Merlot For Men Moisturizer is unscented and great for Dad to apply after shaving.  It’ll smooth and soothe his face, and keep his skin protected.

Is your Dad the active, athletic type?  No doubt his feet could use some extra love with the cooling aloe vera of Merlot Foot Cream.

UPDATE:  This contest is now closed.  Thanks for entering!

That’s right, it’s our very first Pinterest contest!

To enter:

1. Follow Merlot Skin Care on Pinterest

2. Repin the image below and include the hashtag #merlotskincare

3. Email a link to your pin.

TWO lucky winners will receive the Merlot Skin Care products pictured in the photo.  Contest expires April 30, 2013.  Winners will be notified via email.  Good luck and happy pinning!

Purify Pores

Merlot’s Purifying Peel Off Mask is a simple way to instantly improve skin’s appearance.  Apply, let set, and gently remove 10-15 minutes later.

See for yourself

Heal & Repair

The ultimate multi-tasking product, Merlot’s 100% Pure Grape Seed Oil works wonders – in a number of ways.  It works to deliver hydration to ultra-dry skin, helps reduce the appearance of scars, and works to repair damaged cuticles and split ends.

Try it!

Firm Skin

The delicate skin in the chin and neck areas never gets enough attention.  Chin Up Neck Firming Cream works to tighten skin and improve its tone and appearance.

Shop here

How would you describe your personal day-to-day look?:

What’s your skin “type?”:
My skin is dry/combination and sensitive.  I use retinoid, so my skin cannot tolerate too many anti-aging products along with it.  If my moisturizer isn’t gentle enough my skin gets very red.

How do you clean/cleanse your face?:  
I use a (1) Clarisonic with a creamy cleanser.  I also love (2) Merlot’s Toner.  I use it at nighttime after my cleanser and before my retinoid.  It’s non-drying, helps prevent breakouts and helps calm my skin.

What are your go-to color cosmetic products?:
I have blotchy skin, so I use (3) Bobbi Brown foundation.  I like (4) Revlon eye shadow, (5) Burt’s Bee’s lip balm with natural lip liner, and (6) Opi polish on my toenails.

How does getting yourself ready make you feel about yourself?:
It gives me a boost of self-confidence, especially after a long work day.  And it makes me feel pretty.

Do you have a favorite perfume?:
(7) Beautiful by Estee Lauder.  I love floral scents.

Any beauty resolutions for 2013?:
Wear more sun block, drink more water, and eat more vegetables.

–  Nancy Licon is the Executive Director of the El Paso Border Youth Athletic Association in El Paso, TX.  Learn more about their programs and show your support here.  www.epbyaa.org

How would you describe your personal day-to-day look?:

What’s your skin “type?”:  I have mostly dry skin.

What’s your favorite product in your daily routine?:  (1) First Crush 3-in-1 face wash!  I use it daily and I love it.  It’s gentle, cleans well, and makes my face so smooth that I don’t wear any foundation at all!  After showering I love to use the (2) Merlot Body Butter.  It leaves my skin soft, with just a very light scent.  And after shaving, I’ll use the (3) Merlot 100% Pure Grape Seed Oil; it smoothes all the rough spots.

What are your go-to products for eyes?:  I wear (4) Cover Girl eye shadow and eye liner, usually in brown and black shades.

Favorite hair care products?:  I use (5) Fekkai shampoo, conditioner, and glossing cream.  It leaves my hair full.  I love the shine it gives my hair and the scent is a clean and light.

Do you have a favorite perfume?:  I like (6) Express and (7) Chloe.  The scents are fresh and light, and not overpowering.

Every morning after showering I love to use (1) Merlot Body Firming Lotion all over my body, including my feet.  It’s best to use when my skin is still a tad damp so that it gives my skin that soft, smooth feel all day long.

Before heading out for work I beautify my face first by applying (2) Merlot Moisturizer.  I love to use it as a base before applying (3) MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.  Using the moisturizer this way does not make my face feel cakey at all, which is a plus!  I follow up by using (4) MAC Mineralize Blush color Gentle on the apples of my cheeks.  For my eyes I use (5) L’oreal’s Waterproof Power Volume Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black and line them up with (6) L’oreal’s Infallible Gel Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black.  Then I’m off for a day at the office.

After work I head to the gym.  When I’m done with my workout routine I usually go to the locker room and wash my hands – this is where I reach for (7) Merlot’s Hand Cream Plus Sanitizer from my gym bag.  It’s awesome because not only does it leave your hands nice and soft, but it also sanitizes your hands.  After using the workout machines that are used by everyone in the gym I want to make sure to kill whatever germs are left lurking on my hands.

I end my day by heading home and hitting the shower.  (8) Merlot’s Cleanser is great to use after a workout to get rid of any dirt and impurities.  The best part about this cleanser is that it also helps to take off the mascara and eyeliner I applied earlier in the day.  After the shower I put on (9) Merlot’s Body Butter.  It leaves my skin silky smooth and refreshed for bedtime.

The base of my skincare routine is to wash my face twice a day with (1) Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub followed by applications of (2) On the Spot Acne Treatment with 2% benzoyl peroxide on my trouble zones and (3) Merlot Grape Seed Eye Cream around my eyes.  In the morning I moisturize with (4) Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion with SPF 15.  At night I put on my favorite Merlot product, (5) Moonlight Radiance Night Cream.  It moisturizes without letting my skin get oily overnight, and it has a scent I just love.

