I don’t know if you are as confused as I was before about why sea salt began appearing in skincare and beauty products all around me— all of a sudden. The first image that popped into my mind was companies adding table salt into my skincare products—a selling point for me. Wasn’t too much salt supposed to be bad for you? It is supposed to cause bloating, water retention, high blood pressure and other health problems. How it is supposed to be good for for your skin?
Table Salt
After some research, I realized that I was confusing table salt (refined salt) with sea salt (unrefined salt). In simple terms, the two salts are made up of sodium chloride; the major difference between sea salt and table salt is that table salt is made up of 99.9% of sodium chloride, while sea salt is 98% sodium chloride. In sea salt, the remaining 2% is made of other important minerals like iron, sulfur, magnesium and other trace elements. Basically, table salt is chemically treated and sea salt is natural.
Sea Salt
So what does this mean?
According to Buzzle.com, it means that the sea salt extracted from sea water contains minerals that are needed by our bodies in order to function optimally and maintain a balance in mineral content. There are many benefits to the natural potassium, calcium, and magnesium that sea salt contains.
Potassium helps regulate and balance the moisture level of the skin, and also provides energy to the body. It also helps relax muscles and relieve stiffness. Calcium not only strengthens bones, but also prevents the retention of water and increases circulation. Magnesium fights the retention of fluids and also helps to fight stress. Moreover, it has a calming effect on the nervous system and helps in slowing down the aging of skin.
A few years ago during brunch, I overheard a guy tell one of his friends that his company (a major investment firm) tends to hire “ugly women” so that they don’t get sued for sexual harassment.
I think it was the only time I didn’t want to finish my hash browns since I wanted to HURL IT ON HIS SMUG FACE (and I loooove hash browns so you know I was seriously furious).
As much as we want to believe that appearances don’t matter in a work environment, a recent Newsweek survey found the following:
13% of women and 10% of men said they’d consider cosmetic surgery if it made them more competitive at work
57% of hiring managers said that qualified but unattractive candidates are likely to have a harder time landing a job
More than half of these hiring managers advised spending as much time and money on “making sure they look attractive” as on perfecting their resume
61% of these managers said it would be an advantage for a woman to wear clothing showing off her figure at work
Asked to rank employee attributes in order of importance, managers placed looks above education
What??!!!
I don’t know what’s more shocking – my naivety that looks really do matter in the office or the fact that the hiring managers surveyed were actually honest about their interview process.
Our Cleansing Clear Gel gently whisks away makeup while taking care of your skin with its special hydrating formula. Gently rinse off with warm water and you’re left with a fresh and clean face. This is the last week for our special July offer to save 31% on our Cleansing Clear Gel so hurry!
Check back with us next week for another chance to enter another contest!
In the heat of this summer, it’s never a bad idea for you to pamper your skin (and yourself) just an extra bit by booking yourself an appointment with your local esthetician. For those of you located in San Francisco, we’re here to give spotlight to Coco Spa in the city for you to consider.
Earlier this year, back when it was cooler in San Francisco in the spring, Marie Louise launched exclusively at the soft opening of Coco Spa. It was an exclusive and intimate party full of the close friends, family, and clients of Coco Pai. But on this rainy evening, anyone could see how professional and successful of an esthetician Coco is from the amount of people who showed up on that wet evening at the new swanky spa located in the penthouse loft of Union Square. It’s a one-stop shop, with full facial, waxing, massage, laser removal services and more services all located within the same beautiful penthouse suite.
With over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, head esthetician of one of the most renown spas in a 5-star hotel in San Francisco, Coco Pai has just recently launched Coco Spa, and is offering free personal in-depth skin consultation services, facials, waxing, at reasonable prices. She is also exclusively providing Marie Louise facials, using its products exclusively to give her clients a gentle, soothing, yet effective treatment.
For more information, please visit www.cocospasf.com or call 650.576.7222, and mention that you heard about her spa from Beauty Essentials.
Remember that awesome catchy 80’s song “Forever Young” by Alphaville?
Well, amidst the blockbuster movies that came out this weekend like Inception and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was a small, quiet one called To Age or Not To Age. Sure it didn’t have huge special effects and an amazing soundtrack (seriously loving “Secrets” by One Republic from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) but it brought up the #1 beauty issue for women – aging.
The documentary film features various scientists in the field of anti-aging research at Harvard, MIT, Cambridge and other research centers who are looking into the possibility of living forever using current scientific experiments. Here are some of the film highlights:
Some of these scientists claim the genes that control aging can be altered to give us more time
In the future, we may see FDA-approved drugs that can actually slow aging itself
Scientists have been experimenting with a natural extract found in the skin of red grapes called “Resveratrol” can be used to retain a youthful complexion since it appears to stimulate the skin’s “repair mechanisms”
The fascinating theme of the movie isn’t whether it’s scientifically possible but what the ramifications are for living forever. Questions like who would benefit from this medical breakthrough? And moral questions like just because we could prevent aging, does that mean we should?
