Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore

Between working (on work) and hustling together some exciting book launch events (which are going to kick ass and I can’t wait to tell you about them), I’m not sleeping much these days. BUT. I’ve also been working on some kick-ass blog posts about beauty oils and body care routines!  In fact, I was hoping to post them this week, but my plans were foiled. They were foiled, however, for the very best reason, and that reason is that our Korean Beauty Secrets book started shipping 3 WEEKS EARLY!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

It was insane, actually, as we had absolutely no idea that was going to happen!  We found out about it when people started messaging us on Sunday to tell us their book had just arrived from Amazon. First we did a lot of squealing, and after that we panicked. The original release date was supposed be November 3rd. Coco and I have been working on a companion website, the URL of which is actually in the back of the book. But that website isn’t ready yet because we thought we had a couple more weeks to work on it! So I’ve been in a frenzy since this past Sunday, frantically trying to get the book website ready for prime time. I haven’t showered in a couple of days, I’ve been subsisting on cereal and black cherry seltzer, and sleeping for 8 hours in a row is my new life goal.  This is how the hot dogs are made, you guys!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

But the good news is: books are shipping! And I finally got a couple of copies of it today, and they look really, really good! Not only is the content great, the actual production is amazing. The binding, the weight, the print quality are all absolutely gorgeous; better than we ever imagined it would be. I’m so proud of this book that I have to restrain myself from shoving it in people’s faces and saying, “Have you seen this? I wrote it. Look at it. I SAID LOOK AT IT!”

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Book-Related Instagram Giveaways

We’ve got a couple of pretty exciting Instagram giveaways surrounding this book going on right now! Here are the details for both:

Giveaway #1

Club Clio USA Book Launch Countdown Instagram Giveaway Event

Club Clio has been awesomely supportive of this book launch. They are doing a whole series of giveaways leading up to November 3rd (the original book launch date), with different bloggers getting to choose the giveaway prize. Today marks the start of my Clio giveaway, and the prize I’m choosing to bestow the winner is: Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil! This is a moisturizing oil blend with fermented rice yeast, so it combines a few of my favorite things: fermentation, beauty oils, and Goodal. It’s rich but light, and perfect now that cooler, fall weather is setting in.

Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Entry is easy! Just complete the following 3 steps:

Step 1: Post or regram the giveaway post from my Instagram account (@skinandtonics), with hashtags #beautywolfxclubcliousa #kerryxcoco #koreanbeautysecretsbook #clubcliousa #clio10dayskbeauty
Step 2:  Follow us on Instagram: Coco is @thebeautywolf, I’m @skinandtonics, and Club Clio USA is @clubcliousa
Step 3: Tag three friends you think might enjoy this giveaway

You can enter once a day, just tag three different friends each day!

Giveaway #2

Kerry & Coco’s “Show us Your Book” Mega-Hardcore-Balls-Out K-Beauty Giveaway

Okay, you got me, I actually just made the name up for this giveaway just now. It could be a little tighter! We thought we had a couple more weeks to think of a name! Luckily, we already had the prize all ready to go. Hold on to your hats:

Show us Your Book Giveaway Price Package

One lucky winner will get an insane prize package that includes the following full size products:

• Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser (a recent favorite, review forthcoming)
• S:um37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Tea Tree 90 Essence
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Vita Propolis Ampoule
• Graymelin Hyaluronic Acid 100% (Serum)
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil (This oil changed my life)
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color OR601
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color VL600

and the follow deluxe sample/travel-size products:

• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Lotion
• Goodal Moisture Barrier Cream
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil

This prize is serious. We did not want to mess around, and we hope you’re as excited about it as we are!

How to Enter:

It’s super easy! All you have to do is post a picture on your Instagram of an in-person copy (preferably your personal copy) of Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare & Makeup. You can style the photo however you want, but it has to be a picture of the physical book or e-book (as opposed to a picture you found on the internet). For e-books, just show us a shot of the book on your e-reader! Then follow and tag @kerryandcoco, @thebeautywolf, and @skinandtonics, and add hashtag #showusyourbook.

Once you’ve done that, voila! You’re entered! We’ll be choosing a winner at random on November 15, 2015 and announcing on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This giveaway is open internationally!

If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, now is a great time to do it. It looks like it’s only ~$14 on Amazon right now, which is a fantastic deal. It will also be available from a huge number of other retailers in the U.S. and internationally on November 3rd; Amazon just happens to be the only one I know is already shipping right now.

It’s an amazing book; we’re really proud of it, and we can’t wait for all of you to read it and tell us what you think!

The post Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore appeared first on Skin & Tonics : Skincare Guides & Product Reviews.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream

I am a total makeup geek. I am willing (and honestly, wishing) to try every eyeshadow, blush, cream, you name it, regardless of how many products I already have in my collection. I am that girl. So when the chance to try the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream came about, I was geeking out. Here’s what I thought:

Let’s Take a Look at the Product

According to the JUNO & Co. website, the Moonshine Miracle Cream is “a luxurious, super hydrating, creamy makeup primer that nourishes skin and diminishes imperfections for the perfect canvas before makeup.” I’ve heard this kind of claim from tons of products, so I needed more convincing that this product was worth the $35 price tag (ya girl has bills to pay).

The company also claims that this product is special because of the ingredients used in the formulation. It is “infused with JUNO’s patented sodium hyaluronate and avocado extract which provides 12-hours of moisture for a dewier complexion. It helps to maintain moisture levels to help visibly smooth and plump skin with ultimate hydration. Evens surface so foundation effortlessly glides on and stays put for longer-lasting makeup wear.”

Sodium Hyaluronate

Since I’ve started working at FutureDerm and one of my jobs is to literally read the FD blog, I have been way more interested in the ingredients and products I put on my face and body. I’m not necessarily skeptical or wary enough to turn a product away, (as I’ve said before, I will try all the makeup) but just more interested. So, in true FutureDerm fashion, I wanted to take a closer look at the patented ingredient used that makes this product special.

So, we know that as people, we’re mostly water. This is also true for our skin, and as we age, our skin begins to lose its moisture, causing loss of flexibility and resilience. Sodium hyaluronate is the key molecule involved with skin moisture, and according to the Derm Review, “the most dramatic histochemical change observed in aging skin is the marked disappearance of sodium hyaluronate in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).” By adding this ingredient to skincare it will help to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer complexion. Pretty cool, but does it work in the Moonshine Miracle Cream?

Personal Use & Opinion

The very first thing I noticed was that the packaging was gorgeous, and I am a sucker for packaging. The jar itself looks like it’s speckled with stars on a dark purple background, and it’s a little heavier, making it feel expensive. The cream itself is thick and luxurious feeling. It’s lightly scented and feels like a really nice moisturizer when you put it on; it reminded me of a mix between E.L.F.’s Poreless Putty Primer and cold cream texture-wise.

When I received this product, I was just getting ready to head out to my vacation at the Grand Canyon, and it was a lifesaver! My poor Pittsburgh skin was not happy about the change from rainy/snowy and cold to dry and cold. I used this alone without makeup the first few times just because my skin was drinking it up in the desert. With makeup, I did feel a difference in how my foundation wore — it went on smoother and didn’t settle in my fine lines as much compared to other primers I’ve tried before. Overall, I was really happy with the product and ecstatic it saved my skin from drying out on my vacation. Timing is everything.

Bottom Line

I love the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream! It’s a luxurious feeling cream that can be used alone as a beautiful moisturizer, or as a primer under any foundation for a smoother look. And it includes proven ingredients like sodium hyaluronate working to retain your skin’s natural moisture to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re in the market for a new primer, this one is definitely worth a try.

