Showing posts with label before and after. Show all posts
Showing posts with label before and after. Show all posts

Sunday, September 17, 2017

5 Ways to Age Backwards with Rodan + Fields


“Within weeks, I began to notice a change in the appearance of my skin.”

–  Rodan + Fields Consultant, Colette






Are you tired of investing in complicated skincare products that dont make a visible difference? Are you looking for real results like Colettes above? If you want to change how your skin looks and feels, whether youre in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, or more, then this post is for you!

I’ve been using Rodan + Fields skincare products for over two years now – first as a customer and then as a Consultant – and I’m so happy with the difference they’ve made!

I started using the products at a point when my skin was acting overly sensitive, was very dry, and just didn’t look good in general. Nothing seemed to help improve its condition and I thought I would just have to accept my aging skin (I was 47 at the time). Since committing to a daily R+F skincare routine, my complexion has consistently improved over time. It no longer flares up, its smooth, firm, and has a healthy radiance. As a Consultant, Ive watched my happy customers experience similar results. And at 50 years of age (getting very real here) I feel as if my skin looks better now than it has in years.

You may wonder which of Rodan + Fields life-changing skincare products are the best to start with, when there seems like there are so many to choose from? Today I want to share my top 5 Rodan + Fields favorites with you. These products WILL transform your skin. People will notice the difference. And you will fall in love with R+F like so many others have, but first you need to try them for yourself.



My Five R+F Favorites 



1. Clean the slate with REVERSE

Unless youre suffering from acne or have extremely sensitive skin, I consider Reverse Brightening Regimen to be a great way to introduce Rodan + Fields into your daily routine. Reverse will even out and brighten skin tone while it fights the signs of aging with the help of a powerful combination of Vitamin C and retinol. My favorite part of this skincare routine is the scent of the exfoliating face wash (luscious and relaxing, it has a hint of citrus and peppermint). Using Reverse feels like enjoying a spa facial at home, but at a fraction of the cost. And the results are just as impressive!









2. Get rolling with AMP MD for best results

What if I told you that rolling a bunch of tiny micro-needles across your face and neck area for just one minute a day could significantly change the firmness and overall texture of your skin? Would you try it if I told you it doesnt actually hurt? The AMP MD roller is the essential add-on tool to improve how the multi-med therapy products from Rodan + Fields work. This patented, hand-held roller creates tiny channels in the top layer of the skin which then allow the next application of product to sink deeper into the tissue. The micro-abrasive action signals the body to send collagen to repair the rolled area. More collagen means plumper, younger looking skin! The roller works especially well on the fine lines around the lips (add Lip Renewing Serum for even more improvement), to firm up the skin on the neck, and to improve the appearance of the forehead, brow, and decollete. Regular use on troubled areas can help to even out scarring. Some users even swear by the AMP MD system to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks (although this particular use has not been clinically tested in the RF labs). Thats a lot of benefits for just one minute of self care each night!   








3. Boost those lashes!

Since Rodan + Fields launched Lash Boost in October of 2016, it has been receiving rave reviews! The after photos really speak for themselves (see mine below). With just one thin swipe of this lash nourishing serum (rich with keratin, biotin, and peptides) on the top lash line each night, lashes start to look noticeably longer, fuller, and even darker in just a couple of weeks. After 4 weeks they really start to pop, and after 8 weeks or more they are show stopping! Add your favorite mascara and the results are pretty dramatic. RF Lash Boost serum even works on helping to fill in sparse brows. Many of my customers who used to love lash extensions, are now much happier seeing the growth of their own natural lashes. They also love that Lash Boost is much less time consuming to apply and they no longer have to schedule costly maintenance appointments. If you love the look of long, lush lashes, you need to give Lash Boost a try! 60 day money back satisfaction guaranteed. 











4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!


Dryness makes skin look older than it is. When skin is hydrated, it looks and acts younger. This oil-free super serum (30% glycerin combined with hyaluronic acid) will actually raise your skins hydration level by 200% after just one use and it will continue to hydrate your skin for up to 8 hours, drawing moisture from the environment (that’s why they call it active). All you need is just a few drops morning and night before layering a moisturizer on top. Whether your skin is dry, sensitive, or even oily, Active Hydration Serum will balance out your skins hydration, giving your complexion a youthful glow that you will love!







