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!

PS You can connect with me on:

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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IHEARTRetailTherapy

Twitter: @HEARTRetail

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What Your Hair Stylist Doesn't Want You to Know About Home Hair Coloring

What Your Hair Stylist Doesn't Want You to Know About Home Hair Coloring

**This post contains some affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. SO please get to clicking :)** 

For years we've been told not to color our hair at home.  We've been told that home hair coloring never gives you the same results as the salon.  We've been told it is always best to go to the salon before you butcher your hair with store bought hair color.  All of what we've been told is FALSE.  The biggest difference between coloring at home or going to the salon is...YOU (and knowing what you are doing).

One of my besties is a licensed cosmetologist and she has taught me a lot about hair care and dyeing your hair at home.  Rest assured ladies, you CAN get salon quality results at home.  You just have to know what you are doing!

1) Identify your natural your hair color.  

People with warmer base tones can take on more colors than those with cooler hues.  Start by "identifying the level of darkness  "level" or darkness of the hair. Whether you're talking about your natural color or choosing a new color, the first step is to understand and choose how dark the hair is. Standard hair color levels are defined on a scale of 1 to 10 with level 1 being the darkest, blackest color and level 10 being a very light blond color. Here are the 10 standard hair color levels:

Level 1: Black
Level 2: Darkest (almost black) Brown
Level 3: Very Dark Brown
Level 4: Dark Brown
Level 5: Brown
Level 6: Light Brown
Level 7: Dark Blond
Level 8: Medium Blond
Level 9: Blond
Level 10: Light Blond

The lightest platinum blond colors are often referred to as level 11, 12, or even 13. Hair Color Tone

After establishing the level of one's natural or desired hair color, next the tone of hair color is defined. Hair color tones can be put into three standard categories: warm, cool, or neutral. When hair stylists discuss color, or if you are choosing a color from a swatch book, the tones are often indicated with a letter. Here are standard examples of color tones:

N: Neutral. Neither warm, nor cool.

Cool Tones
A: Ash
B: Beige
B: Blue
G: Green V: Violet

Warm Tones
C: Copper
G: Gold
O: Orange
R: Red
W: Warm
RB: Brown/Red
RO: Red/Orange

Tones are often be combined in hair color formulas to create the perfect shade. For example, an auburn color is achieved by combining neutral or warm tones with red tones. Red hair color can be made cool by adding violet tones to the color formula. Sometimes hair colorists achieve the right color combination by mixing different color tones together, but the hair color companies typically have pre-created colors that feature mixed tones, as well.

Combining Level and Tone
When defining a hair color, the level and tone are combined into a letter/number combination. For example: a warm brown color would be defined as a "5W". The number indicates the hair color level (brown), and the letter indicates that the tone is warm. Here are a few other examples of hair color defined by the level and tone:

8A: Medium Ash Blond
4RV: Dark Red/Violet
6C: Light Copper Brown
5N: Neutral Brown
9W: Light Warm Blond

Determining a hair color level is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Your opinion may be a level off from the next person's opinion, but generally speaking, the level is pretty obvious. However, hair color tone is not as easily defined by the eye. What one person my see as "red" the next person may describe as "copper". This is where pictures and swatches come in very handy to be sure that everyone is speaking the same language." (Aarhus, 2014)

2) Know Your "Porosity: How your hair absorbs and holds moisture will determine how color deposits in your hair. If you have low porosity, it can be more difficult to process dye because the hair shaft is not as receptive to foreign chemicals. This means if you are using a box kit, you may not get the color result as you see it on the packaging. If you have high porosity, you have to be careful not to over-process the hair as chemicals can process almost twice as fast. But, you can expect the color to fade slower. Also note, permanent dye will increase your hair’s porosity since it has to penetrate the cortex, making it harder for the hair to retain moisture in the future (which is why dryness can become an issue)." (Mo Knows Hair, 2013)

3) Know Your "Texture: Coarse strands generally take more time to absorb color than fine width strands. This means the processing time may vary from the instructions given in box kits. How much, you ask? Well…as always, it depends! (Not sure what hair texture you have? Learn more about texture typing.)" (Mo Knows Hair, 2013)

4) Try a Subtle Change First.

