So I was getting my very first session of acupuncture the other day in New York City for a herniated disk in my neck when Master Kim, my Korean acupuncturist, began inserting needles all over my face telling me he was giving me an acupuncture face lift. Before I could even resist, I had these little pins sticking out of my temples, the sides of my nose nose, jaw, cheeks and forehead and was feeling a bit like a human pincushion.

Celebrity Skin Care Secrets

He explained to me that the treatment works by allowing the flow of the Qi (or energy) to the face, which would promote collagen production, increased blood flow and would also eliminate wrinkles and puffiness. He told me it was very good for women over 40 as we need a little more chi flowing to our faces.

As I listened to him, it began to make total sense. I began to relax, imagining my face all Qi’d up and radiant as can be. He placed some of the pins where I tend to furrow and frown, and I could feel those muscles relax instantly.

After the treatment I left his office, and for the rest of the day I received many compliments on my skin. One friend even commented on how happy I appeared to be. So now I’m sold on stickin those buggers in my face whenever I go in to see Master Kim. For any woman considering shooting their faces up with a different kind of needle, give this a go first and see if you get your Chi!

Skin Care At Every Age

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover’s Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

Many women ask me how they can deal with their bouts of eczema as it can be hard to get rid of—and embarrassing to some. The first thing I suggest is to make an appointment with your dermatologist to really get the hard facts on this condition and the correct treatment you can use at home to conquer the issue. If you can’t get in to see a doctor right away, there are a few inexpensive products out there that can ease the symptoms of eczema by soothing the skin and restoring hydration.

I suggest getting the Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Wash and Skin Restoring Moisturizer. Formulated for atopic skin, this cleansing body wash and non-greasy moisturizer will enhance the skin’s ability to retain major moisture and calms the itch.

If you have patches of eczema on your face and would like to hide the redness, start off by applying a rich moisturizer on your face and then apply Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Your Skin Makeup on the area. This moisturizing foundation contains antioxidants and natural botanicals that will help in rejuvenating the skin. It’s also fragrance free and hypoallergenic so it won’t irritate the problem area. Apply it by stippling or pushing the foundation lightly on the face using a non-latex sponge and then skip powder in the areas that are dry and scaly. This will allow the area to stay moist and not increase in flakiness, so nobody will notice the atopic area.

Draw attention to another feature like your eyes by using an opposite eyeliner shade then your eye color to make them stand out. If you have brown eyes use a navy blue, if you have hazel eyes go for a forest green liner. Blue eyes look amazing with a bronzy brown liner, and for green eyes sweep on a deep plum. Apply black mascara and everyone will notice just how beautiful your eyes are.

Try on eyeliner in the Makeover Studio!

Getting squeaky clean skin with no slimy residue can be a tricky, but I have taken my own cleanser challenge to bring to you my top cleanser picks in every category for truly clean healthy skin. And the awards go to…

The best inexpensive cleanser award goes to Cetaphil Daily Facial Skin Cleanser for normal to oily skin. This simple yet effective cleanser erases dirt and makeup in a flash, and for around $7.99, you can’t beat the price. It’s also recommended by most dermatologists and works on any type of skin even if you’re dry.

The best natural cleanser award goes to Alba Botanica Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel. Your skin will feel fresher than ever after a good wash with this cleanser, which is packed with a fabulous marine complex, aloe and antioxidants.

The best makeup remover cleanser award goes to Rodial A-List Cleanser. This cleanser literally melts the most stubborn makeup off in a second without having to scrub yourself silly. It’s great to use on waterproof eyeliner and mascara and never irritates the skin.

The best multi-benefit cleanser award goes to the brand-new Kiehl’s Photo-Age Deep Action Exfoliating Cleanser. I’m currently obsessed with this perfect cleanser that uses sylic acid and scrubbing grains to eliminate dead skin cells and help promote cell turnover. It also contains different natural extracts that help to diminish the appearance of pigment discolorations (the bane of my existence) and vitamin C that neutralizes free radicals involved in the aging process.

The best cleansing wipe award goes to Ponds Original All Day Clean Wet Cleansing Towlette. No other wipe gently removes dirt, oil and makeup without water. It’s perfect if you are super lazy some days and can’t be bothered washing your face!

One thing I have learned looking through women’s makeup bags over the eight years I have been on What Not To Wear is we all have one thing in common. We are messy! None of us seem to keep our makeup free of germs and bacteria or our makeup bags and drawers clean. And when we try on makeup at department or drugstores just how sanitary are we?

Now there is a great solution with the fabulous new line called Beauty So Clean that is like Purell for your beauty routine. This cosmetic sanitizer is just what we need to help prevent the infections, allergic reactions and even acne that dirty makeup can cause. There is a fast-drying Conditioning Brush Cleaner that will keep the filth off your brushes each day, allowing for perfect color application and even blending.

Spray the Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist directly onto your compact face powders, blushes, bronzers and eye shadows for germ-free powder formulas in 10 seconds. The Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes are perfect to throw into your bag to wipe off eyeliners and lipsticks before trying on new shades when you go makeup shopping. These are also great for for women that are prone to cold sores. You can still wear your lipstick or gloss without re-infecting yourself or spreading the infection over and over again. So now there is absolutely no excuse for being a dirty girl, keep it fresh and clean and you will stay pretty and pristine.

On a recent adventure to The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, I heard a myth about the sand on legendary Whitehaven Beach. Local women have been using this powdery white sand for years as the most luxuriant, natural exfoliant to soften wrinkles and eliminate dull skin. Made up of 98% pure silica, which gives it its pure white color, it has been brought to these shores over millions of years by sea currents as the local rocks do not contain silica.

As a lover of body and face scrubs, I just had to try this magical sand and report back to you lovely ladies if the rumors where true. I decided to charter a helicopter and get dropped off on this perfect and pristine beach. Whitehaven Beach is honestly one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen in my life. The sand is so pure and light that even in direct heat it feels cool on the toes. The water is so lovely that immersing yourself in it is like getting a liquid hug. I was lucky enough to experience this awesome beach all by myself slathered in my favorite sunscreen SkinCeutical Sport UV Defense SPF 45 and shielded by a vintage white Panama hat and gold polarized Ray Bans.

I applied sand all over my face and body and began scrubbing away, amazed at how light the sand felt on my skin. When I jumped in the ocean, it took awhile to wash all the fine grains off, but when I did, my skin was polished to perfection and the silkiest it has ever been. So yes, the rumors about Whitehaven Beach are very true, and I recommend choosing vacations that offer special beauty bonuses like this for an unforgettable girly getaway!

This is my second year in a row kicking off the New Year in Sydney, Australia for my winter vacation. I’m always just blown away by how amazing the women are here — we Americans can really learn a thing or two from these beautiful women. They love to hike, kayak, run, surf and swim to stay in shape. They moisturize daily and are diligent about sunscreen, as the Australian sun is the most powerful in the world.

They wear minimal makeup, adding just enough to play up their features in a natural way. A little foundation, highlighter, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lippie (as they call gloss or lipstick) and they are ready to roll. They are comfortable in their own skin and like looking unique and different from one another. Never do you hear these women obsess over weight or age or compare themselves to other women. They smile all the time without worrying about crow’s feet and eat and drink heartily without worrying about every calorie that goes into their body.

I have yet to see an army of plastic surgery addicts like we see in our U.S. cities, or any young girls trying to emulate fake-looking reality show stars who are over-tanned, lips over-plumped and hair, nails and makeup overdone. In a nutshell these Aussie lasses are all about life’s perfect balance. They are happy and healthy and oh so beautiful. So let’s start the new year off like our sisters from down under and embrace our confident selves as it’s never too late to change the way you treat yourself!

The holidays are here, but our skin might not look like so festive. Pale, dull and pasty winter skin can really get us down. With all the fun party makeup to play with, we want our skin to look alive, warm and glowing. There are a few simple steps to get the color and radiance back to your complexion, so whether you slick on a red lipstick or put on a fun set of falsies you will look absolutely stunning.

Exfoliating is very important to eliminate dry and dead skin. Your first step is to use a handful of white sugar in the shower when you wash your face to buff away any dullness. Next, a great self-tanner will instantly bring back that vacation glow and help bronze up your face and body to eliminate the dark days of winter. You want to choose a buildable formula this time of year because a deep, dark, savage tan will look wrong in the colder months. Subtlety is key, so go for a tanner that only deepens you one shade at a time so you can control it. I like the new Jane Iredale tanner called Tantasia that contains natural ingredients to deliver an even tan you can build over three days.

After you warm up your face and body, it’s time to restore luminosity. Blend on Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer, which contains wonderful light-reflecting pigments that help eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and creates a natural glow.

Next, even out your skin tone by using a sheer foundation one shade deeper than normal that will match the tanner new you. My Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Airbrush Spray Makeup has a sheerness that mimics your skin’s natural texture but covers imperfections to create a truly perfect finish. You don’t want to use a separate bronzer — this would be overkill — so your last step is to apply a soft swirl of shimmering blush like Diorskin Shimmer Star on the apples of your cheeks for a spark of brilliance on the face. Now your skin is alive and ready to party!

During the cold, blustery days and nights of winter, the extra-dry air can leave our skin dry and parched. The chapping, redness and tight feeling associated with this can look aging on the skin and make wrinkles more noticeable if you are not careful. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to make sure that moisture stays locked into your skin and your complexion stays radiant.

The first thing to do is to step up your moisturizing routine. Switch from face and body lotions to richer, denser creams and start using extra-rich eye balm every night. I to use love La Mer’s Eye Balm Intense for deep hydration around the eyes while I sleep.

Keep quenching your lips everywhere you go by placing lip balms in strategic areas like your purse, your nightstand, your car and your office desk so you are always covered. My top three lip balm picks are Nude Skin Care Nude Lips, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15 and Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm.

While you are out and about holiday shopping, use makeup that will fight off dehydration. Choose cream blushes instead of powders for more suppleness like Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush. Opt for cream highlighter to “Carmindize” the face, which is my technique for getting glowy, dewy skin even in the freezing cold. I like to use Fresh Satin Luster Palette and place it in three key places. Tap it on under the brows, on the inner corners of the eyes and on top of the cheekbones for moist looking radiance. Use less powder than you would in other seasons so this skin never gets chalky and if you do get shiny try blotting papers in place of adding more powder. You may want to think about investing in a humidifier to put in your bedroom if you really suffer in the dry air, as this will keep you hydrated even when the furnace is kicked into high gear.

Melasma, skin discoloration, sunspots, age spots – on and on it goes. These pigment issues can plague women as we get older no matter how diligent you have been about wearing your sunscreen. The discoloration is usually caused by sun exposure, hormones, and scarring from bad blemishes, but there is hope, and you don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive laser peels to solve the issue. With all the skin care products on the market, though, it’s hard to know which ones actually work and which ones are just hype.

The main ingredient to look for that will lighten these problems is hydroquinone. This is usually prescribed by your dermatologist and applied twice a day morning and night to gradually erase spots. Growing up in Southern California I had a lot of sun exposure, so as I age I battle discoloration with a hydroquinone product called EpiQuin Micro by SkinMedica prescribed by my dermatologist Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton in NYC. It works quickly to fade the dark areas. Remember, you need to stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen even in the winter so the issue does not return.

Another ingredient that works to help erase sun spots is fruit acid, and the IS Clinical White Lightening Complex is an innovative new product that lightens and brightens the complexion with a mix of antioxidants and fruit acids. There is an entire system of IS Clinical products made to help clear up the skin’s pigment problems. In the mean time If you want to fake a lighter brighter look with makeup start off by using Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer. Applying this after your sunscreen in the morning makes your skin look radiant and bright by using light reflecting particles to brighten the skin and antioxidants to improve it.

To brighten up the area under the eyes, use the Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy All Over Brightener Fast Fix Concealer which erases darkness and gives you a well rested look.

Asian women are known for having beautiful skin and remaining relatively ageless. I have discovered some of their magical skin secrets, and now I’m totally hooked. Many of my girlfriends and I travel frequently all over the world and we always bring back whatever fantastic foreign beauty finds we come across to share with one another.

I have just discovered a few facial-cleansing products that come in easy and convenient little travel packets, one from Japan and the other inspired by ancient Chinese medicine to create an energy balance to the skin. The packaging, design and innovation that’s generated from this part of the world never ceases to amaze me and it’s always exciting to play with new products from or inspired by Asian tradition.

