10 Steps To Firmer Skin

As we age our skin starts to sag, loses its luster, and make us look eons older than we really are. Natural reserves of elastin, collagen and fat start to break down and disappear, and gravity pulls everything south.
It's pitiful really.

However, there are ways to slow the aging process down, many of which start when you're fresh out of puberty.

 10 Steps To Firmer Skin.

1. Don't Smoke.

Not only don't smoke, but avoid second hand smoke too. Like the plague.
Smoking and second hand smoke destroy collagen and elastin and decrease levels of estrogen, all of which are crucial to maintaining firm skin.

2. Eat the Good Foods.

From when you're young you want to be eating the good stuff. We all know that food can make you skinny or fat, alert or tired, happy or sad. You can add older or younger to the list too.
To keep skin happy (and firm) eat fatty fish like salmon, lots of dark green vegetables (think brocolli, spinach, kale), almonds and walnuts, and drink lots of tea. You can never have too many freh fruits and vegetables
Research shows that low levels of vitamin C and zinc, amongst other skin-essential nutrients may inhibit the skin's ability to heal and repair itself.

3. Ignore Food Cravings
Experts believe that overindulging in sugars, corn syrups/dextrose/fruit juice concentrate etc can prematurely age skin. This can be seen as early as your 30's!
Sugar in the bloodstream forms harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which weaken elastin and collagen.

4. Relax Your Neck

Don't strain your neck during a workout (or anything else!)
By straining your neck you are strengthening the very muscles that pull your face down.

5. Use A Good Moisturizer.

Not only invest in a good moisturizer, but use it liberally, every single day.
Moisturizer actually protects skin from free radical damage. Dehydration leads to oxidative stress, which in turn generates free radicals.
Dehydrated skin ages faster. Much, much faster.
Look for products with ceramides, cholesterol and essential fatty acids, and keep your skin super moisturized, every single day.










6. Fight Sun Damage.

The best way to fight sun damage is to completely stay out of the sun.
But that is not a realistic option for most of us. Plus the sun is so nice to be outside in.
Every single day, come rain or shine, liberally apply a facial SPF of no less than 30. (I use SPF 70)
Even if your moisturizer has an SPF in it, use another on top.
The sun is your skin's worst enemy. Harmful rays break down collagen and elastin, putting you on the fast track to aging, sagging, lifeless, dull skin.
Look for broad spectrum formulations with Helioplex or Mexoryl, which have been shown to be the longest lasting, most effective forms of sun protection.

7. Fight Free Radicals
Antioxidants are the super heros of skin care.They protect the skin from the evil forces in the environment, known as free redicals, plus they also block an enzyme called elastase, which breaks down your skin's elastin.
Choose products that contain several different antioxidants - they work well in teams. Look for products that contain Vitamins A and C as well as Coenzyme Q10.

8.Give Your Eyes A Lotta Lovin

Always wear sunglasses. The bigger the better. When you're outdoors, squinting in the sunlight is fast tracking crows feet and under eye wrinkling.
Make sure you use a good eye makeup remover that dissolves your makeup without you needing to rub it. The less pulling of the skin around the eyes the better.
Keep the eye area well hydrated morning with a good eyecream, and utilize an eyecream that contains retinoids (which increase elastin) at night.


9. Make Collagen. As Much As Possible.
Without collagen your skin will have the same texture as an old leather boot. Not so glam.
The way to make more collagen is using retinoids. They also stimulate cellular renewal.
Win / win.
You can buy over the counter retinoids, or get stronger prescription strength.
Use retinol products at night only, as they will create a sensitivity to sunlight

10. Get The Elastic Back!
Elasticity in the skin is what makes it spring back when you press it.. We stop making elastin around the same time we hit puberty, and until recently no one knew how to trick the skin into making more. Collagen is much easier to stimulate than elastin. Retinoids help, scientists also believe that dill extract may help.
Your best bet is to valiantly protect your stores of elastin by doing steps 1 thru 9 above. Especially paying attention to 1 and 6!

source info for this post was liberally lifted from Allure

Four Fabulous Moments in Fuchsia

This season is all about bright, electric color, my personal favorite of which is fuchsia.

