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Friday, May 18, 2012

How to Make Eyelashes Look Longer

Long, thick va va voom eye lashes are in at the moment, so the BIG question is ...... How to get thicker eyelashes and how to make eyelashes look longer????
If you don't have em, then we need to fake it until we make it!
Here are 2 of my personal hot tip secrets for eyelashes that make a statement.

1) Faux Eyelashes
These super cool and very easy to apply lashes are so natural, no one will ever know that you are wearing them. They will think that your thick, long lashes are one of many of your natural beauty qualities. Don't bother going to a professional lash studio when you can apply these Jane Iredale Faux Lashes yourself.
Professional quality, individual faux lashes in two different lengths with latex-free adhesive.
  • Provides volume and length to existing lashes.
  • Two lengths available in a single package for customizable looks.
  • Natural lashes and adhesive allow even the most sensitive eyes to enjoy instant glamour.
  • To remove lashes, gently cleanse the eye with a warm, damp Magic Mitt using a downward motion.
  • Discard the used faux lashes after one use.
Watch the video to see just how easy they are to apply.  BUY Jane Iredale Faux Lashes Here

 

2) PureLash Extender and Conditioner
If applying Faux Lashes doesn't tickle your fancy, then this is another option. I use this option daily. I love the way that my eyelashes look when I use this product. I use Jane Iredale products because they contain no chemicals or nasties. So I know every day when I apply this product I am nourishing and taking care of my eye lashes enabling them to grow and become thicker eyelashes and longer eyelashes in their own right.
Provides a much-needed step towards unbelievable lashes. When used to prime lashes for mascara, it adds measurable thickness and length and allows you to use less mascara. A single coat of this revolutionary formula before applying mascara will help strengthen, lengthen and thicken your lashes, making the mascara twice as effective.
  • Algae extract conditions and protects lashes
  • You will need to apply less mascara
  • Stops lashes from drying out and splitting
  • Allows lashes to grow to their fullest potential
  • May even encourage extra growth
  • *TIP: Be sure to rock the mascara wand at the base of your lashes first. This is where you want the most product, then brush out to the tips.


Watch the video to see just how easy they are to apply.   
BUY Jane PureLash Extender and Conditioner here

I hope my tips on how to get longer eyelashes, with a decent thickness and volume has been of benefit for you. Would love to hear what tips you have to achieve longer eyelashes!
Post a comment and share your secrets too!

Happy Skin Days,

Sarah Wilkinson
www.skinmatrix.com.au
sarah@skinmatrix.com.au


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

How to get rid of lines around the eyes?


The eyes are one of the first areas that we notice a change in the skin as we get older. So the big question is: How to get rid of lines around the eyes??
There are several ways that you can help promote skin elasticity, integrity and tone around the eye. But firstly why do we get lines around the eyes?
Well, throughout our life our skin is exposed to the sun, the elements, free radicals and lifestyle impacts. All of these factors will determine how we age, along with genetics of course. Genetics do play a role, but our lifestyle along with the sun are the main factors that determine the rate at which someone ages. There is not one solution, but many solutions that you can undertake.



1)  I encourage everyone from their early 20's to get started on a basic antioxidant hydrating eye cream. Even though you may not see any fine lines beginning, it is crucial that you hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. A healthy skin is a hydrated skin!
Look for CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, retinyl palmitate, tocopherol (vit e).
If you would like to take it to the next step in terms of strength of eye cream, you will be looking for eye creams that are hydrating, contain antioxidants, contain some collagen stimulating ingredients to rebuild the matrix (dermis of the skin) such as copper peptides, retinol (vit a), retinaldehyde (vit a), ascorbic acid (vit c), niacinamide (B3), beta glucan 1,3 and MMP (matrixmetalloproteinases) inhibitors that will prevent unnecessary collagen breakdown in the dermis  such as butchers broom, resveratrol and lipoic acid.

