Dermesse and the Vitamin C Miracle for Your Skin

Dermesse and the Vitamin C Miracle for Your Skin

Our culture is obsessed with youth and judging solely on the ads I am bombarded with daily, your 20's is the best time of your life. These ads seemingly suggest once you hit 30 you might as well jump off of a bridge.  "It's all downhill from here!", they scream. As a person who has just entered my 30's *coughs* I beg to differ.  Yes, I had a funky good time in my 20's, however, I am much more comfortable in my skin now.  I know what I want, I know what I don't want, and really I could care less what other people think.  In your 30's you feel more vivacious and confident (at least I do).  I, personally, am enjoying the heck out of thirty. 

With that said, I don't want to look 30. (Smile.)  Actually looking 30 isn't such a bad thing, just take a look a these beauties in all age ranges I blogged about here.  Yet, I want to look my best at any age!  Enter the wonderful folks at Dermesse and their Vitamin C Serum!  I was recently asked to review the Vitamin C Serum (10%) and I salivated at the opportunity.

From the Dermesse website: "Dermesse offers prescription strength and non-prescription strength skin care products online. Previously Dermesse was only available through your local dermatologist's office or plastic surgeon's office. Dermesse has changed all that by partnering with PCM Skin Care, LLC to distribute its products on the internet by facilitating an online medical consultation whenever necessary.

Simply order the products you want by going to www.dermesse.com, and completing the online medical assessment. If we require any additional information, we will contact you. Otherwise expect your order to be delivered to you within 48 hours."  How awesome is that?!  Prescription strength skincare to your door!

Back to the serum!  (Sorry. I write like I speak and I am giddy about this product)  If you don't know Vitamin C is critical for your body and plays an important role in maintaining healthy, resilient skin.  From everyone's beloved doctor, Dr. Oz : "While young skin is full of vitamin C, aging skin naturally loses this nutrient over time. Other factors like exposure to UV light, pollutants and cigarette smoke compound the decline of vitamin C, contributing to signs of aging. The good news is that you can fight back by replenishing your skin’s vitamin C levels to help to combat and even reverse time’s effect on your face.

Wrinkles

One of the most powerful functions of vitamin C is its role in the production of collagen, a protein that gives your skin its elasticity. As you age, collagen breaks down and wrinkles begin to form. Stabilizing your skin’s levels of vitamin C can help to counteract wrinkle formation by increasing collagen production.

Age Spots

When it comes to treating age spots, you don’t need chemical peels and lasers – it turns out that vitamin C can have almost the same results! Age spots are essentially sun damage, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, shown to reduce the number of sunburned cells as well as reverse age-related damage to skin. While it’s not a replacement for sunscreen, vitamin C protects against and may repair UV damage like discoloration and fine lines.

Your Anti-Aging Rx

Taking vitamin C through a supplement or food is beneficial to your health, but to specifically target signs of aging on your face, topical vitamin C is best. In fact, applying vitamin C to the skin can be 20 times more effective than taking it orally. Topical vitamin C is sold in a wide range of products from serum to lotions. Look for products that contain between 3% and 10% of vitamin C and include the active ingredient ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid. Pay extra attention to the packaging – all antioxidants, including vitamin C, are vulnerable to deterioration in the presence of air and light. Unless the product is in an airtight and opaque package, don’t buy it!" http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/drop-decade-your-face

Luckily, Dermesse's Vitamin C Serum is packaged just right!  When I was asked to review the serum, I was super excited.  Probably a week prior to receiving the serum, I was staring at myself in the mirror like I do, from time to time, and there it was.  "What is this?!"  I said to no one in particular.  Slight lines across my forehead and around my mouth!  What in the world?!  First off, I have extremely oily skin.  EXTREMELY!  While I suffered in my teens, the benefit of sweating olive oil is, I am not supposed to wrinkle.  AT.  ALL.  But lo and behold here they are, here to betray my age.  I still get ID'ed at the bar, and now these evil little wrinkles are threatening to give me away! 

