Whether it’s Instagram, facebook or twitter, additional apps are great for presenting your beauty shots in a unique, more artistic way. These are my top 5 best apps to use before sharing photos online. With options including collages, adding text, frames, and simply expanding your filter library, these additional apps are going to be great for your online presence. Although it should be noted that even the most flattering filter can’t cover up disasters like these!

1. A Beautiful MessThis app is prefect for the crafty types out there- think nail art photo with a sketched heart around it. It was created by Elsie and Emma, founders of the lifestyle blog A Beautiful Mess. The app has custom filters, fun fonts, and hand-drawn doodles to enhance/frame your glam shots.

2. Mirrorgram (FREE)This app is for creating a mirrored effect without meaningless extras that take up valuable phone memory. I like the app because it has a simple interface which makes it quick and easy to use.

3. AfterLightAfterlight is a great all around editor. From making subtle filters to creating colored light flares this app is great for any type of image. It has a lot of easy to use features like adjustment tools, textures, and frames, which can really enhance your photos.

4. Pic Stitch (FREE)Pic Stitch is my go-to app for combining multiple photos. With numerous layouts, this app is great for creating custom collages.

5. LaminarThis one was recommended to me by our photographer Kelsey. It is for a more detail oriented person who has a little more time to spend on their photo creation. The app reminds me of a simplified photoshop because it has the option to create and adjust layers.

By adding these to your app collection, you may not become the next “it” blogger, but you will have fun creating unique images that stand out from the rest!

Yes, we all are aware and have said, “There is just not enough time in a day” and we don’t have any extra time to do anything. Now that this has been acknowledged please continue reading. The world’s population will reach 8 billion by 2020, a staggering number that affects all of us. Since we only share this planet for an extremely short amount of time with our fellow humans and nonhuman animals it is our social responsibility to be conscious consumers. It is as simple as the old sayings REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE and understanding the principle of Supply and Demand.

In the world of beauty this can present a challenge since we all want to keep up with the latest and the greatest. This of course is fine, but eliminating waste and doing your research on the companies you are purchasing from is necessary to make a difference. Educating yourself on the brands you are supporting is important to know not only if the products are good for your body, but whose pocket your money is going into. Learning where your products are made, who they are made by, what they are made of and how they are made allows you as a consumer to make an educated decision prior to purchasing. Good companies will listen to their customers and make the necessary changes to deliver what the consumer wants. If the demand for a product is not there or lessens then the supply will deplete or better yet, be adjusted to meet the desires of the purchaser. As consumers this is how we hold the power to cause change.

This is easier said than done which is why I recommend starting with your current beauty regimen. Try to steer clear from lines that use a ton of packaging. Ask brands about a recycle program like Beauty Blender. If they don’t have one it may give them the idea to start one. After investigating you may find wonderful things about the products you use daily and share this positive information with your peers to aid in generating sales of the product. On the other end of the spectrum you may find appalling information about the company and decide to take action to hold the company accountable! You can write their CEO a letter, post your concerns on their numerous social media sites or simply discontinue your use of the product.

We all count! Check out one of my favorite ways to stay connected with what’s going on in our world at The Big Picture. Just like our negative actions have an impact on the world so will our positive efforts. The time is now. I have listed additional tips to decrease human activity’s negative impact on the world here:

1.  Say no when asked if you would like a receipt (Less paper=less waste and less deforestation).
2. Bring silverware with you to work that you can use and keep at your desk instead of wasting plastic cups, straws, forks, knives and spoons—I need to do this!
3. Buy or make your own grocery bag to bring to stores instead of using their plastic or paper ones.
4.  Invest in a re-usable water bottle made from recycled materials and a filter to attach to your faucet instead of buying plastic water bottles (Less plastic= less harmful emissions that deplete our ozone and litter our oceans).
5. Buy local: Made in the USA decreases the energy used to ship the product and supports our workforce (Farmer’s Markets are such a fun adventure!) Check out 100% made in the USA brand Philosophy’s perfect for summer self-tanner.
6. Try to decrease your intake of animal products—limit meat to one meal per day for starters (Farm animals are the #1 producer of Methane gas, not to mention they are sentient beings and are so adorable).
7. Carpool, bike, walk, run, swim, skate board and roller blade your way around the world!
8. Turn off the lights and make sure you switch to energy efficient light bulbs, turn off the TV and unplug appliances when not in use.
9. Don’t wrap gifts—or wrap them with old magazines!
10. Thrift Shop!

