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TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK-that is the question a lot of us ask ourselves about these seemingly must-use beauty items.  My answer is a resounding YES!

But, there’s so many……will that option really cleanse more deeply than just my facial wash? Does this other one hydrate my skin more than just my moisturizer? Can I really minimize the look of those pesky large looking pores on my nose with another formula?  And do I really want to spend the time doing this?

YES! Yes, I do.

These masks in all of their various forms and formulas will do what they say-to a certain level-and using them has the added benefit of feeling extra pampered. Since everyday stress is a major culprit in causing negative skin conditions (diet does, too), a facial mask is an excellent time investment in your physical and mental self-care regimen.  A mask is simply another way to introduce helpful ingredients to your skin. Using lotions and serums are other ways to do this. But the mask, in my opinion, is a better vehicle overall because I have to either be still or limit my activity. Yes, I can check emails, or Facebook, but escaping into my latest cozy mystery for ten minutes while the mask does its’ magic gives me that pampered feeling outside and inside.

The benefits to your complexion vary according to the ingredients of the specific mask you choose.  If you have more than one concern, it can be difficult to find a mask that addresses multiple issues. You want to determine what is your main focus, and go from there.

                The fastest mask that I can recommend for when you simply do not have extra time, but still want to do something more for your complexion, is a glycolic peel.  Sounds scaaary, but it’s not!  A good one features a patented MICROSPONGE® technology, is in a single-dose pad, and is designed to deliver a time-released application of maximum strength Glycolic Acid (10%).  This is a more effective exfoliation of the dead cells on skins’ outer surface. Because the Glycolic Acid is a sustained release, the formula is well tolerated. Vitamin E and Licorice Extract help soothe and refresh.

                When the pores on your face seem to be more like craters on the moon, it may be time to try a charcoal mask.  Activated charcoal has been used medically for years to absorb toxins from the body, soit may have been an intuitive leap to give this ingredient a try in facial masks. And it’s great forreducing toxins, brightening skin tone, and minimizing the look of pores by drawing out impurities.

BUT, there’s a process…..

   This mask can be irritating or even downright painful for some people, because the substance doesn’t just adhere to and remove the gunk, it will also take hair and skin.  So, generally, you need to wash your face to pre-exfoliate,  then use a hot towel as a compress to open your pores, then apply the mask. Make sure the layer you paint on is thick, because peeling this mask off after it dries is not easy when it’s too thin, and coming off in pieces. After removing this mask, you may want to gently wash your face again, or wipe it with some toner on a cotton pad to remove any excess. 

If oily skin and acne are your enemies, use a mask with kaolin and/or bentonite clay. These ingredients are especially known for their exfoliating (read: clog removing) and oil absorbing properties. Some types for Normal/Oily skin are–Sea Clay, Green Zeolite Clay, French Green Clay, Bentonite Clay, and Brazilian Clay (Natural, Dark Red, Pink, Purple and Yellow).  Just don’t expect your acne to dis-appear after one use-The mask will speed up the healing process of acne, and then help to control it with regular use (one to two times a week).  Don’t forget to moisturize-yes, oily skin needs moisture, too!  

Maybe your complexion is flaky, dry, and slightly irritated-then you want to get muddy!  Mud (such as Dead Sea) actually has skin-healing properties and a high water content, making it less drying, and more hydrating, than clay- which makes mud great for almost all skin types.  The minerals in a mud mask are also great for exfoliating, so it offers other benefits, like minimizing the look of pores and tightening the skin.  Dry skin is lacking enough natural oil, so using a dry oil serum after your mask and before moisturizing will help maintain the right amount of oil for your skin.

                A dehydrated complexion doesn’t have proper water levels. A mask with hyaluronic acid is your go-to product.  This ingredient can hold a 1,000 times its’ weight in water, and is present naturally in our bodies, with nearly half of the total amount in our skin.  It binds with water to retain moisture, which helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. With anti-bacterial properties, Hyaluronic acid will also help to calm redness, making a mask with this cosmetic superstar an excellent anti-dote to extremely dry, winter skin!

Sensitive skin is troubling for so many people-because there’s different types of sensitive skin!

For general sensitivity issues, a mask with natural ingredients is best. Look for aloe juice and camellia seed oil in the ingredients list, which can help with moisturizing and calming the skin.

                Very dry sensitivity can be painful-and oatmeal can help! Colloidal (very finely ground) oatmeal, along with Shea butter and white tea are a few of the items to look for in a mask. Hyaluronic acid is a must for this skin type, too.  You can try making your own mask with Manuka honey and yogurt for an easy DIY formula.

