By Devin Almonte

​You may have heard that it’s better to air-dry your clothes than to machine-dry them because it’s gentler on your clothing. But what about your hair? Surely, we can assume that it’s better to let your hair air-dry instead of blow-dry after a rinse because it’s gentler on your hair, right? Not necessarily. And our friends at Dyson have found a great solution.

The Air-Dry Method can leave your hair in quite a frizz, not to mention tangled, knotted, and unstyled. Now, if that is the organic look you are going for, then don’t let me stop you! But do beware that your minimalistic attempt at au naturel could actually be costing you the health of your hair, not to mention your time. 

​When it comes to your hair, natural isn’t always good. In fact, it isn’t always the healthiest choice for your hair either.
 
Jenny Jin, beauty writer for Pure Wow tells us, "When hair comes into contact with water, it swells. When it swells, it messes with the protein within each strand and leads to damage from the inside out. So the longer your hair is wet, the longer it swells and the greater the chance for damage."

Further, a scientific study on hair suggested that it's not always best to let the hair dry itself, as the longer the scalp and hair are wet, the greater the opportunity for bacteria to accumulate, and that can generate fungus or weakening in the structure of the hair. This especially applies to those that go to bed with their hair wet.

According to a poll taken by longhaircommunity.com, most women found it took 2-3 hours to dry their hair naturally. And more than 15%  said it took 5 hours or more to fully dry. Now who has the time and patience for that? You can fly from New York to L.A in less time!

​There can also be problems associated with blow-drying your hair because heat can be damaging. Your hair can become too dry and brittle because the temperature can be too hot, leaving you with head full of fried strands. And just like air-drying your hair, it’s a time consuming process, costing the average woman about 30 minutes to an hour of their day. 

​However, according to a recent study from Korea, Prevention Magazine beauty editor, Nina Elias tells us: 

With the right technique, using a blow-dryer is actually better for your mane’s health than letting it air-dry. Yes, the heat of a dryer can cause more damage than not using one, but using a hair-dryer at the right distance and temperature can actually cause less damage than letting hair air-dry.

And thanks to recent technology, we now have an even better solution than attempting to manipulate our way into drying our hair just right with outdated and subpar hair dryers.

Our good friends at Dyson (yes, the must-have vacuum people) became aware of this blow- dryer dilemma and spent years of research seeking ways to modernize and revolutionize your blowout at home. And in late 2016, Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer made its debut in the US market.

This is more than a hair-dryer. In fact, I’m not even sure if I would put this in the same category as a hair-dryer. It’s truly a modernized hair device engineered with ultra-fast drying power. It comes preloaded with superior technology that manages heat control to prevent heat damage to your hair. In other words, it’s like having your own personal stylist within the device because it will automatically know what level of heat your hair needs more than you do!
 
In true Dyson fashion, this hair device includes all the fancy and easy-to-use magnetic attachments. Pop on the smoothing nozzle, styling concentrator, or diffuser with ease and style away.

Great-looking Hair
This is truly the DIY blowout device! Customers report that there hair looks and feels smoother, silkier, and healthier after using the Supersonic.
Easier Hair Care
No more boring 80s style L-shaped dryers. Get rid of that dreaded arm-ache, as the Supersonic is totally redesigned, lightweight and balanced with the motor in the handle.
Computerized Hair Care
It’s a smart dryer. The microprocessor measures air temperature 20 times every second, applying just the right amount of heat to keep you from damaging your hair and protecting its natural shine, leaving your hair soft and smooth.
Fast and Efficient Hair Care
Dyson knows airflow. That’s why it’s no surprise that the Supersonic has high-velocity airflow for ultra-fast drying power. Time to gain back lost time from inefficient hair dryers. Depending on your hair, you may even be able to cut your dry time in half!
Because it’s a Dyson
Quality. Quiet. Sleek and modern design. Thoughtfully designed and technologically reimagined. 

