Summer is Officially Here!

I don't know about about you, but today it reached 90 degrees here in Baltimore and I am welcoming it. As a lover of hot weather it couldn't come soon enough. With the hot weather it seems we all want to spend as much time outside as possible. I'm first in line to take Paddington the poodle to the dog park, run along the harbor, and walk to the local restaurant or coffee shop. At the risk of sounding like what has to be a broken record, we do need to always remember our sunscreen.

Like many Midwestern girls I spent my summers drinking in the few months of sun we are blessed with laying out at the pool, or in the backyard with little to no sunscreen. Let's face it SPF 4 while it's better than nothing, isn't doing us any favors. I also went to gasp..... a tanning bed for years. Now, at just 31 years old I'm already paying the price.

A few years ago I started noticing hyperpigmentation in the form of what you may of heard of referred to melasma. Melasma is known as the Pregnancy Mask, due to it's presence in many pregnant woman and in post pregnancy, thanks to our raging hormones. I've never been pregnant but yes, this can occur with the use of birth control pills and is exacerbated by sun exposure. What's worse is these spots of darker skin, are now permanent and won't ever completely go away. Fortunately, I started wearing a great sunscreen on my face each day, we're talking 30 spf here people, which helps to prevent it from worsening.

This was a great wake up call for me and I feel so lucky to have learned my lesson before skin cancer and tons of wrinkles descended upon me. I am able to cover it completely with great mineral foundation (which also contains sunscreen) and all I have to endure is my husband calling me "patches".

So, I am trying to embrace my naturally fair skin and be kind to my body this summer. I hope you'll protect your skin and do the same!

What's the Deal with Bismuth Oxychloride?

There is so much hype surrounding mineral makeup and many think that it's just a fad or a trend. I'm definitely here to tell you this concept is not going anywhere. This is by far the best makeup you can put on your skin, but beware, not all mineral makeup is created equally. With allergies on the rise and cancer soaring to epic proportions, as in, 1 out of 3 will be diagnosed in a lifetime, it's no wonder we are so confused at the beauty counter.
My personal standard is, if I can't pronounce an ingredient it, it doesn't belong on my skin. Our skin is the largest organ we have, acting like a big sponge. Everything we put on it will penetrate down to the cellular level and can interfere with cell reproduction.
As a makeup artist and skin care guru I get asked on a weekly basis, "what the heck is bismuth oxychloride and why is it bad for me?"
What we know is bismuth is a beautiful filler and helps to give mineral foundation a smooth and creamy texture. Sounds great, right? There is no evidence to suggest this ingredient can cause cancer or other health related illnesses. However, for anyone with sensitive skin, allergies, or acne I would use products containing bismuth with extreme caution. What we also know about bismuth is that it's an irritant, causing itchiness, redness, and overall irritation to many. There is also a direct link between bismuth and acne, specifically cystic acne.
As I mentioned, bismuth is a filler, and a very beautiful one at that. This ingredient is what is making your mineral foundation so sparkly and shiny. This too, is not necessarily a bad thing, if you are under the age of 30 that is. Otherwise, you look as lit up as a Christmas tree, and for most of us, that's not a good thing. (Think huge enlarged pores!)
So, there are the facts about bismuth oxychloride. If you are a young gal (or guy) who doesn't have trouble with acne, rosacea, or sensitive skin you probably have nothing to worry about. Otherwise, I suggest you pick a mineral makeup company who chooses not to use this ingredient. Be educated, read labels, ask questions!