How Acne Affects People’s lives Sunday, May 31 2009 

Acne zombig 9:22 pm

“There is no single disease which causes more psychic trauma, more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feelings of inferiority and greater sums of psychic suffering than does acne vulgaris.”  –Sulzberger & Zaldems, 1948

While known for quite some time, the psychosocial effects of acne have not been fully appreciated until recently. The reasons for this are many. After all, everyone gets acne to one degree or another. In most cases, it goes away on its own. While it’s running its course, it is not a serious threat to anyone’s overall physical health. In addition, until the last couple of decades, there was very little anyone could do to treat it.

Acne, nonetheless, has a significant impact on a person’s outlook on life. Recent studies have detected the following as common among people with acne:

  • Social withdrawal

  • Decreased self-esteem

  • Reduced self-confidence

  • Poor body image

  • Embarrassment

  • Feelings of depression

  • Anger

  • Preoccupation

  • Frustration

  • Higher rate of unemployment

The effects listed above are often interrelated, with one effect leading to another and another, only to make the first effect worse. These negative psychosocial effects can have a crippling impact, discouraging patients from pursuing life’s opportunities–socially, on the job, or at school.

Actual quotes from people with acne 
The fact is, people with acne generally hate the way they look with acne. Let people with acne tell you-here are some testimonials about living with acne*:

Verbatim #1
“I don’t look in mirrors…. I am like a vampire–I shy away from mirrors. I comb my hair using my silhouette on the wall to show the outline of my head. I have not looked myself in the eyes in years, and is painful not to be able to do that, and that is a direct result of acne, the acne scarring.”

Like a vampire, hating mirrors! Unable to face himself, how can this person hope to face the world?

Verbatim #2
“I think that if I had more self-esteem about the way I looked, I think I would have been more outgoing. I would have gone to more parties. I probably would have been more outspoken in class and would not have felt so insecure about going up and speaking in front of a group of classmates.”

Here is an extrovert, turned in on himself (or herself) because of acne. Who knows how different things would have been if he didn’t have acne?

 

Is laser recommended??? Sunday, May 31 2009 

Acne , zombig 9:16 pm

Laser Treatments for Acne

Laser technology has changed the way health care practitioners treat many health issues and acne falls into this category. Today, treatments that were unavailable for stubborn acne only a few years ago are not only available, but quite affordable.

Treatments using lasers involve using various wavelengths of light aimed directly on the effected area. The wavelengths pulse as they contact the skin and destroy over-sized sebaceous glands and even acne lesions.

Laser therapy can remove the outer skin layers to encourage new cell growth as a means of scar treatment.

The skin care professional will set the laser correctly to properly treat the acne-affected area. There are few side effects associated with these treatments, although they can be slightly uncomfortable. On the other hand, the treatments do not involve lots of messy creams or ingesting prescription medications.

There is much debate about how effective laser treatments are for acne. Even one treatment can make a difference in the skin appearance of some patients.

Some patients experience side effects such as redness, burned skin that may last for a week or more and uneven skin appearance if the laser is not applied consistently. People with dark skin may experience skin discoloration after having acne treatments using a laser.

 

Appropiate Brush to apply powder!! Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin Products zombig 3:14 pm

For professional applications the right solution is the use of products such as makeup brushes. Airbrush makeup gives your face a lift and the use of cosmetic brushes can highlight your best features. Makeup brushes help your makeup go on more easily and look a lot better. Make up artistsprovide tips to suggest that the best brushes are made of natural bristle, with wooden handles. The handle should sit well in your hand so that you can get a great grip. Make up applicators use a blush brush, a powder brush, an eye shadow brush and finally a lip brush.

Discount brushes are the facial solution for creating a natural, anti aging, fabulous look. Care and treatment of any brush product should include soaking your makeup brushes, airbrush makeup and cosmetic brushes in a mix of hot water and antibacterial soap for a half hour. Leave them out to air-dry and use tissues regularly to wipe off your brushes. The secret is if the bristles stray off in different directions after prolonged use, simply cut them back.

