As another example, Issey Miyake and Narcisso Rodriguez (Shiseido) ancillary lines have been touching on treatment skincare. A US research company senior analyst Maria Badescu told me than they are seeing the designer element across all three categories and we have seen the increases in designer fragrances, so they are watching this in skincare.

Maria describes the trend for designer’s skincare as still in its infancy. However, whether the designer name will have credibility to deliver on its promises like a doctor brand is not expected to hinder the brand. The is a question of credibility. With the likes of Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent well established across the beauty categories, Maria points out, having a designer footing does not disclaim such a brand. The challenge, however, will be selling skincare based on the mystic of the brand.

The mass market is making a lot of effectiveness claims so you really have to distinguish yourself from everyone else with a point of difference and something special to buy into and we do think that designers have that footing that they can build on.

Despite the abundance of activity in fragrance, the designer brand can capitalize on its name for new growth—albeit smaller growth—in the skincare area. We see that the longevity of having a good makeup and skincare brand can really shore up a brand and give it a full-pronged approach. With consumers looking for differentiation, the designer brand brings an element of exclusivity and its cachet of quality to the segment.

Furthermore, younger consumers are using more makeup and skincare products than in the past, with 80% claiming to use skincare before the age of 18 years. In the US, selective skincare represented $2.2bn in sales in 2006 compared to the $1.9bn for fragrances. Skincare is actually the category that is used more by women than any other beauty category. The global appeal of skincare cannot be ignored. The bottom line is that innovation is going to drive any category. And the arrival of designer names in the arena might at least broaden the scope of skincare.

The Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avene deal with sensitive, allergic and hypersensitive skins. Recommended by dermatologists worldwide, all Avene products are classified as dermo-cosmetics, which follow strict guidelines including a medical approach to skincare, and efficacy proven through clinical studies.

Sensitive skin needs daily, essential care to minimize occasional irritation and help restore the skin’s natural balance. Eau Thermale Avene’s essential care offers daily solutions that are formulated with Avene Thermal Spring water to soote and soften as well as rigorously tested raw materials which have been tolerance tested to provide a complete skin care program to help ease the signs and symptoms of sensitivity.

Today we wished to talk about the Cream SPF 30. There are really good things about this foundation, not least the fact that it contains SPF 30. The compact format also means it’s really easy to reapply to top up the sun protection factor and keep your flawless complexion throughout the day.

We love love the compact, it isn’t pretty but it’s just functional and very well thought out. This product is waterproof, so if you’ve got something you want covered, it stays covered, come sweat, rain or a dip in a swimming pool. You have to apply the makeup by patting it on, using a sponge. We would describe the coverage as medium.

When We first tried it it showed up some flaking skin on my forehead but the flakes seem to have almost gone with regular use. This makeup did not cause any breakouts, and We don’t find it irritating or itch-inducing. Although it wears reasonably well you may require a touch-up with it later in the day or evening (easily done since it’s in a compact with).

Best prices found for Avene’s products are on Leguidesante

The secret to black and dark skin beauty is to understand the many undertones found in darker skin. It’s important to know your own skin and choose shades that best complement your natural tones. Black women skin care is just as easy to follow as any other skin care. Different types of skin simply use different skin care products. There isn’t much more to it than that. Learning what products work best on darker skin is the first step in treating your skin.

The major worries for daker skin are spots. In fact, this kind of skin produces a lot of melanin. At the slightest scratch or skin aggression, the melanocyte system is warned and creates hyperpigmented spots that take long to disappear. Another problem is that a moderate climate is not suitable for black skins that are rather better under the sun. They are thought to be strong because they resist well the photocutaneous aging, but they can develop many types of allergies, in particular because of bad care habits.

What are the best cares to perform on a daily basis?

Women overestimate their skin resistance and tend to excessively clean it with pickling solutions. This destroys their hydrolipidic films and makes them dry. To compensate, they use very greasy creams, but that causes dehydration. The best thing to do is to use skin care products that are adapted to one’s type of skin, no matter what the brand is. It’s not necessary to use specific products for black skins. My advice is to use different cosmetics according to seasons: a rich cream in winter, and a more fluid one in the summer. One should remember also that this type of skin has a very fast cellular renewal and that the dye is scrambled quickly. However, it still tolerates gumming twice a week, to get rid of the accumulated dead cells.

What to think of the products that are supposed to clear up the dye?

