Do Face Mists Really Do Anything?

Yes, if you choose wisely, facial mists can improve your skin’s hydration and soften skin for up to six hours according to a Skin Research & Technology study. The Study also showed that the half-a-micrometer mists penetrated cells the best.

Some people call face mists the best “two-second hack” you can add to your routine -- easy to use, big benefit.

Beyond that, clients tell us there are three top reasons to use them.

1. Keep one in the fridge and mist when you’re over-heated or feel flushed.
2. Keep one at your desk, and mist (even over makeup) when you’re hella stressed. It’s a beautiful feeling and encourages you to b r e a t h e.
3. One of our clients decants her GM Collin Hydramucine Treating Mist into a tiny sprayer (re-purposed vessel) and never flies on a plane without it, having noticed the considerable difference in her pallor without it.

Much like essences (popularized in Asia), facial oils and micellar water, face mists are an underrated product in the world of skin care. While many people wrongly assume a face mist is just overpriced scented water, a quality mist is actually much more than that if you choose the right kind.

Facial mists are a versatile beauty essential that fight dryness, brighten a dull complexion, and help revitalize tired skin. Plus, they work with every skin type.

“A facial mist can be refreshing and hydrating to the skin. It’s especially useful for those who have sensitive or extremely dry skin, travel frequently or live in dry climates,” says Dr. Kally Papantoniou, a New York-based cosmetic dermatologist.

“Face mists that don’t just have water, but also ingredients that promote hydration and water retention work best,” says Dr. Papantoniou.

Here’s a brief guide to help you choose the right facial mist:

For Dry Skin: Look for mists that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and squalane. These ingredients boost hydration and plump skin cells. “They also help to hold in moisture and heal the damaged skin barrier,”

For Normal or Combination Skin: “Normal and combination skin can get away with using more varied ingredients, a balanced mist that contains hyaluronic acid, rose water, and essential oils, if desired, would work well,” notes Dr. Papantoniou.

For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: “Face mists that are oil and silicone free should be used to prevent clogged pores and oil build-up,” says Dr. Papantoniou. Rose water and aloe-based mists can be very effective in reducing inflammation and soothing acne-prone skin. “Face mists rich in antioxidants such as green tea are also helpful in reducing inflammation associated with acne,” she adds.

For Sensitive Skin: Pick a face mist with a basic, hydrating formula that’s gentle on your skin.

For Fighting Signs of Aging: Facial sprays that contain ingredients like tea extract, Vitamins C and E, pomegranate extract, alpha, and beta hydroxy acids and grapeseed extract are great options.

We have personally tested, recommend, and carry:
Odacité Hydra-Purifying Mist $42

• Purpose: Hydrate & purify oily, acne-prone skin
• This clearing facial mist is a very effective and innovative way to infuse your skin with purifying actives while offering sufficient oil-free hydration.
• Each tiny drop of this divinely scented mist is formulated to care for oily, breakout-prone skin and promote a fresh, clear appearance.
• Rich in a compound similar to salicylic acid, Willow Bark helps to visibly clarify the look of pimple-prone skin as it deeply purifies and minimizes the appearance of pores. Aloe Vera infuses the skin with optimum hydration while Green Tea extract delivers powerful antioxidants.
• Peppermint is a powerful ally that helps to remove excess oil and reduce dullness.
• This mist instantly brings back comfort and glow to the skin.
• 100% NATURAL • GMO-FREE • VEGAN • GLUTEN FREE

GM Collin Mists to address various concerns including sensitive, moisture, and purifying. $38

SENSIDERM TREATING MIST
For sensitive skin of all types.

• A fragrance and alcohol-free moisturizing mist that provides a superior soothing effect.
• Treats sensitive skin, thanks to its magical formula composed of honey and aloe vera extracts.

HYDRAMUCINE TREATING MIST
For dehydrated skin of all types.

• A toning mist that restores cutaneous hydration and allows the skin to protect itself against dehydrating conditions better.
• Contains botanical and natural extracts.
• Leaves the skin feeling refreshed with an immediate sensation of comfort.

PURACTIVE + TREATING MIST
For normal to oily skin.

• A purifying, hydrating, and mattifying mist that minimizes the appearance of pores.
• Soothes and purifies the skin.

Should You Try Collagen Supplements?

Walk or click into any grocery store these days, and you can’t miss seeing bone broth, Collagen Peptide powder, and collagen-infused coconut bites.

Fad or something you should try?

It’s the ingredient of the year for the wellness world. People are injecting it, drinking it, and applying it topically. But why?

