How To Handle Your Skin

While washing your face, you’re probably focusing on achieving a fresh, clean complexion created by the physical cleansing of the skin. But have you ever focused on exactly how you’re cleansing the skin? How you go about washing your face, applying skincare products, and the way you ultimately choose to handle your skin will make a difference in your complexion and overall skin health- including how your skin ages. Remember that the goal of skincare is to achieve a glowing face while also promoting longevity, treating current skin issues, and preventing future damage.

What To Use- With such a large array of skincare products to choose from it can be difficult to find the right everyday facial cleanser. It is critical to use a gentle, non-irritating face wash that will effectively cleanse your face with every use. I personally use Face Reality’s Ultra Gentle Cleanser for everyday use. I follow up with Face Reality’s Calming Facial Toner, 8% Mandelic Serum,
Hydra Balance Gel and Clearderma moisturizer- in that order. Using both a hydrating gel and a moisturizer may seem a bit over the top, but it is an incredibly overlooked yet powerful step in the skincare regime. This is because the gel and moisturizer work as a dynamic duo to 1) first hydrate the skin and then 2) lock in that hydration with the moisturizer. To finalize my routine and lock in all the products I applied, I quickly spray my face with our Hydrating Skin Spritz, which provides an antioxidant boost and immediate moisture drench to the skin for up to 72 hours!

How To Use- It may seem silly to explain how to properly touch your face while applying skincare products, but in reality, many people are unaware of the answer. First, approach your face with clean hands: make sure that there is no dirt, oil, or debris on your hands or under your nails. Then you should gently wet your face using lukewarm water followed with the use of your cleanser. It is important to use the tips of your fingers while gently massaging in an upwards fashion. Being diligent about this step will get circulation going and encourage your skin to always stay tight and naturally lifted. Finally, be sure to dry your face by patting it with a gentle microfiber face towel, as opposed to rubbing it against any regular bath towel (as this can cause irritation).

When To Use- Though it is important to keep a clean face, it is equally as important to avoid provoking skin irritation. Only wash your face once in the morning and once at night, or if you have experienced heavy perspiration such as after working out, then cleanse your face immediately afterwards. Follow up each cleanse with the application of your other skincare products, such as the toner, serum, gel, and moisturizer I listed above. To purchase Face Reality products or find a Face Reality Certified Acne Specialist in your area, go here: www.FaceRealityAcneClinic.com

REF: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101

The Sad Cycle of Skin Picking

At some point in your life you’ve heard or been told first hand “Don’t pop pimples” or “Don’t pick at that!” but did you really listen? The act of skin picking is not unknown, however, the truly disastrous effects which it creates are. While skin picking can range from occasionally popping a pimple to an actual disorder (Excoriation disorder) its effects are always negative. Skin picking can be brought on by stress, anxiety, boredom, disorders such as BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) or just out of habit. Regardless of the cause of it, it is counterproductive and damages the skin.

I decided to write this article because I personally have dealt with compulsive skin picking for years and I have finally put an end to the vicious cycle that it is. For me, skin picking meant spending hours of unintended time in front of a mirror scrutinizing what was on my face and attempting to pick it away. By this I mean extracting every possible blemish that met my eyes, even if it was extremely unnecessary. I referred to skin picking as “counterproductive” because while the goal is to ‘perfect’ imperfections, you only exacerbate the problem. This is because a pimple is basically a little ‘sack’ under the skin that contains oil, bacteria and inflammation. Squeezing or touching it can result in the ‘sack’ rupturing and these contents being spilled out and pushed into surrounding skin, ultimately multiplying the problem. *Apart from the cosmetic impact of recurrent skin lesions and scarring, skin picking can lead to serious infections, anxiety, shame, and depression (Lisa Zakhary MD,PhD). These results are what makes it so vicious; you start by trying to eliminate an issue and find yourself creating so many more- on your face no less!

