Reordering Your Skincare Routine

How important is it to have a method to your madness when it comes to taking care of your skin? Pretty important. There’s much to be said about having order in your skincare routine to make sure your skin is getting what it needs at just the right time.

Morning or evening, there are a few tricks and steps to follow to make sure you get the most out of your skincare products without sacrificing your skin. Researchers at Kristals Cosmetics recommend the following skincare order:

A.M.

#1 Wake Up Your Face

Use your trusty water-soluble cleanser to wake you up and clean any dirt and oil buildup.

#2 Protect Your Skin

After your face is clean and dry, apply a thin layer of moisturizer along with your favorite sunscreen. Sunscreen is essential, even if you spend your day indoors. Reapply later in the day if possible.

P.M.

#1 Cleanse

Use a water-soluble cleanser to get rid of your day and refresh your evening. Depending on the makeup you wear, sometimes a second round of cleansing is necessary. Make sure you remove excess oil and dirt buildup with a cleanser that’s gentle but makes your skin feel clean and doesn’t leave residue.

#2 Exfoliate

Make sure you get rid of dead skin cells on your face at least twice a week with a gentle scrub or exfoliator. Your pores will appreciate the extra scrubbing. If toner is part of your repertoire, apply it after you scrub — just don’t overdo it. You don’t want your skin to over-dry.

#3 Time for Rx

If you have any prescription products, like acne medication, now is the time to apply them. Give them a few minutes to be absorbed before you continue to the next step.

#4 Lather it On

A good rule of thumb is to apply products from thinnest to thickest consistency — but know that after about three products, anything else you layer on is probably not doing a thing. There’s such a thing as too much, after all! Use your serum and/or moisturizer of choice to make sure your skin receives all the nutrients and moisture it needs as it — and you — rest.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power ofgemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C.

The Good, Bad and Ugly about the Latest Dermatological Treatments

With all the cutting-edge treatments available today, it’s truly incredible what your dermatologist is capable of doing for you. Problems such as acne, scars, wrinkles, fine lines and other problems can be virtually eliminated with the right treatment.

Of course, every treatment has its pros and cons, and it’s worth careful consideration of each before moving forward with some of these treatments. Here are a few quick things to consider about a few cutting edge treatments before discussing it further with your doctor.

#1 Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a cutting edge treatment that can help with everything from acne scars to sun damage and age spots. When used properly, it can even out skin tone, remove wrinkles, enhance the production of collagen and give the skin a healthy glow. However, the treatment has been known to be a bit uncomfortable and comes with a risk of scarring or skin discoloration. The treatment also may not be as effective as the patient and doctor desires.

#2 Dermal Fillers
A dermal filler is an injection of medicine that’s used to plump up the face to remove lines, wrinkles and other facial imperfections. While it can be quite effective in the hands of a highly trained physician, the results are highly dependent on his or her skill level. What’s more, the results of dermal fillers may look great in the short term, but they tend to wear off in anywhere from 6 to 18 months. They also carry some risk of side effects, including bruising and swelling.

#3 Botox
Like dermal fillers, Botox is injected into the face. But it’s a different type of medication. Rather than “fill in,” Botox stops the movement of the muscles in the forehead and around the eyes. This allows those areas to heal and repair themselves due to the restricted muscle movement. Some physicians are using Botox on other areas of the body, however, such as around the mouth where it’s really not approved for use. This is where you start to see problems like an asymmetrical face or drooling become issues.

#4 Cosmetic Surgery
Technology and possibilities from cosmetic surgery are evolving all the time. Now, when it comes to changing the appearance of something on your face or body, the sky’s the limit. Of course, no dermatological treatment offers a higher risk/reward ratio than cosmetic surgery. When performed well by a competent surgeon, the results can be nothing short of incredible. Of course, we’ve all seen the disastrous results that can occur when things go wrong.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

The 7 Hottest Cosmetic Skin Treatments Right Now

There’s always something new to look into when it comes to skincare and beauty trends. That’s because everyone is looking for that edge, the magic bullet that will restore and maintain youth well into the years. Today, there are so many cutting edge cosmetic treatments available that it’s tough to keep them all straight. We spoke with the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics to identify a number of the hottest ones.

#1 Laser Treatments
Lasers have become established treatment for acne scars and other facial blemishes, but they’re a growing treatment as an overall beauty trend, as well. Many celebrities seek out laser treatments before big events to even out the skin, boost collagen production and enhance their skin’s glow.