Women of color always wanted to have a unified skin color, which is rather difficult taking into consideration spots. To satisfy this request, very dangerous products were introduced to the market. Those were based on hydroquinone, a highly carcinogenic compound. They were withdrawn from the French market, but can still be found abroad. Another radical method is the abusive use of cortisone that will destroy the skin to unify the dye, but unfortunately also affects the melanocyte system. These techniques are fascinating as they are easy and give immediate results, but they can cause serious damage. Nowadays, many clearing or stain-resistant products are made of protected molecules and are perfectly adapted to the skin, without any damage. But for that, one should be patient and use them regularly.

What are the main problems for the Afro hair?

Afro scalps are low in sebaceous glands, which makes them very dry. Besides, it’s a flat hair that makes successive curls. It grows slowly and is hard to do. That’s why one alters this frizzy hair with defrisants and braids. Obviously, these practices damage and weaken the hair, so it’s important to use specific products to hydrate and disentangle it. Above all, one should not think that washing hair too much is likely to desiccate it. That is false, and moreover, the accumulation of sebum and impurities on the roots and the addition of very greasy care products may cause an occlusion of the scalp. The latest will cause a lot of dandruff, whereas with one or two regular washing with hydrating shampoos, this problem can be avoided. Also, the use of a disentangling each time is needed, as well as an in-depth care with a mask once a week and hairdressing creams on a daily basis, because crisped hair needs to be weighed down to be more easily malleable.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice at least since Neolithic times. Mummies bearing tattoos and dating from the end of the second millennium BC have been discovered at Pazyryk on the Ukok Plateau. Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back to the Paleolithic era, some ten thousand years ago. Tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent decades in many parts of the world, particularly in North America, Japan, and Europe. The growth in tattoo culture has seen an influx of new artists into the industry, many of whom have technical and fine art training.

Permanent tattoos are applied by injecting color pigments into the second layer of skin using a needle that is attached to a motorized instrument. The tattoo may take anywhere from a few hours to several months to complete, depending on size and detail of the design.

Having a permanent tattoo done requires research. You most certainly don’t want to have your tattoo done by just anyone. Imagine getting a tattoo, only to later discover you contracted the disease hepatitis from an unclean tattoo needle. Having a tattoo done safely should be your number one priority. State health departments in Texas, Oregon and Wisconsin monitor and inspect tattoo studios. However, tattoo studios operate in many states in the U.S. but are NOT inspected by a local health department. New York City currently has over 400 licensed tattoo artists. Tattoo studios are still illegal in several states in the US: Vermont, Massachusetts and Oklahoma being a couple at the time of this writing.

You also have to remember tattoo aftercare is vital to the longevity of your tattoo! How your tattoo looks three months or three years from now depends upon how you treat it right away. Follow these steps to promote a healthy tattoo.

If you have already had a tattoo done and have since then regretted it, there are several ways to have the tattoo removed. The method of removal however, will depend on the pigment used, amount of time the tattoo has been on the skin, the location of the tattoo and if it was professionally done or not. Keep in mind that tattoo removal is a very costly procedure and it’s not always possible to completely remove the tattoo. Often there is permanent scarring where the tattoo once was.

The most common removal methods are laser treatment, dermabrasion (which involves freezing, then sanding the skin) or salabrasion (which requires the use of a salt solution instead of freezing. The skin is then sanded).

If you’re looking for a less permanent and safer approach to tattooing, try a temporary or henna tattoo.

Although not permanent, Henna tattoos are a more temporary ink, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of body art. Colors however, are limited. Usually henna inks come in shades of red, green or brown and depending on your skin tone, the colors may react differently than others.

For many celebrity, getting tattoos can become a media circus with future employment ramifications. A tattoo design that was crafted with personal intention can suddenly become the latest must-have copycat item for hundreds of fans worldwide.

Part of being a celebrity is having every detail of your life opened up to the attention of the public. With the rise in popularity of body art, and the lessening of the stigmatic perception of things like tattoos and piercings, those who enjoy celebrity watching now scrutinize every little inking and puncture of their favorite stars.

The first Western celebrities to make tattoos fashionable were the British upper class in the late 1800s. Family crests and other small signets were popular on forearms.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) get a colorful variation on their “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” advertisement campaign. After a series of ads featuring unclothed female models, the latest ads are spun off under the concept “Think Ink, Not Mink.” In addition to bared bodies, the ads feature the appearances of both male spokesmodels and celebrity tattoos.

If you have a tattoo please, leave me a comment, and let me know if you get a nice experience with your tattoo studios

After rinsing, the skin is luminous and perfectly soft. This formula from Caudalie is perfect for the most sensitive of skins. It can be used on face, neck and décolleté.

This Sauvignon Crub is mainly for those who seek gentle exfoliation coupled with glowing action.Ingredients are Grape-seed oil, Exfoliating micro-spheres, Acacia honey from Gironde, Plant-derived glycerin, Menthol, Grape extract, Licorice extract, and Grape Melissa.You can use it twice a week. Apply to wet skin. Massage the whole body with circular movements and rinse with care. Can be used on face, neck and décolleté.