Once I realized I was the cause of my clearly worsening skin state, I developed some skills that would help to manage the urge to pick, pop, or squeeze. I began to make it harder for myself to be in an environment that allowed me to act on my impulses, meaning staying away from mirrors as much as possible. Standing in front of a mirror with the intention of quickly washing my hands or brushing my hair turned into a face examination analysis every time, without fail. This inevitably would lead to a session of skin picking that would last from minutes to hours and leave me feeling worse than I initially did. By forcing myself to look away from the mirror and focus on/think of anything else I created a different environment for myself, one where my skin picking urges could not thrive off of my trigger(s).

Aside from mental fortitude, some physical skills to use as an alternative to picking include handling your blemishes in the proper and safe way such as using ice. You can use an ice cube or a sanitized ice pack (I personally use a Soothie Q) and ice the blemish for about a minute or so. This helps to alleviate inflammation and sometimes can even stop a pimple in its tracks. After this, I apply a spot treatment such as Face Reality’s Sulfur Spot Treatment followed by an application of PRIIA’s Calm Down Anti- Blemish powder.

End the skin picking cycle and treat your skin like the fragile, beautiful, organ that it is.

*REF: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/author/lzakhary

All About PRIIA’s Fabulous Foundations!

Here at PRIIA® we have multiple versions of our acne-safe foundation to cater to the different skin types we provide for. These varying foundations truly allow our brand to effectively accommodate any type of skin a customer may be shopping for. These versions include our best-selling loose mineral foundation, liquid mineral foundation, and creme mineral foundation.

Loose Mineral Foundation-Packaged in a jar featuring a locking rotating sifter to easily tap out product and then close the sifter to reduce product spillage. Available in 22 shades. Works for normal, oily, or combination skin. This soft & skin-conditioning loose powder foundation is perfect for use after facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser procedures. Offers exceptional, buildable silky matte (but never flat) coverage without ever feeling dry, heavy or looking pasty and chalky.  Can be used as a liquid foundation using our Boosted Coverage Technique.

Liquid Mineral Foundation- Packaged in an airless pump bottle.Available in 10 shades. Works perfectly for any skin type (normal/oily/dry/combination). Provides a beautiful satin matte medium to full coverage finish that lasts all day.

Creme Mineral Foundation-Packaged in a convenient no mess roll up stick. Available in 16 shades.Works for normal, dry, or combination skin. Glides on your skin like silk while providing a dewy medium to full coverage.

Foundation Matching- Please see our ultimate guide for finding your perfect match here: https://www.priia.com/foundation-matching.html

We believe in our customers trying sample sizes before committing to a full-sized product in order to accurately invest in the perfect foundation for them!

Maskne and What To Do About It

Masks have evidently become a part of everyone’s new lifestyle, and some are forced to wear them daily for hours on end. In turn, this can cause what is known as “maskne”: a skin condition brought on by the prolonged wear of facial personal protective equipment.

Due to the fact that the wearing of masks is mandatory, the effects of maskne may feel extremely frustrating and ultimately endless. However, there are a multitude of reasons as to why wearing a mask is causing you acne and likewise solutions to make maskne completely preventable.

Prep: Before even putting on a mask it is crucial that you cleanse your face to make sure you aren’t trapping any dirt or oil on your skin. After you’ve washed your face, you should apply toner following with exfoliation such as L-mandelic Acid or Salicylic Acid and lastly, you must apply a moisturizer (preferably one with SPF) all over your face. After your moisturizer has fully absorbed, use either a thin layer of Aquaphor or PRIIA’s acne-safe primer. This will not only keep hydration locked in throughout the day but will simultaneously act as a barrier between your skin and the mask which will greatly reduce acne caused by friction (acne mechanica). If you have active breakouts or just want to be preventative, we recommend using our Calm Down Anti- Blemish Powder. Apply a thin coating of Calm Down Powder over the Aquaphor or PRIIA acne-safe primer from your nose down. This powder will not only soothe any current inflammation you have but it will also act as an extra barrier between your skin and the mask. In addition to these prep steps, it is important to not to wear makeup under your mask unless it’s an acne-safe makeup, like PRIIA minerale-derm. And if you are going to wear PRIIA, we recommend sticking with our LOOSE MINERAL FOUNDATION. Heavy makeup applications and comedogenic (pore clogging) makeup worn under a mask do not allow your skin to breathe properly and may even damage the mask fabric which creates a less effective barrier, according to Cassandra M. Pierre, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center.