The post COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream appeared first on FutureDerm.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream

I am a total makeup geek. I am willing (and honestly, wishing) to try every eyeshadow, blush, cream, you name it, regardless of how many products I already have in my collection. I am that girl. So when the chance to try the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream came about, I was geeking out. Here’s what I thought:

Let’s Take a Look at the Product

According to the JUNO & Co. website, the Moonshine Miracle Cream is “a luxurious, super hydrating, creamy makeup primer that nourishes skin and diminishes imperfections for the perfect canvas before makeup.” I’ve heard this kind of claim from tons of products, so I needed more convincing that this product was worth the $35 price tag (ya girl has bills to pay).

The company also claims that this product is special because of the ingredients used in the formulation. It is “infused with JUNO’s patented sodium hyaluronate and avocado extract which provides 12-hours of moisture for a dewier complexion. It helps to maintain moisture levels to help visibly smooth and plump skin with ultimate hydration. Evens surface so foundation effortlessly glides on and stays put for longer-lasting makeup wear.”

Sodium Hyaluronate

Since I’ve started working at FutureDerm and one of my jobs is to literally read the FD blog, I have been way more interested in the ingredients and products I put on my face and body. I’m not necessarily skeptical or wary enough to turn a product away, (as I’ve said before, I will try all the makeup) but just more interested. So, in true FutureDerm fashion, I wanted to take a closer look at the patented ingredient used that makes this product special.

So, we know that as people, we’re mostly water. This is also true for our skin, and as we age, our skin begins to lose its moisture, causing loss of flexibility and resilience. Sodium hyaluronate is the key molecule involved with skin moisture, and according to the Derm Review, “the most dramatic histochemical change observed in aging skin is the marked disappearance of sodium hyaluronate in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).” By adding this ingredient to skincare it will help to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer complexion. Pretty cool, but does it work in the Moonshine Miracle Cream?

Personal Use & Opinion

The very first thing I noticed was that the packaging was gorgeous, and I am a sucker for packaging. The jar itself looks like it’s speckled with stars on a dark purple background, and it’s a little heavier, making it feel expensive. The cream itself is thick and luxurious feeling. It’s lightly scented and feels like a really nice moisturizer when you put it on; it reminded me of a mix between E.L.F.’s Poreless Putty Primer and cold cream texture-wise.

When I received this product, I was just getting ready to head out to my vacation at the Grand Canyon, and it was a lifesaver! My poor Pittsburgh skin was not happy about the change from rainy/snowy and cold to dry and cold. I used this alone without makeup the first few times just because my skin was drinking it up in the desert. With makeup, I did feel a difference in how my foundation wore — it went on smoother and didn’t settle in my fine lines as much compared to other primers I’ve tried before. Overall, I was really happy with the product and ecstatic it saved my skin from drying out on my vacation. Timing is everything.

Bottom Line

I love the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream! It’s a luxurious feeling cream that can be used alone as a beautiful moisturizer, or as a primer under any foundation for a smoother look. And it includes proven ingredients like sodium hyaluronate working to retain your skin’s natural moisture to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re in the market for a new primer, this one is definitely worth a try.

The post COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream appeared first on FutureDerm.

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Your Complete Guide to Clearing Clogged Pores—Once and For All

If talking to people about their skin for the past thirty years has taught me anything, it’s that clogged pores are a HUGE topic. Why? Because everyone thinks they have them. The reason for this is that the term “clogged pores” is often thrown around very generically in the beauty industry to refer to any kind of raised bump or acne-related issue. As a result, everyone’s interpretation can be a little bit different.

Since properly identifying clogged pores is half the battle, what I decided to do for this post was crowdsource images from our customers and followers asking them to send in pictures of their clogged pores. For the sake of you, my readers, I chose six photos to assess. For each photo, I give my expert opinion as to what’s going on and offer solutions. My hope is that you’ll be able to match your skin to what you see in these pictures and learn how to address your own concerns! It was really interesting to see the different things people considered clogged pores, I had such a fun time with this post. A big thanks to everyone who submitted pictures!

*I’ve only consulted with one of the people in this post. Everyone else’s skin I assessed based on the images they provided.

What Are Clogged Pores?

For me as an esthetician, clogged pores have a very specific definition. When I say “clogged pore,” I’m talking about what’s officially known as a closed comedone. Closed comedones are whiteheads without any inflammation (meaning, there is no soreness or infection) that just sit under the skin. The pore becomes clogged by hardened oil and dead skin cells that fall into the pore instead of properly shedding. Together, these create a blockage, and eventually a bump.

One telltale sign of a closed comedone is that it doesn’t go away. While red, infected blemishes tend to resolve—usually by a whitehead being pushed to the surface of the skin—closed comedones just hang around. Because there isn’t an infection, your body isn’t working as hard to get rid of it, and the pore could remain blocked for a very long time unless you get a manual extraction.

Of course, when a pore is blocked, it can (and often eventually does) lead to an inflamed blemish. This is because the mixture of dead skin cells and oil blocks oxygen from reaching the pore, and without the presence of oxygen, P. acnes bacteria are able to thrive.

Learn more about how clogged pores are formed and lead to breakouts.

Example #1

Enlarged pores on a woman's chin

Area 1

Problem: Indented scarring from previous acne 

Inside circle 1, you can see indented marks on the skin. To me, this looks like scarring left behind from either cystic or nodular blemishes (you know, those hard, painful bumps that never come to a head?). These types of blemishes occur so deep within the skin that they can damage elastin and collagen fibers. Because of this, the tissue is unable to regenerate and sort of “falls in” on itself, resulting in an indentation. 

Solution

Since this person looks fairly young, it’s possible that the indents can improve on their own. That said, full volume will probably never be restored to the skin without some kind of cosmetic intervention.

  • Use vitamin C and a prescription retinoid. As far as at-home solutions, this will help boost and restore collagen to create a smoother texture.
  • Seek out professional treatments. If at-home solutions aren’t enough, I would suggest looking into one or more of the following: chemical peels, laser treatments, microneedling combined with radiofrequency, or having filler injected into the area. It’s important to consult with a dermatologist to determine which course of action is best for you!

Area 2

Problem: Enlarged pore from piercing

I could be wrong, but because of the location and the way this indent forms a perfect circle, it looks like there was a piercing at one point that this person decided to remove.

Solution

Aside from maybe filler, there isn’t much that can be done to close this up. I always tell people to consider piercings carefully since you’re basically creating a permanently enlarged pore!

Area 3

Problem: Enlarged pores in the crevice of the chin

As you can see, the person in this picture is pulling their lip taut to reveal enlarged pores in the crevice of the chin. 

Solution

Let me tell you, I get a lot of clients complaining that they can see the same thing when they pull their lip taut, and my solution is pretty simple—don’t pull your lip like that! We tend to focus on what we perceive as imperfections when examining our faces in the mirror, but the reality is that’s just not something anyone else is going to see when you’re walking around without making that expression. Trust me when I say, almost everyone has enlarged pores in this area of the face. Because there’s a crease, oil naturally collects here and since the pores in the crease are a little bit “bent,” they’re even more likely to collect debris. Bottom line, it’s a normal thing to have and the best thing you can do is make sure this area is kept clean. (You can do this by always cleansing morning and night and by wiping an antibacterial toner over the area.)

Note: if you feel like you have blackheads on your chin that never go away, they might actually be sebaceous filaments.

Area 4

Problem: Blemish (papule)

In circle 4, we have a more classic-looking red blemish. After a pore becomes clogged and forms a closed comedone, the next stage of a blemish is called a papule. It’s the result of a clogged pore becoming inflamed due to infection and usually means it’s on its way to becoming a full-fledged pimple, complete with a surface whitehead that can eventually be extracted. (This final stage is also known as a pustule, aka, a good ol’ zit.)

