Gift Ideas: Skin Care (Which Skin Care line is right for your gift?)

The Holidays are right around the corner so lets jump start that gift buying with a creative new gift idea for the hard to buy for: more beautiful skin. Now I know what you are thinking. "Why would we want to gift a skin care line?" Think of the confidence boost you are giving with smoother, softer, lovelier, unblemished, youthful skin. I have always loved receiving skin care as a gift.  To me it is the ultimate luxurious gift I can receive.  I trust the quality of these skin care lines that cover a great range of skin care issues. Give a new kind of gift this year.

1. Nutricentials: Protect your body's first line of defense with this daily skin care regimen, for combination to oily skin or combination to dry skin. 

2. Clear Action: For both the teenager and adult acne alike, this gentle and effective treatment system is designed to help clear the blemishes you have now, fade the signs of past breakouts, and, most importantly, keep skin clear and vibrant for the future. See my blog comparing this acne system to the others out there.

3. Tri-Phasic White:  Minimize dark spots, prevent discoloration, and maintain a luminous, bright complexion. This clinically proven system helps you achieve even-toned, glowing skin. Ideal for people with existing and preventing future hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and dark spots.



4. 180 System: Begin to reverse the effects of environmental aging in as early as one week. Known as "The Cell Renewal Specialist" skin care system, the vitamin C infused in NS's 180° Anti-Aging system enhances your skin’s natural cell renewal for younger looking skin. Ideal for those with fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration due to sun and wind exposure.

5. ageLOC:  Transformation kit is our most advanced anti-aging system ever, delivering unsurpassed anti-aging benefits. This complete and comprehensive skin care system reveals younger looking skin ideal for those looking for a total transformation. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these systems or the types of skin that would benefits from their use. Be sure to email me (ajulie@me.com) to get up to 25% off these skin care lines. 


ALSO: look later this month for the Stocking Stuffer addition to Gift Ideas. Great body butters, face masks, and more! Be sure to learn more about any of the products I sell (NuSkin) by checking out my facebook page!

The Potato Test: The Results of our Serum Test

We decided to do a little home experiment to see how a basic serum - one for skin at any age - helps your face fight off free radicals - the agers of our skin!

 After 15 minutes the left side (with no serum) is showing its exposure to air.

Closer view of the 15 minute no coverage side of our Russet potato.

Below are the potato halves after 1 hour of air exposure. See how the side with the fluid is still bright, and almost unaffected, while the side without is noticeably showing discoloration.   

To the Right, a closer look at the 1 hr half. Below, a closer look at the 1 hr half.

                              Here is the 2 hour look at these halves. What a dramatic difference!

And our last set of pictures at a 4 FULL HOURS!

 Above, hardly affected in its 4 hours with the serum protecting it by scavenging free radicals so there is less oxidation on the treated half. Below, umm...a bit gross with the discolorations and graying of this untreated half.

This is the side by side view of the 4 hours of exposure. So here is what was going on in these 4 hours. As the untreated half of the potato is exposed to the air, it starts to oxidize. We use Celltrex Ultra Recovery Fluid because of its powerful antioxidant hydroxytyrosol. Our skin oxidizes in a similar way in response to free radicals - causing many of the common things to do with skin-aging free radical damage.

Cellular Oxidation is a source of skin aging. Research has shown that the nutrients, especially hydroxytyrosol, found in extra virgin olive oil can be effective in relieving oxidative stress on cells.

It is my opinion, this is the prefect start of the anti-aging process. Starting in your 20s with something that can protect the skin from oxidation and free radicals can be the perfect way to prevent or prolong the aging process that seems to be inevitable for us all! We have more powerful serums for the more mature skins.

Health Tip: Three Ways To Be Skin Savvy For Glowing, Beautiful Skin At Any Age

One of the most important things you can do for the health of your skin is read the ingredients on any products before you buy them.   Your skin absorbs everything it comes into contact with so make sure the skin care products you buy will promote an ageless complexion.    

1.  At any age it is wise to add a serum that combats environmental toxins as well as provide key nutrients to combat any damage that you may or may not see for a youthful glow at every age.  

2.  Don’t think if you purchase the most expensive products you are guaranteed to get the best results either.   

3. Get samples or ask for a demonstration and evaluate the results after at least 24 hours.

Gotta Love a Spa Night!

