On a recent La Bella Vita Radio Show – it was all about Beauty Q & A’s! I had questions come in from all over the country and if you didn’t get to listen to the show – I am sharing my the great information with you here on the blog! I have 18 years as a beauty professional & expert – so if you have a question about beauty, hair, make up & fashion – email me.
Keri from Texas – I get occasional breakouts during that time of the month and when I am totally stressed out – is there anything that I can do about that?
A: The week before your period is the time when many women may experience breakouts due to hormones because their estrogen levels begin to decline and the ovaries produce more progesterone. That helps stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce excessive oil. Be mindful of keeping up a good skin care regimine. If you have really bad breakouts you may want to consider switching to an oil-free moisturizer the week before your period.
Stress and skin problems go hand in hand. Stress will not only cause breakouts but it is one of the main contributors of free radicals in the body, which, in turn, causes premature aging. When the brain recognizes stress, it involuntarily releases stress hormones that thicken the hair follicle’s linings causing blackheads & whiteheads. If bacteria get trapped, blemishes develop.
So my advice Keri in Texas- chill out, kick back and enjoy a glass of wine – the antioxidants do wonders for your skin! If you do end up with a blemish around that time of the month – put some Visine on it to take the red out and use concealer to cover it up!
Sylvia in NJ – What are you best beauty habits? ( vitamins, proper rest, nutrition)
A: This is a great question – So I put together a list that I thought were extremely important.
1) Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water consistently throughout the day. The best way to figure out how much water you need take your body weight cut it in half and that is the amount of ounces that you need to drink. So if you wiegh 150 you need to drink 75 ounces of water. If you work out or outside during very hot weather that amount should be increased. My super hydrator is Organic Coconut Water and it works wonders.
2) Get plenty of sleep – make sure you are getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. It is also very important that you don’t skip your skin care regimine at night. Your skin and entire body for that matter is in repair & rejuvination mode when it is at sleep. So make sure you take advantage of this precious time to rejuvinate your skin and body!
3) Your Mother always said to take your vitamins and she was right!! The trend in skin care that you will see common place in the next 5 years is skin care that you ingest. What you put inside your body is just as important as what you put on the outside to protect it. Beauty Elixirs that provide skin treatments via vitamin drink shots are on the latest trend in the skin care industry.
4) Nutrition – stay as Organic as you can! Stay away from processed foods and those that are GMO (Genetically Modified) The more pure/organic the food you ingest the better it is for your body & health. Your body will spend less time fighting the effects of chemicals from processed food that you’ve ingested and have more time to repair iteself when it’s given healthy organic food.
5) Pillows lots of them – sleep with your head elevated to keep the circulation flowing and for those with allergies & or sinus issues this will allow your sinuses to drain better.
If you listened to the show this is one of my biggest tips that I missed and that is extremely important – and that is keep your hands away from your face. Stop leaning, stretching , your skin with your hands – not only does it cause breakout but causes wrinkles! So if this is a bad habit that you do – start to really to make a concerted effort to stop right now!!!
Alli in California – How do I get rid of wrinkles and puffiness under my eyes and what can I use?
A: You can never get rid of wrinkles but can diminsh them with a great under eye cream. Make sure that you have a high cotton thread cotton or silk pillow cases so your skin is not being pulled/stretched at night by your pillow. I personally have about 20 pillows on my bed – I sleep with many pillows so that my head is elevated (think hospital bed position) Again this helps keep good circulation & blood flow and sinuses don’t fill up causing puffiness. I also, recommend the Vanity Pillow www.plumdesignnyc.com this pillow positions your head perfectly so that you don’t get wrinkles during sleep.
Organic skin care is always recommended for purity. I of course use my own line of products, Bella Vino – Ochinni Creme al Vino (Eye Contour Creme) it provides age-defying firm and lifting reduces expression lines. Intense hydration leaves delicate eye skin nourished & supple, fights free radicals which cause wrinkles, diminishes puffiness and tightens skin. http://www.labellavitacosmetico.com
If you experience excessive puffiness you may be using to much eye cream causing it to plump up (most brands use ingredients to plump skin to soften the lines) Also, make sure that you are applying your eye cream with your middle fingers (more gentle) place creme right on the bone under the eye area and then right under the brow bone – your skin will absorb the amount of hydration that it needs to sustain itself. Don’t apply it to your entire eye area.
Marla in Chicago – I’m so allergic to hair dye. I have tried ones without sulphates but my head still itches for weeks after getting it done and also I am also losing hair. What is your recommendation?
A: I did some research for you – I personally use Paul Mitchell The Color when I do hair color and it is pretty gentle. However, I have a color line that comes highly recommended http://www.organiccolorsystems.com from some of my favorite colorists. The Organic Color System is certified organic, eco certified, cruelty free, 100% vegan, has no amonia or derivatives. So this should be a great option for you and can be purchased by your professional colorist. As far as hair loss, without seeing the extent of the loss this is a hard question to answer, but I will give you some insight. Remember, we lose 70-120 hairs daily, so if you skip a few days of shampooing it may feel like you are losing a ton of hair in the shower but it is normal loss. Certain medications can cause hair loss so look to see if any medication that you are taking if that is a side effect. If you feel you are experiencing excessive loss consult your doctor.
Julianna in Arizona – How important is Organic Skin Care & why? Also, I am looking for a great hydrating mask.
