Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog

Call them what you want -- brown spots, age spots -- they are as a result of sun-damaged skin -- I know. I've been there, done that, and got the t-shirt that says, "You Sun-Damaged Ijit!" -- and then there's blotchy skin or rosacea, all of which can be helped by good camouflage techniques.

• Sponge a sheer foundation or tinted moisturizer on you face. Good choices are Bobbi Brown's SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($40) and Duwop ($33).

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• Using a small concealer brush ($6.50) or eye shadow brush, dot matching stick foundation or concealer only on the area you want to camouflage.
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• Lightly pat with your finger to hide the spot.
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• Dust with translucent yellow-toned powder. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit ($32) is one of my favorites. This kit includes Creamy Concealer on top and Sheer Finish Loose Powder on bottom to set concealer for long-lasting wear.
• Let us know your favorite technique or camouflage beauty product of choice.
  
  Related articles:
  Secrets to Sunless Tanning When You Have Age Spots or Freckles
  How To Get Rid of Those "Damn'd" Age Spots

  Read More......

Have you been contemplating going to your dermatologist's office for Fraxel or Affirm, fractionated resurfacing with a laser? Then join me tomorrow, via video, as I undergo my third procedure at my dermatologist's office. Learn what every woman should know about fractionated resurfacing.

What is fractionated resurfacing with a laser? Using a laser, my dermatologist makes thousands of microscopic wounds over 20 percent of my face and neck. The minuscule wounds stimulate cell turnover and the production of fresh collagen. Because the surrounding skin is left untouched, healing time is minimal. The redness it causes, which looks like you got a nasty sunburn, subsides within a week. Fine lines are often reduced by up to 50% after five or six monthly treatments. It can also be used to treat acne and other skin perfections. Tomorrow I will show you a picture of my skin two treatments ago.

What does it cost? At $600 a pop, fractionated resurfacing can add up to the cost of a facelift, but in my opinion, the results are much more natural looking. In addition, with Fraxel and Affirm, you can treat not only the face but the neck area, too. After the initial series of treatments, it is recommended that you have yearly tune-ups.

If you have any questions you would like answered about fractionated resurfacing before I undergo treatment, give me a shout. Otherwise, I will see you at my derm's office on Wednesday.

Have a great day,
Beckie

I think Lady Macbeth must have been referring to her age spots when she muttered, "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say." As you girls may know, I have tried to get rid of my "damn'd" age-induced freckles or sun spots for some time now. Recently I have been test-driving Lumedia Facial Brightener on one hand and Murad's hyperpigmentation treatment on the other hand.

Lumedia Facial Brightner is a 100 percent hydroquinone-free blend of pigment lightening agents specifically developed for overall facial brightening. What it is formulated to do: This light emulsion is specifically formulated to reduce visible discoloration, spots, blotching, and uneven skin tone resulting from photoaging and environmental factors, while a unique full-spectrum luminizer helps restore the translucent clarity of a fresh, "baby-like" complexion. (Sephora $90)

Murad's Hyperpigmentation Treatment targets and protects against unwanted pigmentation. Smoothes texture and helps reverse hyperpigmentation caused by environmental exposure, while preventing future damage. (Sephora $135 for $85)

The war between these two lighteners is over. Murad wins this battle. The spots on the Murad hand were much lighter than the spots on the Lumedia hand. I now use sunscreen on my hands to prevent further damage, but The Spotted War continues. In the immortal words of John Paul Jones, "I have not yet begun to fight."

Rating: I am giving this 2 paws, one for each hand, because the war is not over, nor are the age spots.


(Images: Sephora)

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Before leaving for New York, I wandered into Sephora looking for a concealer for my hands that would cover my sun-induced age spots -- well, maybe a few spots are age-induced. If you women are like me, I didn't use my brain when it came to my hands. I covered my face with sunscreen when I was out in the sun, but my hands were always exposed.

I have had the age spots lasered off, but the stubborn devils keeps returning. If you remember my obsession with concealers, I did find one that I liked, but it didn't work for my hands. So while in Sephora, I played around with a few different concealers on my hands and found that Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation did the trick.

Cover FX is not your daughter's concealer. This is heavy-duty camaflouge. If your skin is sensitive or you have a skin condition such as acne, rosacea, or eczema, makeup can often aggravate the condition, but this beauty includes Vitamin E and Bisabolol which are both anti-inflammatory ingredients that reduce redness and sensitivity.



Cover FX has more shades to choose from than there are skin colors. It also provides sun protection with SPF 30, and it is transfer-resistant. Maybe I can stop further sun-induced age spots, because I can't do a darn thing about the age-induced freckles. C'est la vie.

(Image: Sephora)