Solution

At this point, I would apply a non-drying, anti-inflammatory spot treatment like Anti Bump Solution. Once the papule turns into the aforementioned surface whitehead and is ready to be extracted, it can be gently squeezed out. After this you can apply a drying spot treatment to knock out any infection lingering inside the pore. 

Area 5

Problem: Post-breakout marks

As the last step in the life cycle of a blemish, we have post-breakout marks. You can see a cluster of them on this person’s chin (this definitely seems to be their problem area) from past blemishes that have healed but left discoloration behind.

Solution

The cornerstones of fading post-breakout hyperpigmentation are exfoliating and using plenty of sun protection during the day. Learn more about how to fade dark marks from blemishes.

Of course, the ideal scenario is to prevent breakouts before they can leave a scar behind. (Easier said than done, I know!) Breakouts on the chin and jawline are really common (especially for women) and are often hormonally driven. Here are my best tips for preventing annoying chin and jawline acne.

Example #2

Clogged pores closed comedones on woman's cheek

Area 1

Problem: Clogged pores (closed comedones)

The raised bumps (the white ones, not the red ones) you see here are what I consider true clogged pores. You can see that this person’s skin is congested because they have these white-ish, non-infected bumps, also known as closed comedones, all over. There is, however, a large cluster of them inside the circled area.   

Solution

Here are the tips I would give this person for getting rid of skin congestion caused by clogged pores:

  • At-home practices for clearing out pores
    • Cleanse well. Keep your skin clean by always cleansing both morning and night. Make sure makeup and sunscreen are properly removed by using a gentle washcloth after cleansing to ensure everything is properly getting wiped off the face. (Read how to properly wash your face.)
    • Exfoliate often. Like anyone with clogged pores, this person should be incorporating regular exfoliation into their routine. Part of what causes clogged pores is irregular shedding of dead skin cells—since they’re not being shed normally, they fall into pores and build up. This also disrupts the healthy flow of oil. Exfoliating, particularly with a chemical exfoliant a few times a week, will help correct this by clearing a pathway for the blockage to come to the surface. I also tell clients to use a gentle physical scrub once or twice a week to physically lift dead cells off of the skin.
    • Hydrate with water-based products. This one seems counterintuitive to a lot of people when they have clogged pores, but keeping the skin properly hydrated is SO very important. Since skin cells—like all cells—need water to live, they die off more quickly when they’re dehydrated. This leads to an increase in dead cells on the surface of your skin and if they aren’t being properly shed, that’s more dead cells that can build up in your pores. Dry skin also traps oil, dirt, and bacteria underneath, leading to an even higher chance of pores getting clogged. The key is using a lightweight moisturizer that provides the skin with plenty of water and avoiding thick, heavy creams.
    • Don’t overdry the skin. Speaking of dehydration, acne-focused products are notorious for causing it! Again, it might seem counterintuitive, but I would want this person to stay away from harsh or drying products that could cause more clogged pores in the long run by exacerbating surface dryness. The key is to use products that can still reduce bacteria but won’t dry out the skin. This cleanser would be a great option.
    • Be wary of heavy makeup. While I believe wearing makeup every day is actually good for the skin since it provides much-needed UV protection from the damaging rays, you want to make sure you’re using something that isn’t contributing to your clogged pores. I would suggest this person stay away from heavy, long-wear foundation, cream blushes, and primers. In my experience, these types of products can often cause congestion in the skin. Here’s a list of foundations that would be suitable for clogged prone skin types like hers.
  • Professional treatments for clearing out pores
    • Get extractions. Since this person has so many clogged pores, I would suggest they see an esthetician for extractions. In most cases, a clogged pore must be manually removed or it’s not going anywhere. This isn’t something you want to do yourself since extractions done incorrectly can damage the skin. On that note, not all estheticians are good with extractions, so you’ll want to make sure you find someone who really knows what they’re doing (and by this, I mean someone who knows when to stop squeezing!). If a closed comedone is squeezed and messed with too much before it’s ready to come out, it can get pushed deeper into the skin and become inflamed, leading to a full-blown blemish. This is why some people will complain about breaking out after a facial. It’s usually from improper extractions. 
    • Get chemical peels. Over time, a series of professional-grade exfoliation through chemical peels will help clear a pathway for pores to become unblocked. You can also use a product like Triple Berry Smoothing Peel at home.

My final bit of advice would be to be patient. This person didn’t get all those clogged pores overnight, and they won’t go away after one visit with an esthetician or skincare professional. Getting rid of congestion like this requires patience and consistency, and it may take up to a few months to see real results. The good news is that once the pores are clear, it’s much easier to keep them that way! Read all about how to keep your pores clean.

Area 2

Problem: Blemishes (pustules and papules)

While this person doesn’t have a lot of inflammation in their skin, it looks like some of their clogged pores have turned into infected blemishes. 

Solution

Check out my  17 tips that just might banish your breakouts for good.

Example #3

Closeup of man's skin with milia and blackheads

Area 1

Problem: Blackheads

In circle one, I noticed this person has some blackheads. Fun fact, blackheads ARE technically a type of clogged pore. Instead of closed comedones, they’re what’s known as open comedones. What happens is that, instead of being trapped under the surface of the skin, the gunk inside the pore is exposed to air. This causes it to oxidize and turn black (or sometimes more of a grey-ish color). Hence, a blackhead. 

Solution

Blackheads are a concern for so many people, and I always tell my clients that it’s normal to have them to an extent. The ones pictured here, however, are quite large and could easily be extracted by an esthetician following the proper protocol. Can’t make it in to see an esthetician? Here’s how to safely extract blackheads.

Area 2

Problem: Milia

Milia is a form of a clogged pore that occurs when keratin gets trapped under the surface of the skin. They are usually more perfectly-rounded than closed comedones (they’re sometimes described as little “pearls”) and are often more off-white in color. It’s common to see milia around the eyes, like in this picture, but they can also crop up around the nose or on the cheeks. Why do milia occur? It’s hard to always know, but some people get them from greasy eye creams or smoking, which leads to under-circulated skin. Sometimes it’s simply their genetics. 

Solution

It’s very important not to squeeze milia on your own. They are very challenging to remove since the skin over the bump is very hardened, so picking at it will just damage your skin. Milia needs to be removed by a professional, either a cosmetic dermatologist or a qualified esthetician. Once removed, milia usually won’t come back in that same pore.

Area 3

Problem: Dehydration

The skin here has a crinkly texture, almost like an onion peel. To me, this looks like classic dehydration similar to what I show in this video of dehydrated skin. In this case, it’s probably caused by the use of drying acne products this person was using in an attempt to clear blemishes and clogged pores.

Solution

It’s so important to keep healthy water levels in the skin by using a moisturizer for your skin type and not overdoing it with harsh, drying products. A couple years ago, my nephew came to me with the exact same problem (as have so many clients in the past). He had been using topical acne products to dry out his blemishes and was left with rough, dry, irritated skin. Here’s how I helped him fix dryness caused by acne products.

Area 4

Problem: Blemish (pustular)

This red mark looks like a pretty classic blemish, but I believe it was caused by an impacted blackhead based on the fact that I can still see a little opening in the skin. 

Solution

This blackhead needs to be extracted, and once the blockage is removed the skin can start to heal itself.

Area 5

Problem: Post-breakout marks

Since there are no leftover bumps or redness in this area, this seems to be post-breakout marks left over from healed blemishes. 

Solution

I would recommend the same course of action I recommended for the person in Example #1. Again, exfoliation and sun protection are key! You can learn more in this post

Example #4

closeup of clogged pores bumps on side of a woman's face

Area 1

Problem: Cystic breakout

It’s a bit difficult to see from this picture, but I can tell this person has a stubborn cystic breakout here on their jawline. Again, the chin and jawline are common places to experience cystic acne, especially for women. 

