Does it seem like one day you looked in the mirror and out of know where your skin just started going crazy? Sudden bouts with acne and hyperpigmentation for example can be frustrating and getting to the bottom of how to fix it can be twice as hard. If you need help figuring out what is behind your recent skin changes, keep reading to learn some of the triggers that contribute to sudden changes in the skin.

Hormones

Hormonal changes are a common factor that contribute to changes in the skin for women.  Hormonal changes are closely linked to acne. These shifts can stimulate excess sebum and lead to acne at different points in a woman’s life. This is because women’s hormones are constantly fluctuating. Acne spikes can occur during menopause, during pregnancy, and before menstruation for example. In some instances a doctor may prescribe birth control to help manage these hormonal changes which may result in favorable changes to the skin.

Allergies

Are the changes you’re experiencing on your skin due to an allergy?  Itching, redness, swelling and inflammation could all be a sign of an allergy. Please note that allergies are not only confined to skincare products, environmental conditions can also aggravate the skin. An allergist can help get to the root cause of the problem and specifically identify items you may have an intolerance or sensitivity to. Knowing your specific allergens can help you to eliminate and minimize contact with items that are triggers to you and your skin.

Stress

Stress can seriously contribute to changes in the skin. If you are under a great deal of stress or pressure it can negatively affect the skin.  Too much stress can lead to acne, itch and rash. It is important to manage stress and monitor changes that occur on the skin when your stress level is high.

Medicine

Certain medications can cause changes with the skin ranging from extreme dryness, sun sensitivity, peeling, and rash. It is very important to read the accompanying informational literature that comes along with your medication to learn about the potential side effects from taking it. If you have questions about a medication and its impact on your skin, you can always ask the pharmacist questions at the time the medication is dispensed or follow up with your doctor.

If you are experiencing sudden changes with your skin and can’t figure it out, consult your doctor for advice and options.  If you do not have a consistent skin care routine, try washing your face on a daily basis with our Awakening Milk & Honey Cleanser to get things moving in the right direction.

Ingredients 101: Willow Bark

One of the most common skin concerns women of color have is acne scarring. The dilemma on how to fade acne scars naturally can be frustrating and difficult to deal with, but it is possible. Willow bark is one of the many ingredients our YELLE Beauty Team relies on to help fade dark spots and blemishes. Keep reading to learn more about willow bark and what makes it a great go-to solution for getting rid of acne scars.

What is Willow Bark?

There are several varieties of willow trees. Early scientists used various types of the tree to treat everything from headaches to stomach pain. The white willow tree is the type most commonly attributed to treating skin ailments.

How It Works

Willow bark extract is derived from the bark of the willow tree, the extract from It contains salicin from which salicylic acid is derived however the two ingredients are not the same. Salicin must be chemically converted into salicylic acid. The two are related but not the same.  Salicin is anti-inflammatory and helps with wrinkles, pore size, and evening the skin tone. The extract from white willow bark contains a variety of additional minerals that benefit the skin including polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids. Polyphenols provide significant antioxidant benefits, the astringent power of tannins help to ward off bacterial infections, and flavonoids help to neutralize free radicals.

Benefits

Willow bark is excellent in providing non-irritating exfoliation, reducing inflammation, evening the skin tone and clearing and preventing breakout.

Usage

Use the YELLE Brightening Serum after cleansing with our Awakening Milk & Honey Cleanser and Toner. Apply serum to the skin, allow to dry, and then apply our moisturizer.  Our Brightening Serum is paired with glycolic acid as well as other natural plant-based brighteners to help minimize dark spots. Do not mix this with other prescription or over the counter lighteners, doing so could irritate the skin.  Our Brightening Serum also contains an AHA after each use remember to apply sunscreen to protect your skin.

Each YELLE skin care routine has an accompanying concentrated luxe serum to compliment your skin. If you need a skin care routine or would like to enhance your existing regimen, take a look at each of our serums and select the one that is right for you. Choose from Awakening Peptide Boosting Serum, Awakening Brightening Serum or Awakening Hydrating Serum.

Apply These 4 Tips to Improve Your Beauty Hygiene

Bacteria and other contaminants can limit the shelf life of your favorite beauty products. Keep reading to learn important tips to limit your risk and improve your beauty hygiene.

Wash Your Hands

Before you begin your skin routine ALWAYS wash your hands.  Washing your hands is one of the most important things you can do to minimize the spread of germs and sickness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) germs from sneezing, coughing, handling raw meats, and using the bathroom are easily transferrable.  You should wash your hands either before, during, or after each of these activities to ensure your hands are free of contaminants. Before you even apply your YELLE Awakening Milk & Honey Cleanser to you skin, wash and dry your hands to ensure that they are free from bacteria.  The CDC also recommends only using hand sanitizer when you can’t use soap and water.

Practice Proper Washcloth Hygiene

Make sure you use clean washcloths to cleanse your skin. Washcloths can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Make sure you have two separate wash cloths on hand one for the face and one for the body to avoid the transfer of bacteria. Some dermatologist suggests replacing face towels after every use to avoid reintroducing bacteria into the pores. If you ever notice a musty smell in you washcloths, was them immediately, and try to avoid that from happening again.  If you find it difficult to keep up with all that laundry try disposable cotton squares and sponges to curb your laundry load and to keep the bacteria away.