Until next time,

Grazie Belle Donne!

Are you prepared to take care of your skin this summer? Get expert tips on summer skin care by joining us on Facebook on Wednesday, June 12 from 12pm – 1pm PST. We’ll be hosting a live Q & A session with Teresa Stenzel, Director of Education of the botanical-based skin care line, Bioelements.

Bioelements Director of Education Teresa Stenzel has been a member of the Bioelements esthetics team since 1993. With a key role in the company’s integration of new professional products, Teresa continues to help develop new facial and body treatment techniques, as well as new curriculum for Bioelements, ensuring skin care professionals receive the education they need to deliver the best skin care recommendations and professional treatments from coast to coast.

Expertly crafted with a blend of traditional oriental herbs, natural essential oils, antioxidants and other natural ingredients, Bioelements treats a wide range of skin concerns, including aging, acne and environmental damage. Free of artificial colorants, synthetic fragrances and pore-clogging oils, these formulations balance the skin, making them the ideal products to control summer skin stresses like sun damage, sweat, and oil buildup.

Don’t miss this FREE opportunity to get professional answers to all your summer skin care questions! To participate in the live Q & A, simply use hashtag #Bioelements when you post your questions on our Facebook wall. We’ll also be announcing 3 lucky winners who will receive RayDefense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($42 value), a hydrating broad-spectrum sunscreen that also fights premature aging! To enter for your chance to win, simply join us on our Facebook and ask Teresa a question—it’s that easy!

What are you waiting for? Mark your calendars now!

*Consult your personal physician for any medical questions or concerns.

* For more professional skin care tips, sign up for the Bioelements emails, here!

Acne scars, age spots, fine lines, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation, blemishes, sun damage, burn scars, rough skin . . . got any of these?

If your answer is NO, I am pretty jealous. For anyone who answers yes, I have got an amazing skin care device that will help solve all of the above problems.

PMD Personal Microderm is an at-home microdermabrasion device that uses aluminum oxide crystals and a vacuum suction to smooth away dead skin cells, revealing both younger skin and healthier skin. If you have had microdermabrasion done professionally before, you will know that in-office treatment comes with a hefty price tag (trust me, I know). And being someone who has gotten it done professionally, I literally could not believe how this device could deliver the same exact result.  Also, I did it myself in the comfort of my home in less than 10 minutes. Talk about easy and convenient. 

The basics you need to know:

• Use on clean, dry skin.
• Small discs are for the face and delicate areas.
• Large discs are for the body.
• Blue discs are for sensitive skin.
• Green discs are for medium-strength abrasion.
• Red Discs are for maximum-strength abrasion.
• Pull skin tight, and use in an upward motion across the skin (do not go over the same spot twice).
• Use once a week to allow skin to recover (6-7 days).

 It is that easy, I promise.  Of course you will want to read all instructions and watch the training video first. You will want to make sure you know how to use the device and how to clean it properly after each use.  But folks, I am telling you, this device is so simple to use and will deliver younger, smoother and healthier skin. Don’t believe me? These before and after photos may help. (I mean I get it, I’m totally a visual person too.)

One thing I know is that we all strive for perfect, healthy skin; I know it is something I want. Each time I look in the mirror, I wish there was that one device that could erase all the ‘bad.’ Well, I think I have found it and I’m letting you in on this secret, I’m also letting you in on a special offer (see below).  

 **SPECIAL DEAL (Since I am all about ‘getting deals’ I find it fitting to share this!)**

Exclusive DermStore Special: 20% off all PMD Personal Microderm products from July 1^st – August 1^st with promo code: PMD20.

