While it is a miracle to bring a life into this world, pregnancy certainly isn’t always easy. There is the weight gain, stretch marks, nausea, and even sacrificing food and drinks you normally love for the health of your baby. Then there are the women whose feet grow half a size for each baby born to them…not a very pleasant side effect, especially if you already have big feet! On top of all of that, many women also must deal with hyperpigmentation of the skin during pregnancy, too. This darkening of the skin can cause embarrassment, especially at a time when a woman is already self-conscience about her self image. Hyperpigmentation during pregnancy is caused by pregnancy hormones. These hormones can cause an over production of melanin, which is the pigment in our skin. During pregnancy, freckles, scars, and moles can appear darker and the “mask of pregnancy” may also make an appearance. This “mask” often looks like dark splotchy patches all over the face which can become worse with each pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation can not be treated during pregnancy, but after the baby is born, there are effective products to lighten the skin back to normal. Since you can not use products to treat the condition during pregnancy, it is recommended to wear a strong sunscreen at anytime you will be exposed to the sun, as the UV rays do make the condition appear worse. The spots that do remain after pregnancy are likely to fade over time, but it may seem like forever if you leave it to nature to get your skin back to normal. If you want to use a treatment for your pregnancy hyperpigmentation, Skin Rx recommends: Skin Lightener – with 3% Kojic Acid and 2% Hydroquinone, this is a powerful skin lightener that will eliminate stubborn dark patches on the skin Also try: Skin Lightening Kit – with the Skin Lightener, Microdermabrasion Peel, and Advanced Protection SPF 30 which work together for maximum results.

We’ve recently added two new shades (with a third coming soon!) to our line of Ultra Sensitive Loose Mineral Bases. Please find the shade comparison chart below for those of you who may have used our Original Loose Mineral Base in the past, but now want to give our Ultra Sensitive a try.   Ultra Sensitive Loose Mineral Base is a must for anyone with Rosacea , acneic or  reactive, sensitive skin. Naturally preserved and completely free of irritants, we’ve taken the best qualities of mineral makeup and applied them to our new Ultra Sensitive Loose Mineral Base: a light-weight feel with the option of layering for more coverage as needed, the simplicity of an all-in-one concealer and foundation, it's non-comedogenic and bacteria-resistant properties, it's natural & inert ingredients, and it's natural anti-inflammatory properties. All of these properties leave you with the best qualities makeup can offer while leaving out those which can add to those sensitive skin issues. Silky, weightless and very forgiving, Ultra Sensitive Mineral Base goes on easy and feels like nothing at all, naturally. It evens out your skin tone, enhances your complexion and reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores.  So go ahead, nourish your delicate skin while getting the beautiful coverage and finish you need. Color comparisons for Mineral Secrets mineral makeup: Barely There              A La Mode Cool Beige                Sugar Cookie Oatmeal                   Sand (lighter) and/or Gloden (darker) Cashmere                 Golden and/or Sun Beige Canvas                     *Honey  (New Color!) Warm Beige              *Toffee  (New Color!) Cocoa                       No match at this time Seashell                    *Fawn  (New Color…Coming Soon!) Caramel                     No match at this time No match                   Ginger Snap No match                    Mocha

“May I see your ID, please?” When was the last time you heard that question? If your face is starting to see its share of fine lines, the answer is probably “not lately”. By taking care of your skin properly and using the right skin care products, you may be getting carded well into your 40’s! You don’t have to be rich or famous to look younger than your real age. You just have to make it a habit to take good care of your skin and body. This means getting regular exercise, drinking lots of water, taking your vitamins, and of course, exfoliating, moisturizing, and using anti-aging products. Exfoliating Exfoliating your skin is the best way to keep it young and healthy-looking as it provides instant results. Buffing away that thin layer of dead skin cells immediately reveals the more youthful, glowing skin beneath. Exfoliation can also prevent clogged pores and blackheads. For the best exfoliation, try Skin Rx’s Microdermabrasion Kit #1. Moisturizing Moisturizing your face is the key to restoring the natural hydration that your skin tends to lose, especially as you age. Young skin is well hydrated, and therefore much suppler, than dry skin. A good moisturizer includes ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, which have been proven effective by skin care experts. Skin Rx suggests this Ultra Hydration Serum. Wrinkle Cream Using anti-aging products which are formulated to reduce the appearance of fine lines is a great way to look younger than you are. Skin Rx offers several anti-aging products with proven results that work to fight wrinkles such as PepTox Wrinkle Relaxing Crème.

