HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Personally, I'm offended that the holidays are here already. This year has felt like a month and a million all at the same time. But trees are up, Mariah Carey is inching toward the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and best of all, prices are slashing! I've put together a few great gift ideas for those of you who are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of hitting the mall-especially during a global pandemic. Let's go!

1. Gift certificate to Cherrie Darling Beauty! Okay, yes, I was obviously going to start with this one. This is the perfect gift for several reasons. First, you can make it out for any amount. Need to give a casual acquaintance something small? Box of chocolates and $10 gift certificate to yours truly...easy peasy! Second, you can choose to purchase a gift certificate for any service. If your wife has been hinting that she'd like to relax before she goes crazy because she recently became a distance learning teacher, you can gift her with a Deluxe Facial and take the guesswork out of it. Trust me, she'll be happy. Third, you can buy a gift certificate for people who don't even live local! You can send one to your cousin in California and they can schedule a Digital Consultation or purchase products that will be delivered to their doorstep. You can't go wrong! Plus, if you buy gift certificates during my Black Friday sale (Black Friday-December 1), you get 10% off! 

2. Image Skincare Hydrating Essentials Skincare Set. I've been using Image Skincare for 5 years now and there's a reason it's one of the best selling professional skincare brands-it works! I use a ton of Image products in my treatments and my clients are die-hard fans of several of their bestsellers. Image is offering several cute holiday sets, but this particular kit includes the Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser, Vital C Hydrating Anti Aging Serum, and Prevention + Daily Ultimate Protection SPF Moisturizer. It's an amazing starter kit that covers almost everything you need for a full regimen (throw a night cream in there and you're golden!). Separately, this kit would total $148, but bundled together, you get it for $126! Plus, if you order during my Black Friday sale, shipping is FREE! 

3. Customized product gift sets. I can work with any budget to help you design a gift for someone in your life. I use several different lines in my treatment room and can honestly create anything from a sample bag filled with lots of goodies to test or a full blown regimen. There are certain things that ALL people need in their routine, such as lip balm, SPF, moisturizer, and cleanser. I can help you choose what will work best for your recipient and make sure it doesn't break the bank. No matter how much you have to spend, I can make it happen.

4. If you're local, you should definitely check out everything The Willows has to offer. I joined the team at The Willows a few months ago, and while a fire in our building set us back a little, we're still kickin' in our temporary space and have plenty of options to take care of all your wellness needs. Lori does massage, reiki, cupping, and other types of wellness treatments. Let's face it, we've all had a stressful year. What would be better than getting a massage and then popping into my treatment room for a facial? Nothing I can think of! After grabbing a gift certificate for CDB, grab one to see Lori for one of her amazing sessions! While you're at The Willows, you have to check out Deb's shop, Under the Crystal Moon. There are sooooo many pretty, shiny things! Really cool, unique gifts. I don't know much about crystals, if I'm being honest, but Deb is a wealth of information and guided me toward the perfect choices for me to keep on my bedside table. I'm willing to do ANYTHING to suck the negativity out of 2020 and put some happy vibes into it instead. At The Willows, you can find something for everyone, and best of all, for any budget! 

5. Stocking stuffer ideas. You can't go wrong with any of these. They work for any skin type or condition! Image Skincare's Ormedic Lip Enhancement Complex (my number one bestseller, $22), a hydrating or anti-aging sheet mask ($7), Four Star Favorites sample kit ($22), or Skin Script's Cucumber Hydration Toner ($12.50). Pop one of these into a stocking with some chocolates and you're good to go!

There are so many amazing businesses that need your support right now. Restaurants seem to be getting the most attention (and it's certainly well deserved), but don't forget about your small bookstores, family owned hardware stores, consignment shops, boutiques, etc. I know that it might cost a few less dollars to go to Target and that Amazon can get your stuff delivered in less than two days, but Target and Amazon are going to be just fine. Our small businesses will not. So yes, my gift guide is filled with stuff that will support my business, but there are many out there that could also use your support. I highly recommend making your next shopping trip closer to home and opening your eyes to some of your local spots that you might have never noticed before! Some really awesome spots in my neighborhood of downtown Bethel? Relay Bookhouse, Disc & Dat, Occasions, Byrd's Books, Britt's Nail Bar, Putnam House, J. Lawrence, and Portofino. There are so many more! Visit an old favorite or try something new. Either way, shop local!

If you have any questions about gift certificates, treatments, products, or anything at all, just send me a message. I'm happy to help!

Happy Shopping!

Cherrie

cherriedarlingbeauty.glossgenius.com

instagram.com/cherriedarlingbeauty

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QUENCH YOUR THIRST(Y SKIN)

What are your favorite signs that fall is officially in swing? Pumpkins, crisp leaves, apple cider donuts? So many wonderful things come along with the season, but you know what isn't on the list? Dry, flaky skin. Has anyone else been waking up with the driest mouth and lips now that the cold has creeped in? I know I have. It's definitely time for me to bust out my humidifier (and time for you to do the same). Aside from that, and of course drinking plenty of water, there are some key products and treatments that I'm going to be focusing on throughout these colder, drier months. Here are some of my favorites!

Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser: This creamy, hydrating cleanser gently removes makeup and impurities, quenching skin with essential vitamins and antioxidants. It infuses the skin with Vitamins A, C, and E to boost radiance as it cleanses. It's a treatment room go-to! When I use this on my clients, they always comment on how amazing it smells. 

Image Skincare Ageless Pure Hyaluronic Filler Serum: This concentrated topical filler contains six forms of lower and higher molecular weight hyaluronic acids to rapidly smooth away the appearance of wrinkles. Delivers an immediate, noticeable boost of hydration. Most serums tend to be on the thinner side, but this baby is thick. I use it in lots of my treatments and it's also a bestseller with my clients.

Image Skincare Hydrating Repair Creme: This luxurious creme quenches and soothes the skin. Essential Vitamins A & C provide ultra nourishment while revitalizing texture and supporting elasticity and firmness. A blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramids help to lock in moisture and soothe sensitivity. Another best seller! 

Hale & Hush Soothe Essence Serum: This serum is a one stop shop for everything your skin needs to return to a stronger state, from moisturization, irritation control, and redness reduction to protection against oxidative stress and supporting skin's barrier function. I use this pretty much every night and now that facials are back, I'm using it in most treatments as well. I can't think of anyone who couldn't benefit from this product.

Hale & Hush Hush Hydrate Gel: Hush Hydrate is a delicate and moisturizing formula chock full of botanical extracts, antioxidants, and skilled inflammation fighters. It soothes and cools the skin immediately on contact AND it doubles as a mask or a lightweight moisturizer. Ever since discovering Hale & Hush back in March, I've been obsessed. I now use this product after every facial waxing service because of how well it soothes the skin, and also use it as a mask in so many of my facials. I know a lot of people with oily skin who hate the thought of using moisturizer because they feel like it will make their skin oilier (it won't), but this product is extremely light (but mighty!)

Hale & Hush Saffron Meristem Cream: This is a luxurious comfort cream loaded with numerous key ingredients to care for dry, sensitive skin. It contains shea butter and special complexes to moisturize, calm redness and irritation, nourish and repair the skin's barrier (which in turn protects against daily environmental toxins). Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices, and the Saffron Meristem Cream provides antioxidant, anti-aging, and brightening benefits. I don't reach for this very often in the summer time, as it's slightly heavier than some of the other night creams I use, but it is PERFECT for this time of year. 

Skin Script Cucumber Hydration Toner: Rehydrates the skin while improving cellular functions and absorption of ingredients (try spritzing before you apply your products-they'll absorb better!). Soothes and cools irritated skin, reduces discomfort, balances surface lipids, assists in boosting hydration levels, provides probiotic support to the skin's acid mantle to support acneic skin. I love misting this over my clients' skin during treatments, and it's also great to keep in your bag and spritz onto skin throughout the day. It's super refreshing.

Image Skincare Ormedic Lip Enhancement Complex: AKA The Holy Grail. This ultra hydrating, polypeptide formula improves the visual volume of lip contours. Instantly replenishes and hydrates to make the lips look naturally full. This is the last step in all of my facial treatments and is HANDS DOWN my number one best selling product. If you're still using chapstick, you're missing out. Grab this little miracle and let it work its magic.

Hydration is SO important to healthy skin, and there are tons more products that I could add to this list. Of all of them, I think these are the standouts. Every person's skin is different and I highly recommend consulting with your skin care professional to choose what is best for YOURS! If you're local, schedule one of my many customized facial treatment options and I can help you make the best decision (while also slathering your skin with some of these goodies!). While every treatment is different depending on your skin and your goals, hydration is a part of EVERY service. If you aren't local (or not able to come in for a treatment), schedule a Virtual Consultation with me so that we can design a customized regimen. Just a few key products can make a HUGE difference!

Remember, drinking lots of water is great, but it's not enough to keep the skin hydrated. The skin is the last organ to benefit from drinking water. You absolutely need to drink plenty of it, but you also need to make sure you're using topical hydration helpers as well. Give some of these products a try and thank me later!

love & lipstick (& lots of moisturizer),

Cherrie

cherriedarlingbeauty.glossgenius.com

instagram.com/cherriedarlingbeauty

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THE CURIOUS CASE OF SOCIETY NOT ALLOWING WOMEN TO AGE

Scrolling through Instagram last year, I found myself on the page of a very popular newly-minted esthetician and business owner from Texas. In one of her posts, she's obviously celebrating her birthday, and the caption is "cheers to looking 22 forever!" It's just a simple, fun caption by a young woman who is thriving (I LOVE TO SEE IT), but it did give me pause. No one is 22 forever-so why should they look it?