Don't go immediately from black to blonde, try a subtle change at first to get the hang of coloring at home.  For instance try going from a deep brunette to a spicy cinnamon.  The slight change in hair color will add some oomph to your look, and it will minimize any noobie mistakes!

5) Try Before You Buy! 

If you are going for a more dramatic change, 3 shades lighter or darker than your normal hair color, try on a wig!  It is a painless way to see what your results will be and if your new haircolor is right for your skin tone.

6) Buy more hair color than you need.  

People with long and thick locks may use up to three boxes of hair color, and you never want to only half way through your hair and run out of hair color!

7) Buy a shade lighter than what you want. 

"Take it from Rihanna's colorist Ursula Stephens, who knows a thing or two about fine-tuning tresses: Hair dye always comes out darker than the image on the box. "Buy one or two shades lighter than your desired color," she advises. "It is easier to amp up a color's intensity than it is to tone it down."  (InStyle, 2011)

8) Skip the shower. 

"The scalp's natural oils work as a buffer to prevent irritation," says colorist James Corbett of the James Corbett Studio in New York City. Translation? Dirty hair is ideal for dyeing. "It's also much easier to section second day hair, which ensures even color distribution." He suggests skipping the shampoo a day before you plan to color. (InStyle, 2011)

9) Prepare for the damage. 

Hair always gets a little damaged when applying color, even if you're going back to your natural hue. Both permanent and semi-permanent dyes contain hydrogen peroxide, which chemically changes the color of the hair pigment. Celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham recommends using the Redken Real Control Intense Renewal Mask at least once a week to moisturize dry hair and restore shine. The mask aids in repairing damaged hair and fortifying strands so they resist further breakage. (InStyle, 2011)

10) Buy Madison Reed

Lastly, if you are going to color at home go with Madison Reed. From the Madison Reed website,

"We believe your hair should be as radiant as you are—because feeling beautiful inside and out is your best accessory.

Our new at-home hair color and hair care products make you feel like you've just walked out of a salon every day. Madison Reed adds brilliance to your hair and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, no matter the occasion.

NEXT GENERATION HAIR COLOR

Handcrafted in Italy, our special multi-tone formula comes in 27 natural and dynamic shades for sophisticated salon-quality color with unparalleled depth and shine. Whether you're refreshing your roots or trying on a new color, our professional-grade formula provides complete coverage, especially for those tough grays.

HEALTHIER FOR YOU & YOUR HAIR

Our long-lasting hair color is packed with rich nutrients like keratin, argan oil and ginseng root extract. Your hair will feel stronger, shinier and better than before you colored.

Our formula is free of ammonia and resorcinol, taking the harsh out of hair color. And it smells nice too!

FINDING YOUR COLOR IS EASY

Our online tools help you pick your best color. Using another color brand? Our Color Translator will find the Madison Reed match for you. Need help choosing a color? Our Color Advisor will take you through a few short questions to find your perfect color.

EXPERT GUIDANCE FOR BRILLIANT RESULTS

Talk or chat with the professional stylists on our Color Crew. They have a wealth of hair knowledge and can help you choose your best color. You can even send them your picture—or a picture you like—and they'll walk you through the rest, just like in the salon. Send us an email or give us a call at 1.888.550.9586.

YOU CAN DO THIS

We go beyond the easy-to-understand instructions on our box. With our in-depth online visual instructions and step-by-step videos you'll see exactly how easy it is to apply your color perfectly every time. You can also call our Color Crew and they can walk you through it.

EASY TO GET. EASY TO USE.

You have enough going on. Let us take care of your hair color. Just set up auto-delivery and we'll make sure you have hair color when and where you need it.

Have a hair emergency? Give us a call and we'll expedite delivery—because there's no reason you shouldn't feel beautiful whenever you want.