I wish I could look like I was 19 again (that was a FANTASTIC age for me) but I wonder if I’m happier now that I’m in my 30’s and finally comfortable in my own skin (pun totally intended).
What do you think? Would you want to reverse the aging process? Or are you happy with the way you look now?
With summer here, there is no time like NOW to begin the practice of masking to give your skin that extra ‘oomph’ of hydration and radiance that it needs with the warm weather and sunshine.
Sure, it takes a bit of an effort on your part, but if you just try it once, I guarantee that you’ll convert. You will see that an effort of just 30 minutes/ week (15-minute sessions, 2 times a week) can make ALL the difference in the world for your skin, especially if you mask on a regular basis.
Biocellulose Sheet Mask vs. Paper Sheet Mask
Any mask– mud, cream, hydrating– can revitalize your skin, but for those of you who are more limited on time (or just lazy!), I highly recommend sheet masks. Sheet masks and its usage, are all the rage in Asia, and has been a trend for many years already, but it is still a new concept in the US market. It is essentially a sheet of paper, woven cotton, or gel-masks are now created, cuz out in the shape of your face, with holes punched out for your eyes, nose and mouth. Personally, I prefer a new generation of sheet masks made with the material called ‘biocellulose’ that molds to the shape of your face, and has a much more effective delivery system.
These masks save you the messiness of mud masks, but delivers the same results. Each are one-time use, and the steps are as follows:
Step 1: Take mask out of package.
Step 2: Place mask on your face.
Step 3: Leave on for 15-20 minutes.
Step 4: Dispose mask– no need to wash anything off.
That’s it. Do you STILL think you don’t have time for this? Come on… it can’t get easier than this. And another reason to convert? Pamper yourself. Can you argue with that? Just think about the money (and time) you’ll save in giving yourself a mini spa session at home instead of going into a spa. Give it a try, and post us a message to let us know what you think!
TIPS: Double up the results, and mask after a quick exfoliation with a gentle gel exfoliator like Restoration Clear Gel, and you’ll see even BETTER results. Don’t know where to purchase sheet masks? Google it, or email us, I can send recommendations. Or, if you’re already a Marie Louise fan, you can also use our Creme a-VC as a mask by applying a thin layer all over your face, leaving it on for about 15-20 minutes, and then massaging the product in.
Sensitive, sensitized. To-may-toe. To-mah-toe. They sound virtually identical, and may react much the same way, but understanding the difference between sensitive skin and sensitized skin can help you make better skin care choices.
They look very much a like, too. Both have thinner texture, which is why it has a reddish appearance. Sensitive and sensitized skin can feel tight or sting after washing. The skin’s barrier function is compromised, and must be restored to achieve optimal health.
Sensitive skin Several things cause sensitive skin: stress, medications, allergies, hormones and UV rays. It can also be genetic.
If you have sensitive skin, you want to use products featuring chamomile (which calms), hyaluronic acid (which naturally hydrates) and free of artificial colors and fragrances (which are the leading cause of product allergies). Stay away from products with mineral oil, lanolin, SD alcohol and formaldehyde.
Sensitized skin The environment, chemicals or using the wrong skin care product, can cause sensitized skin. Exfoliants or scrubs that are too aggressive can also cause sensitize skin by stripping natural oils that serve a vital role in skin’s protective barrier system.
Seek out products that calm and soothe the skin. Products using chamomile, hyaluronic acid as well as provide a protective barrier can help restore skin’s natural defenses. Do not exfoliate until skin has a chance to repair itself. Stay away from products with any alcohol, any fragrance or AHAs BHAs and retinoids.
See a professional If you want healthy, younger looking skin, see a skin professional such as a dermatologist or esthetician. Doing it your self in the drug store or having a sales person do it in a department store can lead to unpleasant results.
Recently, a few colleagues and I just got back from a business trip to Tokyo, Japan. Aside from trying to squeeze if fantastic meals between work, our primary reason to trek across the globe was to visit the largest beauty show in Japan, Beauty World, and to go through an intense 3-day training with Marie Louise, whose home base is located in Yokohama, Japan.
Beauty World, Japan
From being in Asia, speaking with estheticians and makeup artists there, as well as looking around at the trade show, shops and simply people-watching, we wanted to share some of the makeup tips and beauty trends that we found– some we can use in our daily lives, some are just… interesting.
The Power of Brown. Globally, women are becoming stronger, more independent professionals, successful in their respective careers. But despite our ‘strong’ capabilities, we don’t necessary want to look like women who will eat men alive all the time. In Asia especially, I was advised to ’soften’ my look by swapping out the black eyebrow pencil, black eyeliner, and black mascara I use, to only brown. Since then, I have actually gotten several compliments– give it a try.
