Tips To Starting The New Year In Style

Start the new year out in style, and the beauty spotlight team here is here to help. From jewelry and fashion to eye shadows to skincare we have you covered with tips to starting the new year out in style. 

What can you wear anywhere and be as comfy as you are at home? It’s the popular athleisure and athflow style. Angie at Your True Self Blog shows you how to get the look. Click here to read all about it and get outfit inspiration!

There are many ways to build your style regarding jewelry- from the classics to some statement pieces. Here are some beginners tips from Barbie’s Beauty Bits to starting your own jewelry collection that is beautiful and meaningful.

Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog fell madly in love with the new VISEART Paris Love Letter ÉTENDU Eyeshadow Palette because it is the perfect warm-toned palette punctuated by lilac, taupe and green shades. Featuring matte and satin metallics, this is unmitigated 12-pan perfection.

Never Say Die Beauty‘s Marcia is sharing her love of eye products by introducing you to her latest find. I-N Eye Gel from Intelli-Cell is going to help you with all those complaints you have about your eyes. We need to protect that precious skin under our eyes and this is a big help.

Beginner's Tips To Starting Your Jewelry Collection

You are never too old to start a jewelry collection. Many women get more excited about their jewelry collections as they age because they have an emotional component. There are many ways to build your style regarding jewelry- from the classics to some statement pieces. Here are some beginners tips to starting your own jewelry collection that is beautiful and meaningful.

Define Your Jewelry Style
Your style is the personality you put off to the world, and it is your identity, and it should be reflected in all of your fashion choices, from clothing, shoes, accessories down to jewelry.

Define what type of styles you prefer so that when making a purchase or investing in pieces for your collection, they reflect who you are as a person. This will be useful later when choosing quality over quantity.

Purchasing something just because it fits into a style category may cost more than getting one representing how you see yourself. Having an idea about current trends and future ones can help with this too.

For example, you may prefer unique eyebrow rings over dainty studs or chunky necklaces rather than delicate ones.

Choose Quality Jewelry Over Quantity
This tip goes hand-in-hand with defining personal style because once again, if the piece doesn't fit within where you want to take your style, it may not be worth the investment.

Quality means buying a piece from an artist who makes all their jewelry by hand, with high-quality materials such as 925 sterling silver or gold-plated brass. It is essential that you invest in quality pieces and not just buy something because of how cute or trendy it might look. Also, make sure they are well crafted, like no loose ends on chains. If stones aren't secure enough, they could fall out easily.

Always Go For Classics
Classics are pieces that will never go out of style, and they are versatile and can be worn with any outfit. When starting your jewelry collection, always choose classics over trendy pieces.

Another reason to buy classics is something very rarely considered but it can prove to be very important. Classic jewelry pieces can save you when you hit a rough patch and need some extra cash. Hopefully, it will never come to that. But if it does, you could find a local and trusted jewelry buyer to sell your pieces to.

If you are looking for a piece for the special love in your life, diamond eternity bands are a great jewelry piece to show your love and affection to your partner, as well as an amazing ring to fit any outfit you wear.

Choose Jewelry Pieces You Can Pass Down As A Legacy
One of the best things about starting a jewelry collection is passing down your pieces to future generations. When choosing which items to add to your collection, try to select those with sentimental value or that are classic and timeless, this way, your loved ones can enjoy them long after you're gone.

Invest In Some Statement Jewelry
While it's essential to have some classic pieces in your collection, don't be afraid to add a few statement items. These will be the eye-catching pieces that stand out and make a statement. Just be sure that they still fit with your style so you'll feel comfortable wearing them.

Conclusion
Creating a jewelry collection can be a lot of fun, but it can also be daunting if you don't know where to start. These beginner tips to starting your jewelry collection tips should help make the process a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.

Remember to always think about your style when selecting pieces and choose quality over quantity. And most importantly, have fun with it. The sky's the limit when it comes to jewelry.

How To Prep Your Body For Non-Invasive Body Sculpting

In the past, body sculpting and fat reduction can only be achieved through surgical methods. However, Barbie's Beauty Bits is here to say this is no longer the case today. Technology has paved the way for various non-invasive methods for body sculpting that are just as effective as surgical ones. Given the ease and comfort of no longer having to go under the knife, it’s not surprising how you may have gotten interested in having a procedure done.

In a non-invasive body contouring treatment stubborn pockets of extra fat are removed to shape and contour the body. Depending on where you’re from and the availability of different non-invasive body sculpting procedures, you may have quite a lot to choose from. For instance, you may be introduced to the following treatments:

 EMSculpt: This treatment burns fat and builds muscle all at the same time. It could also isolate your muscles, so you can lose weight and tone your muscles.

Coolsculpting: This treatment uses controlled cooling to freeze subcutaneous fat. The purpose is to break down the fat cells in problem areas of the body, as love handles for example.

