What to get the guy or gal who has everything....

A Beauty Nook Gift Certificate of course....


Treat a Special Person, and I'll Treat You! With any gift certificate purchase of $50 or more, receive an Eye Package (eyebrow shape/tint & lash tint) on the house! ($45 value) 

How to Make a Pumpkin Facial Mask

How to Make a Pumpkin Facial Mask

 

Pumpkin is loaded with good things for the skin and you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy its benefits. Using canned pumpkin puree works beautifully in facial mask recipes as does a pumpkin fresh from the patch. Either way, pumpkin has lots of Vitamin A and enzymes to help nourish and brighten the complexion.

What you'll need:

1/2 cup Pumpkin Pulp or Puree
1 whipped egg white
1 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp ground oatmeal
 

1  Cook enough fresh pumpkin, without skin and seeds, to make 1/2 cup of pulp. Alternatively use canned pumpkin puree. 

 

2  Cool and mash with a fork. Mix with 1 whipped egg white, blending well to incorporate egg and remove most of the lumps.

 

3  Add 1 tbsp. honey, 2 tbsp. plain yogurt and 2 tbsp. ground oatmeal. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to grind the oats.

 

4  Mix all ingredients well into a thick consistency.

 

5  Cleanse face and neck and pat the facial paste onto the skin, excluding the eye area. After 10 minutes, remove with a warm wash cloth and rinse skin with cool water.

Enjoy! 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The Beauty Nook will be closed November 23-27, please be sure to book your appointments early! 

The Miracle of Retinol Explained

How does retinol work? 

Looking for an anti-wrinkle, anti-acne, collagen & elastin boosting miracle product? Sound too good to be true? Retinol is the answer! 

Retinol is a topical gel or cream made up of Vitamin A and has the unique abilities to both act as an antioxidant and to get deep into the skin. When applied topically, it causes the production of new collagen in both naturally aged skin and skin damaged by ultraviolet radiation. 

It also improves the outer layer!  Retinol binds well with skin cell receptor sites which allows the retinol to encourage greater cell growth, as well as the removal of old skin cells. This leaves your skin looking and feeling smoother, with a healthy glow.

If you take your anti aging wrinkle strategy very seriously then the best bet is to go for a prescription strength retinol rather than risking an over the counter product.

My favorite is Atralin. I've been using it for 2 years, and have seen the best results! Less photo damage, prevention of blackheads/acne, prevention of wrinkles and dryness. Love it! 
http://www.atralingel.com/

For a more in depth article regarding retinols check out: http://dermatology.about.com/cs/topicals/a/tretinoin.htm

Hard, Little White Bumps on your face? What are they?

Wondering what those hard stubborn bumps are on your face? Disease? Whitehead? Why are they so hard to get rid of?

Milia explained! 

A Milium (milia- plural) is a keratin-filled cyst, dead skin cells combined with oil that form a plug in the pore. They are benign but super annoying! Newborn babies mostly get them, but appear on people of all ages. Milk spot and oil seed are the common names for these little buggers, and they have to be removed by a dermatologist or esthetician. The removal process includes using a lancet to create a very small incision in the side of the milium and then push out the plug with an extractor tool. 

I've found that making sure you are exfoliating your skin on a regular basis will keep these Milia at bay. Since they are caused from dry skin, use your exfoliant (scrub, fruit acid or retinol) regularly(2-3x Week).

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Photo Credit: http://www.skinsight.com/

Basic Skincare 101

Hello All, 


Looking to switch up your facial skincare routine? Here are my suggestions for a great, basic system! 

AM


Cleanse -- Cetaphil or Cerave Cleanser 
Serum -- Skinceuticals Vit C or Fruit Acid Gel 15% 
Sunscreen -- Mario Badescu SPF 30 or Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30


PM


Makeup Remover -- DHC Oil Cleanser or Laura Mercier Oil Cleanser
Cleanse -- Cetaphil or Cerave Cleanser 
Retinol -- Atralin (prescription only) or Skinceuticals Retinol .5%


Feel free to email me with specific questions about your skincare routine! 


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September Newsletter!

Check it out here!


The Beauty Nook September Newsletter

Ask The Expert - Dark Under Eye Circles?

How does one get rid of those pesky dark under eye circles? 

Dark circles under our eyes can make us look tired, skeletal, unhealthy, and haggard. They don't have to be a bother. There are procedures & cosmetics to treat them or lessen the problem. Let's go over the causes and treatment options!

Dark Circle Causes & Treatments

• Lack of sleep or too much sleep: You can usually tell which one is your problem. Either increase or decrease your sleep time as needed. Yes, you may already be stressed out and have no time, but if you are regularly not getting enough sleep (or too much), under eye circles will be the least of your problems.

• Iron or other vitamin deficiencies: See your general practitioner for a check-up or consider taking a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement. Individuals with anemia may notice dark shadows under their eyes, but not all anemia is due to not getting enough iron. You may need to get a check-up.

• Smoking: Quit smoking.

• Sickness: Usually, under eye circles and shadows will subside after you get well. Be sure to get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet. If your illness caused you to lose some weight, gaining it back may help alleviate the circles.

• Hyperpigmentation: Dark circles under the eyes are often seen in people with darker skin. The skin under the eyes is healthy, but is a darker shade than the rest of the face. Topical hydroquinone or Kojic Acid is a good option as it can lighten the skin, if that is the problem. Hyperpigmentation can also be alleviated by using various laser treatments or intense pulsed light. Chemical peels may help as well.

• Excessive superficial vascularization under the eye: This can be caused by some medications such as Retin A. When this is the case, superficial vessels can be removed or zapped using various laser treatments or intense pulsed light. This must be done carefully, since you do not want to destroy all the vessels in the eye area.

• Visible blood vessels: This can be due to fat loss or thin or older skin. The facial fat loss we experience with aging can significantly reveal the blood vessels around the eye and give the eye a darker look. Fat grafting works very well for this type of under eye circle.

• Fat loss in general: Fat loss around the eye can cause a sunken or hollow look. The facial fat loss we experience due to aging can make your eyes look sunken and shadowed and also show the highly vascular area of the eye. This can also be remedied with fat grafting or with some injectable fillers.

Concealers and Other Cosmetics

It may end up that the best treatment, and even the only treatment, for circles under your eyes is makeup. Concealers come in liquid, stick, and pancake type creams and can be applied and reapplied throughout the day. Some concealing products use a two-step process that calls for applying a setting powder over the product to help to keep the concealer on all day.

My personal favorites are: Cover Girl Fresh Concealer, & Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen.