Category : Skin Care

We are emerging from an exceptionally wacky winter. The weather has been so unpredictable. We’ve had exceedingly cold weeks with snow storms in, what is officially, Spring sprinkled with the odd 60 degree day here and there. These conditions not only drive us out of our minds but also leave our skin in a tizzy, stripping the hydrolipidic film from the surface. (This is a thin barrier that sits on top of the skin, ensuring suppleness and protection from bacteria.) This can leave skin sensitive, dry, dull, reactive and even a little spotty. Here are some of the Travel Beauty team’s favorite transitioning into Spring beauty boosters.

Put your best face forward

If your skin is feeling out of sorts, it probably needs a little extra tender loving care. Sapelo Skin Care Rejuvenating Cream is an all-natural, botanical moisturizer containing gardenia plant stem cells and a high concentration of colloidal platinum peptides (which have undergone phase III clinical testing – the gold standard of trials). These ingredients hydrate, reduce wrinkles and boost collagen production. In short, this light, airy, anti-aging moisturizer delivers on its promise. It truly turns back the hands of time — at least as far as your skin is concerned.

Body booster

Just because temperatures are cold and crisp doesn’t mean you should ignore your body. Keep your eyes on the prize. The time you invest today will pay off in spades come swimsuit season. Now is the optimal time to indulge in a skin tightening, cellulite fighting body lotion, especially one that activates collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production in deep skin structures. Typically anti-aging ingredient can only be found in facial skin care – not in body products. EVENSWISS Refining Body Complex is a body wrap in a jar. It leverages a patented peptide complex, Dermatopoietin®, that increases skin’s elasticity and firmness, smooths the appearance of cellulite and helps slim down thighs and arms. This body-tightening booster has undergone clinical trials, is dermatologically proven and backed by 30 years of scientific research. In other words, it works!

The master multi-tasking mask

Seasonal transition periods are also a great time to treat yourself to a weekly mask. Deborah Mitchell, British aesthetician to stars and royalty alike (we’re talking Camilla Parker Bowles, Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and the list goes on….) has formulated Heaven Skincare’s world-renowned Bee Venom Mask as a natural alternative to Botox injections. The active ingredient, ABEETOXIN™ (or “Beetox”), is based on bioactive bee venom compounds, with venom derived from inducing bees to sting (with no harm to the bee, of course). Skin is naturally stimulated to produce collagen and elastin as a defense. This reaction works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming. It also contains Manuka Honey, renowned for its soothing and healing properties.

It can be used as a moisturizer for those that live in humid climates or have oily or combination skin, applied over moisturizer and left on all day for those with dry and/or mature skin, or as a 15 minute mask. Heaven Skincare Silver Bee Venom Mask can also be applied over eye cream for a little extra added wrinkle ironing action.

Eye opener

Whether you are stressed, tired, traveling or just had too much for dinner last night, banish under eye imperfections with Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches. This treatment contains caffeine, sodium hyaluronate (the same active ingredient found in injectables) and algae extract to wake up your eyes. Think of it as a mini microcurrent facial in a patch. You won’t believe the difference ten minutes makes. Under eye masks are the ally of choice for many celebrities during award season, and more importantly, for me!

Have seasonal beauty secrets of your own? Share them with us at info@travelbeauty.com

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

Ten months ago, at 40, I became a mother. As a marketing executive turned entrepreneur, I’ve always spent 80% of my time at work. The addition of a baby has been quite an adjustment. I’m still working like a machine but have had to tweak (OK maybe more than tweak) my routine in order to accommodate the even greater deficit of time that a baby brings to the mix. In short, the no makeup look has become an absolute must for me. My repertoire consists of seven steps (but can be cliff-noted a bit – just skip step 1A and 4A).

Ironically, makeup is the least important part of the no-makeup look. What separates the women from the girls is investing a handful of minutes, every day, to establish a consistent self care ritual. Not everyone is going to cleanse, apply two serums, a moisturizer, face oil and under eye cream…like I do – yes, two serums. That said, the secret behind an authentic no-makeup look is having beautiful, healthy skin to build-on. If you make the commitment to nurture your skin upfront, you’ll save a ton of time and energy in the long run. Five to six minutes (seven tops) is all you’ll need.

Don’t have a skin care regimen in place?

