The Skin Below the Chin- Part III

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes... knees and toes! And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose...

I don't know about the rest of you, but my grandmother used to sing this song to me when I was little and was in the bathtub, so that I wouldn't miss scrubbing any important body parts! Ok, so that's a bit TMI, sorry for that. But, now that I'm a grown-up, I do occasionally find myself humming along to this song in the shower, or as I lather up with body lotion afterwards. There is only one little problem with this tune, it leaves out one crucial spot on the ole bod. Can anyone guess what it is?

You guessed it, it's your elbows. This often-neglected (and rarely-attractive) body part seems to get left out of all the bathtub and moisturizing fun. Unfortunately, it's also one body part that could use a bit of attention. Without a proper scrub and moisturizing, the elbows can be left looking a bit like, well, rhino skin. Ashy, dry, and even on some of us a weird gray color.

So what can you do to prevent this common problem? The good news is, it's easy! Next time you are in the shower, use a good strong body scrub on your elbows. Give squirt a little bit in your hand and really concentrate on each elbow. Give it a good strong rub. Since most of us neglect our elbows, they could stand to get a nice buff. I really like Clinique's Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator. This is a nice, grainy scrub that really gives your skin a strong buffing. You can find it in most department stores, but the best price I've found is here, at Saks Fifth Avenue Online. 

If you are prepared to spend a bit more, say around $35, then you might also like Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub, which you can also find online at Saks Fifth Avenue. I like this scrub, because it contains a heap of really nice ingredients like Bamboo Powders and Licorice Extract, and it will leave you feeling scrubbed, but also soft. It's a tad more expensive than I normally like to spend on a shower product, but it's a good one that I think you'd enjoy from time to time. Clarins is a great brand, so if you are interested in learning more about this product line, let me know! I've been a fan of their HydraQuench line for a long time.

If you're not looking to spend a fortune on scrubbing your elbows, there is good news. Drug Store or Grocery Store brands like Alba, Kiss My Face, e Booth, and Neutrogena all have great products that will deliver many of the same kind of results without the designer price tag. And, because your elbows won't typically be too sensitive, it's ok to find a scented scrub that you like a lot. One of my favorite "budget" scrubs is like Neutrogena Sugar Scrub, because if you use it in the morning, the Energizing Citrus scent helps give you a little "wake up lift" which is really nice. You can find this scrub on www.drugstore.com for only $8.55!

Once you've scrubbed, the second step is pretty easy. Just take whatever moisturizer you were already going to use on the rest of your body, and remember to give your elbows a little attention. I really like the Biosilk and Vaseline concoction that I mentioned in a previous post, The Skin Below the Chin- Part I. However, any good strong lotion will do. Don't be afraid of over-moisturizing. Have you ever had a zit on your elbow? I doubt it!

If you find that your elbows are very ashy and dry, you may want to try using a cream-type lotion or a body oil. Just don't let it get on your clothes, as the oil might stain more delicate fabrics like silk. One of my new favorite oils is this Sweet Almond Oil by Aura Cacia, which I find at Whole Foods. I like to put this stuff in my bath water, as well!

Now go enjoy a nice long shower and give those elbows some attention. And while you are at it, change the song! Head, shoulders... and ELBOWS! And, elbows!

The Skin Below the Chin- Part II

The decolletage (say it day-coal-tage), in my opinion, is one the most beautiful features on a woman. What is this glamorous French body part, you ask? Well, in American terms, it's your chest. No no no, not that part of your chest. The decolletage is the most upper part of your torso- the part below your chin and above your, well, boobs.

Marie Antoinette's Lovely Decolletage 

Circa 1775 

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia 

Even before it's first usage in English literature around 1832, the decolletage has been a source of men's fascination and has been a major influence in  fashion. Portraiture and formal gowns of aristocratic classes have showcased this lovely body part for ages, and it's a body part that is almost universally flattering on all women.

But guess what? The single most noticeable feature of the decolletage is, you guessed it, your skin. Sure, it helps to have a long neck and good posture, but the decolletage is mainly a place to display your healthy, glowing skin. It's also one of the places to first show aging, when it is not taken care of properly.

The good news is, with very little care and product, you can keep this little stunner looking supple and lovely. Mainly, this area just needs a daily dose of sunscreen, and a nightly application of moisturizing cream. Using a cream, instead of a lotion, tends to work a bit better. If you have long hair, tie your hair up, and really give your shoulders, neck, and chest a good rub before you hit the hay. Sleeping on your back can also help to prevent wrinkling in this area, as when you sleep on your side, this skin spends 6-8 hours smashed up between your arms.

As I mentioned, sunscreen for this area is also very important. You'll notice in all the portraits of queens and ladies, not one single one of them is brown from the sun. Sun can cause wrinkles, as well as cancer, and that is NOT a pretty look. So stay out of the tanning bed, and get into the big floppy hat style when you hit the beach.

