I discovered something while shaving …

There is an unwelcome guest on my big toe that gets me where I want to go. It is small the size of a straight pin head. It is black and under the nail. I am worried as it came out of nowhere. Moving from up North to sunny Florida 🌞 🌴 for my husband has it’s rewards but it’s got a downside too. You need to wear a sunscreen here even more. And liberally apply it too. Cause the sun keeps following you… even on a cloudy day.

So since its skin cancer awareness month and as a beauty and skin care professional I had to share! I feel no pain. Nothing is red or inflamed looking but it IS there a few weeks now.

I happen to have a skin care check up booked for next week. So the timing could be more perfect. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I am kinda of scared. I have had squamous cell cancer. The last two times I pointed out brown spots on their face and body to my clients … they were skin cancer and they are no longer with us.

Have you got an appointment booked with your dermatologist for YOUR annual skin care checkup? 👩‍⚕️ 👨‍⚕️

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End of summer… Skin Smoothie

Photo by Mihai Stefan Photography on Pexels.com

As you take in and soak in every minute of summer in the sun 🌞 your skin will get dry and look it too. A simple mask I love to do and highly recommend cause it is a natural beauty recipe too. A dermatologist shared this recipe with me.

This home-made skin smoothie and soother is as near as your kitchen.

All you need is:

1 ripe avocado (I prefer organic)

1 tablespoon of local organic  honey

Mash the avocado and spoon in the honey. Stir together. Apply to your face and decollette. Leave on the face at least 5 minutes.

Rinse well with a lukewarm water and a washcloth.

Your FACE will love you back and feel lovely!

You can use this recipe year round but it is wonderful around this time of year.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

PLEASE note:

If you are allergic to the above ingredients do NOT use this recipe to soothe and soften your skin.

Skin Care Alert!!!

I saw my dermatologist for a tiny spot on the side of my nose.I had waited almost a  month to see her as she could not see me sooner. The spot was red and came out of nowhere. I was really scared as I did not want cancer on my nose or anywhere for that matter. I have had so many clients lately who have had skin cancer on their face and it was so bad reconstructive surgery was necessary. So sad,painful and expensive too.

When I finally got in for my appointment she examined me from head to toe. When she got to my nose and I watched her look strategically on my nose with a little unit with light. She gave me the news! I was on pins and needles!

Th condition I have is not rare. It isn’t cancer it according to her is a tiny scratch on my skin from OVER scrubbbing or exfoliating. In my quest for healthy looking clean skin I scratched my skin in the process. OH HAPPY DAY. I flew out of her office with wings on.

LESSON learned? Ladies be careful don’t be so rough with your skin! Don’t over scrub,exfoliate,buff and more. Be gentle with the skin on your face and body.

Be in tune with your body and skin.

Develop a relationship with a dermatologist.You don’t want to wait until you have a problem. You want to have someone you can count on and call on.I get checkups every six months after having had skin cancer. A board certified dermatologist can see you for blemishes,sun spots,moles and serious conditions like pre-cancer and skin cancer.Get to the root pof the problem before it get worse or hopeless.

To find a dermatologist in your area go to:www.aad.org

#skincancersurvivor

The RIGHT way to apply moisturizer!

Yes, there is a right and wrong way to apply it.

#1. Apply as soon as you drop that wash cloth or towel out of the shower. It is best to apply while your face is damp. Doing this will seal the water into your skin.

#2. It doesn’t matter if your cream is $275.00 a jar or $10.00. Both price points will work and moisturizing the skin.

#3.Choose one with hyaluronic acid,ceramides, retinol…if you have at least one of these ingredients on the label. (dermatologists recommend these) These hydrate and plump your skin beautifully.

#4.Apply your moisturizer with a patting and pressing motion. PLEASE don’t rub into your skin in strong construction worker movements. It hurts my eyes when I see the heavy duty way women apply moisturizer or even liquid foundation. Be gentle with your skin!

Have you got a beauty question? Want to share a skin care secret you love? Chat beauty with me here.

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Spring into a new Skin Care Routine

As a beauty expert I get asked lots of questions. But the one that I hear the most is on skin care.

It goes like this…“Should I use an entire brand of a skin-care line,or can I mix and match products and brands?”

Skin-care collection prevent errors as there are created like a set with step by step products and systems.

Using a Clarisonic sonic cleanser,an anti-bacterial soap,a Retin-A cream from your plastic surgeon or dermatologist and an over the counter honey almond scrub may irritate the skin and dry out the skin even more.

Another scenario I see and hear a lot of  is…overdoing it!

If you use say a cleanser from one brand with salicylic acid, a toner with glycolic acid and a retinoid face cream and a Clarisonic unit,you run the risk of overdoing and irritating the skin causing unsightly peeling and redness.

This is a over exfoliation cocktail that can backfire on your complexion.

You simply have to make sure the products are compatible and that they work for you and your skin type!

Seek an esthetician who is a skin care professional or you can ask your dermatologist on your next visit. Tell them your morning and evening skin care regime and the products you use and see if the products work well when combined. If you notice irritation and redness or your face just plain hurts and rough to the touch …stop and listen to it and give your skin a break.  Lastly,if some skin care products are not working for you try another brand.

The bottom line is a lot of teens and women are using way too many products on their face and the wrong mix. Treat your skin with TLC. Tender Loving Care.

Please don’t …keep buying more products and piling them on.

Your skin can only take so much!

Day 24 to more beautiful skin!

Sun spots according to most women and men aren’t very pretty.

Days in the sun,pregnancy or prescription medicine can give those little or big brown spots and splotches. In the Orient women dislike them so much they get skin whitening facials to eliminate them and to lighten the skin.
The bright news is you can fade those spots over time. The magic ingredient is Hydroquinone,and should be dabbed directly onto brOwn spots every night.I have one pesky spot on my upper right cheek and I use this nightly. I do not apply it right before I go to sleep, I apply it an hour before after I have washed my face and give it a chance to do its magic to help lighten my spot. This way I don’t rub my face into my pillow case and the cream is gone. I recommend this cream to all my clients who are concerned about this spotty issue.

See a dermatologist for this remedy for spot beauty or your spa. You’ll look awesome before you know it!

Day 17 to beautiful skin!

Think you have acne?

It is a problem for many people.One of the main things for sure is chocolate and greasy foods don’t always cause acne nor make it worse. Keeping your face and hands clean. Keeping your hands off your face IS important! Change your pillowcase often.
My dermatologist warns a few zits are not acne! Besides genetics here are some other reasons you may develop acne.
Hormones,stress,bacteria,lack of sleep,your diet,food allergies,poor cell turnover,cosmetic related allergies and an over active sebaceous gland can cause acne flair ups.

D.I.Y Skin Toner for Blemished Skin

1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice
1 cup of water
2/3 cup of witch hazel

Mix all of the above together and use nighlty and play with it first to see how your skin reacts to it. Apply with cotton pad and stay away from eye area or lips. It will also brighten your complexion/skin.

*This recipe is from a client of mine who has acne and swears by this.I tried it… it feels refreshing! If you are allergic to any of the above please do not try this recipe.
If you have a noticeable strong case of acne or any skin concerns consult a dermatologist…Doctor knows best.