Have you seen our new gift guide for Valentine’s Day?

Shopping information, pricing and links can be found here.

The US Census Bureau projects that by the year 2050, 50 percent of our population will be Asian, Hispanic, or African American. Within these ethnicities, skin cancer is on the rise, and when it occurs in skins of color, the skin cancer mortality rate is disproportionately high. Leading dermatologists Wendy E. Roberts, M.D., and Mona A. Gohara, M.D. share their expert insights about this alarming problem.

Alarming facts:

• Melanoma is the number one cancer among 25-29 Caucasian women
• A recent study reveals that having skin cancer increases one’s risk of developing another malignancy
• UV radiation (sunshine) and tanning booths are equally called carcinogens by US Health Dept.
• As compared with Caucasians, African Americans have a higher metastasis/death rate when afflicted with Squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma
• One study reveals that Asian women with a history of skin cancer are 5.64 times more likely to report a history of a second malignancy, primarily breast cancer
• The incidence of melanoma among Latinos increased by 32.4% between 1992 and 2004 according to one study

Startling statistics:

• One person dies of melanoma every 62 minutes
• 75% increased risk of melanoma if one’s first exposure to tanning booths is in youth
• 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime
• Skin cancer is the number 1 cancer in the US
• Blistering sunburn in childhood doubles your lifetime risk of melanoma.

What We Can Do: Sun Safety Tips for all

It’s a myth that darker toned skins do not require the use of SPF products prior to sun exposure. In actuality, a person with medium brown skin has a “natural” SPF of 13; an SPF of 30 is recommended to protect from the sun’s harmful rays.

Here are more tips:

• Use 30+ SPF sunscreen with UVA & UVB protection daily year-round
• Remember you need a golf-ball size amount (one-ounce) of sunscreen to cover all exposed areas of the body. (Don’t forget your hands!)
• Use sunscreen first and apply mineral makeup that also includes SPF to provide extra protection for the face. The mineral makeup powder can be brushed on every 2-3hrs without ruining foundation
• Choose a sunscreen formula that will encourage you to use it—there are lots of appealing formulas out there
• Everyone, regardless of skin tone, should protect their skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. For maximal protection, apply vitamin C- and E-based moisturizers (antioxidants) with SPF during the day and a retinoid at night.
• Avoid using retinoid-based products during the day and on the night before outdoor activities such as golf, tennis and sailing.
• Stay away from tanning beds
• Examine yourself for possible signs of skin cancer once a month
• Schedule an annual full-body skin cancer screening exam by a dermatologist

Hyperpigmentation is a problem affecting many with darker complexioned skin, and can be exasperated by damage due to sun exposure. Doctors recommend using retinol, derived from vitamin A, for treatment and prevention.

• Using retinols boosts the properties of other bleaching agents used for Hyperpigmentation, such as hydroquinone.
• Retinols provide maintenance treatment for people who have discontinued bleaching agents
• High-strength retinoids may be prescribed by the Dermatologist. These can be combined with other bleaching agents to make powerful anti-pigmentation creams. Please consult with your doctor or dermatologist before use.

Having a case of winter skin? Or is your skin problematic all year round? Striking Skincare has given us a dynamic duo for this week’s giveaway, two creme products from their Striking line made to moisturize and help repair aging skin. The formulas replenish moisture and restore firmness and leave skin looking and feeling firm and refreshed. The cremes include an eye creme and restorative moisture creme, and they’re both fragrance-, paraben-, and phthlate-free. And just check their website for the amazing stats surrounding these cremes, with success rates for different improvement areas hovering mostly in the 90 percent ranges.

Check them out, sign up for the contest, and take your shot at winning striking skin for the new year!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A STRIKING SKINCARE DUO

The holidays are approaching, and there’s no time like the present to start feeling the festive spirit and maybe get a little gift planning out of the way. The folks at Duri Cosmetics are offering up the chance for a ConstantChatter reader to snag a set of nail polishes in these four festive colors: Icicle, Night Before Christmas, Iced Plum, and Sitting By The Fire.

They’ve gone beyond the basic reds and greens and have some lovely shades you’ll want to wear, with festive names that will have you feeling the holiday spirit long after the holiday rush has set in. Or you can cross one more thing off your to-do list and stuff some stockings with them – it’s a win-win situation. Enter now for your chance to win this gift pack, and stop by Duri Cosmetics’ website to check out even more shades for all seasons.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A DURI HOLIDAY NAIL POLISH GIFT PACK

It’s time to slough off that dead summer skin and moisturize. Let Dannielle Kryillos from DailyCandy.com show you how to make an exfoliating salt scrub and a rich body lotion from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Get the latest summer beauty tips  from Sephora Pro Beauty Team Expert, Adi Lando.

