Anew Clean Affordable and Effective Cleansing Brush

Introducing Anew Clean!

The new Anew Clean line of cleansing products offers an affordable cleansing routine to make sure your skin is fresh and free of impurities every single day.

I've been using the cleansing brush every day for a few weeks now, and I can say that it really does make a huge difference. I used to wash my face with just my hands (I never did like using washcloths), and I love using the cleansing brush because its so much easier, and I really know it is cleaning my skin thoroughly. (5x better than hands alone!)

There are three cleanser options to use along with the cleansing brush: cream cleanser and mask, rich cleansing foam and gel cleanser. Choose a cleanser to match your skin type.

Additional cleanser options, such as the incredible micellar water, give even more options for specific cleansing needs.

Check out my YouTube video about the Anew Clean line!

Serum Treatment for Sagging Skin

Sagging skin... it happens to the best of us! As we age, skin loses elasticity, stops producing the firming collagen and skin starts to sag. Trying to combat this sag can be a daily battle.

Skin needs hydration and skin needs to rebuild collagen in order to minimize the effects of sagging. Areas that are most prone to sag include the cheeks, jawline and jowls. Combat areas of unwanted sag with Infinite Lift.

Anew Clinical Infinite Lift Targeted Contouring System lets you contour and combat aging with one action! This contouring serum formulated with Polypeptide Life Complex which boosts multiple dimensions of visible lifting. The concentrated skin tightening formula is applied with a unique roller built to smooth and massage skin.

Infinite Lift also received an Essence award for Black Beauty face products in 2014.

Infinite Lift can be one powerful piece in an arsenal against the effects aging has on our skin. Daily use will work to lift and tighten areas of facial skin. Apply after cleansing, but before moisturizing.

4 Ways To Actively Prevent Sun Damage

Sun damage is serious. Too much exposure to UV rays can cause sunburns, wrinkles, and skin cancer. 

What is Photoaging?

Skin can be damaged by the sun. Over time, this sun damage creates wrinkles, fine lines, and coarse texture. What's happened is that UVA has actually damaged the collagen in the layers of skin. In addition, "age spots" are actually spots of melanin production as a result of sun exposure!

What are UV rays? 

The sun creates ultraviolet light in long waves (UVA) and short waves (UVB). UVB rays are what causes sunburns, and UVA rays are what cause long term damage. Both UVA and UVB can be blocked by a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.

You can actively prevent sun damage:

• Stay out of the direct sun when it is highest in the sky, between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm.
• Cover your skin with white or light colored clothing.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Slather on the Sunscreen

The bad news is, the sun can and does cause skin cancer. (I have fair skin and I'm terrified of the results of a few severe sunburns in my lifetime.) The best way to prevent sunburns, photoaging and skin cancer is the apply sunscreen liberally. Like, a real lot! 

Skincare Game Changers: 3 Leading Skincare Solutions

Avon recently introduced three cutting-edge skincare products: Vitamin C serum, AHA refining cream, and extra strength retexturizing peel. This adds to our already innovative line of Anew Clinical treatment products. These game changers can truly make a difference in your at home skincare treatments.

If the sun and other aggressive environmental factors have damaged your skin, these three products will work to minimize that skin damage, repair collagen and make your facial skin look brighter and smoother!

AHA

Alpha Hydroxy Acid is an anti-aging staple, used to improve the look and feel of aging skin. AHA Refining Cream improves skin texture, reduces fine lines, and works to reverse photo damage from the sun. (Wear sunscreen while using this product). AHA is specifically designed to help increase collagen. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps skin is an antioxidant to protect skin from environment damage works to make skin look smoother and clearer, fights inflammation and irritation, and contributes to skin healing. The Vitamin C Brightening Serum has 10% vitamin C to fight damage from the sun, pollution or other skin aggressors like smoking.

