How to give yourself an at-home facial

If you're like me you love to go to the spa and get a relaxing facial. Sadly, the reality is, most of us can't afford this on a regular basis, nor do we have the time as busy working moms or dads.

An at-home facial can be equally relaxing and beneficial. I encourage friends, family and clients to take good care of their skin in between facials. If you put in the effort with your daily skincare regimen, your skin will reflect health and beauty.

If you've read my previous postings you know I am a huge advocate for all of the Rodan + Fields skincare products. The REVERSE Regimen is a part of my daily routine!

Rodan + Fields REVERSE Regimen available in Canada August 2014

In between my daily skincare regimen, every few weeks, I like to give myself a small treat with an at-home facial.

To make my facial relaxing, I like to do my at-home facials at night after a loooong day at work. I always light some candles and turn on some cheesy girlie music. I take this opportunity to turn off my blackberry (great Canadian product btw made in my home town!), close my bedroom door and let all the boys in the house know...it's mommy time - DO NO DISTURB! As a working mom...this is a very rare opportunity to make this time all about me! 

My at-home facial steps slightly mirror those of a spa. I start by washing my face to remove makeup and oils with Rodan + Fields REVERSE Deep Exfoliating Wash , then use Rodan + Fields Micro-dermabrasion paste. In fact to make my facial even more relaxing I hop into the shower or a hot bath after applying the paste. The steam from the heat keeps the scrub active.

Now, I don’t recommend doing extractions yourself and if you use Rodan + Fields products regularly you'll find you won't need to.  However, if you feel you need to extract after using the paste I recommend using two cotton swabs instead of your fingers. When using your fingers you tend to break the skin with fingernails and can risk leaving marks or even worse scars...believe me I know this first hand from my teenage years! 

If you choose to extract the area, then clean the area with a Rodan + Fields toner. Because the REVERSE regimen is my go-to skincare regimen I use Rodan + Fields Skin Lightening Toner...it helps with the sun damage I have from my teenage years!

Lastly I follow with REVERSE Dual Active Brightening Complex creams. These creams feature vitamin C and retinol, to brighte my skin while diminishing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone over time.  

I like to do a gentle massage downward on the sides of the neck in a circular motion as this encourages lymphatic drainage and decreases swelling. 

Give it a try and let me know how it goes...Feel free to offer other suggestions on at-home facials!

Want to learn more about the Rodan + FIelds Canadian launch in August 2014? Send me a message at sueandpaul.rfcanada@gmail.com.

New favorite anti-age device

Rodan + Fields REDEFINE AMP MD™ System

I have discovered an amazing tool to help keep your skin looking firmer and younger. It's the Rodan + Fields REDEFINE MD Micro-Exfoliating Roller combined with the Night Renewing Serum.

This product was even featured on the TV show Ellen as a product recommended to Ellen by Kym Douglas on her pre-Oscar show.

This anti-aging system is developed by world famous dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields (Makers of Proactiv). 

Clinical studies showed that participants using the REDEFINE Regimen and the AMP MD system had smoother, softer skin after just one use. I too experienced this after just one use. I was amazed. Over the past month I have continued to combine the AMP roller with the REDEFINE Regimen and I cannot believe the difference I am seeing on my crows feet and forehead. My only regret is that I didn't take before and after pictures for you.

My skin was beginning to sag but it is now firmer and younger looking. I seriously cannot believe the difference one month of using this regimen has made to my face. I am so sold on these products that's I have decided to sell Rodan + Fields when it comes to Canada in August 2014.

My skin looks firmer and fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable. My skin hasn't felt this good since I was in my 20's!!

Currently this product is only available in the US but will be available in Canada in August 2014. If you are Canadian and want more details about this product or have questions about the Canadian launch in August 2014, feel free to send me a personal message.

Stay tuned for more skincare product reviews!

Sunburn 101

As I've stated before…I'm what you would call a "Sunny-bunny." I love the sun, but since approaching my 40's I've been more cautious about using sunscreen. 

Now, my best friend…she's a burner and avoids the sun at all cost. I’m not saying that she gets a little pink. I’m talking deep-seated, might need a therapist for post-traumatic sunburn disorder, burned. You can bake a cake on on her legs when she gets burned. She has shared with me (for my blog) the remedies she's used over the years for her sunburns. Hope they help! 

Aloe Vera

This is everyone’s go-to for sunburn relief. 

A word of caution though: the spray formulas and a lot of the ‘after sun’ gels that seem like they’re just aloe, actually have a form of alcohol in them. Which feels great and soothing, initially, but once it dries, so will your skin. This will make the burn feel tight and even more unbearable!

Rodan+Fields Daily Body Moisturizer

This is one of my all time favorite body moisturizers and I never go on vacation without it! It features Rodan + Fields RF-Dcell technology to calm frenzied cells, normalize the rate of cell maturation and help make skin function more efficiently. This moisturizer allows your skin to retain moisture and remain comfortable when challenged by climate and other environmental aggressors.

