For the last 5 months I have been working on a program with an amazing nutritionist trying to improve my everyday eating habits. Loosing those extra pounds is always a driving force to stick with a program like the one I've been on. But as I started to focus on eating better to shed some weight, it also got me thinking of something else. In addition to eating a healthier diet to improve the appearance of my figure, what kind of diet could I follow to improve the appearance of my skin?
As it turns out...there's a lot of edible help out there geared to improving skin of all types! From what I found, here is my top ten:
1. Avocado-This wonderful creamy fruit is filled with Vitamin B which will nourish the skin inside and out. Used mainly for it's anti-inflammatory properties, the Vitamin B found in avocados can help to sooth irritated and/or red blotchy skin. Another great use of avocado is the natural oils found inside of it. These oils can help to improve skin with a dryer texture. You see avocado used quite a bit in facial masks, and now you know why!
2. Mango-Mangos are packed with Vitamin A, a source that is great for maintaining and repairing skin cells. Vitamin A is also a great antioxidant for the skin which can help to fight free radicals that attack it and cause it to age much faster.
3. Almond-Almonds are a great source of Vitamin E which is also an antioxidant. It's great for protecting and repairing the skin from sun damage. And as we know, sun damage is a great way to age your skin quickly. The oils from this tasty snack can also help to moisturize and renew the texture of the skin.
4. Acerola Cherries-Most cherries that we all know and love (i.e. maraschino, bing, rainier) don't contain a high amount of Vitamin C, not true for the Acerola Cherry. Packed with Vitamin C, eating a healthy amount of this delicious fruit is a guaranteed way to brighten your skin. Vitamin C is a key ingredient in most skin care products that help in diminishing a dull appearance to skin. Leaving instead, with a flawless glow. In addition to that it also helps in the production of collagen within the skin, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Oysters-Many of us associate oysters as being the cliche' of the classic aphrodisiac. Whether or not they help you to set the mood, what I can assure you is that eating oysters are great way to help heal skin plagued with acne. Packed with the mineral zinc, the development of acne is minimized because zinc is known to slow down the production of sebum in the skin, a major cause of the appearance of breakouts.
6. Baked Potato-Small amounts of this popular comfort food can be great for the skin. Being that it contains high amounts of the mineral copper. Combined with vitamin c and zinc already in the skin, these three elements together help to create elastin fibers. Elastin fibers are super important because it's within those fibers that our skin structure is supported and given the ability to heal and rebound from any injury.
7. Flaxseed Oil-If your not a fish lover then this tip is perfect for you. One of the best sources, other then fish, of Omega 3s is flaxseed oil. Just one teaspoon a day of this essential fatty acid will not only hydrate your skin, it's also a great way to dilute sebum in the skin and unclog pores.
8. Leafy Greens-Not only are leafy greens packed with nutrients that help your body function better, those nutrients help skin as well. Full of antioxidants that help to protect the skin by repairing cell damage and increasing cell turnover. They are also packed with lots of vitamins that will help the skin maintain a bright and healthy appearance.
9. Mushrooms-Not many people associate mushrooms with skin care, and I was one of them. Out of all my discoveries, this one surprised me the most. Come to find out, mushrooms are filled with Vitamin B2. A vitamin that helps in skin tissue maintenance and repair. Which is very important because our bodies use a lot of this particular vitamin in the healing process from burns and wounds.
10. Water-I've saved not only the best for last, I've saved the most important. Drinking a large amount of water a day in your diet is the best thing you can do not only for your body but for you skin as well. Water not only is full of lots of important minerals and nutrients that help our bodies to function as best as they can, it also has the ability to flush out toxins and hydrate. Combine all those elements together and your skin is bound to see results!
I guess what they say is true....you are what you eat!
Thanks to Holly Gonzalez from Your Wellness Tree I've been inspired not only to discover a new way of eating for my figure and my health but for my skin as well! Feel free to check her out at http://www.yourwellnesstree.com/. Trust me, you won't regret it...she's a miracle worker!
Bon Appetit
See you soon!
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Pretty in Pink
As we see another season change we also start to see changes in beauty trends. Inspired by the runways of fashion weeks all over the globe make-up is definitely changing it's pace! This past winter season we saw a lot of deep toned lips barely there blush and shimmery eyes with a softer, blended finish. Well, get ready for something completely different!
This season is all about color. Either lot's of it or none at all! Lips can either be bold with bright reds, corals, or pinks. Or stay soft and natural with peaches and nudes. Cheeks have one common trend no matter what color you choose...keep it high! Instead of color sitting on the apple of the cheek or even under the cheek bone itself, brush it ON the cheek bone. Doing so gives a lift to the features of the face. I personally would go with a shimmery blush. The shimmer, combined with the placement will not only add a lift, it will also leave a glistening finish to the skin.