The first product is the Komenuka Bijin Facial Cleansing Powder from Japan. This rice bran cleanser gently exfoliates dead skin cells and leaves the skin feeling squeaky-clean. It contains rice bran, aloe, seaweed and coconut oil and when applied to wet skin lathers up in a creamy mask that washes away all impurities and grime. The powder comes in little individual packets housed in a cute clear “Cup O’ Soup” style container and is available at www.komenuka-bijin.com.

Everyone who follows me knows by now that I am a huge fan of antioxidants, so when I discovered the WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads, it was love at first scrub. This pretty box of daily exfoliating packets cleanses the skin and purifies toxins to clear the way for open energy flow. Pomegranate is one of the most powerful antioxidants that’s great for the skin, and the beads scrub away rough skin encouraging new cell growth and revealing brighter younger skin underneath. You can find this fabulous Chinese herbal beauty line at "http://www.weibeauty.com/"target="_blank"rel="nofollow">www.weibeauty.com and be sure to check out the four categories of beauty-balanced skincare.

Most of us only think of creams and lotions when it comes to caring for our skin. but there are a bevy of age-defying skin oils that will moisturize, protect and keep our skin looking as smooth and silky as ever. Some are as simple as a home remedy found in most pantries, and some are from the far corners of the globe.

One of my favorites is pure organic coconut oil that easily absorbs into the skin and contains vitamin E, lauric acid and other antioxidants. It smells heavenly and hydrates the skin naturally. Helena Rubenstein famously quoted, “Don’t put anything on your face that you would not put in your mouth.” and with coconut oil, I could not agree more.

Then, there is the fabled Argan oil from Morocco. This amazing oil is cultivated and harvested by a cooperative made up of Berber tribeswomen and is said to have magical properties containing a myriad of antioxidants. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, strengthens skins elasticity and is said to contain squalene which has been suggested to protect against skin cancer. My favorite form is Arganica Argan Oil. By purchasing through this website, you are not only being kind to your skin, but empowering female cooperatives and protecting the Moroccan Argan forest.

Another incredible oil I love is the organic Nude Skincare Replenishing Oil. It’s incredibly rich in Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9′s, and it absorbs instantly while hydrating with raspberry, cranberry, avellana and kukui extracts to fight the signs of aging.

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate is another natural oil from a British company that contains an organic blend of Argan oil and other antioxidants to ensure a soft and flawless face. Mixed in this luscious liquid is neroli, lavender and chamomile, which makes it smells soothing and light when applied at night. So for a new twist on an old favorite oil-up to moisturize and fight the signs of aging!

I just returned from a great vacation with my mom in Big Sky Montana with plenty of hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding and kayaking. The one thing I just could not deal with was how the air made my skin so incredibly dry. I simply could not get moist no matter how much lotion I slathered on my body! Every night and morning I went through my usual beauty rituals, but nothing seemed to help.

After a long day of hiking, we decided to get messages at The Rainbow Ranch where we were staying. The two message therapists, Barb Van Erp and Cody Karsky-Little, were not only the best masseuses of all time, but quite experienced beauty experts when it came to battling the severe dryness of the mountainous environment. Both were beautiful ladies with great-looking skin and shared their skin hydration secrets with me, which totally solved my ashy flaky Montana skin woes.

The beautiful Barb had a great trick of moisturizing from within with daily doses of flax seed oil. Downing a tablespoon of this rich golden liquid will keep the skin moist from the inside out. If you find it tough to ingest the oil directly, try drizzling it over salads or adding it to your daily protein shakes.

Cody’s beauty tip saves you money as well and can be found at your local drug store. She swears by Cetaphil Cream, which is an intensive solution to extra-dry skin that has her skin looking smooth and silky as can be.

In the town of Big Sky I found a very interesting line of moisturizer from The Prairie Soap Company called Buffalo Tallow Hand and Body Lotion. I bought the Lavender Sage scent and decided to give it a try. It smelled just like all the trails I had been hiking as I had been surrounded by wild sage and fresh summer wild flowers. This lotion contains actual pure buffalo tallow, shea butter, jojoba and aloe for rich hydration and kept my skin soft and supple for hours. So when you are traveling and run into beauty challenges, always ask the locals for their beauty secrets. Their knowledge is priceless!

