Re-post

The Summer has passed and Fall is here. You may want to rewind the clock, not only for the warm weather, but to undo all the damage that has been done to your skin. Since it is easy to get a little too much sun in all of the outdoor activities, summer is not the time to start using corrective skincare products. Skincare products that contain strong ingredients can make your skin even more sensitive and prone to damage if not protected correctly. The winter time brings cold weather with harsh wind that when combined with active skincare treatments can make your skin irritated and even feeling chapped. That’s why Fall is the perfect time to give your skin a boost with the right skincare products. As the seasons change and the temperature drops you have just a short window of opportunity to take action before the weather gets too cold. Are you thinking about your Fall skincare habits? Do you want to challenge your skin in a new way? What do you change? Of course you need to hydrate your skin more, but don’t forget Fall is the time for some transforming skin care. Why not try a short series of intense peels, retinols, or even LASER resurfacing? Any of these facial treatments will stimulant collagen to firm your skin and exfoliate dull skin, revealing a fresh glow and diminishing the fine lines. We all know that from time to time the skin needs a strong shot of skin tightening stimulus. Just make sure you don’t overdo your skincare cocktail by trying all of these procedures at the same time.

Top Three Skincare Do’s for Fall
1. Stay hydrated. Everybody tells you this and you know you need to hydrate (body and skin) inside and out.

2. You still need your sunscreen. At least wear a SPF15 daily. You don’t want to undo all of the progress you’re making.

3. Splurge on a professional skincare treatment or two. I’m not saying blow the savings account, but find a pre-holiday special and you will be thankful for this advice later.

Beauty/Love Potions

“Although no food can re-place the little blue pill, there are many foods denoted as aphrodisiacs whose nutritional properties help boost sexual drive and sexual energy, “ says Amy Reiley, Master of Gastronomy, creator of the Life of Reiley (www.lifeofreiley.com) , a website dedicated to sensual foods and wines, and author of Fork Me, Spoon Me. We’ve all heard of aphrodisiac foods and here are a few ingredients for a love potion.

Oysters are one of the most popular aphrodisiac foods in the world. They are high in protein and have zinc to increase blood flow.

Chocolate is another commonly requested food to heighten one’s senses. Studies show that eating chocolate boosts levels of serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals released by the brain create a sense of well-being and can be the equivalent to love.

Ginseng, which literally translates to “man root” since it is suppose to resemble human genitalia, has been used in Asia for many decades as an aphrodisiac. Ginseng increases energy similar to caffeine.

Ginger is popular in Asia and India as an aphrodisiac, because of its warming and stimulating properties. Often used in teas or soups to calm the stomach, it also has been reported to raise the heart rate.

Pomegranates are mentioned in the Kama Sutra as a valuable aid in love making. Throughout history the pomegranate has been a symbol of fertility. “Its crimson shade is the color of desire,” says Reiley.

"They’re messy and sticky, and because there’s no other way to eat a pomegranate than with your fingers, the act of consuming the juicy little seeds becomes a sensuous act of play."

Vanilla has been proven in scientific studies on scent to be a strong temptation to men of all ages. The warmth of its aroma has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Vanilla is a comforting and erotic scent.

Sound good? Well here is a bonus; most of these ingredients have benefits to the skin when applied topically, as well as ingested internally. So this Valentine’s Day make your own love potion to give your skin a natural glow from the inside out. Remember when you feel good, you look better.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Winterize Your Skin

During the winter months our skin needs extra care. With the distraction of the holidays and the never ending list of activities, it is easy to mistreat and to neglect our skin. With a few simple steps you can winterize your skin. Here are a few more "to do's" to add to your list, but these tips along with some bonus "don'ts" will protect and hydrate your skin all winter long for a truly happy new year.


Do use a room humidifier. The central heating and fireplaces can dry indoor air to as low as 10% humidity. It is essential to replace moisture in the air to relieve dry skin, chapped lips, and sore throats.

Don’t take long, hot showers. Even though the hot water feels good during the cold weather months, it will strip the skin of natural oils. It is better to take short (5-7 minutes) warm showers.

Do use a gentle exfoliant in the shower to smooth away any dead skin. Exfoliation helps moisturizers penetrate deeper into the skin and many body scrubs are made with essential oils to aid your skin.

Don’t use soap on your skin. Soap is a de-greaser and removes all oils from the skin. Switch to a creamy (versus gel-based) facial cleanser and gentle body wash.

Do put your moisturizers on immediately after getting out of the shower, while the skin is still damp.

Don’t buy body lotions with heavy perfumes, but instead look for body cream with key ingredients to hold water in the skin; such as Shea butter, olive oil, grape seed oil, and other natural lipids.

Do make sure your moisturizer has humectants like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid pulls water from the air and binds those molecules to the skin for hydration that will not clog your pores.

Don’t go overboard on treatment products. Retinols and alpha hydroxy acids can be drying to the skin.