Proper Mask Use: Everyone is focused on making certain they have a mask on but they aren’t aware of the type of mask they put on or how it will affect them. When it comes to disposable masks simply throw it away after each use. If you must wear one for a prolonged amount of time it’s best to use a new disposable every few hours throughout the day. If you’re wearing a cotton/fabric mask, wash it after each use because its surface contains dirt and oil and will become a breeding ground for bacteria in the area which your mask touches. However, when washing the mask make sure to choose a fragrance-free laundry soap such as ALL Free & Clear because fragrances may irritate your skin. It’s also important not to use fabric softener or dryer sheets as they leave a waxy chemical residue on the mask which is not only bad for your skin but harmful to breathe in while wearing it. If you have a silk mask, be sure to use a fragrance-free AND enzyme-free laundry detergent. If your job or activity requires you to wear a mask for prolonged periods of time, we recommend that you cleanse your face again during that period. Carry travel sizes of your skin care products with you and take 5 to 10 minutes when you have a break to re-do the previously mentioned prep routine. If you’re wearing a fabric mask (not silk), you can spritz it with alcohol and let it dry while you’re re-doing your skin care routine. This may all seem like a hassle, but your skin will thank you for it!

Incorporate these tips into your daily routine and watch your maskne become no more! For acne-safe skin care products, we recommend the following brands: Face Reality and ClearStem.

A Good Night’s Rest Means More Than You Know

Prepping our skin for the day is something that most people view as a key component in achieving healthy, fresh, and overall glowing skin. However, not many people understand the importance of completing night time skincare and keeping a steady routine for it. Depending on how you handle your skin, sleep can either improve your skin or damage it, let’s look into how we can use sleep to our skin’s advantage!

Sleep Schedule- Judith Hellman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist says “As far as the skin is concerned, lack of sleep causes the stress hormone cortisol to be released, which in turn encourages inflammation in the skin, causing flare-ups in conditions like acne, psoriasis, and even eczema.” The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night for adults. Sleeping less than that can play a big role in the development of wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark circles under the eyes. This happens because throughout sleep your body delivers fluids to organs and tissues that need replenishing, while removing excess fluids from other areas. Cutting the sleep process short can also increase levels of inflammation and stress hormones, which can destabilize your immune system, ultimately aggravating skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

Nightly Skincare- A lot of people excuse themselves from accomplishing their nighttime skincare regime due to being exhausted. I have undoubtedly been a culprit of this myself; nonetheless it is critical to avoid this lazy excuse at all costs. Allowing your skin to breathe while you sleep is a vital part of achieving a healthy, youthful looking glow. Removing your makeup at night is not optional because pore-clogging cosmetic products will seep into your skin throughout the night and cause or exacerbate an array of skin problems. Take five minutes out of your time to remove any makeup, cleanse your skin, hydrate, and moisturize before bed. And yes, even PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup needs to be removed before you go to bed! We recommend our best-selling acne-safe makeup remover to make taking off your makeup a breeze!

How To Sleep- When is the last time you washed your sheets? Probably a lot longer than two weeks, which is the longest recommended amount of time you should go without washing them (sheets include your comforter and any other blankets you may sleep with). It is also highly important to wash your pillowcase weekly, if not every three days or so in order to remove any residue left on it. Something most people overlook is the type of pillowcase they’re using and the effects which it will have on their skin. Simply choose a silk case over a cotton one. Natural silk pillow cases, like BLISSY, are less absorbent. Your skin and hair will stay moisturized because the pillowcase isn’t absorbing all of the natural oils from your skin. Silk also naturally contains amino acids that are easily absorbed into the skin. Not only is silk a good choice for skin purposes, but hair benefits as well. Sleeping on silk prevents less irritation, drying, friction, and any overall damage from affecting the skin or hair.

