It's time to Turn In that old Mascara!

Did you know that you are suppose to throw away your mascara after 3 months (especially if you use it daily)? The air that gets into the container from sliding the wand in and out dries out the mascara resulting in a clumpy application. And if you have eye irritations such as pink eye, continuing use of the same mascara can result in another eye infection. How old is your mascara?

As an incentive to turn in your old mascara, Avon is offering an incredible new mascara- SuperExtend Mascara for only $3.99 with your trade in. The innovative technology of triangular shaped fibers lengthen lashes beyond belief with a sleek, shiny finish. Available in Black, Brown/Black, Brown and Navy. Hurry- offer ends March 9th.

5 things you should never do to your skin!

Remember how your parents nagged you as a teen- "Stop picking at your face!"? Now that we are adults there are even more no-nos when it comes to skincare.

1. Don't over stimulate. While removing dead skin cells can rev up your complexion, too much of a good thing can be bad leading estheticians say. This can include too frequent use of exfoliants, glycolic peels and microdermabrasions. So limit the use of exfoliants to 3 times a week and speak to your skin care specialist to see how often your skin type can handle the other type of treatments.

2. Don't touch your face frequently during the day. This is a tough habit to break- but is critical in preventing blemishes.

3. Just say no to indoor tanning salons. More than a million Americans (70% are teens and young women) are visiting tanning salons on an average day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Indoor tanning has been associated in some studies with a higher risk of the most common skin cancer- melanoma. If you need that glow, apply a bronzer across your cheek bones and sweep across your forehead, nose and chin lightly. Also apply some to your decalogue for sin-kissed look.

4. Don't use grimy cell phones. Clean your cell phone often with an alcohol based cleaner to disinfect and remove oils and dirt.

5. Don't scrub your skin! Overly agressive cleaning harms delicate skin. Use hydrating, protective skincare products- such products soften your skin and gently clean dirt away. Avon's Anew line has a complete skincare regimine for every age and every skin type. Try one for only $19.00- that includes a sample size cleanser, eye cream & day and night creams. Contact me today to learn more!

A Kindred Spirit: Bear

I have not posted in awhile because I was called away unexpectedly. My younger sister, Julie, became very ill and needed my help at the Outdoor School where she lives in California. During the month of February she is charged with the land care-taking and animal care-taking (2 horses, 5 dogs and a bird), while the owners vacation for 3 weeks. Unfortunately her illness fell right at the beginning of their trip. So I headed down not sure what to expect when I got there. Luckily the roads were clear and the weather was unbelievably spring-like on the drive down. But as soon as I hit the town where she lives, the grey clouds and snowy rain came down. While I was there I was at least able to help a little- making sure that she ate and rested properly while dealing with among other things- a skunk that got into one of the buildings there.

Shortly after I arrived though, I found out the real reason I was there- Bear, a beloved Golden Retriever, became very ill too. He had been suffering from many ailments that comes along with old age, but this was a return of the cancer he has been fighting for the past year. By Sunday night, we realized that this would be the end of his time here with us, and so Julie desperately tried to get a hold of the owners. Finally on Monday morning she spoke with them and it was decided that we would take him to the vet, for what would be his final time. She put the phone to Bear's ear so the owners could say their good-byes to this amazing friend. For the first time in hours, Bear blinked and moaned, to let us know he had heard them. Soon after, Bear took his last breath while my sister held him and we both said our good byes and expressed our love for him. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever witnessed, but I am so glad I was there- for Julie, for Bear and for me.

Something for the Man in your Life

I'm happy we've moved past the "metro-sexual" man phase and now men can just claim that they care about their looks, their style and want to take care of themselves. The problem is most men don't know where to begin. Often times it is up to us ladies to help them out. So start out easy- educate your man on the importance of skincare. Some men may roll their eyes or claim they don't have time- but really it only takes 3 simple steps: Cleanse, Treat and Moisturize.

First- make sure to start with a clean slate. Use a gentle cleanser both morning and night to take away the built up grime from the day- sweat, air pollutants and dirt exposure.

Next- treat specific areas that require extra attention. An eye cream will reduce the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles and eliminate puffiness. Anti-aging serums will dramatically reduce wrinkles and expression lines. Exfoliating creams will slough off dead skin cells to leave your skin smooth and soft and improve its texture. Products with alpha hydroxy can treat blemishes quickly. Choose the area you want to focus on and appropriate product.

Last- Moisturize. Use a light option for the day that includes a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 to protect against damaging and harmful UV rays from the sun. At night, use a cream specifically for night. They are more emollient nourishing your skin trough the night.

Try one of Avon's Solutions options. Available in three types: Total Radiance for those who have normal skin , Maximum Moisture for those with dry skin and need extra moisture and Ageless Results for visibly younger-looking skin. Why spend more at a department store- get a Solutions option that includes both a day and a night cream for only $8.99! Shop 0nline at www.youravon.com/jbarker0004

Retro Chic Eyeliner

True Blue Makes a Come Back.
Go-go back to the 80's for a new take on a classic: blue eyeliner. To pull off the look, apply bright blue eyeliner across the entire bottom lash line, extending the liner outward slightly. Use your finger tip to smudge the liner up from the outer corner of your eye to your upper lid.


For more WOW, smooth on a bit of bright blue eye shadow next to the eyeliner. A touch of skin-tone eyeliner on the inner edges of your eyelids will help make your eyes look bigger, and black mascara will make the blue eyeliner pop.

For the perfect finishing touch, keep lips nude and soft with a soft lip balm or gloss. And forgo bronzer or blush to keep the eyes the main focus.

Try Starry Night Blue Glimmersticks Eyeliner with a self sharpening feature. Now only $2.99 (that's 50% off!).

How You can Help Haiti

We have seen the many tragic photos from the aftermath of the Earthquake in Haiti. Here, a photo from before the earthquake, doesn't look much better. Even before the earthquake Haiti was one of the poorest nations on our planet.

Today, Avon Products announced that they are committing $1 million for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. The Avon Foundation for Women plans to distribute the donations equally to the American Red Cross International Response Fund and Doctors Without Borders, and the funds will be used for immediate and basic human needs—water, food and medical help.

Avon is making every effort to contact each of the 387 Representatives in Haiti. They also have a number of Associates and Representatives with family members in Haiti and we are working to support those individuals.

Avon Representatives have a long history of dedicated community involvement and have played a key role in disaster recoveries. I am very proud to announce that Avon will donate 50¢ from the purchase of every full-size Skin So Soft product (excluding deodorant) ordered during Campaigns 4 through 6.

Avon Representatives and their customers (YOU) have helped build the largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy for women. Now, I am asking you to again show the world the Avon spirit of compassion and caring as we join together to support the relief efforts and help victims of this major tragedy.

Choose the Shape of your own Life

I saw this quote recently and had to meditate on it. As I go on my 8th month of unemployment out the past 14 months, I am focusing on the positive and taking action. That is why I started selling Avon 2 months ago. I have not built up my income to replace my previous "day job" income yet, but I have made some extra cash for the holidays plus been able to buy the basic stuff my family uses at a significant discount (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deoderent, moisturizers and of course, make-up!). Are you in a similar situation where you do not have the same income that you had a year ago? Have you considered Avon? If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact me at (503)430-0049 or avon.lady.jennifer@gmail.com

Make great things happen in 2010!