Warm Weather Moisturizing

Your facial is finished, your nails are perfect, and your dress is gorgeous. You step outside and within an hour your face has a shine that only another oil slick would love. Sound familiar?

One of the most daunting tasks is switching from a cool weather moisturizer to one light enough for warm, even hot, weather. As you reevaluate your make up shades, refresh your supply of oil free moisturizers and sunscreens. It is easier than you think, but you have to read labels!

• Compare ingredients...

Your fall and winter moisturizers probably show several oils in the first few ingredients. Since skin tends to be oilier during warmer months, it is wise to look for products showing oils further down the ingredients list.

My favorite maneuver is to use a moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid. It doesn't create shine the way many moisturizers do. It seals in moisture against the skin and draws moisture from the environment. In fact, I buy hyaluronic acid alone and use it as the main moisturizing ingredient in personal, warm weather blends. My skin has improved dramatically.

This isn't to say that all oils are undesirable during the warmer months. Jojoba oil is very light and has less shine than a safflower or avocado oil. The key is to spread the oil as thin as possible. Place one or two drops in the palm of your hand, rub your palms together, them pat or lightly stroke the oil on a clean, damp face. This might be all that you need before applying your foundation.

• Do serious moisturizing at night...

Some ladies, and gentlemen for that matter, use night creams as their main moisturizer. You don't have to worry about how it looks with make up, there are no worries about sun exposure, and you look a little better when you wake up! You can also use a heavier moisturizer as part of your home spa regimen. The only warning here is to keep tabs on your skin's behavior during the day as it may become oilier. If this happens, decrease the frequency with which you apply your night cream.

• Do a test drive...

Before a special event, try wearing your moisturizer with the make up you intend to wear, for a few hours. Look in the mirror after 2 or 3 hours to see how much oil or shine is present. This will let you know if you need to make a few adjustments. Use less moisturizer or add a little water.

Don't add water directly to your container of moisturizer, though! This can encourage the growth of bacteria. Spread your moisturizer on your dampened face or add a couple of drops to moisturizer in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together to mix, then apply the mixture to your face.

• Avoid the sun...

A hat, a shady spot, or a colorful parasol will serve you well during outdoor events that start during the afternoon hours. Here, perspiration can add to the break down of your make up and moisturizer. Keep your compact handy! Light dusting of loose mineral veil helps control the shine.

A note about "slip".....

Slip is that smooth glide we seek when applying make up. It is easier to create even coverage for foundation and colors are easier to work with when the skin's surface primed and smoothed. Often, some of that slip is lost when we got to a lighter moisturizer. To preserve slip, look for products that have plant silicones as one of the ingredients. Cyclomethicone is lighter than dimethicone, but both will help your make up glide on while adding a moisture preserving barrier.

I start experimenting with lighter blends during the first weeks of spring, but that time investment isn't for everyone. I just love the creative process, and the results! Read your ingredients, think about problems you have had in the past, and think about your warm weather beauty regimen. There is a product or process, that can solve problems and improve your sense of well being!

Pre-Party Planning: Need a Mild Peel?

Using the calender and natural substances is a simple way to put forth the freshest face possible for holiday festivities. There is still time for treatments to ensure glowing skin in candle lit rooms. Exfoliating chemical and enzymatic masks are straight forward, all natural, and the perfect way to get ready to look fabulous. Apples, heavy cream, sugars and salts can all play an external role and it's easier to rinse the ingredients for apple pie filling from a face then trying to erase evidence of it having been eaten, from thighs.

Two Apples and some honey can tame pimples when blended together until they resemble a paste. The malic acid in the apple acts as a gentle peeling agent and the honey is a natural moisturizer with antibacterial properties. This is a bit milder than a salicylic acid wash or mask and useful if aspirin sensitivities might be an issue. Blend heavy cream with apples and the lactic acid from the cream will join in and soften your face.

Just as most of us have used the cucumber trick on our eyes, crushing or blending the cucumber into a slushy paste can be cooling relief for the rest of the face as well. Cucumber also tightens the skin ever so slightly so this is a great mask to use before special occasions, especially if your soiree is during an evening after you have worked all day. Take about 20 minutes after you wash away your office face and before you put on your party paint. You will look more rested and, more importantly, feel refreshed enough to have fun.

Remember the heavy cream? It's also great with carrots. Put both in a blender and make a thick paste. Spread it on and relax for about 20 minutes. Let the Lactic acid and the Vitamin A from the carrots work their wonders. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.


Since none of these mixtures have preservatives, remember to refrigerate any unused portions. If started tomorrow with one facial every 5 days, skin should look fresher as newer cells are revealed. The psychological boost will be unmistakable.

Have fun!