Summer is officially here, which means that it’s time to dig out your swimsuit and stock up on sunscreen. Your goal for this summer should be to stay sunburn free — and also suntan free, because sun exposure is sun exposure, and tanning damages your skin just like burning does. So slather on the SPF 50 and save your skin.

Not a fan of the healthy pale look? Opt for a self-tanner to fake the bake. Star Stevenson at Spendicity has these tips for getting the perfect faux tan:

1. Gently exfoliate your skin. You want a smooth surface for the
tanning agent to adhere to so the application isn’t streaky or patchy.
2. Moisturize your skin before applying self tanner. It will allow for a smoother application.
3. Set aside half an hour or more to apply the self tanner and allow it to dry. Don’t rush the application process otherwise you’ll get streaks and might miss some spots.
4. Tie your hair up or use a shower cap so it doesn’t stick to your skin.
5. Apply self-tanner lightly on areas where your skin is thickest (knees, elbows, knuckles, ankles).
6. Wash your hands immediately after application or save yourself the trouble and wear gloves.

For more self tanner tips and tricks, click here to read the rest of the article.

Susan Wagner writes about style at The Working Closet and about chic suburban living at Friday Playdate.

I recently had the opportunity to try two of Cargo’s Plant Love products; their Plant Love Botanical Lipstick and their Plant Love Loose Mineral Powder.  I’m happy to say that I’m loving both.

What you might not know is that I seem to have a bit of a lip balm addiction.  I can’t seem to go anywhere with at least one lip balm nearby.  In fact, when my friend recently went to Switzerland, I didn’t request Swiss chocolate, I requested Swiss lip balms. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken the more adult step and have eased up a bit on my lip balms and branched into lip sticks and glosses.

The thing I love about the Plant Love Botanical Lipstick is that it acts and feels like a lip balm, but colors like a lipstick.  And quite importantly – at least to this busy gal that’s always on the go…it lasts a good two hours or so.  I’m thinking that its lasting power is because it doesn’t have any of those drying ingredients like mineral oils or petroleums, (but I’m just guessing here).

I will say that it had a bit of a funky scent for my tastes, but once it’s on (and maybe topped off with just a touch of gloss) you don’t even notice it.  And what would you expect from a product that’s made meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba oil and shea butter.   You’ll find that these lipsticks are so popular, you’ll have trouble locating the colors you want (it took me three different Sephoras to find the Angie Harmon Grace color that I fell in love with, having given my more redhead-friendly sample to my friend).

As for the Loose Mineral Powder…that stuff rocks!  I’ve been a fan of mineral powder for 3 or 4 years now.  I oiginally fell in love with Bare Minerals.  Thing is, it tended to burn when I used it, especially if I worked up any kind of sweat (and let me tell you, in Southern California, you can break into a slight sweat just walking to your car).  After that first year or so, I started looking for other loose mineral powders but wasn’t able to find one that I liked as much as Bare Minerals (I just made sure to avoid wearing it on hot days).

Then I tried Cargo’s Plant Love Loose Mineral Powder and fell in love.  So much so that after that first week, I couldn’t stop telling everyone I knew about it (including my students!).  It’s got just the right amount of coverage (which you can easily build upon for those days when you might need a little extra coverage) and doesn’t leave your face with the mineral powder sheen that other products tend to leave behind.  Better still, no burn. I promise you, wearing this stuff feels like you’re not wearing any make up at all.

Now like other loose mineral powders, it’s not going to travel well.  And I’ll be honest, it makes a huge dusty mess on my sink. But I’m thinking it’s a price worth paying to know that I’m not only looking good, but I’m doing my body good as well since I’m leaving those nasty parabens, sulfates, fragrence, dyes and chemicals behind. And once again, don’t be surprised if you have difficulty finding your shade, these powders are flying off the shelves.

Disclosure Policy

For The Love of Red Lipstick

This is one of the favorite topics of discussion amongst my girlfriends. Finding the right shade of red (my color of choice Rocker by MAC) for my dark skin was a match made in heaven.

Wearing the right red lipstick is one of the simplest ways to achieve a high fashion look and why this beauty trend continues to reign supreme. Red Lipstick is classic and timeless. No matter what era there’s always a woman sporting a red pout in pictures.

The unfortunate thing about red lipstick is if’s not worn properly it can send out the wrong message. Here’s how to look like a fashion “do” instead of a fashion “don’t”.

