my top 10 stocking stuffer picks

Are you in need of a last minute stocking stuffer or a gift idea?  Well, here is a list of my top ten stocking stuffer picks:

Derm Organic Argan Oil Leave-In Treatment for hair is amazing!!!  It's made with pure Moroccan Argan Oil and helps to repair and revitalize hair and adds incredible softness and shine.  It also protects from thermal damage, decreases drying time and won't weigh hair down.  Blondes can use it too...it won't darken light hair! Go to http://www.dermorganic.com/leave-in-treatment to find out more.

Who doesn't want soft hands?  Well, Glove Me Tender Restorative Hand Treatment with Shea Butter SPF 15 not only will soften your hands, but it also has the benefit of added sun protection.   It also has skin brighteners to help improve the appearance of age spots as well as shea butter which helps to moisturize.  Go to http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2224785 to find out more.

Another one of my favorite hand creams is Repair Mains Age-Defense Nourishing Cream by Lierac.  It's an anti-aging hand cream that is light, fast absorbing and not greasy.  It's ultra nourishing and moisturizing and helps combat the visible signs of aging with antioxidants.  It's also beneficial for your nails!  Go to http://www.lierac-usa.com/Products/Body/Repair%20Mains.aspx for more info.

I am in addicted to lip plumpers!!  I have two favorites, the first is Lip FusionXL!  It has double the plumping power than other plumpers.  It it clear and can be worn alone or with your favorite lipstick during the day or at night as a lip treatment.  Go to http://www.fusionbeauty.com/products_en_1_1_0_2_0-LipFusion-XL.php&promoID=LIPMS for more info.

The other lip plumper I'm addicted to is Hard Candy's Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss!  It's less expensive than most lip plumpers and comes in about 10 different shades!  My favorite shades are Girl Next Door and Uptown Girl.  Go to http://www.hardcandy.com/products.php?cat=8#372 for more info.

Next, who wouldn't want to find Tensage Intensive Ampoules in their stocking?!  The Tensage Ampoules use a non-human growth factor called SCA Biorepair Technology which uses a secretion from a snail.  SCA is a unique fibroblast growth factor that works to help skin rebuild aging and damaged skin.  Results can be seen in as little as 7 days!  Go to http://www.biopelle.com/products/consumers/tensage/intensive-ampoules.aspx for more info.

I'm in love with iS Clinical's SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen!!  It's so convenient because it comes in a brush applicator, so you can carry it your purse and apply it anytime throughout the day over your makeup.  It's broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and comes in two colors, Translucent and Medium.  Translucent is good for light to medium skin and Medium is good for medium to darker skin.  Go to http://www.isclinical.com/sunscreen_powder for more info.

I also love Up The Anti by Prescribed Solutions.  It's an oil-free moisturizing SPF 30 that has a slight bronze tint and matches almost any skin color!  It can be worn alone or it's light enough to be worn under your favorite makeup!  Go to http://www.prescribedsolutions.com/frames/upanti_patient.htm for more info.

One of the last things I'd recommend as a fabulous stocking stuffer is Beauty Sprinkles Vitamin Cocktail Mask!!  I'm completely addicted to these and use them when my skin needs a quick pick me up!  It's an all natural mask packed with vitamins and antioxidants to help revive and refresh dull, tired skin.  Just mix with greek yogurt, apply and leave on for 15-20 minutes for radiant skin!  Go to http://www.bubblesoflaguna.com/product.php?productid=18125&js=y for more info.

And of course, a gift certificate for a DermaSweep skin micro-resurfacing treatment!!  The DermaSweep is an innovative "green" particle-free micro-resurfacing (microdermabrasion) system that gives an effective exfoliation as well as circulation.  After the desired amount of exfoliation has been achieved, the skin is infused with a paraben-free skin specific solution like Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic or Glycolic.  The DermaSweep treats early aging lines, hyperpigmentation, photodamage, acneic skin, acne scars, surgical scars & dehydrated skin. Go to http://www.dermasweep.com/home.php for more information and to find a location near you!