Turn bedtime into your skin’s radiation rejuvenation time!

Sources: https://www.sleep.org/how-sleep-improves-your-skin/

All About Our Lovely Lumilitez Highlighters!

Here at PRIIA we offer two different versions of our LumiLitez Highlighters: creme and powder. Our creme LumiLitez come in the shades Aura and Luna, while our powder LumiLitez come in Moonglow, Starlight, and Sunburst. We offer different versions of our highlighters to allow our
customers to achieve varied results if they so wish.

Creme: When it comes to our creme highlighter, application is key. Whether you opt to use a makeup tool or your hands it is important to apply this product gently. Just dot it on the areas you want to highlight and then stipple it lightly with your clean finger or a stippling brush. Do not rub it on or across your face as this will effectively smudge your makeup.

Powder: When using powder it is equally easy to apply with a highlighting brush or your hands. Regardless of your application technique, dispense some product into the lid of your jar and then dip into the powder with a clean finger or brush. Next, just lightly swipe across whatever area you’re intending to highlight.

Where To: Highlighting the correct parts of your face is crucial to achieving a lit from within glow look, also known as strobing. On the face you should highlight along the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, tip of the nose, brow bone, cupid’s bow, & inner corners of the eye. If you’re looking for an all
over shine also lightly highlight your collarbones and shoulders.

Tools To Try: Use our unique Chubby Blender Brush for blush, bronzer, highlighter, contour and even precision foundation application.
Get Your Glow On!♡

Hello PRIIA fam! My name is Lauren Maddison, I’m Kelley Maddison’s (PRIIA’s CEO) daughter. This is my introduction to all the blogging I will be doing from now on here at PRIIA, so I feel it’s important that I share a bit about myself.

While attending the University of Tampa last semester I was pursuing a business degree, however I became gradually unsatisfied with the copious amounts of meaningless work I was being forced to complete. I soon found myself in an incredibly disconcerting place, wondering if I was wasting my time, energy, and worst of all my creativity. After realizing that I was on my way down a rabbit hole of discontent only to become dispassionate, I decided to alter my career path. Because of PRIIA I am finally able to utilize all of the things I felt I was previously draining myself of. Throughout the articles I post I will be covering topics including but not limited to: all things acne, makeup application, general beauty tips, etc.

I’m deeply grateful to have the opportunity to work with such a beautiful company and community of customers. Thank you for your time!

Your Foundation Needs a “Check Up”

It’s officially Spring! You’re most likely headed outdoors more often. It’s time for your foundation to undergo a “check up”. What does this mean? Simply put, your fall/winter skin tone is usually a little lighter than it is in the spring/summer and therefore you need to make sure that your current foundation shade is still a good match.

If you find that your foundation is a little too light now, you can simply go ‘down’ one shade level OR you can apply some Vacation In a Jar Bronzer on top of your foundation. You can also mix the bronzer directly into your loose foundation to deepen the tone.  We offer inexpensive sample sizes of our products, including foundations, for you to test out before committing to full-size products.

If you’re unsure if your current foundation is the right color, please see our in-depth Foundation Matching tutorials. 

How to Knock Out a Zit

Ah the joys of being almost 46 and STILL being acne-prone. Yes, I’m nearly middle-aged and I can still manage to get a zit. Most of the time this happens when I don’t pay attention to what I’m eating (i.e. acne-triggering foods) and/or or when I’m testing out competitors’ products. I can truly be my own worst enemy at times.

Lately I’ve been craving peanut butter. Specifically peanut butter spread on a banana. I have no idea why (no, I am NOT pregnant). I really try to stay away from peanut products because peanuts are high in androgenic hormones which can cause acne flareups. The proof is in the pictures in this article. As a result of my peanut butter and banana debacle, a big ‘ol zit reared its ugly head right on my chin. I played and therefore, I paid.

