A great bold eye

Here is a really good step by step instruction on doing your eye make up with that bold winged look.
http://www.saifou.com/entry/1776.html

They make it look so easy don’t they.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Spring has sprung!

It is a beautiful spring day out. Go out and enjoy it. Get some needed Vitamin D but don't forget the sun block. Daily protection is so important but essential on sunny days with no cloud protection. I recommend a minimum of SPF30 with Broad spectrum. So lather up and go have fun.

P.S. - Don't forget to reapply. See label instructions for reapplication time.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

 

Ease that ashy skin

Looking for a way to recover your skin from a harsh cold winter? Is your skin dull and ashy? Here is a great product that I have been using on my body and I have to say, I really like it. From the company of Nivea it's Essentially ENRICHED daily lotion for very dry and rough skin.

HERE IS WHAT THEY CLAIM:

"Indulge in rich, nourishing moisture. Specifically formulated for very dry to rough skin, Essentially Enriched Lotion gives your skin the intensive moisture it needs. Within two weeks, Essentially Enriched Lotion transforms very dry skin into healthier, more nourished, hydrated skin."

HOW IT WORKS:

Enriched with natural sea minerals, Vitamin E and Almond Oil and NIVEA’s exclusive Hydra IQ technology supports skin’s own hydration network to unleash deep, non-stop moisture that lasts more than 24 hours.

WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME:

- Sea minerals - i.e. Sea Salt, as they improve circulation, stimulate cell growth, exfoliate dead skin, reduce swelling and itching.
- Vitamin E - Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants, but your body can't produce it, which means you have to make sure you're getting enough of this valuable nutrient in your diet. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage from occurring.
- Almond Oil - an excellent emollient (softening and soothing to the skin) and also helps the skin to balance water loss and absorption of moisture. Is suitable for all skin types, but is especially good for dry or irritated skin.
- Hydra IQ is a Technology they developed that allows the lotion to replenish skin throughout the day. Look at it like a time release pill capsule.

OVERALL:

I am happy with the results. And I highly recommend that you try this product. It's affordable and it works! Approximately $6 for 13.5 fl oz.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

 

Acne linked to dairy and sugar confirmed!

Great article confirming the link of Acne to dairy and sugar. Discusses how nutrition, specifically dairy and sugar affect the skin and provides some prevention and treatment suggestions. Enlightening article for both professional and those dealing with acne.

Good to have a starting point on what to avoid to help with reducing acne.

Acne linked to dairy and sugar

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Your skin and the sun

Here's a great article discussing the dangers of sun worshiping and ways to protect your skin.

I'm a firm believer that the best thing for your skin is limited time in the sun. Take the time to inform yourself and protect the only skin you'll ever have.

Be proactive and remember to start your kids, if you have any, early on the lessons of good skin care.

Hope you find the article informative. ARTICLE

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

 

The Dreaded Imbedded Guest

Acne Cysts - The Dreaded Imbedded Guest

For those of you that are not familiar with Acne Cysts, consider yourselves lucky. They can be very painful and unsightly. Leaving behind scared skin, hyper pigmentation and leaving you feeling a bit self conscious. If not paranoid that every one is staring at the dreaded imbedded unwelcomed guest.

Recently, dealing with a client that was complaining of acne but noting it was painfu. The acne lesion itself just appeared as a dark bump on her skin. Slightly raised, red and tender to touch. Feels almost like a mass or ball in the skin. Having asked her had she ever been diagnosed, she mentioned a previous diagnosis by a dermatologist of Actinic Cysts or Cystic Acne.

The client mentioned that she tends to pick at her face out of habit. Anyone with acne knows that the touching of your face is a no, no but an unfortunate habit. A ritual created by trying to rid them faster by squeezing. What some people don't realize is that squeezing or popping the pustule "pimple" is the worst thing you can do. This will only make matters worse, spreading the bacteria over the skin and in the case of cystic acne, forcing bacteria within exasperating the problem. So if your wondering why that so called pimple keeps coming back it because your not handling it right.

Now there are many causes of acne. There's the foods we eat, the detergents we use to cleanse are skin, allergies, hormones, medicines, stress and exercise, etc. Seeing a doctor is yor best way to find out the cause or rule things out.

Actinic cysts are manageable with medications like birth control pills, injections of cortisone and topical treatments containing benzoyl peroxide or Alpha Hydroxy (AHA). Going to your dermatologist at least once a year is important but can get expense with treatments. Seeing an Esthetician for proper facial cleansing in between appointments is definitely recommended. However, there is still the expense to consider.

Here is an idea I recommended and I think it can help with some of you that deal with acne and acne cysts.