Start with a cleanser and moisturizer. These should be used in the morning and at night before bed – even if you’re exhausted and can’t be bothered. If you’re in your twenties or early thirties, you might not need more. Once you have your basic system down pat, especially if you are 35+, try adding a serum and under eye cream. Here is a simple step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Wash your face!

Sounds easy enough – right? But at night, after a long day, the thought of taking your clothes off before climbing into bed may be daunting enough, let alone dragging yourself into the bathroom to wash your face and remove your makeup. The good news is there are multi-tasking products out there and they save loads of time. Why use four products when you can use one? Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm is an award winning, quadruple-threat spa in a jar. This British import is a moisturizing, deep-cleansing, exfoliating, makeup-removing cleanser, mask and leave on overnight treatment (I also use it as a lip mask) that doesn’t strip the skin of its essential oils. The key ingredient, moringa, is a superfood that contains nine essential amino acids, Vitamins A & C, Iron and Calcium and is packed with protein and antioxidants. Medical research has revealed that it not only calms inflammation in many tissues of the body, including the skin, but also helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol. I also brew a tea, daily, made from ginger, moringa and lemongrass. This concoction is known as Bush Tea on many Caribbean Islands and is often the first remedy administered at the onset of a cold, flu, headache…well anything. I am a big believer in holistic beauty – take care of your insides and it will reflect on the outside.

Step 1A: Serious Serum

If you are going to go for the gold and incorporate a treatment serum into your skin care ritual, Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum is an excellent choice. Truth be told, it can be used as a stand alone treatment product. It contains high concentrations of a potent cocktail of proteins, peptides, amino acids, active Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamins A and E, as well as Selenium, Magnesium, Copper and Zinc. The magic ingredient is a 5% highly blenderized, unfertilized, organic Norwegian Salmon Roe Extract. This extract stimulates growth in the dermis boosting the skin’s ability to build collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In other words, it works.

Step 2: Hydrate

I happened upon an exceptionally high-tech line of cosmeceuticals in Switzerland called EVENSWISS, which is backed by 30 years of scientific research. This revolutionary anti-aging (or pro-aging – I’m actually ok with calling a spade a spade) skin care line utilizes cutting-edge signaling technology along with pure concentrations of a unique patented complex to promote the skin’s elasticity by sending signals to cells in the deepest layers of the dermis. These signals stimulate cells to produce increased collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, literally regenerating new healthy skin cells. EVENSWISS Rich Regenerating Cream, the star product of the line, is an ultra light formulation ideal for sensitive, reactive and/or dry skin as well as pregnant women. Pregnancy can interfere with normal cellular activity and send skin into a tizzy. EVENSWISS’ moisturizer nurtures and repairs stressed skin.

Now for the NO-MAKEUP cakewalk

Step 3: Mascara application

The type of mascara you use is much less important than how you apply it. I happen to be using Le Volume De Chanel right now. I also like Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black. The trick is combing your lashes before and after you apply mascara with Tweezerman Folding ILashcomb. It separates and elongates lashes so you don’t wind up with what I call spider clump lashes. ILashcomb has metal spokes – so be careful! Finally, place your pinky finger right under your lower lash line, horizontally and blink your eyes a handful of times. This will remove the excess mascara so it doesn’t run or work its way into your under eye highlighter later on.

Step 4: Lashes and brows

If you have beautiful, thick, long lashes, they can never be voluminous enough and if you are in need of a lash and/or brow boost, you MUST try Jessica Johnson Classic Beauty Brow and Lash Conditioning Serum. Just apply a light coat above your upper lash line and/or on brows before bed. This is the real deal and it not only spurs hair growth but conditions as well. I have tried a number of reputable, over the counter lash serums only to have an allergic reaction. I had no sensitivity with this conditioning serum and it really works.

Step 4A: Under eye cream

You’ve now finished your mascara application. What’s next? Take a damp Q-tip and sweep it across your under eye area to ensure that no mischievous mascara flakes have set up house there. Sweep the area again with a dry Q-tip to soak up excess water. At this point, I apply an under eye cream. (Skipping this step? Go straight to step five.) If you prefer more of a serum-like texture I recommend EVENSWISS Rejuvenating Eye Complex. If you are partial to a creamier formula, try Emma Hardie Age Support Eye Cream. They are both fantastic and you will see results.