#2 Anti-Aging IV Drips
In areas like Beverly Hills and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, clinics are popping up that offer a vitamin-rich IV that fights off the signs of aging. No definitive research has been done on this, but stars like Oprah Winfrey and Vanessa Williams swear by it.

#3 Lights
High-tech lights seem to work wonders on the skin when employed in a variety of ways. They can be used along with injections to immediately eliminate zits, or put into action after a retinoid facial to immediately tone and tighten the face and neck.

#4 Dermal Fillers
Different than Botox, these injections have hyaluronic acid that actually plumps up and enriches the skin for a healthy, natural glow.

#5 Toned-Down Botox
Botox is nothing new, but the approach to applying it has improved to give a more natural look. Rather than large injections in specific areas that have tended to give an unnatural appearance, the newest trend is several small injections to provide botox benefits more naturally.

#6 Radio Frequencies
Several celebrities use a radio frequency treatment called Thermage to immediately tighten loose skin and provide a tight, toned body.

#7 Electricity
Electric facials? If you’re a celebrity looking for a beauty edge, why not? This popular treatment involves using electrical currents to wipe out problems ranging from uneven skin to acne to dark circles under the eyes.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

10 Things You Need to Know about Dermal Fillers

Even with the most diligent skincare and beauty routine, there comes a time when the creams and lotions available over-the-counter just might not solve your problems. That’s when you might be interested in looking into cosmetic procedures such as dermal fillers. These injectable materials can be used to remove fine lines and wrinkles, add volume to the face or lips and help with many other skin problems. Here’s what you need to know about them.

#1 They’re Mostly Natural
We’re all worried about what we put in our body, but the good news is that most dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid, a molecule naturally found in the body that helps the skin retain moisture.

#2 They Don’t Last Forever
The results of dermal fillers may look great in the short term, but they tend to wear off in anywhere from 6 to 18 months.

#3 They’re Fairly Safe
The good news about the injections is that they’re fairly safe. Allergic reactions and other side effects are minimal.

#4 There are Potential Side Effects
If side effects do occur, they’re usually very minimal ones right after the injection, such as itching, swelling, redness or tenderness.

#5 Their Impact Can Vary Based on the Doctor
Dermal fillers are undoubtedly effective, but the results vary widely based on the skill and technique of the doctor who applies them. It’s certainly worth doing your homework in this area.

#6 They’re Different from Botox
While dermal fillers plump up areas of the face, Botox is intended to stop muscle movement in areas where wrinkles occur, such as the forehead and around the eyes. They can be used together, however.

#7 They Can’t Fix Everything
Dermal fillers aren’t a cure-all, but people may elect more extensive procedures such as a face-lift or eye lift if the dermal fillers aren’t providing the desired results.

#8 They’re a Simple Procedure
What’s nice about dermal fillers, though, is that it’s about as simple as it gets. It just requires a few injections and a quick assessment.

#9 Recovery Time is Minimal
In most cases, the recovery time after dermal fillers is not an issue. People can go on with their days immediately after receiving them.

#10 Your Doctor Can Provide More Information
Dermal fillers are still a serious medical procedure and need to be considered carefully. Your doctor can provide more information before you decide to try dermal fillers.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

5 Bad Beauty Habits That Give You Wrinkles

We all have many goals to achieve from our skincare and beauty routines, but one goal that’s at the top of the list for almost everyone is preventing the development of wrinkles. After all, few things throw a wrench into your plans for glowing, youthful skin quite like fine lines and crow’s feet.

What’s ironic about wrinkles is that many of the habits we develop with the intention to maintain beauty can actually have a detrimental effect and be a cause of wrinkles. To help put a stop to that process, we reached out to the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics for help in identifying these wrinkle-causing culprits.

#1 Applying Makeup Incorrectly
Yes, makeup is part of the beauty routine for almost all of us. And it certainly takes a lot of fussing and tweaking to get your makeup to look just right. However, if your makeup routine involves too much stretching, pulling or tweaking the skin, then you might need to make some changes to your routine. All this pulling and stretching can also lead to wrinkles.

#2 Leaving Makeup On
It might be tempting after a long night out to just leave the makeup on and deal with it in the morning. The reality, though, is that making a habit of this is a surefire way to clog your pores and ultimately lead to wrinkles.

