Now, of course you have to be careful sometimes. If you find an item listed for 99 cents when it normally retails for $20 or $30, chances are that you aren’t really getting what you want! It’s always a good idea to take a look at the “Reviews and Guides” section located on the left panel of the listing before purchasing. This section will give you tips on how to avoid fake products as well as offer more information about the product you are viewing. In my experience, I have always had very good luck receiving authentic products at a great price.

I decided to share this online shopping opportunity with all of you too! I have officially launched my very own skincare and beauty niche store for you at Sharnell’s Skincare and Beauty Store (or by clicking on the “Shop” button located on the top panel of my blog). There you will find Ebay listings for a wide variety of skincare and beauty products, ranging from everyday skincare items to beauty tools such as extractors and facial steamers. You will also find an array of skincare and beauty brands such as Proactive, Murad, Lancome, Mary Kay and many more! If you don’t find what you are looking for in the listings, simply click on the links to some of my best-loved online skincare and beauty stores. Check it out today and find the best deals on your favorite skincare and beauty products!

1. The texture is perfect for in the winter. You get the protection of SPF 30 with a boost of moisturization, which is always welcomed in the cold and dry months.
2. Your skin is left with a beautiful sheer coverage that is just enough to give you a smooth and balanced look.
3. It is lightweight and has a soothing and gentle lavender fragrance. I love the touch of aromatherapy!
4. A little goes a long way, so one tube can last a very long time.

I am extremely pleased with this tinted SPF and I’m eager to expand my collection of philosophy products. I plan on continuing use of the philosophy Shelter Tinted SPF 30 throughout winter and spring. I am so excited about my new discovery!

What are your experiences with the philosophy brand? Do you have any favorites that you can recommend??

As women begin to reach mid-age, most will find that their skin will become dull and uneven as a result of the damaging effects from sun exposure and natural aging. There are a number of ways to combat these skin conditions. Of course, the number one way to protect your skin from harmful UV rays is to apply a sunscreen everyday. However, to further enhance your skin’s protection, it is quite beneficial to incorporate antioxidant-rich skincare products, as well as food into your diet. Soy is one of the most favorable supplements in this regard.

Soybean oil, which is high in fatty acids, makes it an essential for our skin. When used as a topical treatment, soy delivers extraordinary results in reducing the appearance of not only fine lines and wrinkles, but also redness and discoloration of the skin caused by acne and sun exposure. It helps to even out skin tone and improve our skin’s texture, resulting in a brighter complexion and more radiant appearance. In addition to being loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin B complex, soy also contains high-quality proteins. These unique characteristics all play an important role in prevention of premature aging of the skin. Fortunately, studies have shown little to no known irritation caused by soy, which makes soy-based skincare products an excellent addition to skincare regimens for all skin types.

There is credible research indicating that soy consumption can help to support the appearance of healthier skin. Thankfully, we are no longer limited to just tofu. Today there are a wide variety of food products made from soy such as soy flour, soy protein, sprouts, milk, yogurt and cheese. Soy flour is one of the more commonly used products made from soybeans and is actually more nutritious than wheat flour. When soy is consumed on a regular basis in the form of milk curd, it is exceptionally helpful in slowing down the aging process. Soy can also be used as a natural remedy towards eczema. A diet very high in soy can quickly ease the itching associated with eczema. Soy protein helps to strengthen and treat the skin by providing a sufficient amount of amino acids to replace damaged tissue fibers. Another reason soy is an asset to the skin is it’s ability to lower cholesterol levels and aid in weight loss, which allows increased blood flow and nutrition to the skin. The result is a beautiful and healthy glow.

I have actually found a liking for many soy food products. I particularly love to snack on soybeans. These pods are also known as “edamame”. Most people, such as myself, became acquainted with edamame while engaging in a sushi dinner. Now, you can purchase bags of frozen soybeans and prepare them at home in less than five minutes. Not only are soybeans a yummy snack, but they are obviously extremely healthy. Even my toddler son prefers soy milk over regular milk. As an alternative to flavored milk, we will sometimes give him some chocolate or vanilla soy milk, which he finds delightful treat. These are just a few examples of delicious soy foods that can be added to your diet. There are just so many options, it is inevitable that you will find a soy food that you’ll love. Give it a try and enjoy the benefits of beautiful skin, from the inside out!

• Green Tea has become an eminent ingredient in both cosmetics and skincare products. Concentrated with powerful antioxidants and vitamins, green tea provides anti-aging benefits by shielding the skin from harsh environmental exposure and the damaging effects of free radicals. Green tea has also been proven to assist in protecting the skin from sun damage. When applied topically, green tea not only quenches free radicals, but also reduces skin inflammation. Optimal sun protection is best achieved when a green tea skincare product is used in conjunction with sunscreen.Regular ingestion of green tea is beneficial to your health for many reasons, such as it’s ability to reduce cholesterol and it’s treatment of body aches, headaches and poor digestion. But drinking green tea alone, even in large amounts, is not enough to see and feel improvements in your skin. There are some simple ways to turn your green tea into highly potent skincare treatments. Visit Homemade Tea Skincare Recipes for a list of green tea recipes by skin type.