Solution

  • DON’T pick at it. Cystic blemishes occur deep within the skin and are meant to be reabsorbed as opposed to coming to a head.
  • Apply a non-drying spot treatment. I would tell this person to apply Anti Bump Solution, which will work with the body’s natural healing process so the bump goes away faster.
  • Cut out dairy. I would also suggest this person try limiting dairy consumption since this is a common trigger for many with cystic acne. Learn more about how dairy is linked to cystic acne.

Area 2

Problem: Inflammation (redness)

Inside of this larger circle, you can see some redness and flushing. This redness stands in pretty sharp contrast to the rest of the skin, which appears a little sallow and dull. To me, this signals that there’s some stagnation in the skin, meaning circulation isn’t great and things aren’t being filtered out as well as they should be. This could potentially be linked to the gut microbiome or something else internal, so I would recommend this person see a nutritionist or holistic doctor who can advise them on this. Learn more about the role the microbiome plays in your skin.

Solution

In the meantime, I would share with this person one of my favorite tricks: every night, hang your head upside down for three minutes to bring blood flow to the face and increase circulation. I do this faithfully and swear by it for glowing skin. In this person’s case, encouraging proper circulation throughout the skin could really help improve it. 

Area 3

Problem: Clogged pores (closed comedones)

The white bumps circled in number three are classic closed comedones. 

Solution

I would give this person the same advice I gave the person in Example #2: exfoliate regularly, keep the skin hydrated with a lightweight moisturizer for your skin type, and seek out professional extractions from a trained esthetician. In addition, I would advise against using any kind of retinol or retinoid at this point. Retinol causes a certain level of inflammation and since this person is already experiencing visible inflammation, we don’t want to add fuel to the fire. Instead, they should focus on using products with calming ingredients.

Based on all this, I would say this person is a skin type #5. Find your skin type now!

Example #5

Skin growth bumps on a woman's forehead

Area 1

Problem: Skin growths

This person is actually a client of mine from years back who had previously seen a dermatologist about these bumps on their forehead. The dermatologist diagnosed them as sebaceous hyperplasia (a common, benign type of skin growth), which is exactly what it looks like to me as well. These can also be mistaken for clogged pores since they may appear as white bumps, especially in those with lighter skin tones. Sebaceous hyperplasia tends to look longer and flatter than closed comedones, though. There are a few things that can cause them, but thickened skin from sun exposure is one of the most common reasons, and I think that’s exactly what has happened here. The forehead is a common part of the face for these to occur since it gets so much sun exposure. I also see these more often in people with oilier skin. Again, you definitely do not want to try squeezing or extracting these.

Solution

To have these removed, you would need to see a dermatologist. They’ll typically use either electric cauterization or cryotherapy. Learn more about different types of bumps on the skin and how to get rid of them.

Example #6

Clogged pores close to the surface of a woman's skin

This last skin assessment is for Gayle. I actually did a virtual consultation with her recently that she won as part of an Instagram giveaway! So, in addition to examining the photos she sent, I was able to talk with her a bit about what was causing some of her concerns.

Area 1

Problem: Post-breakout marks

Like many of the people whose skin I’ve assessed in this post, Gayle has some post-breakout marks. To me, it looks like she was trying to do some extractions or squeeze at her breakouts. One thing to be mindful of is that darker skin tones are more prone to discoloration and that these dark marks take longer to fade than in lighter skin tones. Since there is naturally more pigment in the skin, any trauma or injury that causes inflammation will easily send pigment cells into overdrive. 

Solution

The protocol here is the same as what I would suggest for anyone with post-breakout marks: exfoliate using a combination of chemical and physical exfoliants, and protect with vitamin C and sunscreen during the day. If you have a darker skin tone and are prone to dark marks, the key really is preventing injury to the skin as much as possible. The reality is that when you’re someone who gets clogged pores and breakouts, these marks are inevitable to an extent. But you DO have control over how you manage a breakout once it appears. I always encourage treating pimples in a way that works in harmony with your body’s natural healing process to get rid of a blemish fast. This way it causes the least amount of damage.

Area 2

Problem: Clogged pores (surface-level closed comedones)

While you can see that I’ve circled clogged pores in both Areas 2 and 3, the difference between them is that these are very close to the surface and appear ready to come out. You can see more of a whitehead—they’re what I like to call “ripe.” This is part of the body’s healing process, it eventually purges things that aren’t supposed to be there. 

Solution

Since these non-infected clogged pores are so ready to come out, I would suggest using a sterile lancet to pierce the whitehead followed by very gently extracting it from the skin. If you can go to a professional to have it done, that is ideal, but I know that isn’t a great option right now because of the pandemic. The reason I suggest self-extracting these is that they should come out really easily, meaning they won’t cause damage or leave much hyperpigmentation behind. Using a lancet is helpful because it creates an opening for the blockage to come out, so you shouldn’t have to squeeze very hard at all. But of course, be very, very gentle. 

Area 3

Problem: Clogged pores (deeper closed comedones)

Like I said, these are also clogged pores but are not as close to the skin’s surface. 

Solution

  • Find a trusted professional. Since they’re in there deeper, I would not suggest Gayle try to extract them herself. She should either see an esthetician or wait until they’ve come to the surface like the ones near her cheek. 
  • Use makeup for your skin type. She did mention to me that she uses a lot of heavy foundation and cream blush, so much like the person in Example 2, I would recommend she stop using these makeup products. In this case, I think they may be the culprit. Instead, she should be using one of these foundations
  • Exfoliate often. Because her skin is pretty oily, she should exfoliate using BHA (beta hydroxy acid). She needs to be careful though—a lot of BHA products can be pretty drying, and this is the last thing you want since dry skin can trap oil and bacteria, leading to more clogged pores. She needs to look for a BHA product with a gentle, hydrating formulation.
  • Use lightweight products. Finally, Gayle should make sure she’s using lightweight, water-based hydrating products. She mentioned she was using a lot of very moisturizing masks and creams, but for her skin type (she is a skin type #2), this is too much. Using something water-based will keep her skin looking glowy and even-toned without clogging her pores.

So there you have it! If you came to this post looking for solutions, I hope you saw yourself in one of these photos and gained some helpful insights. Clogged pores are a huge topic but once you get a handle on them, they’re so much easier to stay on top of in the future.

The post Your Complete Guide to Clearing Clogged Pores—Once and For All appeared first on Expert Skin Advice from Renee Rouleau.

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2020 Year in Review (and a Sneak Peek at 2021!)

Hey everyone, it’s Renée here at the start of a new year—one we have all been waiting for, right? I hope 2021 brings you a fresh start with a new perspective, and that you can put some goals into action. Since we are a small, founder-owned, founder-led company and we feel so close with our customers, I wanted to share where we have been and some amazing things we have in store for 2021! Here goes!

2020: What a year at Renee Rouleau Skincare!

Needless to say, 2020 was a wild ride of highs and lows. These were some of the most memorable moments and events at Renée Rouleau Skincare last year!

A Chapter Closes for Our Spa Location 

In January of last year, our lease ended for our spa in Plano, Texas. This spa location had been open for twenty-three years, and for eighteen of those years, I was a service provider there (along with five other estheticians offering skin treatments to clients).

Along with being a hands-on esthetician, I developed a product line that I started selling from our website in 1999. Every year, we have experienced tremendous growth in demand for our products from customers all around the globe. The decision to not renew the spa lease was not an easy one, but with our corporate headquarters and warehouse being based in Austin for the last five years and my home being in Austin, it just seemed time to focus 100% of our efforts on being an e-commerce company.