The beauty business is many good things, but it's also a beast. It's no secret that we're constantly inundated with photoshopped, filtered, and perfected images. I've spoken about this ad nauseam (and will continue to do so) because it perpetuates unattainable beauty standards, but there's so much more to it than scrolling though unrealistic looking images. It's bad enough that there are brands selling us a standard of beauty we cannot attain, therefore brainwashing us into thinking there is a problem with how we look naturally, but they're also selling endless products and treatments that promise to fix those problems. This seems a lot like punching someone in the face and then selling them an ice pack. 

When I started my business, I decided to never edit an image of myself in any way. I've mostly received messages of support and gratitude when I've spoken about my choice to do this, but I've also heard from people who see it from a different perspective. I want to make it very clear-it is never my intention to make women feel that what they CHOOSE to do is right or wrong. It's their choice, and I respect it. I don't think that using a filter for your Facebook profile pic is a big deal. I don't judge injections or fillers or surgeries. Many of my friends and clients have them! Here's where I take issue: if a high profile makeup brand is posting about a new foundation and only sharing images of poreless, smoothed skin that's been digitally altered, it's safe to say that the foundation will not look like that on an actual person. But ACTUAL people are the ones buying the product. Beautiful eyeshadow applied by a professional makeup artist looks completely different in the behind-the-scenes unedited photos than they do in the published photos. Why? Why use a computer to make the shadows look seamlessly blended in a way that the human hand could never accomplish? Instagram influencers editing photos and then telling you what products you can buy to achieve the same "results" is frustrating. You can buy all the retinol you want, you are not going to look smoothed to poreless perfection, glowing to the gods, no line or texture in sight. Certainly not forever, anyway.

Recently, well known makeup artist Wayne Goss released a new line of products, and the campaign featured models that hadn't been airbrushed. One of the captions said, "With my cosmetics line, I want you to see the beautiful models. But realistically. As they really are. Beautiful. That includes pores, lines, and texture. Because we all have them. And they don't take away from anyone's beauty. It's important that you see a true representation and not an overly airbrushed portrait. Be you. Be beautiful." My jaw actually dropped when I saw the photos. Being able to see how the makeup looked on actual human skin seemed WEIRD because I'm so used to seeing the altered images from most companies! Seeing real skin should not be so surprising, but it's so rarely done in the beauty world. I hope that more brands follow Wayne Goss' example! And because I know how beautiful it ACTUALLY looks, I can't wait to purchase the products.

I don't call these things out to shame anyone. I don't think that I'm better than anyone because I'm pointing out the lines or texture in my face. I DO think that it's important to regularly remind women that the images they are seeing are not anything they should aspire to achieve, because they aren't real. I understand that influencers and brands have to sell a certain image in order to sell products. I just personally prefer to see more of what brands like Wayne Goss are doing. I based my entire business around being affordable and accessible to every type of person, so it's important for me to present myself in a way that the average person can relate to. I'm not interested in helping my clients to look 22 forever. Women who look 42, 62, 102 are all just as gorgeous and deserve to feel represented by the beauty industry. Making my clients of ALL ages feel good about themselves as they are, and not like they should be reversing the hands of time, is a top priority. I want you to have YOUR best skin at any age. 

To all of my fellow women, I hope you are looking in the mirror every night and admiring yourself instead of comparing yourself. Society is tough enough on us, we don't need to add to it. While scrolling through social media or flipping through a magazine, don't compare yourself to what you're seeing. Celebrate all of your fabulous features. Beauty is for all of us!

FUN IN THE SUN

Ah, summer. Sitting outside, BBQing, cocktail in hand, everything’s perfect...BUT WAIT! Did you remember your sunscreen? I know, I know, I harp on this a lot. But you know what? There’s a good reason-more people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. each year than all other cancers COMBINED. Statistics show that 1 in 4 people will develop skin cancer before the age of 70. ONE IN FOUR! Much like your favorite sunscreen, let that sink in.

I bet that some of you are thinking, “yeah, sure, but I don’t burn, I tan” or “I have dark skin, I don’t need sunscreen.” Simply put, you’re wrong. When your skin tans, it’s literally your body’s way of saying “hi, you’ve damaged me, I’m producing all of this melanin to protect you from further damage, help me please.’ There is NO such thing as a safe tan (unless it’s a spray tan!). There are two different rays-UVA and UVB. Think of it this way-UV(AGING) and UV(BURNING). Even if you aren’t getting sunburn from the UVB rays, the UVA rays are doing damage. Yes, you read that correctly-you're causing damage to your skin whether you burn or not! This is especially important for people with darker skin to know. You may be less likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer, but if you are, you’re more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and, as a result, have a worse prognosis. Yikes!

