Congratulations to the 5 WINNERS!!

They each receive a pack comprising of a QV Face Day Cream 75g, QV Face Nurturing Night Cream 50g, QV Face Eye Cream 15g and a 2012 diary organiser.

Tanya Collins from Bracken Ridge QLD
To spend less time at work and spend it with family, more exercising and a little less drinking alcohol and eating more healthier

Jeriza Cheng from Woodcroft NSW
Stop worrying too much and be positive. I tend to worry too much even on small things that I find not good and I tend to look on the negative side rather than dealing on the positive side.

Sharon Boobyer from Lewiston SA
Take some time out for myself, number 4 due in March – as much as it is for me its also for the kids.

Sergeja Bosanac from Kingsgrove NSW
My New Year’s resolution is try to face challenges in a more positive manner and embrace lifes experiences as a learning opportunity.

Kate Berridge from Mona Vale NSW
2012 is going to be the year of looking after myself even more, getting fitter, healthier and happier than ever before

–

Would you like to start 2012 on the right track?

To celebrate the start of 2012, we are giving away to five lucky winners a QV Face New Year New Me pack. The pack comprises of a QV Face Day Cream 75g, QV Face Nurturing Night Cream 50g, QV Face Eye Cream 15g and a 2012 diary organiser.

To enter, simply tell us in 25 words or less, What is your new year’s resolution?

Competition closes at 11.59pm AEST Wednesday, 29th of February 2012.

Good Luck!

From sunburns to dry, flaky skin to germ-laden beauty supplies, summer weather can be tough on your skin and beauty routine. USA TODAY’s Michelle Healy asks skin care experts for advice on keeping your face and skin healthy and protected in the season ahead:

Sunscreen: You should be applying sunscreen all year round but come warm weather and even more opportunities to be outdoors, the most important thing you can do to care for your skin is using “sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in East Bay, Calif., and clinical instructor at the University of California, San Francisco. She recommends zinc-based sunblocks for best protection and stresses the importance “all skin types and ethnicities” reapplying it every two hours as people become more active.

And all skin types and ethnicities require daily use of sunscreen. “Even darker skin tones are susceptible
to sunburns, skin cancers, brown spots, and wrinkles, just like Caucasian skin,” says Badreshia-Bansal.

If you’re using “photosensitizing topical or oral medications, such as antibiotics or retinoid products it is even more important to practice this basic step,” she says.

A growing number of moisturizers and foundations now contain sunscreen, but users typically put on these products sparingly and do not reapply them regularly, so “you may not be getting the full SPF (sun protection factor) you need,” says dermatologist Jocelyn Lieb, associate director of Advanced Dermatology P.C. in Ridgewood, N.J.

“A moisturizer with a strong SPF of at least 50 can be used without an additional sunblock,” she says.
“But otherwise it’s best to first put on a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, followed by moisturizer and foundation or base, if you use it.”

Some brands of mineral makeup are promoted as offering UV protection, often because they contain
a high content of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, two ingredients commonly found in traditional sunscreen. But “the jury is still out” on the level of protection they provide, says Lieb.

Neglected places: The chest, back of hands, ears and lips are often neglected when it comes to sun protection, but they also need shielding from the sun’s damaging rays, says dermatologist
Joshua Zeichner, director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York.

An opaque lipstick (preferably with an SPF rating of 15 or above applied every two hours) or a sports stick with sunscreen are good bets to protect the lips, but avoid wearing plain petroleum jelly or lip glosses that don’t include sunscreen before spending considerable time in the sun, says Lieb. “They can act like baby oil, absorbing UV rays and leading to sunburns.”

To get dry, flaky skin prepped for summer exposure, gently exfoliate to give the skin a smoother and brighter appearance. “You’re not only removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, you’re also removing dirt and oil,” says Zeichner. Whether it’s an over-the-counter body scrub or microdermabrasian kit, he recommends limiting the process to once a week and never exfoliating sunburned skin. Exfoliation is also a must if you use a sunless tanning product to help ensure even coverage, he says.