On any given day you can find me straight west coasting’ whether it’s at the beach, mountain or desert. My favorite happens to be the scorching desert. Mojave, Sonoran, Colorado, Arizona, Baja, you name it-I love it. Nothing feels better than the sand in my toes and the sun on my skin. As you can imagine, a short weekend trip to this climate not only leaves me a wee bit dried out but also finds tiny nuggets of sand in my pores. After the sun exposure, dryness and dirt, you better believe I need an amazing exfoliant to keep me pretty.

Desert goers alike, your prayers have been answered with Amarte’s Daily ExfoliPowder. With just a little water, this gentle powder lathers up into a rich, luxurious foam. It literally smells like a baby, but don’t let that fool you, this physical exfoliant will kick the dirt right off your boots. It gets all of that dirt and nasty grime off without irritating your precious skin. I know, I know, you didn’t think anything this beautifully packaged could do such a thing could you? It not only helps cleanse and slough of dead skin cells, it helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Best of all, it’s not drying at all! It left my skin smooth and supple instead of dry and tight.

Still not convinced? Don’t just take it from me-listen to one of our gorgeous customers Rosie from Fontana, California:

“Who would think a powder would work in so many great ways. This is a cleanser/exfoliant in one. I love it! You sprinkle a little on wet hands and it lathers up to a rich creamy foam. It contains wheat and rice bran which help scrub away all the dirt, grime and dead skin cells. It left my skin feeling clean but not dry, and I had a few breakouts around my chin that cleared up in about 2 days compared to a week (when using other products). This is great for travel and can also be used on the body. This bottle has enough cleanser to last you at least 3 months. It also has a light baby powder fragrance to it.”

PS – You can also use Amarte’s Daily ExfoliPowder on your décolleté, neck, arms, hands, well… pretty much anywhere. See you in the sand!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love and will do anything to try new self-tanning options, and I’m always looking to get my hands on the best self-tanner. Luckily I got my hands on some of my favorite products for this summer and they all have to do with self-tanning. It is true that self-tanning or fake tanning is not for everyone, and if you do not have the patience or the time to really apply it in a “responsible” kind of way, self-tanners are not for you. We can always search the web for articles that will keep us informed, help us improve or even help to make the experience less chaotic. For me, self-tanning is the safest and easiest way to achieve an amazing golden look without having to spend hours under the sun or minutes in a tanning bed – YIKES! All I can think about is sweating! God, do I hate sweating.

Last week I started using these amazing self-tanning pads from Dr. Dennis Gross; they come individually wrapped for our convenience. The first day I used the Body Exfoliating Self-Tanner and I noticed a change in my skin tone three hours later. Same reaction with the face pads, it not only gives you that amazing summer tan and glow but the best thing is that these also exfoliate, helping with any uneven skin tone and large pores. You know you are making the right investment when you can benefit from something more than once. These amazing pads won Allure Magazine’s 2011 Best of Beauty Award for Best Facial Self-Tanner. I cannot stop bragging about these and especially since I got so many compliments on my tanned skin this past holiday weekend. I knew I made the right choice when I decided to try these before such an eventful holiday!

Another favorite product is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare – Alpha Beta Daily Glow Moisture is one of those products that feel very elegant when you apply it on your skin. It smells very summery and after a couple of days you start seeing a change in your complexion. This product has so many great things working for it that I can’t think of using anything else this summer. It contains amazing antioxidants to help prevent collagen breakdown as well as vitamin D to help with dry skin; however it is so light that you can barely feel having anything on you. I know for us, people with dry skin, we are very skeptical about trying and using light-texture products; however, with summer just around the corner it feels wonderful! I used this product along with my face pads and I love the way my skin has been glowing ever since.

Summer is a difficult time for our skin. It can easily dry out, flake, burn and peel, and often many men simply feel applying an SPF once in the afternoon will do the job throughout the day. But now it’s time to do your man a favor and make sure his skin is summer-proofed and ready to face the elements.

