Everyone loves being outside on a beautiful summer day! Not everyone however realizes the sun's affects on our skin. Studies show that 90% of all visible signs of aging can be traced to sun exposure.

Sunscreens help prevent the sun's (UV) radiation from reaching our skin. Sun damages our skin and increases our risk of skin cancer. It causes wrinkles, laxity, broken blood vessels, pigmentary issues, and rough skin appearance. It is absolutely necessary that we add protective precautions to our daily routine. And it's easy! Sunscreen can be found in daytime moisturizers and even makeup foundations. Ensure that your products have broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.

There are two types of sunscreen: Chemical that absorbs the UV rays and Physical that blocks and reflects UV rays. You need sun protection that contains both of these plus antioxidants to give you the full-spectrum protection. Chemical filters can sometimes cause irritation, allergic reactions, and burning eyes when perspiring. Physical filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are easier for the skin to tolerate.

The following ingredients protect you from both UVA and UVB rays and are what I recommend to look for in a sunscreen product:

• Zinc Oxide
• Titanium Dioxide
• Benzophenones

NOTE: Avobenzone only protects you against UVA rays and Octinoxate only protects you against UVB rays.

Zinc and Titanium are particles that reflect the UV rays, whereas Avobenzone absorbs the UV rays and turns them into heat and then dissipates it. Avobenzone should NOT be worn by anyone who has rosacea, a skin condition that worsens in the presence of heat.

The problem with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide you might say, is that they make you look pasty and white. This is no longer the case with transparent micronized Zinc and Titanium. The smaller particle size allows them to go on more smoothly without leaving a white cast on the skin.

I prefer using a broad spectrum sunscreen separate from my moisturizer. If I am outdoors and need to reapply, I reapplying sunscreen and not moisturizer. This way I can use the same moisturizer at night as well. For daily protection, apply moisturizer first and then apply sunscreen.

Limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen reduces the risks of skin aging, skin cancer, and other harmful effects of the sun. If you'll be outdoors, apply 20-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours. Take the necessary step and add sunscreen to your skincare regimen. It's quite simply your best anti-aging product!

Janae Recommends: Advanced Protection SPF 30

PS! A question I frequently receive is "Does layering several SPF products increase my sun protection?" and the answer is it does not. You are only protected to the extent of the highest rating of one product.

Do you have any sunscreen questions?  Post a comment below!

It's wedding season and your wedding day makeup should look flawless, natural and reveal the most beautiful you! If you are the bride, this is the most photographed day of your life! Let's be sure you look the best for your big day!

Start with your skin and be sure it looks even and smooth. If you haven't started a basic skin care regimen, now is the time. Preferably at least one month before your wedding day.

Ensure a picture perfect day - these beautiful memories will last a lifetime!

Janae's Makeup Tips for the Bride:

• Prep skin with a moisturizer. Avoid sunscreens as they reflect too much light for photography.

• Face Primer is ideal to neutralize skin imperfections, diminish the appearance of fine lines and increase makeup wearability. Apply over moisturizer or use alone.

• Eye Primer neutralizes discoloration from the brow bone down to the lid, thus giving the eye area a perfect canvas for true color as well as hours of long-lasting eye shadow wearabliity without fading or creasing.

• Foundation should look and feel like a second skin. The more natural looking the better. Oil-free foundations with long wearing properties are best to use.

• Use two shades of blush. First a neutral shade from the apples of the cheeks to the hairline and then apply a pink to rosy shade just to the apples of the cheeks. This will gives a more natural glow with a pop of color.

• Illuminating powder can be used. Only apply to the areas that you want to highlight and enhance, like top of cheekbones. If applied all over the face, you will look unnatural and your face will look shiny and oily in pictures.

• Enhance the eyes with a soft shimmering eyeshadow on the lid and use a sheer matte finish eyeshadow in the crease of the eye and under the brow. If the eyeshadows are too pearlized under the brow, the area will reflect the light creating a bright spot above the eyes in photographs. Eyeliner should be applied close to the lash line for the most natural definition and try and stay away from black eyeliner which can be too harsh for most skins.

• Brows should be filled in lightly with a brow powder color that matches your hair color. Your brows frame your face, so don't forget them.

• Mascara will make the eyes look larger and stand out. Curl the lashes with an eye lash curler before mascara application. To avoid mascara buildup and caterpillar lashes, apply thickener before mascara. This will condition and add depth and dimension to your lashes. In most cases, having to use only one coat of mascara will be all that is necessary. The lashes will look fuller and more natural.

• When using mascara on the bottom lashes, use a soft brown so it will not cast shadows under the eyes. It will look more natural and balanced to the top lashes. Water-proof Mascara "of course".

