The skin around the eyes is very thin and is full of blood vessels which make it very sensitive. There are a number of reasons why we get that tired, puffy eyed look. The most common reasons …

Dehydration - When your body becomes dehydrated, it stores water as a defense mechanism. This built-up of water can contribute to baggy or puffy eyes,

Insufficient Sleep – Puffiness under the eyes is a common symptom of sleep deprivation.

Allergies – If your puffy eyes are accompanied by redness and itching, the cause may be associated with an allergy.

Aging – As you get older the skin begins to loose elasticity, causing swollen eyes.

Tags: Puffy Eyes

Facial cleansers are made to remove dirt, free radicals and pollutants from our skin. The best facial cleansers will make the skin on the face smoother, softer and more radiant. A high quality facial cleanser will not contain fragrances, detergents, Parabens or other harmful chemicals.

High quality facial cleansers will also contain hydrating emollients. These ingredients will moisturize and hydrate your skin, but not leave it feeling greasy. Antioxidants should be present in facial cleansers to counter the harm done by free radicals.

First, determine what skin type you are. There are 5 different skin types: dry, oily, combination, sensitive and blemished. If you are prone to breakouts or have oily/combination skin, you need to make sure your cleanser is water-base to prevent more acne breakouts. For dry skin, milky cleansers that contain more oils are recommended.

Tags: cleanser, dry skin, oily

Most of us would love to be tan year round but know it is not as healthy as it looks. The latest craze is spray on tanning. A lot of well know celebrities are spray tanning weekly to keep their perfect tan.

The basic ingredient in effective fake tans is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. It’s a derivative of glycerin that temporarily darkens your skin by reacting with amino acids in dead skin cells.

Spray tanning can be done at your local salon. You can either tan in a booth or get an airbrush tan. The solution is sprayed on the skin and in the next few hours, the DHA in the solution reacts with your skin and creates a darker color. You can shower about four hours after the treatment.

Before you go for your spray tan, you need to exfoliate your body with a loofah to get ride of any dry patches. You should also shave or wax any area prier to getting your spray tan. To keep your tan from fading, moisturize every time you shower and avoid exfoliating products.

Tags: skin care, Tanning

Below are a few tips and tricks you can use to open up your eyes.

Eyebrows

A well defined eyebrow that is shaped and arch correctly is the first step in making your eyes look larger. An Aesthetician get help you get started and then it is just easy maintenance every few weeks.

Eye Shadow

Start out with base or primer. Using a base first will help your color last longer and minimize creasing. Next apply a light eye shadow on the lid of the eye. Using an angled brush apply darker shadow in the crease and the outside corners of your eyes. Always blend, softening the lines.

Eyeliner

Applying white eyeliner to the inner lower rims of the eyes is an instant eye opener. Avoid using black eyeliner because it will only close in your eyes. If you want to define your eyes, try a brown or gray liner on the outer third of your eye near the eyelash base. Blend with a q-tip.

Eyelash Curler

Using a lash curler on your upper lashes can work wonders. Start curling your lashes near the base, release, and curl lashes in the middle, and again near the tips. This will give your lashes a more defined curl.

Mascara

The right Mascara can help open up the eye area. Focus on the outside corners of the top lashes. This makes the eyes look more open and thus bigger.

Tags: eyes, Makeup

Facials give you the opportunity to work with a skin care specialist who can analyze your skin type and suggest a beneficial regime you can continue at home. During a facial your Esthetician will soften the skin with steam and hot moist towels. Softening the face will help with extractions and open up your pores for a deep cleaning. This will be followed by a cleansing and exfoliating process. Exfoliation makes the skin smoother and increases the cell turnover rate which can reduce puffiness and sagging in the face. A toner may be used several times during your facial. Toners are designed to balance the pH levels of your skin. A mask may be used as well. The type of mask used depends on your skin condition. Oily skin would benefit from mud or clay masks because the ingredients cleanse impurities which may cause acne. Masks that contain alpha-hydroxy acids will clean away dead skin cells. A hydrating mask will help with dry, flaky skin. Facials typically involve massages. A massage will aid in blood circulation and in the relaxation of the facial muscles which can slow the onset of wrinkles. Finally, moisturizers will be applied to rehydrate your skin. The moisturizer will contain a UV blocker to protect your face from harmful sun rays. Exposure to UV rays are the number one cause of premature skin aging and, in some cases, can lead to skin cancer.

Tags: facial, massage, skin care