Now, there’s no need in trying to overcomplicate the process, especially if he is not used to applying multiple products and keeping up with a strict skin care regime. That’s why TwinLuxe Anti-Aging SPF 40 Moisturizer is a great product for summer. As a 3-in-1 anti-aging treatment, sunscreen and moisturizer with active botanicals, this TwinLuxe product offers the perfect balance of protection and active ingredients to keep your man’s skin resilient, refreshed, and looking its youthful best. Vitamin C brightens the skin and enhances collagen production, peptides help fill in those fine lines and wrinkles, and with SPF 40 protection, the sun’s rays won’t stand a chance.

When it comes to the shower routine, there’s nothing quite like a product for a man that can be used on the hair and body. Our hair can often be the most neglected part of our body, and when the sun starts to hit, it can dry out, itch, and easily become oily with sweat buildup. A product like Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair and Body with its powerful blend of rosemary, eucalyptus, coconut and palm-derived ingredients provides the perfect revitalizing and rejuvenating properties. A gentle, yet effective cleanser, juniper berry assists in eliminating harmful toxins and lactic acid build-up in the muscles to make this the perfect product after a long day out in the sun.

Whatever your plans are this summer, make sure that you’re taking care of not only your skin, but also of your loved ones. We’re all different and our skin can act in amazing ways, but the sun’s rays will always be harmful to the health of our skin. That’s why it’s pivotal that you apply a sunscreen with SPF protection whenever you’re out in the sun, not just down at the beach, and be sure to reapply every 2 hours, no matter what SPF you’re using, to ensure the best results.

Summer is officially approaching and we’re all dreaming about tropical getaways! Vacations can definitely take a toll on your wallet so we have discovered 9 beauty products will keep you looking fabulous, but won’t break the bank. Whether you are headed to the South of France, East Hampton or Palm Springs, these beauty travel essentials can be thrown right into your carry-on bag.

1. Sprayology- Daily Multi: This homeopathic supplement will neutralize free radicals that can compromise your complexion and immune system while traveling! We can all use the energy boost as well to fight jet lag.
2. Deborah Lippmann- Gel Lab Nail Treatment Duet: Gel manicures are pricey, damaging and impossible to touch up while traveling. Save yourself money in the long run by getting this base and top coat that extends your regular manicure and gives your nails a high-shine long lasting finish just like gel.
3. Sun Bum- SPF 30 Face Stick: This solid sunscreen stick is great for your face, hands, or kids. It is easy to keep in your purse or beach bag for touch ups and will protect you from UVA and UVB rays.
4. Air Repair- Rescue Balm- All Purpose Skin Salve and Lip Balm: This brand was created to combat travel- related skin conditions. You can use this multi-tasker on your lips, hands or cuticles that feel dehydrated or chapped.
5. Dr. Dennis Gross- Alpha Beta Glow Pad Anti-Aging Exfoliating Self- Tanner: These facial towelettes exfoliate with alpha and beta hydroxy acids and give your skin a radiant glow. These are mess free and last 3-4 days! No one wants to look pale, but no one wants wrinkles either.
6. DHC- Olive Virgin Oil Swabs: These are recent discovery and obsession of mine. These individually wrapped cotton swabs are soaked in pure olive oil and are perfect to remove makeup. They are also great for conditioning your cuticles or lips!
7. Lumene- Blueberry Waterproof Curl Mascara- Rich Black: This mascara does not smear, flake and gives you full lashes that won’t run when you are off snorkeling!
8. Batiste- Dry Shampoo Mini- Tropical: Everyone here in the office is obsessed with dry shampoo and this one has a fresh coconut scent that makes you feel like you are on vacation instantly. This will freshen up your tresses between washes and is travel friendly.
9. Nomaterra- East Hampton Fragrance Wipes: I was so impressed by the lasting power of these lovely fragrance wipes made for the woman on the go. This is a floral, woodsy scent and includes notes from plants local to the East Hampton area!

SUMMER MUSIC ESSENTIALS PLAYLIST:

• Daft Punk- Get Lucky
• Bleached- Dead in Your Head
• Beach Day- Beach Day
• msmr- Fantasy
• Jake Bugg- Two Fingers
• BOY- Little Numbers
• Say Lou Lou- Fool of Me (ft. Chet Faker)

Safe travels!