Baking Soda

Yes, it works really well for relieving itchiness, but it is also a remedy that can help a fresh sunburn to feel less irritated. Throw a ¼ cup of baking Soda in a luke warm bath and see if it helps.

Oatmeal

Rolled oats are food from the gods, I swear. Not only can they gently exfoliate, but they taste pretty good in cookies or for breakfast! They’re great for sunburn relief, too.
Throw a handful in a warm (not hot) bath or make a paste out of them (with some water) and smoosh it on.

FYI…the clean up is a pain but not as much of a pain as your sunburn will be without the Oatmeal!!

Vinegar

Throw a cup-full in a lukewarm bath. Either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work to soothe and soften your sunburn.

Next Time

Do a better job of covering up! 

Rodan + Fields ESSENTIALS Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Body Sunscreen is a lightweight, non-sticky and non-greasy broad spectrum sunscreen.

I love to use this sunscreen while out in the sun and then complete with the Body moisturizer after sun.

This sunscreen protects your skin’s moisture barrier, has antioxidant vitamins C and E to absorb damaging free radicals and anti-inflammatory ingredients to protect skin from environmental stress.

It's awesome!



Rodan + Fields products are only available in the US at this time. But will be available in Canada in August 2014. Send me a private message at sueandpaul.rfcanada@gmail.com if you would like more information about the Rodan + Fields Canadian Launch in August 2014.

Five Bad Habits That Speed The Way You Age

When it comes to premature aging, your lifestyle and daily activities have just as much of an impact as the anti-age products that make up your daily beauty regimen. Here are five bad habits that age you inside and out.

Sleeping On Your Face

Sleeping face-down or on your side increases wrinkles due to sleep lines. So try to sleep on your back.

Your damage skin cells repair themselves at night while you sleep so don't sleep with your make-up on...it clogs your pores and may even detract from skin cell repair time.

Rodan + Fields will be
available in Canada in August 2014

Forgetting daily moisturizer with sunscreen

My daily beauty regimen consists of Rodan + Fields REDEFINE Regimen which includes REDEFINE Cleanser, Toner and AM face cream in the morning, followed by PM Face cream at night. This is key in presenting a fresh, glowing face each day. Unsightly creases and lines are much less noticeable when skin has been moisturized.

The AM Face cream ingredients include an SPF 30 which is key in decreasing your risk for skin cancer while boosting your youthful appearance. Rodan + Fields products will be available in Canada in August 2014.

Eating Junk Food

Sugary foods can make your skin look dull and wrinkled. The next time you're in the mood for something sweet, choose fresh fruits, such as blueberries or blackberries. These berries are packed with antioxidants that help improve your skin.

Stressing Out

Increased stress boosts the production of cortisol, a hormone in the body that breaks down skin cells. Though stress is unavoidable, limit its toll through meditation, a little quality time with your friends, or a little exercise. Being active is a wonderful and easy way to stay healthy and feel young. 

Smoking

Another reason to quit: Studies show that cigarette smoke actually ages skin by breaking down collagen and elastin. The result...thin, prematurely wrinkled skin that ages your appearance.

My Favorite Sunless Tanner

I have to admit, I love a nice healthy sun-kissed glow on my skin. It looks great! but it wasn't always this way.

For centuries women aimed to have pale skin. Having pale, untanned skin was a symbol of wealth, whereas a tanned, leathery complexion was associated with the laboring working class.

Many women used parasols while outside to shade themselves from the sun. Rooms in homes were often shuttered with dark heavy velvet curtains to keep out the sun's rays. Some women even went as far to paint fine blue lines on their skin to increase the appearance of delicate translucent skin showing veins. For centuries, tanned skin was considered unattractive, especially among women. That all changed though in 1923!

In 1923 Coco Chanel was seen leaving the Duke of Wellington’s yacht with a deep suntan.

As the story goes fashion icon Coco Chanel was seen leaving the Duke of Wellington’s yacht with a deep suntan. Women and the fashion industry took this new bold suntan as Chanel making a fashion statement. Women everywhere instantly tossed away the parasols and began to incorporate dark tanned skin into their fashion..and the trend has never really faded.

The reality is that Coco Channel accidentally got too much sun while cruising the French Riviera but the press assumed the influential designer was making a fashion statement.

Back then women didn't know what we now know about what years of sun tanning can do not only to your skin but your health.

Here's some interesting facts:

• As much as 80% of our facial aging is caused by our sun habits
• 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure
• Only 33% of us routinely use sun protection.

If you've read my other posts you know I am a huge fan of Rodan + Fields sunscreen. I re-apply it every 2 hours and re-apply right after I get out of my pool. I've been using it for almost 2 years...and I absolutely love it.