My favorite cream for this area is, I am afraid, discontinued. Burt's Bees made a Decollete Creme that smelled heavenly and made your chest look like you just stepped out of an evening gown from a night at the Oscars. It's great stuff. (I have emailed them about this, and even promised to buy entire cases if they will bring it back, but to no avail.) Here are a few others I also like:

Renoir's Fair Skinned Lady, 

Madame Henrio, in 1876 

A great body cream is Clinque's Deep Comfort Body Butter. This jar will cost you around $26 dollars, and it's a cream so divine that you'll want to practically bathe in it, when you try it. Of course, it will last longer if you save it for just your decolletage, but while you're at it, do yourself a favor and give your elbows a little rub, too! You'll find it's great on rough patches, especially in the winter.




If you're in the market for something a little more wallet-friendly, Eucerin is a line that I like a lot, and their Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme should only set you back around $7 at your local drug store. This brand is especially good for you sensitive or dry-skin ladies.

I don't typically like scented lotions, but the decolletage can take a little scent, depending on your sensitivity level. If you'd like moisturizing your decolletage to be a heavenly-scented nightly ritual, and you're willing to make a bit more of an investment, you might consider trying Dr Hauschka's Regenerating Neck and Decollete Cream, which is really great stuff.  

One thing that is important to keep in mind when it comes to selecting the right cream, is that there are some really pricey options out there for your decolletage. Don't be fooled. Unless you have serious issues with aging or acne on your decolletage, a normal, reasonably-priced cream will work for you. There are creams out there that range from $7-$250, and you don't need to blow the bank to keep this skin looking healthy. For most people, simply using sunscreen and a nightly application of a lotion or cream will maintain this skin just fine.

Perhaps the most famous decolletage, 

Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, 1506

Important Author's Note: This skin is not typically prone to acne like the skin on your face. Depending on your hormones (pregnancy, menstrual cycles, etc) you may experience an occasional break out in this area and if you do, I recommend you see a dermatologist. This skin is, in fact, different than your face, and needs special care. "Chest acne" is not all together uncommon, but it is different than the acne you find on your face. If you have concerns about acne, moles, or other issues on your decolletage, see a doctor!

The Skin Below The Chin- Part 1

It's easy to forget, but skin does actually cover our entire body, it's not just on our face. So, for my next few posts, I'll be focusing on "The Skin Below The Chin" and how we can help keep it beautiful and happy.

This weekend, a girlfriend of mine dropped by with a little kit- a pair of moisturizers that she has been mixing together to get amazing results and help fend off stretch marks on her expectant belly. (Put down the phone, Mom, I'm not expecting.) We had been talking about how she has noticed so many changes to her skin since she first learned that she was pregnant, and how she's really had to get creative with what to use to help keep her skin glowing and gorgeous. (Which, in her case, it always is!) It is absolutely true, as we've see in previous posts, that your skin will go through changes in tune with your hormones. So, she came up with this easy (and affordable) concoction and was kind enough to share it with me. I tried it and absolutely loved it! It's definitely going in my body care routine.

So what is this great mix? Well, with credit to my favorite Baby Mama, here it is:

A quarter-sized squirt of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Repairing Moisture Lotion, Fragrance Free mixed with a dime sized squirt of Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum. 

And that's it! Simple, but magic.

You can mix this up right in your hand. If you'd like to make a little bigger batch, you can certainly double this mix. There is no exact science here, but let me tell you, I've been using this on my legs for 2 days, and not only do they feel nice and supple, they also smell absolutely divine. I mean, it really does smell goddess-like! Tonight, I believe I will give my feet a little rub with this and then put them in some cotton socks before bed. And of course, if you are expecting, this is a great moisturizer for your tummy, and one that will delight your newly sensitive sense of smell.

Also, I've been using this post-shower and before bed, and it's not greasy, so you can put it on and get dressed or hop in bed without feeling heavy, sticky, or like an oil slick in your work slacks!

Mario Badescu on GILT!

good clean skin lovers... I've got great news! Mario Badescu products are on sale today at GILT, a luxury brand discount website. Some of my favorite discounts? Drying Lotion, Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Whitening Mask, Rose Hips Mask, and the Vitamin C Serum.

GILT is a members only website, but you can sign up for free, so go check out the great steals now! Hurry, GILT deals never last a long time.

Resveratrol and Andalou Naturals

As I am always looking for a "miracle ingredient", I recently stumbled upon some research out of Harvard from professor David Sinclair about resveratrol, a natural compound found in the skin of red grapes and other fruits. So, have a nice glass of red wine (which doesn't contain a large amount of resveratrol, but does contain some), and read on, while I explain a little bit about a great new serum I've found containing resveratrol Q10.

