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Showing posts from March, 2015

WHY DID CHILD BIRTH TAKE MY GLOW AWAY .

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After a new baby is born you start to notice dark circles , acne , skin discoloration , stretch marks  – the rosy glow of pre pregnancy from the raging hormones is quickly being replaced by acne . If you are lucky to have avoided post partum acne , stress , and sleep deprivation , along with zero time for skin care definitely takes its toll . Every time you look at the mirror you ask “ is that really me ? ’’ Young mothers face skin discoloration post childbirth . The forehead , nose , cheeks and upper lip appear to be dark and splotchy . This “ mask of pregnancy ” called chloasma or melasma goes away when the body stops producing the excess melanin that it produced when you were pregnant . As you wean your baby , these irate spots begin to fade away . To alleviate the problem of melasma and prevent skin damage , use a sunscreen of SPF 30 upwards , no matter if it’s cloudy or sunny . Between feeds and diaper changes there are a hundred other things you need to attend to and

CELLULITE .

Cellulite is formed from fluid retention and the accumulation of waste products and toxins in the body . If you’ve ever tried on clothes in a dressing room , you may have noticed some not-so-pretty “lady lumps .”  Even thin women and men can have cellulite . So rather than simply avoiding cellulite-accentuating mirrors , here are some tips on kicking it to the curb . Exercise, stretching and weight-lifting (all of which help get rid of fluid , waste and toxins) are essential for silencing cellulite . When it comes to diet , avoid processed foods and animal products that leave toxic wastes swimming laps in your circulatory system . Doing routine , mostly raw vegan detoxes will help keep your skin silky smooth and light on the lumps . Choose to do a 7-day detox each month , a 3-day detox every other week , or a 1-day detox every week to rid your body of the crummies . Here are some detox guidelines : - Start the day with a large glass of filtered water with lemon or cucumber sli

LETTER FROM YOUR SKIN TO YOU .

Dear Friend, Are you breaking out more often ? Has your face lost its radiance lately ? Have you even noticed the uneven skin tone? How long are you going to sweep that dust under the carpet ? Did you ever think that you might be mistreating me! It is time for you to clean up your act . After all , I am the biggest organ of your body – your skin ! Stop sabotaging me by committing these skincare sins ! You take me for granted when you take your basic skincare regime lightly ! How would you feel if your best friend ignored you ? Sad ? Angry ? Taken for granted ? So how do you think I feel when you carelessly skip your skincare routine ? There might be days when you skip a step . Maybe you’re too tired , too busy , or even simply not in the mood ! However, short cutting on cleansing , toning and moisturizing often , is going to affect me – your skin – badly . Forgetting to exfoliate is an absolute no-no too ! Not cleaning up before you hit the sack isn’t going to hel

OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE EFFECT THEY HAVE ON OUR SKIN .

Beautiful , healthy , and youthful-looking skin is something most of us strive to possess . After all , our skin is the canvas behind the look we show off to the world day in and day out . However our skin can be a bit tricky to care of and many of us struggle to achieve balance , particularly with changing seasons or during travel . Have you ever noticed that your skin looks and behaves differently when you travel to a new location ? This is because skin serves as a protective barrier from the environment and , in serving this role , it is exposed to environmental elements that affect it . Here are 5 ways your environment can change the look and feel of your skin . HOT TEMPERATURES When temperatures are high our bodies sweat to cool down . Perspiration may cause a variety of skin issues such as irritation , rash , and acne . A gentle cleanser to wash away perspiration is often a great idea . Moreover , heat can cause drying of the skin , leading to skin that is rough or flak

SKIN DETOX .

Who doesn’t love a clean , clear and glowing skin ? Every eye glues to a face that is radiant, supple and blemish free . In fact skin speaks much more than just about your beauty . It is an important indicator of your health - it mirrors the toxin levels in your body . Healthy skin results from a healthy lifestyle . An isolated diet or a skin care regime alone doesn’t suffice the purpose . Ever heard about skin detoxification ? Flushing out toxic materials from the body is referred to as detoxification . Similarly , the process of skin detoxification is a method to cleanse the skin & get it rid of toxins . Our skin gets toxic due to environmental pollution , exposure to sun , improper diet intake , smoking , alcohol intake and sedentary lifestyle . As the toxins get flushed out during the detoxification process , there may be an appearance of  breakouts (acne, boils, etc.) , skin rashes etc . on the skin surface . There are a number of ways to skin detoxify , ranging from

THE ENEMY : BLACKHEADS .