We took great care of our long-time estheticians and they are all thriving in their new places of employment. I am super proud of the great services we provided for all those years and am so grateful for all of the support from our clients, then and now.

Awarded “Best Place to Work” by the Austin Business Journal

I have won various awards throughout the years for being a female CEO, being a skincare expert, and for our products. But I must say, getting acknowledgment for being a best place to work felt like winning an Oscar.

You see, when Florian, my husband/partner of twenty-two years and our company’s COO, passed away in November of 2018, one of his dying wishes was that I continue to build a great company that would be deserving of an award. He said, “Renée, we have worked so hard to do right by our people. I know you’ll continue to make me proud.” The award wasn’t about our sales growth, profits, or any of those business-y type metrics, but rather about our culture and how we treat people who choose to work in our company. I have always been about “people over profits” and have run my company with my heart. I will never sell my soul for the almighty dollar but instead will always look at how we can continue to build a great working experience for our team. To me, this is the ultimate success. (Read this interview with Inc about why I believe bigger is not better.) This award. Wow…a dream come true.

The COVID Life—Skincare During the Pandemic

When the pandemic hit, it was the ultimate unknown as to how to navigate both our personal and professional lives. But like everything, you just have to put one foot in front of the other and problem solve the best you can.

For our company, being exclusively direct-to-consumer online (meaning, not being in retail stores that now had all closed), we knew we thankfully were probably going to be okay.

But then, the focus on skincare became even bigger for these five reasons:

  1. People were wearing less makeup and now looking at their skin. This made them want to address the issues they were previously hiding under makeup.
  2. People had more time on their hands and they wanted to feel better. This meant taking extra time for some self care with the “extras” like at-home peels and masks, things that their busy lives previously didn’t allow for. This created a renewed interest in skincare.
  3. “Maskne” entered the scene (and is still a big concern). Since we have a lot of products that address acne, we were the go-to for so many people looking to keep their skin clear. (Read my expert tips for helping maskne.)
  4. People relied on online shopping to deliver products to their door without leaving home.
  5. People were seeking experts via Zoom to receive guidance on how to best care for their skin and get on the perfect home routine. We have offered virtual consultations for the last ten years, but now the demand has really increased during COVID. You can book a virtual consult with one of our two expert estheticians, Polina and Jessica.

Helping Out Where We Can

At the start of the pandemic, our company donated supplies and face cleaners to hospitals in New York and Jersey through Donate Beauty. We realized it wasn’t much, but wanted to help in any way possible. We also developed a really nice hand sanitizer that was randomly added to orders to surprise and delight our customers. Some of them were donated to service workers in Austin as well. 

COVID—No Layoffs or Paycuts

Because of COVID, we as a company made a number of internal changes to handle the crisis. These changes were not easy, but I am so very proud to say that we did not have to lay off any of our employees or reduce their pay or schedules in any way. We gave everyone complete flexibility as to how they wanted to navigate this new reality to keep themselves and their families safe. We are so thankful that we were able to offer this kind of flexibility and that we could continue to take care of each other during these unprecedented times.

All in all, we survived and thrived during the worst of days. Thank you for all of the continued support and loyalty that you show our company. We are truly grateful. 

No Backorders

Despite the tremendous surge we experienced last year, I’m super proud to say that we never had any backorders. We hate ever disappointing our customers when something is out of stock so we have perfected our supply chain process to keep this from happening. We are always thinking of the customer experience!

Our Focus on Learning and Growing

As a company, we are always striving to get better. We took the time to focus on new initiatives to make Renée Rouleau a more inclusive workplace by expanding our diversity outreach when hiring for open roles, as well as donating to a number of minority causes.

We had meetings with the Texas Civil Rights Project, Austin Justice Coalition, and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at UT Austin to understand their organization, their scope, and their cause. All of this is to educate ourselves on how we can be better in our community.

A Year of Giving Back

We made a $5,000 donation to each of these three non-profit organizations: Texas Civil Rights Project, Austin Justice Coalition, and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at UT.

We developed a year-long partnership with Tankproof, an organization that teaches underserved children with limited or no access to a pool how to swim, and provided monthly donations to help them further their mission. 

I personally donated to Beam (formerly named Women@Austin) and am now on their advisory board. This is a local organization created to support women who are looking to scale their companies through knowledge, connection, capital, and mindset at the most critical moments in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Award-Winning Products and Reviews

We have always gotten a lot of love from the media and 2020 was no different. I’m proud to say we won NINE beauty awards!

 These skincare awards included:

  • Cosmopolitan Holy-Grail Award for Rapid Response Detox Toner
  • Glamour Beauty Award for Anti Bump Solution
  • GQ Grooming Award for Anti Bump Solution
  • Health Best Skincare Award for Rapid Response Detox Cleanser
  • HelloGiggles Beauty Crush Award for Rapid Response Detox Toner
  • Real Simple Smart Beauty Award for Rapid Response Detox Masque (in the print magazine)
  • The Healthy Best Summer Serum for Skin Correcting Serum
  • Women’s Health Best of Skincare Award for Rapid Response Detox Cleanser
  • Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Award for Rapid Response Detox Cleanser 

Here’s the truth about skincare—there are an incredible amount of products out there, and that number is growing by the minute.

For me, creating a truly innovative product is a fun challenge when it seems like everything has already been done. My process requires a lot of research on things like ingredients percentages, pH levels, and cruelty-free testing for efficacy. My number one focus is always solving a specific skincare problem. Developing a product is not only a science, but an art form, and one I have been perfecting for the last thirty years. Getting all of these awards is truly an honor!

As you can see, our Rapid Response Detox products are pretty special. Did you know we sell all of them together in this handy kit

Smart Beauty Award for Rapid Response Detox Masque in Real Simple Magazine

A New Product Launched

Despite our labs being shut down for a while due to COVID, we still managed to get out a new product! Meet Mint Renewal Cleanser. Whenever I develop a product, I say, “What problem am I trying to solve?” For this product, I wanted a cleanser that would wake up tired skin in the morning, brighten dull skin to give it a glow, and provide some skin-smoothing benefits. I have to say, I hit it out of the park with this one, and the responses from the media, influencers, and our customers have been so positive. If you haven’t tried it, get it now! You’ll be addicted. It’s so good.

A Year of Podcasts!

I was asked to be interviewed for so many podcasts last year, which was super fun and an honor. At age fifty-one, I would hope I have a few nuggets of wisdom that can provide value for others!

Topics I cover on the various podcasts include: 

  • Skincare and beauty advice
  • Career advice for estheticians
  • Life advice
  • Grief and resiliency
  • Running a company and lessons I’ve learned

You can give all my podcasts a listen here. Enjoy!

The Blog Continues To Thrive

Since 2009, I have been delivering my expert advice through my popular blog. For so many of those years, it was just me doing all of the work. Fast-forward to 2020—I now have a small team, led by our Content Editor, Ella, who helps me so we can push out content more frequently than in years past. And new to the blog this year, we have had eleven outside experts contribute their expertise!

Experts on the blog include:

In previous years, the blog has always just been my information, so it’s great to invite others to share their thoughts and tips.

Moved Into Our New Austin Headquarters!

Before the pandemic, we had been looking into moving because our original warehouse and office space no longer fit the needs of our growing company. When the pandemic hit, we still continued with our original plan to find a new home. We eventually found an 11,000 SF space, and it’s beautiful and perfect. We moved into it in September and the warehouse is now fully operational, but we’re still waiting on office furniture for our marketing and customer care teams. While we do offer work-from-home (which many people prefer right now), we also have some people who want to come into the office for a change of scenery from their house. Of course, we have all the appropriate safety measures in place.

