Favorites.

YogaGals’ Beauty Maven

~by Diana S.

Ok, so my last article was very much a disclaimer article that I DO most certainly believe that what is foremost important in any skin regimen has nothing to do with the products you buy. That was done so that, today, I am afforded the opportunity to shamelessly indulge in my top 7 favorite products of 2009!  Let me be clear, earning the title of “Favorite” with me is not an easy task. I’ve tried everything and I don’t mess around with items that half-deliver. These would make excellent gifts for any of those lovely ladies in your life…including yourself!

7. Benefit Bronzer Hoola: Take a quick look at my picture and see how I’m one of the palest gals out there. It’s tough for us porcelain chics to get a good bronzer warmth without looking like we made out with that scary lady at the Mac counter. First let me say, Im not a fan of the Mariah Carey glitter bronzers, never have been, never will. I prefer the glow to look a bit more like my actual skin and not glitter from arts and crafts. This is why I love Hoola’s matte warmth, it’s sheer and, when mixed with a bit of face powder can be varying degrees of “warmth”. As a makeup artist I’ve found that the trick with bronzer is not to use those big bronzer brushes, just stick with your normal blush brush, tap off excess and swirl upward toward ears following the cheek bone. The deepest shade should be closest to your ear and keep it lighter moving toward the nose.

6. YSL Volumizing Mascara - In a word this mascara is: DIVINE. It’s the plumping without the clumping and the separating without the scary. It’s pitched as a “false eyelash” type of effect, but the mascara itself is buildable volume allowing you to control what your after -  from natural to Vegas showgirl.

5. Pureology Hydrating Shampoo – Smells so Yummy, extremely hydrating for the tired winter tresses. I hale from Chicago originally and have a whole “winter” regimen that doesn’t always apply to my new California days, however this shampoo isn’t overly heavy. I do, however, use a lighter/sheer conditioner after this type of shampoo on my hair so as not to weigh it down.

4. Tarte 4 Day Stay Mascara – another type of mascara, with an entirely different type of appeal. This mascara is marketed as an eyelash “stain” that is suppose to stay on your lashes for four days. Forget the four days part, don’t even let that enter your expectations on this one, besides that’s the least of my interests in this mascara. This could perhaps be called a “maybe 2-day’s if you’re not an eye-rubber” stay mascara, but even then I don’t care too much about the product longevity (although it does take some serious eye-makeup remover, DO NOT even attempt just face wash). What I am most into with this product is it’s deep pigment which leaves a really beautiful, natural black stain on the lashes…like a black sealant almost which doesn’t feel dry like a lot of other mascaras. Added bonus, if you let it dry for a few minutes then add another coat, you can create some seriously fun lash looks that do, in fact, stay.

3. Korres lip balm: First off, deeee-rish-us flavors and a nice healthy lip look, feels nourishing on, not overly matte nor overly shiny; it is however, one of those pot deals, which I’m not a huge fan of, but those of you who cling to your carmex-in-a -jar days may love the trip down memory lane. My favorite flavor is Guava.

2. Shiseido Utlimate Face 55: Hands down, one of the best nourishing UVB sunscreens I’ve found and believe me, I’ve tried many; it contains a lot of healing properties in addition to providing nice moisturizing without pore-clogging oils. Also, unlike many sunscreens out there, it doesn’t leave a ghostly cast of white that sits on top of your face, but absorbs nicely. I also enjoy knowing my face is totally covered when I’m hiking in Griffith; and although I know my spirit to be ageless, I have zero interest in my skin trying hard to play Devil’s Advocate.

1. Ole Henrickson Sheer Transformation: A sheer skin treatment that contains what is called a “free radical scavenger” to repair and protect. It also has skin-toning extracts such as Licorice Root to help fade discoloration and leave skin more even-toned. Also, an excellent moisturizer to prep skin for makeup, it’s sheer layer absorbs quickly and leaves a perfect surface for makeup to apply evenly. I use this on all of my makeup clients and every one of them LOVES it, spanning ages and skin types. But, what of these “repairing” promises you ask, I will answer with what every product purchaser hopes to hear: I felt and saw impressive results immediately which seemed to grown upon further use.

So there you have it, the products you can buy with confidence that may just sweep you off your feet, having you coo “You’re My Favorite”.

Are You Overlooking the Two Greatest Paths to Gorgeous Skin?

YogaGals’ Beauty Maven

Diana S.

