Hi!
The AskElle section of this blog is a collection of common questions that I have been asked over the years.
If you have a question, need direction on what products may be best for you, or need an evaluation of the products you are currently using, but don’t love, please email askchasingtwenty@gmail.com
Chasing Twenty 
Hello! Nice to meet you too! Hope you enjoy my blog. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here 🙂
Hi! I was wondering how to deal with the fine wrinkles that we get whilein our twenties,mostly frown lines. Many products on the market are too heavy for such young skin and can result in breakouts. Please help me figure out how to keep looking my age!
Hi Lacy!
Thank you for such a great question! So here’s the skinny on PRESERVING your twenties 😉
While many anti-aging products on the market are tend to be on the ‘heavier’ side, there are still many options for young skin depending on your skin type.
To keep it simple, start with a cleanser that has an alpha hydroxy acid (unless you have acne) to keep the skin cells turning over constantly. I would definitely use a Hyaluronic acid serum, as well as a light moisturizer, and SUNBLOCK! The sun is the number one culpret when it comes to aging the skin. If you spend alot of your time outdoors, as I do, wear your sunblock and a hat.
I would also recommend treating yourself to a series of chemical peels (every 4-6 weeks) to promote cell turnover and regeneration, at a deeper level. Keeping the skin ‘new’ really is key in getting down to the nitty gritty 🙂
You’ve inspired me with this question so I will include more details on Hyaluronic Acid in my blog post today! Stay tuned 😉
Hope that helps!
~Elle
HMMMM…I have always heard such wonderful things about Avon and Mary Kay…Do you suggest any? Which is best? It’s for someone entering 30’s who wants to keep wrinkles away and have great YOUNG looking skin !!!
Hi Susie!
Ahhh, the infamous Avon vs Mary Kay question!
Well, for starters, I am not a huge fan of either. I find that the quality is less than great and the price point is comparable to better options. That being said, if you’re looking to purchase eyeshadow, lipgloss, or lipstick, either brand should be fine. But when it comes to products like foundation, powder, and blush, I would definitely be more choosy, as these products will actually stay on your skin throughout the day.
Its important to be cautious with products that stay on the skin since, depending on the ingredients, they can clog the pores, irritate the skin, and cause the skin to become unbalanced (dryer/ oilier). Not to mention, the long list of cancer-causing ingredients that many product lines use, since the cosmetic industry is so poorly regulated.
Overall, for youthful looking skin, the key is mostly in your skin care regimen and diet, not your makeup 😉
Hope this helps 😉
~Elle
Hi Susie Q!
You are NOT alone! Millions of people suffer from sun damage… that’s what those spots and freckles are. In women, they seem to pop op or get more pronounced after you have a baby due to the combination of hormones and sun exposure. But in actuality, anyone at anytime can develop signs of sun damage.
It’s really quite simple, while basking in the sun and getting that beautiful tanned glow on your skin looks and feels great, that color you see developing is the result of injury to the epidermis (top layer of the skin). Melanin (cells that produce color) production is the skin’s defense against the sun.
In the case where your makeup seems to disappear throughout the day, it may very well be the case, but what is more than likely happening is that everytime you expose the skin to the sun that melanin is being activated and those spots are getting darker. Hence, they seem to be more visible at the end of the day. Most of us don’t think of sun exposure as a simple trip to the grocery store, but exposure is exposure.
First and foremost, see a Dermatologist at least once a year to have your skin checked out. ALWAYS use a sunscreen. I recommend Obagi Nu Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35. Make it part of your daily routine first thing in the morning. That way, you’ll never forget. 😉 Makeup alone isn’t going to do the trick so here are some options on ways to lessen their appearance.
1. Retinol (Vitamin A) promotes cell turnover and exfoliation by stimulating cell production underneath the skin and encouraging healthier cells to appear. Skin will appear smoother, softer, and signs of aging (sun spots) will start to diminish. I recommend SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0.
2. Chemical Peels/ Microdermabrasion
3. Laser.
Here is a link to the products I mentioned above http://astore.amazon.com/ovelun-20
Hope this help 🙂
Elle
what about sun spots and freckles, my makeup covers it but by the time the afternoon hits its like the make up is gone ! And you see all the FRECKLES and SUNSPOTS ..
I hate dark circles !!! What can I do to get rid of them???? Sleep doesn’t seem to help
Hi
Hi Jacquelyne! Thank you for your question.
You bring up a very important point on sleep! Fatigue and lack of sleep aren’t the main reasons for under-eye circles. Sometimes puffy eyelids can cast a shadow or the hollows under the eyes start to develop, as a normal part of aging. But most of the time the contributor is genetics, particularly if you find that you’ve had them since you were young.
Here are some other contributors to consider… allergies, food allergies (dairy, wheat, chocolate, etc), nasal congestion, sun exposure, alcohol, and caffeine. Remember that food allergies don’t necessarily mean that you are unable to consume those things… it may just be that they don’t agree well with your body (chemistry) and you wouldn’t really know it until you eliminated it from your diet to see if there was any improvement.
As far as saying bye bye to those dark circles, you have three options:
1. Monitor what you take into your body and see if you notice when they seem to get better or worse.
2. Makeup. Using a good concealer should do the trick to cover them up. I recommend Laura Mercier Eye Basics by Laura Mercier or Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage SC-3 by Laura Mercier. Here is a link to amazon where you can take a look at them both: http://astore.amazon.com/ovelun-20.
3. Laser. In recent years they have developed laser treatments to diminish the appearance of dark circles and perhaps removing them for good. Downside is it can get pretty expensive and there’s no real guarantee.
Hope this helps 🙂
Elle