Do take supplements with Omega Fatty Acids (OFA 3&6) for healthy skin. Fatty Fish (salmon & tuna), grains, seeds, nuts, oils, dark green leaf vegetable, and more are all excellent sources for these OFA-- essential fatty acids.

Don’t forget to drink eight (8oz) glasses of water a day. Water hydrates your skin from within.

Do limit your caffeine, diet soda, and alcohol intake. These drinks are diuretics that make the body lose water and dehydrate your skin.

Don’t skip the sunscreen just because it is winter time. Ultra Violet Radiation (UVA) can damage the skin all year long.

Do bundle up anytime you are outside. It is important to shield your skin from the elements of cold wind, which can lead to parched skin, eczema, cracked and splitting cuticles.


Happy Holidays and I hope you have a happy New Year with good health inside and out!

Cranberries are good for skin and sexual health

Thanksgiving dinner brings wonderful foods, like cranberries. Cranberries are good for your skin and

“these glistening, red globes are packed with nutrients beneficial to sexual health,”

says aphrodisiac foodie Amy Reiley, author of Fork Me, Spoon Me. “For starters, cranberries are rich in Vitamin C, which has been clinically proved to keep sex glands running. It is also a source of Vitamin A, important for reproduction, not to mention the immune system. It aids the circulatory system and is a good source of fiber (great for keeping you long, lean and ready for action)”
Read more at http://www.lifeofreiley.com/samplenewsletter.html


Who knows if your skin will be glowing from the cranberries or the after activities? Pass the cranberries please!

Topical Botox

If you could buy a youthful appearance would you? Well for many people the answer is a resounding YES! That is why the beauty industry is booming and not slowing down for a minute. Even with a weak economy, facial injectables remain popular. Botox, owned by Allergan and produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinumone, is currently the number one elected cosmetic procedure. With this type of financial following, competition is bound to follow.

First the big buzz was about the Botox rival Dysport getting approval in April 30, 2009. Originally called Reloxin, Dysport has been successful in Europe for many years and the FDA deciding to keep the same European name. Dysport, generically known as Abobotulinum toxin, is rumored to work more quickly, last longer, and be cheaper than Botox. While this may seem like great news for some, others are still weary of needles and are waiting a solution.

The needle free application may be here before we know it. Not available on the market yet, there’s a topical preparation of the botulinum toxin molecule that has been developed to penetrate the skin in a gel-cream base with no needles needed.

Revance's RT001, also known as "Topical Botox" was developed about four years ago.

Patients would still need to see a physician for the application. The gel-cream would be applied to the treatment area and then removed to complete the procedure without injections, discomfort, or bruising. From its’ early testing, RT001 looks very promising especially for treatment of lateral canthal lines (crow's feet) and treating axillary (under arm) hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating). Could this really be "Youth in Jar" or will we all look frozen in time? What ever the answer is, there is no debating that with the advancements' in cosmetic medicine it would appear as if time may be on our side after all.

How to apply faux eyelashes

Halloween is the perfect time to select fun, flirty eyelashes. I'll be wearing faux feather lashes. Here are my tips on how to apply faux eyelashes that will look great and last all night.


1) First use faux eyelash strips as opposed to individual lashes for a more dramatic look. Hold the false lashes up to your own lashes to measure it they will fit proper. If they are too long, trim the outer longer lashes for a natural look and never the inner shorter lashes.

2) Softly curl your own eyelashes. Then apply eyeshadow, eyeliner, and with a light coat mascara.

3) Now apply a dab of lash glue on a facial tissue. Use your tweezers to pick up and hold the faux lashes. Hold them in the position that is easiest to apply the lashes. Gently dip the faux lashes into the lash glue, applying a thin line of glue.

Make sure the ends of the faux lashes are coated, since falsies are most likely to lift from the ends.

Wait 10-15 seconds before applying the lashes, so the glue has a moment to set and solidify. When the glue thickens it is easier to work with and apply the lashes with less mess

4) Hold up tweezers near eye to line up with lashes and apply lashes right in the middle of the eye while slightly looking down. Use the back of the tweezers to press down the ends. Do not rush! And don't worry if they are not on perfectly placed where you want them to be, you can still adjust the lashes before they dry. Once in the proper place, it is important to hold down the ends after applying for about 20 seconds.

5) After a 5-10 minutes use a eyelash curler to gently and delicately curl your lashes with the false lashes for better blending.

Now you are ready to go out for Halloween and any other trick or treat event.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Customized Beauty donates our services of areola repigmentation to breast cancer survivors in need. Permanent cosmetic areola repigmentation is a specialty area of medical dermapigmentation that requires advanced education, training, and experience. These procedures are for men and women who have undergone mastectomies, other breast surgery, or who may have irregular or fading areolas. The areola and nipple are a major part of the aesthetic look of a breast, sometimes affecting one's self-image making them feel “incomplete” without it.

After measuring for appropriate placement and selecting the desired pigment shade, the areola is designed with the illusion of a protruding nipple.

The three dimensional impression of a nipple along with the areola repigmentation contributes to the most natural overall appearance. Please contact us for information. www.aprilmeese.com