A pair of False Lashes can add a sparkle to your eye and take your makeup from ordinary to extraordinary in a wink. Gorgeous Cosmetics Founder and CEO, David McConnell, shares his expert tips on everything ‘False Lashes’, from choosing the right style, to professional application techniques, to making them last all day and night.

“With a variety of lengths, shapes and finishes, the False Lashes I have designed for Gorgeous’ Madam Lash False Lash collection are suitable for absolutely any occasion where glamour is needed. The range features everyday, natural, ‘ready-to-wear’ lash styles (try Gorgeous Cosmetics ‘Mini’) as well as high fashion, haute couture varieties (try Gorgeous Cosmetics ‘Hepburn’). Whatever your makeup look, you can enjoy the head-turning effects a pair of lush, beautiful lashes can have!”

TECHNIQUE TIPS FOR FAIL-PROOF FALSE LASH APPLICATION

1. Measure your false lash against your natural lash. If false lash is too long for your eye shape, trim off a small amount from the longer end of the false lash.

2. Curl natural lashes with Gorgeous Cosmetics Eyelash Curler and apply a light coat of Glamalash Mascara.

3.  Apply a thin layer of lash glue along the band of one of your false lashes. Leave for 10-20 seconds until the glue becomes tacky.

(PRO TIP: Choose a professional lash glue that is waterproof and quick drying. White colored glue allows you to see where you’re going, and dries clear. It won’t damage your natural lashes, and only a small amount is needed.)

4. Standing close to the mirror, hold your false lash at the opposite end to the glue, tilt head up and close your eye slightly. Place false lash down on top of your natural lashes, with the gluey band slotted in the crease between the skin of your eyelid and your natural lash line.

5. Maneuver the false lash into place, making sure both the inner and outer corners are lined up with your natural lash line. If any part of the false lash is sticking out, simple press down on it until in sticks.

6. By now the glue is just about dry, so to ensure your false lashes look 100% natural and last all day and night, secure them on tightly by pressing the base of your false lash, the base of your natural lash and glue together using your thumb and forefinger.

7. Repeat with the second false lash. And remember: practice makes perfect!

8. Finish with iLine Liquid Eyeliner Pen to disguise where the lashes have been applied. Thick or thin liner, both will work well. A swish of mascara will lift your natural lashes up into the false lashes for a natural look.

9. When the night is over, carefully peel false lashes off eyes and remove any glue left on the lash. Place lashes back in their box until the next time you wish to use them. When taken care of, Gorgeous Cosmetics false lashes can be reused up to 10 times.

At DermStore, we are always getting new brands to join our family. It’s so exciting to be able learn about new beauty products and share these discoveries. If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore some of these brands, then you are in for a treat.

Pink Holiday

Like the shade pink? Then you’re in luck! Pink Holiday offers a line of exclusively pink satin lipsticks with lasting, full-coverage color. You are sure to find a shade (or shades) to call your faves! A few of mine are Shopping in Paris and Seaside Splendor.

Royal Apothic

This line features bath, body and home fragrance products with luxurious and unforgettable scents. One of my favorites from this line is the Perfectly Perfect Hand Crème-Lemoncello. The smell is fresh and nothing short of fantastic. It’s also a great treatment for rough, cracked heels and can be used on the ends of your hair for instant hydration.

RGB Cosmetics

This line is a natural approach to nail color. Free of toxic ingredients found in traditional nail care products such as formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor. My favorite RGB shade right now is Red. It’s the perfect accessory to glam up any outfit.

The BrowGal

Eyebrows can really make a difference in the how you look. Especially as we get older, our brows tend to become sparse and we may have more gaps to fill to create a thicker, fuller look. Now, you can be your own eyebrow maven with BrowGal By Tonya Crooks. This line of eyebrow grooming tools and makeup will help you achieve the perfect look. One of my must-haves from this line is The Skinny Eyebrow Pencil, perfect for filling in those gaps to achieve your desired look and shape.