Natural bristle made from sable, goat, or squirrel is the best solution for makeup brushes. For airbrush makeup they are great because the hairshave cuticles that grab the powder or blush and allow it to go on more evenly. Supply your skin with products for your professional make up application at discount prices.

 

How to Use Blusher Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin Products zombig 3:11 pm

BLUSH UP THE RIGHT WAY

The bottomline for the right blusher application is that it should look natural.

. Place your index and middle finger vertically against the side of your nose. Start putting the blusher from near the edge of the outer finger, going up to the temple. 
. If you have broad face (square/round) apply the blusher on your cheekbones and do not brush it up towards your ears. 
. Dab blusher (just a bit) on each earlobe. It can add a glow to your face if you pull your hair back or have short hair (such that the earlobes show). 
. Don’t forget to add a touch of the blusher on your chin and forehead to help give the natural look.

GLOW WITH THE RIGHT BLUSH COLOR

It is better to avoid blushes that are too bright or dark for your skin colour. Says Bobbi Brown, a renowned US-based beauty consultant - “The right blusher for you should be the same colour your cheeks are naturally when you’re really healthy.” To flatter your skin tone, choose a blush colour that will give a natural healthy glow.

Color tips 
. Fair skin – beige, tawny and pink tones. 
. Olive/Yellow-toned skin – warm brown, almond and copper shades. 
. Dark-skin – plum, auburn and deep bronze shades. 
. Tanned skin – orange, apricot, peach and coral shades.

FOR A NATURAL BLUSH

How often have you seen other women with just a bit too much of blush? The ideal way to use blush is to use it in a way that it looks natural. Unlike eye make up and lipstick, a blush is like foundation (base make up). It is not meant to show. The best way to ensure that your blush doesn’t stick out like a shaded outline of your cheeks always apply blush before your eye make-up and lipstick. Otherwise, it will be competing with your eyes and lips and that is when you will apply too much. Also, ensure that you are standing in front of a well-lit mirror. Otherwise you will apply too much simply because you were not able to notice the colour yourself. If you are not sure still, apply no more than 3-4 brush strokes. It is unlikely that you will go wrong with that.

OOPS! TOO MUCH BLUSH

If you’ve applied too much blush don’t worry – all you’ve got to do is take a dry clean make-up sponge, rub gently over your brush strokes to take the colour out. You can soften colour even further with translucent powder, and redo with a new, subtler blush shade.

 

Use of Blusher Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin Products zombig 3:10 pm

The magic of blush powders is obvious. Blush makeup is fast-fix beauty, it warms up the skin, contours the cheek, exaggerates an attractive hollow, and ideally creates a glow on your face that looks like it comes from within. Never judge a blush powder just by looking at it. Cosmetics and face blushes are found in different shades and textures. Test your blush powder on the inside of your forearm if you are wearing make up already.

You need to make two tests to find the right blush powder or cream blushthat will be the right color. First, the right color will look natural and the wrong one will stand out. The second test is the intensity of the color. If you are fair, you want just a hint of color, the more translucent the better. If you are strong in coloring, with olive or dark skin, you need greater depth and intensity with blush powder to bring out your good looks.

As you get older your skin needs more creams to retain it’s natural oils and cream blush can really help you prevent looking washed out. Tips for facial beauty include, use a good brush applicator, grin like a fool, brush your blush powders lightly over the apple of the cheek, with short, up and down movements and finally you can apply a light stroke across your forehead by your hair line. Supply your skin with discount cosmetic facial blushes for a rich creamy cheek color.

 

Mineral Cosmetics Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin and Cosmetics and Skin Products zombig 3:09 pm

Mineral Make-up is the most popular among people returning to natural elements in their daily lifestyles or simply because Mineral Cosmetics is an excellent alternative for body and skin care. Marketed under different names, but sharing a common ingredient, minerals, these cosmetics are found everywhere around the world.