5. Stay firm

When youre fighting the signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness, you need to employ the best defense against time, using hard working ingredients on a daily basis. The Redefine line from Rodan + Fields has what you need. It starts with a kaolin clay mask that gently cleanses and smooths the skin, followed up by a pore minimizing toner, plus daily and nightly moisturizers that feature Hyaluronic acid, retinol and peptides. The Age Assault special bundle also includes the cant-live-a-day-without Multi-Function Eye Cream along with both Night Renewing Serum and Lip Serum. Enjoy special savings on ALL of these skin transforming products when purchased together.










*I’m looking for Beauty Influencers!*


If you love helping others to look and feel their best, then Im looking for you! Contact me to find out how you, too, can be a brand ambassador for Rodan + Fields premium skincare!

R+F is available through Independent Consultants located in the US, Canada and now Australia. If you love social media and are willing to wash your face and share your results with others, than you can expect to do very well with this billion dollar brand behind you.

Reach out to me directly (email yblacker@verizon.net) or visit my R+F business page to learn more! 



Sunday, May 14, 2017

One Room Challenge: Getting Ready






Wait! Im not dressed yet!!! As is my tradition, Im not quite ready to share the final reveal of my Calling it Home One Room Challenge design project. But I plan to post images from my new master closet here as soon as the dust settles (literally and figuratively!) Want to see it when its done? Subscribe to this blog and youll get the update delivered to your inbox. Thanks to all who have been following along!

Please be sure to check out the Week 6 reveals from the sponsored designers here and the participating guest bloggers here. Congratulations to everyone who made their deadlines! It takes a LOT of planning, dedication, resources and hard work to make these projects happen. I admire each of you and love seeing your final results!




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Thursday, April 6, 2017

One Room Challenge: Master Closet!





It’s time to finish our master closet design project, and what better motivation than signing up to participate in the Calling It Home One Room Challenge! Above is my dream closet mood board along with a photo of the carpet that we will put on the floor of this walk in space that runs the full length of our four square Colonial farmhouse.

As I always say, our house may look big, but really it’s just tall. The third floor attic that we transformed into our master bedroom is large enough to include a decent sized room, a modest sized full bath, and a walk in closet that spans the width of the house and has been on the back burner for far too long. Truth be told, I am looking forward to the day when I can move all of my party dresses upstairs from my second floor office closet (who am I kidding, I am starting a fresh wardrobe with all new clothes once this project is ever completed!)

Come back next week to see our layout plan for this time-to-get-it-done new and functional space. In the meantime, check out the other guest participants who are committing to accomplishing at least one of their home renovating dream projects over the next 6 weeks. Will you be one of them?


media sponsor ...

items on mood board ...
pendant light via Arhaus
typography art via Minted 
velvet hangers via Amazon 
little black dress by Emporio Armani 
wedge shoes by Ugg via Zappos
ribbon stitch bag by Fendi



Saturday, April 1, 2017

My Salon Space Reveal!


Ahh St. Germaine, my favorite! How cute is this picnic with adult beverages to go? I loved this colorful and creative window display that I recently saw in the plaza that houses my new Rodan + Fields by appointment only salon space. Have you seen it?


Wow, it has been awhile since I have stopped by to post here on Design Vignettes! When I first started this blog in 2009, I was a stay-at-home mom, looking for a creative outlet to share my love for all things design. For those of you who have followed my journey, I have traveled a varied career path since then, definitely not a straight line, but always with the goal to make a living and build a business doing what I love (if you want the unabridged version of the story, pour yourself a drink – Prosecco with a splash of St. Germaine perhaps? – and open up some past posts ... maybe grab a bottle or two as it will take awhile to go through them all ; )

Flash forward to July of 2015 when I was introduced to the opportunity of representing the Rodan + Fields premium skincare brand ...



Just a glimpse of my Rodan + Fields skincare consultant journey. 


The photo above – taken during R+F convention, October 2016 – features the companies two founding dermatologists, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields (who first found success with their launch of Proactiv) and standing by my side my long time friend, Leah Guimont, who first introduced me to the Rodan + Fields brand.


What I liked most about R+F, besides how amazing the products made my skin look and feel, was that this was a business I could build in my spare time. I didn’t have to work 40 hours a week, didn’t have to travel, didn’t have to invest a lot of money, and I could get up and running with my own product website plus virtual training with the click of the button (oh, and I paid $45 to enroll as an Independent Consultant, although I truly wish I had signed on with one of the large product-filled business building kits to take advantage of the special discount). And while this business model is based on e-commerce and virtual sales, early on I knew that I wanted to set up a space outside of my home where I could show the products to others while training new consultants on how to become a brand rep for Rodan + Fields.