A: As the owner of a Certified Organic Skin Care Line, Bella Vino – Organic is very important very many reasons. Organic products are safer because they contain no carciogenic ingredients ( cancer causing ingredients) and because organic products contain no fillers you are getting 100% pure ingredients. This is important because that means you’re getting 100% treatment & benefits. Most products contain fillers that dillute the effectiveness of the product and the benefits.
I recommended Julianna, Bella Vino’s – Maschera al Vino – this Hydrating Mask’s creamy formula rehydrates skin, purifies and detoxes the skin. Poweful vino therapy antioxidants improve micro-circulation, fight cellular aggression aging and nourish the skin leaving it soft and supple. http://www.labellavitacosmetico.com
Leah in New York – What are the best self tanners/spray tans?
A: I am glad that you asked about self tanners & spray tans. Because,I highly recommend that everyone stays out of the sun. It is the biggest causes of pre-mature aging and should be avoided as much as possible. Self tanners/spray tans are a great way to get that golden glow without the effects of the sun! Spray tans have come a long way and there are some organic spray tans that have come to the market recently- I would suggest that when you go for spray tanning that you try to find a salon/spa that has this option available. Organic spray tanning offers a solution that neither ages you nor pollutes your body. Organic spray tans are best because they use only all natural and pure ingredients. Depending on the brand it usually is a mixture of organic herbs, antioxidants, flowers, and raw sugar. They’re sans chemicals and harsh ingredients. So you can get a healthy, organic bronzed glow that is healthy for both your skin and the environment.
I personally don’t usually use self tanners or spray tan often – but have used Tan Towel’s http://www.tantowels.com since they were very first introduced and loved the results from using them.
Brenda in Denver – How do you keep your skin looking best with the changes in the weather? Also, how often do you change shampoos?
A: First of all, I think that the change of the seasons is a great time to go and get a professional facial to transition your skin into the new season. During the year, your skin encounters many different climate changes and you must address them to keep your skin looking healthy. During the winter months, in very cold climates most experience very dry & dehydrated skin from lack of moisture in the air and the dry heat in our homes. It is very important to keep your skin hydrated, drink plenty of water and keep skin moisturized use both serum and moisturizers to keep ultra hydrated. During the summer months, depending on where you live, there may be a lot of moisture in the air or may be extra dry. In either case, if you don’t want to use something heavy, I recommend using serums, they pack a punch of treatment and are lightwieght.
Shampoos do not have to be changed to be effective according to most professional hair care manufacturers. However, personally, I change my shampoo out every time I buy a new liter – I have my favorite brands and you can usually find an array of different product lines in my shower. Remember if you have color treated hair to use shampoos specifically formulated to keep color from fading. Clarifying shampoos should not be used daily because the strip the hair of its natural oils and can leave it extremely dry – clarifying shampoos are for great for after swimming in the pool or ocean to get the chemicals out. I would suggest having a daily conditioner, regardless of your hair type – conditions without leaving your hair feeling weighed down. Also, use a deep conditioner after a chemical hair service, and when your hair is feeling dull & dry.
Sue in Kentucky – What kind of skin care for oily skin should one use in humid climates?
A: I suggest using a serum in humid climates, they are light, absorb into the skin quickly and will provide the needed treatment & benefits without feeling heavy. The biggest misconception about oily skin, is that you don’t need moisturizer and nothing could be further from the truth!
Jill M. in Texas – Does it matter if you wash your face every night before you go to bed?
A: Yes, Yes, Yes, Hell Yes !!! If your not cleansing your skin at night that means you are not doing a proper skin care regimine. Taking off your makeup and following up with proper skin care allows your skin to rejuvinate itself through out the night. By not washing every night you are missing out on beneficial treatment time during your sleep which helps put the brakes on the aging process.
Jill H. in Kansas City – How often should you wash pillow cases and what do you think about the Clarsonic devices out there?
A: You should change pillow cases often – I recommend at least twice a week. I also recommend that you use organic high cotton thread count pillow cases. You should not use fabric softner or fragranced detergent. (woolite is best to wash pillowcases) Pillow cases can spread bacteria that causes acne, if you have or are a teen with acne problems these simple tips can make a world of difference.
Clarsonic devices and those like it are great for exfoliating the skin. This is the reason why skin feels smooth and supple after using one of these devices is because it is sloughing off the dead skin cells and allows smoother skin to emerge. Those who have acne notice that there skin looks better – this is because the device allows for better cleansing and keeps the pores cleaner and doesn’t allow the build up of acne causing debris to build up. I think the main point in the devices is the fact that they are exfoliating skin and that is a step in skin care a lot of people choose to skip. So, for me I personally think you can use a clarsonic type device with any skin care line and get great results.
I hope that you learned something new with these tips and if you have a question please email me and I may just feature your question and answer it on an upcoming La Bella Vita Radio Show! http://www.toginet.com/shows/labellavita
Ciao Bella & Bello’s,
Dawn Catherine
About :
Dawn Catherine is a true beauty & lifestyle sommelier, layering her seventeen years as a beauty & luxury lifestyle expert. A world traveler whose suitcase rarely stays unpacked, she finds beauty in every destination traveled, but it is Italy, where her soul feels most at home. A passion for all things Italian, its art, beauty, culture and wine. A serial entrepreneur she has several businesses including La Bella Vita Cosmetico, bestowing a little taste of Italy and its beauty to her clientele through her luxury beauty product lines. La Bella Vita means “living a beautiful life” and Italians do so exquisitely. She recently launched La Bella Vino, her own brand of Italian red and white wines and also imports Italian luxury goods. Her latest venture as a branding stylist and beauty coach, she helps entrepreneurs find their signature look to best represent their companies “brand”.
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