Ok, so this would be number 11, but it's so cute and smells so yummy I just had to include it, Voluspa's Mini Tin Candle in Japanese Plum Bloom!!  It's fruity and floral, yet not overpowering.  The little screw top tin is adorable and great for travel or a nightstand.  Go to http://www.drugstore.com/voluspa-mini-tin-candle-with-screw-cap-delphine-japanese-plum-bloom/qxp266479 for more info.

I've tried all of the products I mentioned above and love each and every one!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

do you have bombshell brows...or barely there brows?

Do you have beautiful bombshell brows or barely there brows?  Most of us have over tweezed our brows in the past, which has left us with barely there brows.  With a little patience and TLC, you can have the brows you've always wanted!!

There are quite a few things you can do to help get your brows looking bombshell beautiful!!

The first is, let them grow out for 4-6 months.  In order to reshape the brow, you need hair for a professional brow artist to work with!  If you really don't have much hair to begin with, I recommend Latisse.  Latisse will help get your brows fuller, faster...and you might as well use it on your lashes too!!  For more information on Latisse go to http://www.latisse.com/.

Secondly, you can fill in your brows while you are growing them out to help give them the shape you are looking for.  Having the perfect brow truly is an art, so for those of us that need help, I recommend one of Anastasia's brow kits.  Anastasia is the Beverly Hills brow guru has been grooming and shaping the brows of Hollywood royalty for years...and with her brow kits, you can groom your own brows the Anastasia way!!  The kit comes with stencils and all of the essentials to get bombshell brows!!

After your brows have grown in, go get your brows shaped by a brow artist trained by Anastasia.  Anastasia has brow studios all over the US and Nordstrom even has Anastasia brow counters at some of their locations.  I see Christine Gray at the Nordstrom at Irvine Spectrum and she rocks!!!  Go to http://anastasia.net/store_locator.php to find an Anastasia brow studio or http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/anastasia-beverly-hills-services-locations for an Anastasia Nordstrom brow counter near you!

You will be on your way to having the perfect Beverly Hills bombshell brows...like Kim Kardashian, who reportedly gets her brows groomed by the brow guru herself, Anastasia Soare.

to tan or not to tan

Summer is coming to an end.  Labor Day is almost here.  We all want a healthy, bronzed glow, right?  The sun and tanning beds are just not a safe way to get that bronzed glow though, they cause pre-mature aging and skin cancer, so what's the best way to get a tan?  Get a Spray di Sole tan!!

I have been used sunless tanning products for years, some I like and some I don't, but I recently found the BEST spray tan, Spray di Sole by Cat K!!  It's organic, non-toxic and looks so natural and amazing!!!

But there are a few tips to prep your skin to make your Spray di Sole OC by Cat K spray tan look better and last longer!!  First, be sure to thoroughly exfoliate your skin for a few days prior to getting your spray tan.  When you don't exfoliate prior to a spray tan, your dead skin start will start to slough off and your spray tan will start to get splotchy.  I have two favorite sugar body scrubs that will leave your skin feeling like silk and also smell amazing!!  I prefer sugar scrubs over salt scrubs, because sugar is effective, yet more gentle than salt scrubs, so even people with sensitive skin can use them.  I love Boots Mint Melon & Sugar (you can find it at Target).

The other one is Pure Fiji Starfruit Coconut Sugar Rub (you can find it online or through Marc Edward Skincare).

Now that your skin is exfoliated and prepped, get your Spray di Sole spray tan!!  It's organic, odorless, non-orange, non-sticky and leaves you with an amazing bronzed glow!!  The Spray di Sole OC tan has pro-vitamins and moisturizers which help to give you that silky smooth, natural looking tan.  It's customized for you, so it can be as light or as dark as you'd like.  Jeana Keough, formerly with the Real Housewives of OC, is one of Cat K's spray tan clients and opts to get a booster to get a richer bronzed tan.  To find out more about the Spray di Sole tan, contact Cat K at facebook.com/spraydisole.OC.


After you get your spray tan, it is important to keep your skin hydrated!!  If you keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, your skin won't slough off as fast and your spray tan will last longer, which means you can make your tan last longer!!  I like Lierac's Anti-Dessechement Hydrating Body Lotion.  It's long lasting, extremely hydrating and has a ton of botanicals and antioxidants beneficial for your skin (you can find it Beauty 360 section at select CVS stores).