#3 Super Showers
Long, hot showers are undoubtedly relaxing, and they may also feel like they are getting your body cleaner. The reality, though, is that hot water is hard on the skin and removes a lot of natural oils that keep your skin moisturized and protected.

#4 Skipping Sunscreen
Sure, we’ve all heard the advice on sunscreen, but who doesn’t like a little bit of a healthy glow on the skin? Despite this urge, the reasoning for using sunscreen for protection each day is sound. Damage from the sun’s powerful rays is one of the main causes of fine lines and wrinkles.

#5 Too Much Exfoliating
If done properly, exfoliating is a great way to remove dead skin cells and keep the skin healthy and fresh. However, if you do it more than once or twice a week, it can have the opposite impact by drying out your skin and leading to problems.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

4 Skin Care Fads That You Should Ignore

When it comes to maintaining healthy, beautiful skin well into your years, everybody is searching for answers. And many enterprising individuals are also all-too-ready to provide those answers — even if the evidence that they actually work is questionable.

With that in mind, we asked the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics for help in identifying the hot skin care fads that seem a bit dubious. Here are some trends that you might want to steer clear of.

#1 Eating Clay
Actress Shailene Woodley and other celebrities have drawn attention to this skincare trend. Supposedly consuming clay can draw toxins out of the body and enhance the skin’s appearance. The reality is that there’s little evidence that this works, and consuming clay can actually be harmful.

#2 Fish Pedicures
You may have seen this novelty-looking pedicure on TV before, where an individual sticks their feet into a pool of water in order to allow a school of fish to gnaw off the imperfections. Not only does it sound kind of gross, it’s also drawn complaints and even been banned in some areas due to being unsanitary and placing the fish in a poor environment. It’s probably best to stick with standard pedicures.

#3 Bee Venom
This skin care fad gained widespread attention due to Kate Middleton’s use of it. The claim is that a low dose of bee venom actually soothes inflammation and stimulates the skin to produce more collagen. Though it’s now found in many products, there is little evidence that it actually works.

#4 Salmon Enzyme
Here’s another recent skincare ingredient that’s intended to enhance youthful-looking skin and a healthy glow. It’s true that consuming salmon has noted benefits for other areas of the body due to its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, but the jury is still out on whether or not it actually helps the skin.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

3 Best Exfoliating Gemstones

There’s no question that exfoliating regularly can bring a number of benefits to your skin. According to the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics, it not only gets rid of dead skin cells and detoxifies the skin, but it also improves overall tone, reduces fine lines and brightens the complexion.

However, the advice on exfoliating does come with some caveats. In general, it’s a good idea to only do it about once or twice a week. Any more than that, and it can have a drying impact on the skin and lead to blemishes by throwing your skin’s balance out of whack. So with that in mind, here are a few gemstones you’ll want to take a look at for their exfoliating properties.

#1 Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is one of the world’s original healing gemstones, and its power and beauty is still of value to us today. For use on your skin, this stone is ground into a fine powder, where it has valuable exfoliating properties for the skin that can help to brighten and even out skin tone.

#2 Diamond
Diamonds may be one of the most desirable gems, but they are also the hardest. When ground into a fine powder, as they are for cosmetics, this gives them incredible exfoliating power that makes the skin positively shimmer with radiance after the diamonds are applied.

#3 Rock Crystal
Rock crystal is Kristals Cosmetics go-to gem for exfoliating and polishing the skin (see below). The stone carries just the right balance of hardness to form an excellent exfoliating powder that both cleans the skin and removes dead skin cells. It also seems to work well whether you have dry or oily skin.

Try It Yourself
If you’re interested in trying out the exfoliating power of gemstones in your own skincare routine, then the Rock Crystal Instant Skin Polisher from Kristals Cosmetics is a good place to start. This is Kristals’ most basic and essential exfoliator, a sort of all-purpose product that works for all skin types. Not only does it contain the powerful exfoliating properties of rock crystal, but it also incorporates vitamins A and E, among other antioxidants, to nourish and repair the skin as it exfoliates.

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6 Crucial Elements for All-Natural Skin Care

There’s no question that we all want our skin to look healthy and beautiful. But there’s often another component to that, too, and that is we want our skin to look naturally beautiful. Really, it’s this step that you can’t fake. That’s because natural beauty needs to come from natural skincare products. So with that in mind, we asked the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics to help us identify their top picks for natural skin care.