When to toss old makeup: Be aware that germs can lurk in old makeup and beauty supplies. Loofah sponges, for example, may be great at removing dead skin cells, but dermatologist Jocelyn Lieb doesn’t recommend them because they “offer the perfect warm, wet, dark environment for bacteria to grow.”

Mascara, eye shadow or any other eye-area makeup “should immediately be tossed if you’ve had any recent eye infections such as conjunctivitis,” says dermatologist Sonia Badreshia-Bansal.

In fact, old eye makeup goes “off” in texture and color and can also breed bacteria that causes eye irritation or infection, says celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter, co-author of The Makeup Wakeup: Revitalizing Your Look at Any Age.

Under normal circumstances, manufacturers typically recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase, because of repeated microbial exposure during use and the risk of eye infections, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA notes that eye makeup “has a shorter shelf life than other cosmetics.”

Figuring out beauty products’ shelf-life can be difficult, given that expiration dates are not mandatory.
Even when they are posted, they are general guidelines, says the FDA, and products may start to degrade before the expiration date if not stored properly.

Zeichner recommends tossing any product that “doesn’t look right, smell right or isn’t working the way
it did initially.”

Article source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/your-look/story/2011/05/Expert-advice-on-summer-skin-care/47074654/1

Image source: © federico stevanin ¦ www.freedigitalphotos.net
federico stevanin’s portfolio is:
www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=149

I believe that no beauty ritual should be viewed as a chore – especially those that have to be done once
a day or more. Which is why the moment I looked at my cleanser and toner bottles and sighed, I knew something had to be done.

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree that every time you lay down for a facial or treatment, you’re automatically on an express train to cloud nine. Is it the candlelit surroundings and soothing ocean music? Or is it simply the care that the therapist takes with your face (even though she’s essentially just cleansing, toning, moisturising for the majority of the treatment)?

Either way, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to ensure that your morning routine is far from tedious:

• Take your time. This means not just slathering a pad with cleanser and smooshing it over your face. My trick  is to fill up your sink with warm water, add a few drops of a nice essential oil and take in the scent as you begin your beauty routine.
• Make it comfortable. Don’t rub your eyes with a make-up wipe. Rather, dip your pads into warm water before adding cleanser and pressing the pads over your eyes to remove stubborn makeup.
• Swipe, don’t tug. Your complexion is delicate – you wouldn’t see beauty therapists tugging at that delicate skin – so make sure you swipe your cleanser over your eyes and face in long, graceful motions so you feel as though you’re being seen to by a professional.

Article source: http://www.beautyheaven.com.au/skin-care/cleansers-washes/make-your-morning-routine-more-than-mediocre-5548

Image source: ©Michal Marcol | www.freedigitalphotos.net
Michal Marcol’s portfolio is:
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What do you do to pamper yourself?

To often in this busy day and age, we do not take the time out to treat ourselves.
Let QV Skincare treat your skin, by winning a QV Love Yourself pack.

To enter, simply tell us in 25 words or less, what do you do to pamper yourself?

Competition closes at 11.59pm AEST Wednesday, the 29th of February 2012.

Good Luck!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

With everyday skincare, rules apply, writes Kate Lovelace.

Rule one: simplify your beauty routine
Do you use too many active skincare products at once?

Why it’s bad
If you’re using several anti-ageing products at once, you could be over-dosing on retinols (vitamin A) and AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), which may cause the skin to react.

If you’re self-prescribing, you might not be using the best formulas for your skin type.

What to do

• Use active ingredients with caution
• Speak with a consultant before buying new skincare.
• Take note of what’s in your current skincare to avoid doubling up on ingredients.
• Test new products behind the ear or under the jawline.
• Aim to use up the whole tub or tube to see if a product is really working for you.

Rule two: don’t over-cleanse
You adore the feeling of squeaky-clean skin and cleanse at every chance.

Why it’s bad
“Over-zealous cleansing actually exacerbates an oily skin problem,” says cosmetic physician Dr Sarah Freilich.

If we strip away surface oils, the skin responds by producing even more oil.
It removes skin-protective bacteria, making you more susceptible to infection.

Over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can make skin prone to sensitivity.