Step one: Use and oil free facial wash. A soapy cleanser is best. Wash face with look warm water. Pat dry.
Step two: With a cotton ball, clean face again with 3% Benzoyl Peroxide wait about a minute to remove. Cleanse skin with cold water. Pat dry.
Step Three: Use a toner formulated for oily skin tone or your basic witch hazel.
Step Four: If during the day moisturize, then SPF25 or higher.
If at night serum for eyes, and moisturize

Something I suggest is PanOxyl Bar 10%, which combines steps one and two. It contains Benzoyl Peroxide as one of its active ingredients. Plus, It can also be used on the chest and back for those that get acne on their body. They also make a acne foaming wash that is equally good. Roughly $6 a bar. Worth it! I also like the Differen line to treat acne and hyperpigmentation caused by the acne.

For toners, I of course love L'Bels toners that moisturize while toning but another recommendation I can make is Dicksonson's Witch Hazel for $3 or Aqua Glycolic Toner about $14. This will help to give your skin that added touch of clean that the soap may have missed.

Acne serums, I like Origins Super Spot Remover acne treatment gel. Just a little dab helps get rid of trouble spots faster. It runs close to $14. For hyper pigmentation "dark spots", I like L'Bel Clarifique Focalized Action Cream. It contains Kojic Acid, an active ingredient proven to lighten spots, cost $38. Also, a neat trick is to take cotton balls wet with Visine eye drops and freeze them. Place them on Papule a.k.a. pimple until thawed then discard. This helps with inflammation.

Moisturizers and SPF's, use an oil free product like CeraVe facial moisturizing lotion AM, dual moisturizer and SPF. Cost about $12. They have a PM that is great too. And Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF50 for the daytime. Cost about $15.

None of this is going to be a miracle cure, diet and healthy living plays its role too. Don't underestimate the importance of seeing your dermatologist for help. And an esthetician for maintenance. They have the knowledge and tools to help with whatever your skin issues maybe.

I do hope this helps many of you. Good luck and please feel free to share your personal experiences.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

As the season changes, so should your make up.

Each season,  I take the time to go through my make up bag and see what stays and what goes. A helpful tip, with a silver sharpie, write down the date on the make up item to help you remember when it was first used.

Ideally, you want to make sure your make up is stored in a clean bag and that your brushes are protected in a separate bag from touching items that may touch your sink, counter or whatever surface they may touch. This reduces spread of bacteria to brushes and then your face.

Examining what's good and what needs to be tossed is easy if you follow the steps in which you normally take when applying your make up.

Primer sprays or pumps/tubes tend to come with there own expiration dates but if not, check your opened date. If its over a two years  old, toss.

For foundations, check the ingredients as a water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter. I recommend a tube or pump foundation to minimize contamination to product. Apply with a new foundation sponge each use.

Concealer can last up to 12 months. But I toss mine out after 6-8 months. Concealers are generally used around the eyes because of this, I toss sooner. As the eyes pose risk of bacterial infections. I don't know about you but I avoid chances of catching pink eye.

With that said, same goes for eyeliner pencils or liquid, mascara and eye shadows. Always be extra careful with eye products because you can easily introduce bacteria to them. If you do get pink eye, toss all eye related make up and avoid using any new items until it is completely gone.

Pencil eye liners should be sharpened regularly and wiped with rubbing alcohol before and after each use. Do this and it could  last up to 1 year. Otherwise, I would toss after 6 months to avoid bacteria that grows from the eyes to the product. Liquid liners 6 months.

Eyeshadows, will last up to 2 years if applied correctly. I use a clean brush and make sure to clean my brushes immediately after. This habit insures that your eye make up will stay fresh longer.

Mascara expires the fastest and can hold the most bacteria. Throw out after 4-6 months. Don't pump your mascara in and out, this pushes air into the case trapping it and drying it. As well as making a happy home for oxygen eating germs. This ruins it faster.

When it comes to the mouth, you have to be cautious with bacteria as well. Lip liners can last up to 3 years.

Lipsticks  1-2 years. However if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. If its a shade you love you could refrigerate it to preserve it longer. However, that's not very practical. Same goes for glosses and lip balms.

 So why be cautious? If you have had or suffer from herpes "cold soars" and have an outbreak, toss what you have used out. If not, you are more likely to develop a chronic condition. And no one wants that.

Brushes are generally recommended that you wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent, dry bristles facing down.   I say, wash after each use or at least once a week reducing the opportunity for bacteria to grow. Especially for those with oily skin and acne. Germs just love to eat up the oils and dead skin cells found on brushes.

Make up sponges, I recommend you buy the disposables. Toss after 2 uses.

This probabyly doesn't have to be said but please don't share your make up. Especially not your eye makeup, because that could only lead to trouble.  And don't feel bad about tossing out old makeup. It only gives you the excuse to go out, try and buy more. Happy hunting!

I hope you found this helpful.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!