Collagen is a structural protein found in connective tissues -- skin, hair, muscles, bones, blood vessels, about 30% of your body. It’s also the building block of proteins so of course, we’re all talking about it along with the keto and Whole30 trends. By our mid 20’s our bodies aren’t repairing themselves as fast as they used to and our collagen stores naturally decrease by about 1% per year after that. It’s because collagen makes up 75% of our skin keeping it supple, plump, fresh, and wrinkle-free that has us all curious if we can help restore some of that with supplements.

Three Points of Caution:

1. Vegetarians beware, it’s made from animal proteins.
2. Be sure you’re buying the powder or supplements from a credible source that is NSF certified to be sure it’s been checked for contaminants. 
3. It’s expensive, and many dieticians recommend eating a balanced diet rich in collagen (salmon, steak, chicken) and cutting back on smoking, alcohol, and sun exposure -- all of which affects your body’s natural collagen production -- and all of these are cheaper than supplements.

You could spend all day reading about it, the science is shaky but there are boundless stories of people feeling like their hair is shinier, nails stronger, and skin more luminous while there are not identifiable downsides to trying it for a month to see if it works for you.

Overall, it seems there are more questions than answers in this arena for now.

Here's What We Recommend:

We recommend collagen-rich treatments that have been scientifically tested, and topicals that we know stimulate collagen and are based on years of independent scientific research. Vitamin C and retinoids are the gold standards for this purpose. Consider investing in treatments that also stimulate collagen production such as micro-needling, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion.

Resouce References: GoodHousekeeping, Women's Health, Cleveland Clinic, George Washington University Sciences Center.

Whaaaat are those red bumps on the back of my arms? Can you get rid of them? Yes. Here's How.

Ah, those! Medically, this is called keratosis pilaris, and some people mistakenly call them arm acne. First of all, they’re common and benign so while they may be cosmetically unappealing, they are medically harmless. Second of all, keratosis pilaris is not contagious. They appear on the upper arms and sometimes thighs. While the cause is mostly unknown outside of an overproduction of keratin and dry skin, we’re sure you still want them to go away; here’s how to help that.

Here’s how to battle those bumps:

• Use mild, non-drying soaps when bathing
• Avoid really hot water; this dries skin and can make bumps worse
• In the shower or tub gently exfoliate with a loofa or other at home exfoliating product
• Be sure your skin is well hydrated; this condition thrives on dry skin, so apply lotion immediately after showering and look for one containing urea and lactic acid
• Consider using an exfoliating lotion on your skin like PCA SKIN Body Therapy which has both the ingredients mentioned above.
• Professional treatments include applying exfoliating acids such as glycolic, salicylic or lactic acids
• Results are not immediate so be patient. You should see improvement in 4 to 6 weeks.

Did you know your cells have an energy source and we can help you recharge it?

Remember mitochondria from middle schools science? Our mitochondria provide power as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a form of energy our cells use to grow and divide. ATP can be thought of as molecular currency because it is the only energy molecule the body can utilize.

Over time, beginning in our 20s, oxidative damage adversely affects the mitochondrial membrane where youth-giving ATP is located and produced. By our 60’s our mitochondria’s ability to synthesize ATP is reduced to just half of what it produced in our youth. Since ATP synthesis is essential to our overall health as well as a youthful appearance, it is important to eat well and exercise.

When it comes to aging skin--reduced ATP is near the top of the list of causes and increasing ATP synthesis is one of the hidden keys to “the fountain of youth.”

For the facial area, there are two known and scientifically proven ways to reinvigorate and recharge your cell energy, and we have both of these remarkable innovations available:

1. LED Light Therapy: it works by delivering energy-packed beams of light into the dermis layer of the skin, energizing the cells responsible for collagen and elastin production. In turn, it builds up collagen in the dermis layer, plumping up aging skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Red Light LED stimulates the fibroblasts that produce collagen, which gives skin its youthful, plump look while Infrared Light penetrates deeper and provides a firming effect.
   
   
2. Microcurrent Lifting: this uses tiny electric currents to gently stimulate the muscles of the face while increasing blood circulation, lymphatic flow, collagen, and elastin production. It targets face and neck muscles and tightens and tones the facial contours.

We also offer a highly effective combination of LED therapy and microcurrent lifting, which combines the benefits of both procedures for incredible results.

All LED and microcurrent treatments are painless, relaxing, have no downtime, and are safe for nearly everyone. We recommend using them in a series for optimal results. We believe they are beneficial to just about everyone!

It can be hard to believe that these technologies are so effective since most of the time clients fall asleep during the process! However, if you ask any of our clients (or us) who get these treatments regularly, they are the closest thing we have to an anti-aging miracle.

