Tag Archives: skin care

Never Neglect Doing This for your Skin

Beauty, , ,

If you are like most women, you may very well skip this one important step in your self-care regiment. After all, it does seem a bit frivolous and there’s already a lot to do to get ready for the day. You take the time to clean your face, and surely you use a moisturizer before putting on your makeup, getting dressed and eating, but throwing in this one extra step of using a toner is just too much. Really, applying toner only takes one minute at the most, but hey, every second counts, right? Why do they put in that silly step anyway?

All quality skin care systems include a toner.

Cleansers are designed to pull any built-up oils, makeup or dirt from your face. In order to work, they naturally disrupt the acidity of your skin. The toner is designed to bring the ph balance of your skin back to it’s normal state. Also, toners are humectants, so they also help to bind the moisturizer to your skin.

After studying cosmetology (granted, it was thirty-two years ago) I should know the importance of toning my face, but I’ve been guilty of skipping this step, too. Life is busy, and it’s easy to ignore small details, especially when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Most habits take time to form or reform, and self care is no different.

Routines gradually evolve for better, or for worse.

As our schedules and needs change, our habits change, too. I started skipping my toner soon after I started using an essential oil (EO) skin care system. EOs are, by nature, ph balanced and because they are complete molecules, the skin absorbs their moisturizing benefits easily. In my mind, the need for toner somehow became less urgent and I got a bit lazy in my skin care regime.

Recently, I realized was out of cleanser and moisturizer, yet I had extra un-opened toner in my cabinet. I brought the toner back into my regime simply because I didn’t want to waste this precious product. About two weeks later, after just hitting a new decade and feeling old, I was amazed at how much my skin had “toned up”. I may be feeling older, but my skin was looking smoother and tighter! There are two other amazing benefits of toner, which I needed to be reminded of:

  1. Toner deep-cleans the skin. We tend to think of toner as an anti-bacterial, drying agent designed to aid oily skin in fighting acne. As we age, we may think this is no longer important to us, but in reality clogged pores are still dirty, whether they cause blemishes or not.
  2. Toner tightens the skin. As you apply toner to your face, it cleanses the pores of any residue your cleanser left behind. It also closes the pores and tightens the cell gaps, reducing the ability of impurities and environmental contaminants to penetrate the skin. This process also reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

How silly I was to skip such powerful product!

There’s  a life-lesson in this…

(I can hear my kids groaning now.) But, come on, you knew it was coming, right? Image-coaching is just not enough for me; I’ve got to do the life-coaching, too. Here it is:

  1. When life gets busy, let’s be careful not to skip important details. I think of how easy it is for us to do quick “clean ups” in our relationships. When we mess up, we may easily say we are sorry, but do we take the time to be sure there’s no seed of bitterness developing in the one we offended? It’s the deep, heart to heart apologies that make our relationships strong and tight, let’s not be afraid to take that step.
  2. When we do good and behave well, let’s be careful not to rely on self-righteousness. No matter how “clean” we think we are, no one is completely pure and holy. Every one of us needs a deep cleansing (daily!) and only Jesus is pure enough to be our spiritual toner. It’s through repentance that we are clothed with His righteousness, let’s not be afraid to seek His forgiveness.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:8, 9

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As an author and speaker, my passion is in helping women and girls overcome confidence conflicts, especially those I’ve struggled with, such as betrayal and loss. After 30 years in the beauty industry as both a cosmetologist and an image consultant, I love to use my profession, along with my experiences and training as a Biblical life-coach to help others find confidence. This is why they call me the “Image Consultant without the shopping obsession.”

If you want to make difference, too, please connect with me on Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest, Linked In, Goodreads  or consider having me speak at your next event. Visit https://catrinawelch.com for more information.

Hate the Dark, Bumpy Circles Around your Eyes?

Beauty, Confidence, Life, Personal Style, ,

The next time you wash your face, pay attention to your eyes. Your daily routine may be the reason for the dark, bumpy skin that circles your eyes and causes you Confidence Conflicts. A simple change in that routine could be the very thing that fixes the problem.

We naturally protect our eyes.

When any foreign object approaches our eyes, we flinch and blink. Eyes are delicate. Eyes are valuable. Not only do we need them to see, they are also the window through which others see us. It is natural to want to avoid using product around our eyes, but this innate response could be the very cause of the dark circles and bumpy skin that draws attention away from our inner beauty like a shade over a window.

