DHC | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Nov 22, 2012

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Review

November 22, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Way back, when I first started the blog, I reviewed a number of DHC products, including their Deep Cleansing Oil. I wanted to revisit it because it really is one of my all time favorite cleansers.

DHC recently sent me some items to try, which I will be reviewing over the next month or two and they added in a bottle of the cleansing oil. Before you worry about using oil for cleaning, keep in mind that not all oils clog pores or cause acne. Olive oil, which is the basis of DHC product does a nice job of doing just the opposite. It dissolves dirt and leave the skin clean and moisturized, but not greasy. The DHC product adds a bit of a foaming agent.

Below is my video review and links to my previous DHC reviews.

Previous Reviews: DHC Reviews Part I and DHC Skin Care Review Part II.

Shop for DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Below.

Disclosures: Beauty and Fashion Tech at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page

Filed Under: Cleanser, Skin Care Tagged With: Cleanser, DHC, Skin Care

May 19, 2012

Choosing and Using Makeup Primer

May 19, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Makeup primer is the foundation to a fresh face for hours of the day. As Cindy Ingalls of Prime Beauty notes:

“Primers are your new best friends. A good face primer will fill in wrinkles, fine lines, make pores appear smaller and even color correct your complexion! There are formulas available for all skin types and issues.”

In order to select the appropriate makeup primer for your skin, first the type of primer desired must be determined. There are numerous types of primers available from many different manufacturers. Different skin types will react in different ways to the primer selected. Once the desired type of primer is determined and purchased, tackling the application is the next step. After applying the primer correctly, your face will be a canvass for artistic makeup design.

30 Days of Beauty, Day 18, Fundamentals of Selecting and Using the Correct Makeup Primer

Selecting a Primer

Decide whether a corrective, tinted, or oil-free makeup primer is desired. These decisions will often be determined by the type of skin and its needs. A corrective primer will be a good choice if trying to disguise dark spots, acne scars, or other blemishes. These primers help to camouflage these imperfections in the skin to make it flawless. If a tinted primer is desired the look of foundation will be enhanced. Tinted primer will provide more facial color and a flawless finish. Oil-free makeup primers are ideal for the candidate with sensitive skin that is often irritated by cosmetics. This style of primer will work to keep skin at a healthy, workable state.

While there are products developed specifically as primers, other items that do double duty can also work. Heather Walczuk from Beauty Unbiased notes the following: “Depending on the level of coverage needed, you can achieve a sheer, barely there look with tinted moisturizer; moderate, luminizing color with beauty balm (BB cream).”

When it comes to products labeled specifically as primer, silcone based primers will often fill in lines nicely. But Heather Adessa: *Gloss & Tell, Makeup By Heather A. suggests a different route:

“Use a primer (or foundation) with Matrixyl rather than silicone is better for your skin. Matrixyl stimules collagen growth which will decrease the amount of lines and wrinkles. So over time, your skin actually is turning back time. Silicone fills in the lines, but that is all. It doesn't make any long-term changes.”

Applying the Primer

Applying primer effectively is an art in and of itself. Many use a liquid primer application, while there are some that prefer the spray type. This all comes down to personal preference. When applying a makeup primer, it is key to warm the primer up by putting some in your hands and rubbing them together. The heat of the primer will allow more to be absorbed into the skin to set the foundation.

To apply, don't wipe the primer from the hands directly to the face. This will cause the spread of oils and can cause alterations to the primer's role. Use a sponge to apply the primer evenly. Many prefer to mix makeup primer with a moisturizer to provide more coverage and conditioning of the skin before applying makeup. After applying the primer, allow time for the primer to fully dry before applying foundation. This will make for a flawless face.

Makeup Primer Tips

Tip #1: Select a primer with vitamin E to provide your face with a extra nutrients for a easy glow.

Tip #2: Don't buy a primer solely because of its price, do your research and make the investment if the primer has everything you need. It will be worth it in the long run!

Tip #3: When applying a primer, make sure your face is freshly cleaned with no makeup residue present.

