It’s here and then it’s gone. Beach days, vacations and camp — one sandy blur. For some of you summer is winding down. Here in California things are just starting to really heat up. As we roll from August into September and even October, we’re still dealing with heat, sunshine and the question of how we care for our skin.
Sunny days and fragrant tonics remind me of my sweet granny. When I was a little girl we used to sit together outside in her garden. She would sip her tea (vodka tonic) and I would drink homemade root beer or fresh apple cider, depending on the time of year — both made from scratch by my papa and granny with a village of friends and family to help.
My granny was covered in character lines with beautiful, smart, wrinkly hard-working hands. The only thing she complained about was what she called barnacles. It was never the wrinkles or running out of red lipstick that got her goat. It was just those barnacles.
Picture me sitting beside her imagining the white crusty things on the seashells from those rocky Pacific Northwest beaches. She’d point at something on the side of her leg, the top of her hands or a cluster forming on the left side of her face — THE DRIVING SIDE.
All these years later I think about her. These things never really bothered me until now. However, at this age, they bother me. Inspiration to fix things comes in many forms. For me the images of my childhood have had a lasting effect — guiding my business and my deepest concern, caring for your skin (and mine) with the utmost love.
Barnacle Buster
Your best defense against the crusty look of sun, time and summer — on face, hands and chest.
As you know I’m an expert at exfoliation. I thrive in this environment, and so does our skin. This all-natural tonic is made to soften the look of rough, weathered patches and help skin look smoother, brighter and more even in tone.
How I use it
On a clean face at night, apply over the areas you’re focused on. If the area is the size of a dime, treat it as if it’s the size of a nickel — that way you know you’ve covered it completely.
If you’re planning professional treatments this fall, preparing your skin in advance makes a real difference in your results. If lasers and deep peels simply aren’t your thing, this is my keep-it-clean alternative.
Here’s to you, Granny.
Heather’s hot tip for hot weather: the washcloth in the freezer
This one may sound ridiculous but trust me — it works. So many of you ask what to do about swollen, irritated tissue around the eye area, especially when the environment or a product has you reacting.
Take several clean washcloths, wet them and lay them in a cake pan in the freezer. Morning or night pull one out and let it sit on the counter while you make your coffee or while you have a glass of something you love in the evening. Then, on a clean face, gently press the cold, softened cloth onto the orbital area and let it rest there.
It’s a simple way to address that itchy, puffy feeling. Give your eyes a break from the usual creams and serums, helping everything calm down.
— Heather