It is good to hear you like wearing blush...as a Make Up Artist I know the importance of blush and you are absolutely correct....the right shade is vital!! First you want to go with a Pressed Blush...preferable Mineral Based (because you have darker skin tones the pigments in the mineral blush will show up better and you won’t have to apply it so heavy). I have some color suggestions for you and exactly where to go to get them...Mineral Secrets is a Mineral Make Up company that has high quality pigments at affordable prices. Here's how you find them. Go to www.MineralSecrets.com search "blush" and check out "St Tropez" it looks dark but I assure you it is a beautiful color once applied and looks fabulous on darker completions. If you are looking for something a little more mild with a little less color go for "Ginger or Maple Leaf" But I can tell you right now looks can be deceiving and although it looks dark and bright in the picture St Tropez looks fabulous on!

Heat is never good when you are dealing with redness caused by acne. Redness is a sure sign the skin is irritated and inflamed, and heat will just add fuel to the fire! First you need to understand whats going on to cause this redness and discomfort. When the pores get clogged bacteria grows and as a result of this your skin gets red and sore and pimples appear. We then (because it is hard to resist) try and extract the pimple and this make the whole thing worse! Here is where the whole heat is good for acne myth came from…heat helps draw out the bacteria so it said to “hot pack” the infected area to bring it to a head and then pop it. Here’s the problem with this…once you have drawn out the bacteria you now have to pop it and if you do this incorrectly you can damage the skin and cause scarring, and in my book that is worse than the redness! So here is a alternative…Skin Rx Clinic has a face wash called “Arnica Facial Wash” it is a mild cleanser that removes make up and oil build up that can leave residue on the skin and clog the pores. Most importantly Arnica and Aloe extracts offer Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial benefits. So you will be killing the bacteria causing the redness and as a result reducing the inflammation. Simple, kill to birds with on stone. I also suggest a medicated spot treatment. You can also find this product at Skin Rx Clinic. It is called just that…”Medicated Acne Spot Treatment” It is a light gel containing 2% Encapsulated Salicylic Acid in a slow release delivery system called Liposome technology that quickly clears away blemishes with out drying out the skin. It targets sebaceous glands, reducing sebum and helping prevent new breakouts. These two product will put you on the right path to healthy clear skin.

OK, here’s the problem with “Home Remedies” you’re talking about your FACE here and lightening it no less!!! Let me stop you right there and be brutally honest. Never…Ever…when it comes to your skin especially your face under any circumstance should you take chances! Now that being said you have options that won’t break the bank but will safely even out your skin tone and lighten area that may have Hyper-pigmentation (brown spots) or Hypo-pigmentation (light spots) Skin Rx Clinic has two products that are ideal for evening out pigment and skin tone and I believe that is what you are looking for. If you are looking to take a mild approach you can try a skin lightener. You will want to make sure it contains Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid or you are wasting your time and money. Skin Rx Clinic has a Skin lightener that works really well as a maintenance product and has 2% Hydroquinone (which is the highest you want to use without a prescription) and Kojic Acid. If you are looking for a more drastic approach you will want to look into a Lactic Acid At Home Peel. It is Pharmaceutical Grade Lactic Acid that you can use “At Home” to light the skin and pigment. It is safe and extremely effective and inexpensive. They have an Esthetician you can contact with any questions or concerns via e-mail or phone. Please look into this before you start putting “Home Made” concoctions on your face! Go to www.SkinRxClinic.com search “lightener” for the Skin Lightener with the Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid, and search “lactic” to get the information about the Lactic Acid “At Home” Peel.