BB = Blemish Balm. BB = Blemish Balm. If you are ‘in the know’ of Asian trends, you have probably heard of the new fad of “bb creams” by now. For those who are not familiar, become familiar! Varying from brand to brand, this cream will be your new BBF since it generally moisturizes, has SPF protection, brightening/ whitening benefits, and sometimes anti-aging properties as a bonus– all the while it covers up all your–surprise surprise– blemishes. Slightly thicker than a tinted moisturizer, if you should the right shade, this goes on much more naturally, giving you a finished look without looking like you caked on makeup. While I have been using BB creams since a couple years back, I had never known that this cream originated in Korea, with Korean celebrities who needed to cover their scars from the ever-so-common plastic surgery and invasive procedures.
“Doey” Eyes. This is not a new concept—if anything, in Social Psych 101, we learn that it is people are generally attracted to facial features that resemble that of a baby. Eyes are no different; it seems the bigger the eyes, the more attractive. This is no different in Asia, despite the infamous stereotype of “Asian” eyes. If anything, it’s all the more impressive out there. It’s no longer just about one layer of double eye-lid tape, or even fake eyelashes; girls out there have perfected techniques using even THREE layers of fake eyelashes to complete their look or using the power of colored contacts or pupil-enlarging contacts.
The 'after' make up half of this girls' face (the other side is the 'before')...
Check out this video of a variety show in Taiwan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ImaaS2-MY&feature=player_embedded. The show is in Chinese, but trust me, you won’t need to understand what is said to be able to appreciate the comparison of half of a made up face compared to their ‘natural’ look. To skip the intro, scroll to about 3 min 18 seconds… and prepare to be amazed.
For all you die-hard tanners out there, looks like you now have something else to worry about in addition to potential skin cancer.
A 10% increase in indoor tanning prices has now gone into effect this month as part of President Obama’s new health care plan in helping to reduce skin cancer. Data from the Centers for Disease Control show that for every 10% price increase, cigarette consumption drops by 3-4% among adults and 6-8% among young people.
According to the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC), indoor tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) from the tanning bed’s UV rays than non-tanners. The IARC along with the World Health Organization (WHO) moved tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category, labeling them “carcinogenic to humans.” Nearly 30 million Americans hit the tanning beds each year and about 2.3 million of these people are teenagers.
So what do you think of this new tax?
Do you think it’s fair?
Do you think it’ll actually decrease/prevent indoor tanners or is the tax too minimal an amount to make a difference?
We’d love to know your thoughts so let us know by posting a comment below and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win one (1) Marie Louise Cleansing Clear Gel, our dual-purpose makeup remover/facial cleanser (approximate retail value $57).
Enter to win by submitting a comment below (please answer the contest questions above or submit your own comments) and make sure to leave a valid first and last name and e-mail address so we can properly contact you if you’re a winner.
Contest STARTS on Monday, July 5th @ 12:01am Eastern Time (“ET”) and ENDS on Wednesday, July 7th @ 11:59 PM ET.
No purchase necessary. One entry per person/e-mail address. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (void in Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S Commonwealth & Territories) who are 18 years of age at the date of entry.
Click here for official contest rules
Move over ladies, you’re gonna have to start making space AND time in your bathroom for your man.
In a new joint study released by Allure and GQ magazines, 1000 men and 1000 women ages 18-64 were surveyed on their beauty and grooming habits.
The results are pretty surprising:
93% of men say the term “metrosexual’ is offensive and dated
Compared to 10 years ago, 72% of men felt more pressure to care more about their appearance while 78% of women agreed
Men spent $121 on grooming products while women spent an average of $194 on beauty products
Men used an average of 11 grooming products in their daily routine while women used 16 beauty products
Men spend 22 minutes on their grooming regiment while women spend 29 minutes on their beauty regiment
So there you have it ladies…as much as your man nags you on why you take forever getting ready, you now know that he takes as much time trying to look good as you. Seems like nowadays men are realizing the importance of making an effort to look good and are taking a greater interest in beauty and grooming.
Not that we’re complaining – it’s nice to know that guys are taking an equal stance with us on the importance of looking good.
A few years ago during brunch, I overheard a guy tell one of his friends that his company (a major investment firm) tends to hire “ugly women” so that they don’t get sued for sexual harassment.
Sensitive skin
than non-tanners. The IARC along with the World Health Organization (WHO) moved tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category, labeling them “carcinogenic to humans.” Nearly 30 million Americans hit the tanning beds each year and about 2.3 million of these people are teenagers.
Move over ladies, you’re gonna have to start making space AND time in your bathroom for your man.