Sometimes I need to touch up my tan, so I use Loreal Sublime Bronze Towelettes.  They are convenient and super easy to use.  Plus, they are travel friendly which is a huge bonus!!

Enjoy the rest of summer and go get a safe, healthy, organic Spray di Sole tan!!!  

dna repair

DNA Repair by Remergent used to be one of my favorite products but it isn't made anymore, so I was so excited when I found DNA Youth Recovery Serum and DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream.  These products are the new improved version of the DNA Repair!!

The products basically help with repairing our skin's DNA that is damaged from everyday environmental stress, from pollution to sun exposure (hopefully you're wearing sunscreen)!  The ingredients help to strengthen your bodies own ability to fight free radial damage, which cause premature aging...and who wants that!

The first product is the DNA Youth Recovery Serum.  It is nice and light and sinks right into skin!  It contains 3 DNA recovery enzymes and amino acids to help to attack the damage by those unwanted UVA/UVB rays and to help prevent further damage.   Anti-inflammatory extracts help with redness and inflammation caused from sun exposure and our environment.  It even has Hyaluronic Acid for added hydration and an instant plumping effect!   It's great for normal to oily skin, rosacea, sensitive skin or just someone who likes lighter products.

The second product is the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream.  It is a more like a gel-like cream, it's not too heavy.  It has also has enzymes and antioxidants that help with repairing DNA damage from sun exposure, as well as aiding in further damage.  Ceramides and milk lipids help the skin retain moisture, which is great for aging skin.  Anti-inflammatory properties help with redness and inflammation caused from sun exposure or environmental stress.  It also has properties that help to improve your skin's barrier, which is great post-chemical peel, post-DermaSweep or post-laser.  It's great for dryer skin, aging skin, photo-damaged skin or for someone who just likes a light cream vs a serum.

I used both products recently after I did a VERY aggressive DermaSweep TCA peel infusion treatment on myself.  I used the DNA Youth Recovery Serum during the day and the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream at night.  I did put a little of the DNA Ceramide Renewal Cream by my eyes during the day because they were really dry.  I highly recommend trying these products.

If you're a licensed skin care professional and want to order the products, contact Nate at Nate_0949@yahoo.com.  If not, just google the products and you will find them!

dermasweep goes "green"

You can feel safe when getting a DermaSweep particle-free skin resurfacing treatment done!  The bristles are made from polyester or nylon which makes them less-irritating than other microderm treatments!  Also, the skin specific solutions that are infused into the skin are all paraben-free, so dermasweep is a green treatment!!

DermaSweep has removed parabens and methylisothiazolinone from its products including the skin specific infusion solutions. DermaSweep epi-infusion treatments combine the elements of bristles, vacuum and continual flow application that simutaneously deliver the skin specific solutions deeper into the skin. Now that DermaSweeps skin specific solutions are paraben-free, the procedure is safer than ever, all while the extremely effective in treating a variety of problems from acne to photo-damaged skin. The skin specific solutions for infusions include: vitamin C, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, skin lightening.  For more information or to find a trained skin care professional near you go to www.dermasweep.com.  Have a radiant day!

dermasweep

"I have been in the cosmetic laser and medical grade skin care business for over 30 yrs. Having used all previous mcrodermabrasion (crystals and diamond) I have found the DermaSweep MD w/ epi-infusion and the DermaSweep Mini to be the backbone of my practice. A 3 year audit, by procedure, indicates 95% of my patients receive micro-resurfacing before undergoing other anti-aging procedures such as IPL chemical peels and epi-infusion Bottom line DermaSweep micro-resurfacing = "shingles off the roof" and IPL, chemical peels and skin care products absorbed more efficiently. The epi-infusion is more icing on the cake. DermaSweep micro-resurfacing clearly demonstrates the optical properties of light; old skin cells removed and the skin reflects more light!!" 
-Suzanne Slader, RN 
Palo Alto, San Mateo, Pacifica, CA


For more information on the DermaSweep or to find a provider near you go to http://dermasweep.com/home.php.   

american health and beauty presents dr. sanjay grover on the dermasweep

American Health and Beauty interviews Dr. Sanjay Grover, plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, CA on the DermaSweep Skin Rejuvenation system.  