                When you’ve got sensitive skin with oily/acne problems, you might think there’s no help. Pink clay to the rescue!  This substance is one of the gentlest clays, so you get all the oil absorbing, pore clearing, exfoliating properties you need, while still catering to that need for a gentle formula.

                Rosacea and eczema sufferers need to watch everything they use, so a mask that is also a treatment is a must.  Anti-oxidant vitamins (A, C, E) and natural oils such as apricot and primrose need to be on your search list. Other ingredients to watch for are cucumbers, aloe, chamomile, arnica, turmeric, ginger and even white and reishi mushrooms.  Using a gel mask with any of those ingredients seems to have even more beneficial properties.  Of course, with all sensitive skin, you want to watch out for certain ingredients that you don’t want-anything that’s known for irritation.  I’ve added a list at the end of this article. *

                Overall, using a mask 1 to 3 times a week is a good regimen. Personal preference and results of use will guide your decision here.

By now, you’ve noticed the overlap in the many ingredients, formulas and skin types. Some ingredients and combinations will work better for your skin than others.  But once you’ve found the mask that works for you, add it to the rest of your skincare regimen.  Remember- Skincare is Self-care!

Thankfully, there are many products that are geared to all of these skin types. Of course, I can recommend Merle Norman products, because I use them daily!

Our masks include:

• Glycolic Rejuvinating Pads-Simply the fastest way to get excellent exfoliation and smoother skin! It’s not a traditional mask, but it is a time saver, so I couldn’t ignore the shout out.

• The original Miracol- I’ve had many people (including one man who stopped me in an office supply store!) tell me about their use of this amazing mask. A lot of them tell me that this bright pink superstar has helped to control oiliness and acne-in some cases, eliminating the acne entirely. Quite the review!

• Clarifying Clay Mask-The white clay in this product is an absolute wonder at sopping up excess oil. Green tea extract adds antioxidants.

• Moisture Rich Facial Treatment-Green, extremely soothing, and hydrating, this gel–like formula also smells wonderful thanks to cucumber extract. This is my personal favorite!

• Purifying Charcoal Mask-Activated charcoal gets rid of the gunk and brightens the complexion, while exfoliating for a smooth texture.

• Revitalizing Bubbly Mask-Conditions, clarifies, and evens skin tone. Emollients and humectants hydrate and smooth-all with a refreshing scent!

Last but not least, Merle Norman Cosmetics offers the only Free Facial! Available to all clients monthly, we have 5 mask formulas: Cocoa Vanilla for brightening, Oatmeal chamomile for soothing, Lavender Ginseng for hydrating, Apple cinnamon for pore cleansing and Pumpkin AHA for retexturizing.  They all have natural extracts and wonderful aromas, and are offered with steam treatment.  Many clients use this program monthly to augment their at-home skin-care regimen! These masks are not available for retail sales.

*10 Ingredients to Avoid if You Have Sensitive Skin

• 1) Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
• 2) Bismuth Oxychloride.
• 3) Petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are ingredients derived from petroleum
• 4) Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) …
• 5) Phthalates. …
• 6) Triclosan. …
• 7) Fragrances. …
• 8) Formaldehyde.
• 9)Cinnamic Acid
• 10)Essential Oils

If your skin is only generally sensitive, you may need to avoid at least the following ingredients in your skin care products:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• Sodium chloride

If you are unfortunate enough to be very sensitive to a lot of products, then other substances that you may need to put on your watch list include:

Surfactants such as:

• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Ammonium lauryl sulfate
• Soaps such as sodium tallowate or cocoate
• Salicylic acid
• Willow bark (the natural version of salicylic acid)
• AHA acids

Chemical sunscreens such as:

• Avobenzone
• Octinoxate
• Octisalate

• Homosalate
• Oxybenzone
• Octocrylene

It is no secret that as we mature, so does our skin. Just as we should tailor our skin care routine to meet skin’s changing needs, our make-up techniques may need to be slightly adjusted to help us look our best. We’ve compiled a list of important make-up tips for mature faces, and even if this doesn’t apply to you personally, we encourage you to share these with your Mom, or even your Grandma!

• Invest in quality skin care

Taking good care of your skin is the most important thing when you want to look your best. Adding serums, using an anti-aging eye cream, and selecting a moisturizer to meet your skin’s specific needs can all help keep your skin looking more youthful. Think of your skin as a canvas- you want it healthy & hydrated so your make-up can perform to its full potential. And don’t forget to protect from the sun! Using products containing an SPF will help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.