And I guess a part of me really just wanted a room of my own that I could decorate as I wished, and always have it look exactly the same way as when I left it. That is how I became a “by appointment only” salon owner at Salons by JC.  




Salons by JC at Redstone Plaza, Suite 29
117 Main Street, Stoneham MA






Since I opened my R+F salon space (Suite 29) in mid-November of 2016, I have had a number of open house events, have met with and trained new R+F consultants, and have been introduced to the many other talented salon stylist neighbors who are all running their own businesses, in their own ways, in their own spaces. It is a high-energy place to be, with a constant buzz of stylists and clients sharing stories while tending to the much needed ritual of self care (services offered range from cuts and colors, to waxing, to massage, to nail care, to micro-blading, to extensions, and more). 

The concept of Salons by JC is to provide independent beauty industry professionals a way to run their businesses without having to manage all the overhead that typically comes with salon ownership. There is a concierge service at the front of the building and once inside there are dozens of suites for rent. I am so happy to have one of them! 




Just some of the salon owners at Salons by JC (with room for more!)




Above is my vision board for my salon space that I shared during the One Room Challenge last fall. Below is the before photo. I realized that I never did show my after photos, which is why I am finally taking the time to write this post! 




And here is how it looks today ...










Many items in my space have been repurposed from design shows that I have participated in over the years that I have been holding onto ever since. It’s so nice to have found a home for them! The You are beautiful! slogan (and movement) was initiated by an artist that I follow online. Links to these stories and spaces are at the end of this post.



Rodan + Fields gifts to go that I offered during a holiday shopping event.



A place for everything and everything in its place!

Rodan + Fields skincare product collections (Soothe, Unblemish, Redefine, Reverse and Lash Boost) are displayed on top of shadow box frames that have before and after photos pinned inside. I also use this table top area to sit down with new consultants and answer their getting started questions face to face. Having the products on hand for show and tell makes it super easy to explain their benefits. 






I usually have product samples to share and gift certificates for purchase.





Cupcakes served by my neighbor, Nikki of Boss Beauty, at her open house.





One thing I have learned from being a part of this new industry – social selling – is that the key is to show up, whether that means scheduling appointments (I would like to do more of this), reaching out to existing customers (have enjoyed doing this since I started), or inviting others to give this brand – and business opportunity – a try (how about YOU??!!)






Setting personal business goals is great, but taking the action necessary to yield the best results is required for true success. My plan is to show up even more in my salon space, which I have found has helped me to show that I take my R+F business seriously. There are women and men who have grown amazing businesses with Rodan + Fields. Some have retired from their day jobs, and others use R+F to add to their mix of offerings while supplementing their income. For me, it has been a way to remain creative, market a brand I love and trust, and help others to improve their skin – and their lives – all while earning enough to cover my own product usage and business expenses while growing something bigger for down the road.






If you have been thinking about a new chapter for yourself, or have been wondering how to add additional revenue to your beauty industry business without adding additional hours to your day, I’d love to help start you on your own R+F journey.

Whether you are local to Boston or are located states or even countries away (we are in Canada now and will be launching in Australia in May of this year) I’d be happy to share what I know with you. Email me at yblacker@verizon.net to learn more or visit my product or business opportunity pages (links below).





What I really love about this virtual skincare business is that it provides each independent consultant with the tools needed for success: from an easy to navigate website, to great marketing materials, to complete order fulfillment, to comprehensive online training, to private facebook support groups with other consultants who end up as friends. It truly is a brilliant business model – I am so glad it was presented to me – it really has been a blessing and a gift. If you would like to meet some of my R+F friends in person, we will be hosting an opportunity event mid April at a local restaurant. Reach out to me for a personal invite. Would love to have you join us!







Visit my Business Opportunity Page









Sunday, November 13, 2016

One Room Challenge: Week 6 Salon Suite!






I am so excited to share this sneak peek of my Salon Suite Makeover! Since I technically started this One Room Challenge over (so sorry, new laundry room plans!) during Week 5, I am a bit behind everyone else. I did, however, make progress over the past week including having the existing hair dressers sink/cabinet unit removed, then painting the peachy/biege walls a crisp and perfect White Gallery from Sherwin Williams HGTV Home collection available at Lowe’s.



My husband, who ripped out the sink unit, also installed a wall mount porcelain sink along with a gorgeous polished chrome lav faucet from the Brizo RSVP collection. Above the sink we hung a sleek coordinating mirror that features a sexy curved silhouette. My favorite part of the RSVP collection is the Swarovski crystal finial on the faucet. Its just the right touch of glam for this new salon suite space where I will be working my Rodan + Fields skincare consultation business.

