Luminous, Glowy and Healthy Skin

[uber carmen]

i am trying to find something to use on my skin, which is very red and also can be quite oily, though i really have no problem with blemishes or anything.
i'm thinking of trying korres face wash, but do i need a facial scrub as well?
what's the difference? i know that a scrub exfoliates, but should it be used in combination with a regular face wash, like one in the morning, one at night?
thanks!

According to my dermatologist, contrary to what advertising might tell you, all a cleanser really does is wash off makeup and clear away any surface grime which has accumulated during the day. He said that cleansers should be the least we spend our money on, don't believe all that stuff about them going deep into the pores etc etc. Always use a gentle but effective one so it clears all the dirt off without causing irritation.
But, a scrub or exfoliator is a whole different story. They are really good at scrubbing away all those dead skin cells that accumulate at the top of our skin. Its these dead cells which makes your complexion look dull. After experimenting with a few scrubs, I find that its most effective to use a scrub daily. And for this purpose, you MUST use an exfoliator that is specifically for daily use. Otherwise, you might find that a scrub/exfoliator can be very drying on your skin. I've been using Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and I wouldn't dream of changing. It truly is a wonder product.

 

[thebeautybrains]

According to my dermatologist, contrary to what advertising might tell you, all a cleanser really does is wash off makeup and clear away any surface grime which has accumulated during the day. He said that cleansers should be the least we spend our money on, don't believe all that stuff about them going deep into the pores etc etc. Always use a gentle but effective one so it clears all the dirt off without causing irritation.
But, a scrub or exfoliator is a whole different story. They are really good at scrubbing away all those dead skin cells that accumulate at the top of our skin. Its these dead cells which makes your complexion look dull. After experimenting with a few scrubs, I find that its most effective to use a scrub daily. And for this purpose, you MUST use an exfoliator that is specifically for daily use. Otherwise, you might find that a scrub/exfoliator can be very drying on your skin. I've been using Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and I wouldn't dream of changing. It truly is a wonder product.

Daily exfoliating would be much more than most cosmetic chemists would recommend. And I suspect most dermatologists too. Your skin really needs a break. At most you should exfoliate every other day.

 

[labellavita89]

Sounds like you're eating too much of the same thing. What foods do you eat the most of (like which fruits and veggies)?

i love and often eat squash, somtimes eat carrots, often eat grapes, apples, pineapple, cauliflower, broccoli, aspeargus, peas, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, and rutabegga.

 

[labellavita89]

When i used to live in Malaysia and Singapore as a kid, all I ate was luscious mangoes and papayas. I turned yellow. The doctor said it was the beta carotene in those fruits. The same thing may also occur if you eat too many carrots. Maybe you should just eat these things in moderation. I used to really gorge on them.
Also, if you are born with a yellow tint, unfortunately, there is no escaping genetics.

i love mangos! im not surprised though, i think thats whats happening to me. i love squash and especially right now since its in season! my skin tone is fair with pink undertones. now its still very fair but yellow undertones. i hate it! i have to switch all of my makeup and i cant wear any rosy blush or lipstick anymore without looking gross. its also annoying for modeling becuase they have to touch up my skin tone. i used to be known for my skin tone but now its just a mess

 

[golightlyfan]

According to my dermatologist, contrary to what advertising might tell you, all a cleanser really does is wash off makeup and clear away any surface grime which has accumulated during the day. He said that cleansers should be the least we spend our money on, don't believe all that stuff about them going deep into the pores etc etc. Always use a gentle but effective one so it clears all the dirt off without causing irritation.
But, a scrub or exfoliator is a whole different story. They are really good at scrubbing away all those dead skin cells that accumulate at the top of our skin. Its these dead cells which makes your complexion look dull. After experimenting with a few scrubs, I find that its most effective to use a scrub daily. And for this purpose, you MUST use an exfoliator that is specifically for daily use. Otherwise, you might find that a scrub/exfoliator can be very drying on your skin. I've been using Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and I wouldn't dream of changing. It truly is a wonder product.

ok, thanks. this is what i figured, i just wasn't entirely sure. i went ahead and bought both though; a cleanser to use every day and an exfoliator to use once or twice a week! i wish they would arrive in the mail faster!

