Quick Tip;)

To help diminish the appearance of yucky cellulite... Srub your booty vigorously with a homemade coffee grind/ honey mixture daily while in the hot shower! The caffeine helps to stimulate oxygen flow, and the honey will help to hydrate and make your backside feel smooth and tight! XOXO

A few more FREE skin tips for amazing summer skin!

1. Drink lots of Water; The ideal ratio is 1/2 your weight in oz. Your skin needs to be hydrated from the inside as well!  (ooh and don't forget about your omega 3s)

2. Keep pillow cases soft, clean and bacteria free; Your face is smashed up against it every night... think about it! (Ideally back sleeping is the best if you can train yourself to do it, it keeps the thin skin around your eyes from creating unnecessary wrinkles)

3.Eat Raw when possible and keep sugars to a minimum for glowing healthy skin. I try to eat a raw breakfast and lunch (lots of fruits and veggies, grains...) , then enjoy a cooked dinner.

4. Exercise; both your body and your face. Keeping your body moving improves circulation, and exercising your face muscles will help keep your face muscles toned=) Check on line for a few fun facial exercises!

5. Switch from Coffee to Green Tea;  load up on the antioxidants this summer ( Bonus; green tea is one of the #1 fat burning ingredients as well)

6. Keep a hydrating toner in your bag this summer and spritz it on throughout the day to keep skin hydrated and fresh! Think of it as a fresh drink of water for your skin(thanks Michelle, I stold that line from you)
I like Burke Williams H2V Prepare Toner, its affordable and packed with moisture retaining ingredients and antioxidants.

7. SPF- need I say more; read my previous blogs on sun protection for more 411

8. Wide brim hats and Big Sexy Sunglasses are so in! and will help protect your skin from aging=)

9. Keep up with your skin routine-cleansing, exfoliating, treating, hydrating and protection

10. SMile and have FUN!

XOXO

The Art of Transformation

As much as I support natural skincare supplements and products, I also understand the growing popularity and the amazing results that cutting edge technology can provide. With new injectables and procedures on the market every year, my clients are often confused on what does what... and which one is better. Here is a little rundown...

There are two Muscle Relaxer/Wrinkle Smoothers that dominate the market right now;
Botox & Dysport (the newer and and usually cheaper alternative). These are usually injected between frown lines or on the forehead and  last between 3-6 months (sometimes longer depending on homecare). For the money I have heard that dysport gets the job done and gives great results. I would love to hear your opinions, as I have not tried either.

Next we have the Wrinkle Fillers;
The 3 common fillers are usually a Hyaluronic acid, Collagen , or a synthetic Filler.

The Hyaluronic Fillers that you might have heard of are Restylane, Perlane and Juvaderm. These Typically last up to 6 months and help to plump up and smooth out folds, wrinkles or scars. Swelling and bruising are not uncommon so avoid any blood thinners such as aspirin, Ginko, Vit E...2 weeks prior to injection.

The Collagen Fillers are not as popular, as results last anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. However, these injections typically run about a $100 cheaper. It is suggested to ice area immediately after to prevent swelling, and also remember to gently massage filled areas for a few minutes several times a day for the 24 hours to prevent bumps.

Lastly I will talk about Synthetic Fillers, since they have been getting all the hype lately. The top 3 brands are Radiesse, Sculptra Aesthetic, and Artefill.  A Beverly Hills Doctor was referring to Sculpta and Artefill, as the biggest injectable breakthroughs since Botox. These bioactive fillers are not only said to help fill and smooth out wrinkles, folds and scars, but are promising to stimulate new collagen growth and restore volume for long periods of time. Radiesse should last a year a more, Sculptra may last up to 2, while Artefill is permanent.FYI...permanent fillers are extremely difficult to remove!


With that all said... be very picky with your Doctor selection, you are paying for their skill, artistry and expertise in the field. And again. LESS IS MORE! meaning you want natural results, you don't want to look altered, just great for your age!

Trusted Doctors to try>>> Hawaii Readers; Dr. Randy Wong of Honolulu Plastic Surgery's Center of Transforming Arts has an amazing outlook on Plastic Surgery... he integrates leading edge technology with a more holistic and traditional approach to offer amazing transformations! check out his website at RandyWongMD.com
For our LA readers; Kate Somerville's Melrose Clinic offers clients a variety of Doctor performed treatments, while keeping skin health the ideal goal! KateSomerville.com

Now thats aging beautifully! 

Enjoy and Remember... You didn't age overnight, why should you anti-age overnight? amazing, natural results takes time and commitment!! XOXO

The Beach Goddess GLOW... Summer Make-up & Skin Tips!