We are often reminded that the skin around they eye socket is thinner and looses its elasticity, so we should be careful not to pull that skin or we will get wrinkles. We should always use our weakest (ring) finger to gently remove any makeup or apply any skin care. While this is an important habit, it can easily lead us into avoiding the eye area with our cleansing and exfoliating habits, allowing dead skin cells and product residue to build up and clog the pores.

Many women make the common mistake of carefully removing their eye makeup, but then only splashing water to remove the oil that they used to break up the mascara. Avoiding cleanser around the eyes may seem wise, but it is not.

Dark circles

While the root cause of the dreadful dark circles is not always the need for exfoliating that buildup of makeup remover, most of the time, the dark circles can be reversed. It won’t likely happen with one facial, but add a new habit to detoxification, a stretch of good health and deep sleep, and the circles will  usually fade away. In the meantime, they can be covered up with a good concealer, but keep in mind that most concealers are another heavy product that must be removed properly or you will find yourself in a catch 22, making your problem worse.

Bumpy skin, however, is not as easy to hide.

Milia

The flesh colored (or sometimes white) bumps are simply blocked sebaceous glands where keratin has become trapped under the skin and formed a small, hard cyst, called milia. These milium (plural) are typically found on the face, around your eyes or cheeks. However, they are also commonly found on the back of your upper arm, and can appear pretty much anywhere.

These millet-seed-like keratinous nodules  are nothing to fear, they are common, painless, and easy to treat, but you must be patient and persistent because they are extremely stubborn. Milium may eventually go away on their own, but it may take years. The longer you have had them, the harder you may have to work to get them to dissolve.

Whether it is dark circles or milium that are causing you Confidence Conflicts, this is my simple advice:

  1. Drink lots of water to flush skin.
  2. Get proper rest to rejuvenate the skin.
  3. Avoid products that clog the pores.
  4. Wash your pillowcase often.
  5. Use steam or warm water to open pores before cleansing.
  6. Use a gentle, daily exfoliating cleanser.
  7. Do a weekly, stronger exfoliating scrub.

Consider how long it takes your skin to heal from a cut–that is about how long you must stay persistent with treating the tiny cysts that are deep beneath the surface of your skin. It generally takes your skin about 28-45 days to rejuvenate itself. If your condition persists after a time of really focusing on exfoliation, then it may be time to see a dermatologist.

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It is also important to keep in mind that your skin is designed as your first guard against toxic elements, but many toxins seep through the skin to your body. While your skin works hard to eliminate toxins (mostly through sweat), It is extremely important to become aware of the products you are using. You can help your skin do its job, or you can hinder it. I personally recommend the certified, pure, therapeutic grade essential oils produced by dõTERRA. If you would like information on getting these products at wholesale prices, please contact me at catrina@catrinawelch.com 

I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest, Linked In, and Goodreads. Please visit https://catrinawelch.com for more information.

The Overlooked Cause of Acne

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, , , , ,
When acne flairs up a girl’s confidence deflates.
Google how to treat this common skin condition and you might find an ad promoting a suicide hotline. Not only does acne cause a huge conflict with our confidence, but it has a way of rearing it’s ugly head in times when our self-worth is so crucial. I’m not just talking teen age years. How many times have you woken up the day of an important event ( your wedding, a recital, concert, ceremony or basically any time you have to be in front of a camera or crowd) and found a huge blemish taunting you in the mirror?
Why is that?
Some say it’s emotional: our nervousness causes the oil gland to be more active, perhaps a way of keeping us humble.
Some say it’s physical: hormones, diets, habits and genetics.
Others say it’s a cycle of life and we should just let it run it’s course.
clear skin mom & daghterBut it doesn’t happen only in adolescence.
And it doesn’t happen only on our face.
Acne happens anywhere, and for any reason, that the sebaceous glands in our skin become clogged, infected or inflamed. Getting to the root of the reason may require professional help, but before booking your appointment with a dermatologist, you would be wise to start with the basics.
Perhaps there is a simple reason your pores are being blocked, like the products you use. And I’m not talking about your skin care or makeup because most girls who struggle with acne make sure that anything they put on their face is noncomedogenic. (If not, by all means, start there to find your solution.) I am talking about the conditioner that runs down your back and face when you rinse it off, and the hairspray that doesn’t restrict itself to landing only on your lovely locks. Many women struggle with face, shoulder and back breakouts simply because their hair product is blocking their pores causing the oils in their glands to build up.
If this is a possibility for you, and you don’t want to stop using or change your products, I recommend you change your routine:
  • Most conditioners should be left on awhile in order to penetrate the hair and do their work. Therefore, you may be in the habit of rinsing it out just before stepping out of the shower. I suggest you lather up your body and wash your face after rinsing out your conditioner. That way all residue is off of your skin and only on your hair.
  • Most women finish styling their hair after doing their makeup and then set their style in place with a sticky, pore-blocking spray. I suggest you finish your hair before washing and making up your face (and remember, your face includes your décolletage). This can be tricky with some styles but where there’s a will, there’s a way and if holding your bangs back illuminates your acne you may find it worth the effort.
By no means do I suggest that these simple solutions will fix every cause of acne, but too often in life we overlook the simple things that create big problems. Acne, like so many Confidence Conflicts, can flair up almost instantaneously. One pore gets blocked; one word, thought or deed blocks our confidence and our self-esteem is rocked. And it takes time to heal once there’s an infection or irritation but unless a change is made no healing will begin and the problem will only persist.
If you are struggling with acne or any other kind of confidence conflict, I encourage you to consider the root or the reason and then get back to the basics of taking care of yourself so that your skin and your confidence are clear, clean, strong and healthy.for more information, visit me at www.CatrinaWelch.com