What to do

• Only use a foaming cleanser if your skin is oily.
• Avoid overly astringent toners that dry the skin.
• Don’t cleanse more than twice a day or exfoliate more than twice a week.
• Replace harsh scrubs with a peel-off mask (which removes dead cells) or one with exfoliating fruit enzymes (such as papaya), plus hydrating ingredients.

Rule three: stop squeezing pimples
As soon as a spot appears, you just can’t keep your hands away.

Why it’s bad
“Squeezing pimples damages the skin and makes pimples worse,” says dermatologist Dr Jo-Ann See.

By rupturing the follicle you release irritants into the skin that cause further inflammation, which can result
in scarring.

Some skin types develop permanent hyperpigmentation in the area as a reaction to this kind of trauma.

What to do

• If you’re prone to pimples use specialised skincare.
• When temptation arises, dab on a topical blemish-zapper in place of squeezing.
• If a large pimple appears before an important occasion, ask your GP or dermatologist for a shot
  of cortisone, which reduces inflammation and makes spots disappear fast.

Do you really have sensitive skin?
Does your skin react:

• A every time you use a skincare product
• B sometimes
• C only with a certain product

If you answered B or C , it’s unlikely that your skin is truly sensitive. If you don’t have a history of allergies, it could just be that you’re not treating your skin properly. “Sun damage or over-use of products can weaken the skin’s barrier function,” warns Dr See.

Stop using all products for one month, except a gentle cleanser and a water-based cream sold at pharmacies. Then re-introduce other products, one at a time.

Beauty swaps

• Avoid using soap which dries the skin; instead, choose a mild shower gel.
• Replace harsh scrubs with a gentle peel-off mask or enzyme exfoliant.
• Trade anti-ageing skincare for one item that’s professionally prescribed for you.

Article source: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/pamper/beauty/695440/clean-sweep

Image source: © Andrea Rankovic | Dreamstime.com
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Gong xi gong xi, lovely readers!

Congratulations to:

Frances Palmer from Sandy Bay in Tasmania!!

Congratulations Frances, we hope that you enjoy your:

Year’s supply of QV Face products; Weekly cleaner for 3 months; Groceries delivered to your home for
3 months; Village Gold Class family tickets; Yoga sessions for a year; and a brand new smart phone!

The 10 runners up (who each recieve a QV Face gift pack) are:

Helen Marin from Gladstone QLD

Bree Jor from Swan View WA

Kam Raffelt from Ardross WA

Simon Parise from Stirling WA

Carly Elliott from Frankston VIC

Susan Mckernan from Mordialloc VIC

Sandy Heales from Lesmurdie WA

Mary Sladek from Glengowrie SA

Diana Boyd from Corio VIC

Meaghan McKeown from Stanmore NSW

Summer is here, and for many this means holidays, parties with friends, spending time with family and making sure your skin looks healthy, glowing and gorgeous. Unfortunately, sun damage, shaving and your diet all play a role when it comes to a healthy glowing complexion. Here are some skincare tips to help you maintain softer, smoother skin this summer.

Be sun smart
You need to protect yourself from the sun. We all know that UV rays are a hazard all year round, and sun damage is the number one extrinsic cause of premature ageing and skin cancer.

Protect yourself from the sun by generously applying sunscreen daily to all exposed skin (avoiding the eye area) at least 15 minutes before heading outdoors to help prevent sunburn and sun damage, and use a sunscreen with SPF 30+ broad-spectrum protection. You should wear sun protection daily to help avoid premature ageing and skin cancer. Remember to reapply every two hours spent outside as well as, after swimming, exercise and towelling dry. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear. QV Face Moisturising Day Cream and QV Face Lip Balm not only moisturise, but also provide SPF 30+ protection.

Cleansing
No matter what the season, it is ideal to cleanse your face twice a day. When cleansing, use QV Face Gentle Cleanser, a mild soap-free cleanser that leaves your skin feeling fresh and soft, not tight or dry.
The pH balanced formulation allows the skin to be cleansed without stripping off the natural protective oils, which can exacerbate the feeling of dryness.

