Lipstick Powder N Paint

Red lipstick is timeless, and an instant confidence booster. It also seems to be the hottest thing going at the moment. Stars like Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani and Rachel McAdams have been spotted wearing it, and it adorned the lips of models at a lot of the spring/summer 2009 runway shows.

The great thing about this Hollywood look is that everyone can pull it off. You have to match your skin tone to the right shade of red and keep the rest of your makeup simple for the look to really pop. Fair skinned beauties who burn easily should go for a true red and those with darker skin and hair can wear warmer reds, the deeper shades. (more…)

The sun presents a whole new set of skin problems, whether you suffer a sunburn from a bad application or a greasy formula causes a breakout. From water resistant to all-natural sunscreen, here are a few picks for every need under the sun:

Biotherm Ultra-Fluid Body Milk Sun Protection SPF 30
Part of the Biotherm Sun Multi Protection line not only protects from both UVA and UVB rays, but moisturizes skin for up to eight hours. The lighter consistency of this product goes on like a lotion, but be careful of squeezing out too much.

Biotherm

www.biotherm.ca www.biotherm.com
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sears

Kiehl’s Vital Sun Protection SPF 30 sunscreen
This all-sport formula provides UVA, UVB and broad-spectrum coverage for your skin and is water resistant for up to 80 minutes in the water.

Kiehl’s
www.kiehls.com
Available at Kiehl’s stores and Bergdorf Goodman

Clinique UV Response SPF 50
With a high SPF, this heavy duty sunscreen is a skin-friendly lightweight, oil-free lotion. This formula also contains liposomes that release anti-oxidants when exposed to UV light. Packaged in a upright tube, it lets you squeeze out every last bit of lotion.

Clinique
www.clinique.ca www.clinique.com
Available at Holt Renfrew and Nordstrom

Burt’s Bees SPF 30 Chemical-Free Sunscreen with Hemp Seed Oil
This 100% natural sunscreen provides protection through Titanium Dioxide which creates a fine barrier to reflect harmful UVA and UVB rays while hemp seed oil prevents the loss of moisture from your skin. The tube packaging is both economical and environmentally friendly as 25% of it is made from post-consumer waste.

Burt’s Beeswww.burtsbees.ca www.burtsbees.com
Available at Whole Foods and London Drugs

L’Occitane Do Brasil Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 -Available July 2008

Containing only natural colours and fragrances, the new Buriti do Pará line of sun protection contains no chemical filters and is dermatologist tested. This mineral based sunscreen offers the standard broad spectrum protection as well as being immediately effective upon application, which is especially helpful if you are one of those people who forget to apply 30 minutes before sun exposure.

L’Occitane
www.loccitane.ca www.loccitane.com
Available at L’Occitane stores and Sephora

Kiehl’s Ultra Protection Water-Based Sunscreen Lotion SPF 25
If you have breakout prone or sensitive skin, use a water-based lotion. This non-greasy formula is light enough to wear under makeup for every day. Don’t worry if too much comes out of the bottle as liberal applying will go a long way.

Kiehl’s
www.kiehls.com
Available at Kiehl’s stores and Bergdorf Goodman

ACNE is the four letter word that makes most people cringe. I am sadly one of those unlucky people that have adult acne; mine is caused by overactive hormones and I really hate it. I am working hard to battle it and with the help of my Esthetician, Doctor and Dermalogica, I hope to win that battle soon.

HOW IS ACNE CAUSED?
“Blemishes start when sebaceous glands, which are attached to the skin’s hair follicle canal, produce too much oil. When there is excess oil production - combined with ’sticky’ dead skin cells lining the hair follicle canal that fail to flake - the pore becomes clogged. These conditions multiply, causing inflammation,” explains David Orentreich, Clinique’s Guiding Dermatologist.

Good daily skin care is so important for acne prone skin and will help remove excess oil, keep pores clear, and speed the healing of breakouts.