PACKAGED TO DELIGHT YOU

We want you to have a wonderful coloring experience. So we started with a box that has everything you need.

• Easy instructions on how to use our color
• Barrier cream to keep the skin around your hairline clean
• 2 pairs of well-fitting gloves, one to apply color and another to rinse
• Radiant Cream Color and Conditioning Color Activator to apply to your hair
• Hair cap to wear while you're waiting for your color to set
• Cleansing wipes to clean up any stray color
• Nourishing, Color Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner that you can use for several washes

There's also a special gift inside!

Madison Reed is the best in home hair coloring.  With numerous shades to choose from, along with top quality products, that are easy to use, as well as having access to your own hair color experts, you can expect beautiful results every time!  Visit Madison Reed to get your new hair color here https://www.madison-reed.com

As always Happy Shopping!

PS You can connect with me on:

Instagram: @IHEARTRetailTherapy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IHEARTRetailTherapy

Twitter: @HEARTRetail

Pinterest: RetailTherapy1

Google+: +I HEART Retail Therapy

References

Aarhus, K. (2014). Hair Color 101 How to Speak and Understand Hair Color Level & Tone. Retrieved from About.com: http://womenshair.about.com/od/haircolor/a/Hair-Color-101.htm

InStyle. (2011). 11 Things to Know Before Dyeing Your Own Hair. Retrieved from InStyle: http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20475182_20476161_20927796,00.html

Mo Knows Hair. (2013). To Dye Or Not To Dye? Retrieved from Mo Knows Hair: http://moknowshair.com/hairdyebasics/

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Style Icon of the Week: Chioma Nnadi

Style Icon of the Week: Chioma Nnadi

I absolutely adore Chioma Nnadi... and I freakin' hate her all at the same time!  She is fabulous.  Not only is she a fashion writer at Vogue, she is extremely stylish and overwhelmingly beautiful all at the same time.  Now you understand my mixed emotions about this glamorous writer.

For those of you,  unfamiliar with Chioma, "Nigerian born American Vogue fashion writer Chioma Nnadi has impeccable sense of style. She's got that effortlessly funky, cool New York fashionista thing down pat, not to mention is just stunning!"From every blog that ever featured her (literally).

From her Vogue shoot-5 outfits in five days

Besides being a contributor to many magazines besides Vogue and being style editor at Fader, I know very little about her.  Her air of mystery also adds to her glamor and for some one as fashionable (and awesome) as Chioma, her look and style speaks for itself!

Up close of her day 4 look!

Up close of her day 3 look-I love the necklace!

Effortless fashion, where did she get those shoes?

I should have used this pick for my Harlem Renaissance piece!

She is absolutely stunning

who else could pull of a plaid shawl over a  jacket with a fur hood?

Apparently Chioma can!

 Chioma besides being a talented writer has impeccable style!  You can follow her work at Vogue and Fader!

What do you think Retail Addicts?  Is Chioma absolutely fabulous or what?

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Mommy to Be Fashions

Mommy to Be Fashions

Have you checked out Seed and a Bean lately? If not, be sure to click here. Anyway, while perusing one of my favorite blogs, I stumbled across a great article about being fashionable while pregnant. Empress (Seed and a Bean blogger) posted a wonderful article about pregnant fashions... Check it out here

I know people say when you're pregnant, you are at your most beautiful, but when you can no longer see your toes and your once confident stride turns into a waddle...it's hard to feel the glow.

Believe me I know!

During my pregnancy, I reverted to sweats and cotton tee's until my mother forced me to buy some cute maternity clothes.  And shop I did!  It was therapuetic, but I noticed when I took the effort to make myself look good-I felt good.  I started feeling beautiful.

 So beautiful pregnant women, get a good support system, pamper yourself and look fabulous.  People may feel like it is shallow, but screw 'em.  This is one of the only times where you can act a pain, be pampered by others on a nine month basis and still look beautiful while gaining a crazy amount of weight.  Enjoy it! 

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