 On Friday, Joy and I threw our 1st Spa/PJ Party! It was so much fun to invite some friends over for a teenage style spa night with food, facials, food soaks, and a cocktail (or two). Required: FUN and PJ pants!

 Joy and I made this great summer banner (how to blog coming this week) from Pinterest! We love it and I will keep it up all summer! We had fun foods like high heeled shoe sugar cookies, chocolate fondue, white bean dip, spa water, and a fun cocktail (another thing we found on Pinterest).

 Who doesn't like relaxing their feet in warm water with Epson salt! After the soak we have amazing products to really keep your feet soft.

 Joy and I with facials on! So fun for us to have everyone over! To see more fun photos, check out our Facebook album!

 Jill and Wendy were so silly and fun! Who says adults can't have fun like teenagers? These ladies took our PJ theme to the end, rollers, PJ "outfits", and the occasional split personality ;)

Thank you for those of you that joined us for the party! It was such a fun night to share with these amazing ladies!

Julie’s 10 Favorite Beauty Things –One I share with Oprah’s Favorite Things List

Happy May Day!  I find this day to be one of lightness and joy.  It seems the weather is always perfect on May 1^st, the grass is green, flowers are blooming and the earth is truly awake!  On my favorite day of the year I thought I would share with you my list of beauty product favorites:

•  Clarsonic Sonic Skin Care System – I use this at night to remove all traces of makeup and environmental residue for clean, smooth skin ready to absorb the nutrients found in my skin care products.
•        Liquid Body Lufra – I use this everyday in the shower.  This soapless formula gently eases away dead skin cells and excess oil for soft, polished skin all over your body.
•        Water Pik Professional – I use this at night after brushing and flossing to remove the last particles of food hiding in between my teeth and 99.9% of plaque biofilm for healthy gums.
•     Epoch Baobab Body Butter – (An Oprah favorite!)  I use this after the shower.  Its light , fresh scent in a rich cream makes my skin soft and supple all day without feeling greasy.
•    Galvanic Face Spa – I use this 2 to 3 times per week to hydrate, erase wrinkles, and improve the tone and texture of the skin on my face so I can keep my age a mystery.
•       Pureology Antifade Complex INCHARGE Flexible Styling Spray – Without being heavy or sticky, this spray keeps my hair in place and in shape all day.
•        Future Serum – Received award for “Best Serum 2012” by NewBeauty Magazine. I use this day and night on clean skin before any other products.  This miracle serum stimulates collagen production by 150% for youthful skin structure and youthful glow.
•        Athleta Workout & Casual Wear – I love the design and fabrics used for my workouts whether I am running, climbing, biking, swimming, doing yoga or just hanging out.  These clothes never fade, never lose their shape with washing and drying.  They simplify laundry!
• 
•      Tru Face Essence Ultra – I use one of these little “pearls” morning and night after my future serum to restore facial firmness and skin elasticity with an ingredient shown to increase skin elastin which gives my skin the ability to maintain its youthful structure and firmness.
•      Arabian Rose Fragrance Oil by Kuumba Made – (http://www.kuumbamade.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=18 for photo) Before I go to bed at night I roll this oil on the palms of my hands, rub them together then rub on the sides of my neck and over my pj top for the heavenly, relaxing spicy rose fragrance promotes balance, harmony, and a sense of well-being as I drift off to sleep.
•  

 I would love to know your favorite beauty products, please share here on my blog or on my facebook page. I made this list into a board on my Pinterest page....enjoy! 

The Anti-Aging Power of CoQ10

With all the talk about the importance of CoQ10 and its powerful anti-aging and disease prevention properties you’d think it would well known just where to find it, how to get it to the places in your body where you need it, and what it does.  Here’s a quick overview I found, http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/tc/coenzyme-q10-topic-overview:

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a substance similar to a vitamin. It is found in every cell of the body. Your body makes CoQ10, and your cells use it to produce energy your body needs for cell growth and maintenance. It also functions as an antioxidant, which protects the body from damage caused by harmful molecules. CoQ10 is naturally present in small amounts in a wide variety of foods, but levels are particularly high in organ meats such as heart, liver, and kidney, as well as beef, soy oil, sardines, mackerel, and peanuts.