The Dyson Supersonic Hair-Dryer is expensive, but it's worth the investment.  It's more than a hair-dryer. It's a smart drying device that takes a proactive approach to hair care. You might actually be saving yourself some money because you might even be able to cut down on those pricey, hair-smoothing, Keratin treatments! 

So, is beauty by Dyson worth it? Yes. It doesn't get any better than Dyson.

As an On-Air Guest Host for QVC, I highly encourage you to shop everything QVC! It's the place for great, products, great deals, and great fun. Check out the below airings to learn more about the Supersonic and to see it in action.  

By Devin Almonte

Is it me, or did makeup recently slither and sneak its way into gyms across America as an acceptable athletic accessory? When did this happen and why? And more importantly, is it really safe to wear makeup during a workout?

​We used to be afraid to show our bodies at the gym out of fear of what people would think of us for being a bit too heavy or untoned. How dare we go to the gym to get in shape looking like that! It’s almost sacrilegious. And now we are afraid to show our real faces? Dear Lord,  we are a sick bunch. 

I guess I can be included in that sick bunch because I am guilty of this relatively new trend. Now, I’m not in a full face of makeup, but I’ve definitely used concealer to hide a few things that make my face look tired and dull. Plus, I want to have blemish-free, glowing skin while I do my burpees and shimmy across the studio floor! 

Before we go any further, I want to stress that I am advocate for good health, including our skin. Good health and good skin is naturally beautiful. So I’m all for nurturing our skin and body for health reasons before caring for it cosmetically. However, given that women want to “look good” at the gym (a place for healthy living), I wanted to find out why women wear makeup to the gym and if it’s okay to wear makeup during your workout. Because that makeup you are wearing could be doing more damage to your beautiful face than you realize. And all for the mere sake of looking good while working out for an hour!

1. To look your best no matter what.
Looking your best is a great motivator to get you to workout. So whether a cute new fitness outfit or makeup makes you feel your best, this becomes the motivator you need to get your butt to the gym and it can help boost your confidence.

2. To feel less self-conscious.
Makeup can help someone feel less self-conscious about themselves and their supposed flaws. Just as someone who is overweight or not happy with their body can feel totally vulnerable and exposed at the gym, so does the person without makeup. Not everyone feels this way, of course, but particularly for those who struggle with body image issues, makeup may give them the courage to show up. And if that is what it takes to get them to the gym, then I am all for it because with a healthy body will come a healthy mind. And hopefully, makeup will no longer be needed for these superficial reasons!

3. For selfie reasons.
It’s hard to believe that this alone is a reason to wear makeup to the gym but it is. In this new world of Instagram and Snapchat, everyone wants to look their best when they post to their accounts, showing off at the gym in their new outfit and newly toned arms. So we dare not take a gym selfie without a face full of makeup! After all, we have an image and reputation to uphold online to all our followers and fans. Not to mention that gyms are encouraging such selfies because it helps to promote their gym. 

4. It helps you play the role.
About a year ago, the NYT had a chance to catch up with Eve Kessner, an instructor at SoulCycle studios in Brooklyn Heights and Union Square, to ask her her thoughts about makeup at the gym. For Eve, getting ready for the gym each morning goes beyond brushing her teeth and pulling on a pair of leggings. Before heading out to classes that often start before 8 a.m., she applies Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara and a face luminizer by RMS Beauty or Josie Maran Cosmetics. “Wearing some amount of makeup makes me feel good,” Ms. Kessner said. “Part of getting ready and feeling prepared for class are the steps I take in the morning.”

5. You're headed to the gym from work.
Many women head to the gym right after work. Some of the women I interviewed have admitted that they are just too lazy to take off their makeup before class. Plus, they are scared to see what is under that makeup after an eight-hour day at the office! Others said they are just rushed trying to make the 5pm or 6pm exercise class and don't have time to take off their makeup, so they don't bother.