A Great Makeover Starts with Clean, Quality Brushes

Beauty, Confidence, Personal Style, , ,

As a builder’s wife I have learned that there is one trade that can make or break a home. In the beautiful custom properties that my husband builds, every detail is done with excellence. Most of his customers know better than to cut corners; seldom does a homeowner say, “I want to do this part myself.” But every once in a while a homeowner feels they may be able to cut costs by doing this one trade themselves: painting.

I did a little of this creative work when I was younger and loved it. It is very rewarding to cover a surface with paint. When we were building our own home I  wanted to paint the bedrooms. My husband knew that poorly applied paint could make beautiful craftsmanship  suddenly look ghetto. I had to convince him that if I could paint nails, I had motor skills fine enough to cut in walls correctly. And before he would let me have my fun, he bought me quality brushes and told me that I must wash them thoroughly and lay them flat to dry after each use or it didn’t matter how skilled I was, paint can not be applied correctly with poorly conditioned tools.

I wasn’t going to tell him that cosmetologists know all about that, too.

Makeup brushes may not need cleaning after every use, but they, too, should be treated with respect if we expect our “face paint” to be applied correctly.

It’s a common response that most professionals get: whether it’s home maintenance or a makeover, most of us wish we could do as good a job ourselves without having to pay for the service. Well, I’m not sure about any other industry, but I am here to tell you that you can give yourself a professional makeover if you treat yourself like a professional would.

So let me share a few tricks of the trade:

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“Blenders” like these reusable Blending Buds, are a great tool for liquid foundation application.

First of all, buy quality brushes and blenders. Like with paintbrushes, it doesn’t matter how skilled you are if you are using disposable brushes, you will not get quality application.

Secondly, care for those tools. Makeup artists are required to clean their brushes after each use. You don’t have to worry about sharing bacterias if you are the only one using your brushes, but bristles that are cleaned and conditioned will not only apply makeup more accurately, but also make the experience more enjoyable. I recommend you wipe them on a damp face cloth after each use and really wash them out monthly before they get too saturated with product or become ratty and disheveled.

Lastly, always store your brushes handle-side down in a cup to keep their fluffiness. 

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Washing a brush that is used for powder can seem a bit foreign, so let me walk you though this easy process. But before you do this, be sure to apply your makeup, because you won’t be able to use your brushes again until they are dry again.

Step 1: rinse all brushes and blenders to remove the majority of residue.

Step 2: fill the sink (or a bowl, cup, whatever) with warm soapy water. You can use a soap specific to makeup brushes or I recommend your own shampoo or facial cleanser–especially if you have sensitive ski
n. Another common option is dish detergent with a drop of olive, almond oil. 

Step 3: add another drop of soap to the palm of your hand, and swirl your brushes into the soap, one at a time, dropping the into the sink.

Step 4: drain sink and rinse each brush thoroughly while separating bristles without confusing their order.

Step 5: gently squeeze water out of bristles from butt to tip and lay flat on towel or hang upside-down to dry.

There are many services–in my field as well as my husbands–that I would never recommend you do for yourself, but every woman should learn the techniques, skills and habits of giving herself a makeover. If you would like more tricks of the trade, please visit my site at www.CatrinaWelch.com and consider having a Supreme MakeOver. You can have Confident Beauty, which doesn’t wear off like makeup does!

for more information, visit me at www.CatrinaWelch.com