As for the eyes...well pull out your favorite John Hughes film for inspiration because the 80's are back! It's all about the pastels! Think Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink or even 16 Candles. Blues, purples, greens...you name it...it's in. If too much color is too much for you, try incorporating one pastel color into your daily beauty routine. Mixing it with your favorite natural tone will showcase whatever color you decide to use. Or the "no make-up" look using light skin tones to highlight and contour the skin is another option you can choose and still stay in this season's trend. But for those of you who like to go bold you haven't been forgotten. Bold colored eyeliner will be seen a lot this season. Neon colors in all shades are back and even solid bright white!
Like I said, this season is all about color...where you put it how much of it you use and what you put it with! Remember, not every trend will be for you...and that's ok. Whether you incorporate all the trends or just one or two...make it all about you and make sure you feel beautiful doing it!
Here is a list of products at any budget that I would recommend if you were looking to update your make-up bag and make it spring 2010 trendy :)
Lips:
This season is all about color. Either lot's of it or none at all! Lips can either be bold with bright reds, corals, or pinks. Or stay soft and natural with peaches and nudes. Cheeks have one common trend no matter what color you choose...keep it high! Instead of color sitting on the apple of the cheek or even under the cheek bone itself, brush it ON the cheek bone. Doing so gives a lift to the features of the face. I personally would go with a shimmery blush. The shimmer, combined with the placement will not only add a lift, it will also leave a glistening finish to the skin.
As for the eyes...well pull out your favorite John Hughes film for inspiration because the 80's are back! It's all about the pastels! Think Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink or even 16 Candles. Blues, purples, greens...you name it...it's in. If too much color is too much for you, try incorporating one pastel color into your daily beauty routine. Mixing it with your favorite natural tone will showcase whatever color you decide to use. Or the "no make-up" look using light skin tones to highlight and contour the skin is another option you can choose and still stay in this season's trend. But for those of you who like to go bold you haven't been forgotten. Bold colored eyeliner will be seen a lot this season. Neon colors in all shades are back and even solid bright white!
Like I said, this season is all about color...where you put it how much of it you use and what you put it with! Remember, not every trend will be for you...and that's ok. Whether you incorporate all the trends or just one or two...make it all about you and make sure you feel beautiful doing it!
Here is a list of products at any budget that I would recommend if you were looking to update your make-up bag and make it spring 2010 trendy :)
Lips:
Nars-Love Devotion
MAC-Vegas Volt, Honey Love, Mac Red
Clinique-Merlot
Lancome-Steamy
Revlon-Timeless Nude
Cheeks:
Smashbox-Baked Starlight
Nars-Orgasm
MAC-Style
Lancome-Pink Pool
Revlon-Just Peachy
Eye shadow:
MAC-Bitter
YSL-Pastel
Covergirl-Tropical Fushion
Eyeliner:
MAC-Fascinating, Aqualine
YSL-Deepest Green
Covergirl-Tempst Blue
Feel free to contact me for a make-up lesson to perfect your new spring look!
See you soon!
Marlena Robbins
Licensed facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Happy New Year! Happy New Resolutions.
As a new year has started many of us tend to make new year resolutions. Many of which tend to run on repeat as years go by.
"This year I'm gonna take more time for myself"
"This year I'm going to take that class I've been wanting to take"
"This year I'm going to spend more time with my family and friends"
And of course the ever popular "This year I'm going to loose weight"
As the years come and go a lot of us tend to make those resolutions but fail to follow through with them. I myself, am guilty of this exact issue. That's why this year I've decided to make a resolution of easy change. And an easy way to start is to change something about your beauty routine. Whether you go from a flat eyeshadow color to a shimmery one. Or a nude lipstick to a red, make it a fun change.
Remember, make-up is art and art is a form of personal expression. Let 2010 not just be a year of change but also a year to express what is already there inside you. I've written a lot about trend. And following trend can be fun but every so often instead of following trend make your own trend! And if you find something you love whether it be a new lipstick, eyeliner or even a moisturizer let me know! I'll make sure to write about it!
Happy 2010 everyone!
"This year I'm gonna take more time for myself"
"This year I'm going to take that class I've been wanting to take"
"This year I'm going to spend more time with my family and friends"
And of course the ever popular "This year I'm going to loose weight"
As the years come and go a lot of us tend to make those resolutions but fail to follow through with them. I myself, am guilty of this exact issue. That's why this year I've decided to make a resolution of easy change. And an easy way to start is to change something about your beauty routine. Whether you go from a flat eyeshadow color to a shimmery one. Or a nude lipstick to a red, make it a fun change.
