By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

If you are lazy like me and want your skin care and make-up routine to be as fast and  easy as possible, then you might like the idea of using a powder foundation rather than a liquid make-up.   Powder foundations can be great for oily skin, but many women, particularly those with dry skin may shy away from them because powders (depending upon the formulation) make cake and make dry skin look even worse.

A powder foundation is usually thicker in consistency than a pressed powder.  Foundation powders are designed to give more coverage than a sheer pressed powder which is usually used for touch ups during the day such as blotting excess oil.  The majority of pressed powders use talc.  Talc may be clogging for some skin types.  There was also some controversy regarding talc some years ago; a few studies suggested there may be a link between talc and ovarian cancer because some women use talc based dusting powders in the genital area.  So far, these studies have been inconclusive.  Inhaling talcum powder can be problematic for some individuals (e.g. irritation of the the lungs), but this is more likely with a loose powder.  It is worth mentioning that even non-talc based powders (e.g. mineral make-up) can cause irritation when inhaled.  I personally cannot use loose mineral make-up because it makes me cough.

One of the best powder foundations I have tried is by ZUZU LUXE.  It has a super silky texture and can be applied dry or wet with a sponge (included in packaging).   Although I do not have dry skin,  I have seen other reviewers state that is also works great on dry skin.  It is talc free and only contains 10 ingredients which is a short list compared to other brands on the market.   It is always a good idea to choose products with as few ingredients as possible; the more ingredients, the greater your risk for allergic reaction, irritation and or breakouts.

The color selection is decent, so that most women should be able to find a good match.  It is available at all Whole Food Stores or on-line.  It sells for $27.99.  While this is not inexpensive, it is still affordable when compared to many department stores brands.

By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

These days, I just love it when I find beautiful and affordable make-up.   I cannot even wrap my brain around the thought of spending $50.00 on a powder compact foundation or an eye shadow quad which I use to do on a regular basis.   

Here is another great inexpensive find I would love to share with you by the cosmetic company, Jane.  Their newest entry is called, Jane BE PURE  Aqua Ceuticals and is made with certified organic ingredients (how many will vary from product to product).  The eye shadow quads are fabulous and come in both matte and shimmer.  The color choices are beautiful and they do not seem to fade or crease.   And they cost a whopping $6.50 each.  How much better does it get than that?  

The shades are Dusk, Sandstorm, Reef, and Bamboo.  An equivalent product in a department store would cost $32.00 and up.  The compact comes with a handy built in mirror and is made from 100% recyclable packaging.

Sometimes we really need to pick and choose when it comes to spending our hard earned money.  Other items such as high quality skincare is often difficult to find at bargain basement prices simply because the ingredients used are often costly to produce.    So, it is nice to know that we can skimp in other areas and still look beautiful!

Enjoy!

By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

I wanted to share some great  recent make-up finds which are not only natural and in some cases organic, but are extremely affordable.   I remember a time when I would shop exclusively at department stores without  much thought as to  how much I spent on a lipstick or mascara.  Undoubtedly,  the shake-up in the economy has caused many of us to reevaluate our spending habits.   So, it stands to reason that many of us are now looking for quality products but without having to burn a major hole in our wallets.

One of the major reasons I stopped shopping in department stores for skin care and cosmetics was because of the dearth of all natural and non-toxic products that were available.  This is what actually inspired me to start La Vie Celeste.   In terms of finding non-toxic make-up, I began to shop in places such as Whole Foods.  So the transition from Bloomingdales’s to Whole Foods was an interesting one to say the least.

I have recently found a few great items which can be found in most large chain drug stores.   So, I would like to share some of these products with you as I discover them.

One great line which I found in Walgreen’s is Physicians Formula’s  line, “Organic Wear.”   The product offerings definitely seem to be expanding compared to a year ago.  The line consists of tinted moisturizers with an SPF, facial powders, bronzers, concealers, lip gloss, mascara, eye pencils, just to name a few.  I am hoping that they extend the line to include eye shadows.

I recently tried their mascara in the shade, “Black Organics.”  The price was around $6.50.   Lately, my eyes have been very sensitive to mascara and most leave me feeling as if I have something stuck in my eye.  This one did not.  It definitely requires two coats, but after the second coat, I was left with thicker and longer lashes.  I would say this one is better than some of the department store brands I have tried.  I definitely think it is worth a try, particularly at this price.

Another wonderful item I found in this line is their eye liner pencil.  They come in various subdued shades of mostly brown and black.  For example, one shade is more of an olive black than a true black, but they offer a traditional black as well.   No blues or violets here!  The one I purchased is called, “Black Woods Organics.”  However, this is not a black at all, but a beautiful deep brown that is gorgeous.  I have been wearing black eye liner for years and recently tried a number of other brown liners from other brands and didn’t care for any of them.  Somehow, I didn’t feel they made my eyes pop enough.  This one does!  It glides on beautifully with no real need for blending and lasts as long as any others I tried.  Definitely a great find.