Chic Galleria » Katie Skubisz

Easy and Delicious Summer Salad

Katie Skubisz — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:13:26 +0000

I genuinely love salad; but let’s be honest salad can get boring, so you have to find new ways to spice it up. I like to experiment with fruits, veggies and cheese (my favorite ingredient) to create something yummy and new.

Spinach, Strawberry and Feta Salad with toasted candied pecans

You will need:

1 package baby spinach

1 package of (small) strawberries

1 bottle of Briannas Blush Wine Vinaigrette http://www.briannassaladdressing.com/

1 container Athenos traditional crumbled feta cheese

1 package Emerald Pecan Pie Glazed Pecans

Remove stems from baby spinach (wash if needed) and place in serving bowl

Remove tops of strawberries and cut berries in fours, add to bowl of baby spinach

Measure 1 cup of candied pecans and add to bowl

Measure 1/2 cup of crumbled feta and add to bowl

Add dressing to taste, toss and serve

Photo Credit © Svetlana Kolpakova | Dreamstime.com

Managing Unruly Skin

Katie Skubisz — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:04:38 +0000

If your skin is anything like mine the recent unpredictable weather in the NYC area has done a number on your beautiful canvas! I have been seeing a dermatologist since I was about 16 for acne related issues and have followed his advice and use of clinical products to manage my skin. Unfortunately, sometimes there is little you can do. After many battles, some won and some lost, I have found some great products that work well to treat acne flare ups and sooth redness and dryness related to the use of benzoyl peroxide. I wanted to share these products with you, especially those of you who battle with mild to moderate acne.

For Daily Use : The Aveeno product line is great for balancing uneven skin tones, calming redness and providing great moisture for dry skin. The Aveeno collection that has worked best for me is the Ultra Calming foam face wash and daily moisturizer with SPF 30. I have also used the positively radiant collection which is just as effective without the focus on redness relief. The Aveeno Positively radiant cleansing pads are a great product to use 1 to 2 times per week to exfoliate. One of my favorite things about Aveeno is that their products have a pleasant smell and most of their facial lotions contain at least SPF 15.

For Use One or Twice a Week : A great mask to use to prevent and heal breakouts is the DDF sulfur mask. I usually use this once a week depending upon how my skin looks. The mask can also double as an on-the-spot acne treatment. The only downfall is the sulfur smell that lingers once the mask has been washed off. The smell is definitely tolerable, but I would recommend using the mask at night so that the smell has some time to subside.

For Use as Needed: In the event a major zit is about to surface I recommend Benzaclin. Benzaclin is a prescription topical gel and is used to treat mild to moderate acne. It has worked great for me as a spot treatment, but I would use it sparingly and apply only to the affected area as it does cause the skin to dry. If you prefer to stay away from prescription treatments I also like Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel. Unlike Benzaclin, the Clinique gel dries clear and can be worn under or over makeup.

One last important tip is to make sure you eat well and drink a lot of water. Diet along with your daily skin routine will help your skin look radiant. I hope you have found some of these tips helpful. We all know that having great skin makes us feel good on the inside and out.

“Mark” My Words, You Will Love This Stuff

Katie Skubisz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:01:45 +0000

My sister recently began selling Avon. Of course, I wanted to support her, but was not sure how I felt about their products. I have been a dedicated MAC and Laura Mercier customer for many years and did not want to deviate from the norm. I am always cautious about switching products due to my super sensitive and unpredictable skin!

As I was browsing around on her site I discovered the Mark. line. I had heard of the line prior to this, but never had a reason to try it. The first products I ordered from Mark. were the speedway cover up stick, the mini mark it stick (lip liner) and the glow baby glow lip gloss. My sister normally delivers her orders on Friday, so I used my purchases the next day for my Saturday soiree. When my order arrived, the packaging was on the small side and I was a little wary. But, to my surprise the little package had some big impact – the speedway stick was fabulous!

The little chubby concealer stick goes a long way in covering every dark circle and red spot on my face. The speedway stick is really all I need in the a.m. along with a little powder for oil control. The glow baby glow lip gloss is also fantastic; the small tube smells sweet and minty and does not cause “sticky lips” that always seem to attract my hair. The feature I love most about the lip gloss and lip liner is the hook-up which allows you to have your liner and gloss as one easy to transport, must have tool.

Since my first purchase, I have picked up some of the I-Mark custom pick eye shadows. The shadows are also great and come in a wide variety of colors and finishes. You can purchase one of Marks. magnetic palettes to snap your eye shadows into place and keep them organized in one compact. My go to shadow colors are Biscotti, Corset, Whisper and Plum Velvet. I have not experienced any reactions to Mark. products which is always a huge relief when changing up your routine.

The best things about Mark. is that it is an affordable and versatile line. It is always nice to save a few dollars while still getting a quality product. Their product range offers something for everyone -whether you are 13 or 33.

I can not always splurge on MAC and Laura, and so far Mark. has not let me down. You can see more of what the mark line has to offer by visiting them at http://www.meetmark.com/PRSuite/home/home.jsp. Let me know what you think.

Photo Credit www.meetmark.com.