WOULD A FACIAL HELP?
People with blackheads and other non-inflammatory blemishes may indeed find regular facials help to reduce the amount of breakouts they experience. During a facial treatment, estheticians perform extractions by manually removing pore blockages, or comedones. By extracting these impactions, the pores are cleared of excess oil and cellular debris. Blemishes are less likely to form, improving some cases of non-inflammatory acne.

HANDS OFF!
David Orentreich strongly recommends that you do not take matters into your own hands - that means NO squeezing or PICKING (though so tempting). He says that squeezing traumatizes and often breaks the stretched pore under the surface. The pore contains oils and bacteria and when squeezed will set off a spot.

SUGGESTED PRODUCTS

Clinique Acne Solutions Clear Skin System Kit

The perfect introduction to the Acne Solutions Clear Skin System. Three simple steps that work together to treat acne—and help prevent future breakouts.
Step 1: Cleansing Foam
Step 2: Clarifying Lotion
Step 3: Clearing Moisturizer

Kit includes a 1.7 oz Cleansing Foam, 3.4 oz Clarifying Lotion, and a 1 oz Clearing Moisturizer.

Clinique
www.clinique.ca www.clinique.com
Available at Sears and The Bay

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Line with Microclear

This line contains a new technology called MicroClear, which is clinically proven to boost delivery of acne medicine to unclog congested pores and speed treatment deep to the source. Each product is formulated with skin-soothers, including green tea and cucumber, to actively reduce redness and irritation.

Products in the line: 3 in 1 Hydrating Acne Treatment, Power-Foam Wash, Power-Clear Scrub.

Neutrogena
www.neutrogena.com www.neutrogena.ca
Available at CVS Pharmacy and Shoppers Drugmart

Clean and Clear ADVANTAGE Acne Control Kit

This convenient kit includes 3 Acne Controlling products that contain bacteria-fighting ingredients, penetrating pores and fighting breakouts long after you’ve washed your face.

Kit includes: Acne Control Cleanser 4 oz, Acne Control Moisturizer 2 oz, Spot Treatment .5 oz.

Clean and Clear
www.cleanandclear.ca www.cleanandclear.com
Available at CVS Pharmacy and Shoppers Drugmart

Murad Acne Complex Starter Kit

Sized for travel, this comprehensive collection of blemish-blasters is equipped with four target-specific products, which work synergistically to heal acne and decrease oil production.

Kit includes: Clarifying Cleanser 2 oz, Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel 1 oz, Acne Spot Treatment .25 oz, Skin Perfecting Lotion 1 oz.

Murad
www.murad.ca www.murad.com
Available at Sephora and Chatters

Philosophy Acne Kit

Philosophy offers a four-step approach to treating acne that is benzoyl peroxide free.
Step 1 - Suppress excessive oil production
Step 2 - Shed the pore wall (exfoliate)
Step 3 - Help sanitize the skin to protect against bacteria
Step 4 - Seal the skin to help keep the good treatments in and the bad elements out

Kit includes: On A Clear Day Super Wash For Oily Skin 3.3 oz, On A Clear Day Blemish Serum for Adult Acne 1 oz, On A Clear Day Hydrogen Peroxide Cream 1 oz, On A Clear Day Protection Cream 1 oz.

Philosophy
www.philosophy.com
Available at Sephora and Blossom Lounge

Dermalogica MediBac Clearing Adult Acne Treatment Kit

Each product, with its unique acne-fighting and clearing ingredients, is designed to be layered upon the skin to provide around-the-clock, maximum control of the four main factors that contribute to acne: overactive sebaceous glands (the production of too much oil), dead skin cell accumulation, bacteria and inflammation.

Kit includes: Clearing Skin Wash 1.7 oz, Clearing Mattifier 0.5 oz, Overnight Clearing Gel 0.5 oz, Concealing Spot Treatment 0.1 oz, Sebum Clearing Masque 0.75 oz and a Oil Control Lotion (sample).

Dermalogica
www.demalogica.ca www.dermalogica.com
Available at Spas throughout North America

If you find that nothing is helping clear up your acne, visit your doctor or dermatologist.