• Long lasting lip color, line the lips as well as entire mouth. Apply lipstick (in the same color family). Blot the lips and apply lipstick again. Or try a long-lasting lipstick that's formulated to stay on for hours. Pinks, roses and plums are a great choice.

We all know how much better we feel when we get a great night sleep! Getting enough sleep has to become a conscious priority. A lesser known fact is that how we sleep can affect our aging!

Here are three great tips to avoid additional aging to your skin!

• Avoid sleeping with your face touching your pillow.
  Sleeping with your face touching your pillow is proven to be one of the major causes of permanent deep lines and wrinkles. We have all woken up with these annoying creases on our faces.
  
  Certain positions night after night leads to sleep lines - wrinkles that become etched onto the surface of our skin. Sleeping on your side can cause wrinkles on cheeks and chin while sleeping face down can give you a furrowed brow.
  
  The most ideal way to sleep is on your back. It's been proven not only to help prevent wrinkles, but it also provides a number of other great health benefits too!

• Consider a silk pillow case.
  If you wake up with sleep lines, another cause may be that your skin is being pulled by the pillow case. Movement at night paired with a unforgiving pillow case may cause crease lines in your skin.
  
  With silk, your skin is able to slide easily and won’t get tugged or pulled against your pillow at night.

• Sleep slightly elevated to prevent eye puffiness. 
  The skin underneath our eyes is very thin. One of the main causes for eye puffiness is due to water pooling in that area and gravity weighing down while we sleep.
  
  To prevent this from occurring, sleep with your head slightly elevated.

Try these tips for yourself! You'll be pleasantly surprised to see some real changes when you look at your beautiful face in the mirror first thing in the morning!

Beauty sleep is not a myth! It is absolutely real! Sleep is the ultimate gift we can give to both our bodies and our skin.

Most of us require seven to eight hours of sleep per night, with very few who can get by with less. There are those who don't think they need to meet this minimum, but as a result, they are actually aging at an accelerated rate.

 
What happens to your skin while you are sleeping?
 
Sleep is the time when our body is able to heal, repair, and replenish itself. While we sleep our skin is replacing collagen and elastin that has been damaged by sun exposure, stress, and environmental pollutants. Cell turnover is eight to ten times faster during this time! Due to this regeneration period, your skincare products can penetrate deeper and absorb better while you sleep. Right before bed is the perfect time to slather on your stronger, targeted skincare products.

 
Lack of sufficient quality sleep can lead to accelerated aging. Pale skin, dark circles, puffy eyes, and non-rosy cheeks are all signs of sleep deprivation. Definitely not the look we're going for! Experts and researchers have proven that sufficient sleep each night has a definite correlation to our skin looking younger, healthier and more radiant.

 
Start tonight by giving your skin the ultimate gift - sleep!

From aging, to the environment, stress, water intake, heating elements, air travel, and exposure to UV rays; all of these affect the rate of water loss from the top layer of the skin.

By allowing the skin to absorb water through hydrating ingredients, the skin can then function optimally and avoid common problems such as: dehydration, dryness, oiliness, fine lines, enlarged or clogged pores, uneven texture and irritation.

This is the purpose of a moisturizer.

Moisturizing the skin following cleansing and toning nourishes, hydrates, and protects the skin. All skin types can benefit whether you need an oil-control formula or a moisturizer that continues to deliver constant hydration all throughout the day.

Moisturizers are formulated by skin type: more emollient formulas for dry skin; non-comedegenic, oil-free formulas for oily skins.

These products contain humectants like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin that attract water like a magnet to our skin. Emollients like shea butter and Vitamin E seal and lock in the moisture, giving our skin a protective barrier. Some formulas have anti-aging benefits as well. Another key factor is the climate in which you live or visit. If you are in a drier climate, you will notice that you will need a product completely different than what would be necessary in a humid climate. Pay close attention to your skin - it will tell you what it needs!

Dry, dehydrated, and aging skin will see and feel a change in the skin immediately after moisturizing. The skin will look plump, fine lines and wrinkles will be softened, and it will feel hydrated and comfortable adding even a youthful look! I have experienced this with clients and myself personally. If your skin is looking parched give it a drink of the right moisturizer and you will see you an instant change in your skin!

Janae Recommends: Super Firming Creme - Normal to Dry
Janae Recommends: Continuous Moisture Creme - Extremely Dry

Combination, Oily, Acne-Prone skin will benefit from an oil free, non comedogenic (won't clog pores) light moisturizing fluid. Because of the products you need to use for your type of skin condition, the surface of the skin can become dry, so to compensate for that dryness and keep your skin barrier intact, even your skin type can benefit from the proper moisturizer.

