"Resveratrol" the powerful antioxidant

This past year, in every fashion magazine and on every at-home shopping channel, I saw a host of new anti-aging skincare products based on what everyone has been calling the "new, breakthrough" antioxidant ingredient Resveratrol. Resveratrol is a great skincare ingredient, but it’s hardly new. In fact, I've been using Resveratrol for over 12 years in my skincare and in the treatment room. The Resveratrol based Comfort Cream I apply after peels and microderm treatments was so loved by everyone, I began to sell it in early 2009, quickly became one of my best selling and most loved skincare products, with a very devout fan-base.

Without feeling greasy or heavy Comfort Cream provides substantial moisture from shea butter and jojoba oil while protecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier with Ceramides. In addition to Resveratrol, additional anti-oxidants are on hand including Vitamin C, Giant Knotweed and Turmeric. Comfort Cream smells absolutely divine with a light, all-natural fragrance from peach wine and vanilla extracts. It’s great for all skin types, particularly dry, dehydrated or skin that has recently had a peel or microdermabrasion.

So what exactly does Resveratrol do? Resveratrol is present in grapes (and red wine) and is not only a potent antioxidant, but it pulls double duty as a great anti-inflammatory agent. Antioxidants defend us against free radical damage. Free radicals attack our skin and break down skin’s support structure. Want a truly "firming" moisturizer? Then you want a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants to protect you from exposure to free radicals that can cause skin damage over time like loss of elasticity. New anti-aging studies also tell us that reducing inflammation on the skin is also a critical step to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Inflammation isn’t just about the redness or irritation you can see. Inflammation can also occur but it can be microscopic and not visible to the naked eye. Anti-inflammatory ingredients are a great addition to your skincare routine.

Keep in mind you must always pair your antioxidants with the daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Antioxidants will enhance the effects of your sunscreen, but they absolutely do not replace your need to wear sunscreen every single day.

As a special thank you to all of my loyal clients who have made the Comfort Cream such a huge hit, I am now offering Comfort Cream in a new luxury size, but at an amazing value. $140 for 8.1oz, regularly $240. This is a limited time offer and if you are interested I would act now. I'm having trouble keeping this one in stock ladies!

For more information, call Kathy at Scosh, 480.970.5454 or email info@scoshskincare.com

Makeup Tips for Holiday Pictures

It's that most wonderful time of year for pictures so, I thought some Holiday application tips would be fun. This will be more of a what 'to do' and 'not do' to keep your pictures pretty.

Holiday or event makeup is all about enhancing and defining... NOT decorating.

The type of foundation you wear is very important for pictures. I love loose mineral powder foundation for everyday wear, but it's not your best choice for pictures. Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mica all have shiny properties to them and will 'blow out' on camera. You know that look... your face is white while the rest of your body looks natural. So, choose a liquid mineral or pressed mineral foundation with a bit more matte finish.

DO: if you're using liquid foundation, apply it before concealer - so you don't wipe the concealer away.

DO: if you're using a pressed powder foundation, apply it after concealer - as the powder sets the concealer.

DON'T: make raccoon eyes with your concealer, it will show on camera, apply only where needed.

DO: add a healthy glow to the cheeks with a light shimmer blush. Apply to the apples or pillows of the cheeks.

DO: your brows. This is a big tip for enhancing your face for pictures.

DO: wear shadow with shimmer, it is the holidays after all, but on the lid ONLY.

DON'T: put a shimer or frost under your brow on the brow bone area as this will also 'blow out' on camera and make your brows look large while making your eyes look small.

DO: wear lashes. Save money here and buy them at your local drug store. The most important part of the lash application is the glue - DUO glue only. It used to be called surgical glue, it's basically latex. Get Dark, it comes out of the tube grey but darkens as it dries. And don't forget to let it get a bit 'tacky' before you apply to the lid, so your lashes won't slide all over.

DO: wear lipstick. I love lipstick in pictures, just don't go too dark or you'll be all mouth in your shots.

DON'T: wear too much gloss. Use a bit of restraint, too much gloss will make you look like you're drooling!

TIP: if you're going to do the smokey eye or use some glitter/shimmer shadow, I always advise you to do your eyes first, face last. See my Sultry Eyes blog for that particular look.

TIP: and last but not least, don't forget to exfoliate your skin. Your makeup will only look as good as the canvas!

DO: HAVE FUN!

Sultry Eyes - an easy do-it-yourself guide to the Smokey Eye look

The smokey eye look doesn’t mean just grays and blacks any longer. It’s all about shimmery color this season, so jump into some of those sparkly golds and bronzes or juicy jewel tones.

Basic Smokey Eye

You already know this but it is SO true, your make up will only look as good as your skin. So before any makeup application, make sure that your face is clean, exfoliated, and moisturized. Allow moisturizer to absorb.

Normally, I would start my makeup app with foundation, concealer, powder, etc. first BUT, since there is the possibility of some fall out with this application (shadow falling onto your face) do eyes first:

1. Start by prepping your lid with a dusting of Oil Blotting Powder, eye lash to eye brow. This creates a nice velvety canvas which makes your shadows glide on all nice nice.

2. Don’t forget to fill in your brows next. I prefer to use shadow a shade or two lighter than your brow color. This really finishes off the total look.

3. Line the upper and lower lids with a dark liner shade; it can match the darkest shadow color you’re going to use, or try dark brown or black. Not a fan of liquid liner here - too harsh, pencil’s best, which we will 'set" with shadow.

4. Starting on the upper lid getting as close to the lash line as you can, apply your darkest shade shadow over the pencil line (to set it) and blend up to the eye socket. Don’t go north of the socket or outside your eyeball, as you'll start getting that ‘wing’ thing and lose the smokey aspect of this look. Apply the darker shadow over the pencil on the lower lid to set and add some sultry drama.

5. Ok, now take a lighter shade in the same color family and lightly sweep over the pupil and into the crease. Again – blend, blend, blend. It’s very important that you don’t show a severe line of demarcation in the crease, as it’s the “we know what you’re doing and it’s not quite working” kind of thing! You can not blend enough here. You won’t blend away what you just applied, you’ll be blening into the skin and actually help create that gradated, airbrushed effect. Are you blending?

6. Apply a champagne shade of highlighter directly under the brow. And for that added pop, place a tiny amount at the tear ducts.

7. To really open the eyes, curl your lashes prior to applying many coats of mascara. Just make sure your mascara doesn’t look like you slept in it! Better yet, add lashes.

To complete this look, brush away any fallout on the face and cheeks and apply a matte foundation and blush. Just remember if the focus is on your eyes, you want to keep your lips soft with a neutral lipstick, gloss or lipshine.

There are many variations on the Smokey Eye. To learn more makeup tricks, tips and techniques, I invite you to join me for a lesson, http://www.scoshskincare.com/1-on-1.php.