Step 5: Under eye highlighter

Apply an under eye highlighter focusing on the area under the inner eye and then sweep out and dab to blend. It’s important to pick the right shade. Right now I’m using Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat in Luminous Vanilla. I am fair skinned and prefer less coverage. The Touche Éclat line has shades to fit every skin shade and coverage preference. If I develop a blemish I use a dab of Touche Éclat to camouflage it as well.

Step 6: Powder bronzer

For the finishing touch, sweep Institut Esthederm Sunshine Care Powder over the apples of your cheeks with a medium sized blush brush. It provides just enough color to give you a healthy, sun kissed glow and the small compact is wonderful for travel and gals on the go. It’s a handbag must have.

Step 7: Lip gloss

I almost forgot the lip gloss. Lancôme Juicy Tubes are my old stand-by. I know they’re old school but they keep my perpetually chapped lips moist and the colors are ultra shimmery – which I love. Marshmallow Electra is my favorite color.

Have questions?

Email us at concierge@travelbeauty.com or call 1.888.717.8790

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

We are infatuated with beauty experts, entrepreneurs and products that empower women to take care of their skin holistically. Women in the U.S. are beginning to understand that the hunt for a miracle in a bottle is akin to the search for the holy grail – it simply doesn’t exist. Instead we may need to learn more about ourselves and our skin and develop habits that will take care of it over time. The move to what I call holistic preventative skin care has finally landed on the shores of the U.S. and is starting to take root.

A significant part of this movement is not so much about putting a band aid on skin problems once they occur but taking proactive steps to nurture and protect the dermis so imperfections never have a chance to emerge. Instead of using harsh products and procedures that break the skin down to build it up, the idea is to use ingredients that work with the skin’s natural functions to boost its health and luminosity.

Emma Hardie is considered to be a leading pioneer in natural healing and skin rejuvenation and is the most accomplished holistic aesthetician in the UK today. She is known for treating the skin from the bone up.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Emma to discuss her approach to skin care.

How did you land in the skin care industry?

EH: I started out as an interior designer and fell on ill health, which made it not only necessary for me to change my career, but to heal myself. I began researching the details of the human body and discovered that with the right catalyst, our bodies have the wherewithal to heal themselves. Part of the healing process, for me, involved facial acupuncture and exercises, which boosted my body’s ability to heal itself. I noticed that it did the same for my skin. Working optimally, my skin began to rebalance itself and started to look great. I was inspired to show women how to feel and look great by empowering them to heal their bodies naturally

What is your philosophy?

EH: I developed a facial and skin care range based on the research I had done. Skin is living. I discovered it is possible to optimize the skin’s natural functions by working with it, using hi-tech, plant based ingredients to build it up instead of using harsh ingredients and treatments to fight against it.

What do you love most about what you do?

EH: So much! I love immersing myself in the research – the R & D piece of the work is fascinating. Understanding the human body and ingredients at the atomic level and how they interact with each other is fascinating. I also love educating people on the process  - empowering women to heal themselves naturally and see results.

What is the most important piece of skin care advice you give your clients?

EH: Use a nourishing cleanser, moisturizer and SPF product regularly. The emphasis should be on the massaging technique. All must be applied in downward or cross hatch strokes, working with the grain of facial tissue and lymphatics. It brings up the water levels in the skin, allowing products to penetrate deeper into the layers of the dermis and promoting lymphatic drainage. This process optimizes the skin’s ability to carry out its activities at the cellular level. Using a microfiber wash cloth boosts the efficacy of the process. staying out of the sun and drinking water are incredibly important as well. If you are dehydrated the organs of the body can’t work optimally – this includes the skin.

If you had to recommend a single product that you would encourage people to splurge on, what would it be?

EH: A neck product. Beauty does not end at the chin. The neck supports the face and creates a complete structure. It should all be beautiful. The neck and chest area are the loveliest part of a woman, not to mention one of the most erogenous zones. A graceful neck makes one look elegant like a swan and more importantly makes a woman feel elegant. A neck serum enables the skin to absorb creams more readily and together correct issues that may be present. I just love serums.

What is your process for creating products in your range?