Perhaps scaring you with cancer statistics won’t work. I know that most of us have the “it won’t happen to me!” syndrome, so I get it. Allow me to appeal to your vanity, then. Did you know that UV rays are responsible for about 90% of your skin’s visible signs of aging? Those rays break down the collagen in your skin and make it harder for new collagen to develop. I could go off on a collagen tangent, but I’ll save that for another day-just trust me when I say that you want as much of it as possible. Wrinkles, sagging skin, leathery texture, and dark spots can be prevented by regular and proper use of sunscreen. I can do a lot to help you with these issues in the treatment room and in providing you a home care regimen, but preventing them in the first place is best.

I don’t want to bore you, but it’s important to know just a couple of things about sunscreen. First of all, SPF (sun protection factor) numbers are kind of hard to understand. It’s not about how many minutes or hours you can be in the sun. SPF tells you “how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to redden your skin if you apply the sunscreen exactly as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen” (skincancer.org, source below). To make it all a little less complicated, I’ll give you some basic suggestions to follow. I recommend that everyone use either SPF 30 or SPF 50. Anything over 50 is just giving you a false sense of security. Anything less than 30 isn’t strong enough. You want to find a sunscreen that offers broad spectrum protection, so that it’s protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays at the same time. If a sunscreen doesn’t say broad spectrum, it’s only protecting you from the UVB rays! Not good enough. Know that most of us aren’t applying the proper amount, either. You should be using at least a shot glass sized amount on your body (personally, I think you should use more, but it depends on how much skin you have to cover), and you need to be reapplying regularly. Experts say every two hours, but if you’re out in the sun all day (especially if you’re sweating or in the water), you’re going to want to do it more frequently than that.

You should be protecting your skin from the sun in other ways, too. Be aware that even if you are reapplying sunscreen religiously, if you’re fair skinned and out in the sun all day, there’s a good chance you’ll get a burn. If you’re at the beach, be sure to bring an umbrella. Wear a wide brimmed hat. Take breaks and sit in the shade. Don’t forget to protect your scalp, your hands and fingers, your feet and toes, your ears, your eyelids, your lips...places that we often miss when running out the door. Sun exposure is cumulative, and every step we take to protect ourselves can help prevent skin cancer and premature aging.

I use sunscreen 365 days a year, rain or shine. 80% of the sun’s rays get through clouds, so don’t skip just because it’s gloomy out. There are a lot of options out there, and you all know that I’m a believer in professional products. Personally, I love Hale & Hush’s Broad Spectrum SPF and Image Skincare’s Prevention+ SPF for my face. Both will protect you from UVA and UVB rays while providing the skin with other essentials as well. However, sun protection is such an important topic that I think anything you use is better than nothing. Drugstore sunscreen is better than skin cancer, hands down. I use drugstore sunscreens for my body and even though I have extremely fair, sensitive skin, I’ve never had a problem with any of them. I think spray sunscreens are fine if you’re using them correctly, but it’s still best for the original application to be a liquid. It’s helpful to be able to see that every spot of skin has been covered! Lastly, be mindful when choosing a sunscreen that some companies make false or misleading claims. Anything claiming to be “natural” or “chemical free” is just marketing-those terms are not regulated by the FDA. Everything is a chemical, and not all chemicals are bad.

Please, please, please add sunscreen to your skincare routine. Make it a habit. You won’t regret it, I swear. If none of my words have moved you, google skin cancer or aging from sun and look at some of the images. You’ll see what I mean. Protect your precious skin!

love & lipstick (& sunscreen, goddammit!),

Cherrie

Sources/further reading:

https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/

https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/risks-tanning

https://www.skincancer.org/blog/photoaging-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.today.com/series/one-small-thing/how-much-do-you-really-know-about-spf-t96631

ADVICE FROM MR. MIYAGI

Okay fine, it's actually just advice from me. But who could resist a wax on, wax off reference in a blog post about waxing? Not me, obviously.

You probably wouldn't know this from my social media posts and (way too) frequent discussions about skincare products, but the majority of what I do in the treatment room is actually waxing. I find it funny, to be honest, because I had almost zero interest in the waxing portion of my esthetics school coursework. To my surprise, I discovered that I truly enjoyed it. So much so that my first job after graduation was at a big waxing chain. It was a great experience and I loved so much of it. The company itself, maybe not so much. I didn't love being pushed to do a brazilian and an upper leg in 15 minutes, pushed to sell products, pushed to go faster even if it meant bringing the quality down...ah, I digress. What I did love was building relationships with people, learning how to make a physically and mentally painful situation less so, learning new techniques from my fellow wax specialists, helping to solve "skincare down there" issues, transforming brows...the list goes on. I've been waxing for several years now, and it's so much fun! Of course, it's work too, and like working with facial clients, waxing is a team effort. If you want to have smooth, clean, flawless skin anywhere, it's going to take some effort and proper home care. A lot of people think that they can come in for their wax and forget about it until their next appointment, but that's not the case at all. Grab a cup of something (or a glass of something, I won't judge) and let's learn a little bit about hair removal!