Remember, make-up is art and art is a form of personal expression. Let 2010 not just be a year of change but also a year to express what is already there inside you. I've written a lot about trend. And following trend can be fun but every so often instead of following trend make your own trend! And if you find something you love whether it be a new lipstick, eyeliner or even a moisturizer let me know! I'll make sure to write about it!
Happy 2010 everyone!
See you soon
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Friday, December 4, 2009
Pop Quiz Time!
Hey class, it's pop quiz time! Take this test, you might be surprised at some of the answers!
1. Does your foundation truly match your skin? How can you tell?
2. How can you find out your actual skin type?
3. Does the older you get diminish your ability to wear shimmery eyeshadow?
4. How can you tell you are using the right cleanser for you skin?
Here's the good news...it's an open book test and here's the answers:
1. If your having a hard time figuring out the right shade of foundation paint a swatch of the color on your cheek. Check back in ten minutes and if you can see the makeup on your skin you are using the wrong shade. It's common for people to check foundation colors on the jaw line. The problem with that, is that your jaw line has many shadows and uneven light shown on it due to the natural curves of the face. The blending of foundation colors can therefore be deceiving. Whereas the cheek is directly apart of the center of the face and is a flat surface that sees even light. There is no hiding behind curves and shadows. It either blends or it doesn't.
2. Take your pointer and middle finger and press into the side of your nostril. Take note on what is left on your fingers. Wipe them off and then press into the center of your forehead. If what you feel is different with each press you are combination. If they are the same you will either have nothing on your fingers which means your dry or a film of oil which, you guessed it, means you are oily.
3. Many women feel that once they reach a certain age they can no longer wear shimmer on their eyes. Ladies I'm here to tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. As you get older it is true wearing a lot of shimmer isn't the most flattering. But a little shimmer placed under the brow can actually be very pretty and very useful. The light reflected off the shimmer will give the illusion of the entire eye lid being lifted. Which is important because as we age our eye lids tend to loose not only their elasticity but because of that, their shape. And above all else, shimmer is always a pretty and feminine added touch to any make-up look!
4. Wash your face as you normally would and then let it air dry. After your skin is dry lightly press a tissue to the middle of your forehead. The tissue should then stay on your skin for about one to two seconds before falling off. If it stays longer your cleanser is leaving too much oil residue and if it doesn't stay on at all your cleanser is leaving your skin too dry.
*Call me for great cleanser recommendations!
Ok, pencils down. How do you think you did? Feel free to try the answers out and see if they work for you! Call me and let me know how it worked out!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
1. Does your foundation truly match your skin? How can you tell?
2. How can you find out your actual skin type?
3. Does the older you get diminish your ability to wear shimmery eyeshadow?
4. How can you tell you are using the right cleanser for you skin?
Here's the good news...it's an open book test and here's the answers:
1. If your having a hard time figuring out the right shade of foundation paint a swatch of the color on your cheek. Check back in ten minutes and if you can see the makeup on your skin you are using the wrong shade. It's common for people to check foundation colors on the jaw line. The problem with that, is that your jaw line has many shadows and uneven light shown on it due to the natural curves of the face. The blending of foundation colors can therefore be deceiving. Whereas the cheek is directly apart of the center of the face and is a flat surface that sees even light. There is no hiding behind curves and shadows. It either blends or it doesn't.
2. Take your pointer and middle finger and press into the side of your nostril. Take note on what is left on your fingers. Wipe them off and then press into the center of your forehead. If what you feel is different with each press you are combination. If they are the same you will either have nothing on your fingers which means your dry or a film of oil which, you guessed it, means you are oily.
3. Many women feel that once they reach a certain age they can no longer wear shimmer on their eyes. Ladies I'm here to tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. As you get older it is true wearing a lot of shimmer isn't the most flattering. But a little shimmer placed under the brow can actually be very pretty and very useful. The light reflected off the shimmer will give the illusion of the entire eye lid being lifted. Which is important because as we age our eye lids tend to loose not only their elasticity but because of that, their shape. And above all else, shimmer is always a pretty and feminine added touch to any make-up look!
4. Wash your face as you normally would and then let it air dry. After your skin is dry lightly press a tissue to the middle of your forehead. The tissue should then stay on your skin for about one to two seconds before falling off. If it stays longer your cleanser is leaving too much oil residue and if it doesn't stay on at all your cleanser is leaving your skin too dry.