Casual elegance: Inspiration board for the RSVP collection by Brizo



While the room is not 100% complete yet, I did host my first one-on-one consultant training over the weekend. It was so nice to have a professional space designated for this purpose! We were able to go over a lot of my guest consultant’s questions on how to place orders, and how to run her business independently. For me, investing in my financial future will always take precedence over completing the laundry, so I am really happy to have switched gears this time around! This week I will be adding the finishing touches to this space, so please return to see the final reveal. 







How did everyone else make out with their Calling It Home One Room Challenge spaces? Be sure to check out the Week 6 final reveal links below. It really is motivating to work alongside so many others who have committed to achieving their design goals over the course of the challenge. And even if goals were not met exactly as planned, the point is to face a project head on and to take action (progress not perfection, right?) Six weeks goes by so very quickly, and a burst of decorating energy can go a long way. What room would you dare to tackle in six weeks?






Sunday, November 6, 2016

One Room Challenge Week 5: Change in Plans!


Why did I volunteer myself to participate in the One Room Challenge when I have a full-time job plus a number of on-going interior design projects (in addition to my DWL participation), my family of six to manage, along with working towards growing my independent Rodan + Fields skincare consultant side business? I guess I am just a perennial optimist who needs to have multiple creative projects going on at once to motivate me to complete at least ONE of them!

Well as is my typical ORC style (fall 2015, spring 2016), I am changing up my plans on week 5! Even though I love my design plan for my laundry room revamp, I have had another project on my mind for quite some time. So my laundry room will have to stay unorganized for a bit longer. We will survive! I even bought everyone extra socks just to make sure (least favorite task is looking for clean socks each morning!!!)





Curious what my designer-switcheroo plans involve? About a year ago, I was contemplating renting a salon suite to host product training events for my Rodan + Fields skincare business. While I would love to host these types of events in my own home, we just are not set up for entertaining anymore. I joke that I live in a frat house, but honestly it’s not very girly over here anymore with a bunch of teenage boys in the house (and their friends!) Not their fault, of course, but a room of my own in a controlled environment just sounds so perfect to me! And I could brand it and decorate it as I wish. It would be similar to investing in a show house space, which has always been one of my favorite projects! So that is what I am about to do – create my own show-and-tell studio space. And the beauty is that the location for this room of my own is just 5 minutes from home and 5 minutes down the street from my day job.





It is at Salons by JC in Stoneham, MA. They rent single or double sized rooms to independent beauty care professionals who then manage their own clients by appointment only. The lobby and utilities are handled by the property managers. And they also host monthly gatherings for the tenants, which of course I am looking forward to as well! It is a great business model and I feel it is very much aligned with the business model of representing the Rodan + Fields brand. Working independently, but never alone. 




It may be small, but it will be my very own!




Above is what my studio space looks like now (I just picked up the keys this weekend – eek!) By next Thursday it should have all of the items below in place and then I will be ready for business (if you are local, please schedule a visit!) I have to say, the time feels right to commit to a room of my own in a collaborative environment that enables small business owners to succeed without the typical overhead of owning and managing a full time business location. While having a stand-alone location to meet with my skincare clients is not required to do well with Rodan + Fields, I just feel that for me it is a worthwhile investment in my business, and that it will help me to help others who want to learn more about the brand without having to meet in a public location or at someone’s home (my boys are already saying thank you!)





It’s funny how as my family has grown (and our expenses), I have had to come up with creative ways to make all the financial pieces of the puzzle fit while still being available to take care of everyone’s needs. When the boys were small, it was all about being at home. Decorating our interior spaces was so important back then! But now that half of them are driving and have jobs, and the other half manage most of their free time on their own, I feel I have more freedom to expand my own creative pursuits to the outside world. Guess we are all growing up over here, and you know what? It feels kinda good! Although I did have a FULL day of crying when my oldest left home to move into his first apartment recently, but that is a story for another day!



Please come back next week for my Salon Suite Makeover reveal! I do love a design challenge, and as long as I can get my husband to provide some install assistance, I think I will just make the deadline!

Have you been following or participating in the One Room Challenge this fall? Would love to hear how it is going for you. Visit me on Instagram and leave a comment so that I can check out your progress!





Thanks again to Linda of Calling it Home for the motivation to start something new. Just being encouraged to set goals is sometimes all that’s needed to move forward! And even if the design path veers in a different direction along the way, as it often does, the effort to change our environments and our lives is what matters, right?




See what changes everyone else has been working on at the following links:







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