Fresh Faced & Glowing is always IN

Lets talk make-up... my other favorite topic! If there is one tip to remember for summer makeup; its LESS IS MORE! Keep your face fresh and dewy by adding a bit of liquid bronzer to your daily moisturizer, or if you need the coverage from your foundation, mix that with your daily moisturizer instead and sweep some bronzer where the sun naturally hits your face for a little glow! Don't waste your money on a tinted moisturizer, just mix your own and you will get the same amazing results. Keep lips hydrated and soft by exfoliating them weekly(brown sugar, olive oil & honey works great) and applying a lip moisturizer daily, preferably one with a kiss of color and an SPF (Kiehl's has a great one, and so does Neutragena).  For eyes, stick to a waterproof mascara, skip the heavy liners and brush on a touch of gold, bronze, soft pink or pale whites if any color at all=)

A few if my favorite liquid bronzers...P.S I really like the benefits of the Argan Oil in Josie Maran's!

ENJOY YOUR BEACH GODDESS GLOW!!! and don't forget the sunblock XOXOXO

My new Obsession!!! SUPER

           FEED HUNGRY SKIN!!!

I recently stumbled across my favorite new store while wandering around Malibu... SUPER by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Their motto is: Feed Hungry Skin! I love it. The products are all created with the world's most powerful superfoods, some of which I have blogged about before, such as, Tumeric, Omega 3 from Chia, Acai... I was in Heaven.

  I even learned about a new superfood that is is great for the skin. Melon. Apparently it brings out the brightness of your skin.


His new "Bright Eyed" melon eye cream has been getting great media attention, so I had to try it. So far it's wonderful. I am itching to go back to the SUPER store again.








Go check it out for yourself; Unfortunately there are only two locations right now, Malibu & Berkeley, CA, but it's worth the trip! XOXO

A Fun SKIN FAB Salsa Recipe Courtesy of Dr. Perricone

Mix up some of these skin beneficial fresh ingredients for a great salsa recipe 

Pomegranate Salsa - Courtesy of Dr. Perricone's Ageless Face, Ageless Mind Book=) 
3 tbsp. of diced red onion
1 garlic clove minced
1tbsp. of organic extra virgin olive oil

1 cup of pomegranate seeds (I found some at trader joes )
1/4 cup of pure pomegranate juice
1/2 cup of cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
zest of a fresh lime


Saute the onion and garlic ( I added a few sweet cherry tomatoes as well) in olive oil at medium heat. Place in bowl. Stir in pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, lime zest and cilantro. Season to taste. Chill ...Then Eat To Great Skin!


YUMMMMM!!!!!! XOXOXOX

Must Read!

Not all skin conditions should be treated the same way. Just because you have breakouts or acne doesn't mean that you have oily skin and that you need an acne face wash, and an acne medicated moisturiser.

I had a client the other day in her mid 40's that came in with dehydrated, flaky skin, and small under the skin acne all across her forehead and jaw line. She was stressed out and anxious about her skin and said that she had spent hundreds of $$ on products that are not working. The problem was my client was misdiagnosed... she had dry skin to begin with and was experiencing a reaction to stress, anxiety and a totally wrong homecare plan. She did not need all those acne fighting products. It was drying out her skin and creating more problems. When people breakout, their immediate reaction is to pile on the acne medications. But that just tricks your oil production to go into overdrive, creating more oil and back up in the pores, while the top layer of your skin is suffering and experiencing inflammation and dryness.

The key to healthy skin is finding the perfect balance. You still need to hydrate and use products based on your skin type. Spot treatments, masks and specialty products may be used to treat the specific conditions that you are experiencing.

My game plan I prescribed for her specific skin type and conditions:

• Gentle non-drying cleanser (you need to keep skin clean and balance oil production)
• A glycolic acid exfoliant with antioxidants (dead skin also needs to be exfoliated to keep acne away)
• A spa grade (smaller molecule than OTC) gentle yet effective Benzoyl Peroxide product to be used only as a spot treatment (you need to use a spot treatment to kill the bacteria... a 2% Salicylic Acid would work great as well)
• A hydrating moisturiser with Rose Hip & Azelaic Acid in it to help fight inflammation and bacteria while hydrating the skin ( I replaced her acne moisturiser which she was using on her entire face, with a hydrating nourishing moisturiser)
• Supplements: Alpha Lipoic (fights inflammation internally), and Tumeric (refer to my blog on tumeric for the many benefits)
• Lots R & R.... find ways to relax and de-stress ( getting rid of stress will help to clear up skin as well;) )

To sum it all up, I encourage you to enjoy my tips and product recommendations along with all the other great information you find on the web or in magazines... but when it comes to your personalized skin care program,  I advise you to leave it to the skin experts to diagnose your skin type and conditions before you start treating your skin=) XOXO 

*Our waiting list (for personal consulting) is growing thanks to all of our great readers! Contact us at KBSkinStyling@gmail.com if you would like a personalized consultation.