*Call me for great cleanser recommendations!
Ok, pencils down. How do you think you did? Feel free to try the answers out and see if they work for you! Call me and let me know how it worked out!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Got Milk?
I'm so excited and can't wait to share with you the craziest tip I've ever been given to exfoliate your skin at home.....milk baths!
My friend came up to me the other day and asked me to feel her skin. As a professional I of course was intrigued and felt her arm. I've truly never felt skin as soft as hers was. I immediately asked her what she did to get skin that soft and she said she took a milk bath at home that morning. She then proceeded to tell me how I could do the same thing when I got home that night.
All you do is fill your bath tub with warm water and pour in an entire package of dry milk. Soak your body for about 20 to 30 minutes and voila....irresistible skin. The lactic acid that you can find in milk is a natural exfoliant. I use a lactic acid peel in some of my facial treatments at the salon. But it never dawned on me to use it for my entire body.
After trying this tip out myself....I'm hooked! You can bet I'll be treating myself to a milk bath at least once a week!
Let me know what you think!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
My friend came up to me the other day and asked me to feel her skin. As a professional I of course was intrigued and felt her arm. I've truly never felt skin as soft as hers was. I immediately asked her what she did to get skin that soft and she said she took a milk bath at home that morning. She then proceeded to tell me how I could do the same thing when I got home that night.
All you do is fill your bath tub with warm water and pour in an entire package of dry milk. Soak your body for about 20 to 30 minutes and voila....irresistible skin. The lactic acid that you can find in milk is a natural exfoliant. I use a lactic acid peel in some of my facial treatments at the salon. But it never dawned on me to use it for my entire body.
After trying this tip out myself....I'm hooked! You can bet I'll be treating myself to a milk bath at least once a week!
Let me know what you think!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Does cold weather mean dryer skin?
Just because the weather is getting cooler and in some parts of the country a little rainier and snowier...doesn't mean we should be forgetting to moisturize.
Skin tends to get a little dryer with the seasons change. As you adjust to a new wardrobe, your skin is adjusting to a new climate. To help your skin through this change make sure to hydrate inside and out! The more hydrated your skin is the healthier it is. And therefore will adjust that much better to any change in the weather. Drink lots of water and make sure to always moisturize your skin day and night.
A good way to moisturize your skin during the day is to use a sunscreen and moisturizer in one. Because even if the sun isn't out a lot, the uv rays are still coming through and damaging the skin. At night your favorite night cream will do the trick!
Call me anytime for great moisturizer recommendations at any budget!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Skin tends to get a little dryer with the seasons change. As you adjust to a new wardrobe, your skin is adjusting to a new climate. To help your skin through this change make sure to hydrate inside and out! The more hydrated your skin is the healthier it is. And therefore will adjust that much better to any change in the weather. Drink lots of water and make sure to always moisturize your skin day and night.
A good way to moisturize your skin during the day is to use a sunscreen and moisturizer in one. Because even if the sun isn't out a lot, the uv rays are still coming through and damaging the skin. At night your favorite night cream will do the trick!
Call me anytime for great moisturizer recommendations at any budget!
See you soon,
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Could New Moon equal a new you?
The other day I had a client come in and ask me to make her look like "Bella" from the Twilight series in honor of the latest film from the saga, New Moon, hitting the theatres this week. It got me thinking how interesting it is how pop culture can affect so many aspects of our life. Including beauty.
For my client I gave her a pretty soft gray smokey eye and a soft rose color on her cheeks to give her that flushed "Bella" look. I then suggested she use her new red lipstick (after all, it is this seasons hot color!) but blot it on the lips to give it almost a blood colored stained finish. Almost as if she herself had just had another amazing encounter passionately kissing Edward!
Something tells me that the "Bella" look may be the next hot trend of the season. And as a fellow Twilight lover...I couldn't be happier.
Call me if you want to know exactly how to transform into Bella yourself by knowing what products to use and how to use them!
See you soon!
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
For my client I gave her a pretty soft gray smokey eye and a soft rose color on her cheeks to give her that flushed "Bella" look. I then suggested she use her new red lipstick (after all, it is this seasons hot color!) but blot it on the lips to give it almost a blood colored stained finish. Almost as if she herself had just had another amazing encounter passionately kissing Edward!
Something tells me that the "Bella" look may be the next hot trend of the season. And as a fellow Twilight lover...I couldn't be happier.
Call me if you want to know exactly how to transform into Bella yourself by knowing what products to use and how to use them!
See you soon!
Marlena Robbins
Licensed Facialist/Make-up Artist
Bree Salon, Studio City
818.508.4500
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