the egg, splitting the yoke from the whites in two different bowls.

2.   Beat the whites until they are nice and foamy.

3.   Cover your face in a layer of the whites.

4.   When your face feels tight then wash it off with luke warm water and pat dry.

5.   Take the yoke and spread a thin layer over your face. This is a great moisturizer for your face.

6.   Again when this gets tight wash it off with luke warm water and pat dry.

Try to do this at least once a week and it will improve your skin significantly.  It is especially good if you have a sudden break out, as it will help it clear up a lot faster.

The Mascara That Will Change Your Life

I have to admit one of my best features is probably my eyelashes.  Whenever I am out people always say to me, "Do you have false eyelashes on?"  I am lucky because I do have very long eyelashes and I have never had to use fake ones yet.  To be quite frank, I don't think I would be a big fan of the whole glueing process anyways.  

Although my lashes are very long, I also have a secret weapon.  About 6 years ago I stumbled across an amazing mascara made by Christian Dior called the Diorshow.  I have to say ever since I have found this mascara I have been getting these questions about whether I have false eyelashes on.  For someone who already has long eyelashes this product will make them so long and full that people will be convinced you have false eyelashes on.  For those people who have average length eyelashes, you will look like you have naturally very long eyelashes.

I have always told people about this product because I love it so much. I can honestly say that about 15 people I told when out and bought it and have been using it ever since.  One of my friends who was a big fan of false eyelashes has even stopped wearing them because of Diorshow Mascara.  She thanked me so much for telling her about this because she said it "changed her life!"

Depending on whether or not you buy designer makeup this product may seem a little expensive as prices can range from €19.99 - €38.99 ($24.99 - $39.99) depending on where you are looking.  The lowest prices I have seen were in the duty free at the airport and highest prices were at regular department stores.  After a quick internet search the best price I could see for this product was on Amazon.

I will try to get some before and after photos up ASAP!

The Shocking Truth About Your Shampoo

I recently found out that most shampoos contain terrible chemicals that leave your hair dried out and stripped. It is no wonder then that my hair seems dried out all the time. I just couldn’t figure out why my hair was in such bad condition despite the fact that I try not to straighten it or blow dry it too often. I never looked at whether the shampoo I was using could be the cause of the problem until now.

Aside from the cosmetic reasons to avoid these ingredients there are real health concerns too. When you put something on your skin, it gets absorbed into your bloodstream and sends toxic substances to the liver to clean them out. The liver then tries to get rid of it them through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. Chances of cancer of the bladder, cancer of the bowel and cancer of the lung are then highly increased. Even if something says that it is natural, you should still check the label because even if only 10% of the ingredients are natural they can see use that on the labeling.

Have a look at the ingredients if you are using some of the more common brands like Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders, Sunsilk, Pantene etc., or even some of the more expensive brands like Redkin, Charles Worthington, Bed Head et. Check the back of your shampoo bottles and try to avoid the following ingredients:

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Found in 95% of shampoos this is one of the worse ingredients- SLS is also commonly found in detergents used for cleaning garage floors and engines. This chemical is known to damage hair follicles and make the hair fall out. It has been linked to eye damage, intestinal damage, breathing problems, skin spots and cysts. One of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is that it mimics the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer.

2. Propylene Glycol (Alcohol) – A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. This has been proven to inhibit cells growth. It is also found in wrinkle creams and should be avoided as it actually causes the skin to age as new cells cant grow to replace the old ones.

3. Dioxin - This is one of the major chemicals in Agent Orange and is thought to be responsible for all kinds of disease reported by those that came into contact with the chemical.

4. Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Ethyl Paraben (These have been linked to cancer)

So What is The Alternative?

Buy good organic shampoos that don’t contain these ingredients. Do your research and find out what each ingredient means before you use it on your body. One store bought brand that is very good is Organix. The coconut milk range is my favorite.

An even better option is to make your own! Here is a great recipe for a homemade shampoo that is amazing on your hair and easy on the wallet!  It may cost a bit for the initial stock but in the long run it will save you money and give you healthy shiny hair!

Get an empty 8oz bottle with a dispenser and mix the following:
1. Dr. Bronner Peppermint Castille Soap (1/4 cup)


2. 100% Aloe Vera Gel (1/4 Cup)


3. 1 Tsp of Jojoba Oil
















4. 1 Tsp of Vegetable
         Glycerin















5. Few drops of Tea Tree Oil


6. Few drops of any essential oil to scent this - I love lavender!