At home chemical peel

The Extra Strength Rexturizing Peel pads retexturize your skin for a smoother look. 5 acids, including glycolic acid, hyaluranic acid, and salicylic acid, combine to fight sun spots, fine lines and the texture caused by acne. (Wear sunscreen while using this product). Natural ingredients include cucumber, pineapple, papaya, honey and aloe. This is a highly concentrated at home peel that will deliver big results!

Don't Be Chicken: Rid Your Skin of Keratosis Pilaris

Chicken skin. Called keratosis pilaris, but commonly known as chicken skin because your skin has little raised bumps.

A few facts about keratosis pilaris: it is caused by hair follicles building up extra skin cells, it is generally genetic, and it is aggravated with dry skin.

This annoying skin condition is harmless, but working to maintain your skin will help to keep your skin looking smoother.

When you are experiencing "chicken skin" symptoms, you can do two things to manage it: exfoliate and moisturize.

Use an exfoliating body scrub, like Derma Restoring Body Scrub, to loosen the keratin plugs on the hair follicle and get rid of the dead skin that is causing your skin to be bumpy without causing irritation. Severe outbreaks of keratosis pilaris can benefit from an exfoliant with salicylic acid. A gentle body scrub is a better choice than skin drying cleansers because harsh bar soaps will cause more inflammation.

Moisturize with a lotion or cream, such as Derma Restoring Body Lotion, which works to retain skin's moisture and alleviate flare ups caused by dry skin.

Derma Restoring has been developed to specifically target the skin condition called keratosis pilaris, or chicken skin.

Retinol is the #1 Wrinkle Fighting Ingredient Recommended by Dermatologists

Retinol is an animal form of vitamin A. Retinoids are used in topical cosmetics and medications. Retinol can help skin cells act younger, work as an antioxidant to combat wrinkles and can increase collagen production. Yes, all that. That’s why retinol is one of the anti-aging skincare industries biggest workhorse.

Tip! When using a retinol skincare product, apply it before a layer of your SPF product to protect you and the anti-aging ingredients from sunlight and UV damage.

The Anew Clinical line has two new products with retinol.

Anew Clinical Line Eraser With Retinol Treatment uses retinol in an amino acid complex to fight wrinkles, and give the skin a youthful appearance. (Remember how I said that retinol makes skin act younger at the cellular level?)

Anew Clinical Line Eraser With Retinol Targeted Treatment focuses a targeted formula of Vitamins C, E and the A retinol to combat deep lines, especially in problem areas like the forehead and around your mouth.

You have heard this works, you may have even seen it works. But how? How does this work??

Well, retinol sort of has a conversation with your skin. I imagine it going something like this:
“Hey skin, nice to see you! How are ya?”
“Hi retinol, I’m feeling a little down.”
“Right then, let’s get to work clearing out the damage and we can perk you right up!”
“How’s that going to happen, retinol?”
“You can start by breaking me down with your enzymes, and I’ll take part in your molecular functions!”
“Will it hurt?”
“Maybe a little, but then you can get back to creating collagen and you’ll feel so much younger!”

I can’t believe I just wrote a conversation between skin and retinol.* But that’s basically how it goes. The retinol and the skin have a little conversation about how they will work together, and in the end, the skin cells feel refreshed and start making collagen.

Here’s the caveat: irritation might happen. Because of the nature of retinol, and how it’s really digging into the skin at the cellular level, irritation is a natural skin response. You will want to start your retinol treatment slowly, and build up over time. Eventually, you may even want to try a prescription strength retinol.

In 1986, Avon became the first to use stabilized retinol, an anti-aging ingredient, in its patented BioAdvance Beauty Recovery System.

Start with Anew Clinical Line Eraser with Retinol Treatment. Apply it all over the face, or to areas of your skin with signs of aging or sun damage.

* See the technical version of this convo, here.

Facial DIYers: 3 Facial Target Zones for Multimasking

I’ve seen you talking about the multimasking trend, and I know you want to do this great spa facial technique at home. I look for trends, beauty expertise and tools to help you feel beautiful, and I found two articles about multimasking.