Mineral Cosmetics, as their name says, are made with minerals and inorganic pigments that exist in nature, in many combinations, including those of colored minerals, such as zinc, iron oxides, mica, titanium dioxide, and ultramarine pigments, used as makeup from foundation to eye-shadow to shimmer powder for the body.

Being a modern boom, Mineral Cosmetics come from remote ancient times. Perhaps the Egyptians were the most devoted to them believing that beauty and fashion were very important. Egyptians used mineral pigments to produce the make-up that we can see in their papyruses and tombs.

Some Egyptians dynasties used powdered green malachite brushed under the eyes, and all of them throughout the history of Egypt had rouge to color the face and lips, made from red ochre. The scientific analysis of some Egyptian cosmetic powders date back to as early as 2,000 BC.

Minerals such as galena and malachite was ground on stone palettes to make eye painting, applied with their fingers or a kohl pencil made of stone, ivory or wood. Such palettes have been found in graves, perhaps to ensure that the deceased had the means to grind eye makeup after life according to their beliefs.

The emphasizing of the eyes was not only cosmetical, but also to protect them from the bright sunlight of the desert. Egyptians used cosmetics regardless of sex and social status for both aesthetic and therapeutic reasons. Oils and fats were applied to the skin to protect it, besides being mixed into perfumes and incenses.

Mineral Cosmetics used today in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and other countries of the Middle East are modern natural variations of those belonging to the ancient empires of Egypt and Rome. Herbal Face Packs have also been used since before recorded times, particularly by Indian dancers in combinations with mineral cosmetics that are now impossible to find.

Some other mineral cosmetics come from oral traditions from generation to generation, including concoctions with crushed pigments that now are mixed with neutral cold cream to be applied as natural lipstick, protecting the lips against dryness at the same time.

Modern Arabic world has never stopped using the mineral crushed blends to line the eyes not only for beauty but superstitions coming from Egyptian times, in the belief that “kohl” eyeliner will ward off evil spirits. Originally, Kohl made of galena or lead sulfide was mined in Upper Egypt, or at the Red Sea Coast.

Today, most women use Mineral Cosmetics to avoid wrinkled skin caused by the heavy and constant application of modern makeup with synthetic formulation, or restore skin damaged by abuse due to harsh makeupproducts, and for those who want a natural look and feel, that stays on all day long.

A wide range of products are available in the market today, including lipstick, eyebrow pencil, concealer, mascaras and even gels that can be used as moisturizers and foundations, as well as other Mineral Cosmetics enhanced with Vitamins A and E incorporated into the mineral formulation, that liquefy once applied to the skin, producing a satiny finish.

Mineral Cosmetics are inorganic and do not contain moisture, preventing bacteria from growing with no need of preservatives, oils or waxes, which could affect the skin, and they are practically well tolerated by everyone in all climates, available both as natural beauty care by health providers, or as part of traditional cosmetic lines, introduced to make their products more affordable and accessible.

 

13 Tips to apply Cosmetics Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin and Cosmetics , zombig 3:06 pm

Beauty Tip 1: Use foundation on your eyelids before applying eyeshadow. It helps the eyeshadow stay on longer.

Beauty Tip 2: Instead of buying expensive oil blotter papers, buy a box of perm papers. Very cheap and works great for blotting oily skin

.

Beauty Tip 3: Apply carmex on your lips before putting on lipgloss or lipstick, it helps it stay on longer, keep it moisturized, and sometimes makes yourlips “juicier” looking.

Beauty Tip 4: Use petroleum jelly or cold cream to remove stubborn eye makeup. its cheap and it works (even on waterproof mascara).

Beauty Tip 5: Nothing ages a person more than worry. Try to be positive and love every day as a new adventure and get joy from all the little things (so many cost nothing). Drink 8 glasses of water a day and use a moisturiser.

Beauty Tip 6: A Clay Mask works wonders on oily skin

!