Our Renée Rouleau Team—My Family

When I relocated the company to Austin five years ago, Florian and I didn’t know anyone. We just knew we wanted to create a positive environment where people would enjoy coming to work every day and feel like they were part of something great. Since Florian’s passing, my team has become such a point of strength and stability in my life. They are also one of the reasons I want to stay small and have full ownership. I would never want to lose the spirit of our team or have my people feel like just a number.

What I miss most since COVID hit is having my entire team gathered around for a lunch or for one of our famous “Lotteria” giveaway days. My team is my family, and I am so grateful for each of their contributions. 

2021: What We Have Coming!

As COVID Continues

We are continuing to follow strict COVID guidelines for both our office and warehouse. This includes a cleaning crew twice a week, wearing masks at all times, maintaining 6′ distance, no double occupancy in bathrooms, no in-person group meetings, and complete work-from-home flexibility. Out of our team of 17, no one has been affected by COVID and we plan on keeping it that way. (Fingers crossed!)

We Are Hiring

We have an open position available for a Junior Content Writer. Interested in employment at a “Best Place to Work”? Get details here!

Sustainability Initiatives

One of our biggest projects of 2021 (and an ongoing program moving forward) will be the reduction and offsetting of our carbon footprint as part of our corporate sustainability strategy. This is an initiative that is close to all of our hearts. It’s something that we all (both as a company and as private citizens) must take responsibility for by changing our habits where possible. 

Over the years, we have been doing the best we could internally: we use simple, recycled cardboard boxes with craft paper for shipping, we don’t make sample sizes (learn more about why they’re wasteful in this great article), and we try to be as intentional as possible about everything we do. As we continue to work on our internal goal of becoming carbon neutral, we know we’ll need help from outside professionals. We recently engaged with a consulting firm that specializes in carbon- and water-footprint analysis for companies. They are completely unbiased and independent and will give us an honest inspection. This makes them the ideal partner to help us assess and improve our environmental impact. They will develop a bespoke carbon footprint calculator for Renée Rouleau Inc, applying relevant US emission factors to translate activity data into emissions.

We will be very happy to update our community once our assessment is complete and let everyone know what our next steps, along with our timeline, will be.

New Products Coming!

I’ve been working with my lab on quite a few new products. As mentioned in this post, I am working on two new products that will help repair the skin’s barrier when it’s compromised. One thing that can damage the skin’s barrier is using prescription retinoids or other topical acne products. Barrier repair is a big area of focus since at-home products are driving better results than ever for improving the skin. But when used too often, your skin can be thrown out of balance.

I’m also working on a new cleanser as well as a facial scrub. As for when the new products will launch, it will be much later in 2021. The process takes a long time when I’m seeking absolute perfection.

Our 25th Anniversary!

This upcoming August, we will be celebrating twenty-five years of Renée Rouleau Skincare. We’ll definitely be doing all sorts of celebrating! I can’t believe that it’s been a quarter of a century since I moved to Texas by myself without knowing anyone and took out a small business loan to start a small skincare spa in Dallas. Sometimes it’s just so hard to believe how much the company has grown since my humble beginnings. Pinch me, is this all a dream? Grateful for what was, what is, and what will be—and all who helped along the way.

Lastly, As For Me Personally…

Like everyone, life as we knew it came to a halt when the pandemic started. For me, I went from traveling at least three times a month to no traveling at all. Having a life of constant go-go-go and then feeling like it stopped so suddenly was an adjustment for sure. I feel like I’ve been living a European lifestyle (having spent a lot of time in France with my late husband, who was French). I quickly saw the pandemic as an opportunity to see what I could achieve at a slower pace. Longer lunches, mid-afternoon naps, more meaningful conversations and connections, being of service to those in need, and just more time to THINK without the busyness of life getting in the way. So in this way, it was a beautiful year and there was so much good that came out of it. There are always silver linings if you look hard enough.

Wishing everyone safety and comfort and a great start to the new year with a fresh perspective. Let’s all do our best with the short time we have allotted on this earth.

With gratitude,

Renée

You can follow my journey on Instagram to see all the things going on in my world. And of course, for all my expert advice on how to best care for your skin, read our blog. It’s been a labor of love since 2009 and is still going strong!

The post 2020 Year in Review (and a Sneak Peek at 2021!) appeared first on Expert Skin Advice from Renee Rouleau.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream

I am a total makeup geek. I am willing (and honestly, wishing) to try every eyeshadow, blush, cream, you name it, regardless of how many products I already have in my collection. I am that girl. So when the chance to try the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream came about, I was geeking out. Here’s what I thought:

Let’s Take a Look at the Product

According to the JUNO & Co. website, the Moonshine Miracle Cream is “a luxurious, super hydrating, creamy makeup primer that nourishes skin and diminishes imperfections for the perfect canvas before makeup.” I’ve heard this kind of claim from tons of products, so I needed more convincing that this product was worth the $35 price tag (ya girl has bills to pay).

The company also claims that this product is special because of the ingredients used in the formulation. It is “infused with JUNO’s patented sodium hyaluronate and avocado extract which provides 12-hours of moisture for a dewier complexion. It helps to maintain moisture levels to help visibly smooth and plump skin with ultimate hydration. Evens surface so foundation effortlessly glides on and stays put for longer-lasting makeup wear.”

Sodium Hyaluronate

Since I’ve started working at FutureDerm and one of my jobs is to literally read the FD blog, I have been way more interested in the ingredients and products I put on my face and body. I’m not necessarily skeptical or wary enough to turn a product away, (as I’ve said before, I will try all the makeup) but just more interested. So, in true FutureDerm fashion, I wanted to take a closer look at the patented ingredient used that makes this product special.

So, we know that as people, we’re mostly water. This is also true for our skin, and as we age, our skin begins to lose its moisture, causing loss of flexibility and resilience. Sodium hyaluronate is the key molecule involved with skin moisture, and according to the Derm Review, “the most dramatic histochemical change observed in aging skin is the marked disappearance of sodium hyaluronate in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).” By adding this ingredient to skincare it will help to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer complexion. Pretty cool, but does it work in the Moonshine Miracle Cream?

Personal Use & Opinion

The very first thing I noticed was that the packaging was gorgeous, and I am a sucker for packaging. The jar itself looks like it’s speckled with stars on a dark purple background, and it’s a little heavier, making it feel expensive. The cream itself is thick and luxurious feeling. It’s lightly scented and feels like a really nice moisturizer when you put it on; it reminded me of a mix between E.L.F.’s Poreless Putty Primer and cold cream texture-wise.

When I received this product, I was just getting ready to head out to my vacation at the Grand Canyon, and it was a lifesaver! My poor Pittsburgh skin was not happy about the change from rainy/snowy and cold to dry and cold. I used this alone without makeup the first few times just because my skin was drinking it up in the desert. With makeup, I did feel a difference in how my foundation wore — it went on smoother and didn’t settle in my fine lines as much compared to other primers I’ve tried before. Overall, I was really happy with the product and ecstatic it saved my skin from drying out on my vacation. Timing is everything.

Bottom Line

I love the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream! It’s a luxurious feeling cream that can be used alone as a beautiful moisturizer, or as a primer under any foundation for a smoother look. And it includes proven ingredients like sodium hyaluronate working to retain your skin’s natural moisture to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re in the market for a new primer, this one is definitely worth a try.

The post COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream appeared first on FutureDerm.