To achieve the best results, however, a united effort between you and your dermatologist before, during, and after the procedure is necessary. Read below for these insights and tips on how you can best prepare your body.

Access Whether Or Not You’re The Ideal Candidate For Non-invasive Body Sculpting
Even if you may already have the desired treatment in mind, it doesn’t necessarily follow that you’re automatically the best candidate for it. You need to have a thorough check-up and discussion with your dermatologist before the treatment starts.

Remember that each procedure also has its respective limits. If you’re in the hands of a good dermatologist, you can get paired up with the type of non-invasive surgical treatment which is the best for you for your fat loss procedure.

Discuss Your Medical History
Preparing your body for non-invasive body sculpting doesn’t just entail physical preparation. You'll also have to take it one step higher by preparing yourself, your daily activities, and your health in general. This is where a thorough discussion on your medical history comes in.

Your dermatologist needs to have a background of your medical history. This is for them to determine with certainty that you’re safe enough to undergo the non-invasive body sculpting procedure. Should you have any underlying conditions, your dermatologist can also take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid any possible adverse effects.

When Considering Body Sculpting, Make Sure You’re At Your Target Weight
Before the scheduled first session of your non-invasive body contouring procedure, you may first be asked to make sure you’re at your target weight. Moreover, your procedure isn’t going to work overnight. If your dermatologist determines that you’re still on the heavier side, then you may need to exercise and implement a healthy diet to lose excess weight first.

This is a very important step to guarantee the best results out of your non-invasive body sculpting procedure. If you haven’t met your ideal weight and continue to lose weight after your procedure, you may have the unpleasant outcome of dealing with saggy skin.

Have Pain Medication Readily Available
Non-invasive body sculpting procedures are relatively less painful and have a lower downtime compared with invasive procedures. The reason behind this goes back to the very nature of the treatment. Unlike going for surgical body contouring, you don’t have to go under the knife. Right after your procedure is done, you’re sent home. This is done like any other ordinary cosmetic procedure at your dermatologist’s clinic.

However, minimal side effects are expected, such as pain in the affected area. If you have a strong tolerance to pain, then you may do without taking pain relievers. But, if you have a busy week ahead and you need to distract yourself from the pain, then go ahead and take pain medication. Be sure to have this readily available. Your dermatologist will also give you instructions on the proper dosage and interval requirements.

Protect Your Skin After Body Sculpting
First, it’s important to remember that caring for your skin is an investment, not a luxury. Your skin is your body’s biggest organ and its first line of defense against the outside world. It deserves high quality care.

So make sure your skin is healthy, and at its best condition for your non-invasive body sculpting treatment. Moreover, the treatment involves freezing, massaging, and suctioning pockets of fat in targeted areas. Hence, you’ll want to the skin in these areas in the best way that you can.

One of the best ways is to avoid sun exposure and tanning. Otherwise, that area where the procedure will be targeted will become even more sensitive.

Conclusion
Now that you’re aware of the preparation tips for your non-invasive body contouring procedure, there’s one important detail that we at Barbie's Beauty Bits want you to remember. Each body is different. Therefore, you should never compare yours with that of another. Keep that in mind whatever your dermatologist tells you to do as a part of your preparation process. Then, remember the general tips above as well. Soon enough, you’ll be on your way towards having a more sculpted and contoured body.

What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare

Here at Barbie’s Beauty Bits, we believe aging is a fact of life, but looking your age is not! And that is when good skincare comes into play with anti-aging ingredients like Retinol, aka the fountain of youth. But, What Is Retinol And Why Do I Need It In My Skincare?

Well, more than likely, you heard about Retinol and maybe some of its anti-aging benefits but do not really understand this star ingredient and everything it can do for your skin! So, if you are ready to venture into Benjamin Button's magical elixir of youth, continue reading.

Beverly Hills MD Cosmeceuticals
For this post, I partnered up with Beverly Hills, MD. I was impressed with this brand because plastic surgeons created this cutting-edge skin-care brand.

With their revolutionary line, Dr. Layke and Dr. Danielpour can reach beyond their office walls and offer real cosmetic results to those looking for the best non-surgical options available in the comfort of their own home.

In their selection of skincare products, I noticed that they had a retinol treatment that allows you to experience all the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without dehydrating your skin’s surface and no micro-dosing! (You will see why this is awesome later on in this article)

Before I get into some of their products, let's talk about Retinol and why it is one of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients.

What Exactly Is Retinol
Retinol is a retinoid derived from vitamin A and is usually what is found in over-the-counter products. Retinol is not retinoic acid, also known as Retin-A or Tretinoin (that is often used to treat acne)—Retinol works because it converts to retinoic acid.

This game-changing active ingredient works to boost the appearance of collagen-depleted skin and encourages cellular turnover, which is one of the reasons it is the number one anti-aging product recommended by Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aestheticians everywhere!