1. It clogs your pores.
​Metro.co.uk asked Andy Millward, facialist, aesthetician, and member of the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology, why working out in makeup is so bad for our skin, and he pointed to congestion and blockages within the pores as a major factor. ‘Unlike skin care products which are designed to be absorbed into the skin, makeup is designed to sit on the surface of the skin to give it that flawless, airbrushed appearance,’ Andy told metro.co.uk.

2. It can make your pores bigger.
​Since the makeup may cause congestion in your pores, the pores may stretch or enlarge to manage the blockage, which could cause larger pores over a period of time.

3. Toxins become trapped in your skin.
We are an organic and all-natural obsessed culture. By wearing makeup during your workout, your own body is essentially working against you because you are not allowing the sweat and toxins to be naturally released. This sounds anything, but organic! You are allowing the makeup to trap in the toxins instead of allowing them to evaporate off the skin, as they should naturally. So for the sake of looking good, you’re holding your sweat toxins hostage under that foundation. Time to let them go free.

4. Breakouts are likely to occur. 
​What happens when you hold in pent-up emotion? It gets worse and worse until it explodes. You need to release it (in a healthy way of course). Your face on makeup is no different. Your skin needs to breathe and release - during a good workout even more so when your pores open up. Mix in sweat, heat and open pores and over time the skin will become blocked under a face full of makeup. Eventually it will explode in the form of blackheads, whiteheads and dull texture. No thanks!

5. It may promote aging.
According to Samer Jaber, MD, of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City,  working out with makeup is believed to be a contributing factor to aging. Wearing makeup while exercising inflames the skin, and chronic inflammation is the root cause of skin aging. 

After reading this, there are many of you who won't listen to this advice and will opt for makeup anyway. I get it. We spend hours of torture to look better anyway, so what if I am trapping toxins in my skin? As long as I look good for that hour, I'm happy! 

So, if you must, I suppose you must. At least the skincare products and makeup products have come a long way to accomodate our needs. And you are starting to see some cosmetic companies specialize in Workout Makeup like Sweat Cosmetics and Tarte. Like I said, if you must, here are my recommendations pre and post workout:

My advice? Do what feels best to you that will help you stay healthy. If that means a little makeup during your workout, then go for it. Thank goodness there are some products out there that work with your active lifestyle. But be sure to always give your skin some downtime to breathe. 

By Devin Almonte

Skin care has come a long way, even in most recent years. There is an old way of doing things and a new way of doing things, Take a look at how we used to treat skin care the old way. Learn why that approach needs to change and why our skin is so important. Discover the new revolutionary way to approach skin care and how Défiderm may help us get there.

I took a quick survey to see what women thought about skin care. First, I asked a group of women what came to mind when they thought of "Healthy Skin". I heard things like, "youthful, soft, and beautiful". Next, I asked the same women how they would go about "Getting Healthy Skin". Answers varied within the cosmetic approach from getting botox to wearing more makeup. Not one women mentioned understanding the health of her skin.

As my results showed, many women would say you "get healthy skin" by finding the best cosmetic skin care regimen out there and sticking to it. Okay, we can do that. After all, it may be a step in the right direction. But, if you aren’t educating yourself about the health of your skin first, you aren’t going to get very far. It’s like committing to your workout, but not changing your eating habits and wondering why you aren’t losing weight! Plus, just like you need to vary your workout, you need to vary your skin care regimen for optimal results.  

​As someone who values health, looking out for your skin is just as important as all the other ways you take care of yourself. It is so important to know the health of your skin before you treat it cosmetically. That's why a new revolutionary approach to skin care is necessary. Keep reading.

