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For a long time now, I have always questioned the use of toners. What is its purpose? Is it necessary to put on before moisturizing? What can it do for my skin? This has been one of the most debated questions in skincare.

So why are toners often neglected in our daily skincare regimen? Well here’s a bit of background on toners. Toners are used after cleansing to keep the skin’s pH balanced and to protect the skin against bacteria which is great for acne prone skin. Toners make the skin feel clean and refresh. Toners are also known to tighten pores and removing excess traces of makeup. So far, toners sound great. Right?

So why the fuss? Are they really necessary? Some would say that it’s not for everyone. Toners are optimal for combination and/or oily skin. So people with mature, dry, and sensitive skin should just skip it. In today’s market, most cleansers are enough to properly cleanse the skin without the need of a toner. The last thing you want is to strip your skin of its natural oil. That will just increase oil production and worsen the problem. On the other hand, some might say that it is essential and loves the freshness that toners give after wearing a lot of makeup.  It soothes the skin, moisturizers, and some provide antioxidants which helps improve the overall health of the skin. Skin type shouldn’t be a determing factor.

I too have oily skin so a toner is included in my daily regimen and I like how it leaves my skin extra clean. Is it necessary? Probably not, but if you are satisfied with the extra clean feeling after using it, then by all means continue.  If you choose to use a toner, make sure to stay away from harsh astringents because they disturb the pH level and that just make your skin very oily. Look for toners that are gentle and alcohol free. Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner would be a good choice. It smooths, moisturizes, and provides antioxidant protection from environmental toxins. Talk about a triple threat.

Again if you love your toner and feel that it does improve your skin, then don’t stop using it. Truth is, I think this is a topic that will always be questionable.

What do you think? Are toners necessary?

Toners: Are They Really Necessary? is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a great labor day weekend. I know I did. You’ve probably been waiting for my next beauty post. Well…Wait no longer.

Summer is coming to an end and people are still doing their  last minute traveling. I just picked my mom up from the airport yesterday at LAX and you wouldn’t believe the amount of people that were traveling. So, if you have travel plans, make sure to pack essential beauty products. Actually, ShuUemura is selling these cool cleansing oil set (Limited Edition) which is perfect for traveling. I bought a set myself and for my mom. We can’t stop raving about them.

The assorted cleansing beauty oil set is a two-in-one cleanser and makeup remover in Classic, Fresh, and A/O formulations. It’s very gentle and balances my skin. It doesn’t dry out my skin and it cleanses very well. This set is pretty small, about 1.7 oz each, so you should have no problem finding room in your travel bags. If you don’t plan on traveling, they make nice gifts too!

So, don’t neglect your beauty products wherever you go. This cleansing oil set makes it easy not to.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Set (Limited Edition) is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Ever wonder why your face breaks out when wearing makeup or why your makeup application doesn’t go on evenly? Did you ever think that your makeup brushes could be the culprit?

Truth is, makeup brushes can collect lots of dirt, oil, and bacteria after a long period of usage. So, it is essential to frequently wash your brushes so your face can be clean and healthy. Bacteria is one factor that people should be aware of when using makeup brushes. Bacteria loves to breed in brushes which will eventually cause breakouts and acne so cleaning them shouldn’t be taken lightly. You want to maintain a good hygiene to help keep your skin clear so remember to clean your makeup brushes.

Here are a few tips to properly clean your makeup brushes. First you’ll need:

• Towel
• All your brushes (eyeshadow, makeup, blush)
• Shampoo
• Vinegar
• Water

1. First, run all your brushes under the sink faucet in warm water.
2. Clean them by using a small amount of shampoo, work in a lather, then rinse. (Makeup brushes are made out of hair so shampoo would be a great choice.)
3. Continue to shampoo and rinse until there’s no more color from the brush.
4. Make a mixture of vinegar and water in a bowl. 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar.
5. Dip the brushes in the mixture for a couple of seconds and remove. (This will disinfect the brushes.)
6. Lastly, place brushes on top of towel and allow them to air dry.

There are other alternatives you can use to clean your brushes. Several inexpensive brush cleaners are available at your nearest beauty stores. They are just as effective and will give your brushes that proper cleaning. I prefer the method above but either one will work. Your brushes should also be cleaned once a week. Doing so will keep your face clear and give your makeup a flawless look.