Tip #4: A little primer goes a long way. Do not load up on primer, instead start with a small amount and add more later if it is needed.

Tip#5: Love double duty products? Try a BB cream for priming, coverage, and treatment! (click here for U.S. BB creams and Tinted Moisturizers)

Favorite Primers

Here at Beauty and Fashion Tech, we love the following primers:

Smashbox Photo Finish with Dermaxyl and SPF (read our Smashbox and DHC Review)

DHC Velvet Skin Coat

Per-fekt Beauty (read our Per-fekt Review)

We also love BB Creams, especially the Asian brands (Missha and Hanskin area couple of our top favorites).

Want something more affordable? Laura Yoder from 24-7 Style recommends this affordable primer:

Rimmel's Fix and Perfect Primer I think primer is a must if you wear foundation. I was willing to pay big bucks for anything to help conceal my pores and make my makeup last just a little bit longer. When Rimmel came out with this though, on a whim I bought it (thinking it would be inferior to anything I had). It actually is the best I've ever used...everything you would expect a primer to do for the lowest price I've ever paid!

Shop the Beauty.com list of Primers

Tomorrow, Day 19, Choosing and Using Foundation

Filed Under: 30 Days of Beauty, Makeup Primer Tagged With: BB Cream, DHC, Hanskin, Missha, Per-fekt, Primer, Rimmel, Smashbox

Feb 3, 2012

The Best Natural Oils For Beauty

February 3, 2012 By Carleenp 3 Comments

Natural Oils for Beauty

The use of natural oils from different plants and nuts have been in practice for hundreds of years. Choosing to use something that is naturally derived from something that grows from the Earth offers many benefits to a person's skin and hair. By choosing to use products that are all natural, a person can be assured that there are no synthetic fillers or by products going into their skin. Many of these products are 100% cold pressed, meaning that no heat is added to the collection of the oils. The oil is pressed directly from the nut or plant and is bottled.

There are many different natural oils to choose from. Argan oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and almond oil are just a few of the many oils that a person can find. These natural oils contain many vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids that are good for a person's skin and hair.

Argan oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin and hair. It is a great moisturizer and can be used on all areas of a person's body, on the ends of hair, as a hair mask, massaged into cuticles, on the bottom of dry feet, rough elbows, and more. It contains high quantities of Vitamin E. It is found only in Morocco and is harvested from nuts that grow on the argan tree.

Olive oil is best known for it's use in cooking, but a person can use olive oil in beauty as well. It is especially beneficial to those who have dry skin. Rub some organic extra virgin olive oil into the feet, knees, cuticles, as a hair treatment on split ends or on a dry scalp. This oil contains vitamin E and vitamin A. want some great olive oil skin care products? Check out DHC (also see our DHC Review)

Coconut oil is an oil that is perfect for those with rough and dry skin. This oil is lightweight and absorbed into the skin quickly. Coconut oil is great to use as an after bath moisturizer all over the body. It is a great scalp treatment as well. Massage some extra virgin organic coconut oil into the scalp and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse well and cleanse hair as normal. It is great for cracked heels, dry elbows, lips, or anywhere extra moisture is needed.

Almond oil is mild oil that has many uses for beauty. It is a great moisturizer and can be used directly on the face and entire body. It is great to use on the hair and adds shine and luster. It is especially good for people who have dry skin and hair.

These are just a few oils as an example of what great health benefits natural oils will do for a person. There are so many other natural, great oils with many different uses that offer great skin and beauty benefits. Just remember to get them in their purest form-organic cold pressed.

These are just a sample of the health benefits and the daily uses of choosing to use natural oils in a beauty regime. A person can use oils to protect their skin from the elements. These oils contain many antioxidants and prevent free radical damage. There are many beauty uses for these oils such as hair and scalp treatments, makeup removers, body scrubs, where you mix natural oil and sugar together and apply to the skin, rinse off, and then also as a moisturizer. These oils provide many vitamins and nutrients that a person's skin needs and requires. Plus, since they are grown and found in nature, they are bound to be good for a person as well.

Shop for Beauty Oils