The Biggest Cause of Ugliness...

If you have that niggling feeling you should be wearing a sunscreen, but aren't - read on.  Keep reading also if you're unsure your current sunscreen covers all the bases, because:

THE SUN IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF UGLINESS!

So you know the sun causes skin cancer, melanoma and sun burn.  And you probably apply sunscreen to prevent yourself from burning in the Summer.  But did you know the sun, not getting older, is also the biggest cause of ugliness?

Wrinkles, redness, sagging, loss of elasticity and firmess, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, and sun spots...these things we often attribute to ‘getting old’, but, in reality, it’s not age, but the SUN that is the biggest cause of these!

Even while you don't burn, the UVA rays of the sun, which penetrate deeper than the burning UVB rays, cause wrinkles, sun spots and permanent UVA damage - yes, even without a sunburn - and within the first minute of sun exposure.  You probably don’t bother slip-slop-slapping just to get your mail from your letterbox, or drive to the dairy, but these small ventures out into the sun accumulate in damage to your skin.  This everyday sun exposure, as opposed to spending long periods on the beach or outdoors, is called ‘incidental’ sun exposure and is cause enough to apply sunscreen daily, no matter where you work or live.

Paula Begoun, “The Cosmetics Cop” says, "If you are not using a sunscreen of some kind (lotion, cream, gel, serum) with SPF 15 or greater, that contains the UVA-protecting ingredients of avobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, Mexoryl SX, or, outside the United States, Tinosorb, then you are doing nothing of lasting value for the long-term health of your skin."

Did you get that?  Spending money on the latest-science moisturiser or splurging on beauty treatments is all for nothing if you are not using a great sunscreen.  Using a UVA/UVB (broad spectrum) sunscreen SPF 15+ will protect you from most of the damage caused by the sun and lessen the development of all the above skin challenges, plus deadly skin cancer, melanoma and sun burn.  Those of you who are budget-conscious will be pleased to know wearing a great sunscreen daily is your BEST form of skin care.

BUT GREAT SUNSCREENS ARE HARD TO FIND...

When asked by a customer what sunscreen I recommended, I was going to recommend both a Mary Kay brand sunscreen and the Neutrogena one I was currently using (Age Shield SPF 55), but first I checked the updated 'BEST SUNSCREENS' list on Beautypedia.  And I'm so glad I did.  

Beautypedia is an online review database of all the big name beauty brands.  The 'best sunscreens' lists are  here and here.  I found the Neutrogena one had been removed from the 'best' list, due to a sensitising preservative.  So I looked for another one I could recommend alongside the Mary Kay sunscreen (wanting to also offer an alternative brand) but I found all these best-rated sunscreens are either not on the NZ market, outrageously overpriced...or both!  
Feel free to do the research for yourself, but I can tell you very few of the sunscreens on these lists are accessible in NZ at a reasonable price.  You need one that's not so expensive you’re afraid to apply it liberally, as you need, for effective protection.  

The Clinique SPF 30 body cream is good at $41, but the Mary Kay Very High Protection Sunscreen SPF 30 is an even better deal at RRP $28.50.

Mary Kay Cosmetics (MK) is not available in stores or online, but only through MK consultants - of which I am one.  I invite you to piggyback on the orders I make for my business, so you, like me, can have access to this best-selling and highly rated brand.  Using my personal shopping service is easy.  Just email or call me with your order or to request a product recommendation.  Pay with credit card details (VISA or Mastercard) or internet banking online.  

Now, defending against the biggest cause of ugliness is easy peasy!  And I am always more than happy to make a product recommendation from within or without the Mary Kay range.  If MK does not have what you need - or a better or cheaper  option exists that I know of - I will tell you.

Read more about Mary Kay Cosmetics and my NZ-wide personal shopping service.

Foundation: Are You Clueless, Angelic or Converted?

When it comes to foundation,are you clueless, angelic or converted? Some people ask me, "Should I wear foundation?" or "What's foundation for?"

 There are 3 types of people when it comes to foundation. Which one are you?

 • The Clueless - who've never really tried foundation
 • The Angelic - who've got almost perfect skin are completely blemish-free
 • The Converted - who love and wear foundation

 The people who ask me this question are always Clueless or Angelic. If the people in the first category had worn foundation before, they wouldn’t be asking the question - they’d fully understand how essential foundation is.

 But those in the second group are right to be confused because they don't have a need for foundation, since foundation is used to cover blemishes and even out the skin tone.

 Which group are you in? Me? I'm definitely in that last category. I have been a total foundation convert for almost 20 years. I started wearing foundation when I was 10 not because I wanted to be beautiful, but because I had crappy skin. At 12 I started wearing it everyday to school. It wasn't until this year that I finally discovered how to clear up my skin and even now I still use foundation whenever I wear makeup.

Using concealer or foundations etc is not about vanity. Foundation is a basic tool anyone can use to conceal what they don't want themselves or others to see.

  Above: Most models are total foundation Converts. Supermodel Cindy Crawford once said, "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford."

 Some models have 'Angelic' skin, but all models will admit that foundation makes a positive difference. Why? Because: Apart from covering specific blemishes, spots, birthmarks or scars, foundation exists because most people‘s faces are more than one colour. For example, it is not unusual for a naturally beige-skinned woman to have flushed cheeks (red), dark circles under the eyes (blue or purple) and patches of hyperpigmentation on her forehead (darker brown). Take a look at your bare face in the mirror. What colours or shades do you see? Chances are, there are more than one.

  Above: Before. The inside cover of 'Makeup Makeovers' by makeup artist Robert Jones shows everyday women, his sisters and some professional models before he has applied professional makeup.

 A patchy or uneven skintone can undermine the effort you put into applying colour cosmetics because it clutters up what could be a clear ‘canvas’. For example, on a bare face, applying even the most gorgeous berry lipstick can be a mistake, as it will draw attention to other areas of redness you may have. And beautifully applied eye makeup can't attract attention to your eyes, if dark under-eye circles or blemishes are taking centre-stage. Beauty is about harmony, simplicity and balance. Foundation is the first step to achieving this in your makeup look.
  Above: After. The same women, after professional makeup (and hair, lighting etc).

 When you choose and apply your best foundation in the right way, you’ll appear healthier, younger and fresher. And it will be obvious to you why foundation is not to be missed.

 Are you benefitting from wearing your perfect foundation? What shade best suits your skin tone? What formula will last on you the day? Which format is the best fit for your lifestyle? It's not necessary to go trawling through the testers at your local department store. And there's no point to getting sucked in to buying the most expensive foundation by a salesgirl who's only trying to achieve her sales targets.

So how can discovering your perfect foundation match can be pain-free? And take minutes, instead of years? If you're in Tauranga and are yet to meet your perfect foundation match, come meet me in the mini-salon near Bayfair Mall for a no-charge foundation matching.  I'll test a few foundation from the Mary Kay Cosmetics range which I use in all my professional makeup work (Along with many other brands).  Mary Kay can only be accessed through their 'beauty consultants'. After a few quick questions, I'll introduce you to your best foundation options. You'll benefit from an experienced makeup artist's opinion that you can use to your advantage e v e r y d a y .