Forgive the language but it's so true

In my state of panic, I had flashbacks of one of my relatives who never smiled or made any expression, for that matter.  My limited vocabulary can not properly explain the way she held her face.  She...just...held her face...in a certain way.  Relaxed and emotionless.  I always wondered why she kept her face like that and one day my mother let me in on the secret.  She didn't want to get laugh lines.  In my youth I laughed at the notion hysterically, now I am practicing that same face religiously.  Needless to say when the Dermesse Vitamin C Serum arrived, it couldn't have come quick enough.

I have been using it twice a day.  First thing in the morning after I wash my face and at night before bed.  Amazingly enough the frown lines are gone.  I mean absolutely gone and the laugh lines are less pronounced.  The results are terrific!  However, what I have really been loving about Dermesse's Vitamin C Serum is how it fades discoloration. 

In the Dr. Oz article he spoke of Vitamin C fading age spots, however, it fades scars and evens out skin tone.  Dark marks and acne scars that I have been battling for years are now fading!  Lately I haven't been as terrified to step out the house without foundation!  Yes my friends, it is that good.  My skin looks more youthful, my skin tone is evening out, and the wrinkles that threatened the much appreciated ritual of getting ID'ed at the bar, are fading in memory and off of my face!

Seriously, you need to try Dermesse's Vitamin C Serum.  I promise you will thank me for it!  Visit Dermesse for the Vitamin C Serum and check out their line of skin care products here at www.dermesse.com

Happy Beautiful Skin!

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Women of Color: How NOT to Apply Makeup

 Women of Color: How NOT to Apply Makeup

Oh no,no, NO!  Lil' Kim made an appearance on BET's RIP the Runway...and well, this is what happened.

I, really, do not want to pick on Kim, she obviously is dealing with some "things" and...I grew up listening to Kim (more so, Biggie), and I wish her the best and hope she finds peace and happiness....I really, really do.

However, women of color, this is a great example of what NOT to do when applying makeup. (or wigs or clothes for that matter, but let's just roll with it)

First topic is foundation.  Foundation can either do wonders or completely ruin you.  It's a delicate line we can cross either into the dark side (or too light side: see left) or into the wonderful side where your skin looks smooth, even toned and radiant.

I know how it is!  It is difficult to find the right foundation and not to mention, having to apply it!  I have the make up blog and I am just perfecting my technique.  I kid you not! 

My suggestions are:

• if you are one of the fortunate and blessed people with nice smooth skin with an even tone go for a light foundation even a tinted moisturizer.  The purpose of foundation is to make your skin look smooth and supple, and if your skin is already flawless, "don't fix it if it ain't broken".  Just use a little foundation to keep oiliness at bay or add a bit of moisture for those with dry skin.
• if you find a foundation that is perfect for your skin, stock up!!!!  My high end bourgeois Retail Addicts will gasp at this but my favorite foundation is, CG (CoverGirl) TruBlend Microminerals in Classic Tan 460.  (I hear the snickers) But out of every foundation I've tried it matches my skin tone perfectly; I can build up my coverage (light to full coverage) and it doesn't aggravate my oily skin, while keeping the "shine-ees" away.  It's awesome!  However, those darn CoverGirl people discontinued it!  Thanks a lot Cover Girl!  I did try the NatureLuxe Silk Foundation in the CG suggested Nutmeg 360 but it was too light!  So, every time I see a seller on Amazon or Ebay with my foundation, I buy them out!
• Tinted moisturizers are awesome!  If you have oily skin, be sure to find a light moisturizer preferably oil free.
• If you use a liquid foundation, get the right tools to apply! Yes you can do it with your fingers (some pros do-but remember they are professionals!) but the application sponges really make sure the liquid is evenly spread all over your face.  The ring around your hair line and jaw is NOT cute.  I promise you, it's not!

Now the hard part: finding the right shade for our skin tones.  I will admit finding the right foundation can be a costly and hair pulling adventure.  Even though most of the world is Black and Brown (it' true, it's true!)  Most cosmetic companies seemingly haven't noticed.  Even cosmetic companies geared towards women of color sometimes don't offer your perfect match!  So do your homework ladies.