I cannot get enough of it.

Its bright, its bold, and its super feminine and flattering.

I love it.

 I decided to find you some non-makeup fuchsia items to add to your spring 2011 love list

Last year Karl Lagerfeld designed a limited edition aluminum Coca Cola Light bottle. (who knew?) Now this year he is at it again with three new bottles, in a color scheme of black, white, and my favorite color of the season, fuchsia.

image courtesy of La Chanelphile

The bottles are again a limited edition, and as far as I know come out in June, but who knows where.
Maybe just Europe?

image source La Chanelphile

The accompanying ad campaign features Coco Rochas, Heidi Mount and Jeneil Williams, and was photographed by Lagerfeld.

For more cool items on all things Chanel, check out La Chanelphile



Keeping up with the fuchsia excitement, the divine Monsieur Louboutin is showing these fabulous glittered fuchsia pumps.

The Declic Glitter Pump has a 5 1/2 inch self covered heel, and a concealed 1/2 inch platform (so its really only a 5 inch heel...), leather lining, and of course, his trade mark red sole.




Jason Wu ( one of my fave designers) "Lauren" clutch in fuchsia.

This is a traditional style clutch, quite small and dainty, perfect for a lunch date, divine with a silk dress for the evening, lust worthy in fuchsia python.





Last but by no means least, I'm loving wide leg pants for spring/summer. I love the way they sashay your sweet stuff as you glide across the room! And why not in fuchsia?

Marc Jacobs wide leg pants in fuchsia. You need the hat too!

How To Calm Sensitive Skin

Very few people have truly sensitive skin - the kind that frequently itches, goes red and mildly burns, but many people suffer from occasional irritation, or build up an increased sensitivity over time caused by an overload of ingredients that compromise the skin's barrier.

In order to treat ingredient sensitivity, you first have to figure out which ingredients you are actually sensitive to.

Start by temporarily abandoning anti aging and acne products with high concentrations of alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid), retinol, vitamin C or benzoyl peroxide. You may be having a reaction to that specific ingredient, or it may just be that the concentration of it in the product you are using is too intense for your skin type.
Removing these products from your daily skin care regimen, and then slowly adding them back in once your skin has completely cleared up should give you an indication of what it is that you are reacting to.

Another key area that is the frequent culprit when it comes to irritated skin is the choice of cleanser.
Don't ever use regular bar soap on your face, especially if you are experiencing irritation or sensitivity.
Change out your current cleanser for a mild cleanser with dimethicone or glycerin that is labeled "fragrance free". Products marked "unscented" frequently have a masking fragrance in them, and fragrances are frequently the cause of the irritation.

Re-analyze your skin type, or have a professional do it for you. Often you'll find that your skin care needs have changed, or that you are using the wrong product for your skin type. Most commonly women will have a shiny nose, or have a small area that is prone to blackheads or mini breakouts, and they will assume they have oily skin and start using a cleanser that is too severe for them, and starts stripping their skin, thus making it irritable and sensitive.




Stop using exfoliants for a while, especially abrasive scrubs. These can really irritate the skin, and keep it feeling sensitive. 

Be super gentle with your complexion! Dont use hot water - use tepid/luke warm water when washing your face.
Don't scrub with a rough washcloth, instead rinse with water.

Look at the makeup products you are using. Have they past their best by date?  Sometimes it can be the foundation or the powder you are using that is setting your skin off.
Are you keeping your makeup brushes and sponges clean? Using dirty tools, or storing your makeup products in an unclean area can also lead to skin issues.

image courtesy of blogs.smarter.com

Are you using a daily moisturizer? Skin needs hydration and protection every day. Use a moisturizer that is fragrance free, has a broad spectrum SPF 30 and is designed for sensitive skin.
If you are prone to redness use one that contains fever few, bisabolol (derived from chamomile) or licochalcone (derived from licorice) to calm skin.
If your moisturizer doesn't contain a good sunscreen, apply a facial sunscreen that has zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (less likely to irritate skin) over your moisturizer.

image courtesy of skincareihub.com

At night time apply a moisturizer to clean skin. Look for a lotion with ceramides, which help repair the skin's barrier.
If you are fighting breakouts apply a topical solution that contains no more than 2% salicylic acid to the affected area only.
 

