SheFinds.com
If your eyes are sensitive, or easily irritated by eye shadows, and other eye makeup you may have an allergy to talc or mica.  In order to prevent unsightly redness and painful reactions try talk/mica-free cosmetics, or BY142’s Skin Fortifier (just $35) which is like an “Invisible glove for the body”.  Made with dermaseal, a semi-permeable membrane that allows the skin to breath without allowing it to inhale the gross bacteria and pollutants we encounter throughout the day think: public bathrooms, trains, and taxis.  Here is a fabulous find from SheFinds.

“What: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Eye Shadow

Why: As anyone who wear contact lenses or has sensitive eyes can tell you… eye shadow can look great and feel awful. But Physicians Formula has a talc-free, oil-free, mineral-based line that is perfect for everyone. The sheer, blendable shades go on with a smooth, natural finish that is weightless and crease-resistant. My favorite is the quad, which comes in color-coordinated matte and pearlized shades. The mauve quad did wonders for my baby blues!”

WWD.com
With the summer heat it’s no wonder that cooling and freezing products are all the rage.  This article from Women’s Wear Daily outlines the cosmetic freeze trend, and points out that by cooling the products temperature by 36 degrees it shrinks the molecules which then enables them to penetrate deeper into the skin.  I have used the Laura Mercier Hydrating Gel Mask, and I kept it in the fridge.  On those puffy mornings it is an amazingly relaxing and effective remedy.

"Freezing and cooling skin care creams, gels, masks and mists are a decidedly hot trend in the beauty world, thanks to their numerous benefits to the skin.  While self-heating masks are the perfect remedy for unclogging pores in acne-prone complexions, icicle-inducing items help keep puffiness, redness and sensitivity at bay—not to mention the added bonus of a cool burst, a definite pick-meup in soupy summer heat.  According to New York dermatologist Karyn Grossman, temperature does affect the skin. ‘Warm temperatures dilate blood vessels and cause increased blood flow,’ she says, ‘while cool temperatures constrict blood vessels and help to decrease pain, itch and inflammation.’

Cooling products are particularly effective when used on the eye area because they help to bring down puffiness and under-eye circles.  And while many products on the market use natural coolers like menthol, cucumber and eucalyptus to refresh and revive tired, dull skin, some brands take the freezing concept literally…Play & Rewind, a two-part, single-dose system aimed at the hard-partying set, is said to feature an even more potent version of its patented instant freezing technology that can be deployed with just one click.  Play is designed to be applied before a night out to luminize and soften skin, while Rewind is for the not-so-great morning after, when skin is dehydrated and in need of detox."  Read More

BeautyBentoBox.com
I came across this article about a skin care technique called double cleansing.  Most of us probably assume simply lathering our faces with cleanser and rinsing it with water leaves it clean enough to promote a clear, and healthy complexion.  Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, and like everything else it takes consistency and care to have beautiful skin.  In this article, Sasha explains double cleansing and stresses it’s importance, she hopes it will become your ritual beauty process.

 
"If there’s one thing that I’m particular about, it’s washing my face.  That’s probably why I’m always on the look out for the best facial wash, makeup remover, or skin toner.  I like cleaning my face.  I often make it a point to wash my face when I get up in the morning (or night, as the case may be) and yes, I try to wash it within the day if I feel icky.

I’ve heard it said before that you shouldn’t wash your face more than twice a day, reason being is that it will dry up your skin. I’m not quite sure if there’s any truth in that but I was a bit alarmed by it. However, I reckon moderation is key. Now, I only wash my face before going to bed, when taking a bath, after waking up or when I’ve perspired or need to remove my makeup. All reasons seems valid to me, don’t you agree?