While I personally find the science behind hair growth fascinating, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you probably won't. However, it is important to know that there are three stages of hair growth, and that regular waxing helps to train the hair to all be in the same stage. When you first start waxing, you'll probably notice that some hairs grow back pretty quickly, while others take a few weeks to grow in. Basically, it's patchy. That's because not all of the hair was in the same stage of growth when it was removed. It can take several waxes to get all of the hair in the same stage of growth, which is why consistency is important. Once the bulbs are regularly being removed from the follicles at the same time, the waxes will be smoother and the growth will be slower. Removing the hair at the bulb also weakens it, forcing it to grow back smaller, which is why regular waxers notice that the hair is finer (thinner-looking) when it does grow back in. When you shave, you are just removing whatever hair is at the surface of the skin, so it will never grown back slower and finer. Think that Nair or any other depilatory cream is a better option than shaving? NOPE! Those types of products are only removing the hair at the surface of the skin, too...plus giving you a chemical burn! I also want to point out that despite what anyone tells you, waxing, sugaring, and threading are all doing the same thing (albeit in a different way). It's removing hair at the root. All of them will produce the same results. Sugaring experts may tell you that sugaring is less painful, but it's still removing hair from the root, so there is obviously going to be discomfort no matter what. Threading experts will tell you that it lasts longer than tweezing or waxing, but it's still removing hair at the root, so it's not possible for that to be true. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with sugaring or threading. Just be aware that many claims are misleading. If you're removing hair at the root, there's going to be some discomfort involved. Technique, proper home care, etc. can reduce that discomfort, but there is no such thing as pain free hair removal. Of course, the more you wax (sugar, thread, tweeze, whatever), the smaller the bulb, the less it hurts. Don't think that laser is necessarily your best bet, either. Laser hair removal doesn't work well on anyone who doesn't have light skin and dark hair. Lasers work by targeting the pigment, but if you have light skin and light hair or dark skin and dark hair, it can't do that. So it's limited in the results that it can give. Don't believe the marketing that often comes with laser hair removal, either-it's not permanent. I worked at a big waxing chain on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, and a good portion of my clients had laser treatments in the past. They all told me that at least some of their hair had grown back. Again, I'm not saying that laser hair removal is bad. Just that it's not permanent, not for everyone, and not realistic for a lot of people. Be sure to do a lot of research with whatever you choose. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Before moving on, it should be noted that electrolysis, the process of removing hair by inserting a probe into each individual follicle and destroying the growth center of the hair, is a permanent method of hair removal. It does require several treatments and can only be done one hair at a time, so it's best to do on smaller areas. However, I'm trying to be thorough, so I thought I'd mention it!

Now that we've gone over some of the basics, let's focus a bit on the actual process. Some common questions I get from first time waxers are: 

• "Is it going to hurt?"
• "How long will the results last?
• "When do I need to come back?"
• "You don't mind looking at vaginas all day?" (I do a lottttt of brazilians)

As I said, yes, there will be some level of discomfort no matter what. We're pulling hair from the root, y'all. But as I also said, with repeated waxing, the bulb will get smaller and it won't hurt as much. Waxing pros recommend coming back every 4-6 weeks. For those on the newer side of waxing, it's best to come back toward the 4 week mark. Seasoned waxers can go 6 weeks or so. This is generally speaking, of course. Each person is different. It also depends on the part of the body, too. Most people wax their brows every 2-3 weeks but their legs every 5-6. With my clients, I start them out at the 4 week mark, and then reassess at every appointment. It's so exciting to be able to tell someone "I think we can go 5 weeks this time." I love that results are visible after just one session and that those results continue as long as the client is consistent. Consistency is key. It's like I tell my facial clients-you can't come in with acne and expect one facial to give you clear skin. You can't expect to get a facial every two months but do nothing at home and have clear skin. Proper home care is essential, and this goes for waxing too. There are some unicorns out there who can get their monthly wax and not have any issues with ingrown hairs or dry skin despite not putting any effort in at home, but they are not the norm. If you want the smooth skin that a wax can give, you're going to have to keep up with exfoliation and hydration. If you're prone to ingrown hairs, you'll have to apply ingrown hair serum regularly. That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Another seemingly obvious yet important thing to note is that you should be following all of your wax pro's instructions. This will vary, of course, but here are some basics:

• No sex, saunas, or sun exposure for 24 hours after your wax. Yes, I mean it.
• It's tempting, but keep your own hands off your freshly waxed skin. You're putting bacteria in those open follicles-YIKES.
• Always update your wax pro if you are taking any new medications. Some medications can make the skin more sensitive or even cause bruising and lifting. Accutane users cannot be waxed for a FULL YEAR after they stop using the medication!
• Let your esthetician know what your skincare routine has been like. You don't want to book a brow wax for a Friday if you had a chemical peel on Monday. Even something like using a seemingly harmless OTC acne cream with salicylic acid or benzyol peroxide can cause serious damage to the skin. Permanent scarring is possible!
• Avoid tight/irritating clothing on the day of your wax (and for a few days following). That lace thong is lovely, but it's going to feel like sandpaper on freshly waxed skin. Not the kind of exfoliation we're going for.
• Don't over OR under exfoliate. Once a month is not enough. Once a day is too much.
• Avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours after your wax. Trust me, booking a 9am brazilian before your 10am spin class will bite you in the ass. Literally. 

Your wax specialist will have her own recommendations, and it's best to follow them. The person who knows your skin is in the best position to personalize your regimen. ALWAYS reach out if something doesn't seem right. In my experience, it's an easy fix and you'll be well on your way to smooth skin in no time! 

Another common question that I get asked is what products to use at home to maintain results. I love Relax & Wax products because they're gentle yet effective (and also developed by an esthetician, so that makes sense). Here are some of my favorites!

• Scrub Me Luscious is a yummy lemon scented exfoliant ($29). 
• No Trauma Momma is for post-wax soothing of the skin ($15.50). 
• No Scream Cream is applied about 45 minutes before your wax to numb the area-hellooooo less painful brazilians! ($20.50).
• Get The Bump Outta Here! will keep ingrown hairs at bay ($20). 

As for lotion, I think that good ol' Aveeno does the trick. I know that there are a lot of high end body lotions out there, but in my honest opinion, spending $30 on a body lotion is completely unrealistic. I can go through a bottle a week and there is no WAY that ya girl is going to spend damn near $100 a month on body lotion. I prefer to keep my money on my face, thank you very much. Depending on how dry my skin is feeling, sometimes I'll use something thicker (like Nivea) and every once in a while I just rub myself down with some grapeseed or jojoba oil. Ask your waxing pro about what's right for your skin!

I could go on all day about waxing (and it kind of seems like I have, jeez), but I try to keep my blog posts fairly general and basic. Specifics are hard, because everyone's skin/lifestyle/medical history/etc. is so different. I hope that some of the things that I covered have helped, though! And if you're a client of mine, I hope that you always know that you can reach out to me about any concerns you might have. There are no stupid questions! Like I said, sometimes the thing that's plaguing you is a super easy fix. Not a client of mine? Well, you can be! I promise that I do a good job of making first time waxers (or those who have had a bad experience elsewhere) very comfortable. There's not a bad joke I won't tell or a self deprecating comment I won't make in order to make you laugh. If you don't believe me, read some of the reviews on my website (cherriedarlingbeauty.glossgenius.com)-the majority of my clients were first time waxers when I met them, so you can imagine that they were brimming with anxiety when they walked into my room. It's important that they have a smile on their face when they walk out of it. I love what I do and I hope that it comes through in my work. 

Is there anything that I didn't cover that you have questions about? Feel free to send me a message-I'd love to help!

love & lipstick,

Cherrie

P.S. Let me know what you'd like me to cover next! I love your feedback. Catch ya on the flip!

ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT

On my last blog post, I talked about the differences between professional and OTC products. I hope that you learned a thing or two! Today, I thought I would expand on the importance of using professional products by talking a bit about skincare routines in general. I have accounts with three different professional skincare companies (in order to make sure that I have options for EVERYONE), so I'll be breaking down a sample routine for each. Of course, there is no one size fits all when it comes to skincare. I've struggled with finding a way to highlight products on my social media accounts because I don't want a random person scrolling by to think that a particular product will be their saving grace when their skin type, conditions, allergies, sensitivities, lifestyle, amount of sun exposure, etc. isn't being taken into consideration. For instance, there are many great products for lightening hyperpigmentation (a fancy word for dark spots) out there. Unfortunately, if you aren't being guided by a professional, you may purchase it thinking that it's a miracle in a bottle. You could be perfectly diligent in making sure that you're using it twice a day, but not realize that your efforts are futile because without daily application of SPF, those dark spots would just get worse. Yikes! However, I do want to highlight the fact that it's possible to have a basic (three product) skincare routine that is easy and relatively affordable. What products to use will differ from person to person...these are just examples!

Let's start with Image Skincare. I've used their products for many years, and have seen great results on both myself and my clients. I used to absolutely love their SPF, but their new formula is just...not good. And since Image retails that product for $44, anything less than spectacular isn't going to cut it (I'd also never suggest something to y'all just to make money-if I don't believe in it, you will always hear me say so). I always recommend using an SPF, but because of this reformulation, you won't see one listed here (see my other lines for SPF options, or check out the super popular ZINC IT OVER SPF Mist from seriouslyfab.com). A simple morning routine could be Vital C cleanser (my price: $24/6 oz) followed by Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer (my price: $51/1.7 oz). In the evening, use that same cleanser and follow it up with Ormedic Balancing Bio Peptide Creme (my price: $55.50/2 oz). Total cost: $130.50.