How to Properly Clean Your Makeup Brushes is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Happy Friday!

To all my lovely readers, here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming this Fall from Benefit Cosmetics.

Benefit Cosmetics PowderFlage Set. (Now Available)

The much anticipated powder is finally here. Powderflage is a virtually weightless powder concealer that is light diffusing for the eyes and face. It’s used to camoflauge dark circles, fine lines, and other small imperfections while brightening the complexion. This 2 piece kit comes with a brush “The Flager” that conceals with 2 fast strokes. It also comes with this cute powder ball that you can easily fit in your purse. You can wear it alone or with makeup.

I’ve had the chance to try this product and I must say that it actually works. My face is much brighter. Who knew a pink powder could actually conceal my dark circles. Definitely worth checking out.

BadGal Plum (Release Date: October 2008)

So this Fall, the look is all about the purples, violet, and burgundy shades. Well… a little birdie told me that Benefit Cosmetics will be releasing Bad Gal Plum in October after the success of Bad Gal Blue last year. This eye brightening plum mascara will definitely bring beauty and warmth to the eyes. I’m excited for this release and I’m hoping that everyone will be watching out for this product.

That’s all for now, everyone have a great weekend and see you next week!

Get a Sneak Peek: New Benefit Products for Fall is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

I came across a new cleanser yesterday at the Origins store called A Perfect World Deep Cleanser with White Tea. It was just released this month and I decided to test it out for myself.  It’s formulated for skin that’s environmentally challenged. This foaming face wash is made with nature’s silver tipped white tea. The cleansing action of Palm, Coconut, and Oat Amino Acid deeps cleanses the skin. It detoxifies and free the skin from radicals that causes skin aging oxidation, dehydration, and irritation.

I was quite impressed with this dirt grabbing cleanser. It’s a creamy cleanser but it lathers up very well. It really left my skin clean and refreshed. It did a great job washing off my makeup and it has lovely scent too.

Great product and one I would definitely recommend.

BeautyHealth-Origins A Perfect World White Tea Deep Cleanser is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

The popularity of mineral makeup is consistently growing and now The Body Shop will introduce its new mineral makeup line in September 2008. I’ve never really tried their makeup. I am a huge fan of their skincare though. This is a perfect opportunity for me to try and test their new makeup line.

Nature’s Mineral Makeup will consist of mineral powder for the face, blush, and eyeshadows. Great Fall colors. I’m excited. I can’t wait to try these out.

Check out your nearest Body Shop store or go online at TheBodyShop.com to grab this new makeup line in September.

New Mineral Makeup Line from The Body Shop is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

If you are like me with thin eyebrows, then I have some great tips for you on getting sexy brows. My brows are very thin on the ends of my eyebrows so I always use a brow liner to make them appear fuller. I was talking to an esthetician the other day and she gave me some advice on ways to get my eyebrows to look full again.

So here it is:

1. When you sleep on cotton pillowcases, it causes the hairs on our eyebrows to get yanked from the root which is why most people have thin eyebrows on the ends of their brows. She suggested changing my pillowcases to silk which can help stop my eyebrows from thinning out. I said to myself, “Wow… I would have never thought of that.”

2. Putting castor oil on the sides of your eyebrows that’s thinning will promote hair growth. You can apply a small amount on your eyebrows right before you go to bed.

So, by using these two tips, you’re eyebrows will grow back overtime. I just bought my silk cases yesterday and the castor oil too. Until it grows back, I will continue to use my brow pencil.

Anastasia Beverly Hills has a great brow pencil called Go Brow which is a Universal brow pencil. It has two ends and they both work together to create perfectly shaped brows. One side of the pencil is a universal brow color and the other is a highlighter. This brow pencil works for any skin tone. It’s easy to apply and it last for a long time. I bought this pencil a week ago and it looks great on my brows. It blends in very well.

So this is a great brow pencil to use if you have thin eyebrows or if you want more defined brows. Also, try using the tips above to get thicker brows too. Either one will give you sexy, fuller brows.

BeautyHealth Tips On How To Get Fuller Brows is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Clinique Fall 2008 Collection is looking pretty HOT. Their trendy makeup this makeup is straight from the runway by taking the matte look and making it modern. It looks hot and I’m very surprised at how great their collection is this fall! This collection features lipstick, eyeshadows, and more. Such a variety of products and colors. Here is just a taste of what is coming this Fall:

Lips

Clinique’s new High Impact Lip Color is the next generation of lipstick which is HOT, HOT, HOT! It’s long lasting wear, feather resistant, and comes with an SPF 15 to protect your lips from the sun. There are 20 different colors to offered; but the Red-y to Wear, a red wine color, is a true beauty. I just love the color red!

