Often times all of our skincare focus is put towards our face.  However, skin is the largest organ and it covers much more than just our face.

My clients, that workout are always telling me they get more breakouts on their chest and back. They ask, what can they use to prevent this?

Bion has come to the rescue and just launched, Naturally Clean - a great antibacterial light citrus scented wash that is ideal for body acne and post-exercise cleansing.  I am loving the results of this great new product and the fact that it is loaded with great ingredients.  For even greater results, followup with their new Naturally Moist Body Lotion - a deep hydrating lotion that forms a protective lipid barrier to hold moisture in.

This duo is a must have to care for and pamper your skin all over!!

During the summer months more clients will complaint about back breakouts: the dreaded “Bacne”. There are two main reasons for this, and both have to do with the change in the weather. We all love the warmer temperatures, but our bodies want to maintain a healthy core temperature even when we’re outside enjoying summer activities. So the body helps cool itself off by sweating. When those sweat glands get activated and the pores open up, the sunscreens we’re so careful to apply before outdoor activities (right??) can block the open pores and sebaceous glands. But, never fear, they don’t have to.

A great trick to help keep pores from becoming blocked is to exfoliate your skin with a loofah and to use  Bion Salicylic-Glycolic Gel, smoothing a thin layer over your back after you get out of the shower. This simple treatment will help to slough off dead skin cells and keep your skin more uniform. Using a loofah also increases the blood flow to the skin and can be really energizing. Just be aware, the salicylic-glycolic gel can make your skin somewhat more sensitive to the sun. So don’t skimp on protection, when you’re exposing your back. I know…you’d never skimp on protection.

Secondly, summer temperatures generally lead to an increase the skin’s overall oil production. So during this time of year I love using  Bion Blackhead/Whitehead Control.   It’s a very thin liquid and easy to use. You just sweep a thin layer over your trouble spots, under your moisturizer and voila, you’ll experience a great reduction in the amount of oil that could clog up those pores.

I recently went on vacation and it took me almost as long to pack my cosmetics as it did to pack my clothes. Why? Well, I’m definitely a tad high maintenance in the clothes realm, too, but my whole career is about beautiful skin. So it’s a given I know better than to overdo it in the sun. Like most people, I believe that a bit of color make us look better, but we now know that the fleeting glow of a tan comes at a pretty steep cost. Like any skin loving 21st century woman would, I prepared myself to do the great faux bronze look and protect all of the time and energy I’ve already invested in fighting Father Time, and into my trusted cosmetic bag went:

SkinCeuticals C E Ferrulic  which was the very first thing that went on my face each morning. This was followed up with Skin Ceuticals SPF 30  on my face and Skinceuticals SPF 45  everywhere else. Then my face got a nice dusting of Eminence Minerals, which I also brought along in my bag. In the strong Bahamian Sun, I wasn’t taking any chances. I reapplied the every hour to make sure I would not burn. Let me tell you, I saw a crazy amount of sunburns. I was shocked that with all we know about sun (uh, skin cancer anyone??), so many people were just throwing caution to the wind. Quite a few of those vacationers are going to be spending time at dermatologist appointments in the future. I just might be on another cruise!

In the evenings, I’d get back to my room and shower all the sunscreen off and apply Fake Bake  and Yonka Tan Prolonger. I alternated those each night. I’d also use Glow Minerals new Bronzing Gel  to recreate a fresh tan. Then we would all meet up for dinner. Everyone around me was red and complaining of sunburns and/or peeling. And there I was getting darker by the day, as I was building up my “faux glow”. By the end of our week long journey, I was the darkest, no peeling, no burn. It was actually amusing. Most importantly I kept my skin free of ultraviolet damage. I had great fun and I still got my share of required vitamin D.

One last thing I should also mention. I took Yonka Gommage  with me to make sure I could keep my complexion clear, since I knew I’d be making such heavy use of sun screen. Using so much sunscreen can wreak havoc on you if you are oily. But with Yonka Gommage, my skin stayed clear. Most importantly, it’s such a gentle way to exfoliate. And it didn’t make my skin more photosensitive, as harsh scrubs, enzymes or acid exfoliants could have. It’s a must have for summer smooth skin.

I’m in love with the new resurf.a.stic.s they are really cool. First they are easy to use, second they are REALLY effective. You apply it like a deodorant then you wet your fingers and spread it all over the area (they make 4 types, for different body parts). Then you massage in a circular motion and rinse. Voila, very, very smooth skin. You are ready to proceed with other products. They will be so much more effective as you have exfoliated off all the dead cellular debris.

Many times, when clients come in for a facial and we get to talking about some of their skin issues, the discussion turns to things like the dark circles under their eyes or trouble with blemishes. Some have issues with ruddy skin, and others are bothered by a sallow complexion. Often, these clients also have visibly dehydrated skin. So I ask them about their water intake and a typical response is, “Oh, I don’t like drinking water.” Or, “Yeah I’m bad about that.”

Despite the chilly temperature in Park City , Utah , this past week the stars all had a beautiful glow in the snow!   At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Fake Bake, the international sunless tanning brand, was a featured product and the Hollywood Life House and was one of the favorite stop for celebrities.