Use Applicators

Use applicators such as cotton swabs and spatulas to dispense lotions and creams packaged in jars. If you place contaminated fingertips into products, they can introduce harmful bacteria into your products. Limit your risk by using cotton swab or spatulas to dispense product.  Remember not to reuse the same cotton swab or spatula when applying your skincare products. You should reach for a new one each time and discard after each use.

Discard Old Products

Discard old or rancid skincare products. Products that have changed color or that have an odor for example should be immediately tossed, they could be contaminated. Using expired products on your skin can cause problem and lead to possible reactions. It is helpful to perform a periodic review of all your beauty products and get rid of those with an expired shelf life.

Skincare is not just about the products you use to keep your skin healthy it’s about engaging in daily habits to support your overall skin health. Please stay connected with us on the blog to learn more tips on caring for your skin.

Kids Skincare 101: DIY Male Grooming Kit for the Young Man in Your Life

    Smelly socks, stinky feet, and questionable hygiene are some of the unfortunate stereotypes associated with young boys and their hygiene. While this may be a reality for some it certainly does not have to be the norm for our young boys. When it comes to taking care of their skin parents can set the tone and introduce habits to the young male in their life that will encourage them to take care of their skin and actively practice healthy habits. One way to bring this idea to life is to make your son a personal grooming kit to keep inside his book bag or locker.  Keep reading for details on what to put inside and how to get your son comfortable using it.

Start with A Conversation

Before you toss a grooming kit into your pre-teens backpack be sure to have a discussion with him that addresses puberty, the importance of self-care and in having pride in one’s personal appearance.  Use the conversation as an opportunity to teach your child the positive role that healthy skin and hygiene plays in their development. Tell them you are going to be creating a personal grooming kit to keep inside of their book bags so that they can feel comfortable all day long at school and at other activities outside of school. This activity is suitable for pre-teens ages 9-13 and promotes positive health and hygiene, organization, self-awareness, and positive self-esteem.

Create the Grooming Kit

Allow your child the opportunity to get involved in creating their grooming kit. Start by having them pick out a decorative pencil or portable pouch to house the essentials of the kit. Remember to pick packaging that is spill proof to avoid potential spills and accidents.  Place a toothbrush and travel size toothpaste inside the pouch, small 4 x 4 cotton squares along with the YELLE Awakening milk and honey cleanser and moisturizer, floss, a few extra toilet paper squares in case of emergency deodorant, and a few other small but personalized items that your child may want in their kit such as hand sanitizer mouth wash or other travel sized goodies your child may enjoy.

Encourage Your Child to Use their Kit

Your son might not be surrounded by other children that use a grooming kit and so actually using theirs might be difficult and embarrassing for them.  Help your child get comfortable by dispelling popular myths about boys taking care of their skin and have them practice using the kit when they are with you. They may opt to rinse their mouth after meals out as practice or using lotion in a grooming kit kept in the car to address ashy knees and elbows. The point is to help your child to feel comfortable and confident in reaching for the tools to maintain their hygiene. Remind your child not to spend too much time grooming while at school as too much time in the bathroom can definitely cause disruption during class time.

YELLE Beauty is committed to encouraging skin health at every and stage. Our essential collection is an ideal solution for the entire family. Shop for it today!

Mother’s Day Skin Care Advice: 5 Tips from Mom for Women 18+

              In honor of Mother’s Day our YELLE Beauty team put together some can’t miss skincare advice for women in every age group. Keep reading for our best motherly advice across the ages.

Teens

Motherly Advice: GET STARTED:

One of the best things you can do for your skin as a teenager is to develop a daily routine.  Make sure you have a cleanser, toner and moisturizer and most importantly USE IT every day. Wash off your make up before bed, wear sunscreen, and if you are like a lot of teens that battle acne, see a dermatologist.  Try the YELLE Essential Kit to get started on your skin care journey.

20’s

Motherly Advice: USE ANTIOXIANTS

Facial aging begins in yours 20’s so it’s never too early to fight environmental stress. Antioxidants provide the best defense against environmental stress on the skin. Antioxidants protect the skin against free radicals and help brighten, calm, and soothe the skin. You can never have too much of them.  Try the YELLE Awakening Hydrating Serum with ferulic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E as a plant-based antioxidant to fight skin aging.

30’s

Motherly Advice: TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES, NECK, AND HANDS

In your 30’s eye, neck, and hand cream are extra important to use on a regular and consistent basis. The skin around your eyes, neck, and hands, tends to be thinner than the skin on your face. Those areas need concentrated attention as you age because the firmness and elasticity in those areas can become depleted and deteriorate.  To address the skin around the eyes, incorporate an eye cream to smooth and depuff the eye area. For special attention to the neck and hands, apply a few drops of the YELLE Awakening Peptide Boosting Serum and layer with Awakening Daily Moisturizer.

40’s

Motherly Advice:  AGE Gracefully

Don’t be afraid to age gracefully. In your 40’s stay on top of your skin care routine. Serums are a non-negotiable, SPF is a must, neck, hand, and eye care are essential. Retinoids, vitamin c, and chemical peels are a part of your everyday vernacular.

50’s: Filler MAYBE?

Motherly Advice:

 In your 50’s you may begin to see more pronounced frown and expression lines in your forehead and around the mouth as well as loss of volume to the cheeks. Fillers provide a natural looking alternative to addressing these changes and help to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles and restore facial contours.  Talk to your healthcare provider about fillers if you are interested in determining if they are right for you.

YELLE Beauty wants to meet your skins needs at every age.  A strong skin care routine is the foundation for your overall skin health. Get started on a YELLE skin routine TODAY!