Do You Know What Will Personally "TURN ME OFF" Faster Than a New York Minute?!...

Ok, but before you shoot the messenger, step back with me so I can explain why I will push this particular Dr. Lucy masque forever.

Look I get it 1000%! Adding Yet ANOTHER product to my ALREADY skin care regime... are you kidding me?!

Sorry, but NOW is the time to remove the summer's dry, dead skin cells. Plus, keep your skin nourished, hydrated and calm throughout the fall and winter months. Actually through every changing season for that matter. By the way, extra cold, wet and snowy is in the forecast across the U.S. this winter!:)

I have learned the hard way, not all skin care masques are created equal.

I have burned, dried out and rashed-up my skin just by trying out the new Holy Grail of skin care masques. They all promise to work wonders but in reality some are nothing more than toxic ingredients in a pretty container that disrupts the skins mantle.

A proper hydrating skin care masque is always highly underrated. What do I mean by this?

In a nutshell?! IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR SKIN! We think if it doesn't burn, dry, peel or just plain hurt it's not working. Actually it's the complete opposite! Skin is live tissue that needs to be kept in its proper little "ecosystem". When we constantly hurt our skin it could show right away or possibly permanently!

If you have followed Dr. Lucy from day one, then you know all I have ever talked about are top of the line, fresh, natural, potent enough ingredients and properly formulated products. With this said, each and everyone of the Dr. Lucy products have their own stand alone purpose and
this special nutrient dense masque plumps, calms, boosts collagen production, diminishes fine lines, wrinkles and promotes a denser more youthful, hydrated, glowing skin... again!

Repeat! Major Masque Benefits!

The Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque will prep your skin, taking your skin care products to a whole new level, giving it a more beautiful, youthful look.

The Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Mask helps to naturally and gently exfoliate, brighten, revitalize, aid in cell renewal, stimulates collagen production, aids in skin density (thicker, younger, plump skin) softens, deeply nourishes, soothes, calms and refines your skin.

Did I mention a proper hydrating masque like the Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque will also help with sagging skin? Yes, that too! Boost That Collagen and Elastin!

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by incorporating this very special hydrating masque once, twice or three times a week into your skin care regime. Besides, who doesn't need a few minutes a week to stop, relax and reconnect with yourself.

P.S. The Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque is so nourishing and gentle you could use it everyday if you like!

So You Are Sleeping In Your Makeup?! Oh Mon Dieu!

Sorry if I'm being a bit blunt, it's all done with love and caring.

You don't need to be a licensed dermatologist to realize that sleeping in your makeup is not the best idea. It's not good for your skin or your sheets. You might think, "It's late, I'm tired, what's the harm of crashing without washing my face just this once?" Well, it causes more harm than you might think. Going to be bed without washing your face is bad news and can have a cumulative harmful effect.

Sleeping in makeup is murder on your skin, please read on to find out why!

"Going to bed with makeup on will leave you with clogged pores, since so many makeup [products] have ingredients like silicones that block the pores," says Debra Jalman, a New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From A Top New York Dermatologist. "When the pores are blocked, your skin gets bumpy. If you are acne-prone, it can even lead to breakouts." You are effectively damaging skin by neglecting to remove makeup at the end of the day.

"Foundations and thick, oil-based primers are often the worst offenders. They prevent the skin from renewing itself naturally at night, causing blackheads, acne and dullness." Says Dr. Erin Gilbert, an NYC-based dermatologist.

Here are just 17 (yes, there are more!) major problems that can occur when you sleep in your makeup, or decide to not wash your face before you go to bed, even if you are not wearing makeup! ...

You damage skin cells.
Pores get clogged.
Cell regeneration is interrupted.
Acne can happen...at any age.
Skin becomes dull.
Your skin dries out.
You can end up with an uneven skin tone.
Irritated eyes can occur.
Eyelashes can break off.
You can get eye styes.
Eyelid eczema is a real thing.
You can scratch your corneas.
You make a mess of your sheets.
You can get chapped lips.
You can speed up the aging process, aka wrinkle faster!
Whew and Yuck!

