am.

malibueinstein:

Food and Aging

Anna Tendler, who is not only a makeup blogger but a total peach of a human, recently posted about her skin care routine, and mentioned that she eats lots of vegetables and drinks plenty of water.  Well, Anna, I am happy to tell you that there is a lot of exciting biochem behind that skin advice. 

What does diet have to do with skin?

There are these molecules called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGE).  They’re basically a fat or protein molecule that’s had a piece of sugar stuck to it.  Anyway, they are super destructive and can wreck the natural order of long chains of proteins.  You are made of long chains of proteins, so this has implications for pretty much every disease, from Diabetes to Atherosclerosis to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. In terms of skin care, however, a molecule that is capable of reacting with long protein chains would not be great for maintaining the collagen fibers that keep skin wrinkle-free.

But what about AGEs and clear skin?

Additionally, these AGEs fit into RAGE receptors on your cells (did not make these up), and cause cells to release a bunch of inflammatory products.  Inflammation involves the release of chemicals that can destroy your cells and cause swelling. Like the interference with protein chains, chronic inflammation is also implicated in pretty much every disease you can think of, including acne.  

So where are these AGEs coming from?  

Some your body just makes, but you can also eat them.  If you cook meat or fat with sugar in the absence of water (think browning meat) you’ll make loads of AGEs that won’t be incredibly forgiving once they’re in your body.  

Bottom line?

• Eat lots of whole unprocessed foods.  
• If you’re cooking meat, try to do it without sugars, or at least get lots of water into the cooking process.  (as an ardent shake-shack fan, this one bums me out)
• Steam your veggies instead of cooking in oil when you can
• maybe throw some raw veggies in there, too.  

For hard-core orgo nerds:   here is a great study that I pulled a lot of info from. It describes the mechanism behind AGE interactions with proteins in much more detail!

Mariel, you are my Bill Nye The Science Guy and my future doctor!!!!!  This is awesome. If you are into cool things you should follow her blog Malibu Einstein

The Daily Face - April 12, 2012 - My Skin Care Routine

1. Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash/Miessence Rejuvenating Cleanser + Clarisonic Mia

2. Miessence Probiotic Skin Brightener

3. Miessence Balancing Skin Conditioner

4. Jurlique JoJoba Carrier Oil

A lot of readers have asked about my skin care routine so here it is! 

First some basic facts:

- My skin tends to be dry

- Aside from the Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash I use only organic face products

- I don’t wear any foundation

- I don’t use makeup remover

- I drink a lot of water and eat a lot of vegetables

Since my skin is on the dry side I only use the Oil-Free Acne wash a few times a week, otherwise I use organic Miessence face cleanser.  When I wash my face I use the Clarisonic Mia with the Delicate Brush, which is basically like one of those sonicare toothbrushes, but for your face! After washing, I use Miessence Probiotic Skin Brightener and then the Balancing Skin Conditioner.  I use straight Jojoba Oil as moisturizer.  Jojoba oil is lightweight and won’t clog your pores.

If your skin is oily, using oil as moisturizer probably isn’t the best thing for you.  I highly recommend all the Miessence products, if your trying to go organic with your skin care.  Unfortunately organic skin care is very expensive.  It’s unfortunate that the price point makes it difficult for most people to buy.  It’s a stretch for me too, but ultimately I would rather be putting purer products on my skin. 

Also, never underestimate the power of genetics.  I am extremely lucky that good skin runs in my family.  A lot of complexion problems are genetic and can’t be totally avoided, however there are things you can do to greatly improve the quality of your skin, like change your diet.  You would be amazing how many people achieve clearer skin after they start eating better and drinking more water.  Remember, much of what you put into your body exits through the skin!

funkysafari:

Leopard

by Arno & Louise

CC: Carmel - follow this blog!

The Daily Face - April 11, 2012 - Dark Blue

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian, MAC Eyeshadow in Deep Truth

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

This black Illamasqua shadow is great, probably the best black shadow I’ve used.  Often I find dark shadow difficult to apply and blend smoothly, but this stuff is super velvety.

For this look I started by applying the black Illamasqua shadow to the lid from lashline to crease.  When you are using dark shadows start light and then build on top of it until you reach your desired color saturation.  Use the eye socket bone as a guide for the shadow, diffusing the shadow at the edges so there are no hard lines.

Next I brought the shadow down on the lower lid as a drop shadow.  I chose to keep the shadow on the outer edge of the bottom lid only.  Make sure the shadow on the top and bottom lid connects at the outer corner of your eyes.

Then I blended the dark blue MAC shadow onto the outer area of the top lid and into the crease.  Make this blue shadow as subtle or bright as you wish.

Finish the look with plenty of mascara.

carmellobello:

Black cat auditions in Hollywood in 1961. 

(via)

YES.

hellogiggles:

Making Faces: MAKING FACES: DEMISTIFYING THE CAT EYE LINER

by Annamarie Tendler

Hey all! I’m bringing some of my past, present and future Daily Faces to HelloGiggles.  This is a post I did a while ago on Cat Eye Liner, but let’s face it, the Cat Eye is always relevant. If you missed step-by-step cat eye breakdown the first time around, go check it out on HelloGiggles now!

Made with Paper

Passover! My brother, his gf Rachel and my cousin Deborah! (Taken with instagram)