Cheeks

Clinique BlushWear Cream Stick delivers a healthy hint of color to your cheeks. Very subtle and natural looking. It goes on creamy but stays on as a powder. There are three different shades to choose from this Fall and this Cream Stick goes well on any skin tone or skin types. Oh, and it’s oil free which I love.

Eyes

Clinique’s New Colour Surge Eyeshadow Stay Matte comes with nine new shades this Fall. This eyeshadow is very easy to blend and buildable especially if you’re looking for a smokey eye look. The shadows are also sheer and easy to apply which is great if you are new to makeup and still learning the tricks of applying eyeshadow. Again, very easy to use.

Check out the Clinique counter or Clinique.com for their Fall 2008 Collection.

Clinique Fall 2008 Collection Looks HOT! is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Burt’s Bees has a great new line for people who are worried about the aging process. The Naturally Ageless Collection smoothes away fine lines and wrinkles and firms the skin naturally. The products are filled with antioxidant-rich pomegranate which has been known to protect the hair and skin, and other natural ingredients to slow down the signs of aging.

The Collection comes with 4 products:

• Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum
• Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion
• Naturally Ageless Line Smoothing Eye Creme
• Naturally Ageless Skin Firming Night Creme

Intensive Repairing Serum promotes ageless skin. It targets fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and forehead. The antioxidant rich-pomegranate fights off the skin-damaging free radicals which diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by strengthening skin’s moisture barrier.

Line Diminishing Day Lotion targets fine lines and wrinkles during the day for soft, healthy, and ageless skin. The lotion is packed with antioxidant rich pomegranate to fight off free radicals during the day and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Mexican wild yam extract in the formula helps to increase skin’s firmness.

Line Smoothing Eye Creme smoothes away lines and wrinkles around the eyes giving a naturally ageless eye area. This creme is packed with antioxidant rich pomegranate to fight off free radicals and diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The eye formula is also packed with magnolia extract to reduce the appearance of dark circles and horse chestnut extract which helps to reduce puffiness.

Skin Firming Night Creme firms the skin while you rest. This rich formula rehydrates the skin for firmer, ageless skin. The night creme is packed with antioxidant rich pomegranate to fight skin damaging free radicals. The formula also contains white birch bark to restore skin’s firmness and para cress to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

All of these products are around $25 which is a decent price for obtaining ageless skin. All Burt’s Bees products can be found at your local drugstore or at www.burtsbees.com

New Naturally Ageless Collection from Burt’s Bees is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Hello All!

For people who suffer from oily skin, you should check out this new product I am using for my face. Dermalogica Skin Refining Masque removes impurities from the skin surface, which helps reduce oily skin breakout. I’ve been using it for two weeks now and it is great. I definitely see a difference in my skin. Less breakouts is one of them. If you suffer from breakouts and/or have oily skin, it’s good to use a clay masque once or twice a week to refine the surface of your skin, thus improving your skin’s health. All it takes is 10 minutes to skin clarity.

So the refining masque includes:

• Kaolin and Bentonite clays to remove the excess oil on the face.
• Botanical extracts of Mallow, Arnica and Cucumber, plus Zinc Oxide to help reduce inflammation and soothe the skin.
• Purifying Watercress, Lemon and Ivy to help revive dull skin.

Again, it’s a great masque for acne sufferers so check out the Dermalogica website and view other cool products from them. It is a little pricey. I bought mine for $32, but it’s worth it.

Manage Oily Skin With Dermalogica Skin Refining Masque is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Check this out! The makers of Juice Beauty will be launching a new USDA certified organic line. The Juice Beauty Organic Collection consist of a three piece regimen that is USDA certified organic. All of the products contains 95% organic ingredients which fulfills USDA guidelines for organic production, processing, and labeling standards. In two weeks, Juice Beauty new organic launch will be hitting Sephora stores nationwide.

