Fashion Week is a semiannual event held in New York City which brings together the best in new fashion and glamor. Helena, from mySkin.com, is out in Bryant Park talking to some of the models and collecting their beauty questions.

How do you keep skin healthy under heavy makeup?
Most important thing is to cleanse your skin twice a day with a gel cleanser to remove makeup and oil. Use hot water to open pores and splash your face with cold water afterward to close them. Also splash your face with cold water before applying makeup to keep it from clogging your pores.

Try using a mist or toner that contains Lavender, it’s very soothing to the skin and reduces irritation and inflammation which can be common with heavy makeup. After cleansing and toning use an appropriate moisturizer and let your skin breath.

Lastly, keep your hair clean and out of your face, and try not to touch your face too often. Both your hair and hands carry oils and bacteria which can break you out.

How do you keep skin moisturized without it feeling too greasy?
If you’re moisturizing and your skin feels greasy then you’re probably not exfoliating. Exfoliation removes accumulation of dead skin cells which will help your moisturizer to penetrate and hydrate your skin. Be sure to exfoliate your skin once to twice a week.

What are your favorite products not tested on animals?
I’m a huge animal lover and I always recommend buying only products that are “not tested on animals” or “cruelty free”. My favourite product line that is animal friendly is 100% Pure – they have a full range of skin care, hair care and cosmetic products with are also natural and organic.

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Go green this Valentine’s Day and give yourself a homemade facial and hair treatment.

What You’ll Need

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp organic yogurt
• 1-2 tbsp honey

Hot Oil Hair Treatment
This treatment will give your hair lots of shine and hydration, and help reduce any split ends. To begin, wet your hair and microwave 2 tbsp of olive oil for 20 seconds. Massage the oil into your hair from scalp to the ends and then tie it back. While this treatment is working let’s start the facial.

Hydrating Facial (Scrub & Mask)
The facial consist of a scrub and a mask that will rehydrate your skin a give it a beautiful glow.

For the scrub, mix 2 tbsp of olive oil and 2 tsp of salt together. Apply this to your face in gentle circular motions concentrating on your cheeks, forehead and chin. After about 1 minute, rinse off the scrub with warm water – this will open our pores and help the mask to fully penetrate.

For the mask, mix 2tbsp of yogurt and 1-2 tbsp of honey, apply to your face and leave on 15 minutes.

The honey acts as a humectant that draws moisture from the air and locks it into your skin. Honey also helps to soothe, repair, and heal skin. The yogurt will even out and brighten your complexion.

After wards, hop in the shower and rinse your hair and face. If you have any olive oil and salt left over, you can scrub any part of your body that feels dry such as your elbows or knees.

Once your done in the shower – you’ll have an instant healthy glow and shine for Valentine’s Day.

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In Summer our skin looks great but in Winter it feels dry, uncomfortably, and itchy. Here’s 10 tips to help you have healthy skin all Winter long.

1. Drink lots of water
Don’t let you skin go thirsty, hydrate it by drinking lots of water. Try carrying a metal bottle (BPA free) with you at all times. Drinking herbal teas are also great, especially when it’s really cold outside.

2. Use a humidifier
Put moisture back into the air with a humidifier which will help your skin remain supple instead of cracked and dry. Look for a cold mist humidifier and fill it with distilled water, as this will help reduce bacteria from forming.

3. Exfoliate face and body
Don’t forget to exfoliate your face and body at least once a week. Scrubs help to remove old dry skin cells and allow the body to breath and better absorb moisture.

4. Use an oil based moisturizer
This will help nourish your skin and protect it from moisture loss. I like using an oil serum at night, in particular Argan oil since it it light, very moisturizing and great for all skin types including oily and acne prone skin.

5. Wear sunscreen
Remember to wear sunscreen all year round as it will protect your skin from aging. UVA rays are strong from summer to winter, but UV rays are actually more intense in the winter due to the glare from the snow. Protect your skin from the elements by applying an SPF-30 every morning.

