Are You Making a Big Mistake With Your Eye Serum?

Here is a quick and effective fix!

One day you wake up, glance in the mirror and notice your eye area looks a bit worse for wear. Or you might be also thinking to yourself that the fine lines or not so fine lines and sagging around your eyes seem to be taking up permanent residence and your not too happy about this.

So what do you do?

Let's first talk about the big eye serum mistake...

Remember the tissue around the eye area is the thinnest and most delicate on your face and needs extra care.

The big mistake?

Only applying eye serum under your eyes, and ignoring your eye lids and brow bone!

Most of the time, you’re applying eye serum to your under eye tissues like wrinkles or dark circles, right?

But the tissue under your brow bone and eye lids are just as thin and delicate, and can also get crepey, loose, and wrinkled.

The good news is there is help!

Tapping your serum around the whole eye area (with your ring finger) will hydrate, plump and nourish this delicate eye tissue, making it less susceptible and more resilient to environmental changes. Plus it will also help slow down or stop the drooping of this tissue!

*How to: Tap your eye serum under your eyes and above your eyes (full circle), all the way to the brow bone until absorbed.

Why does Dr. Lucy recommend a serum over cream?

Because of their ability to absorb quickly, penetrate deeply without leaving behind any residue.

Eye creams are moisturizers designed to help alleviate dryness and soften the tissue. With this said, eye creams are more emollient, which means they can be too heavy for the eye area. Eye creams can also weigh down this delicate tissue which can cause the tissue to sag and your makeup to run!

Such a simple routine with big, effective rewards!

With Love and Blessings!
Rebecca

Are You Making a Big Mistake When Applying Eye Cream?

I'm going to do a quick eye gel vs. eye cream based on my own personal studies which still in the long run is my opinion:). Then I'll let you decide which one you prefer, so let's dive in!

It's Been Said the Eyes Are the Window To the Soul.

Since the skin care market is saturated with every kind of eye cream or gel you can imagine, it's sometimes hard to know which kind to buy. You might even think that using your regular facial moisturizer on your eye area is sufficient. It hydrates your skin and it may even contain an anti-aging formula, so it should be enough for your eyes, too, right? Well, not exactly. Your facial moisturizer is meant for a different type of skin on your face. Facial moisturizers in general are way too thick and usually have too many different kinds of oils and humectants for this delicate eye area.

Eye Gel's vs. Eye Cream's...

Gel
Since the delicate eye area is one of the first spots to show signs of aging and stress, eye gel is a very important step in your skin care regime. It doesn't just help reduce puffiness and increase brightening, anti-aging, firming and tightening, but it can also moisturize and nourish your sensitive eye area to ensure your entire complexion is getting the best possible results.

A gel absorbs very quickly. But don’t be fooled into thinking this means they don’t hydrate the skin. In fact, they are a nutrient dense powerhouse for that sensitive eye skin. Gels can reverse prominent signs of aging and tiredness and can improve circulation in the area surrounding the eye.

Creams
Creams can definitely have the active ingredients your delicate eye area needs. BUT creams are heavier by nature and usually have extra added oils. These extra oils don't absorb into the delicate eye area like a gel would.

An eye cream can also weigh down the delicate under eye area, causing your skin to sag and makeup to slide and settle into any fine lines and wrinkles.

As you can see I personally prefer a gel over a cream for better absorption and deeper penetration of active ingredients. It's lighter weight consistency doesn't weigh down the undereye area, or cause your makeup to melt. Win, win and win!

P.S. When You Apply the Eye Gel or Cream...

Make sure you use gentle taps to avoid tugging on the skin. This goes for the entire area above and below the eye. And use your ring or pinkie finger to apply your eye product — they tend to be the weakest fingers, so they won’t pull on your skin as much.

To Your Beautiful Skin!
Rebecca

Help! My Eyes and Face Are Puffy in the Morning!

I wanted to share some great advice from Dr. Janet Zand, N.D. on Lymphatic drainage for the face!

You know how some mornings you wake up, look in the mirror, and whoa! Your face is so puffy!

Sometimes, you know what caused it. Maybe you ate too much salt the day before. Or you drank too much caffeine or alcohol, which are dehydrating. (Facial puffiness is essentially caused by water retention.)

Other times, the cause isn’t so clear. That’s because puffiness can also be caused by things like hormonal changes, stress, a lack of sleep, allergies, and even the weather!

But whatever the cause, there’s good news: There’s an easy way to quickly de-puff your face in the morning, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Here’s how to do it...

Enjoy a face massage
Start with a quick massage that stimulates lymphatic drainage. Stimulating lymphatic drainage will get all the excess fluid to move toward the lymph nodes, where it can be carried away.

To do this, use a face roller that you keep stored in the fridge. (Cold temps constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling). As for what kind of face roller to use, you don’t need to spend a lot of money unless you just really want to.