• Always prime

Primers are a vital and often overlooked step in a make-up routine. Foundation primers help to fill in lines and allow make-up to glide smoothly over skin. Eyeshadow primers prevent shadows from settling into creases and fine lines and help shadow to be more visible. Mascara primers plump & condition lashes to build volume and fullness while preventing flaking and smudging. And ALL primers help make-up to last longer, so you can stay looking great all day.

• Stick to liquid or cream foundations

Avoid powder foundations since they tend to settle into creases and make fine lines look more pronounced. Liquids and creams can help add hydration and will glide more smoothly over skin’s surface.

• Soften your eyeliner

Opt for brown and grey shades instead of black. Black liner can make eyes appear smaller and tends to look harsh. Be sure to chose a liner with a smudging tool, and use it soften the line. Not only will this help to create a softer and more flattering appearance, but you also don’t have to worry about making a perfectly straight line (which can be difficult as we age). Another option is to skip the eyeliner and use a darker shade of eyeshadow to line the eyes, applying the shadow just along the lash line.

• Choose semi-matte eyeshadows

Shimmery shadows can draw attention to fine lines, and matte shadows can make the skin appear crêpey. Semi-matte and satin shadows help to create a soft, diffused look and won’t draw attention to fine lines on the eyelid.

• Use cream & liquid blushes

Just as with foundation, powder blushes can settle into fine lines and make creases more pronounced. Liquids and creams glide nicely over the surface of the skin and help with hydration.

• Lipliner is your friend

Lipliner helps to define edges of lips, which tend to fade with age. Liner will also prevent lipstick from feathering into fine lines around the mouth. A clear lip pencil is a great option because it can be used with any shade of lipstick and eliminates the guesswork. And since it’s clear, it doesn’t require a precise line.

• Use the proper tools

Using make-up brushes is important when applying cosmetics, both to ensure even coverage and to improve the appearance of the products. For foundation, use a dense, flat brush. A stippling brush works great to blend liquid and cream blushes. For eyeshadows, use brushes specially designed for shadows (if in doubt, we are happy to help you select the correct brushes). Apply using short, circular motions.

• Opt for a setting spray instead of finishing powder

Since powder tends to settle into fine lines, set make-up with a finishing or setting spray. It will help make-up look great all day, and can add a dewy glow which helps to blur fine lines and create a softer appearance.

Winter is here and it’s making itself known! If any of you are like me with really dry skin, then this time of year is the enemy for your skin.  For me, the winter air sucks whatever life I have left in my skin right out, leaving it dull, lifeless, and so dry. My skin feels like the Sahara Desert most days. I’ll recommend a good skin care routine for your New Year’s Resolution for normal/dry skin.

Just like any other skin care regime, I like to start off with a good cleanser. I suggest using Merle Norman’s Daily Moisture Milky Cleanser. This cleanser contains humectants and emollients. Do you remember last week when I talked about those ingredients? Well they’ll start popping up more. Just to refresh your memory, humectants lock in moisture so, they’re very hydrating. Dry skin loves that hydration! Emollients are used to help smooth out the skin. They’re basically an exfoliant! You’ll find this ingredient in a lot of chemical exfoliants like the AHA Toner I mentioned last week. This cleanser is great because it helps to restore the skin’s moisture barrier and it helps to protect the skin from the damaging effects of the environment.

Moving on to Toners! If the pH levels in your skin are off, the winter air can really do some damage to the skin barrier. Luckily, toners keep those pH levels in check! Merle Norman has a great toner for dry skin. It’s called Daily Moisture Toner. This product, unlike other toners, has a thicker consistency but it’s still lightweight so it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. I like to describe it as milky, kind of like the cleanser I previously mentioned. I’m going to introduce you to a new ingredient! This toner contains hyaluronic acid. This ingredient is basically a superhero because it can actually hold a thousand times its weight in water! Yes, you read that right: a thousand times its weight! That’s crazy! If you have dry skin, then hyaluronic acid might just be your new best friend when it comes to skin care.

So, remember how I said last week that serums mostly focus on other skin concerns? Fortunately, there is a serum that is absolutely amazing for all you dry skin sufferers! Let me introduce you to Merle Norman’s Energizing Concentrate. This serum contains sodium hyaluronate. Not to be confused with hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid in which it can be dissolved in water. It is a smaller molecule created by scientists in order to penetrate the skin more easily. Therefore, it takes much less time to see the results of this product! Just like the hyaluronic acid, it is going to replenish lost moisture and really lock it into the skin. This product is great for this cold weather!