I've been using Hale & Hush products for a little over a month now, and I have to say, I'm obsessed. As a redheaded, pale, freckled gal, sensitive skin was quite literally built into my DNA. H&H was developed for sensitive skin (though it treats all types of skin with potent ingredients-there is no fluff here), and I love it so much that I'll be buying the entire line once it's time for me to reorder. So many of the products were formulated to repair the skin's barrier, which is really the first step in transforming anyone's skin. A basic morning routine would be to cleanse with Quiet Wash ($21.95/3.3 oz) and follow it up with their Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($31/1.7 oz). For evening, cleanse with Quiet Wash and apply Vital Lipid Lotion ($49.95/1.7 oz). Total cost: $102.90.

Last, I'd like to introduce Skin Script. I've used several of their products in my treatments before (many of you have commented on your love for that refreshing spritz of Cucumber Hydration Toner!), but I've finally added their entire line into my system! Skin Script was developed by estheticians and I love their approach not just to the products, but to their company in general. Their price point is amazing, plus many of their products are offered in multiple sizes, so if you're on a tight budget, this is the place to start (though FYI, using smaller sizes obviously means going through them faster). In the morning, grab the Pomegranate Antioxidant Cleanser ($10/2 oz) and follow it up with Sheer Protection SPF 30 ($24/2 oz). In the evening, cleanse the skin and apply Ageless Skin Moisturizer ($15/2 oz). Total cost: $49.

Are these prices higher than what you'd find at the drugstore? Absolutely. But the ingredients and delivery systems of those ingredients make a difference (again, see my last blog post for more information). Plus, you only need to apply very little of a professional product to achieve maximum results-they should last you several months. If they don't, you're using too much! Just like our mothers told us in regard to the makeup you put on for 8th grade picture day, less is more (okay fine, maybe that was just me, but it's still true). Of course, if you're using a product twice a day, it will go twice as fast (i.e. cleansers, eye creams, etc). Reach out to your skincare pro for guidance on what is the proper amount for you.

Yes, if you have special skin concerns like hyperpigmentation, acne, wrinkles, etc., it's likely that 3 basic products are not going to cut it-you'll need a few other products thrown into the mix. But having 3 basic products is a great way to start your professional skincare journey. You can build on those products and not only correct skin issues, but prevent future ones. My own routine has several more products and steps, but skincare is my profession (and my passion!). Once you make the switch to pro products and see the results that they can make, you'll see why it makes sense to invest in them and you'll be passionate too.

Home care has always been a vital component of reaching and maintaining your skin goals, but since the entire service industry is shut down right now, it's the only way to do so. My Magic 8 Ball keeps saying "Reply hazy, try again later" regarding the future of my business (and therefore providing treatments), but designing the perfect home care regimen for you with products that I stand behind is one way that I can continue to be of service to you. If you are interested in investing in your skin, please reach out to me. I'd love to see if I'm the right fit for you!

Lastly, to my dear clients: I hope that you are all staying safe and healthy. I certainly miss having my hands on your faces, chatting with you, and being a little slice of relaxation in your life. I don't know what the future holds (damn Magic 8 Ball), but I will let you know as soon as I do! Sending you all a great big giant e-hug.

love & lipstick,
Cherrie

P.S. Are you more interested in WAXING related info and products? Well then boy do I have a blog post for you! Coming soon<3

TRUST ME, I'M A PROFESSIONAL

I didn't really get into skincare until I was in my late 20s. Before I went to esthetics school, the idea of paying more than $6 for a cleanser (or "face wash," as those who are not in the field tend to call it) was an insane concept. It brings me great shame to admit, but yes, I was once...*GULP* a Clean & Clear, Neutrogena, St. Ives Apricot Scrub user. So trust me when I say that I understand why people are hesitant to pay the price tag that comes with using professional skincare products. I've been in your shoes! Take this journey with me to learn why you should be marching those shoes right out of the CVS beauty aisle and why you should make the switch to professional products instead.

I can say with 100% certainty that the most common question I am asked is "what drugstore products do you recommend?" To put it bluntly, I don't. You don't come in for a service and expect me to use drugstore products on your skin, right? You're spending your hard earned cash to experience a professional treatment. During a facial, I use cleansers, toners, exfoliants, masks, serums, moisturizers, eye creams, facial oils, lip treatments, etc. Hundreds of dollars worth of products! Clients are always so happy with their results, and are eager to learn how to maintain them between the recommended monthly treatments. And of course, they want to do so in the most inexpensive way possible. But I didn't use a $6 cleanser or a $12 serum on your skin during the treatment, so how can I tell you that doing so at home will get you the same results? It won't! 