I want my makeup to look clean and natural.  For a long time I didn’t think it was possible to use liquid foundation without it feeling heavy, but by using a (6) Sephora Pro Stippling Brush with (7) Makeup For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation (in 120 – Sand) I can put on a light layer that’s just enough to even out my skin tone.  I like to follow this with (8) Benefit Benetint lip and cheek stain; it gives my complexion a subtle glow that gets some compliments and provides a long-lasting base for any lip gloss I have on hand.  I do my eyes last in earthy colors that bring out the complexity of my blue-green eyes, starting with (9) Sephora eye pencil in Khaki Electro and followed with a light brush of (10) Bare Minerals Eyecolor in Summer.  I don’t always wear mascara, but at night or when I want to take things up a notch I use (11) Sephora Full Action Mascara in brown.

My hair is naturally wavy, and difficult to manage when it’s long, but my favorite way to keep it under control right now is with (12) Organix Moroccan Argan Oil line.  The Intensive Treatment is nice for a deep conditioning session in the shower.  I let it air dry and then work in some Penetrating Oil to smooth flyaways and create some texture.

My beauty routine helps me feel beautiful and confident, but one more way of doing that is by working from the inside out.  In 2013, one of my resolutions is to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables into my diet.  Part of my approach to this is making delicious smoothies.  Here’s my favorite recipe, it makes a great breakfast, on its own or with eggs and toast!  (Adapted from www.tasty-yummies.com)

Kale Blueberry Wakeup Juice

1 organic banana
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (more or less to adjust the consistency)
1 cup kale leaves, stems removed and roughly torn
Handful of frozen blueberries (or fresh in season)
1 tsp of honey (more or less to taste)

Optional additions:

1 Tbsp Almond Butter and/or
1-2 Tbsp Hemp Protein Powder

I like to freeze ripe bananas, then pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to remove the peel.  The bananas don’t go bad, and the smoothie is cold without having to add ice.

Blend all ingredients together, sip, and enjoy!

–  Jenn Coyle Catalano is the CEO of The Can Van, a San Francisco Bay Area-based company specializing in mobile canning for craft breweries.  Learn more here: www.thecanvan.com

I designate three days a week as “treatment days.”  For my morning routine of each treatment day, I wash my face with (1) First Crush 3-in-1 Blemish/Acne Treatment.  It gives me everything I need to help not only prevent my acne, but also treat occasional blemishes that may appear.  I mean who really has time to deal with three different products?  I use the (2) Merlot Anti-Wrinkle Cream as my daily moisturizer.  (I love this moisturizer so much that I even use it in my nightly routine as well.)  Then I apply my makeup.  For foundation, I use (3) Sonia Kashuk tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 in Tan.  I love the coverage it gives without that “cakey” look.  I hit my cheeks with (4) Mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glow.  When I feel I need a bit more fabulous in my life, I use (5) L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Carbon Black on my lashes and (6) Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Shiny Natural Look on my lips.

In the evening, before hitting the sheets for some much needed beauty sleep, I wash my face with the (7) Merlot Cleanser and treat my face with (8) Merlot Exfoliating Scrub.  Since I develop white heads from having oily skin, the scrub helps keep them at bay.  The scrub also leaves my face feeling rejuvenated and supple – rather than irritated and dry as a desert like other scrubs I have used in the past.  Finally, I apply a dab of my daily moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated while I sleep.

At home and work, my look is totally natural.  I wake up early and get straight to work sans makeup, but not before washing my face with (1) Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser.  My skin is prone to breakouts, so it works great with my skin.

To keep my lips moisturized throughout the day, I apply (2) Merlot’s lip moisturizer.  It is by far my favorite lip moisturizer because it’s fragrance free and doesn’t interfere with the flavor of my early morning coffee, my mid-morning coffee, my afternoon coffee… you get the idea.

Before stepping out into the world, I like to put my best face forward by starting with my favorite foundation, (3) Studio Gear studio matte foundation.  This stuff is great.  It smoothes out unevenness in my skin tone, blends easily, and lasts all day and all night.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of heavy fragrances so I enjoy the light, natural scent of (4) Ginger by Origins.  One spray is all I need for a little midday pick-me-up.

By the time I arrive at the theater in the evening, it’s time to bump up the drama in my look once again.  To prevent the bright lights from washing out my features and to add some eye-catching sparkle, I apply heavy doses of (5) bareMinerals blush in warm pink and (6) NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in smokey topaz.  I finish off my eyes with a thick line of (7) Almay black liquid liner and (8) L’oreal’s Voluminous mascara in carbon black.  I’ve used this mascara exclusively for a decade now because it gives major volume without flaking or smudging.

Before falling into bed after a long day, I wash my face again and apply (9) Merlot Moisturizer.  It leaves my skin feeling smooth and ready for my favorite role of all: sleeping beauty.

– Karen Jane DeWitt, Owner and Flavor Enthusiast, Scissortail Savories and Sweets

In the evening I wash away the day – specifically my (2) L’Oreal Visible Lift foundation with SPF17 and (3) Lancome Blush Papier Nacre – by applying (4) Merlot Cleanser all over my face, and wiping it off with a warm washcloth.  My face feels refreshed and ready to soak in (5) Merlot Moonlight Radiance Night Cream.  I also use (6) Merlot Eye Cream around my eyes and lips, to help fight against fine lines.

I’ve most recently started to use (7) Merlot Chin Up, which I smooth onto my neck and chin as the last step in my nighttime routine.  Then I’m ready to sleep, knowing my skin will stay hydrated through the night.