This time around, I’m going to kind of buzz through the eye cream. For dry skin, I’ll recommend the same eye cream as I did last week only because it focuses on general issues such as puffiness, dryness, and fatigue. The Revitalizing Eye Gel helps to soothe, cool, and hydrate the eye area. If puffiness is a big issue, you can always keep this product refrigerated so that the cool gel really helps to alleviate that puffiness!

For dry skin, people really want a good moisturizer! Merle Norman’s Intensive Moisturizer is perfect for this dry, winter air. This moisturizer has humectants (there’s that word again!). Humectants = Hydration. The great part about the Intensive Moisturizer is that it not only relieves dry skin, but it also prevents future dryness! What more could you want in a moisturizer?

Now that you’re a little more knowledgeable about your skin care, it will be much easier to find what’s right for you. Remember, these products are just my personal recommendations, so you’re not limited to only these products if you have dry skin. Try more than one product in order to find the right one. May the rest of your snowy, wintery days be merry and… Moisturized!

With the holidays coming to an end and those New Year’s resolutions beginning to surface, I think it’s time we discuss a good skin care routine. Skin care is so important. I feel like I say that at least 3 times a day, but I can’t stress it enough. If you’re looking for a good New Year’s resolution, I suggest coming up with a good, solid skin care routine. Over the span of the next few weeks, I’ll be giving a few ideas for several different skin types and I’ll tell you what I do everyday for my skin. I hope to help you get started on a routine.

Let’s start off with normal/oily skin. When the skin produces too much oil, it’s never a fun time. Constantly having to blot away that extra shine can be annoying. Start off your routine by cleansing your face. After a long day of sweat, dirt, and oils building up in the pores, it feels so refreshing to wash your face with a good cleanser. For oily skin, I would recommend Merle Norman’s Foaming Cleanser Normal/Oily. This lightweight foaming cleanser is great for oily skin because it contains astringent botanicals and humectants. I know what you’re thinking: English, please! Basically, the astringent botanicals constrict, or tighten, the pores to help keep the skin from producing too much oil. Therefore, the skin will become more dry. With that being said, this is when those humectants come into play. Humectants help to lock in moisture. Those two ingredients are very important for oily skin because they work together to control the oil without drying out the skin completely.

Toners are pretty important. Not everyone uses toners but, I do recommend finding one that works for you. Toners balance the pH levels in your skin to give you a nice, even complexion. It also removes cleanser residue. I recommend using Merle Norman’s AHA Toner Normal/Oily for oily skin. This toner’s main ingredient is actually in the name! AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid. This acid comes from fruits and it is used in this toner for it’s exfoliating properties. Now, you won’t be able to feel it exfoliating because AHA is a chemical exfoliant, which means it goes down deeper and loosens up the gunk that is holding the cells together, allowing that bacteria to break down and disappear.

Serums are a big part of a good skin care routine because they are so concentrated. This means they have tiny molecules that allows the skin to absorb it more quickly and deeply. The thing with serums is that they focus more on other issues like aging, dry skin or dark spots. I’ll talk more about serums next time. For now, I’ll give you a basic suggestion for oily skin in general. I would point you towards the Merle Norman AHA Intensive Complex. It’s the same concept as the toner without balancing the pH levels; it’s just a more concentrated version of the AHA.

Along with the serums, eye creams focus on other certain issues like puffiness, wrinkles, or dark circles. Therefore, the basic eye moisturizer I would use is Merle Norman’s Revitalizing Eye Gel. This gel helps to reduce puffiness and signs of fatigue to keep you from looking tired.

Last, but not least, for oily skin is the most common skin care product: the moisturizer. I highly suggest using Merle Norman’s Matte Oil-Free Moisturizer if your skin is crazy oily! This moisturizer helps to absorb excess oil and minimize the appearance of pores. It contains emollients which are used to soften and soothe the skin.

There you have it… No more oil! Well, a lot less oil, anyway. For those of you who struggle with quite the opposite of oily skin, next week’s blog post will be for you! Feel free to leave a comment with any questions or concerns about your skin or any of the products I have mentioned above. Feedback is always appreciated!

NATURAL SKIN CARE

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, so why not take care of it? Skin care is so important and if you’re not taking the proper steps to ensure that your skin is healthy then it won’t matter how much makeup you put on. Think about it, when you buy a canvas for a painting, you don’t want a dirty or damaged canvas. You want a fresh, clean one! Think of your skin as your canvas. You want to make sure your skin is smooth and healthy before you apply your makeup. I’m going to give you a few tips on how to naturally take care of your skin before you apply your skin care products.