6 Simple Ways To Wear Red Lipstick And Always Look Hot

1. One Color Doesn’t Fit All – Choosing the right shade is the way to distinguish trashy from classy.

• Darker/Bronze Skin Tones – Go with a deep red shade with burgundy undertones. Look sultry and sexy the next time you have a night on the town!
• Light to Medium Skin Tones- Selma Hayek wears red well in fact being in the light to medium skin tone you can pull off a true fire engine red to look classic and beautiful day or night!
• Very Pale Skin Tones- Think Nicole Kidman in Chanel. She pulls it off with shades that are lighter and have pink undertones for instant Hollywood Glamour on that special occasion!

2.  Your Lips Should Be The Star of The Show – Less is more when it comes to the rest of your face makeup when wearing red. You might want to skip eyeliner and blush. You can wear foundation & concealer but eye shadow should be neutral. Bat your eyelashes with mascara in black if you have brown or black hair or brown if you have are blonde or lighter hair.

3.  Strike A Pose – You will feel like a fashion model so make the most of your smile by having whiter teeth. Now a days you can find great tooth whitening products at your local drug store. If your teeth are stained, a tint with blue undertones will brighten your smile however avoid tints with yellow undertones I’m afraid it will enhance the stains in your teeth. I’m certain that’s not the look you are going for.

4. You’ve Got The Look – Remember red lips are part of your wardrobe & should not compete with your outfit. Red works best with classic styles i.e your black cocktail dress, white paint suit or neutral blazer with jeans.  Red lipstick should not be the choice of the bride, the prom queen or the beauty queen. If you outfit is over the top it will clash with your lips & could tip your style meter to trashy instead of classy.

5. Draw The Line – Pair you lipstick with a liner that matches your natural lip color and fill in your lips. This will stop your lipstick from bleeding and running. Apply your lipstick then blot with a tissue. Makeup artist recommend dusting your lips with a translucent powder so you can go from day to night.

6. What’s Matte Got To Do With It – Now that you know what your shade is & how to wear it. Buy a matter version for more formal looks. If you want to look less formal glossy is much more versatile.

At the end of the day you want to wear the lipstick, you don’t want the lipstick wearing out your look!!!

Ungenita Prevost is a Hollywood actress and body double that’s taken what she’s learned shadowing high profile celebrities & transformed it into a business. She writes, speaks and coaches women to live a beautifully successful life from the inside, out. To enter her inner/outer world visit Ungenita’s Beauty Blog.

Photo by zoethustra

What Makes Me A Beauty Guru?

I have lived my whole life seeking perfection. I wanted to look good but at the same time, I never quite understood how to accept myself.

I went to beauty college to be an esthetician after high school in hopes of learning the secrets to preserve my youth. I studied the esthetician course for skin care. My studies included basic skin care with the understanding of how ingredients in products affect the skin, skin waxing and make-up application.

I learned how to apply foundation, eyeliner, eyelashes, and contour the eyes with shadow and the cheeks with blush, using the appropriate cosmetic utensils. I lived make-up and all things skin. I guess I was a little obsessed back then.

Specialty treatments at the time were Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Glycolic Acid and Enzyme Peels. One of the perks of going to Cosmetology School was being able to sample hundreds of skin care products. All the high end products like Murad, MD Formulation, Yonka, Aveda, Dermalogica were in my beauty bag. I gained a remarkable amount of knowledge about ingredients. It only fueled my fire even more to take care of my skin.

Those skills were a wonderful prerequisite for a career in entertainment. As a Hollywood actress and body double I had to face my insecurities. I had no choice. Every day I had to look in the mirror because that’s how I made a living.

Playing dress up every week with the perfect hair, make up and wardrobe didn’t make for good therapy. When the lights and cameras were rolling it was definitely make believe. After the director yelled cut, I would revert back to feeling too thin or too fat. Never feeling beautiful enough. You would think after such success I could accept myself.

Being a body double is much like being a shadow. I learned so much from my shadow. Everyone that I thought was perfect had their own challenges and struggles. We all were so focused on external beauty that we forgot the foundation…inner beauty.

Then, around two years ago, I was enlightened by the works of scientist Dr. Alexander Schauss and Dr. Nicholas Perricone. It  enabled me to delve into the foundation one must build to be truly beautiful…which starts within.

The beauty of your cells and a beautiful mindset are far more beneficial than any cosmetics or a fancy wardrobe.

Now don’t get me wrong. It’s great to have style and a healthy body image but one should not be so obsessed that we forget the underlying significance. I truly feel that we must work the inside just as much as the outside.

So I ask, how beautiful are you? Are you just as beautiful from the inside as the outside?

Ungenita Prevost is a Hollywood actress and body double that’s taken what she’s learned shadowing high profile celebrities & transformed it into a business. She writes, speaks and coaches women to live a beautifully successful life from the inside, out. To enter her inner/outer world visit Ungenita’s Beauty Blog.

Photo by TammyManet