First, wash your face and pat dry.  Look in a mirror with a lot of natural light (or really good lighting). Do you have dark spots, or changes in skin tone? Determine if your undertone is red, yellow, or blue.  Do you have scarring, hyperpigmentation, or freckles you need to cover?  Also pay attention to your neck!  Is it lighter or darker than your face? **VERY IMPORTANT**  All of these questions will help you determine the amount of coverage you need and what color you should look for.  Finally figure out what kind of foundation finish you prefer.  Would you like a dewy, matte  or moist finish?  Do you prefer minerals, compact or liquid?

Now you are armed and ready to go somewhere you can find help!  Of course MAC, most cosmetic counters in major department stores, Sephora and Ulta offer help.  (If you're looking for a makeover -Ulta only does bare mineral make up makeovers and Sephora charges $50)  If you are looking for foundation on a budget CVS also has a cosmetic person.  The only thing is, sometimes it's hit or miss, on how knowledgeable the associate is. The first time I received help, the cosmetic girl (for lack of a better term) was awesome.  She was knowledgeable and extremely helpful.  The second time I tried, the cosmetic girls make up was horrible and she obviously had no idea what she was talking about.  Just a fair warning.

While shopping, keep the basic rules in mind.

• Foundation for women of color should have more pigment than ones made for Caucasian skin.
• If your skin has a lot of yellow try foundations in the golden range
• If your skin is medium to deep, look for foundation in the red-orange-brown range.  Remember if you have dark spots, foundations in the red/orange range help cancel out the blue in the dark spots and blemishes.  If your skin falls in the darkest range of the spectrum you will want a foundation with a slight blue undertone.
• Test on various parts of your face, especially if you have an uneven skin tone.  Test around the jawline and neck (especially if your face is lighter or darker than your neck)
• If you need heavy coverage, stick foundations do wonders to even discolorations and hide blemishes, dark spots and freckles.
• Also consider buying a concealer and pressed or loose powders to ensure they match
• Powders should match your foundation as closely as possible.  Avoid powders with mica or talc (especially if your skin is dark) because they accentuate ashy shadows (see Lil Kim above)
• Be wary of foundations that offer "luminosity".  At times they make darker skin look gray and ashy.

Hopefully you can find your shade in a ready blended formula.  If not first try  a company that does custom foundation.  If your budget can afford it, it may be one of the best cosmetic buys you've ever made.  If you can't afford it try blending your own formula.

• Find a foundation that is closest to your shade but not perfect.  Get one shade lighter and one shade darker as well.
• Try mixing 2 parts lighter to 1 part darker, or 2 parts darker to 1 part darkest, and so on and so on until you get the right shade.  Test your shades preferably with a lot of natural light or really good lighting!

Lastly, you should all know not to do whatever Kim did to her eyebrows.  Your eyebrows should enhance your face and eyes!  Do you really need tips?

Blush...blush is an awesome thing if you master the techniques.  You can use it to highlight cheekbones, contour for non existent cheek bones and add the sexy flush of color-if you know how to do it right!  Again, I am embarrassed to admit-I have the make up the blog and my blush skills are mediocre at best.  I personally don't try any color too dark and I avoid the Raggedy Ann circle technique at all costs.  I do a light brush stroke from my apple of my cheek along my cheek bone.  I prefer my blush light and to look like I have indeed blushed or have a slight sun tan on my cheeks.  That's just me!  If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me or add them to the comments.

I do not know what to say about Kims' eyelashes or eyeliner but I will say this, I hate cheap fake eyelashes!  It disturbs me when I see women with a row of bat wings on their eyes!  I hate it!  It looks like if they blinked any harder they would just fly away on those things! 

However I don't mind tasteful eyelashes or crazy eyelashes on the runway (that's where crazy eyelashes should stay ladies!)  So keep your eyelashes tasteful and make sure you know how to apply them!

Lastly, let's pray, meditate, send loving energy to Lil' Kim (and a better stylist and makeup artists)...She needs it!

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