Do not be fooled into buying Collagen Creams. Unless it is injected into the skin, it is virtually impossible to get Collagen into the skin topically. The molecular size of Collagen is too big to penetrate into the Matrix or Dermis of the skin where our collagen lives. It will simply be sitting on the surface of the skin and washed down the drain.

Try Refresh PM from Osmosis Medical Skin Care Today

Affirm Serum
2) Get an additional topical dose of the above mentioned vitamins, minerals and antioxidants through serum applications. For my clients, I will encourage them to use a serum all over first, then apply their eye cream, followed by a moisturiser. If you are serious about looking after your skin, below is the minimum routine that you would aim for:
AM - cleanse, serum, eye cream, moisturise/sun protect
PM - cleanse, serum, eye cream, moisturise

The serum and other products will be determined by your Skin Care Professional.
Here are my suggestions for a Serum if you cannot get into see someone to advise you:
Antiageing - renew, refine, defy
Sensitive/Rosacea Skin - calm
Acne/Breakouts - clarify, clarity
Antioxidant - affirm, replenish


3)Undertake Cosmetic Treatments such as:
a) Dermaroller - Dermaroller is THE genuine skin needling device and is what I recommend. It is the most advanced and safest anti-ageing and skin correction treatment in the market today.If you want thicker skin around the eye area (and the rest of the face), meaning a more youthful appearance, then the Dermaroller is the cream de la cream.A massive amount of collagen is formed post treatment which in turn smooths lines and tones the skin as elastin is increased. Read more on the Dermaroller here: www.skinmatrix.com.au/dermaroller.html


b) Infusions - such as the Cosmedix and Osmosis Peels. These are designed not to strip away layers from the surface of your skin, but to infuse vital ingredients to stimulate your own collagen and elastin resulting in a thicker matrix, smoother and diminished lines and a more youthful appearance. Read more on these infusions here: www.skinmatrix.com.au/peels.html

c) CACI Eye Lift and Toning: the CACI system uses microcurrent to stimulate and re-educate facial muscles, leaving them toned once again. Over use of the obibularis oculi (the eye muscle) leads to crows feet and unfortunately as we get older the muscle around the eye is not as strong as it used to be in our younger years. The CACI will retone and strengthen your eye muscles and other surrounding muscles to create a lift and toning the eye area. CACI is a fabulous treatment that I highly recommend. You will need a course for long term results. 10-12 sessions, 2 sessions a week. Read more on the CACI eye lift here: www.skinmatrix.com.au/eye-lift.html



4) Lead a healthy lifestyle - lack of sleep will deprive the body of the time it needs to rejuvenate and repair. A balanced diet based on the basic food pyramid is what I recommend. Try to decrease fast foods, high carbs and fatty, sugary foods as much as possible. Did you know that sugar causes our protein (yeap thats collagen) to become sticky and break down?? A diet high in sugar is one way to age quickly, along with many other health issues. Smoking goes without saying ..... it is not going to do you any favours. It strips your body of healthy nutrients and vitamins increasing MMP - enzymes that breakdown proteins - too much MMP means that they start breaking down healthy proteins = collagen breakdown

5) Cosmetic Injectables - Botox and fillers are a quick fix, so if you can't be bothered with the above. Book in for a consultation with a reputable Cosmetic Clinic who will advise you how they can assist you. If you are in Sydney and want to see the most reputable person in the industry. Email me on my email below and I will give you details. 

As always, send me an email if you have any questions or want to share you thoughts and experiences for what has worked for you in the quest for smooth skin around the eye area. Sarah@skinmatrix.com.au 

Happy Skin Days,
Sarah Wilkinson
Skin Matrix
0417 404 700



Monday, April 16, 2012

Perfect Mothers Day Gift

This 2012 spoil Mum with the perfect Mothers Day Gift from Jane Iredale and Skin Matrix.
Mothers Day is May 13th this year, get in early to secure your Mothers Day Gift Pack from Skin Matrix. Limited in Stock.
Want to know the latest hot tips on how to apply with these fabulous Jane Iredale Products? Click here then click on "Application"  to view application videos.