The problem is I really like to have the sun kissed glow as well. But I don't want the aging skin or possibility of skin cancer that comes with the sun or tanning beds.

Rodan + Fields Foaming Sunless Tan available in Canada August 2014

I found another great product by Rodan + Fields, called Essentials Foaming Sunless Tan. It's lightweight, oil-free and most importantly mess-free! It doesn't irritate my skin or leave it looking orange.

It's so easy to apply and dries quickly. I get an even, natural-looking tan every time I use it - without exposure to the harmful UVA and UVB rays.

This product is only available in the US at this time, but will be available in Canada in August 2014.

Skincare protection is needed all day...not just during peak sun hours!

We all know that UVB rays from the sun are at their peek between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. But did you know, that UVA rays (the aging rays) are present from the sun all day long? This is why using a good sunscreen all day is so important...not just during peak sun hours.

To prevent sun damage and those nasty signs of aging, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays every day. 

My favourite sunscreen to use is Rodan + Fields SPF 30 Body Sunscreen. This sunscreen developed by world renowned Dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields (Makers of proactiv) so you know it's good!

Always apply your sunscreen at least a half hour before you go out in the sun, so it has time to penetrate and completely dry on the surface of your skin. 

Always reapply your sunscreen every two hours to maintain the level of protection you need. Sunlight, sweat and water degrade the efficacy of sunscreen ingredients...so that's why it's so important to re-apply every two hours. 

One full ounce of sunscreen (approximately a shot glass full) should be enough to cover your entire body. When it comes to sunscreen less...is not more!

You should aim for about a teaspoon to cover your entire face. 

If you apply your sunscreen properly over your entire body, you personally should polish off a bottle during a weekend at the beach. You may think this seems expensive, but think of the alternative, leather skin or worse skin cancer!

Investing in a good sunscreen like Rodan + Fields Sunscreen is one favour you owe your skin. Sunscreen is the ultimate anti-wrinkle cream because the best wrinkle is the one you never get!

Throwback Thursday - Two words...Jack Ryan!

If you were a teenage girl growing up in the 1980's you likely know who Jake Ryan is...and if you don't, you need to revisit the movie Sixteen Candles staring Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Michael Schoeffling who plays the famous Jake Ryan.

Jake Ryan was my first real crush, and to this day, I still have a crush on him!

Sixteen Candles was a huge hit in 1984. The story line follows Samantha Baker played by Molly Ringwald, a high school sophomore who struggles to get through the day of her 16th birthday. 

Her entire family has forgotten her birthday because her older sister, Ginny, is getting married the next day. Sam has a major infatuation with the most popular senior in school...The one and only, Jake Ryan.

To add to Sam's problems her eccentric grandparents are staying at her house for her sister's wedding. One set of grandparents brings with them a foreign exchange student "Long Duk Dong." 

Sam's grandparents force her to take "The Donger" as he calls himself, to her school's senior dance that night.  The Donger quickly finds himself a girlfriend at the dance and goes along his night with his girlfriend. 

Another subplot involves a geeky freshman, played by Anthony Michael Hall. He calls himself Farmer Ted...No idea why. Farmer Ted is a very insecure teenage who continually pretends he's popular but in all reality he's a geek and is in love with Sam. 

After the dance Jake's girlfriend, the most popular girl in school, throws a huge party at Jake's house. By the end of the night Jake's entire house is completely trashed. 

At night's end, Jake finds Farmer Ted trapped under a table and they begin to talk. Jake asks Farmer Ted about Sam. Jake allows Farmer Ted to drive home his drunk girlfriend Caroline home in his father's Rolls Royce. Farmer Ted...doesn't have a license. lol.

The next morning Jake finds his girlfriend and Farmer Ted in the church parking lot where Sam's sister is getting married and breaks up with his girlfriend.

Jake waits for Sam to exit the church after her sister's wedding to help celebrate her 16th birthday. 

The movie ends with an iconic scene of Jake and Same sitting on a table with a birthday cake between them. Jake says "Make a wish Samantha", and Sam replies "It already came true"...then they kiss!!

THE END!!! and I LOVE it!

Some interesting facts about Jake Ryan or his real name Michael Schoeffling:

• He was a member of the U.S. Junior Wrestling Team. His team won a gold medal at the 1978 European Championships in West Germany.
• At the time of shooting Sixteen Candles he was 23 and Molly Ringwald was only 15 years old.
• Viggo Mortensen was almost cast as Jake.
• He was so shy during his audition that he almost lost the role. But the film’s producer found him so “stunning and dreamy” that they cast him anyway.
• He had a serious girlfriend at the time of shooting Sixteen Candles. They eventually married and now have 2 children together.
• He retired from acting in 1991 and is now the owner of a handcrafted furniture woodworking shop

Jake Ryan was my very first crush...and to this day whenever I watch Sixteen Candles, I still get butterflies in my stomach!!