​Our skin is more than just a beautiful face. Did you know that our skin is our largest organ in the body? Not only is it the largest, but it also plays an important role in protecting our body. Healthy skin means your skin is working properly. Our skin performs so many essential tasks that our body needs. Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD states, “Healthy skin is important because it is our first line of defense against bacteria and other pollutants in the environment. When our skin is healthy, it is more resilient when faced with external stresses, serves as an important sensory organ and helps to regulate our body temperature.”  Healthy skin is better able to fight signs of aging, heals much faster and staves off potential disease better than unhealthy skin. In other words, our skin is always working on our behalf and for our own good, so we better take good care of it so it can do its job well. 

​So before reaching for your concealer, make healthy choices first. Your skin reveals to the world how healthy you are (and how old you are). Therefore, take the time to learn about your skin and how it operates. Positive lifestyle behaviors will keep you healthy and your skin looking younger. 

​The skincare industry has grown astronomically since the 1980s. Gone are the days when your skincare regimen used to consist of one simple step--washing your face. And if you were really into caring for your skin, you might have taken it up a notch by purchasing some Noxzema face wash at the drugstore instead of that plain old bar of soap. That was the extent of skincare.

​For starters, we are getting smarter. Just as we have learned that sunning ourselves with pure oil with a cigeratte in hand is not good for our skin or our lungs, we have learned that we need to do more to take better care of our skin, especially our faces. Secondly, we have seen great medical advances in the skincare industry that are bringing us cutting edge skin care products designed to help reverse the effects of aging and maintain healthier looking skin. Because of this, the market is just flooded with skin care products of your choosing.

So here we are in 2017. The problem is no longer that we don’t have products to choose from, but how to choose the right products. Skincare products are not “one-size-fits-all” and not all skincare regimens should be created equal. How many times have your tried a product that promised to leave your skin with that summer sun-kissed glow only to find yourself with breakouts all over? Or maybe that exfoliator that worked for your friend left your skin dull and dry rather than renewed and rejuvenated.

​This is why it is so important to know your skin’s health before you treat it. Knowledge gives you the power to make the right decisions and choose the right products for your skin.

So how do we really know what is best for us? As it stands now, it's been a lot of trial and error. We need to recognize that many factors play into this. Our skin needs are always changing and greatly affected by various factors such as our age, the climate, our hormones, the seasons, or even what we eat and drink. So your tried and true moisturizer that works wonders for your skin in the winter may become your worst enemy during those hot and humid summer months.

​In my search for a solution to solve the problem of knowing what skin care regimen is best for us, I do believe I may have found the answer. It’s called Défiderm. While I have not yet tried this product (I don't believe it's available yet in the US), I can’t wait to get my hands on it, as this may very well be a perfect solution to this worldwide skin care dilemma. Défiderm, which is part of a start-up company based out of Taipei, is modernizing skin care using the technology of today which may bring out the best in the health of your skin. 

​Défiderm is a revolutionary skin analyzer device (small enough to fit in your pocket) that works with and in conjunction with your smartphone. It analyzes your skin to give you a customized approach to skincare.

​Défiderm uses Bio-Photon detection to detect the tissue densities of the bottom layer of your skin. This technology gives Défiderm the ability to analyze your skin condition more precisely than ever.

How amazing does this product sound! ​There is no doubt that maintaining our skin’s health is important to us and an extremely important thing to do. Great skin improves the way we feel about ourselves and helps promote overall well-being.

By the looks of it, it appears that Défiderm may be the mover and shaker that can truly help us understand the health of our skin first before we treat our skin cosmetically. There's no doubt that this technologically-advanced skin analyzer is going to be making waves in the world of skin care. 

​Summer is here! Yes, finally here in the northeast, the sun has come out and the weather has warmed up.
 
Summer is by far, my favorite time of year. Nothing feels better than a sun-kissed face. And as a former sun worshipper,  a true sun-kissed face looks anything but glowing. It can leave your skin, dry, flaky and dull. It’s screaming at you to give it some juicy hydration to maintain that healthy glow.
 
Please, take good care of your skin this summer. I found some great tips from Diabeticpick that I want to share with you along with some of my own. Follow these great tips to maintain smooth, soft, and glowing skin.