RRP $63
or spend over $250 on Jane Iredale Products when shopping online with Skin Matrix and receive your Mothers Day Gift Pack for FREE! (for australian purchases only)

BUY NOW

Sarah Wilkinson
Skin Matrix
sarah@skinmatrix.com.au



Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Why is My Face Red?

There are several reasons as to why your face is red, lets cover them:

Rosacea
1) Post inflammation from a facial treatment you have had
2) Rosacea
3) Sunburn
4) Birthmark/Port Wine Stain
5) Overuse of inappropriate skin care
6) Internal Medical Reasons

Lets look at these in some more depth:

1) Post Inflammation from a Facial Treatment
So you have had a facial and now 1-2 days later your skin is red.
Why is my skin so red? you may ask ....
Your face may be red in places or all over. If it was a facial and you were not warned of these side effects, you may of had a reaction to the products the aesthetician used, or the incorrect products for your skin type were used on your skin. If you have not used the range before, maybe it was your first time to the clinic, then perhaps you need to advise the aesthetician next time you go so she/he can use a different range or a more sensitive line within that range. No need to stress about this, this usually only lasts for a few days at most. Don't put hot water or do scrubs for these few days and hydrate to the max and it will calm down quickly.
On  the other hand, you may of had a peel or microdermabrasion or a medical treatment where some pink/flushing would be expected and hopefully was mentioned to you at the time of treatment so you were aware of what to expect post treatment. If you weren't, call your aesthetician and she/he would best advise you, what to put on your skin to calm it down. Either way, expect on a few days max of pink/redness before your skin settles.

2) Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that unfortunately to date there is no exact cure for which is not what rosacea sufferers want to hear. I have many clients in my clinic and throughout Australia who I maintain regular contact with as I put them on a Rosacea routine. There is debate out at what the cause is .....so to remains no cure. BUT we can manage rosacea and by managing it we can make life as positive as possible, with hope for rosacea sufferers. Some clients will get faster results than others, it all depends on the internal aspect of the client as well. Internal health is key to treating rosacea as well as external treatment. What we see on the outside is a window, a glimpse, as to what is happening on the inside. We do know that there is a level of increased inflammation in the skin with Rosacea sufferers so we need to reduce this inflammation both internally and externally, whilst we also strengthen and rebuild the dermis of the skin to support the vascular and capillary network. So what do I cover with my clients on treating Rosacea?
  • sun exposure - this will further dilate capillaries and decrease the integrity of the capillary walls,
    Osmosis Rosacea/Sensitive Starter Kit
    weakening them further
  • internal health - prescription and non prescription medication
  • skin care - the need for an antioxidant serum to reduce inflammation, very low dose of vitamin A (NOT retin -A), preferably retinaldehyde. Gentle and VERY effective. 
  • external factors - hot showers, spicy foods, alcohol, exercising environments - bikram yoga etc
  • laser/IPL therapies to lessen the visible appearance of  the condition
  • dermal therapies - eg Osmosis Infusion - to strengthen, rebuild, reduce inflammation 
  • alternate medicines - naturopaths, acupuncture
  • lifestyle - sleep, food, stress levels etc. 
My recommendation for starting on a program is the Osmosis Rosacea/Sensitive Kit
Along with StemFactor Serum and Catalyst Plus Serum

3) Sunburn
In Australia, this is especially prevalent. The sun is so vicious here as our ozone layer is pretty much non existent. My best advise for post sunburn is to get your self a tub of aloe vera gel and smear it over and over the sunburn, cooling and healing the skin with each application. Prevention is always better than cure ... slip, slop, slap and you will be safe from the rays. If your skin peels, do not expose that fresh beautiful skin to the sun as you can cause some long term pigmentation issues which is best prevented.