Your beauty regime depends strongly on your age. A basic skincare regime would be Cleans, Tone, and Moisturize. This is just your basics and if you have no real signs of aging this would a good place to start. SkinRxClinic has a 3 step Clinical Skincare System containing: Arnica Cleanser- a mild, non-sensitizing, low foaming facial wash easily removes makeup and other residue. Hydra Essence Toner- Free from alcohols and chemicals, this soothing "drink of water" for your skin will hydrate, plump and tone. Skin Recovery Crème- a lightweight, non-greasy, hydrating moisturizer is saturated with ingredients to hydrate, moisturize and repair your skin. This is your very basic 3 step AM & PM regime. If you are looking for something a little more preventive you can add an eye cream & serum. A 5 step regime AM & PM is all you need. SkinRxClinic has a great eye cream called Eyebright Intensive eye cream and the Face Firming Complex is a great serum loaded with anti-oxidant to fight free radicals, DMAE to lift and tight, Ester C to Bright and lighten and ALA which refines and resurfaces the skin. It is a great all in one anti-aging serum. If you are ready to get serious about your skincare regime www.SkinRxClinic.com is worth looking into.

I am so glad you emailed me because there is a solution that will address these issues! The Skin Recovery Crème is great product...so you are on the right path. I recommend adding the Glyco-Lactic Gel Cleanser it is AHA cleanser that will help refine the skin and combat the signs of aging. Glycolic Acid will help with large pores as well as the breakouts. I would also incorporate the Face Firming Complex into your regime. It has DMAE which helps strengthen the muscle structure of the skin, ALA-(Alpha Lapoic Acid) which refines and resurfaces the skin, C-ester which Brightens, Lightens and Tightens the skin and CoQ10 which boosts skin ability to repair and regenerate and reduces free radical damage. So that pretty much covers it. You have your 3 step regime...Glyco-Lactic Gel Cleanser, Face Firming Complex, Skin Recovery Crème! The last product you would need to complete the regime is an eye cream...I like Visible Lift Eye Gel (but I prefer a gel) if you are looking for a cream the Eyebright Intensive Eye Cream is a good choice. Hope this help, please let me know if I can answer any other questions you may have.

Yes...just avoid the tear duct and your good to go! I would recommend holding down the lid for a second or two just to let it completely dry!

Here's the deal with Obagi...it is a fabulous product. It is also however, extremely strong and can be harsh and damaging to the skin. That being said...I believe it is more of a reparative skincare product then a maintenance skincare product. If you are past the point of preventive and have entered the world of reparative, Obagi is a good place to start. If you do decide to go with an Obagi regime, pick a 6 month program (they have different options) finish the program then stop! Being an Esthetician I have seen quite a few people who have been on a Obagi regime for extended periods of time and their skin looks transparent! After you have finished your 6 month regime and have repaired the skin it is up to you to maintain it. I suggest using an "At Home" Pharmaceutical Grade Chemical Peel! Glycolic Acid along with high quality professional skincare products, will not only save you money, it will also save your skin! Try SkinRxClinic's "At Home" Glycolic Acid Peel. If you are looking for a way to kick your skin into high gear this is another option for you. It is worth looking into go to www.SkinRxClinic.com type "glycolic" in the search box the product and all the information will come up!

Yes toner is an essential step in your skincare regime. You have some options...toner that is designed to hydrate and is most beneficial for irritated sensitive skin SkinRxClinic has a Hydra Essence Toner that is soothing and mild and has gentle plant extract. Then there are toners made for corrective reasons such as controlling acne and pore size as well as lifting and tightening the skin. SkinRxClinic has a Glyco-Lactic Toner that is formulated with AHA's which gently exfoliate, clarify and rejuvenate the skin. These toners are most beneficial for aging, acne prone and uneven skin tone. You can find these toners at www.SkinRxClinic.com just reference "toner" in the search box and the product and information will come up.

Glycolic Acid will be your best friend! SkinRxClinic has a 15% Glycolic Smoothing Gel that is formulated specifically for acne, blackheads and large pores. It is one of my favorite products and inexpensive! Go to www.SkinRxClinic.com reference "smoothing" in the search box and the product and description will come up. This is worth looking into...you will love this product!