The first article is Multimasking Beauty Trend - Face Masks for Glowing Skin by Lauren Valenti, found at Marie Claire.

This article suggests that sometimes trends actually have real value. While some beauty trends can be a bit ridiculous, the multimasking trend actually gives us significant benefits in our skincare routine. The reason lies in the facial zones – the t-zone, the cheeks, the under eye area. Each of these zones is pretty different when it comes to the skincare treatment needed, and multimasking solves that problem in one perfect facial moment. Best of all? Dermatologists use this technique all the time, because it’s effective and efficient.



The second article is Try #Multimasking, An Internet-Spawned Beauty Trend That Isn't Completely Insane, written by  Cheryl Wischhover on Fashionista.

This article links this trend to both clown contouring (it’s a thing) and Asian beauty routines. However, the idea that this is a totally legit beauty treatment was reinforced. It suggests that multimasking works for everyone because making a cocktail of masks allows you to customize your specific needs for every zone of your face.

Pick three mask products that are designed to target three different areas to get the maximum benefits from an at home multimasking facial.

• T-zone - Use charcoal, clay or salicylic acid masking on the t-zone, that area from your forehead down your nose to your chin. These oily areas need the extra oomph to remove pore clogging materials.
• Cheeks - Extra moisture is usually what’s called for in this area of the face. Hyaluronic acid and moisture is the best way to treat exposed cheek area. 
• Eyes – Eyes need a special product because they are such a sensitive area of our face. Retinol will help with the appearance of aging, or you can target your dark circles.

Remember to selfie and tag with #multimasking to share your DIY facial on Insta and Twitter!

Types of Facial Cleansers

Liquid/Gel

Liquid/gel based facial cleanser is simple and effective. It usually comes in a pump, and when combined with water, will work into a lather. Acne cleansers often come in a liquid or gel form, but include acne fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

Cream

Cream facial cleansers have a thick consistency. There are foaming cream cleansers that can be applied to damp skin and then rinsed off. There are also cold cream cleansers that can be applied and wiped off with a soft, damp cloth. Cream cleansers are not recommended for oily skin.

Bar

Bar soaps that are specifically designed for facial use are the best choice. Other bar soaps are going to be too drying for the facial skin. The Neutrogena original transparent facial bar is the most well known facial bar soap product. The biggest clue that the bar soap is too drying is if your face feels tight after you have cleansed. To counter this, moisturize immediately and avoid using that particular bar soap.

Cleansing Cloth

My personal favorite, the cleansing cloth is a disposable fiber based cloth that is immersed in a cleansing liquid. When pulled from the package, the cloth has moisture and can be used to gently cleanse the face. However, it is important to rinse with water to remove all of the dirt and oil that was loosened with the cleansing cloth.

Scrub/Exfoliant

Scrubs and exfoliants contain physical ingredients that exfoliate the skin to slough off contaminants and dead skin cells. There are scrubs and exfoliant products such as crushed or powdered fruit or nut seeds, salts, sugars, sands, oatmeal, seaweed, and microbeads (plastic). There are also chemical exfoliants that use acids or other chemicals. Exfoliants are great for the skin when used once a week, for example. Daily use is simply too abrasive.

Toner

Toners come in varying degrees of strength, from rosewater refreshing toners to alcohol based astringents. Many dermatologists suggest that using alcohol based "toners" (or astringents) are actually very damaging to the skin, causing severe dehydration. However, a rosewater or similar tonic can have positive contributions to your skin care routine, including balancing pH levels and managing oil on your skin.

Mask

Masks are so quintessentially spa, with the image of a delicious product slathered all over our face while we relax comfortably to the sound of running water or crystally new age music. There are also an infinite number of types of masks, including clay, cream, dry and peel, warmed, and cream or gel. Each of these could have a myriad of ingredients targeting specific skin concerns, so it is important to identify the purpose of the mask and follow directions carefully. There is even a new trend of multimasking where different masks are applied to different areas of the face to address multiple concerns simultaneously. That said, masks can really be wonderful tools when you have to freshen your facial skin for a big event, or manage a specific issue with some frequency.