Double Cleansing is approached in two stages: for STAGE 1, eliminate excess sebum and the make-up and for STAGE 2, eliminate the impurities. Which mainly tells you that there are a set of products that should be used for stage one and another for stage two."  Read More

DailyBeauty.com
Germany’s top department store beauty brand, ARTDECO, is now available in 55 other countries, including the U.S. It’s quickly making a profound impression on new users, thanks to spotlighted ingredients like silk, pearl, and in the case of one of our favorite products in the line, caviar.

Caviar Lifting Treatment’s formula provides the valuable nutrients of its title ingredient; but that’s not the only super-element in this rich, pink cream.  Acetyl hexapeptide-3, known commercially as Argireline, relaxes facial tension, while hyaluronic acid conserves moisture. Together, these three powerhouse components—currently not combined in any other product on the market—lead to noticeably smoother skin.

MakeupMinute.com

I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive the full set of billy b’s Paint Brushes in the mail yesterday—sooooo excited! Not just because they came from the grand master of all things beauty, but because I am a big pathetic loser when it comes to makeup brushes and I have never splurged on really good ones.  Why? Honestly, I thought all makeup brushes were the same. Obviously (since yesterday) I have realized how absolutely wrong I was.

For makeup brushes I had only been using a blush brush, foundation brush, one eyeshadow brush and another to put on mineral powder as eyeliner. It’s sad but true…I’ve had the same brushes for years and years and they probably cost me less than $10 (ie. cheap and cheesy).

Let me first say that I gently laid them all out on my bathroom countertop.  My 5 year old was watching me and asked, and I’m not kidding, “Mommy? Are those paint brushes?” I then realized how aptly named these brushes were.  Read More of Shannon’s Review

MedicineNet.com
MONDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) — A combination of two abnormal factors cause the common inflammatory skin condition rosacea, a new U.S. study says.

Rosacea, a chronic condition that causes facial redness, affects about 14 million Americans.  Triggers — such as heat, alcohol, spicy foods and embarrassment — that can worsen the condition are well known.  But this is the first study to identify the actual cause of rosacea, the researchers said.  The researchers concluded that overproduction of two interactive inflammatory proteins leads to excessive levels of a third protein that causes rosacea symptoms.

"Too much SCTE (stratum corneum tryptic enzymes) and too much cathelicidin leads to the abnormal peptides that cause the symptoms of this disease," team leader Dr. Richard L. Gallo, professor of medicine and chief of the division of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

"Antibiotics tend to alleviate the symptoms of rosacea in patients, because some of them work to inhibit these enzymes.  Our findings may modify the therapeutic approach to treating rosacea, since bacteria aren’t the right target," said Gallo.  The study results were published in the Aug. 5 online edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

— Robert Preidt

DailyBeauty.com
At the end of July, the much-anticipated filler Elevess, from Anika Therapeutics, received FDA approval for commercial sale.  Like other hyaluronic-acid injectables, it is expected to be used by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons for improving the appearance wrinkles and scars.  However, Elevess does have two distinct differences.  First, Elevess has the highest concentration of cross-linked hyaluronic acid of any commercially available dermal filler.  Because of this, experts expect longer-lasting results.  Second, Elevess has lidocaine, a local anesthetic, right in its formula—it’s the first and only available aesthetic filler to do so. Anika says this will vastly improve patient comfort. and satisfaction.  Do these differences make Elevess a more appealing option for you? Let us know your thoughts and plans by leaving a comment below.

DailyBeauty.com
Recently, a lot of attention has been given to the idea of green wavelengths of light for use in treating mild to severe acne.  A recent report in the Cosmetic Dermatology journal examines the use of phytodynamic therapy (PDT) using a 532 nm (nanometer) green light laser, which involves the application of a light-sensitive agent prior to treatment. (Green light has already been proven effective for treating spider veins and pigmented lesions.)  While questions remain about the optimal light source, PDT agent, number of treatments and other factors, green light is poised to present a viable acne treatment option. Initial findings show that green light has a positive effect with regulating bacterial and sebaceous gland activity, both of which lead to acne.  However, more studies are necessary to set the specific treatment guidelines.