Questions? Let us know.

Five Easy Ways to Reduce Your Daily Stress

We all know stress is hard on our bodies and minds in every way. It’s a new year; you’re ready to change up some habits. Time to make some simple changes to affect our stress-load. We did some research and found five things that have a positive impact and aren’t hard to access.

1. Get real about your YESs and NOs. Full body yes? Great! Do it. Not so much? It’s a no.

2. Plan ahead. Getting places, day-snacking, outfits. Take out some of the decision making and intensity of your day. We’ve started leaving 5 minutes early to get places. It gives you a chance to breathe, to notice, to arrive before you jump into what’s next, or to maneuver through the ever-growing Boulder traffic and still arrive on time.

For day-snacking, we’ve been keeping healthy bars, baggies of mixed nuts, and an orange or apple in our handbags. Nutrition without sacrifice when we’re getting hangry. 

Simplify your AM routine by sticking to a tight rendition of your personal style and only wearing things that make you feel great. The rest of it? Donate pieces to Dress for Success or the Disabled Veterans. Fewer choices, more time to breathe. And, no, your co-workers don’t remember what you wore this week, or last week, so push those variety excuses aside.

3. Walking meetings. We’ve been making an effort to exchange at least one break-room phone call or co-worker meeting for a walk-n-talk version.

4. Hydration. We live in a high desert. Your body and especially your skin (!) need water all day long. Plus, being dehydrated saps your energy and can make you feel falsely hungry. One of our favorite tricks to enjoy water more is to add a splash of bitters in them. We especially love Dram Apothecary and Cocktail Punk, or the good old-fashioned Angostura (most liquor stores now carry bitters).

5. DIY Spa Night. Every Sunday, we’re each known to lock ourselves away in our bathrooms for about an hour to prep for the week ahead. Exfoliate, face mask, Dry Brush, deep conditioning hair mask, hot shower, body scrub on elbows and knees (Trader Joe’s makes a great lavender one!), shave, finish with a body-oil-body cream combo slathered generously everywhere, GM Collin Nutrivital rich cream mixed with 2 drops of Odacite oil for facial and neck skin.

Cheers! Happiest New Year everyone.

7 Minute Holiday Makeup -- The Full Story

While professional makeup artist and local coach Cindy K Cruz showed us how to polish off our look in seven minutes (really), she also pointed out that it’s the glowing skin underneath that saved our model (Isabelle) from feeling like she needed to go heavy-handed with her makeup. We certainly agree! (see the video here)

Foundational, fresh skin (with a skosh of medical science) that glows without any makeup at all:

• Facial with either microdermabrasion or dermaplane
• If you’ve never tried it, wait until you see the dramatic difference.
• A light touch on filler and/or Botox
• Eyelash and eyebrow tint + RevitaLash, RevitaBrow
• A simple, effective skincare regime that you will stick to no matter how tired you are (cleanser, eye cream, serum, sunscreen are the basics)

Cindy’s 7-Minute Holiday Polish (Makeup) Look

She was emphatic about two things when we collaborated on this.

1. The right face serum to work with your skin, and help makeup stay in place. (Cindy used G.M. Collin Hydramucine Optimal Serum on Isabelle)
2. Eye Patches. Bright and tight in 20 minutes (we like to keep a stash of G.M. Collin Instant Radiance Anti-Aging Eye Patches for times like these)

Next:

• Apply a good, effective concealer well-matched to your skin tone under the eyes, under and beside the nose, and on the inner and outer corner of the eyes plus on any blemishes. Work in with a good brush or pat with your fingertips. She is a Mac makeup fan for concealer (not a paid influencer or affiliated in any way, she just loves it).
• Smooth in a dime size of G.M. Collin Mineral BB Cream so as not to hide your beautiful skin but instead simply even out your skin tone.
• Smoosh in a neutral eyeshadow shade and line your upper eyelid in a tonally matched shade staying very close to your lash line. For a little oomph, use a brighter color eyeshadow on the outer corners, and on top of, the liner to the edge of your pupil.
• Add a pop of natural blush to your cheeks.
• Use your favorite no-mirror-required lipstick and top with a plumping gloss like G.M. Collin Lip Plumping Complex.
• Extra credit: If you want some light bounce on the tops of your cheekbones, but don’t want to look like you have strobes on your face, pat 2 drops of Odacite oil in your palms, warm and thin by rubbing your palms together, and pat lightly onto the tops of your cheeks.
• Done and done!

Now, do as the French do and walk out the door, not thinking about your hair, makeup, or clothes again -- confidence is electric, wear it all like you mean it and don’t fuss. Have fun.