August Health and Beauty Q&A 2009

1. I have a nighttime moisturizer that I love. Can I use it during the day?

Well there is no hard and fast rule that you can’t use your night moisturizer in the day, but they’re a couple of reasons why you might not want to. The first thing is that nighttime moisturizers don’t contain any sunscreen in them. And you always need sunscreen anytime you step foot outside of your door. So if you used your night-time moisturizer you would need to add a sunscreen as well. The other reason is that a lot of nighttime moisturizers are heavier and thicker then daytime ones. Moisturizers for the day are designed to be absorbed quickly and without any residue. Nighttime moisturizers are designed to penetrate the skin deeply over the course of the night. If you use a nighttime moisturizer it might be harder to apply other makeup like foundation evenly. I would suggest just finding a day moisturizer you love as much as your night one. L’Oreal Paris launched their new Collagen Moisture Filler Day Lotion SPF 15 in June ($16.59, lorealparis.com and at mass market retailers nationwide.) The lotion infuses skin with a daily dose of intense hydration and natural Collagen. Skin is left looking younger and more refreshed right away. Over time, the powerful natural Collagen helps fill in lines and wrinkles, smoothing and plumping the skin. And the SPF 15 helps protect your skin from future damage. It’s a wonderful moisturizer that you’re sure to love.

2. My new guy wants to spend the night but I am a big snorer and the product I use to stop snoring is big and ugly. I don’t want it to scare him away. Is there a product that I can wear and still look beautiful in my sleep?

This is actually a bigger problem then most people think. According to Dr. Philip Longwell about 25 percent of men and 15 percent of women snore. “Snoring happens when air passages in the back of the nose, mouth, and throat narrow. This narrowing, which blocks normal breathing, may be caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal deformity, an enlarged tongue or a soft palate” So are the people who snore just staying at home and not dating? Some may very well be while others take medication; some seek alternative treatments, others go as far as surgery. And a lot of people just live with it and find someone else who can too. But if these options aren’t acceptable to you then don’t fret there is an exciting tool on the market to help you combat your snore. Silent Snooz Snore Relief Aid ($12.95, target.com, cvs.com or drugstores nationwide) is a unique drug free snore relief product that is super discrete and totally effective. This one-size fits all product helps to reduce snoring, promotes freer breathing and relieves nighttime congestion. Snooz come in a variety of aromas and is comfortable and easy to apply. You might want to buy two though in case he snores too.

3. I need some new eye shadow as we move into the fall. What do you suggest I should try?

There are a lot of things I love about the fall. The weather, the changing of the leaves, the wind. But one of my favorite things about the fall is fall makeup. Eye shadow in particular is a fun way to showcase the change of season. In the fall I go with darker nature colors like green, brown, bronzes, gold, grays and soft colors like champagnes. Basically if you can the color on a leave in the fall then its perfect for my eyes in the fall. Some of the most beautiful eye shadows I have seen for this fall are from Prescriptives. They have released the Limited-Edition Well-Suited Eye Color Compact ($40, prescriptives.com). In it you get five sophisticated shades tailored for your eyes. The compacts come in warm, neutral or cool and feature a range of sophisticated shades from tweedy browns to silkily purples and amethyst tones. You can wear one of the colors or all five. There are enough shades in one compact that you can create your own unique fall look.

4. Is there a deep conditioner that works great but doesn’t take forever to work?

I am a deep conditioning addict. I would deep condition my hair every day if I had the time. I just love the way my hair feels after a conditioning treatment. It’s softer, silkier and healthier. But it is a time investment and most people don’t have the time to do one as often as they need one. In order to fix this Garnier Fructis has a great product that gives you the deep conditioning you need quickly. Sleek & Shine Instant Melting Conditioner ($5.24, Drug and Mass Retail Stores Nationwide) is a conditioning breakthrough that instantly melts and deeply conditions to smooth hair and combat frizz. So no matter waiting around for your deep condition to work. Apply this conditioner and it instantly penetrates to improve texture, add moisturize and soften hair. It contains oils like apricot and avocado to help naturally condition the hair from root to tip.