Brush

The brush. It was the newest thing in skin care a few years ago, and you either love it or you hate it. The facial cleansing brush is motorized, and the brushes help to slough dead skin cells, reduce acne and increase blood circulation.

Simple Skincare for Men

Skincare shouldn't be complicated for anyone. Cleanse, Moisturize, Treat... right? Men face (heh.. face) some unique challenges when caring for their facial skin. Namely, HAIR!

Facial hair requires shaving, or maintenance. Shaving can cause irritation, dry skin, and other annoyances. Anew men will help avoid those annoyances!

Shave
Shave gel with aloe and vitamin e keeps shaving smooth. After shave with aloe helps the shave feel great.

Cleanse
2 in 1 gel cleanser keeps the oils and dirt away.

Moisturize
Lotion with SPF 50 focuses on the number one factor for aging skin in men: SUN! UVA causes damage to the skin, and this lotion with SPF and antioxidants is a true fighter. For dry skin, men can choose the moisturizing cream.

Treat
Even men's eyes need some TLC sometimes. This will help dark circles, crow's feet or other skin concerns that make you look a little older than you need to.

Incredible new skincare options for men!

Skin Science

Skin, like every other part of our body, is alive. It changes because the cells are always changing. The skin has very unique roles for us – a barrier that protects us from the environment, a way for us to receive sensory information and it helps our body regulate temperature.

Skin has three layers… Epidermis, Dermis and Tissue/Fat.

Epidermis
The epidermis has five different layers, which includes dead skin cells, keratin and melanocytes that determine skin color. It is the epidermis that we can control through skin care.

Cleansing, moisturizing and treating the epidermis can help our skin look its best! 

Cleansing removes the oil build up, makeup we wear and other dirt and particles from the environment. Sunscreen protects the epidermis from UV rays, and also helps to prevent skin cancer.

Dermis The dermis holds hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. A diet rich in vitamins and drinking plenty of water contribute to a healthy dermis.

Subcutaneous TissueThe subcutaneous tissue layer is where the blood vessels and fatty tissue are.

5 Skin Types and Skin Care Tips

How you care for your skin depends on your skin type. Is your skin normal? dry? oily? sensitive?

Normal skin is smooth, has few pores and few blemishes. We are not all so lucky, though! If you have been blessed with normal skin, your routine should be daily cleansing, moisture and treat as needed.

Products I recommend: Cleanse with Purifying Gel Cleanser, and moisturize using Instant Radiance Lotion with SPF 20.

Oily skin is shiny and might even feel oily or wet. If a bit of tissue paper sticks to the skin, your skin type is likely oily. Those with oily skin types may also experience large, visible pores. Oily skin needs cleansing and exfoliating to help remove the oil build up. Try to avoid the toner because that might cause irritation. You still need a moisturizer though, so choose oil free. Finally, the extra oils can cause spot issues, like acne, so treatment may be needed to reduce breakouts. When you are feeling particularly oily, remember that oil is a natural anti-aging mechanism for your skin, and you may have fewer wrinkles as your skin ages!

Products I recommend: Try the Refining Scrub and Mask to cleanse and exfoliate, then Oil-Free Daily Moisture Cream with SPF 15. For treatment, use Clearskin Professional Liquid Extraction Strip for extra oily areas like the nose.

Dry skin feels tight, can have a rough or cracked appearance and may feel flaky. Dry skin (called xerosis) can also peel, appear red, or even bleed. Dry skin care routines include a mild cleanser, but the most important thing is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Dry skin really should have two moisturizers: one for day, and a rich cream for night. Dry skin tends to create more lines as you age, so start moisturizing now!

Products I recommend: Anew Clinical Overnight Hydration Mask, which has shea butter for creamy moisture.  It is also suitable for sensitive skin, so if your skin is dry because you have sensitive skin and avoid products, this mask may not have the reactions you typically have, and will rehydrate.

Combination skin can be difficult, because there is probably oily skin on the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) but the cheeks may have dry skin. Cleanse daily, and then choose a balanced moisturizer: an oil free for the t-zone with moisture for dry areas. Spot treatment might be necessary, too.

Products I recommend: The Moisturizing Cream Cleanser is oil free but has balance for your combination skin. Swipe Clarifying Toner Pads across your t-zone when it’s feeling oily. Oil-Free Daily Moisture Cream with SPF 15 is good for combination skin. 

Sensitive skin can be the worst. Skin may be painful when using a product, and you may experience irritation or reactions like burning, stinging and redness. Be sure to avoid products that contain AHAs, like glycolic acid. Use a mild cleanser and moisturizer formulated specifically for sensitive skin.

Products I recommend: This is hard, because sensitivity can be caused by so many different things. Consider Nourishing Cleansing Milk as your cleanser and try fragrance free, hypoallergenic Skin Revitalize Night Radiance Cream to moisturize.

Secrets of 1970s Glam

The Fall/Winter 2015 runways seem to be filled with 1970s + "fill in the blank". The 70s revival hybrid trend is bringing back looks like deep plunge necklines, geometric prints, and high waisted long length pants.

So what are the secrets of 1970s glamour? It's an "adorable illusion" as Blondie said... but we don't have to pull out our satin rompers to be on trend with this look.

Makeup looks can be natural, feminine and glamorous.

• Natural: starts with skin care, bronzed cheeks
• Feminine: soft colors, shimmer
• Glamorous: defined lids, winged lashes

 Shop the entire look!

“This look is all about classic 70’s glamour. It is inspired by the rich color and luxurious decadance of the collection.” – Lauren Andersen, Avon Global Celebrity Makeup Artist

Now if AVON would bring back some other groovy 70s items! Some vintage AVON items I remember from my childhood (70s but also some of the 80s): the wrist writer, color change lipstick, and all those adorable fragrance bottles.

AlphaBeautyCream

What exactly are BB, CC and DD beauty products?!

BB is Beauty Balm, and is a combination of facial skin care and tinted foundation. It can be used like a foundation, to create a primer for the application of makeup colors. But it also has the benefits of a skin care cream. It can help even out skin tone and reduce redness. The hydration is intended to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, it has 15 SPF.

BB

AVON's Ideal Flawless BB cream is available in 5 different colors: Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Deep, Deep

CC

CC is Color Corrector, and helps to correct the appearance of flaws such as acne, dark spots and redness. It primes and moisturizes with a lightweight feel.

AVON's Ideal Flawless CC cream is available in 5 different colors: Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Deep, Deep

DD

DD is Dynamic Do-All, or Daily Defense, and combines skin care benefits with body lotion.

AVON has a Skin So Soft DD body cream with SPF 15.

Unrealistic Expectations

We all have expectations for ourselves. Those expectations depend on our past experiences, our exposure to media, our cultural and family influences, and how we view the world and our place in it.

Most beauty expectations are unrealistic. There, I've said it.

Skin care is important. Wearing makeup is a choice. And general, healthy body care helps us stay healthy, make sure people are not turned off by our odor, and ward off vampires. OK, maybe not the vampire thing, but you get what I'm saying, right? Body care helps us stay clean and smelling good. We wear clothing and jewelry to express ourselves. All of that is great.

The problem comes from having expectations we simply cannot achieve. Many of us have seen the evidence: the Dove evolution commercial, the before and afters of celebrities, and the obviously Photoshopped bodies of models. Yet, our expectations for our self, for our own body is so unachievable, it's sad. While I could probably do a whole Ted talk on the idea of unrealistic beauty expectations and body self acceptance, I will give this one singular piece of advice for now.

Learn to love the skin you are in. Decorate it. Adorn it. Nourish it. But love the you that you are.