The DermaSweep microdermabrasion device helps to improve skin's appearance and reduce your wrinkles and sun damage without lasers or surgery. Particle free and affordable, these treatments can help you have your best skin ever.  "The nice thing about the DermaSweep is that it is a particle freemicrodermabrasion type of system without using any crystals and it’s a very nice treatment that’s done in the office performed by my aesthetician along with infusions," says Newport Beach medical spa owner and plastic surgeon Dr. Sanjay Grover. "The patients come out just feeling very nice. It's a nice superficial treatment. It can be done deeply at different settings or in my setting at the office. We do it superficially and they just love it and patients will come in every couple of weeks and have a treatment."

Dr. Grover has used this device in his office for about six months and says that both he and his patients have been very pleased with the results. The system can be used on any skin type and just about any patient who has fine lines or sun damage they'd like to correct. "I think anybody who's between 20 and 80 would benefit from a DermaSweep treatment. In fact, I need to get started on it. It's nice to have an exfoliation of the dead skin cells and to do a nice infusion, and it's nice to do that regularly at least once or twice a month." He does caution though that some patients may not be candidates. "Possibly someone with very very sensitive skin may have some difficulty with it, but so far we have been able to treat almost everybody - all skin types."

"It's rejuvenating your skin, it's giving you a more of a glow, it's getting rid of the dead cells, it's turning them over. You're simulating the blood flow and circulation and then the infusion is just improving the collagen remodeling of your skin," says Dr. Grover. The treatment can go deeper, for more dramatic results, but you can expect more downtime, and may need to go out of the office to an operating room for pain management.

One key advantage to the treatment that patients love is the procedure is recovery free. "There’s no downtime. You might have a little glow to your face for a couple of hours but really the next day you look wonderful."  He says patients return every 2 weeks for treatments, and may see further improvement with future sessions. "You can do it every two weeks – that's what's recommended. We try to have patients do about 5 or 6 treatments at a time and what we're finding - we've had the device now for 5 or 6 months - that there are patients who just keep doing it, and their skin gets better and better."

The treatments are inexpensive at only $175-$225, depending on what other procedures you might add with it. "We're incorporating it with many of our laser treatments. We have a number of our patients that undergo a series of treatments which include intense pulse light, Refirme or radio frequency devices for skin tightening and also for wrinkle treatments. We're incorporating that in having patients undergo DermaSweep treatments sometimes right before and sometimes in between the treatments."

Click on the link for a video of Dr. Sanjay Grover speaking about the DermaSweep in his Newport Beach plastic surgery practice http://www.youtube.com/user/AuraByLaura#p/f/1/Lrc7rB0PuW0.  

Go to http://www.drgrover.com/ to find out more about Dr. Grover and The Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, CA.  

Click on the link to find a trained DermaSweep provider near you http://dermasweep.com/find.php.

Coverage courtesy of American Health and Beauty http://www.americanhealthandbeauty.com/articles/?article=2991.  

what are your fav beauty products?

We all have our must-have beauty or skincare products that we can't live without, the product that you go back to time after time because nothing is as fabulous!!  I know I have mine.

One of my fav's that can't be replaced is Lancome's Cils Booster XL, which is a super enhancing mascara base that you apply before your mascara.

There is nothing else like it...it makes my mascara (which is Loreal Extra-Volume Collagen mascara) lengthen my lashes so much that people are always asking me if I use Latisse, which I'm not.  I've used Lancome Definicils mascara in the past, but I really like Loreal's Collagen mascara better...and it's a fraction of the cost which is always fabulous!!

I've blogged about some of my other favorite beauty & skin care products.  Do you have any must-have beauty products that you can't live without?  Go to New Beauty website and enter your fav beauty products http://www.newbeauty.com/ultimatebeautyawards/.

it's a suite life

Audrina Patridge gettting a DermaSweep micro-resurfacing hand treatment from Katie @ Haven 360 Oscars Gifting Suites.