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
Your body sheds dead skin cells every day. Use a gentle exfoliant to slough off dead skin and help prevent your skin from looking dull and dry. Gentle enough to use everyday, QV Face Exfoliating Polish dual-action helps exfoliate and cleanse your skin from impurities and dead skin cells; while the added Avemide 15™ calms and soothes skin and safflower oil replenishes moisture levels leaving your skin feeling silky soft. Continue to do this 2 – 3 times a week for year – round beautiful skin.

Hydrate your skin
Probably the most important beauty regime is moisturising. If your skin is only a little dry, you can use lotion, and if it’s very dry, you can use a cream. Moisturise after you exfoliate, shave, and shower to help seal in the skin’s moisture.

During the hot and humid summer season, you really want to make sure that whatever moisturiser you choose, it is also non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores. QV’s range of Body and Face moisturisers are gentle enough for sensitive skin and are also non-comedogenic.

Image source: © Bsilvia | Dreamstime.com
www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-photo-skin-care-rimagefree2026013-resi3354033

It has been implicated in a range of diseases from cancer to diabetes, but just how important is vitamin D?

Most of us feel naked outdoors without wearing a hat or sunscreen, but some doctors are now cautiously recommending doing just that: going sans protection, to combat rising vitamin D deficiency.

Research shows vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption but it could help to prevent some cancers,
in particularly breast, prostrate and colon; as well as osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

While vitamin D has been linked to aiding this increasing list of illnesses, researchers do not agree on how significant its role is.

“The best evidence is that it can help bones and prevent falls. For cancer diabetes and inflammatory disease there is some suggestive data, but it still has a way to go before it’s proven or part of treatment,” Associate Professor Jackie Center from The Garvan Institute says.

Around 30 per cent of Australians are thought to be vitamin D deficient by the end of summer. This figure increases to 40 per cent by the end of winter. Most people with a mild vitamin D deficiency are not unaware of the problem, nor would they feel any different after taking supplements or sitting in the sun.

Vitamin D is produced when a compound in the skin, called 7-dehydrocholesterol, is exposed to the high end of the UV spectrum. It is measured by a simple blood test. If a person is found to have low levels, a GP will prescribe vitamin D supplements to build up stores. A blood test is often repeated several months later to determine further treatment.

The signs of vitamin D deficiency
Those with a high level of deficiency may complain of muscle aches and pain.

People with dark skin, who may remain covered for religious reasons, and the very elderly are at a greater risk of low vitamin D levels.

But worryingly some children are not getting enough sun, leading to rickets, a condition causing softening of the bones commonly seen as bowing of the legs.

Even people in the 20s and 30s – a generation bought up on the Slip, Slop, Slap sun protection message – are showing low levels of vitamin D.

The problem for doctors is how to ensure their patients get enough sunlight without putting them at risk of skin cancer.

“I think twenty minutes of direct sun exposure in the early morning or afternoon will help [with vitamin D deficiency]. And in some people that is enough,” says Associate Professor Center.

The health benefits of vitamin D
While researchers are still determining the importance of vitamin D, there appears to be a strong link between the deficiency and gestational diabetes.

Research conducted at Westmead Hospital found pregnant women with lower levels of vitamin D are at greater risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Mothers deficient in vitamin D can have an affect on the bones of the unborn baby, with some children born with lower bone mass and calcium levels.

Doctors are recommending expectant mothers to have their vitamin D levels checked during pregnancy to monitor the risk.

Vitamin D food sources
A small amount of vitamin D is found in our diet from foods such as egg yolk, liver and some margarines, butter and milk. The best sources however are found naturally in fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel. Although these sources of vitamin D are unlikely to boost a person’s levels on their own.

Naturopath Deborah Draffin from Sydney Wholistic urges all her patients to be tested for vitamin D through their GP and recommends supplements.

“If levels are deficient or in the marginally deficient range then I find supplementation essential to bring levels up, along with educating them on how to maintain adequate levels.”

How much sun is enough?
Dr Rachel Neale from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research is fearful promoting the vitamin D message threatens to undo years of sun safety education. “We are risking our safe sun message for something that we need to know a lot more about,” she warns.

Neale believes the link between vitamin D and other illnesses is more to do with lifestyle factors.
For example, the obese tend to have low levels of vitamin D from spending more time indoors.