Tip One: WASH YOUR FACE!!

Let me just take a second to be completely honest. I used to be careless about my skin! All through high school, I was a cheerleader and wore a lot of makeup all the time. Not to mention the sweat! That combination is so bad for your skin and I didn’t know the first thing about taking care of my skin at the time. I used to fall asleep with my makeup, wake up and not wash my face, then apply more makeup. I know, gross, right?! That is a HUGE no-no! Throughout the day, your pores become clogged with oil, dirt, and yes, makeup! If you don’t take the time to clean out those pores then you’re just allowing all that gunk to build up in your pores which can cause acne. I’ve had so many people tell me that they wash their face with just water. That’s good that you’re washing your face but you’re only cleaning the surface. You need to find a good facial cleanser that is right for your skin type in order to really clean out those pores!

Tip 2: DRINK YOUR WATER

About 60% of the human body is water. That’s over half of your body! When you’re sick, they say to drink plenty of water and fluids. When your lips are dry and chapped, drink water. When you have a headache, drink water. When you crave food, drink water. Basically, drink a ton of water everyday. It’s recommended that you drink between a half ounce and an ounce of water for every pound you weigh. I try to drink a gallon of water everyday. I never make it that far, but it’s a goal. You should make it your goal, too! The human body can carry a lot of toxins which play a huge role in the development of acne. Drinking water helps to flush out those toxins and can potentially clear up acne. Your skin is an organ and it needs to stay hydrated. What better way to hydrate your skin than to drink water? So do yourself and your skin a favor and drink your water!

Tip 3: SLEEP

Being an adult is basically just winging life with no sleep, right? We get up everyday to go to a job that we work 40+ hours a week at, go home to clean and do laundry which we put off until the weekend, try to maintain a social life, try to eat right, exercise, etc. When do we have time to sleep? Let me tell you this: make sleep your priority. Make the time to get a full 7- 9 hours of sleep. Your skin will look like you aged years if you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is important for your skin because while you sleep your skin’s cell turnover is at its highest. What does that mean? Your cell turnover is basically when your skin produces new skin cells. If you’re trying to get rid of acne and you’re not allowing yourself to get enough sleep, then it’s going to take a lot longer for your skin to work its magic and clear that acne. Your skin will look dull if you’re losing sleep. Yes, your cell turnover has to do with a lot more than just clearing up acne. That cell turnover is basically like a brand new face everyday. We lose so many dead skin cells every minute and that’s why it is important to sleep so that your skin can produce those new skin cells more quickly. They don’t call it ‘beauty sleep’ for nothing!

These were just a few tips I learned through the years as I have been trying to better myself inside and out. I have become so passionate about caring for my skin and I’m so thankful I’ve decided to take it so seriously because it has changed the way I look at myself as a whole. I feel so beautiful and confident with how my skin looks now. So, find that confidence! Drink your water, wash your face, and get your beauty sleep!

Merle Nethercutt Norman was one of the first women in cosmetics and a true entrepreneur. It started in the late 1920’s when she began tackling her own skin challenges by testing formulas made right in her kitchen.

These formulas were so effective that she began sharing them with family and friends. She demonstrated the products as a value-added service, believing if she could “get it on their faces” they would become customers. It was from this concept that the famous and much imitated slogan, “Try Before You Buy” originated.

As demand for her product greom w, Merle opened her first Studio in 1931 in Santa Monica, CA, with the help of her nephew, J.B. Nethercutt, who assisted in the development and manufacturing of her products. Decades before working women were the norm, Merle Norman gave hundreds of women the opportunity to achieve business success by owning and operating their own Studios. Her single Studio has evolved into the successful corporation it is today, which remains just miles from the original Ocean Park location. Our Research & Development and manufacturing facilities are still located in Los Angeles, where the products continue to be made.

Dedicated to Merle Norman’s original vision of superior products, individual service and the “Try Before You Buy” philosophy, and bolstered by a contemporary new design, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios are positioned for continued expansion and even greater success in the years ahead. Although Merle Norman passed away in 1972 and J.B. Nethercutt in 2004, the company, under the guidance of JB’s son, Jack Nethercutt, remains a family-owned business dedicated to helping women everywhere look
and feel their absolute best.

 

*credit: this information is from the official Merle Norman website: http://www.merlenorman.com/who-we-are