Janae Recommends: Oil Free Hydrating Fluid

If your skin is consistently oily which can lead to blemishes and acne flare ups, look for a formula that absorbs excess oils, controls oily shine and breakouts. A lightweight oil control formula will keep you from having to add powder or having to blot the excess oils from the skin during the day. Your makeup will stay put and not slide off and disappear.

Janae Recommends: Shine Free Solution (keeps skin shine-free for up to 8 hours)

Moisturizing is a key component to a balanced, healthy skin. Don't miss this step!

We've already talked about the benefits of using a toner or an astringent (improves clarity in skin tone, hydrates the skin, restores your skin's natural pH balance). I've already revealed that using a toner is not necessarily an essential component of a good skincare regimen.

However, if you are looking for a way to bring your skin to the next level, you may be one of the many women I have met who can truly benefit from the addition of a good toner or astringent to their daily routine. Of course, everybody's skin is different and a toner that is right for your friend may not be ideal for you. This is why it's important to match the type of toner or astringent you use to your skin's specific needs.

If you have Dry, Sensitive or Normal skin, your skin may feel a bit taut even after using a proper cleanser. This is especially true in the dry, winter months. I recommend trying a Hydrating Toner. A hydrating toner brings instant hydration and makes your skin feel more comfortable immediately. You may even choose to skip the cleanser in the morning and simply use a hydrating toner - that's all you need for morning skin to feel clean, refreshed, hydrated and prepared for moisturizer and sunscreen.

If you have Combination or Oily skin, I recommend an Astringent with Witch Hazel (which is a natural astringent). You can use this astringent following cleansing or after exercising to immediately remove excess oil and sweat from your face. Or if you want to refresh your makeup later in the day and don't have time to go through the cleansing process, you can use this astringent to revive and clarify your skin, before reapplying makeup. So it's a great product to carry with you in your gym bag or purse.

If you have Acne-Prone skin, you can use an Astringent with Salicylic to help dissolve the excess oil and dead skin cells within the pores, dry blemishes and keep skin clearer. The type of bacteria that causes acne cannot live in an acidic environment. Using an astringent with salicylic will adjust the pH of your skin so that your face will not have the environment for these bacteria to live. You should also use this astringent after a blemish has been extracted to clean out the pore, rid it of any bacteria, and help the skin heal more quickly.

For a Hydrating Toner, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends: Visibly Moist Toner

For a Natural Astringent, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends: Herbal Blend Astringent

For an Astringent with Salicylic, Janae recommends:

Janae Recommends:  Pore Purifying Astringent.

If you're unsure which type of toner or astringent is right for you - please contact me! You can visit my contact page or leave a comment!

One of my clients recently submitted a few questions about toners and astringents.

This post is inspired by her questions!

What is a toner? What is an astringent? And What's the difference?

You may know them by a few different names:

• Toners
• Clarifying lotions
• Fresheners
• Astringents

A toner or freshener contains humectants (ingredient that attracts water) that helps restore moisture to a dehydrated skin after cleansing. An astringent or clarifying lotion has a tightening effect on the pore appearance and helps remove excess oil from the skin.

What will using a toner or astringent add to my skincare regimen?

Using a toner or astringent has many benefits, such as:

• Compliments the cleansing process
• Improves clarity in skin tone
• Hydrates the skin
• Removes excess oil and impurities from the skin
• Refreshes a tired complexion
• Skin will feel fresh and clean
• Restores your skin's natural pH balance

How do you use a toner or astringent?
 
Apply toner to a cotton pad and sweep gently across the face and neck. There are some toners that are in a spray bottle that can be spritzed on the skin.

Be careful with spray toners to be sure to relax the face as you are spraying and not scrunching the face which will lead to more wrinkles. In fact, I prefer to put a toner on a cotton pad rather than spraying to avoid the risk of scrunching all together.

 
One final note about toners...
 
You may be still be wondering - is using a toner or an astringent really necessary? And if it is necessary, then which do I need- a toner or an astringent? Stay tuned! I'll be answering these questions and more in my next post!

In my 25 years as an aesthetician, I have met many women that have used a toner religiously and others that never toned at all.

Now that you are on your way to a better skin routine through removing your makeup properly and using the correct cleanser for your skin type, the question remains:
Is using a toner really a necessary step in a good skin care regimen?