6. Wear gloves
Don’t expose your hands to the cold. Wear a good quality pair of gloves that doesn’t irritate the skin to keep your hands dry and warm.

7. Eat flaxseed oil
Flaxseed oil can is great to moisturize your body from the inside. It’s rich in fatty acids and can do a lot for your overall health. I like adding it to my morning smoothies – yum!

8. Take an oil bath
Add a little jojoba oil or sweet almond to your bath water to nourish you skin. You can also add some dry milk powder with a few drops of essential oils as an alternative.

9. Lower the blow dryer setting
Hot air dries out your scalp and can irritate your skin. Lower the setting on your blow dryer and hot iron or try the tousled wavy style for the winter.

10. Don’t lick your lips
Saliva is acidic and will dry out and chap your lips. Remember to keep an organic lip balm in your pocket or purse and apply it regularly. Use only lip products that don’t contain petrolatum (petroleum jelly) or other petroleum based ingredients as these nasty chemicals will actually dry your lips even more! Learn how to make organic lip balm at home with only a few ingredients.

Have a happy, safe, and hydrated Winter season!

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Golden Moor is line of skin care products made of out natural mud. The mud they use is extracted from a Canadian bog which has high levels of humic acids, vitamins, minerals and natural antibiotics that prevents many diseases and ailments, and provides a general feeling of well-being.

The Golden Moor source is one of the rarest of the world that has not been tampered by men or contaminated by modern day pollution. Furthermore it is preserved by Canadian government laws.

I’ve used Golden Moor products for several years, both the mud bath soaks and the facial masks – and I absolutely love they them!

Mud Bath Soak
Helps to hydrate and soften dry skin, relaxes tense muscle, and relieves body pains and stress. The soak will not stain your tub, jacuzzi or towels. This is great after a good workout.

Natural Mud Mask
This is one of my little beauty secrets! It detoxifies and purifies the skin, removes excess oils and clarifies impure properties. It also helps heal acne-prone skin, tones and reduces signs of aging. I recommend using this after a facial scrub.

Body Polish Scrubs
Made with a blend of mud, hemp, essential oils, and pure pumice, these scrubs exfoliate and hydrate without leaving your skin oily.

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Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it’s fast absorbing and lightweight. Honey and yogurt are also great (and cheap) ingredients to use in any DIY beauty treatment for hydrating and nourishing the skin.

The plant sterols active in argan oil have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which make it safe for all skin types and can naturally treat acne, eczema and other skin conditions.

This is a DIY beauty mask to add hydration to your skin, neutralize free radicals responsible for aging, and minimize the appearance of fine lines by boosting collagen and elastin.

Ingredients
1 tsp organic honey (draws and retains moisture)
1 tbsp organic yogurt (skin-nourishing natural fats and lactic acids)
1-5 drops argan oil (rich in Vitamin E, anti-age, reduce inflammation)

Directions
Microwave honey for 10 seconds in a microwave. Mix honey, yogurt, and argan oil in a small bowl. Apply to face, leave on 15 mins and remove with a warm towel.

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Jurlique Skin Care is a great organic and natural skin care line and they also have several wellness day spas. I was invited to their spa on Madison Ave in New York to experience their signature aroma therapeutic facial. If you have a chance to visit one of their day spas; I highly recommend them and if you’re in NYC, ask to book with Elizabeth – she is fantastic!

The products that are used during treatments are all available for purchase for home applications. These were some favorite products used during my facial:

Daily Exfoliating Cream
A daily non-granular exfoliating cream, rich in oats, almonds and honey to loosen and lift away dead skin cells. Leaves the skin deeply cleansed, smooth and radiant.

Balancing Cleansing Lotion
A balancing cleansing lotion, rich in the living energy of rosewood and lavender to gently lift away surface impurities. Leaves the skin balanced and hydrated. Ideal for maintaining balance.