Moral of this story? Keep your skin youthful as you age by cleansing, toning and moisturize with fresh, natural skin care products like Dr. Lucy's Gentle Crème Cleanser, Balance and Refresh Toner, and Ultra Moisturizer. I promise you, when you take care of your skin you will have younger looking skin for the rest of your life!

With love and blessings,
Rebecca

"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you are inspired or not." -Octavia Butler

Is Sugar and Alcohol Aging Your Skin?!

Let's take this challenge together and see what your skin says!

First and foremost I need to say, "don't shoot the messenger!" In reality, I'm not a big sugar or wine drinker, but I enjoy sugar in a cookie, etc. or a glass of good wine just like the rest of you. BUT I have decided to eliminate all sugar and wine until Thanksgiving, because there is no way I am going to stay away from the pumpkin pie!

After Thanksgiving, I will take the same challenge for the month of December until Christmas! So if you want, let's do this together!

Why am I doing this?

To be quite honest with you, the winter months in the Pacific NW can really be hard on me mentally. You see I'm a California girl that transplanted to Oregon many years ago, but the "No Sun" thing can really affect my moods. When a little sun and blue sky peeks out for a minute I feel myself again.

Let's jump right in!

Did you know that sugar depletes your Vitamins A & B?!

Keeping my body away from sugar (which is also in wine), helps me feel happier and healthier!

"Eating a diet of vitamin B-rich foods, as well as taking daily supplements could improve mental health, may help improve mood, and reduce depression and anxiety in many individuals. Foods like fish, lean pork or beef, poultry, eggs, whole-grains, nuts, and milk are high in B vitamins." -Sage Clinic Neuroscience Center

Alcohol and sugar equals lower collagen levels...

Studies have shown that alcohol lowers the levels of vitamin A, B and Calcium in the body, which are essential nutrients responsible for cell turnover. Both Alcohol and sugar lower the skin’s collagen production. Less collagen means less elasticity and firmness and more sagginess and wrinkles. Yikes!

"Alcohol dehydrates your skin and depletes it of vital skin nutrients, such as vitamin A. Without vitamin A, you lose the anti-oxidant boost given to collagen production and skin cell turnover. Dehydration can also cause the skin to appear dull and make wrinkles appear more prominent." -ToplineMD Alliance

Inflammation caused by alcohol and sugar...

Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. So in a nutshell, sugar breaks down your collagen and proteins. You know, the substance that plumps, lifts and makes your skin look more youthful!

Alcohol and sugar can also make it harder to build muscle, can cause body aches and hinder muscle recovery just to name a few.

Dr. Harold Lancer, dermatologist to the stars says, “Sugar can weaken the immune system, and a suppressed immune system is bad at fighting off bacteria.”

Ok, so I'll give up alcohol and sugar! How long before I see positive changes in my skin?

Dr. Lancer says people see changes within 72 to 96 hours. They’ll feel better, their color will look better, their skin won’t be so oily and they won’t be so dry. Their circles will be reduced, and they will have an overall perkier appearance.

French Friday Product Spotlight!

Gentle Crème Cleanser

This luxurious facial crème cleanser is a hydrating and replenishing cleanser for sensitive, dry, normal, combination and aging skin types.

Your skin will reap the benefits of the overwhelming concentration of super anti-oxidants, with a crème texture which leaves your skin soft, smooth, clean and nourished.

Ingredients like Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Organic Olive Fruit Oil and Atlantic Sea Kelp are key benefactors for your skin.

Organic Aloe Leaf Juice contains antioxidant properties such as Vitamin A-beta-carotene, C, E, plus 20 minerals and beta carotene which work to promote healthy cell regeneration with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergen properties.

Organic Olive Fruit Oil with its gentle natural oil deep cleans impurities, makeup and unclogs pores.

Atlantic Sea Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum) that contains 14 Vitamins, 16 Amino Acids and Minerals, soothes irritation, boosts circulation, eliminates impurities and aids in cell renewal and repair.

Not to mention lavender, calendula, white tea and rooibos tea that have a soothing and healing effect on the skin.

All of these power players come together as a team to gently, but thoroughly, cleanse, soothe, balance, stimulate collagen production and start you on your way to beautiful skin!