This zit hurt- it was raised, very inflamed but there was no ‘head’ on it so I wasn’t able to try and extract anything.  For the record, I do NOT advise anyone to try and ‘pop’ their own zits. I’m a licensed esthetician and a certified acne specialist of over 12 years. I know exactly what to do and how to extract pimples properly so as not to cause scarring or further infection. I also know when NOT to try and extract a zit.  In this case, I had to use a great spot treatment ASAP otherwise this zit was going to get big enough to have its own zip code. Yikes!

How I Knocked Out This Zit

First, I removed my makeup and washed my face with PRIIA’s acne-safe makeup remover. I LOVE this stuff. My skin is left feeling clean and soft- not tight and stripped. After I cleansed, I used PRIIA’s Hydrating Skin Spritz as my toner. Both our makeup remover and Hydrating Skin Spritz are pH balanced. Yay! Then I applied ice to the zit for about a minute. (keep that ice cube moving so as not to cause any ‘ice burns’ on the skin).

Next, I sprayed one pump of Hydrating Skin Spritz into the palm of my hand. I then sprinkled some of PRIIA’s Calm Down Anti-Blemish Powder into my palm and I made a thin paste. I applied this paste to my zit and went to bed. I only slept about 5.5 hours (my cats woke me up waaaay too early) this night but you can see in the picture how the inflammation was significantly reduced. The zit was no longer raised. It no longer hurt. It had basically just turned into a small flat light red spot. I did the same treatment the following night before bed and by the next morning it had faded away almost completely.  I’m thrilled with the results. A bonus was that the skin surrounding the zit did NOT get dry, flaky or irritated from the Calm Down Powder paste. Winning!!!!

I highly suggest giving this blemish spot treatment a try!

*Medical Disclaimer: The contents on this site are for informational purposes only, and should never be a used as a substitute for seeking the advice of a medical professional.  No content or products on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition.  PRIIA® Cosmetics assumes no liability for any claims arising out of the misuse, allergic reactions, or any injury suffered with the consenting use of the products offered/suggested on this site.

 

The Right Way to Apply PRIIA’s Best-Selling Loose Mineral Foundation

Applying loose mineral foundation?  Well all you need to do is ‘swirl, tap, buff’, right?  WRONG.  PRIIA’s loose mineral foundation is applied differently. It’s a better application process that is more kind & gentle to your skin (especially if you’re acne-prone) AND gives you better results!

PRIIA’s loose mineral foundation is already formulated to adhere really well to the skin so there’s absolutely no need to do any crazy swirling and buffing. All you need to do is our easy-to-learn 3-step ‘Stamp & Blend’ technique!

  1. Dispense a few sprinkles of foundation into the lid of your jar OR into your Minerals Mate Tray.
  2. Dip the head of our synthetic Flat Top Brush into the dispensed minerals making sure to really press the brush head into them. You want the minerals to be loaded well into the brush head.
  3. Starting at the outside edges of your face, gently ‘stamp’ the brush head onto your skin and then go back and blend downward in one direction. Go back and repeat this process working toward the inside of your face until you reach your desired coverage. PS- blending  downward also helps to lay fine facial hair flat giving the skin an overall better appearance!

That’s it!  It’s so easy!  Here’s a few extra tips to help with you this application method:

  • Before applying your loose mineral foundation make sure that any skin care products you’ve put on your skin have had a chance to fully absorb. If not, your minerals will adhere to spots making the end result look patchy and splotchy.
  • Apply our Acne-Safe Foundation Primer BEFORE loose mineral foundation application to increase the longevity of your foundation.  All you need is a pea-sized or less amount of primer to get the job done.
  • Got large pores? Make sure to really press the foundation into the areas of your face that have enlarged pores (generally this is in your T-Zone). Basically, you’re “filling in the holes”. Don’t worry- our products will NOT clog your pores so press away!