Intense Recovery Mask
A hydrating mask, rich in the living energy of herbs and precious plant oils to clarify and revitalize the skin, leaving the skin smooth, glowing and refreshed. Ideal for maintaining balance.A hydrating mask, rich in the living energy of herbs and precious plant oils to clarify and revitalise the skin, leaving the skin smooth, glowing and refreshed. Ideal for maintaining balance.

Balancing Day Care Cream
A light, absorbing moisturising cream infused with the living energy of daisy, chamomile and rose, and precious plant oils to minimise the visible signs of ageing. Leaves the skin with a smooth, healthy-looking glow. Ideal for maintaining balance.

Why are facials important?

Our skin is our largest organ and performs several key functions, such as protecting us from foreign substances and assisting in the release of toxins from our bodies. Facials are deep skin treatments that cleanse, rehydrate, rebalance, rejuvenate the skin.

Professional facials involve a cleansing procedure, massage, steam, and the application of a mask. Cleansing removes the dead, dull outer layer of cells along with pollutants. The massage helps blood circulation, which aids the removal of toxins from the body. Steam softens blackheads and whiteheads so that they can be removed easily. And the face mask tones and clarifies the skin as well as treating conditions such as dry or blemish-prone skin.

It is recommended to book a professional facial at least 4 times a year, as the seasons change. Estheticians are trained specifically to help identify your unique skin type and help treat and improve skin conditions.

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In summer there is more humidity and moisture in the air but as winter approaches our skin will begin to feel dry, dehydrated, and may start to breakout. Your tan which is a collection of dead skin cells builds up over the summer to protect your skin but in the fall it will prevent your skin from absorbing oxygen.

Here are 5 tips for healthy and radiant skin in the fall.

1. Use a humidifier
A great way to put back moisture into the air. A humidifying system can help your skin remain supple and hydrated.

2. Exfoliate twice a week
This will help remove the thick accumulation of dead skin cells from the summer and allow your skin to breath. Your skin will glow and feel fresh. Don’t forget to moisturize!

3. Use a richer moisturizer
Switch to a richer moisturizing cream. This will provide more hydration for your skin and protect it from moisture loss.

4. Protect your lips
Use a lip balm to protect your lips from drying out and cracking. Keeping your lips hydrated all year round will also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming around the mouth. Find an organic lip balm that does not contain any petroleum-based ingredients, as that will only dry your lips out further. More maximum moisture look for a balm that contains avocado oil, jojoba oil, mango oil, hemp oil, or shea butter.

5. Add oil to your bath water
Add a few drops of argan or sweet almond oil to your bath to nourish and hydrate your entire body.

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Organic Apoteke is a skincare brand which is fair trade, certified organic, and has been given the Vegetarian Society approval. None of their products contain harmful ingredients such as parabens, petrochemicals, or synthetic ingredients. They also give 5% of the profit each year to charitable causes.
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Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it’s fast absorbing, lightweight, and can be used in many homemade beauty treatments for hydrating and nourishing this skin. It also improves skin’s collagen and elasticity; which is why argan oil is great for preventing and reducing stretch marks.

The plant sterols active in argan oil have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which make it safe for all skin types and can naturally treat acne, eczema and other skin conditions.

For this treatment, I chose to use argan oil from Kahina. It’s 100% pure organic argan oil and is not formulated with parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dye, petro-chemicals, or phthalates. It also comes in a recyclable glass bottle.

Ingredients
1 part argan oil
1 part sweet almond oil
1-2 drops rose oil

Directions
Mix ingredients and apply locally to area twice a day (morning and night). Continue this treatment for as long as necessary.

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Argan oil is produced from the kernels of argan tree fruit. This oil is extremely rare, as the argan tree only grows in a few small regions, mostly in Morocco.

Argan oil is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols and phenolic acid, carotenes, squalene, essential fatty acids (80% unsaturated fatty acids) and depending on the extraction method more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.

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