As you know, I am a total sunscreen junkie and love trying new formulas all the time. I tend to like sunscreens that give my skin maximum protection without causing me to break out, but also allow for easy makeup application over it.

One of my long time favorites is by SkinCeuticals and it’s called Sport UV Defense SPF 45. I have used this one forever and it leaves my dry skin nice and moist with a lovely glow. I wear it all year round and my makeup always looks great on top of it. When this fantastic skin care company decided to launch their new Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50, I knew I was going to be hooked. This light easy fluid contains transparent titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that blends in easily and then creates a mattifying look and feel to the skin.

This formula is absolutely perfect for ladies with normal to oily skin or anyone who may get a bit too shiny throughout the day when the temperature rises. It is paraben-free just like my line of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy products and it also contains artemia salina, a plankton extract that increases the skins defenses against to UV and heat stresses. When using this product just shake it up and then apply the sheer silky fluid and watch it disappear into the skin in a flash. After trying it I kept feeling my skin all day long and was a little obsessed with how smooth and soft it made my skin. So it looks like I have a new fav!

I am a die-hard sunscreen user year round but one problem I faced for years was how to reapply sunscreen throughout the day over my perfectly applied makeup. The answer is powdered sunscreen! How genius is that! There are a few great brands that you can use to not only erase shine during a hot day but also to help protect your skin nonstop.

L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail SPF 20 Sunscreen Powder has 6 great shades that work wonders when the sun is beating down. You can blot your face and keep the nasty UVA and UVB rays from penetrating too. For sunscreen powder with a kick of bronze try Peter Thomas Roth Bronze Instant Mineral SPF 30. You can control the coverage and shade depth for an all over natural looking tan and stay sunburn-free at the same time.

If you don’t want to add any color to your face, try iS Clinical SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen in Translucent. This is a totally self-dispensing sheer non-color powder with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that blocks rays in a safe natural way. Using this colorless sunscreen will never leave your face feeling cakey, only flawless. If you are one of those people who have oily skin that eats makeup, try reapplying during the day with Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation that offers coverage and a full dose of major sunscreen.

Spring is here my beautiful ladies and as we spring clean our homes, closets and makeup bags it is also time to spring clean our bad habits. There are a few bad habits that zap our glow and dull our skin ruining that fabulous luster we should be celebrating this time of year.

The biggest luster buster out there is the social smoking. Girls if you think having just one or two ciggies when you are out with the girls getting your drink on and it won’t have an effect on your skin, you are wrong. I know you don’t consider yourself a “real” smoker this way, but it will ruin your skin just the same. Consider it a complexion killer and don’t do it. Also stay away from people when they do, because it’s like sticking your face behind a bus…nasty! So the sooner you stop the sooner your skin will return to its glowy condition and order up my favorite complexion care giver Glowelle. It’s the anti-oxidant drink packet you sip every day to help jump-start your luminosity.

Another bad habit you must break is falling asleep with your makeup on. I don’t care how tired, sick or lazy you are, haul your pretty butt into the bathroom and cleanse and moisturize that face. Overnight, your skin needs time to rejuvenate and should be able to do that without being suffocated by the days old makeup and toxins picked up from the outdoors. So be nice to your face and pamper it nightly for radiant fresh looking skin in the morning. Choose a moisturizer that contains ingredients like antioxidants and natural botanicals to help skin replenish itself. I adore the entire Skinceuticals line.

Besides smoking the other worst habit on the planet would be the dreaded disgusting tanning bed. If you want to guarantee you will look shriveled and old way before your time be my guest and shove your self into that hot cooker and press the fry button. It is so damaging to your skin I can’t even begin to tell you so instead grab a good self-tanner and bronze up in a healthy way. My new favorite is the one by L’Occitane called Castanha. It leaves no funky smell and looks great on the bod! If you want a super fast way to fake a radiant glow no matter how bad a girl you have been you can always smooth on my Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer to the face and body. It is still best to live a beautifully healthy lifestyle to have that luster and ethereal light all the time.