Celebrity skin care professional, Katie Schaefer (who works with THE Dr. Frank Ryan in Beverly Hills) was handing out certificates for DermaSweep micro-resurfacing facial treatments to Hollywood A-listers like Audrina Patridge of The Hills, Kathryn Joosten of Desperate Housewives and Edyta Sliwinska of Dancing with the Stars.   While they were there, they all scheduled their DermaSweep micro-resurfacing facial treatment and are looking forward to their "on-camera" glow!!  To find our more about the DermaSweep treatments or to find a trained skin care professional near you, go to www.DermaSweep.com.


For the whole story, click on the link:
http://www.zimbio.com/Audrina+Patridge/articles/DqrKtptiW0-/Suite+Life+Backstage+Creations+Plays+Host

smoother, flawless skin

Do you want your makeup to look smoother and your skin to appear flawless?  Then use a make-up primer!!  Using a make-up primer can help your skin look smoother by minimizing pores, can help soothe redness, can help to mattify make-up and can even help to hydrate your skin.  They can help make skin with imperfections appear as smooth as silk!!  These are three that I've tried and love!

The first is OC Eight professional mattifying gel by Biopelle.  It's good for women that tend to have oily/combination skin because it helps to keep your make-up from getting shiny throughout the day.  It's fragrance free, oil free and alcohol free so it's fabulous for those of you with sensitive skin.  You can apply just where you need it too, like in the T-zone area or on the cheeks.  Go to http://www.oceight.com/products/consumers/oceight/ to find out more.  

The next one is Mixer by Geri G Cosmetics.  It's called Mixer because it's an all-in-one multi-tasker, it can be applied alone over skin or it can be mixed with your foundation, lipgloss and even your mascara!!  It's hydrating as well, so it's good for dry/normal skin.  Go to http://www.gerigcosmetics.com/2009/12/mixer-solo/ for more info.

The last one is Line Tamer Skin Brightener by Colorescience.  What makes this one unique is that is also offers some sun protection of SPF 20!  It has ingredients that help to calm the skin, so it's fabulous for sensitive skin, redness or rosacea, although anyone can use it.  It also helps to mattify and hydrate your skin.  Go to http://www.colorescience.com/1280x1024/flash/index.html to find out more.

Don't forget, everything works better if you get a DermaSweep micro-exfoliation treatment first...skin care penetrates better and your primer and make-up will go on even smoother!!

anyone for sprinkles?

I'm not talking about Sprinkles cupcakes either, these are Beauty Sprinkles for your face!    It's a vitamin cocktail mask that you mix with greek yogurt for a fabulous facial mask sprinkled with tons of anti-oxidants, vitamins and other great stuff for your skin.

I got a sample of the mask on Tuesday and have been dying to try it, but have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to, until tonight.  I thought it would be a great night to use it considering my skin was lacking it's usual  glow from a long week of work and not a lot of sleep.  So I mixed it up, put it on and left it for 20 minutes...rinsed off and wow, my skin looked awesome!!  It looks refreshed:-)!  Next time I'm going to try it after a DermaSweep treatment...can't wait to see how good it looks after that combo!  If you are interested in getting some beauty sprinkles for yourself, go to http://www.bubblesoflaguna.com/product.php?productid=18125&cat=0&page=1.  Cheers to beauty sprinkles and beauty sleep!

how well will you age?

How well  with you age?  Is there more to looking young than just vanity? There was a study done on twins and the twins that looked younger ended up outliving their twin!!  So, now taking care of your skin and wanting to look younger is more than just for vanity reasons!!  Plus, if we are going to live longer, why not look younger too?

Click on the link to read more and to take a skin age test to see where you line up http://www.realage.com/look-young-stay-sharp/simply-beautiful-skin/skin-age-test.  I took the test and my skin age results were 28 years old, not bad for my real age of 41...must be the 85 DermaSweep skin rejuvenation treatments I've had!!