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Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore

Between working (on work) and hustling together some exciting book launch events (which are going to kick ass and I can’t wait to tell you about them), I’m not sleeping much these days. BUT. I’ve also been working on some kick-ass blog posts about beauty oils and body care routines!  In fact, I was hoping to post them this week, but my plans were foiled. They were foiled, however, for the very best reason, and that reason is that our Korean Beauty Secrets book started shipping 3 WEEKS EARLY!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

It was insane, actually, as we had absolutely no idea that was going to happen!  We found out about it when people started messaging us on Sunday to tell us their book had just arrived from Amazon. First we did a lot of squealing, and after that we panicked. The original release date was supposed be November 3rd. Coco and I have been working on a companion website, the URL of which is actually in the back of the book. But that website isn’t ready yet because we thought we had a couple more weeks to work on it! So I’ve been in a frenzy since this past Sunday, frantically trying to get the book website ready for prime time. I haven’t showered in a couple of days, I’ve been subsisting on cereal and black cherry seltzer, and sleeping for 8 hours in a row is my new life goal.  This is how the hot dogs are made, you guys!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

But the good news is: books are shipping! And I finally got a couple of copies of it today, and they look really, really good! Not only is the content great, the actual production is amazing. The binding, the weight, the print quality are all absolutely gorgeous; better than we ever imagined it would be. I’m so proud of this book that I have to restrain myself from shoving it in people’s faces and saying, “Have you seen this? I wrote it. Look at it. I SAID LOOK AT IT!”

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Book-Related Instagram Giveaways

We’ve got a couple of pretty exciting Instagram giveaways surrounding this book going on right now! Here are the details for both:

Giveaway #1

Club Clio USA Book Launch Countdown Instagram Giveaway Event

Club Clio has been awesomely supportive of this book launch. They are doing a whole series of giveaways leading up to November 3rd (the original book launch date), with different bloggers getting to choose the giveaway prize. Today marks the start of my Clio giveaway, and the prize I’m choosing to bestow the winner is: Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil! This is a moisturizing oil blend with fermented rice yeast, so it combines a few of my favorite things: fermentation, beauty oils, and Goodal. It’s rich but light, and perfect now that cooler, fall weather is setting in.

Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Entry is easy! Just complete the following 3 steps:

Step 1: Post or regram the giveaway post from my Instagram account (@skinandtonics), with hashtags #beautywolfxclubcliousa #kerryxcoco #koreanbeautysecretsbook #clubcliousa #clio10dayskbeauty
Step 2:  Follow us on Instagram: Coco is @thebeautywolf, I’m @skinandtonics, and Club Clio USA is @clubcliousa
Step 3: Tag three friends you think might enjoy this giveaway

You can enter once a day, just tag three different friends each day!

Giveaway #2

Kerry & Coco’s “Show us Your Book” Mega-Hardcore-Balls-Out K-Beauty Giveaway

Okay, you got me, I actually just made the name up for this giveaway just now. It could be a little tighter! We thought we had a couple more weeks to think of a name! Luckily, we already had the prize all ready to go. Hold on to your hats:

Show us Your Book Giveaway Price Package

One lucky winner will get an insane prize package that includes the following full size products:

• Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser (a recent favorite, review forthcoming)
• S:um37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Tea Tree 90 Essence
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Vita Propolis Ampoule
• Graymelin Hyaluronic Acid 100% (Serum)
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil (This oil changed my life)
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color OR601
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color VL600

and the follow deluxe sample/travel-size products:

• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Lotion
• Goodal Moisture Barrier Cream
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil

This prize is serious. We did not want to mess around, and we hope you’re as excited about it as we are!

How to Enter:

It’s super easy! All you have to do is post a picture on your Instagram of an in-person copy (preferably your personal copy) of Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare & Makeup. You can style the photo however you want, but it has to be a picture of the physical book or e-book (as opposed to a picture you found on the internet). For e-books, just show us a shot of the book on your e-reader! Then follow and tag @kerryandcoco, @thebeautywolf, and @skinandtonics, and add hashtag #showusyourbook.

Once you’ve done that, voila! You’re entered! We’ll be choosing a winner at random on November 15, 2015 and announcing on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This giveaway is open internationally!

If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, now is a great time to do it. It looks like it’s only ~$14 on Amazon right now, which is a fantastic deal. It will also be available from a huge number of other retailers in the U.S. and internationally on November 3rd; Amazon just happens to be the only one I know is already shipping right now.

It’s an amazing book; we’re really proud of it, and we can’t wait for all of you to read it and tell us what you think!

The post Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore appeared first on Skin & Tonics : Skincare Guides & Product Reviews.

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Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore

Between working (on work) and hustling together some exciting book launch events (which are going to kick ass and I can’t wait to tell you about them), I’m not sleeping much these days. BUT. I’ve also been working on some kick-ass blog posts about beauty oils and body care routines!  In fact, I was hoping to post them this week, but my plans were foiled. They were foiled, however, for the very best reason, and that reason is that our Korean Beauty Secrets book started shipping 3 WEEKS EARLY!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

It was insane, actually, as we had absolutely no idea that was going to happen!  We found out about it when people started messaging us on Sunday to tell us their book had just arrived from Amazon. First we did a lot of squealing, and after that we panicked. The original release date was supposed be November 3rd. Coco and I have been working on a companion website, the URL of which is actually in the back of the book. But that website isn’t ready yet because we thought we had a couple more weeks to work on it! So I’ve been in a frenzy since this past Sunday, frantically trying to get the book website ready for prime time. I haven’t showered in a couple of days, I’ve been subsisting on cereal and black cherry seltzer, and sleeping for 8 hours in a row is my new life goal.  This is how the hot dogs are made, you guys!

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

But the good news is: books are shipping! And I finally got a couple of copies of it today, and they look really, really good! Not only is the content great, the actual production is amazing. The binding, the weight, the print quality are all absolutely gorgeous; better than we ever imagined it would be. I’m so proud of this book that I have to restrain myself from shoving it in people’s faces and saying, “Have you seen this? I wrote it. Look at it. I SAID LOOK AT IT!”

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Korean Beauty Secrets Book

Book-Related Instagram Giveaways

We’ve got a couple of pretty exciting Instagram giveaways surrounding this book going on right now! Here are the details for both:

Giveaway #1

Club Clio USA Book Launch Countdown Instagram Giveaway Event

Club Clio has been awesomely supportive of this book launch. They are doing a whole series of giveaways leading up to November 3rd (the original book launch date), with different bloggers getting to choose the giveaway prize. Today marks the start of my Clio giveaway, and the prize I’m choosing to bestow the winner is: Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil! This is a moisturizing oil blend with fermented rice yeast, so it combines a few of my favorite things: fermentation, beauty oils, and Goodal. It’s rich but light, and perfect now that cooler, fall weather is setting in.

Goodal Repair Plus Essential Oil
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Entry is easy! Just complete the following 3 steps:

Step 1: Post or regram the giveaway post from my Instagram account (@skinandtonics), with hashtags #beautywolfxclubcliousa #kerryxcoco #koreanbeautysecretsbook #clubcliousa #clio10dayskbeauty
Step 2:  Follow us on Instagram: Coco is @thebeautywolf, I’m @skinandtonics, and Club Clio USA is @clubcliousa
Step 3: Tag three friends you think might enjoy this giveaway

You can enter once a day, just tag three different friends each day!

Giveaway #2

Kerry & Coco’s “Show us Your Book” Mega-Hardcore-Balls-Out K-Beauty Giveaway

Okay, you got me, I actually just made the name up for this giveaway just now. It could be a little tighter! We thought we had a couple more weeks to think of a name! Luckily, we already had the prize all ready to go. Hold on to your hats:

Show us Your Book Giveaway Price Package

One lucky winner will get an insane prize package that includes the following full size products:

• Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser (a recent favorite, review forthcoming)
• S:um37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Tea Tree 90 Essence
• Leejiham (LJH) Cosmetics Vita Propolis Ampoule
• Graymelin Hyaluronic Acid 100% (Serum)
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil (This oil changed my life)
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color OR601
• I’m Lip Liquid by XO Memebox in color VL600

and the follow deluxe sample/travel-size products:

• Illi Total Aging Care Body Oil
• Illi Total Aging Care Body Lotion
• Goodal Moisture Barrier Cream
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner
• Whamisa Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil

This prize is serious. We did not want to mess around, and we hope you’re as excited about it as we are!