4) Birthmark/Port Wine Stain
A Vascular network of capillaries that can be treated with medical grade laser technology. How deep the vascular lesion goes will depend on how many sessions will be required and the degree of permanency.  I would see a Doctor who had experience and knowledge on treating birthmarks/port wine stains so you require fewest amount of sessions possible, saving you time and $$ in the end.

5) Overuse of inappropriate Skin Care
It is a minefield out there in the beauty world. How do you know what skin care products are best suited for your skin? There are marketing campaigns going on out there bigger than Ben Hur that claim to hold the elixir of youth. Companies claiming they have found the ingredient that will "close" your pores etc etc etc We have all heard it and all it does is add to the confusion of the beauty world as marketers weave their web of enticement to use their products. So, what is the answer? What do you do when you are confronted with such a selection of products? How do you know you are not going to react?

I strongly advise that you see an Aesthetician to find out what skin type and skin condition you currently have. Even if you only go once, it is well worth it. How would you know what to buy otherwise? Do you play it safe and buy the sensitive range, or do you go for the oily skin care line when actually you are dehydrated or sensitive. Your Aesthetician will tell you:
1) Your Skin Type: This is something that will not change regularly. What ever skin type you have, you must realise that more likely then not, over the years, your skin will continue to become drier. The older we get the less oil we produce. So if you were oily in your teens and you are now 30, good chance is that you have considerably less oil than before. BUT you may still have the appearance (larger pores, thickened epidermis etc) of a skin that USED to be an oily skin. You do not treat your skin as oily, as it is not. Probably combination. There are other ways that you can treat the open pores and skin texture through treatments that will refine your skin.
2) Your Skin Condition: this changes all the time dependant on: weather, lifestyle, sleep, stress, food, medicatation etc. For eg your skin condition may be dehydrated - we can correct that. Or you may be essential fatty acid deficient presenting Milia - the little white dots that lay under the skins surface.
Time and time again, new clients come to me where they are using what they think is best for their skin when in actual fact it is the cause of them having a negative skin condition.

So if you want to make the decision yourself on what range you use (as aestheticians will promote what they sell), then book in for a consult, so at least you can get educated on what suits your skin best. Otherwise, take the advise completely of your trained professional and go with what they recommend. It takes the guesswork out of it and lets you get on with more important things in your life.

6) Internal Medical Reasons:
Osmosis Skin Nutrition Blend
If you are taking medication, there is a good chance that there will be some sort of flow on effect to your skin. I recommend at the very least an antioxidant serum like Replenish to provide a surge of antioxidants to your skin to fight the increase of free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are like rouge cells that have been for some reason impaired. They are not healthy cells and they like to latch onto healthy cells to get what they are missing, but in turn, they take positive components of the healthy cells. This is what Anti-Oxidants are for, they prevent our skin and body from oxidising! Then you can introduce something like the Skin Nutrition Blend from Osmosis to further penetrate and activate these antioxidants. You will mix this powder with your Replenish and apply to the skin daily.
That is the basic routine that you would do, to further enhance that, individual cases would need to be known and assessed to provide the best results. So I recommend finding an Aesthetician who is well educated to help you build a great skin care routine.

Any questions: email me at sarah@skinmatrix.co.au

As always..... Happy Skin Days,
Sarah Wilkinson
www.skinmatrix.com.au

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Osmosis MD Arrives at Skin Matrix

I am the biggest fan of Osmosis, so naturally you can understand how excited I was when I heard Osmosis is bringing out Osmosis MD!
Osmosis MD provides a comprehensive skincare solution combining the Osmosis best selling products from the core brand and the highest-level of active A serums to deliver proven results.
If you love Osmosis, you will love Osmosis MD. There is a higher percentage of vitamin A in the Osmosis MD products, therefor delivering a higher dose of vitamin A to your dermis to achieve desirable positive skin change/improvements.
I will continue to sell the Osmosis Core range on my website www.skinmatrix.com.au , but I will also offer Osmosis MD.



Try the Osmosis MD Starter Kit - a fantastic way to sample the range whilst saving money!
Choose the kit for your skin type.
If you are unsure, email me for advice.