 

[uber carmen]

i love mangos! im not surprised though, i think thats whats happening to me. i love squash and especially right now since its in season! my skin tone is fair with pink undertones. now its still very fair but yellow undertones. i hate it! i have to switch all of my makeup and i cant wear any rosy blush or lipstick anymore without looking gross. its also annoying for modeling becuase they have to touch up my skin tone. i used to be known for my skin tone but now its just a mess

Hrm, sometimes it could also be caused by diet inadequacy. Or too much Vitamin A. Or maybe too much sun?
I do a bit of modelling too and last year, my diet was very inadequate and my skin was a total mess. I starting eating better, lots of sushi rich in oily fish like tuna, mackerel and salmon, coupled with lots of avocado and more green vegies. Did wonders! Also maybe you could try taking a multivitamin everyday, something like Centrum, is highly recommended. That's the best multivitamin they have in Australia, where I'm from. Otherwise, maybe a facial sunscreen like Clinique City Block. I know these sound like really random solutions but ....yeah, I'm not entirely sure what is behind your tinge so I'm just giving you all the different possibilities.

 

[uber carmen]

ok, thanks. this is what i figured, i just wasn't entirely sure. i went ahead and bought both though; a cleanser to use every day and an exfoliator to use once or twice a week! i wish they would arrive in the mail faster!

Coolies. No worries. Hope it works out for your skin too. I got my skincare regime on the advice of my dermatologist, who is totally BRILLIANT.

 

[uber carmen]

Daily exfoliating would be much more than most cosmetic chemists would recommend. And I suspect most dermatologists too. Your skin really needs a break. At most you should exfoliate every other day.

Well, its not called a Daily Microfoliant for no reason. Obviously, its been formulated for daily use, so its extremely extremely gentle unlike most of the other scrubs, which are specifically stated to be used only once to twice a week. No one should exfoliate daily using a product that's only meant to be used once a week. I would never advocate that and neither would any decent dermatologist. But if a product has been made for everday use, daily exfoliation is brilliant.
Ever wondered why Mischa Barton is the face of Neutrogena? I know for a fact that she exfoliates daily with a super gentle scrub and that is why she has that gorgeous glow.

 

[ragtag]

^^ i've heard good things about this product - do you know if it's suitable for sensitive skin?

 

[uber carmen]

^^ i've heard good things about this product - do you know if it's suitable for sensitive skin?

I'm not entirely sure. You really should speak to a skin therapist for Dermalogica and they'll give you a detailed prescription of what you need. But just reading off by bottle of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, it says:
- Recommended for all skin conditions.
-Gentle enough to use on a daily basis, but not recommended for users of medically prescribed exfoliation products.
- Contains no artificial fragrance or color.
- Rice based powder formula with Papain, Saliaylic Acid and Rice Enzymes. With a unique Skin Brightening Complex of Aspergilluis, Grapefruit and Licorice, while a super-soothing blend of Green Tea, Ginkgo and Colloidal Oatmeal calms the skin.

I have sensitive skin prone to tightness and over-drying, and my skin just loves this product. But it also depends on the cleanser you're using. Make sure its a very gentle cleanser, otherwise you skin will be dried out from cleansing and exfoliating will only make it worse. The two cleansers that seem to work best are Crealine H20 and Cetaphil. When I did a show in Tokyo recently, both Gemma and Freja raved on about Crealine.

 

[chocolatestain]

I just wanted to say that you guys are amazing. I learnt so much reading through this thread

 

[misssakura]

I prefer olay regenerist personally...it's very gentle, I can testify that using it every day doesn't irritate the skin

 

[uber carmen]

I've heard a few people rave on about this Embryolisse cream which is mostly distributed in only France. A few of my fashion industry friends swear by it. Anyone with an opinion out there on this?

 

[thebeautybrains]

Well, its not called a Daily Microfoliant for no reason. Obviously, its been formulated for daily use, so its extremely extremely gentle unlike most of the other scrubs, which are specifically stated to be used only once to twice a week. No one should exfoliate daily using a product that's only meant to be used once a week. I would never advocate that and neither would any decent dermatologist. But if a product has been made for everday use, daily exfoliation is brilliant.
Ever wondered why Mischa Barton is the face of Neutrogena? I know for a fact that she exfoliates daily with a super gentle scrub and that is why she has that gorgeous glow.