How to Enter:

It’s super easy! All you have to do is post a picture on your Instagram of an in-person copy (preferably your personal copy) of Korean Beauty Secrets: A Practical Guide to Cutting-Edge Skincare & Makeup. You can style the photo however you want, but it has to be a picture of the physical book or e-book (as opposed to a picture you found on the internet). For e-books, just show us a shot of the book on your e-reader! Then follow and tag @kerryandcoco, @thebeautywolf, and @skinandtonics, and add hashtag #showusyourbook.

Once you’ve done that, voila! You’re entered! We’ll be choosing a winner at random on November 15, 2015 and announcing on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This giveaway is open internationally!

If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, now is a great time to do it. It looks like it’s only ~$14 on Amazon right now, which is a fantastic deal. It will also be available from a huge number of other retailers in the U.S. and internationally on November 3rd; Amazon just happens to be the only one I know is already shipping right now.

It’s an amazing book; we’re really proud of it, and we can’t wait for all of you to read it and tell us what you think!

The post Lots of Updates, Featuring Some (Surprise!) Book News & Giveaways Galore appeared first on Skin & Tonics : Skincare Guides & Product Reviews.

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COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream

I am a total makeup geek. I am willing (and honestly, wishing) to try every eyeshadow, blush, cream, you name it, regardless of how many products I already have in my collection. I am that girl. So when the chance to try the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream came about, I was geeking out. Here’s what I thought:

Let’s Take a Look at the Product

According to the JUNO & Co. website, the Moonshine Miracle Cream is “a luxurious, super hydrating, creamy makeup primer that nourishes skin and diminishes imperfections for the perfect canvas before makeup.” I’ve heard this kind of claim from tons of products, so I needed more convincing that this product was worth the $35 price tag (ya girl has bills to pay).

The company also claims that this product is special because of the ingredients used in the formulation. It is “infused with JUNO’s patented sodium hyaluronate and avocado extract which provides 12-hours of moisture for a dewier complexion. It helps to maintain moisture levels to help visibly smooth and plump skin with ultimate hydration. Evens surface so foundation effortlessly glides on and stays put for longer-lasting makeup wear.”

Sodium Hyaluronate

Since I’ve started working at FutureDerm and one of my jobs is to literally read the FD blog, I have been way more interested in the ingredients and products I put on my face and body. I’m not necessarily skeptical or wary enough to turn a product away, (as I’ve said before, I will try all the makeup) but just more interested. So, in true FutureDerm fashion, I wanted to take a closer look at the patented ingredient used that makes this product special.

So, we know that as people, we’re mostly water. This is also true for our skin, and as we age, our skin begins to lose its moisture, causing loss of flexibility and resilience. Sodium hyaluronate is the key molecule involved with skin moisture, and according to the Derm Review, “the most dramatic histochemical change observed in aging skin is the marked disappearance of sodium hyaluronate in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).” By adding this ingredient to skincare it will help to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer complexion. Pretty cool, but does it work in the Moonshine Miracle Cream?

Personal Use & Opinion

The very first thing I noticed was that the packaging was gorgeous, and I am a sucker for packaging. The jar itself looks like it’s speckled with stars on a dark purple background, and it’s a little heavier, making it feel expensive. The cream itself is thick and luxurious feeling. It’s lightly scented and feels like a really nice moisturizer when you put it on; it reminded me of a mix between E.L.F.’s Poreless Putty Primer and cold cream texture-wise.

When I received this product, I was just getting ready to head out to my vacation at the Grand Canyon, and it was a lifesaver! My poor Pittsburgh skin was not happy about the change from rainy/snowy and cold to dry and cold. I used this alone without makeup the first few times just because my skin was drinking it up in the desert. With makeup, I did feel a difference in how my foundation wore — it went on smoother and didn’t settle in my fine lines as much compared to other primers I’ve tried before. Overall, I was really happy with the product and ecstatic it saved my skin from drying out on my vacation. Timing is everything.

Bottom Line

I love the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream! It’s a luxurious feeling cream that can be used alone as a beautiful moisturizer, or as a primer under any foundation for a smoother look. And it includes proven ingredients like sodium hyaluronate working to retain your skin’s natural moisture to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re in the market for a new primer, this one is definitely worth a try.

The post COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream appeared first on FutureDerm.

COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream Read More

COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream

I am a total makeup geek. I am willing (and honestly, wishing) to try every eyeshadow, blush, cream, you name it, regardless of how many products I already have in my collection. I am that girl. So when the chance to try the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream came about, I was geeking out. Here’s what I thought:

Let’s Take a Look at the Product

According to the JUNO & Co. website, the Moonshine Miracle Cream is “a luxurious, super hydrating, creamy makeup primer that nourishes skin and diminishes imperfections for the perfect canvas before makeup.” I’ve heard this kind of claim from tons of products, so I needed more convincing that this product was worth the $35 price tag (ya girl has bills to pay).

The company also claims that this product is special because of the ingredients used in the formulation. It is “infused with JUNO’s patented sodium hyaluronate and avocado extract which provides 12-hours of moisture for a dewier complexion. It helps to maintain moisture levels to help visibly smooth and plump skin with ultimate hydration. Evens surface so foundation effortlessly glides on and stays put for longer-lasting makeup wear.”

Sodium Hyaluronate

Since I’ve started working at FutureDerm and one of my jobs is to literally read the FD blog, I have been way more interested in the ingredients and products I put on my face and body. I’m not necessarily skeptical or wary enough to turn a product away, (as I’ve said before, I will try all the makeup) but just more interested. So, in true FutureDerm fashion, I wanted to take a closer look at the patented ingredient used that makes this product special.

So, we know that as people, we’re mostly water. This is also true for our skin, and as we age, our skin begins to lose its moisture, causing loss of flexibility and resilience. Sodium hyaluronate is the key molecule involved with skin moisture, and according to the Derm Review, “the most dramatic histochemical change observed in aging skin is the marked disappearance of sodium hyaluronate in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).” By adding this ingredient to skincare it will help to attract moisture to the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer complexion. Pretty cool, but does it work in the Moonshine Miracle Cream?

Personal Use & Opinion

The very first thing I noticed was that the packaging was gorgeous, and I am a sucker for packaging. The jar itself looks like it’s speckled with stars on a dark purple background, and it’s a little heavier, making it feel expensive. The cream itself is thick and luxurious feeling. It’s lightly scented and feels like a really nice moisturizer when you put it on; it reminded me of a mix between E.L.F.’s Poreless Putty Primer and cold cream texture-wise.

When I received this product, I was just getting ready to head out to my vacation at the Grand Canyon, and it was a lifesaver! My poor Pittsburgh skin was not happy about the change from rainy/snowy and cold to dry and cold. I used this alone without makeup the first few times just because my skin was drinking it up in the desert. With makeup, I did feel a difference in how my foundation wore — it went on smoother and didn’t settle in my fine lines as much compared to other primers I’ve tried before. Overall, I was really happy with the product and ecstatic it saved my skin from drying out on my vacation. Timing is everything.

Bottom Line

I love the JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream! It’s a luxurious feeling cream that can be used alone as a beautiful moisturizer, or as a primer under any foundation for a smoother look. And it includes proven ingredients like sodium hyaluronate working to retain your skin’s natural moisture to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re in the market for a new primer, this one is definitely worth a try.

The post COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream appeared first on FutureDerm.

COMMUNITY REVIEW: JUNO & Co. Moonshine Miracle Cream Read More