the B. spot

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart -Kahlil Gibran

When you think of a beauty regimen, normally the first thing that comes to your mind is some kind of product.  Being a cosmetic chemist, that is exactly what comes to my mind!  But when I asked Sanaa Lathan about her beauty routine, products were actually the last things on her list.  Sanaa’s beauty routine is an inside-out approach that begins with a healthy dose of joy.  “I really believe in doing whatever you can to wake up each day joyful,” said Sanaa, “and for me, that includes constantly…look at your life and really thank God for all the things- all the blessings in your life.”

Sanaa’s beauty picks:

Creme De La Mer and Suki Balancing Day Lotion

The Science Behind it:

Creme De La Mer is really the most basic moisturizer on the market with a hefty price!  Don’t get me wrong, the it works and the luxurious base is worth it for those who can afford it.  When I say that it’s basic, I’m simply saying that it has all of the necessary ingredients that makes a moisturizer work- occlusive moisturizers, humectants and emollients. It has a slug of petrolatum that forms an occlusive barrier on your skin.  Why is this important? It reduces TEWL (TransEpidermal Water Loss) which basically means it reduces the amount of water that your skin loses preventing it from drying out.  Combine that with mineral oil, microcrystalline and paraffin waxes (both used to give the cream body but also forms an occlusive film on your skin), lanolin alcohol, and other emollients to not only keeps water in your skin where you need it but also makes your skin feel like butter.

Glycerin and seaweed work together to draw water out of the atmosphere and holds it onto the surface of your skin so you are not only keeping moisture in your skin but you now have a layer of moisture on top to keep your skin supple and smooth.  The vitamin and mineral cocktail make their way through the epidermis providing your skin with the tools that it needs for healthy cellular functions.

For more Celebrity Beauty Scoop, pick up the Sister 2 Sister magazine at a newsstand near you! s2smagazine.com