MAC Prep + Prime and Quite Cute

Here are some new releases from makeup power house MAC.

M∙A∙C owns the primers category. Now they’re taking Prep + Prime further than ever. Use it under, over, during, after makeup application, and marvel at the ease with which it can accept concealer, cooperate with color.

And now, with NEW PREP + PRIME VIBRANCY EYE, P + P advances eyes, focuses potential. A lightweight, quick fix AND long-term solution for puffy, tired-looking creases and bags that targets the three main causes for dark under eye circles – pigmentation, visibly weakened capillaries and shadowing – while illuminating the eye area with optical effects for instant luminosity. Vibrancy Eye provides pick-me-up power and hydration. One step and you’re prepped for makeup magic. A wonderful NEW shaded highlighter debuts with this collection – PREP + PRIME HIGHLIGHTER is lush and cushioney, yet lightweight – in wonderful hues that provide a sheer wash of color to highlight, brighten and perfect. The click “pen” allows for exact application.

MAC Quite Cute. Available April 7, 2011 through May 2011.

I bet  this shoot was crazy fun!

QUITE CUTE via MAC Cosmetics:
“CUTE!” The most fanciful, fun and flattering compliment a young, modern trendsetter could ever want! Their version is the girliest kind of international glam possible, a style ride that combines postage-stamp-sized puppies with pixie swizzle-stick fashion and butterfly kisses for cute boys and even cuter shoes!

Cupcake icing colors, vintage romance, an ATM card with Hello Kitty on it – and a way of life that says “yes!” to everything adorable! Come on, get happy, with the multi-culti cutie, from Tokyo to Toronto to Paris with love! Pastel shades for Eye Quads, Lipstick, Plushglass and Nail Lacquer…And, due to popular demand, we’re completely cute-ifying three favorite Lip Pencil shades from last season that will join the fun and frolic. Flash! You’ll ♥ the Mineralize Blush with the sweet heart baked right into it. If it shines, shimmers and pops it’s completely, contagiously, cute!

Selah Marley Teen Vogue

You could say that Selah Marley was destined for something special.
Daughter of Lauren Hill and granddaughter of Bob Marley (father is Marley's son Rohan), Selah is finding her way to the spotlight, at only 12 years old.

A straight A student who plays violin, piano, basketball and does gymnastics and ballet, Selah is now adding modeling to her youthful resume, with her Teen Vogue debut.

 Read her Teen Vogue interview and story here

Remember the gorgeousness that was Lauren Hill?

 No wonder Selah has modeling in her future - look at her mother!

Her Album The Miseducation Of Lauren Hill is still one of my all time favorites

Kiera Knightley 2011 Coco Chanel Mademoiselle Campaign.

This week Chanel released its new Coco Chanel Mademoiselle fragrance campaign starring Keira Knightley.

The iconic images were photographed by Mario Testino.

The campaign features a highly anticipated mini movie shot by Joe Wright, who directed Knightley both in Pride and Prejudice and in Atonement.



In the movie, Knightley reprises her role as Coco Chanel, this time dressed in a beige motorcycle suit designed by Karl Lagerfeld, and takes us through the streets of Paris from the Place Vendome to the Place de la Concorde.



The soundtrack to the mini movie is James Brown's "Its A Man's Man's World" soulfully performed by Joss Stone

Here's a little behind the scenes video



For more images and videos check out The Chanelphile HERE

Selena Gomez in Emilio Pucci

How gorgeous does Selena Gomez look here???

This was actually from last week before her appearance on Late Night With David Letterman. Wearing a leather and lace Emilio Pucci mini, Gomez looks elegant, chic and very self assured.
While other starlets are perpetually flashing what they've got, pushing the teen boundaries of raunch and risque, Selena always seems to look pulled together and camera ready.
Do you just love her makeup??

She also looks gorgeous here with the ever brilliant Ellen DeGeneres, who calls her out on the whole Justin Bieber thing...
Love you Ellen!!