Tag Archive for: Skincare

In honor of our launch with Gee Beauty, we spoke with the amazing sisters behind the brand to get the inside scoop on all things beauty, health and wellness. Meet Natalie and Celene Gee.

NatalieGee_CeleneGeeMiami21. The first thing you do when you wake up? 

Celene: I’d like to say that first thing every morning I have warm water with lemon, but sometimes (most of the time) it’s make coffee… then my Bright Eyes (first of two morning applications).

Natalie: I’ve got a one track mind in the morning. Must Workout. So, with that said, I make my coffee and apply my Gee Beauty Tinted Moisturizer.

2. What is your nighttime regimen? 

Celene: I remove my makeup with Gee Beauty Brightening water & Eye Makeup remover. I’m trying to be gentler with my lashes instead of rubbing off mascara to harshly. Then I cleanse and treat with a brightening or refining treatment to keep my skin clear and bright. Bright Eyes & lash & brow growth serums.

Natalie: Depending on how I feel, my routine can be two steps or 20! But here goes one I love: Cleanse with Pure Start that I also mix with Doctors Scrub (possibly my favourite combination to cleanse and exfoliate). I do love to use Retinol at night too, so depending on my exfoliation, I will apply that after I cleanse. Next, I will apply a hydrating serum and moisturizer that I massage everywhere, all over face, under eyes and neck. Last but certainly not least, I apply Bright Eyes. So good.

3. What do you always have in your makeup bag? 

Celene: Our Soft Taupe Brow pencil, concealer, an our Angelina creamy nude lipstick.

Natalie: Definitely lipstick and I love a shade called Micro Nude, black liner in Coal, and my Fiji Bronzer. All Gee Beauty.

4. What is your hair secret post gym?

Celene: Good dry shampoo is key! I wait one minute after spraying before brushing so it can really absorb any oil. Also my secret is that I grab a round-brush and dry-blow-out a few sections that need smoothing. A clip instead of a tight elastic band also helps lessen any damage to the hair – I twist my hair into a bun and clip it together – so that there’s less of a kink when I take it down.

Natalie: I’ve got curly hair so its not pretty post gym. If I have time to blow dry it I will, otherwise Oribe Dry Texture Shampoo is a dream, and actually their Gold Lust Oil is amazing for frizz and smoothing the ends. The result is a post ‘Gym Chic’ look 🙂

5. How do you stay healthy (diet habits, exercise, vitamins, mental health)? 

Celene: I try to eat natural, whole foods – organic produce and eggs for sure. A few years ago I incorporated a green smoothie into my morning – lots of spinach and kale, green apple, frozen banana and lots of lemon – it’s really changed my skin and energy level.

For exercise, I love to mix Barry’s Bootcamp with yoga and pilates – anything to keep my body moving to stay lean and toned. Feeling strong is the most important element for me. Yoga has really helped keep me in the present moment and I feel a lot lighter and clearer when I’m finished.

Natalie: I believe it’s so personal, so you have to find what works for your mind, body and soul. For me, I stay healthy through working out. When I am strong physically, everything about my life is healthier. I try to eat clean, and I do love nutrition, and talking about nutrition. But, I also love carbs. So the balance is Carbs & My Super Elixir (a greens supplement that I drink daily)

NatalieGee_CeleneGee2
6. When do you feel the most beautiful? 

Celene: I feel the most beautiful when I feel relaxed and have been in a good rhythm of taking care of my mind and body. Also when I’m in good company and laughing.

Natalie: When I’m around people I love.

7. What is the one beauty secret you feel compelled to share with all women? 

Celene: What goes into your body is just as important as what you put on your skin. My experience has been that trying to stay away from refined sugar and processed food – coupled with eating whole natural foods including the full color spectrum of vegetables – can really contribute to glowing, younger-looking skin, nails and hair. This, plus daily use of a vitamin C serum and SPF of course!

Natalie: Probably that there is no secret! Beauty should be shared and we should talk about ‘what makes us unique’ with our beauty regimes. Sometimes, I fall asleep with makeup on, so the following night, I will double mask. Its finding the balance and enjoying the process. Learn to love what you put on your skin, not just because of the result, but because you believe in why you’re doing it. Even if its one thing.

If you’re like us, our bathroom cabinets and drawers can get crowded with beauty products that can often times go unused and/or forgotten about. We’d love to think that they could all last forever (being the beauty junkies that we are), but that’s simply just not the case. We decided to debunk the facts about the most commonly kept lotions, potions and makeup that builds up in our cabinets.

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.58.00 PMPhoto via SarahLovsMakeup

LIPSTICK

  • What is the standard guideline for when to throw out a used tube of lipstick? 1-2years
  • Is there circumstance where it could have a longer shelf life? If so, how long much further can we go past the recommended throw-out time period? Lipsticks last longer than lip gloss because there isn’t an application wand being exposed to air all the time. A good rule of thumb is that if it smells rancid or feels different(too waxy or sticky) then throw it away.
  • What are the skin risks of swiping on a tube that’s too old? Probably won’t make you sick but it can taste bad and dry out the lips. In severe cases expired lipstick can cause irritation to the lip area. If you suffer from cold sores and used your lipstick while having a breakout definitely throw it away as you may have contaminated it.