OTC (over the counter) products differ from professional products in a variety of ways. They are mass produced, made for consumers who are "self diagnosing" their own skin conditions, and therefore contain a very small percentage of active ingredients (and a large percentage of filler ingredients) in order to avoid irritating skin (and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the stuff you're buying at Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, etc. is also considered OTC...despite costing just as much as pro products!). Professional products, however, are made in small batches so as to maintain the integrity of the ingredients. Pro skincare lines also use more technologically advanced delivery systems, meaning that active ingredients can get to where they need to go in order to do what they need to do. For instance, if you have a serum that is making a claim to have x% of an active ingredient, but the molecules of that serum are too large to actually penetrate the skin's surface, that ingredient cannot do anything other than sit on top of the skin. Professional lines use molecular technology that allow ingredients to penetrate the skin's layers in order to effect change. They also take into account the skin's pH, whereas OTC products normally do not. The skin's pH should be between 4.5-5.5, but OTC products make the skin too alkaline, which leaves the skin susceptible to bacterial growth and free radical invasion. Protecting the skin's barrier is the most important thing for all skin types! Bottom line-OTC products strip the skin. Let's leave the stripping for bachelor parties, shall we?

I've seen some articles claim that the best way to see if a product has effective active ingredients is to check the order of ingredients listed, but unfortunately that's not exactly true. I was trying to find a way to say this well in my own words, but I think this quote from celebrity esthetician and trusted skin care expert Renee Rouleau does a better job than I can:

Two products can have the exact same list of ingredients, and one will be highly effective while the other could be completely useless. The difference is the concentration of those ingredients. One product may use a very small amount while the other uses a clinically active level. Unfortunately for you, the consumer, there is no way to understand the difference. This is because all ingredients are supposed to be listed in order of the concentration used, but for ingredients with a concentration less than 1% they can be listed in any order. There’s a big difference between an ingredients used at .01% versus 1%, but you would never know it from the label on the bottle, tube or jar.

Don't forget that a lot of the claims that you see have absolutely no ACTUAL, LEGAL meaning. Terms like "dermatologist tested," "clinically proven," or "studies show..." are not regulated. A dermatologist can take a product, test it on their own skin and no one else, have a terrible reaction, but the product can still make the claim "dermatologist tested" because it's technically true. It's misleading, though, because it leads the consumer to believe that it's been tested on a ton of people and has been proven by a doctor to be considered safe. False! There is a lot of bullshit in the beauty industry, and consumers don't have time to do their homework on every product or every claim. That's why it should be left to the professionals. The claims that professional skincare lines make are usually based on results from an unbiased, third party lab, and there is information readily available to back it up. Professional brands work directly with estheticians in a very hands-on way, so you can be sure that when you're having a regimen designed for you, it's done by someone who knows what they're doing. There is a reason why licensed estheticians only work with one or two skincare lines. They take trainings from these brands, they use the products on all different skin types and conditions, and are constantly updating their knowledge based on the newest information available. They know how that specific line's delivery systems work, they stay up to date on product reformulations, and they are able to check in with clients on a regular basis to see how their skin is reacting to new products. Your local drugstore employees aren't checking in with you to see if your new moisturizer is working with your acne prone skin, but I bet your esthetician does!

I know that it's tough to want to shell out $60 for a Vitamin C serum when you see one on the shelf for $15. But it's not the same! When you use a high quality product, you don't need to use as much of it and you don't go through it as quickly. Professional products will last longer, they'll do more for your skin, and they come with an expert who can help you tweak your regimen to make them work for your specific skin type and concerns. Yes, that does mean that they cost more. But cost and worth are not the same thing. Plus, when you're using the right products, you don't need as many of them! You can start your professional skincare journey with just THREE products and see positive results, I guarantee it. Once you see the difference the right products make, you won't even look in the direction of St. Ives anymore. There are a lot of professional lines out there, and it can definitely be overwhelming. Reach out to your skin care specialist (if you don't have one yet...ahem...allow me to introduce myself). Personally, I use a well respected, industry leading brand called Image Skincare and have recently added Hale & Hush (a brand dedicated to sensitive skin and Oncology patients) as well. I'm obsessed! I can't wait to reopen so that I can share their products with you guys. Until then, if you are looking for some advice on building a regimen, I can guide you via the internet. Simply reach out via my website (cherriedarlingbeauty.glossgenius.com), my Instagram (instagram.com/cherriedarlingbeauty), Facebook (facebook.com/cherriedarlingbeauty), or my email (cherriedarlingbeauty@gmail.com). Now is the perfect time to try something new! As always, let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to hear from you!

love & lipstick (& liposomes!),

Cherrie