If you are concerned that your skin has lost its glow, your dull skin needs some TLC! As an adult, dull skin is a common problem. During your youthful teenage years, the skin exfoliates itself naturally about every two weeks so fresh, glowing skin is revealed while the dull, lifeless dead skin cells are shed. This exfoliation process helps to keep the skin youthful and gives that “glow” that we all want. If you are a smoker, dull skin is often a side effect. When the blood flow and oxygen to your skin is decreases due to the toxins of cigarette smoking, you tend to develop dry, dull skin which is prone to fine lines and crow’s feet. With a few simple skin care techniques and some TLC, you can brighten up your complexion and get your glow back! Besides the obvious of not smoking, it is important to stay hydrated. The more water you drink, the better your skin looks. Six to eight glasses of water a day is a must if you want your complexion to look its best. Exfoliation is the best way to shed dull, dead skin cells and rejuvenate your complexion to reveal more youthful skin. Microdermabrasion is a great way to achieve maximum results if you really want to brighten up your complexion. Skin Rx recommends Microdermabrasion Peel Kit #1 which features an exclusive “double peel” technology and an all natural formula. You will also want to make sure you are replacing any moisture loss to your skin which can happen as a result of the upcoming cold weather. A good quality moisturizer should be applied directly after cleansing the skin. Try Skin Rx’s Herbal Moisture Crème 2 which can replace moisture loss to even the driest skin.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunburn is more than just a temporary skin irritation. In fact, a sunburn can leave a lasting effect each time you get one. The sun’s rays are harmful – and the only way around it is to wear a quality sunscreen. An alarming fact on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website states that just ONE blistering sunburn as a child or teen can more than double that person’s risk of skin cancer when they are older. That is a scary statistic! It is recommended that whenever you will be exposed to the sun, even for short periods of time throughout the day, that you wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. This is a year-round recommendation. An SPF of 30 or greater is recommended during the summer months, when the UV Rays are stronger and can cause more damage to your skin. You have probably heard this a hundred times – but don’t underestimate the power of UV rays. If you are not sure which sunscreen you should choose, check out Advanced Protection SPF 30 by Skin Rx. This formula is lightweight and oil free and also includes anti-aging ingredients such as Vitamin C, E, and A. If you are treating a sunburn, try this Aloe Soothing Mask which can be refrigerated for a cooling, healing treatment.

In an interview with actor Jason Statham, he says “You see, I’ve got such sensitive skin that I can’t have a proper shave because I get a rash. I have to have one of those beard trimmers instead. I also try to compensate for the lack on top.” While his hard look is (somewhat) due to his sensitive skin, it is hard to imagine that celebrities, what with their glowing perfect skin and all, have any sort of skin issues! That is simply not true, though! Sensitive skin is quite a common problem. It can be mild to severe and is characterized by symptoms like constant irritation from skin care products, detergents and soaps, and other products; rashes or blotches appear from exposure to the elements (sun, wind, heat, or cold); sensitivity to makeup and cosmetics, and tightening or discomfort without other visible signs. With the right skin care treatments and elimination of other irritants like heavily perfumed detergents, your sensitive skin can feel a little more “normal”. Skin Rx offers the following products that are perfect for your sensitive skin: Glyco-Lactic Gel Cleanser – An oil-free cleanser with healing properties to sooth the skin to relieve itching and inflammation. Glyco-Lactic Toner – A toner without alcohol which is great for sensitive skin to sooth, rejuvenate, and clarify the skin. Gentle Eye Makeup Remover – Removes eye makeup without irritation and is free from fragrance and oil.

If you are just learning that you have Rosacea, it might be helpful to know that there are certain foods you should avoid which are known to trigger the condition. Rosacea has symptoms such as facial redness which lasts for extended periods of time, pimples, red lines on the face, swollen bumps on the nose, and eye irritation. Obviously you will want to do everything possible to avoid triggering an outbreak of Rosacea, even if it means giving up a few of your favorite foods. The following foods are known triggers for Rosacea: Spicy foods – includes foods that are blood vessel dilators such as vinegars, hot sauces, hot spices, various spicy seasonings and peppers (even black pepper) and spiced meat marinades. Certain produce – includes tomatoes, citrus fruits and citrus juices, raisins, bananas, figs, red plums, peas, eggplant, spinach, avocados, lima beans, and navy beans Pasta Certain Dairy Products – includes Cheese, Yogurt, and Sour Cream Chocolate (sorry!) Liver Vanilla Soy Sauce Yeast Extract In addition to avoiding Rosacea trigger foods, you can also use skin care products to keep the condition under control. The right skin care products are made for ultra sensitive skin and contain no irritants. Skin Rx recommends the following products for Rosacea: Rosacea Kit #1 – Contains Arnica Facial Wash, Soothing Serum, Skin Recovery, Visible Lift Eye Gel, PVA Shammy. This kit is specifically made for highly sensitive skin and works to cleanse, heal, and calm the skin. Aloe Soothing Mask – Aloe plays a huge role in calming, soothing, and hydrating the skin in this mask. RosaPlex Skin Serum – This calming skin serum soothes and hydrates the skin while helping to resolve issues specific to Rosacea including flushing and redness, visible capillaries, pimples, and other symptoms.