Beauty Tip 7: Use a gentle soap like Dove for acne prone skin. It makes your skin a lot less oily because its PH balanced.

Beauty Tip 8: Spray your face with cold water or stand with your head in the air from the freezer for a few moments to reduce redness

.

Beauty Tip 9: Line deep set eyes with lighter shades of eyeliner toemphasize them!

Beauty Tip 10: Use a hair dryer for a few seconds on your eyelash curler.

Beauty Tip 11: To remove blackheads, steam for 5 mins and exfoliate immediately.

Beauty Tip 12: To make your hair shiny and strong, after taking a shower apply olive oil into damp hair. It will make your hair shiny and much stronger. - Submitted by Bsiddiqui1

Beauty Tip 13: Keep lashes smooth and supple by brushing them with petroleum jelly before going to bed at night. It is also a good way to emphasize natural-looking lashes in the daytime.

 

Facial Excercise Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin and Cosmetics , zombig 3:04 pm

Probably, a good laugh is the best way to relax a tense face, but these facial exercises also help to tone the face muscles quickly.

1. Scrunch up your whole face for a few seconds so that your nose is wrinkled, your forehead furrowed, and your eyes and mouth are tightly closed.

2. Do the opposite. Open your mouth and eyes as wide as you can.

3. Close your mouth again, purse your lips, and push your mouth up to the left, then push to the right.

4. Grin – as if from ear to ear and open your eyes wide again.

5. Hold and repeat the grin, but this time, tuck in your chin to tighten yourneck muscles.

Simple easy steps to lift your eye brows naturally – submitted by Ashley

Step one: life up your eye brows with your four fingers.

Step two: squint your eyes shut as tight as possible,while lifting youreyebrows as high as possible.

Step three: hold this for at least 30 seconds.

When you are all finished with these steps, you should brush out your eyebrows. This exercise is simple and extremely difficult to do wrong, and if you do this right you will immediately notice a difference and a raise in your eyebrows, you will also notice a major change in your face, bringing out your eyes and making you appearance come off as more open and awake.

These are the simple free facial exercises for your face which you can try even sitting in the bath. Chewing gum also exercises the muscles of the face and neck and increases blood circulation.

 

Homemade Facial Masks Sunday, May 31 2009 

Acne and Skin Products , zombig 3:01 pm

Homemade Facial Masks – Make your own facial mask ! Face masks for every type of skin

Below are some simple yet efficient homemade face masks that you can make and use in minutes.

Homemade Facial Masks for dry skin

Mask 1. Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Mask 2. You will need: 
2 oz/60g ripe avocado flesh 
1 oz/25g orange juice 
1 tsp/5g pure acacia honey 
1 tsp/5g molasses 
5 drops chamomile essential oil 
Put all the ingredients in a blender, or mash by hand in a bowl. Add extra orange juice if the mixture is too thick. Use your fingers to spread the mask over your face and neck and leave it on for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, before removing. Use a warm flannel to rinse off the mask – this will help gently exfoliate skin as well as clean your face. This mask will keep for a day or two in the fridge if you don’t use it all.

Mask 3. Mash apricots mix it with warm olive oil to form a paste. Apply it on your face and leave it for 10 minutes, then wash off.

Homemade Facial Masks for oily skin

Mask 1. It works wonders – Grate an apple finely and then add about 4 tablespoons of honey. Mix it well apply it to your face wait 10 minutes and rinse.

Mask 2. You will need: 
1 egg white 
6 drops witch hazel 
6 drops lemon juice 
Whisk the egg white until it’s stiff, and then add the remaining ingredients. Gently apply the mixture to your face, avoiding your eyes. Leave to dry for 15 minutes or so. Rinse well with warm water.

Mask 3. Tomato Mask: For oily skin, mash up a ripe tomato and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm (not hot) water.

Homemade Facial Mask for sensitive skin

Mask 1. Warm a small pot of honey in a double boiler, then test a small amount on your hand to make sure it’s not too hot. When warm, apply the honey generously over your entire face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water.