There is a lot of scientific discussion about resveratrol, and several studies of it's anti-aging and life prolonging properties in rats, all of which is still being heavily debated at the moment. However, a small undercurrent of the beauty industry, especially the organic beauty industry, has picked up on this little anti-aging wonder ingredient, and it is somewhat of a natural product trend at the moment. 

So, of course, I googled. I found several supplements to take by mouth, but what I was really searching for was resveratrol in a topical form. Finally, I stumbled upon a brand that I had never heard of before, but am quickly becoming a big fan of, Andalou Naturals, and their Fruit Stem Cell Revitalize Serum.  I've been using it for about 3 weeks, and I have to admit, I really like this stuff. It's lightweight, which means it doesn't make you feel greasy, and I do feel like my skin is a bit brighter and softer, which is delightful, especially during winter time. I've been using it mainly before bed, under a heavier night cream, though if you had oily skin (or if it were summer time), you may be able to use this as a stand-alone moisturizer. I found this at my local Whole Foods, which was an added bonus, as I didn't have to pay for shipping. 

Andalou also has several masks and other skin care products, which I have not yet tried, but am eager to get my hands on soon. I did, actually, pick up this shampoo, Healthy Shine Sunflower & Citrus, which I've also really liked and have been using for the past few days. It does make my hair shiny, and it smells really nice, which is a plus! 

So, give resveratrol a google for yourself, and see what you come up with. Or, if you have already discovered resveratrol, let me know what you are using, so that I can try it for myself! 

The "At Home" Spa

Yesterday was ONE-OF-THOSE-DAYS. You know the days I'm talking about. It started early, ended late, and was jam-packed in between. We all have them. I needed a trip to a spa! A mani-pedi at the very least! Unfortunately, as the holidays have just ended (and you may remember that I am married to a fairly tight-walleted accountant), the spa budget at our house is slightly depleted.

Now, it is likely no surprise to any of you readers that I absolutely adore a visit to a day or overnight spa. It's one of my favorite indulgences in all the world. I have bi-monthly facials at a local day spa, and I try to visit a getaway spa at least once a year. Of course, visiting a professional spa with regularity can be expensive (and overnight spas can be VERY expensive), so I've learned that in a pinch, setting up your own at home spa will do, and the cost is much more palatable.

In a previous post, we discussed stress and the effect it can have on your skin. Anytime our body registers stress, it has a physical reaction. You tense your forehead, you hunch your back and shoulders, your tummy begins to hurt. Quickly, let me try to explain what is physically happening to your skin during this process.

When we are stressed, tense, angry, depressed, or when we go through hormonal changes, our adrenal glands (located above the kidneys) begin to over-produce hormones, one of these being the hormone Androgen. Androgen production stimulates our sebaceous glands and causes them to enlarge and secrete more sebum, which ultimately leads to our skin getting out of balance, and forming acne papules. Another side effect of stress can be that it breaks down our Immune System, meaning that once the acne is formed, it has a harder time healing itself. Recent research out of Germany actually shows a strong link between stress and cystic acne- but enough medical talk.

Clearly, relaxation is not only pleasant- it's crucial- for our overall health and well-being, as well as a secret to glowing, happy skin. Here are my steps to creating an at home spa, so that you can save money and still have a delightfully indulgent day/evening to yourself.

Step One: Choose a day or night carefully. One where the kids have a sleepover, your husband is working late, your housekeeper has just been the day before (I'm always more relaxed in a clean house). If you choose a day, you may have more luck with getting the house to yourself. Either way, schedule at least an hour that you know you'll be totally alone.

Step Two: Copy this list, and the next time you are at the grocery store, stick each of them in your cart. I like to get these supplies from Whole Foods, as I tend to go a bit "natural hippy" when I go into spa mode.

1. A small packet of mineral bath salts OR I also like fragrance free Epsom salts. Whole Foods sells these in small, one-bath packets, and they only cost around $4. Epsom salt can be purchased at your drug store and a large container is very inexpensive.

2. One lemon and one lime OR two granny smith apples.

3. A small bottle of body oil (not to be confused with the more concentrated essential oil). My favorite is sweet almond oil, but you may choose from several types- Jojoba, avocado, grape seed oil (a good one if you have more oily skin). This should cost around $8 or so, depending on size and type.

4. Some unscented candles OR one scented candle of a scent you like.

Step Three: Once you are prepared, and you're ready to start your at home spa, throw your bathrobe (or towel) in the dryer. There is nothing more divine than a warm bathrobe to snuggle in as you run your bath!

Step Four: While your bathrobe is warming in the dryer, cut up your fruit (lemons, limes, or apples) and place them in a water pitcher, with ice. Give it a good stir and place it in the fridge. This will create that nice "detox spa water" that you always have to drink whenever you visit a real spa. You may be tempted to choose a glass of red wine, but I'd suggest the detox ice water, as it really will help keep you cool and comfortable during a hot bath.