Seems like Juice Beauty is stepping things up with an organic line, that’s natural and safe on the skin. Skin’s health is important and Juice Beauty recognizes that. There’s one thing that holds true: Juice taste better when freshly squeezed!
The new organic collection consists of:

• Organic Facial Wash
• Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask
• Organic Facial Moisture Concentrate

I can’t wait to test it out.

Manage Skin’s Health With Juice Beauty Organic Line is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

Well here it is……. Nars New Fall Collection for 2008. I’m excited because I love Nars cosmetics especially there glosses and blushes. This Collection is all about femininity and sophistication. It’s designed to compliment this seasons bold hues. The colors are a combination of neutrals and shimmering tones which is quite a beauty. These 8 items ranges from eyeshadows, lipsticks, and nail polish. This collection is a definite must for this upcoming fall. I think this is going to be a great collection. It’s already gotten so many praise which is should because their colors are gorgeous. Nars New Fall Collection will hit stores in August 2008.

Here is the collection:

Eyes
Fez Single Eyeshadow ($22) - Velvety Cocoa
Isolde Duo Eyeshadow ($32) - Frosted ginger, Shimmering copper
Cordura Duo Eyeshadow ($32) - Shimmering warm rich brown, Shimmering sooty dark brown

Lips
Beautiful Liar Lipstick ($24) - Sheer spiced coral
Senorita Lipstick ($24) - Sheer shimmering cherry blossom
Female Touch Lip Gloss ($24) - Lilac Mauve

Nails
Rebel Yell Nail Polish ($16) - Dusty Pomegranate

Cheeks
Dolce Vita Blush ($25) - Dusty rose

Nars Fall 2008 Collection Brings Beauty and Sophistication is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

“Beauty is just a bowl of cherries with Stila’s new Cherry Crush lip and cheek stain.”
Another lipgloss that delivers health and beauty to lips. I love the smell of this stuff. This lipgloss and cheek stain is infused with cherry and pomengranate extracts which not only moisturizes, but reacts with the ph level of the skin giving you deeper lip color and brighter cheeks. It also has other antioxidants like Vitamin A, C, and E for added moisture.
It is a water based formula so it’s a bit thinner than the normal lipglosses.

My review:
I’ve always been a fan of Stila’s products but for this particular one, I’m not completely convinced. I tried and experimented with it a couple of times and I noticed that the lip stain gets inside the lines of my lips after a couple of hours. That’s not hot at all. So if you have dry or cracked lips, and lips with deep lines, I wouldn’t recommend this product. I think it’s best for people with very smooth lips. I like the cheek stain and I only need a small amount. I guess it all depends on your skin. You might need a little more or a little less.
On a positive note, I do love the smell, and I do love the fact that it has antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, and E. I would probably rate it a 3 out of 5.

Stila’s Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com

So here’s the big question. Does over the counter acne pills work or don’t work? I’ve been asking myself this question for years and I have been frightened to waste my money on them. So a couple of weeks ago, I marched into Sephora and bought this product I have been itching to try called Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement Tablets. I’ve tried topical, prescription products in the past like Retin A and differin put I still get a breakout or two once in a while. It can be so frustrating. I said to myself, “you know what, it’s time to try a new approach with your skin.” So I looked into supplements that can help clear my acne and Murad seemed like the right fit.

Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement Tablets claims to reduce breakouts by up to 55% in six weeks and that it will improve the overall health of the skin from the inside out. This product has B-complex and zinc which is known to help heal the skin, prevent clogged pores, and reduce inflammation. (Which attracted me to this product)

So here’s my review:

I’ve been using this product a little over two weeks now and I do see a little difference in my skin. My skin feels less oily. I still have a couple of my old breakouts on my face but I think they will go away if I continue to use this product. But so far I don’t see my face getting any worse and it feels cleaner, like my pores can breathe. I guess I’ll have to see when it’s six weeks.

The only downside I have is first the smell. It’s not that great. Secondly, you have to take this twice a day everyday. You must maintain the skincare regimen if you want to see results. It can be hard sometimes to remember to take a pill twice a day. Lastly, is the size of the pills. It’s pretty large and I hate when I take them because they sometimes get stuck in my throat. I try and drink a lot of water for it to go down. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn’t.

It’s up to you if you want to take over the counter acne supplements and I see no harm in trying them out. I’ll keep everyone posted a month from now about my results.

See you tommorrow!

Does Acne Supplements Aid in Healthy Skin? is brought to you by http://www.hotbeautyhealth.com