Homemade Facial Masks for normal skin

Mask 1. Lettuce leaves are best home remedies for normal skin. Dip two large lettuce leaves in olive oil and sprinkle on them a few drops of lemon juice. Place them on both sides of your face, and then cover them with a paper towel dipped in mineral water. Wipe your face with a cotton ball soaked in warm milk, then rinse with boiled warm water.

Homemade Mud Masks for your face

You can mix Kaolin, Fullers earth or any cosmetic clay with a suitable liquid to form a mud mask. Mix the clay with the liquid to form a paste. Wash your face Pat dry your face Apply the paste on your face Leave to dry Rinse off completely.

Liquids to use:

Distilled Water
Spring Water
Rose Water : For sensitive skin 
Witch Hazel : For oily skin 
Herbal Tea : To treat your skin conditions 
Aloe Vera juice : Read complete benefits here
Egg white : For firming the skin 
Egg Yolk : For nourishing the skin 
Honey : For attracting moisture to the skin

More homemade facial masks

To loosen blackheads : Combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Firming Facial Masks :

1. Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin and enough flour to form a paste. (Approximately ¼ cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

2. BANANA MASH. Mash up a very ripe banana. Add just enough honey to make a soft pulp. Apply over face and hair. This is such a great firming mask that aging movie stars have been known to put it in the cups of their bras to make their breasts “perky.”

Marie Antoinette’s homemade facial mask : This wife of King Louis XVI of France was a legendary beauty. Many believe that this mixture was the secret of her clear and glowing skin – so much so that it’s still used as a popular facial treatment in France. This mask is suitable for all skin types, but the witch hazel and lemon can be harsh on dry skin. If you indulge, be sure to use your regular moisturiser afterwards.
You will need: 
1 egg 
Juice of one lemon 
4 tbsp cup non-fat dry milk powder 
1 tbsp witch hazel 
Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well. Alternatively, you can blend them together by using a fork or a wire whisk. Apply the mixture to your face, neck and chest and allow it to dry for around 15 minutes. Use the remaining cream as a cleanser to remove the mask. Then, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.

Honey Cleansing Scrub : Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

These homemade facial masks will make your skin glow from the inside. So go ahead… try them out and all the best!! Ideal for both men and women of all ages.

Homemade face mask for blemished skin: Take a chopped tomato, 1 tbsp of instant oatmeal, 1 tbsp lemon juice. Blend all ingredients just until combined. Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas. Add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask. Leave on 10 mins. Wash with warm water.

 

Your perfect Cosmetic Color Match Sunday, May 31 2009 

Skin and Cosmetics zombig 2:46 pm

If you know where you fit in to the identified basic skin types, you’ll be well on your way to finding a product that’s suited to you!

The basic skin types are :

Pale ; Freckled; Olive; & Dark skin.

Each of these skin types have different levels of sensitivity, different aging risks and different reactions to sun exposure, so they must be treated accordingly. If you want to get more specific, each one of these categories can be broken down even further, allowing a more tailored approach to care:

  • Pale can be divided into Celtic and Peaches & Cream. Celtic is extremely pale in colour and is usually found on people with fair or red hair. Peaches & Cream is pale, but contains a more pinky-hue and is usually found on people with blond to brown hair.
     
  • Freckled is most commonly found on people with very pale, Celtic complexions, but can also be found to a lesser degree on more Peaches & Cream complexions.
     
  • Olive is more beige than white with yellowish undertones. It is often found on people with Mid-European, Mediterranean, East Asian and Scandinavian backgrounds. Olive people may range from dark blond to black hair colour.
     
  • Dark encompasses quite a broad spectrum of possible backgrounds. There are different types and degrees of dark. Lighter hues of this complexion are found on people who’s ancestry is Indian or Polynesian. Slightly darker are the complexions of people from places like West Africa, Central America and the Indigenous People of North America. The deepest shade of this complexion is found in people who’s ancestry is Central African, or Australian Aborigine.

 

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