If you don't like the results of your skin age test, then make some changes!!  If you smoke, stop smoking ASAP!!  Are you wearing sunscreen on a regular basis?  If not start today!!  Smoking and sun exposure are the two main things that cause premature aging.   Along with not smoking and using sunscreen, be sure to take your vitamins and minerals, eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of water.    In addition to this, be sure to use medical or pharmaceutical grade skin care products, get professional chemical peels or microdermabrasion (DermaSweep) to exfoliate the dead skin that builds up as we age and get laser procedures...all of which will help either slow down pre-mature aging or even turn back the clock if you're lucky! 

dermasweep infusions are now paraben-free

DermaSweep has removed parabens and methylisothiazolinone from its products including the skin specific infusion solutions. DermaSweep epi-infusion treatments combine the elements of bristles, vacuum and continual flow application that simutaneously deliver the skin specific solutions deeper into the skin. Now that DermaSweeps skin specific solutions are paraben-free, the procedure is safer than ever, all while the extremely effective in treating a variety of problems from acne to photo-damaged skin. The skin specific solutions for infusions include: vitamin C, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, skin lightening.  For more information or to find a trained skin care professional near you go to www.dermasweep.com.  Have a radiant day!

what would you look like with botox, fillers or even a nose job?

Ever wonder what you would look like with that nose you have always wanted, bigger lips or a wrinkle-free forehead?  Well, now with a makeover tool on NewBeauty.com you can upload a picture of yourself and see what you would look like if you had any number of procedures done.  Try it and see what you would look like with botox, lip augmentation, cheek augmentation and a brow lift like Heidi Montag had.  This tool might make it easier to make those decisions of should I or shouldn't I.  Go to http://www.newbeauty.com/makeover-tool.aspx to try it for youself, you might like what you see...or not like what you see, but it's still fun!!

get your skin glowing again

Do you want to get your skin glowing again?  You can with a few tips from Dr. Oz's blog and a few product and treatment suggestions from me!


You don't need a spa vacation to give your looks a midwinter pick-me-up (but if someone gives you one, don't turn it down; or if you can't go, call us!). You don't even need an arsenal of products. Just get these basics right:

• Watch what you're washing. You have an acid mantle (like cellophane) that forms a protective layer on your skin to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. If your skin loses this acidity, it becomes more prone to damage and infection. How do you lose the acidity? By washing your face with the wrong soap. Use pH-balanced soaps and cleansers. We like solid soaps because they tend to be made with a minimum of ingredients
I like CosMedic Skin Care's Gentle Foaming Cleanser (great for fragile/sensitive/normal skin), AFA Cream Cleanser (great for dry/aging/normal skin), iS Clinical Cleansing Complex (great for oily/acneic skin).  

• Add some A, but only at night. The vitamin A family, commonly called retinoids, can increase the actual water content of your skin without clogging the dead layer of cells (and making skin look dull). Retin-A contains retinoic acid and requires a prescription. Retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate, and retinol (retinaldehyde) don't require a prescription. Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun converts this to something that ages your skin, so go for vitamin A only after dark.
I like Retriderm Vitamin A Serums, which comes in three different strengths and can even be used on sensitive skin.

• Exfoliate. Encourage new cells to grow by cleaning your skin daily or weekly with a light physical (feels gritty) or chemical exfoliant.
As we age, our dead skin sloughs off at a slower rate, so we need to use an at-home product as well as get professional exfoliation treatments.  For an at-home exfoliant, I like Prescribed Solutions Exfoliating Polish or Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub.  For a fabulous professional exfoliation, I get regular DermaSweep micro-resurfacing treatments, which not only exfoliates the dead skin, but also creates circulation and rejuvenation.  Go to www.DermaSweep.com to find a trained skin care professional near you.

• Seal moisture in. Apply moisturizer while you're still damp from the shower, and reapply as needed.

Moisturizing the skin is very important, and you shouldn't forget to moisturize the body along with the face.  For the face, I like iS Clinical Youth Complex followed by CosMedic Skin Secure Tinted SPF.  I like Prescribed Solutions Correction Fluid Anti-Aging Night Cream and for the body iS Clinical Body Complex.

It's never too late to get glowing, gorgeous, healthy radiant skin!!

http://www.realage.com/blogs/doctor-oz-roizen/get-your-skin-glowing-again