It's called Daily Microfoliant because that's what the people who market the stuff want you to think. I've personally worked for a manufacturer of exfolliating products in which the "daily scrub" and the "intensive scrub" were exactly the same product. Just compare the ingredient list on the back. It's the same thing with skin lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc.

Mischa Barton is the face of Neutrogena because they pay her a lot of money (and she has great skin). But her skin is made even better by lighting tricks and computer touch-ups of her pictures. That's why she's got the gorgeous glow. Not because of Neutrogena. Did you ever see the Dove "transformation" of a regular person into a model poster? Check it out here.

 

[Elli]

^that video is scary in a way, but it's impressive to see what they can do, both the styling and editing is amazing.

 

[TheKiwi]

I'm asking for the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant for Christmas. I've heard so many great things about this product and can't wait to try it!

 

[uber carmen]

It's called Daily Microfoliant because that's what the people who market the stuff want you to think. I've personally worked for a manufacturer of exfolliating products in which the "daily scrub" and the "intensive scrub" were exactly the same product. Just compare the ingredient list on the back. It's the same thing with skin lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc.

Mischa Barton is the face of Neutrogena because they pay her a lot of money (and she has great skin). But her skin is made even better by lighting tricks and computer touch-ups of her pictures. That's why she's got the gorgeous glow. Not because of Neutrogena. Did you ever see the Dove "transformation" of a regular person into a model poster? Check it out here.

All I'm saying is that me, along with a whole dozen other friends (most of which are in the modelling industry, where beautiful skin is a minimal requirement), use daily exfoliators, like Dermalogica Microfoliant, and it works brilliantly for us. Whether or not people choose to listen is really up to them. I'm not trying to sell them anything, just offering another tried and tested option for those on the quest for super-clear, glowing skin.

As for Mischa Barton, I'm not saying that her skin is the way it is because she uses Neutrogena. I do know, however, that she spends loads on skincare (Creme de La Mer for example) and on professional advice. We share the same skin specialist, who advocates gentle, daily exfoliation to those clients who MUST have tip-top skin 24/7, because they're always in the public eye or perhaps its part of their profession. And interestingly enough, you should check-out candid photos of Barton and people like Gemma Ward, Julia Stegner, etc. Their skin is pretty much FLAWLESS even without any touching up or makeup, when they're just walking around the streets or going to the beach. You can always attribute it to genetics but on the other hand, lots of these girls are extremely dedicated and work very hard to keep themselves in good shape like that, think daily exfoliation, fortnightly deep cleansing facials etc.

 

[thebeautybrains]

I'm not trying to sell them anything, just offering another tried and tested option for those on the quest for super-clear, glowing skin.

As for Mischa Barton, I'm not saying that her skin is the way it is because she uses Neutrogena. I do know, however, that she spends loads on skincare (Creme de La Mer for example) and on professional advice. We share the same skin specialist, who advocates gentle, daily exfoliation to those clients who MUST have tip-top skin 24/7, because they're always in the public eye or perhaps its part of their profession.

You make some great points. Daily exfoliation might be fine for some, but it is not for everyone. It could actually cause some significant damage to your skin. Your skin cells only grow so fast and using an exfoliant on fresh skin can be bad.

 

[uber carmen]

^thebeautybrains

As an aside, I loved that Dove 'mockumentary clip' you put up. Its definitely true that there is so much work and tinkering being put on commercial and fashion editorials, ads, etc.
Most of us girls that do the runway shows in NY, Milan and Paris look like utter zonked-out sh*t at the end of it, but no-one can ever tell when you look into the pages of Vogue.
And its okay to not look like that because if people could only imagine how much work goes into to make a person look so perfect. Its waking up at 5, hours and hours of makeup, hours and hours of shooting and then even more air-brushing. Its totally ridiculours and sets some pretty impossible standards for the rest of the world. The reason why some of us put up with crap like that is because we get paid a lot of money to have our hair tugged endlessly, and gunky makeup put on our skin.

 

[thebeautybrains]

^^You make beauty sound so galmorous!