In an anti-aging skin care product, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant, promoting cellular energy production and functions best within an antioxidant network.  So make sure your coenzyme Q10 is paired with other powerful antioxidants in your product for maximum results. Tru Face Essence Ultra:This silky serum helps enhance skin firmness and elasticity, and prevent future signs of aging. Or there is another (click link below)  that promotes cellular energy and allows skin to rebound from daily oxidative stress.There are 3 fantastic CoQ10 products in the NS family: one with a link above and the last 2 shown here. (Please talk to me about getting a 25% discount on any of the products you find you might want to try.)

Ah ha!  It is another one of those antioxidants that works with other antioxidants to help prevent disease, help us look younger and feel younger.

Health Tip:  Which Whole Grain Is Healthiest?

We have all been trained to “read the labels” when we are making healthy food purchases at the market.  Recently I noticed that breads have so many grains now on their labels that I don’t know which one is the best choice.  I recently found an article in the Winter-Spring 2012 edition of the magazine “New Beauty” that explains the healthiest choices are Whole Grains ("100-percent whole wheat") and "White Whole Wheat" (unbleached white whole wheat , hard white whole wheat).  Isn’t that interesting that a wheat used in breads and pastas can be white as long as it is “unbleached” and make it to the healthiest choice list? If you are interested in knowing more about it, please comment here and I can provide you with more bread grain options!

Anti-Aging Face Creams, Serums, and Cleansers….Oh My!

Everyone always says it is the beauty on the inside that really counts- and I believe that to be true. Actually, beauty does begin on the inside physically and mentally. With proper nutrition and plenty of sleep your skin will glow and a bright, positive attitude will help your eyes sparkle. Those combined, are a 1-2-3 punch against aging. Do not overlook the impact of the products you put on your skin as they can provide solutions for a tired, dry, dull, wrinkled appearance. Why not do yourself a favor by investing in the best anti-aging skin products out there in order to maintain your confident and youthful appearance? Doing everything for everyone (husband, boss, kids, family) takes a toll on your skin. Wouldn’t you like to maintain younger and refreshed skin that naturally oozes confidence just like your personality?

The  Transformation Premium Package is the most powerful anti-aging skin care regimen that reveals younger looking skin 8 ways in 7 days for a more youthful, healthier looking you, now and in the future. “There’s nothing you can do about your DNA, but you can influence the way it functions by changing your lifestyle,” says Ajay Goel, director of Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention at Baylor Research Institute. (Quote from Women’s Health Magazine – “Outsmart your DNA Destiny”)

Anne (not pictured above) used the entire Transformation Kit for 90 days to get these results!Click here to see results!
Step 1 – To Cleanse and Tone with  Gentle Cleanse and Tone
Step 2- Serum with Future Serum
Step 3- To Moisturize with either Radiant Day SPF22 in the morning or Transformation Night in the evening.

Aging signs include wrinkles, spots, dark patches, fine lines, and crow’s feet. Aging can also make the appearance of our skin dull, dry, or overall that “sad” look. As we age our skin gets thinner and therefore the wrinkles set in. Using a powerful serum like a Future Serum can stimulate youthful cell renewal and collagen production by 85% in only 5 days and 150% over time. People testing the Future Serum for 12 weeks visibly noticed improved youthful skin structure, skin smoothness, even skin tone, reduced fine lines/wrinkles, brighter skin, smaller pore size, fewer (and reduced looking) skin discoloration, and overall improved hydration in their skin. By using the entire Transformation Premium Package, you are having the products rework the cell production in your face the entire day and prevent future damage while you do all the things you need to accomplish in any given day.

Why not age with grace, beauty on the inside, and naturally radiance skin on the outside??? Let me help you uncover a younger, a “Nu” you this Spring with a preferred customer price of $287 for the entire Transformation Kit or for just the award winning Future Serum $157.

Health Tip: A Naturally Clean Kitchen Free of Germs, Grime and Toxic Chemicals
For instant glass, counter top and appliance cleaner, fill a spray bottle with ½ water and ½ white vinegar and add a few drops of essential citrus oil. Citrus oils such as lemon, lime and orange are natural degreasers for that great shine and smell in your kitchen.