First, let's look at what a toner does. Toners restore the healthy pH (how acidic or alkaline) of the skin. Healthy skin has a slightly acidic pH in the range of 4 to 5.5. This is called the acid mantle. The acid mantle is a film on the surface of the skin consisting of lipids, sebum and sweat. This slightly acidic environment fights off bacteria and pollutants. Stress and hormonal changes can cause negative effects to the acid mantle, resulting in a more alkaline skin surface. Soap is highly alkaline and can leave your skin stripped of all the natural oils that are necessary for a healthy skin. Toners bring the skin back to it's natural, more acidic state, which is where a healthy skin thrives.

If you are using a proper facial cleanser for your skin type then a toner is not necessarily an essential component of your skincare regimen. This is because a proper cleanser does not leave a residue on the skin, nor does it disrupt the skin's natural pH balance.

However, even with the best cleanser for your skin some women find that their skin benefits from the use of a toner or an astringent. Some women will use them simply to refresh the skin and others prefer toning instead of cleansing in the mornings.

Although a toner is not always necessary, there are many times where it can be a great option for your skin. My next post will focus on which skin types and conditions will benefit from which types of toners and astringents. It may very well be that your skincare regimen is complete without, or you may realize that a toner is just what you need to bring your skin to the next level.

If you would like more personalized recommendations for your specific skin needs please visit my contact page or simply leave a comment below!

What is a woman's true beauty?
 

True Beauty comes from within and works its way out.
 

True Beauty is self esteem, self respect, a woman that is secure within herself.
 

True Beauty is a woman who embraces who she is and does not try to be something different or someone else.
 

True Beauty occurs when she recognizes what makes her unique.
 

True Beauty does not exist until she embraces it, integrates it and owns it as a part of who she is.
 

Treasure your beauty - your beauty within.
 

Please don't tell me you go to bed without washing your face! Your body is designed to repair and rejuvenate itself while you are sleeping. In order to allow your skin to do this, it's crucial for it to be clean first.

After removing your eye and face makeup with a gentle, oil-free makeup remover, the next step of your skincare regimen is to cleanse the skin. You've got to remove that makeup, dirt and pollution from the day. In fact, if you're not happy with the current condition of your skin, it may be because you're not using a cleanser with the right ingredients.

In order to choose the right cleanser for your skin, it's important that you always read the active ingredients present in the product before purchasing it.  Steer clear of products containing harsh ingredients such as:  sodium laurel sulfate, petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil or propylene glycol, synthetic color, synthetic fragrance and comedogenic ingredients.

Cleansers are not "one-size fits all." You need to pick the right cleanser for you!

If you have aging skin, are experiencing dryness or are sensitive to a lot of skincare products, try a cream-based cleanser.  If you have normal, combination or oily skin you should use a gel based cleanser. If your skin requires an anti-acne cleanser then be sure to look for products that contain salicylic or benzoyl peroxide.

After thoroughly cleansing your face, you can apply your serum, moisturizer, night cream, etc. (I'll be blogging on the uses of these products in the days to come). Now that your skin is clean you can be assured that whatever treatment you apply will absorb and penetrate deeper into the skin to do exactly what it is designed to do - correct your skin!

Women often ask me how many times a day they should cleanse their skin- the answer is, it depends on your skin type! (Remember, skin care is not "one size fits all") If you have a Combination, Oily or Acne skin you should cleanse twice daily. If you have a Normal, Dry or Sensitive skin you should always cleanse in the evening. In the morning you could either use cleanser or you could just use a toner instead to refresh the skin before applying moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup.

There are times when Janae recommends two different cleansers. One for evening and one for morning. If you are using a stronger cleanser like an Acne Cleanser at night your skin might not need or be able to tolerate twice a day, so you'd want to use a more gentle cleanser in the morning, keeping your skin from becoming too dry or irritated.

If you are wanting to see healthier more radiant skin and don't already use a cleanser that is suited to your specific needs, try Janae's recommendations for your unique skin type and condition and see what a difference using the right cleanser can make for your complexion!

If you experience dryness, have an aging skin and have sensitivity to skincare products:

Janae Recommends: Ultra Gentle Cleansing Lotion

If you experience an oily t-zone or oily skin and have sensitivity to skincare products:

Janae Recommends: Ultra Gentle Cleansing Gel

If you are experiencing dryness, aging skin or sun damage:

Janae Recommends: AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

If you experience a normal/comb/slightly oily as well as hyper-pigmentation or sun damage:

Janae Recommends: Glycolic Cleanser (AHA)

If you are experiencing oily t-zone, oily skin, acne-prone or rosacea symptoms:

Janae Recommends: Pore Clearing Cleanser (Salicylic)

If you are experiencing moderate to severe acne:

Janae Recommends:  Acne Cleanser (Benzoyl Peroxide)

If you would like more personalized recommendations for your specific skin needs please utilize my contact page or simply leave a comment below!