#1 Seek Out Antioxidants
Natural skincare products with ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin A, resveratrol, coenzyme Q10 and many others have been shown to both repair damage to the skin and also prevent future damage. They’re a key component to a natural beauty routine.

#2 Avoid Artificial Ingredients
Everywhere you look, beauty products are loaded up with artificial chemicals, parabens, phthalates and other ingredients that can be quite harsh to sensitive skin. By actively seeking these out and steering clear, you can go a long way toward making your routine more natural.

#3 Go Fragrance-Free
Along the same lines, the vast variety of fragrances in products are artificial and often harsh on the skin. Unscented items are often a better choice for daily use.

#4 Choose a Good Eye Cream
Not only is the skin around the eyes some of the most active on your face, but it’s also some of the thinnest skin on the body. Pamper it by shopping carefully for an all-natural eye cream.

#5 Go Mild with Cleansers
We all want to look and feel clean, but this doesn’t mean you need to overdo it with a very harsh or heavy soap-based cleansers. Milder milks, foams, gels or cloths are the ticket here.

#6 Choose a Natural Mask
Whether you make your own or choose an all-natural product at the store, anoccasional mask is just the ticket for calming, hydrating, exfoliating andrestoring your all-natural glow.

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

5 Best Natural Substances for Skin Care

There’s no question that science has come a long, long way in creating cutting edge substances to help out skin. But when it comes to moisturizing, nourishing and repairing the skin, sometimes nature is best. With that in mind, we spoke with the skincare and beauty researchers at Kristals Cosmetics. Here’s what they chose as the best natural ingredients for healthy, beautiful skin.

#1 Shea Butter
This African product is one of the world’s greatest moisturizers, and it’s been used in that capacity on the continent for centuries. Shea butter can still be used on its own as a powerful moisturizer, or it is often incorporated into other moisturizing products to add power to the formula, including those offered by Kristals Cosmetics.

#2 Aloe Vera
Of course, aloe is most famous for naturally treating sunburn, but those healing properties can have “all over” repair and rejuvenation benefits for your skin, as well. Aloe is positively brimming with a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other potent anti-inflammatory compounds that provide healing and repair power to the skin in a variety of forms.

#3 Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is probably nature’s best acne fighter, and it is quite powerful at removing and healing skin blemishes. It’s a strong drying agent, so a little goes a long way, but it also has potential when combined with other ingredients as part of your overall skin care routine.

#4 Oatmeal
Oatmeal is chock full of healthy fats and proteins that both protect and repair damaged skin. This makes them effective at treating skin problems like insect bites, dry skin and eczema. But oatmeal can also be incorporated into other skincare treatments for overall health, as well.

#5 Vitamin C
This common antioxidant is available in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for overall health. But when it comes to your skin, vitamin C is a tried andtrue healer. It battles wrinkles, sagging and fine lines, while helping your skin build collagen for repair. It’s a great ingredient to look for in a wide variety of skincare products.

About Kristals Cosmetics
Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C. 

4 Beauty Products We Should Use More Often

These top four products not only as necessary in your vanity, but you should always carry them with you everywhere you go. You never know if an unexpected meeting comes in the way, or if you may bump into that crush.

#1 Lipstick

Find your favorite shade and make sure it’s matte so it is not too shiny in the daytime. While you may have a fav color, red or nude are also good all-around choices for most occasions, times and places.  

#2 Mascara

It goes without saying that waterproof is better to stop it from running. Apply two coats, always looking down on the top and bottom lashes. The trick is to make them look thicker and darker.

#3 Eyeliner
This would be an addition to the basics most if not all women should have in their closets, i.e. a nice pair of heels and that little black dress. Eyeliner defines the eyes, making them bigger and accentuating the eyelashes.

#4 Bronzer
This golden goddess will help you imitate the perfect tan even on a winter night, no vacation to a beachy paradise needed (though wouldn’t that be nice to include in the middle of every winter?). Apply on the sides or on top of the cheekbones, but don’t over-apply it, since too much bronzer turns a golden glow into overbronzed exaggeration in a hurry.   

About Kristals Cosmetics

Kristals Cosmetics has unlocked the holistically healing power of gemstones to promote vibrant, radiant skin with a deep range of products, including creams, masks and serums. Kristals complements its gemstone-infused skincare products with leading-edge ingredients designed to pair perfectly with precious gems, including peptides, niacinamide and Vitamin C.