EH: It takes passion and loads of work. First and foremost, it’s about the face. Breaking it down and determining what bits deserve the most attention and Emma Hardie love. Teamwork is crucial. The best results come from working in an environment where you have the freedom to be creative and have fun. We also do a great deal of product testing, market research and trials. We are creating products for people we don’t know and that’s hard – everyone has her own preferences for product texture and smell – I want to make effective skincare that makes women feel comfortable. Products that sit seamlessly under foundation, smell pleasant and stimulate the olfactory senses.

There has been a shift in attitudes surrounding the term anti-aging as it relates to skin care. What are your thoughts?

EH: Age has many positives. We become more mature, wiser and more at peace with our surroundings and ourselves. We also begin to embrace change, investing more time in taking better care of ourselves as we get older. We need to work with our bodies to enable them to change gracefully. If we are always fighting against the changes that begin to occur in our skin as we age, we will not look natural. Instead, we can use ingredients that help our skin look and feel great at any age. Fighting age with abrasive products and treatments cause irritation, damage the skin and in many cases accomplish the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

This may be your last chance to relax before 2018 officially starts. Then it’s back to school…back to work…back to life…back to reality…

Still looking for inspiration to get the New Year off to a splendid start? Start with you! This is an excellent time to take care of yourself, even if you set aside 10 minutes to do so. You can multi-task to make the most of those minutes.

Relaxing Facial Masks When You Don’t Have Time To Relax

Start with a face mask—even if your skin is pitch perfect, any complexion can benefit from a reparative face mask once a week, especially during the winter months. Our skin requires an intensive reconstructive care product regularly to enable it to recover and reboot its cellular functions. For the severely time starved, Cosmetics 27 Plasma 27 Bio Lifting Cell Restoring Mask, is just the thing! This pre-soaked, pre-cut, single serve sheet mask is packed with high concentrations of Centella Asiatica and Proline to stimulate the skin’s ability to produce collagen. Just open the packet, pop it on your visage, have a cup of coffee and voila!

If you prefer a creamy mask format, try Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. Yes, it’s a face cleanser, but it is so much more. Massage the balm into your face using downward strokes – this promotes lymphatic drainage. I store mine in the refrigerator: the cool temperature is refreshing and calms puffiness. Remember to apply it to the backs of your hands as well. When you embark upon 40, even if you take A+ care of your skin and have great genes, there is no place that is more revealing of age. The all-natural scent of moringa is also calming to the senses which is beneficial especially on hectic mornings. This multi-tasking treatment can also be used as a lip balm.

Hair & Scalp Treatments for Your Tresses

While your face mask is gelling, turn your attention to your hair and scalp. Christophe Robin’s line of hair treatment products is a must. Period. Especially if you highlight, bleach or chemically process your hair. You can sleep, workout and even golf in them. These intensive moisturizing treatments are magic!

For dry, damaged hair requiring some serious tender loving care, try his Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil. It contains powerful antioxidants and moisturizers sure to leave your hair frizz free, soft and radiant.

The holidays are stressful. Combine this with crisp, dry air and you’ll find yourself with a troublesome itchy, flaky scalp. If this sounds familiar, Christophe Robin’s scalp detox mask, Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt, is calling your name.

Eye, Brow and Lash Treatments

Feeling a little bit of champ-shame about how much you drank (not to mention ate) this holiday season? Copious consumption could leave your eyes puffy and your skin sallow. No problem! Here are a couple of instant eye pick-me-ups that will get you going in the right direction:

Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches are fast penetrating under eye masks that target all concerns of the eye area: bags, shadows, fine lines, sagging skin and swelling. In as little as 6 minutes a few days a week, you can take years off your eye area. They also make the perfect travel companion – try them at the end of a flight, or the morning after a long night out to look “bright-eyed” (bushy-tailed is on you).

While you’re de-puffing your eyes, you can pump up your brows and lashes with Jessica Johnson Classic Beauty Brow and Lash Conditioning Serum. This conditioning treatment is the real deal! It is a two-in-one product for use on brows as well as lashes and contains additional treatment ingredients, including natural marine extract that not only boosts hair growth but conditions and hydrates for strong, lush brows and lashes.