Ok , so we all have blackheads and it seems like they never go away . The good news is , there are solutions and ways to prevent , control and get rid of them . Let’s start from the beginning though and I will tell you what causes a blackhead . Causes of Blackheads - Basically when a pore gets clogged with too much oil (which enlarges the pore) and then it mixes with built-up dead skin cells that cannot shed normally . The combination of the two then get exposed to air, which causes it to oxidize and turn black . How to Get Rid of Blackheads - You need to remove and absorb excess oil and also remove dead skin that isn’t shedding on its own . Not all products will do this, even though they claim to . Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid help along with gentle manual exfoliation . Scrubbing harshly and vigorously will not get them out . You will only irritate the skin . This is one of the reasons that pore strips do not work . These blackheads are not just sitting on the surf

SIMPLE SKINCARE TIPS

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Skin pigmentation problems occur because the body produces either too much or too little melanin. Melanin is the pigment in skin produced by specific cells {melanocytes}.It is triggered by an enzyme called tyrosinase which creates the colour of our skin, eyes and hair. This faulty melanin production is primarily caused by chronic unprotected sun exposure or hormones {particularly during pregnancy or from taking birth control pills}. As far as the skin is concerned , depending on how much is present , melanin does provide some amount of sun protection by absorbing the suns ultraviolet rays. This explains why darker skin colours are less susceptible to sunburn and the overall effects of sun damage . But less susceptible doesn't mean immune from problem.  1.  Exfoliation - This is always the first step to getting lighter skin or removing permatan . This helps remove the outermost layer of skin that is darkened and / or damaged by contact with the sun . Avoid over exfoliat

BAD VICES AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES AND THE EFFECTS THEY HAVE ON YOUR SKIN .

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Every year we make resolutions with the best of intentions to follow through. However, right around that 2 week mark , many of us begin to waver in our resolve . This year perhaps you’ve resolved to give up a bad habit , like smoking or excessive drinking . It is well known fact that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are two habits that negatively effect overall health . Do you know that they both contribute to poor skin health as well ? The truth is that smoking is bad for your skin . It causes damage and leads to changes that make your skin look older . Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin , which decreases blood flow . This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to regeneration of skin cells and causes your skin to take on a grey color . Smoking also damages collagen and elastin in your skin which results in sagging and wrinkles . In addition , the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — purs

A FEW BASIC SKIN LIGHTENING TIPS .

It's been a while since I've been on . I see many new names & many familiar ones . There are so many products out there & the information (most of it by sellers) is deliberately vague & confusing. Most ads appear to promise dramatic results & 'back' their claims with so-called testimonials or scientific claims. Here are some things to consider before spending the money you work hard for   1: ASSESS YOUR SKIN BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING . What are you trying to achieve ? If your skin is unevenly coloured , slathering something all over will exacerbate the problem . I don't care what the product is even if its from the NIKKISAVY BRAND or how many thousands you shell out .  You will have to first achieve an even tone before you see what your skin truly looks like . After evening it out , you might love it so much you decide to simply maintain  . A good example of this is significantly darker knuckles . 2 : WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE PRESENT ( VERY DR

SUNBURNED ? TRY THESE TIPS .

So you spent a little too much time in the sun and forgot to reapply sunscreen and now you’re fried ! Yes, it is a little painful but there are ways to alleviate the pain and the actual burn a little quicker than just waiting. Here they are…  1. Aloe Vera - Soothing and calming , this will help the burn feel and heal better . Get the pure 100% Aloe. You can even keep it in the fridge to keep cold . That usually feels good on a burn .  2. Honey - I love honey for the skin! According to research, it helps heal wounds, and applying some to your sunburn can encourage the growth of new skin cells . It also has a lot of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties .  3. Milk Bath - It has anti-inflammatory properties that help heal a sunburn . I find this one to be quite effective.  4. Cortisone Cream - Use this if it is swelling and really painful .  5. Drink Water - Staying hydrated is important because this burn is very dehydrating .  6. Grape Seed Oil - Another one of my favori

SHOULD WE MAKE SKINCARE A HABIT ?