Post laser skin is extremely sensitive and needs more than just time to heal. The right skin care procedures and products are super important! Laser skin resurfacing treatments remove the outer layers of the skin so you must manage the after effects of such a treatment to ensure proper healing. At this time, your skin is much more susceptible to infections and bacteria. After your skin is healed, you will also want to wear the right makeup – something you may not have even thought about. Certain makeup products are more irritating than others, and you will want to choose a makeup that is ultra sensitive and all natural for your post laser skin. Mineral makeup is a great choice because it is all natural and does not cause irritation – even to the most sensitive skin! Also, with ingredients like zinc oxide built in, mineral makeup has sun protection, too. Skin Rx recommends the following mineral makeup for post laser skin care: Ultra Sensitive Loose Mineral Base – 7 different shades to choose from, provides excellent coverage and is very long lasting. Ultra Sensitive Mineral Blush – Several different colors of blush available which provides a long lasting, lovely glow to ultra sensitive skin. Ultra Sensitive Finishing Powder – A translucent powder which can be used both as a primer before our mineral base or as a setting powder once your mineral base is applied.

A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his beautiful, blond, female neighbor came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox. She opened it, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into her house. A little later she came out of her house again, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house she went. As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here she came again. She marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it closed harder than ever. Puzzled by her actions, the man asked her, "Is something wrong? To which she replied, "There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I've got mail!" ------------------------------------------ Jokes are funny – bad skin is not! You are searching the internet for solutions to your oily skin, right? To get to the answers, you must first know the problems. What are the characteristics of oily skin? Oily skin is characterized by a visible shine (usually by mid-day), large visible pores (especially around the nose), and frequent acne. None of these things are pleasant to deal with. As you search for products for oily skin, you have probably come across many that will just dry out your face. Using alcohols to dry the oil is just a temporary fix – and it doesn’t last long. Without the right oil control skin products, your skin will likely end up dry and flaky while still breaking out. The products do not treat the underlying problem, nor do they help to shrink those large pores. If you have oily skin and you want to get it under control, there are many products available for you which care simple to use and will make your skin care routine quick and easy. Check out this list of skin care products by Skin Rx made just for you: Glycolic Facial Lotion – Oily skin does need to be moisturized – believe it or not! This lightweight moisturizer is oil free and works double-duty to fight blackheads and large pores. Glycolic Oily Kit – With a cleanser, eye cream, and lotion, this oily skin care kit works in combination to cleanse and properly moisturize your skin, minimize blackheads & pores, and fight fine lines! Acne 3 Step Control System – Three products (cleanser, purifying tonic, acne and oil control gel) work together to clear up acne caused by oily skin and to control the excess oil and sebum on your face. Need advice on specific oily skin problems? Just post a comment and we’ll get back to you!

Look your best, naturally Let’s face it; most of us use a few cosmetics each day to put our best face forward. Whether you apply in the morning, or touch-up throughout the day, most of us carry around one thing or another to “freshen up.” But wouldn’t it be nice to leave fresh-faced in the morning with nothing but your favorite lipstick? Below are some simple steps to looking your best, naturally.

1. Cleanse. Clean skin is the foundation for clear skin. The most important thing you can do for your skin is to clean it every day. By washing your face twice daily - in the morning and before bed - you will be getting rid of the makeup and other residue that can cause acne and skin sensitivity. One to try is our Arnica Face Wash.
2. Exfoliate. Avoid the dry, dull skin that appears during the fall and winter months by regularly exfoliating. Proper exfoliating can give you that summer glow all year long. At-home microdermabrasion can save you hundreds but ensure you’re getting the most effective treatment possible by comparing crystal counts. Consider trying the Microdermabrasion Kit #5 that includes a jar of our fragrance-free exfoliating crystals (four times more than in-clinic treatments) and our soothing serum to cool your skin.
3. Polish. Glycolic acid is used to improve the skin's appearance and texture. It helps to reduce wrinkles, acne scarring, hyper-pigmentation and improve many other skin conditions. Our Glycolic Facial Polish will buff and polish your skin to smoothness in an instant. Use it three times weekly to remove the dry skin and oil that can clog pores.
4. Moisturize. It’s important for everyone to moisturize. Even if you suffer from oily skin, you still need to hydrate! Skipping moisturizer will only cause your skin to overcompensate and create more shine. Try our richly hydrating Herbal Moisture Crème.
5. Protect. Protecting your skin from the harmful rays of sun will not only fight off premature aging, but decrease your chances of developing skin cancer. The higher the sun protection factor number (SPF), the more UV protection you can expect. Use our Natural Sun Protection SPF 30 for UVB and UVA cancer-preventing, high-strength protection against the sun. This non-irritating, oil-free, facial (or body) sunblock also works great for those with sensitive skin.