Click here to check out their Osmosis Kits










Stay tuned for more info on Osmosis MD coming soon.

As always, Happy Skin Days,

Sarah Wilkinson
www.skinmatrix.com.au


Monday, March 19, 2012

How To Get Rid Of Jowls

Jowls is an area that I am commonly questioned on ... how to get rid of jowls?! "How do I stop my face sagging?"
As we age we find that our cheeks start heading south thus causing the dreaded jowl. There are really 2 options to consider in the treatment of jowls and how to stop the face sagging.

  1. Cosmetic - dermal filler to create volume in the cheek/cosmetic surgery of different kinds
  2. Work out your facial muscles so they are tighter and more toned, thus tightening and lifting the skin
I go with option 2 at my clinic, Skin Matrix, as this is a natural and non invasive method to achieving a toned and taught skin and lifted cheek area. It is the perfect solution to tightening skin.
I use the CACI non surgical facelift machine in my clinic with fantastic results. You will see a difference after your first session, but after a recommended course of 12 treatments either 1-2 a week you will see vast improvements. Once you have completed a course, you will not need to undertake a course again. You will simply need to maintain the results you have achieved by seeing your CACI trained Aesthetician once a month.

Liken it to taking your face to the gym. The more you exercise the better the results. Commonly the facial muscles originate on the bone and insert on the skin of the face. Unfortunately our facial expressions do not exercise our muscles, they need to "be exercised", this can be achieved through a CACI non surgical facelift or by doing facial exercises at home.

The CACI will prevent your face from sagging and is the best way to get rid of jowls. 

Read more on the CACI Non Surgical Facelift here
 
Email me here to ask me any questions you like about CACI

Happy Skin Days,

Sarah Wilkinson
sarah@skinmatrix.com.au
www.skinmatrix.com.au

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

5 Tips How to Get Hydrated Skin

Autumn is upon us and so to is the dry skin that accompanies these cooler months. As soon as Autumn kicks in I encourage all my clients to follow these 5 steps to achieve a hydrated skin. I am already on the bandwagon as of the first day of Autumn and I sort of wish I had of started sooner.
Since starting my skin feels a lot softer, it has a more dewy healthy glow to it. It feels more plump and my Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup sits 100% better. I will reassess come Summer, as I may suggest my clients and myself continue these 5 steps all year round.

Follow these 5 steps for a luminous, healthy, hydrated skin.

  1. Use Immerse Serum morning and night. This is a fabulous omega 3 serum that you either use on its own or with another serum/cream. Magic in a pump! Instantly the following day my skin felt smoother, more hydrated and firm. Read more and purchase Osmosis here http://www.skinmatrix.com.au/Product/Immerse.html
  2. Book in for a CACI Hydratone Mask. This is a hyalauronic mask with soothing properties that is penetrated deep into the dermis of the skin with the CACI microcurrent rollers. Takes around 15 minutes and is soooo relaxing, you probably will fall asleep. I suggest you do this in combination with step 3 if you want a more effective result. More on CACI hydratone here
  3. Either book yourself in for a microdermabrasion with your favourite aesthetician or exfoliate at home. This will remove dead skin cells allowing hydrating masks and hydrating serums like the immerse to penetrate deep within the skin. It also gives the skin a pick me up as flattened, old cells are removed to reveal a fresher and more youthful appearance. Exfoliate with my popular scrub or use a enzyme firming mask like the Osmosis Polish
  4. Take fish oil/omega 3 capsules. This is the most effective way to hydrate the body from the inside out. It also has so many other benefits to our body in prevention of many degenerative diseases you can't go wrong in adding this to your permanent daily supplement intake.
  5. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. More if you drink caffeinated drinks and/or alcohol. Your fish oil is the most powerful hydrator. Followed by water. Water will also help to flush toxins from the body which is essential for a glowing skin.

Happy Skin Days,

Sarah Wilkinson
sarah@skinmatrix.com.au
www.skinmatrix.com.au