Okay, so here’s what to do...

Start with clean skin. Give your face a splash with cold water -- ice-cold water is even better!

Then, apply your moisturizer and eye cream. Ideally you want to use an eye cream with active ingredients for reducing puffiness.

Next, get your roller (or spoon). You’re going to do one side of your face at a time.

• Start at the center of your chin, rolling out and up toward your ear. Do three strokes with light pressure.

• Now move the roller up to the side of your mouth and repeat, rolling out toward your ear three times again.

• Then start at the side of your nose and repeat the same motion.

• Roll it under your eye, moving it horizontally toward your temple, and repeat it on your eyelid.

• Move to your forehead, rolling it from your brow to your hairline.

• Now roll it horizontally out toward your temple.

Then you’ll repeat this massage on the other side of your face.

If you have more time and need more de-puffing, you can always add more cold therapy.

How? With an inexpensive gel-pack face mask. These masks are made specifically for the face, with openings for your eyes, nose, and mouth. (They’re also great for relieving sinus pain!) Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes, then put it on your face for 10-15 minutes.

Finally, make it your goal for the day to drink lots of water ... and to avoid salt, alcohol, and caffeine. That way, you’ll address the root cause of puffiness. And you’ll wake up to much better skin the next morning.

So try these tips out, and let me know how it goes!

To You and Your Beautiful Skin!
Rebecca

P.S. The green and white tea in the Dr. Lucy 2-in-1 Hydrating Serum is awesome for depuffing and brightening the skin!

Are Your Electronic Devices Giving You "Toasted Skin Syndrome?!"

This weeks French Friday is all about protecting your skin from "Toasted Skin Syndrome" while using your electronic devices.

Plus! Don't Miss!** The Ultra Moisturizer and Cult Favorite 2-in-1 Hydrating Serum Duo! Nourish and nurture your skin while adding a layer of protection against the harmful environmental elements.

"Toasted Skin Syndrome" What It Is and How You Can Avoid It!...

No matter how I try to keep computer work to a minimum I am still on these devices way too much! Here is an article by Dr. Janet Zand, Oriental Medicine on how we are damaging our skin by using our electronics whether it's the computer, phone, iPad, etc.!

Do You Use Any of the Following Devices?

Laptop, phone, computer space heater, heating pad, electric blanket, etc.?

If so, you might unknowingly be doing damage to your skin.** That includes damage to your blood vessels ... and possibly even the collagen and elastin in your skin. **(And as you probably know, collagen and elastin are what keep your skin from sagging.)

So What is Causing This Damage?

It’s a condition called Erythema Ab Igne, or Toasted Skin Syndrome. And it’s becoming more and more common.

Here’s What You Need to Know to Protect Your Skin...

Signs of Toasted Skin Syndrome!

Toasted Skin Syndrome is caused by heat, although it is not a burn.** Instead, it’s caused by a low level of heat, between 109.4 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the most common devices that give off that kind of heat are space heaters, heated blankets, heating pads, and laptops.

And the damage is so gradual, you don’t even notice it at first.** Then one day, you see an itchy, reddish-brown rash on your skin. Unfortunately, by that time the damage is done. Your skin has been “toasted,” damaging blood vessels, collagen, and elastin in the skin.

In the most serious cases, Toasted Skin Syndrome can even lead to certain types of skin cancer.

What To Do About It...

Luckily, the solution is very simple. Just be mindful about how you use devices that give off heat.

For instance, don’t crank up a heating pad or blanket to the highest setting, or use them for prolonged periods of time. And don’t get too close to space heaters. As great as it might feel to stand over a heater in the winter, that warm air will damage your skin.

Don’t Put Your Laptop On Your Lap...

If you’ve ever worked with your laptop directly on your lap, you probably already know how quickly it can heat up your skin.

In fact, a report published by the National Institutes of Health found that laptops are a big cause of Toasted Skin Syndrome, affecting skin on the legs, thighs, and even on the stomach.

Now, if you really like using your laptop on your lap, another option is a lap desk. A lap desk rests on your lap, and your laptop sits on top of it. (Lap desks are better for your laptop, too, since they give your laptop better ventilation!)

Finally, If You Ever End Up With a Rash From Toasted Skin Syndrome...

You can try treating it with over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% cream. Or, for a more natural solution, try aloe vera gel.

If there’s no improvement in a couple of days, see a dermatologist. They can provide other treatments or medications to help heal your skin.

So ... be careful with those heating devices. And here’s to warmer weather ahead, when we won’t need space heaters or heating blankets anymore!

P.S. Don't Forget to wear "Blue Light Blocking Glasses" whenever you are working on the computer, iPad or phone for that matter!

With Love and Blessings,

Rebecca

"Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical."

-Sophia Loren