While sun cream will physically stop vitamin D penetration in a laboratory situation, research shows most of us to do not apply it thickly or evenly enough to completely block out the sun’s rays, says Professor Rebecca Mason, President of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society.

The amount of direct sunlight that is needed to make enough vitamin D varies from a few hours a week
to a few minutes per day, depending on the season and location.

Anita Catalano, in her early 40s, suffers from vitamin D deficiency
“I decided to get my levels checked after a study at my work found 42 per cent of the workers at our head office were vitamin D deficient. It made me curious about my own levels but I was shocked at the results.
It was 28 nmol per litre, meaning I was quite deficient. I have been on three supplements a day since December and will be having a follow up blood test soon. I have always worn sunscreen and still do, despite having low levels of vitamin D. But now when I have a break at work, I’ll go to the nearby park and roll up my sleeves and my pants and get a few minutes of sunshine. I know vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many illnesses and as you get older, I think it’s important to take as much preventative action as you can.”

A guide to getting vitamin D
Sydney, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne
June-July: Two to three hours per week, around midday, baring as much skin as possible.
Summer: A few minutes on most days, outside peak UV  times. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon are best. Expose the face, arms and hands.

Darwin, Brisbane
All year round: A few minutes on most days, outside peak UV times. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon are best. Expose face, arms and hands.

Adelaide, Hobart
May-August: Two to three hours per week around midday, baring as much skin as possible.
Summer: A few minutes on most days outside peak UV times. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon are best. Expose face and arms.

Who is at risk of vitamin D deficiency?

Those with very fair or very dark skin
Being overweight or obese
Anyone over 65 years
Stomach problems affecting their ability to absorb nutrients
People with low calcium intake

Article source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health+healing/news+features/whats+so+big+about+vitamin+dr,14701

Image source: © Pavalache Stelian | Dreamstime.com
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For women who have a ‘severe lack of time’ or are ‘more honest’ and admit they may be ‘slightly lazy’, here is a simple daily beauty routine you can learn and do with flair and ease.

Zoe Foster’s time-saving beauty routine: step 1
First, cleanse your face. Why? To get rid of all that rich night cream you put on last night. Next, apply skin care products – you can get away with only one but it needs to be a face cream with very high sun protection every single day, right down to the boobs.

Zoe Foster’s time-saving beauty routine: step 2
Use either a tinted moisturiser all over the face and apply a little loose powder on top to set it so it lasts,
or if you prefer more coverage, apply a liquid foundation. (Liquids and crème products are generally faster and easier to apply than powders.) But do use some base – even if it is just a tint, it does wonders for making your face look alive and even toned. Apply some concealer under the eyes to brighten and conceal any blemishes.

Zoe Foster’s time-saving beauty routine: step 3
The fastest make-up route to looking ‘done’, in my opinion, is using your fingers and simple items that give big results, so that you look like you expended more effort than you did. (If you have oily skin, you will probably prefer to use powders over crèmes.) Here’s the most basic make-up routine I can come up with, and it looks great! It really does!

• Mascara. (More is better if you’re wearing little else on the face.) Curl your lashes first, preferably.
• Crème blush on the apples of the cheeks. (Try Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Copper – suits everyone.)
• Lipstick or gloss. (Try a soft baby coral – it’s universally flattering.)

If you want to add a little more:

• Wash of taupe eye shadow over the eyelid.
• Brown or black eyeliner along the upper lashline.
• Bronzer.

Zoe Foster’s time-saving beauty routine: step 4
Add perfume, pull your hair back loosely into a low bun and add some spangly ear candy. I buy earrings from Topshop or Sportsgirl (very cheaply) and they always make me look like I’ve spent more time on my outfit than I have.

Zoe Foster’s time-saving beauty routine: step 5
Check the time. It should be around 5–7 minutes after you started this routine. Which, you will note, is less than 10 minutes. Which, you will also note, means A) my heading wasn’t a lie, and B) you walloped it.
Well done!

Article source: http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-beauty-The-daily-beauty-routine-for-time-deprived-women+5987+176+article.htm

Image source: © Photoeuphoria | Dreamstime.com
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