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For as long as I can remember , my mother had an elaborate beauty routine . No matter how late it was at night and no matter how exhausted , she always followed her skin care routine with a discipline that could only be called regimented . Till she died she looked 20yrs younger . Most people could not believe that she had hit the big 60 . The secret behind her youthful looks was just the dedication with which she went through her daily cleansing , toning , and moisturizing . While most women today will agree that pollution and sun damage are robbing us of our skin’s beauty,  Lazyness , Bad lifestyle choices, late nights, and stress all play a huge role in our skin’s health and yet we continue to question “ Why should skin care be a habit ?” While most of us fall prey to exhaustion or sheer laziness to follow a daily skin care routine , in our defense , I can only say that we do so because we feel that the miracle facial will “ do it ” for us and cure all our skin problems .  What

MY ''SKINTILLATING'' SUPPLEMENTS SECRET

I've always been the type to experiment , with my skin supplements been one of my trials I enjoy a boost of antioxidants with oral / topical supplements in my skincare routine . Antioxidants are terrific for reversing sun damage , and the natural effects of aging , and should be a part of your daily routine no matter your age . Supplements also aid in boosting the immune system , prevention is always better than cure . Vitamins A , C , and E , and minerals selenium and lutein , have all been touted as skin beautifiers , and there is growing clinical evidence that this is true . Some say that you may have enough in your regular diet , but it doesn’t hurt to take a daily multivitamin as well . Young people can start to take care of their skin before it ages with the simple addition of vitamins . Dandelion supplements contain a great deal of vitamin C , and are good for your skin . Flax-seed oil supplements can give your skin a healthy glow , and because it’s an Omega-3 rich o

RETINOL / RETIN-A .

In the quest for healthy skin many of us will try anything and everything . Armed with a drawer full of products we follow every tip we have every read or heard . And then we wonder why our skin isn't “perfect” . Could it be that we are overdoing it ? When it comes to skin care , sometimes more is not “more” . Overusing or combining certain products can have the opposite effect you are hoping for - irritation , dryness , or cancelling out the benefits of the product completely ! Such is the case when it comes to Retin A and other retinols . Retin-A is a powerful wrinkle fighter that helps renew skin . So powerful it can also cause dryness and irritation . Take extra care when using Retin-A as well as other retinols . EASE INTO IT . If you are a first time user of Retin-A and experiencing extreme redness and irritation , you could be overdoing it . Start with only a small pea size amount . If you are still experiencing irritation , you may want to build up to Retin-A by using

CHEMICAL PEELS .

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Chemical peels have been in vogue as an advanced beauty treatment since ancient times . It is performed for people to achieve a smoother and beautiful complexion . Today , chemical peels have become the fastest and most effective way to a glowing complexion by reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation and scarring caused by acne . The results of chemical peels are almost instantaneous . But before rushing to the nearest skincare store  it’s important to understand the different types of chemical peels and potential risks to decide which one is best for your skin . HOW DO CHEMICAL PEELS WORK ? Chemical peel treatments involve the application of a variety of chemicals that are derived from vinegar , sugar and fruits on to the skin surface so that they burn off the dead cells that form on the outer layer of the skin . These treatments can be done at home but can lead to scaring or burns if not administered properly . The best way to administer chem

SKINCARE MISTAKES WE OFTEN MAKE .

We all wish to always have flawless skin . Despite our efforts we still make some basic mistakes which keep us away from having healthy , glowing skin . These common mistakes may be in our daily skincare routine , skincare products you are using or using the wrong products for the wrong season or climate . HERE ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES WE MAKE WITHOUT BEEN AWARE OF THE HARM THEY DO . CHOOSING THE WRONG CLEANSER FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE If you have opted for a cleanser which has not been formulated for  your skin type , it does more evil than good ! It might result in your skin getting extra dry and tight or too oily giving you breakouts . An incorrect cleanser could strip your skin off its natural balance giving you more problems . CONSUMING THE WRONG DIET Dermatologists recommend  vitamin A , E and C efficient diet to look younger . Sometimes fish oil and other anti- oxidants are a good source of these vitamins . What you eat keeps you healthy from the inside-out which is mirr

PREPARING YOUR SKIN FOR MAKEUP .

IS YOUR SKIN READY FOR THAT MAKE UP OVERLOAD ? The colors , the paints and the contouring kits need a clean well prepped palette ( your face ) to work their magic . CLEANSE IT UP . It's common sense isn’t it ? Your face needs to be devoid of dirt , pollutants , makeup and oil first . Cleansing your face with a skin appropriate product is the first step . Cleansing removes dirt and all that grime you’ve collected on your face , opens up your pores allowing them to breathe and gives you a fresh start . Use a cleanser/ face wash that leaves your skin feeling clean and hydrated . SAY GOOD BYE TO DEAD SKIN CELLS . Next up is your facial scrub . Exfoliating your face removes the upper dead skin layer revealing beautiful , fresh , supple skin . A scrub also helps in working deep into your skin removing traces of left over makeup and dirt that your cleanser can't remove . Using scrubs that exfoliate , tone , hydrate and rejuvenate your skin are a good deal ! TONE IT UP .