• Yarrow Herbal Tea is not as commonly known as green tea. However, yarrow tea is very helpful to oily skin. One cup of yarrow tea a day will help to control and balance oily skin. When breakout occurs, drinking an additional cup of yarrow tea in the morning and at night will help to clear the blemish(es) by reducing the production of sebum (oil) in the skin. Yarrow tea can also be used in astringent form if you prefer to only use it topically. Either way, be sure to use caution when employing yarrow tea as a treatment for your oily or acne skin. Studies have shown that excessive amounts of this tea can cause skin sensitivity to the sun. As always, be sure to apply an SPF of at least 30 to your skin daily.

• Black Tea (non-herbal) is known to help reduce redness and itchiness of the eyes. Simply moisten a couple of black tea bags with cool water and set them on your eyes for at least ten minutes. Black tea can also help to relieve sunburn. Steep six black tea bags in four cups of boiling water. Let the tea cool and then apply it to the skin with a cotton cloth. Do this repeatedly until the irritation of your sunburned skin subsides.

• Chamomile Herbal Tea is also great when used as an eye treatment. Moistened chamomile tea bags placed on the eyes after being chilled in the refrigerator will help to reduce puffiness. Chamomile tea added to a toner or masque will help to calm inflamed skin. This is a very gentle and natural approach to soothing sensitive and eczematic skin.

1. To achieve smooth results, you must exfoliate your skin before application of your self tanner. A mild exfoliation, such as a scrub, is best to use the day before applying your sunless tanner. Be sure to include your neck and decollete when cleansing, exfoliating and applying tanner so that you have a balanced look.

2. Don’t forget to moisturize your skin. There are two ways that you can moisturize and apply self tanner to your face. The first way is to tone and moisturize before smoothing on your sunless tanner. The other way it so combine your moisturizer and self tanner and massage them into your skin together.

3 . Keep a natural look by using cotton balls saturated with water along your hairline. This will help to avoid the look of a “bordered tan”.

4. To prevent discoloring of your palms, use vinyl or latex gloves. If you are allergic to the gloves, you can use baby wipes or just wash your hands with soap and warm water immediately after applying your facial tanner.

5. Allow your self tanner some time to set before applying your makeup. Rushing the process will leave you with uneven results.

Clarins has just come out with this fantastic new sunless tanner for the face. The Sheer Bronze Self Tanning Hydrating Gel For Face does more than just give your skin a beautiful glow. Your skin will also reap the benefits of hydration from aloe vera extracts, as well as protection from the sun and free radicals with cocoa extracts and vitamin E. The gel texture of this self tanner is exceptional for all skin types.

Dove is another great option, which is easier on the budget. The Dove Energy Glow Daily Face Moisturizer with a Touch of Self Tanner is a facial tanner that comes in two shades of color to accommodate all skin tones. Because this product has a built in self tanner, there is less potency of the tanning ingredients, which allows for daily application without the worry of having too much color on your skin.

A sunless tanner is really the best method to keeping a healthy glow of your skin throughout the year. Whether or not you decide to do this during just the winter or for all seasons, don’t forget to continue using a sunblock. Protecting your skin from the UV-light rays is the #1 way to prevent sun damage and premature aging.

Let me start by saying that I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic. I never have denied the fact, and I never will. I love chocolate. Every time I pop a piece of chocolate into my mouth, I know what the consequences are to my health. But until now, I never really knew the effect it would have on my skin – positive effect that is.

German scientists recently conducted a study which discovered that high levels of flavanol, a plant-based antioxidant found in cocoa, can help to reduce skin redness caused by UV light-exposure, if consumed daily. This conclusion is based upon two groups of women varying in age between 18 and 65 who were simultaneously given one cocoa drink everyday. One group was given high level flavanol cocoa, while the other group consumed a cocoa drink very low in flavanols. By six weeks, the group consuming flavanol-rich cocoa had reduced redness of their skin in response to UV-light by 15% and then 25% by 12 weeks. The other group consuming the low level flavanol cocoa experienced no change. The group of women drinking the cocoa high in flavanols also experienced enhanced moisture, texture and hydration of their skin. Again, the other group had no change. Scientists believe that these exceptional results are due to the improved blood circulation to the skin, which is essential to it’s health. In addition to protecting the skin from UV-light exposure, flavanols act as antioxidants, which defend the skin against free radicals and premature aging.

So does this mean you get to gobble down a big Snickers Bar everyday and throw out your sunblock? Sorry, the answer is a definite NO. First off, you must never omit your sunblock from your skincare regime. And secondly, since flavanols are found in cocoa, your skin will only benefit from chocolate that is as pure as possible . If you consume about three ounces of dark chocolate a day, (which is equivalent to the amount of flavanol in the cocoa from the German study), you can satisfy your sweet tooth everyday, while helping your skin stay healthy. How great is that? I don’t think it gets any better.

If you have a love for chocolate, delight yourself and your skin with some of these skin-friendly dark chocolates. Enjoy!