How Does Retinol Help With Anti-aging                          

What does Retinol do for your skin? Retinol is your secret weapon to aiding in the skin's renewal process by sloughing off dead skin cells, allowing new, fresher, radiant skin to appear.

You see, as we age, our cellular turnover starts to decline, meaning that our body is slower to shed dead skin cells and produce new ones. This buildup of dead skin cells can harm our skin, leaving it looking dry and dull, or worse, this accumulation can result in excess oil production and clogged pores, leading to problematic skin.

And if that wasn't bad enough, starting as early as your mid 20's, your collagen production begins to slow down. While this is not something, you may see the effects of immediately, it will impact you later in life, with sun-damaged skin,  thinner skin texture, premature fine lines and wrinkles, and elastin loss over time.  

Retinol is the skincare staple that helps reduce these aging issues by stimulating collagen production and accelerating skin turnover. In turn, this helps boost the skin’s surface renewal process and strengthens the skin’s foundation to the look of hyperpigmentation, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, all while improving the skin texture!- WOW, now that was a mouthful.

These are just some reasons Barbie's Beauty Bits recommend incorporating retinol into your skincare routine early to prevent future signs of aging and damage rather than waiting until later in life, trying to undo it. 

How To Achieve The Best Results With Retinol

Like applying moisturizer the right way, there is a correct way to use prescription strength Retinol.

Many people want everything now and think the more I use this product, the quicker I will be on my way to younger-looking skin. But the truth is you, while many want to hop on the anti-aging bandwagon, you need to be patient when using prescription-strength Retinol, as it can severely inflame the skin, cause burning, itching, severe peeling, dryness, redness, and more.

Because of this, Drs. always recommend micro-dosing, starting with a lower concentration and testing how your skin will react. For example, start off using it once a week, if that is ok, then move up two twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week for three weeks. If your skin has a minimal reaction, you can bump it up, but then keep it there for a few months before using it nightly! WHAT seems like a pain, right?

Well, not any longer with Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment, as there is no need to microdose using this retinol treatment because of its micro-encapsulation technology. What??? Find out more below.

Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™
Unlike most store-bought serums, this retinol serum is not made with ordinary retinol. Instead, it is sourced with micro-encapsulated retinol — a rare form of non-dehydrating retinol that most skincare developers DON’T use. Allowing you to enjoy all of the age-defying effects of a high-potency retinol treatment without the side effects that require the microdosing regimen that most Dr.s suggest helping you avoid dehydrated skin and redness. And the best part about this type of retinoid, no peeling!

Another thing that sets this formula apart is the results. You see, micro-encapsulated retinol actually penetrates much deeper into the skin than regular retinol — which allows it to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, slacking skin, uneven pigment, and other signs of aging far more effectively and quicker, for example...

Additional Benefits Of Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment™

• Stimulates collagen production and accelerates skin turnover
• Ideal for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles
• Combats the look of dark spots and discoloration
• Fades acne marks
• Naturally improves the appearance of sagging skin
• It makes your complexion look fresh, vibrant, and luminous

How To Use Beverly Hills MD Activated Retinol Overnight Treatment
Each application of this retinol treatment penetrates deep down to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, dullness and sagging, all while leaving all skin types feeling luxuriously plump and hydrated after every nightly use.

Step 1: At night time, our skin goes into repair mode. And this treatment is designed to support your natural cell turnover processes while you sleep, so use it at nighttime, before bed.

Step 2: Wash your face with a cleanser packed with antioxidant vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties.

Step 3: Since this formula works to support cell turnover, it is recommended to apply before using other skincare products — as this will help them penetrate more deeply into your skin.

Step 4: Using your fingertips, apply 1-2 pumps to your face in an upward, outward direction. And do not forget the neck!

Step 5: Retinol products should be used with other anti-aging skincare products containing skin-replenishing ingredients, antioxidants, and restorative ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, replenish, and nourish resulting in healthier, reinvigorating skin.

Avoid combining with AHA’s & BHA’s as you have already done the work. Doubling up can compromise the skin because mixing acids and retinol can irritate.

I like to wait about 10 minutes to ensure the product is absorbed. I then apply a hydrating serum and finish with a great moisturizer, avoiding anything that includes benzoyl peroxides or salicylic acids to prevent irritation.

Step 6: Using this product for at least 60 days is recommended to see the full benefits. While many may start seeing a visible improvement in their skin’s tone and texture in as little as 2-4 weeks, everyone’s skin responds to retinol differently, and your results may require more — or less — time to kick in.

So beauties, when it comes to results of a non-prescription retinol product, this advanced treatment is genuinely in a league of its own! As not only does it offer the tremendous anti-aging benefits of prescription-strength retinol, it provides something more-some fantastic hydrating effects, which is not common with the use of retinol.

The key with this Beverly Hills MD retinol treatment is continual use, as it is designed to keep BUILDING with each application. So the longer you use this bad boy, the younger, smoother, and more radiant it can make your complexion!