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed product whore, I’m not going to lie: my beauty arsenal is like a mini-Sephora. I’ve been this way all my life, indulging in the heaven of testing new products and sharing with the world (usually first done through a victory phone lap with my 10 closest girlfriends) on what is worth purchasing. What you call “purchasing” I refer to as my own version of being “Product-ive”. The point being, this girl likes to buy herself whatever it is that will make her skin look and feel gorgeous. And after all of this time, research, and investment of what to use on your skin, I will to reveal to you two of the greatest skin secrets I’ve come to know and trust that have absolutely nothing to do with products.

The first is: Your Diet. Yep. That’s right. You and your $50 facelift-in-a jar cream may not want to hear it, but it all starts there. Similar to most things in life, you will save yourself a ton of money, time and frustration but getting to the root of your problem. Many of the products you may currently be using are addressing the symptoms of what is actually your body’s communication to you that it’s lacking something. A few of such things in which you may be lacking: Water. I challenge you to commit to drinking 2.5 – 3 liters of water throughout the day for 2 weeks and watch your skin transform. After two weeks, you’ll see such a difference you’d be crazy not to keep it up. Yes, you’re going to pee a lot at first, but your body will soon begin to use the water more efficiently. Also try adding some lemon which will cue your body to recognize the water as “food”, so it actually “uses” it instead of passing it through while adding an extra detoxification effect. Next, look at what you’re eating, if your aware that you’re not getting a strong mix of fruits and vegetables every day, you need to make sure you’re taking a quality food-based broad spectrum vitamin. One of my fav’s is Rainbow Light, Advanced Nutrition with Antioxidant Support. Of course, ideally all of your vitamins and nutrients would come through your food (or the sun), but if your not getting it that way, at least buy a high-quality food-based vitamin. Lastly, are you getting enough healthy Omega 3′s? Your hair and skin will be the first tell-tale signs if you’re not, usually that dry ruddy, hit the face with a frying pan look that we all love. I’m a huge fan of Dr. Udo’s 3-6-9 Oil Blend. Be sure to take your vitamins and oil with food and store them in a cool place. This extra support will make a huge difference in not only the way your skin looks but how you feel.

The second key to gorgeous skin: letting go. Our face, like our bodies, is a map of our experience. When we hold fear, anger, worry, guilt, resentment, sadness or regret….it becomes stored in our system as a story, often times in that beautiful little diary of your face. Take a moment to look at what you’ve been holding on to in your life. Is there someone you haven’t forgiven, could that person possibly be yourself? Is there some choice you made that you haven’t quite been able to come to terms with in regards to its consequence? Is there an ex-lover, ex-job…or current lover or current job that keeps you holding tightly out of fear? Take a look at this stuff, acknowledge it, thank it for its lesson, then send it on its merry little way. You can try envisioning it all being absorbed by a brilliant clear bubble that simply floats out of your space toward the sun. There’s so much to experience in this life, there’s never any reason to hold on. Something more exciting, more amazing and more beautiful is simply waiting for you to let go of that other junk so it has somewhere to land in your life….Like your pretty little face.

Aspirin Mask

YogaGals Beauty Maven

by Diana S.

Get Spa Style Exfoliation at Home!
Don’t have the time or money to get yourself to the Spa for an exfoliating treatment? Ditch the apricot scrub and get back your glow with my favorite mask ever: The Asprin Mask – a simple, inexpensive at-home treatment that will give you serious results. When asprin is broken down with water it unlocks the powerful BetaHydroxyAcid known as Salcylic Acid, an oil-soluble, pore-purging, redness reducing, skin-softening, glow-giving wonder. There are a ton of variations of this mask but we at YogaGals believe in keeping things pure and simple.

What you Need:
- 8 uncoated Asprin (not Tylenol or Advil, must be “Asprin”)
- Hot Water

What to Do:
-Dissolve the Asprin in 2 teaspoons of hot water. You can do this in a jar or your hand; the uncoated asprin dissolves pretty quickly. Aim for a sort of sandy consistency.
-Once dissolved, apply to face, avoiding the eye area. Do Not rub in like a scrub. This is a concentrated Salcylic Acid treatment, and rubbing may cause irritation.
-Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Once you learn how your skin reacts, you can increase up to 10 minutes.
-Rinse with warm water and a gentle cleanser like Cetaphl, the goal here is to not only remove the asprin grit, but neutralize the acid.
-Follow with a light weight moisturizer
-Use up to 2x week!
-YogaGals Beauty Maven Tip: Dissolve one asprin and apply on a blemish for a quick redness reducing relief.