We hope you take the time to indulge in a drop of self-care, not just this week, but all year long. For more tips, tricks and tools to perfect your look, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

By: Travel Beauty Editors

While many all natural and organic anti-aging skin care lines purport to contain a cocktail of antioxidants promising to rejuvenate skin and minimize the appearance of fine lines, the truth is that antioxidants alone are not enough. I’m not knocking antioxidants, they are an important part of a well rounded skin care regimen. However, while they help stabilize already sustained skin damage born of braving the elements and pollution, they have a minimal affect on building and strengthening the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. In other words, they don’t do much in the way of actually turning back the hands of time.

Skin science basics

As we age, our skin’s ability to produce collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid wanes. We see the visible signs of this in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, irregular pigmentation and sagging skin.

What’s a girl to do?

The reality of the situation is that every 365 1/4 days, our skin, along with the rest of our body, ages another year. Enter Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum. My mother discovered this skin care line, literally as it was launching, two years ago in Savannah, Georgia. At first, I wouldn’t even look at it. “Savannah, Georgia”, I said, “you’ve got to be kidding me”. I’m a serious skin care snob and, with few exceptions, won’t let anything near my face that is not from Europe or Asia.

A month later, I had lunch with my mom and noticed a significant change in her skin. It looked really taught and radiant, like she had just sat for a microcurrent facial. I mentioned that her skin looked great and she said “it’s Sapelo. I’ve been using it for a month and can’t believe the results.” I couldn’t either. I’ve never seen results like this from a topical skin care range.

Naturally, when I learned that Sapelo Skin Care had launched a new revolutionary anti-aging serum, I had to investigate. This silky serum combines the power of nature with science to visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines by retraining signals in the skin to manufacture increased collagen and elastin. Spring Tide Serum is the latest addition to this all natural, wonder anti-aging line. Similar to the other products in the range, the science is rooted in its Southern heritage.

Founders Cindy Edwards and Stephanie Duttenhaver explained:

“In Savannah, the Southern spring tide signals the season of rebirth and renewal. This nourishing surge tide coincides with a full moon, flooding the wetlands of Savannah with nutrients to last the year through.”

This sounds like exactly what my skin needs! Especially with winter around the corner. In addition to high concentrations of a potent cocktail of proteins, peptides, amino acids, active Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, as well as selenium, magnesium, copper and zinc, the fourth ingredient in the formula is 5% highly blenderized, unfertilized, organic Norwegian Salmon Roe Extract.

Warning! We are about to get a little science geeky…

If you think about the purpose of roe, it is to provide all the nutrition that a zygote needs to become a fry - right? Molecules that stimulate growth are concentrated in the egg. Similarly, this extract stimulates growth in the dermis boosting the skin’s ability to build collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Why is this so important? The skin’s capacity to produce these vital anti-aging proteins and acids begins to diminish at the age 25 and by the time our 80th birthday rolls around our skin has lost 32% of its ability to carry out these cellular activities. So even if you are 25 and still look twelve, listen up! The earlier you start taking care of your skin, the better positioned it will be to age beautifully.

The best part is that there is real science to back this up. The highly-concentrated extract that Sapelo uses is taken from the unfertilized salmon roe by an all natural organic solvent which stabilizes this extraordinary biologic activity. The effectiveness has been proven in a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial (The gold standard of scientific proof of principle – we are talking the very same standard that is used to test prescription drugs y’all) to dramatically increase collagen and elastin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and minimize redness and irritation. I won’t get into a scientific dissertation but I can tell you that using the 5% concentration of this new ingredient, dramatically increases collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production by up to 350%. That’s huge! Results can begin to be seen in as little as two weeks and have proven to transform skin in eight weeks. It is also worth noting that Sapelo Skin Care Spring Tide Serum is the only product on the US market to contain this powerful ingredient.

Spring Tide Serum can be used as a stand-alone product at night or as part of a bedtime skin care regimen prior to applying face cream. I have been using it morning and night as the second step in a cleanse, treatment, moisturizer regimen. It is so gentle, you can even work it around the eye area.

Spring Tide Serum has multiple applications

It is an excellent, non-abrasive alternative to undergoing a chemical peel, microdermabrasion or laser treatment. These procedures burn and damage the skin in order to initiate repair whereas this serum works to naturally repair the dermis without harming it.

Not convinced enough to forego these abrasive therapies?

Spring Tide Serum is also prescribed as an ideal post-procedure treatment product. It is extremely gentle and can be applied to nourish and protect your skin as it undergoes the healing process.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie