Pink Ink's Skin Love

Pink Ink's Skin Love is finally here!  We, at Pink Ink, took the basic skin care lines of Mary Kay, Arbonne, Aloette, Enjo, Luminesse, Skincerity and Seacret and tested them out.  Please keep in mind that we are going to report on our experience and provide you with information to make an informed decision on which products you may want to choose to use for yourself. 
Remember that top layer of skin we spoke about yesterday - the epidermis?  It is the layer of skin that is visible to the naked eye and it needs to be cared for on a daily basis.  However, you also want a product line that is going to help repair any damage that has occurred to the epidermis AND dermis.   Therefore, in any product line you want to ensure you are choosing a product that is going to include the following five steps:  Cleanse, Exfoliate, Freshen, Protect and Moisturize. Why these five?  Let us tell you.

Cleanse:  It is important to cleanse daily (twice a day actually) to rid the skin of any pollutants, irritants, makeup and impurities.  DO NOT CLEANSE WITH A BAR SOAP.  We cringe when women say they just use a bar soap on their skin.  Why?  According to Dr. Oz, bar soaps tend to contain harsh chemicals that strip the skin of it's natural moisture.  We want to retain moisture not get rid of it!!  Remember this important fact.

Exfoliate:  A daily exfoliant is necessary to rid the skin of dead skin cells that can leave the skin looking dull.  Further, the dead surface cells can clog pores which can cause pimples (none of us want those!).  Exfoliated skin is smooth and radiant looking.  It provides us with that glow that we all know and love.

Freshen:  We need to freshen the skin to tone and refine pores.  Many of us suffer with "big pores" along the nose and inner cheeks.  Freshening allows for smoother more flawless looking skin.

Moisturize:  Skin craves moisture - especially here in Canada when the winters can be harsh and cold.  For softer, smoother skin we must hydrate.  Think of the plum and the prune.  The more moisture we can retain, the more supple and smooth the skin will look.  The lack of moisture causes the skin to be dry, crack and wrinkle.  Therefore, if we want to ward off the wrinkles, we must moisturize and use products that help us retain moisture.

Protect:  Many of the issues we experience with our skin are caused by sun and environmental damage.  It is vitally important to protect the skin from the UVA and UVB rays to avoid damage such as burns, discoloration, and the early signs of aging.

In the several products that we are going to study over the next few days we are going to look at how each of the product lines follows the above five steps.  They say knowledge is power, just wait and see how powerful you are at the end of this series!  Next blog we will look at Mary Kay & Seacret products.  Stay tuned......

 








Yours in Beauty,

Pink Ink Divas

Top 5 Winter Beauty Tips - Pink Ink Style

The winter months can wreak havoc on your skin, nails and hair. Below you will read our top winter tips nourishing your body from the inside out.

1. Exfoliate often during the winter months. As often as 2-3 times a week for oily skin and once a 
   week for dry or sensitive skin.  Squirt a little lemon juice into your favorite facial scrub to boost its
   
   natural brightening power and exfoliating action.  Lemon juice contains citric acid, one of the five alpha-hydroxy acids that dissolve the glue that keeps dead cells stuck to your skin.
2. SPF on your face is not just for the summer. Whether it is incorporated into your foundation or applied on its own, this important preventative measure will save on sun damage.
3. Nail care is important this time of year as we transition from freezing weather into artificial heat. Dried-out nails are then prone
   
   to brittleness, splitting and flaking, which is why it's important to give them some extra TLC. Maintain nails from getting too long, using acetone-free nail polish remover (it's less harsh) and applying nail serum on a daily basis. Keeping  cuticles pushed back is also key since healthy cuticles act as a barrier to bacteria entering the body, as is cutting or filing nails straight across.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
4. Hair care - to achieve silky styles without damaging your hair try getting a new cut and colour to reinvigorate dull tresses. Remove all those damaged ends by getting them cut. Start fresh; you are better off removing the split ends so that your hair can be repaired. As for colour, a great way to energize hair in the winter season is to try a couple of highlights.  

                                                                                                           5. Feed your skin - certain foods can help your skin glow from the inside out, so make sure you eat plenty of oily fish like salmon and tuna (high in omega-3 which help plump up skin's collagen production), spinach and avocados (high in vitamin E, which protects skin from UV rays and cell damage) and vitamin C-rich foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits (they'll help stave off wrinkles).

Please let us know which winter tip you found the most useful. 

Let us know your thoughts, we always enjoy hearing from our fans.

Pink Ink Divas

Yours in beauty,

Pink Ink ladies