Step Five: Put on your robe, light your candles, and turn on spa music. I like to use Pandora's "Spa Suite" Radio Station. It is just like being at a real spa! I have an iPhone, so it makes this easy, but if you don't have Pandora, you can also turn on light classical music on a radio or CD player.

Step Six: Run nice warm water in your tub. Pour in your mineral bath or salt mix, and give a little squirt of your new body oil into the water as well. As the tub fills, wash your face, and give yourself a gentle rub of your new body oil onto your face. (Don't worry, you'll wash it off later, but it will make for soft, happy, skin!)

Step Seven: Enjoy and relax! While you soak, sip on your detox water to help stay cool in the hot tub. When you are done soaking, towel off gently and wash your face again with a gentle cleanser. You'll notice the oil has softened the skin all over your body, and this feels really decadent. Do be careful getting out of the tub, as all this oil can make for slippery surfaces.

Step Eight: I like to follow my spa with a facial steam. Take a pot of water, put it on the oven, and wait until the water begins to steam. Lean over (carefully and not to closely) and give yourself a nice 5-minute steam. Great for your sinuses and your skin.

And there you have it, a few hours of spa-like bliss, in the comfort of your home, and for only around $20!

Do Your Homework

Recently, my aunt told me that she had become a better cook by doing one simple thing- reading cookbooks. I thought about this and realized that the same thing had worked for me- several years ago I had become more knowledgeable about skin care when I began to read skin care books. It's so simple but it's true- the more information we have at our fingertips, the more educated we can be about our choices, no matter the topic. So, as we are starting out a new year with a resolve to take better care of our skin, let's start off on the right foot and do our homework!

Now don't laugh, skin care literature actually does exist, and there are some books out there that are better than others. Below is a list of three great books to help get you started on your crash course in good skin care.

1. The Clear Skin Prescription, The Perricone Prescription to Eliminate Problem Skin by Nicholas Perricone, M.D.- This book is one of my "skin care bibles". It's a great read for those of you who are considering making better overall health choices or for those of you who really are interested in some of the medical science behind your skin. Originally published as The Acne Prescription, this new edition is expanded to include more information about inflammation, diet, and skin care. You may recall that a few posts ago, I recommended that you think about your skin just like any other organ in your body. About the time that I discovered that philosophy, I also discovered this book, and the two go hand in hand.

Dr. Perricone also has several other books that I would recommend, including Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin and Radiant Health at Every Age and Ageless Face, Ageless Mind. You can find all of his books on Amazon, or on Dr. Perricone's website.

2. 6 Weeks to Sensational Skin: Dr. Loretta's Beauty Camp Handbook for Your Freshest Face by Loretta Ciraldo, M.D.- I have mentioned this book before on my blog, as you may recall my pillow case recommendations from the previous post, "Pillow Talk". This book is lighter reading than Dr. Perricone's books, and it would be great fun to try Dr. Loretta's Beauty Camp with your roommate, sister, mom, aunt, grandmother, or friend. Basically, Dr. Loretta outlines an intensive 6 week "boot camp" for your skin care routine. She has some great recommendations, including throwing out old beauty products, doing your homework as to product ingredients, and using All Free & Clear Laundry Detergent, all of which I now follow devoutly.

3. A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients Found in Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals by Ruth Winter, M.S.- This is one of my favorite cosmetic dictionaries, mainly because it's very easy to use. I firmly believe that every girl should own one of these types of books (there are several others like this out there) because it's important to know exactly what ingredients go into your products. For example, have you ever noticed that almost every shampoo contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate? Now, do you have any idea what that is? My point exactly. This handy reference book is one that I have taken with me to Target, the drug store, and the department store beauty counters so that I can look up cosmetic ingredients before I buy. Yes- I have actually sat on the floor of Target in the beauty aisle. And I recommend that you do the same thing.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, good clean skin lovers! I don't know about you, but I just love the feeling of New Years Day. A fresh start, a new chapter. New Years Day always gives me "Let's get started!" feeling, and I hope it does for you too.

This year, I challenge you to make this simple resolution- to take better care of your skin.

That may mean that you start a beauty regimen for the first time, or it may mean that you take a good hard look at the products that you are already using and really decide what is working and what isn't working for you. You may decide that it's time to find a great local dermatologist and address your concerns with him or her. You may try a few new products or a new skin care line, or simply to schedule your first facial at a local spa. Whatever your case may be, I hope that you will resolve to take better care of yourself and your skin this year, and I feel certain that if you do, a healthier and more beautiful 2012 will follow.

So grab a big glass of water, take a few deep breaths, and commit yourself to a healthy and beautiful new year!