SUNSCREEN

  • When should we throw out sunscreen that has been opened? Most sunscreens have expiration dates listed and this will vary depending on ingredients. With our Sun Visor SPF30, we recommend 12 moths after opening. Since the sun can be so harmful and damaging to the skin and our health, you should obey the expiration date. Sunscreen will not be as effective post expiration date and therefore may allow for sunburn and most certainly sun damage and skin damage.
  • If your sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date on it, is there a way to tell if it has gone bad? It may appear clumpy, yellow in hue, watery or smell funny. If you are unsure then toss it and buy a new bottle.

SKINCARE CREAM

  • When should we throw out face cream that has been opened? 6-12 months
  • What if we neglect to use it, will it still be good? Depends on the ingredients and the packaging. Natural products formulated ‘without preservatives’ will go bad first. Water based products are also the first to go. Airless pumps or tubes will last a little longer than jars as jars get cross contaminated by bacteria on your fingers and in the air.
  • Is there anything we can do to make our face cream last as long as possible? If your product is a face oil or has active ingredients like Vitamin C, acids or Retinol, it should be packaged in a dark glass container and kept in a cool dark place. If you’re using a jar absolutely utilize the spatula that comes with it as this keeps your fingers and bacteria out of the jar. If it doesn’t come with a spatula then get one or use something disposable or that you can clean after each use.

PRESSED POWDERS

  • What is the typical guideline for throwing out loose and pressed powder (including blushes and bronzers)? 12 months
  • What can we really get away with? If the product has not been contaminated by either skin infections(breakouts) or bacteria from brushes then maybe 2 years. This brings up the topic of keeping brushes clean. Clean brushes will prolong the lifespan of your makeup. If you’re using a sponge in the compact make sure to keep it clean or replace it.

LIQUID FOUNDATION

  • When should we throw out liquid foundation that has been opened? 6-12 months
  • Is there any flexibility? If foundation is in a pump then it will last longer as it is not being contaminated. If you dab your fingers in the foundation jar always make sure you have washed your hands first or use a brush or disposable sponge
  • Should we follow these same guidelines for concealer or does it have a different shelf life once opened? Similar guideline depending on the packaging. If its in a pump then it will last the longest. If it is a little wand that you touch to imperfections on the skin, make sure you wash this and replace every 6 months. Skin infections and breakouts have bacteria and this can get transferred onto the wad or brush and then back into the container, so really keep these clean.

With so many products in our regimens it is easy to feel overwhelmed on the correct order. Yes we have grown very ingredient savvy but one serum doesn’t cut it anymore. How do you decide which treatment gets applied first and is there a correct way to apply? We asked Dr. G to weigh in on this and here are his thoughts and suggestions.

Screen Shot 2015-03-18 at 9.44.47 AMPhoto via MargoandMe

What is the correct regimen order?

Serums should always be applied first to clean skin. When we talk about clean skin we mean either exfoliated, peeled or cleansed. Wiping off the face with a makeup pad doesn’t count for clean.  The reason serums go on first is that they contain the treatment ingredients. They are formulated to go deeper than moisturizers to attack the problem or issue at hand. Next step should be the eye product, whether a gel or cream, the eyes should be treated during an individual step. Moisturizers go on next as they hydrate the skin and seal the serum. If you’re using a separate SPF, which I recommend, it should be the last step.

Where do Oils fit in?

Oils are not solely for hydration anymore as they target anti-aging, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles and overall skin dullness. Oils are one of those products that can be used in a plethora of ways. If you are incorporating an oil for hydration it should be used after the serum and before the moisturizer. The oil could also be mixed in with the moisturizer or patted on after for extreme hydration and glow. If you tend to have oily skin you can try mixing the oil into your foundation and applying it as your very last step. If you are incorporating the oil for anti aging benefits, try using it as a treatment serum. Dry oils are the best option for this as they won’t sit on the surface of the skin and penetrate deep to deliver treatment ingredients.

What is the best way to apply products?

There are a few schools of thought on how to best apply skincare products. People either rub in product or press/pat on product. Made popular by the French, pressing is said to be less aggressive and more soothing when done correctly. I believe there is room for both methods in a daily regimen.

Rubbing

Pros: Fast and effective, overall coverage, stimulates circulation and blood flow

Cons: Rubbing and tugging could breakdown collagen and perhaps break blood vessels over time

Pressing

Pros: No aggression to the skin, follows the lymphatic flow our our faces which is good for circulation.

Cons: Time consuming, not effective in coverage

What is the best advice about product order and application?

Choose effective treatment based products and be diligent about using them. The truth is getting them on the skin is the most important part.