It can be used after sports; the menthol has a relaxing action. To be followed by application of the Nourishing Body Lotion.

Sophistication and spirituality

According to the stylist we meet, the natural beauty trend is the biggest. This will be reworked to have a more sophisticated edge. Spirituality and emphasis on inner beauty will become increasingly important as products cater to body rhythms and energy cycles, in ergonomic or eco-friendly designs. To the other extreme, the surgically inspired trend will become more laboratory-like and translate to new applications such as treatments in syringe-shaped packaging; colors and textures will be more advanced, lastly, we will see a return to a Retro 1940s look. But colors will be more audacious, and textures more brilliant.

From tweed to gouache

A french trend forecasting agency proposes 4 dominating themes in beauty. In a nod to the 1960s, the Playtime theme predicts a very graphic approach to cosmetics with bright colors, new shapes, and fashion merging evermore in makeup giving rise to jacquard and tweed patterns. From the realm of science fiction, Mutations probes into the stranger side of nature. It involves a play on contrasts, colors that change, and unconventional textures from sticky glosses to jelly-like elixirs. Natural beauty, under the Origins theme, goes ultra-modern: Colors become earthy, and textures take on a gouache or pasty aspect. Finally, the Epure theme suggest harmony and softness inspired by the Japanese art of living, with pure white products, porcelain-like sunscreens and snow-like powders.

Osmosis of the interior and the exteriorBeauty is so vast that it is turning to the more fundamental aspects—staying vital, staying healthy. Nutrition, wellbeing, emotions, and new parts of the body—like the skeleton or nervous system—will be key elements addressed in beauty. Skincare and makeup products that restructure and sculpt the body will translate to a new beauty ritual where the user is the artist. Surgically inspired beauty will become more refined, and more laboratory-like in its applications. Neutral shades (plasters, marble, metals, minerals, burnt blacks) with nuanced or light- effects will figure largely in the palettes.

Mineral makeup is made from naturally occurring minerals like iron oxides, mica powder and titanium dioxide. This means that the ingredients you are slathering on your face on a daily basis come straight from the earth, not from some chemist’s lab. Even better than liquid foundation that is usually sticky and messy, mineral eco-friendly makeup comes in an easy-to-apply powder which covers blemishes and other pesky skin problems flawlessly while still allowing it breathe. Using powder also means there are no nasty oils in your makeup, which is good news for people with extra sensitive skin. Mineral makeup is also less likely to clog your pores and a lot of mineral makeup includes built-in protection against the sun’s UVA/UVB rays, so your face will look stunning and you’ll be protected from the damaging affects of the sun. And forget worrying about your makeup running (powder can stay in place even on the most humid of summer days and is practically water and sweat proof!). Think about it: now you won’t have to layer on sunscreen, foundation and powder. You’ll save yourself time in front of the mirror in the morning and even some cash!

So, what’s wrong with all the other man-made stuff? Research has shown that the Food and Drug Administration in the United States allows ingredients in makeup that are highly chemically processed and man-made (including dyes that make your eyeshadow all those pretty shades!), some of which have been shown to cause a bunch of skin problems and even cancer in rare cases! When you get the man made stuff, you never know what you’re really putting on your face (and when you’ve only got one, it deserves lots of care). Most people who have switched to mineral makeup say they like it better than the conventional stuff they used to buy. For exemple, a majority of persons who have used an eco-friendly brand of lip or eye makeup prefer it over a conventional brand they have used in the past.

For over 25 years, L’Occitane has been using authentic and natural products, and rigorously selects ingredients with the greatest respect for Man, animals and the environment. All of the cosmetic products are formulated with the most natural ingredients available: pure essential oils and (preferably organic) vegetal extracts used as active ingredients. The selection of natural and traceable ingredients is the very core of the company’s product development.

An overwhelming majority of eco-friendly lip and eye makeup users feel that these eco-friendly brand are of higher quality than conventional ones. L’Occitane and Dr. Hauschka lip makeup users say that these brand perform and look better than a conventional brand.

You already have environmental pollutants seeping into your skin each day. Why enable more by using cosmetics and beauty products contaiing harsh chemicals, many of which you can’t even pronounce, much less spell ? Lucky for you, new brands of eco-friendly cosmetics and green beauty products are now available everywhere. These certifiably organic products not only shun ingredients like petrochemicals, synthetic preservaties, mineral oils, pesticide residues and genetically modified additives, but even support local communities where they are produced.

Natural skin care and organic skin care is good for us, the environment and for generations to come.