Beauty, Makeup, Skin/Hair Care, Cosmetics Blog

Skin cancer is the most common diagnosed form of cancer in the United States with over one million new cases each year. With early detection and intervention on your behalf most skin cancers are curable. Here are some tips to avoiding increased risk for skin cancer.

Tip #1: Sunscreen usage. UV rays penetrate clouds and fog so even on a cloudy day sunscreen must be used. It usage is imperative for those out of doors for extended periods or out during the sun’s strongest hours of eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon. The UV rays also are out in winter, not just the summer days so wearing sunscreen on a daily basis followed up by touch-up applications throughout the day will deter damage from the ultra-violet rays. Skin tone and color does not make a difference when it comes to the effects from the sun and sunscreen should be used by everyone.

Tip #2: Tanning Beds are not okay. While many people choose to use tanning beds in order to achieve a tanned skin look, we are damaging the skin whether it comes from artificial or natural means. Allowing the skin to be tanned or burned through any means is damaging it and increases the risk towards skin cancers. Why would anyone want to do that when there are advances in technology that allow for the appearance of tanned skin without damaging the skin? There are a few options to choose from in doing this. There are self-tanning sprays or lotions that can be applied and the appearance of streaking is not likely with the products available now. Also, for a more professional look, most salons and spas now offer tanning treatments and spray-tan booths. These methods may require more up-keep, such as re-applying the tanner product each week, but will give a smooth skin tone and coloration while not damaging the skin and not resulting in possible skin cancer.

Tip #3: Examine the Skin Regularly. To diagnose skin cancer early is the best step to curing the cancer if it does occur and the best way to do that is to look your skin over each month. Skin cancer effects men and women with any skin type, so everyone should look for signs of possible cancers on the skin. Signs of possible cancer may include growths on the skin that bleed, moles that change in color and shape or a mole that is large in size and/or is not symmetrical in shape. Of course any questionable findings found through a self exam should be addressed by contacting and being checked out by one’s physician for further study.

Tip #4: Healthy Eating. Antioxidant-rich foods are recommended for possible prevention of all cancers, including skin cancers. It is the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that we ingest into our body that are considered to fight free radicals within the body. These free radicals in the body are suspected to be the culprits in the forming of disease in the body. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and spices, all contain high antioxidant levels and some like red kidney beans, blueberries, pinto beans and cranberries are the highest. Also recommended is a multi-vitamin taken every day that has a rich supply of Vitamin C and E in it. Vitamin C and E are considered to help lower the risks associated with UV ray exposure.

Tip # 5: Limiting Alcohol and Tobacco. Eating healthy is parallel to the use of alcohol and tobacco in the body. Reducing or eliminating these items from our body will show long-term health for the better including reducing the risk of skin cancers. Research has shown that there is a connection between use of alcohol with malignant melanoma and also smokers are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma than non-smokers by as much as three times more.

These are a few important and easy ways to prevent the risk for skin cancers.

An important staple in any woman’s cosmetic cupboard would be her facial concealer. Visible blemishes and dark circles under a woman’s eyes will make a woman look tired, strained and aged regardless of how many other cosmetics are placed on the face. So applying a good quality concealer is very important to walking out of the house each day looking energized, healthy and youthful.

Most women today know how important it is to apply a concealer and many women have at least two formulas or shades in their make-up case. So what is the problem then? The problem appears to be that most women do not know how to apply the concealer properly or they simply do not know which shade is the correct one to use on their skin.

What is the purpose of concealers?

Every woman loves to have blemish-free and soft-to-the-touch skin. In actuality though, all women including models have a blemish or two and skin conditions that need addressing. A concealer is just what the skin ordered. It conceals, or hides and masks the flaws in the skin well and efficaciously. Concealer is actually a condensed version of foundation that is loaded in pigment compounds that help to smooth over most areas of the skin’s surface. So if you are a woman that has skin conditions such as dark circles, blotchy skin tones, red veins, acne, freckles or scars, a concealer will do much to help you achieve a cover for those less than perfect skin problems.

Concealer Types

All concealers work with one purpose in mind, but they are not created alike. Depending on what skin issue is in need of addressing, there are different concealers specifically designed to work optimally for a certain skin type, a certain condition of the skin or even the skin’s color tone.

Solid Concealers

A solid concealer works best for hiding larger skin issues such as pimples, chicken pox scars or acne pockmarks. Solid concealers gives greater coverage over skin areas through a thick compound that allows it to fill and smooth over indentations in the skin’s surface. A solid concealer is usually purchased as a tube or a stick that can be applied directly to the face on the area of concern. Solid concealers also are more likely to have ingredients that work against acne, which is extremely beneficial if a woman has a hard time controlling acne or pimples on the face. This type of concealer works to not only hide the acne but also to get rid the face of the unsightly problem blemishes.

Liquid Concealers

If a general all over coverage is what you require then choose a liquid form of concealer. Liquid concealer is good for a lighter cover-up used for colorations in the skin like veins, dark circles and un-even skin tones. Liquid concealer is a cinch to apply and makes these skin issues lighter and less noticeable. Liquid concealer also works well for women with aging or drying skin to add moisture back to into the skin and refreshen it.

Choose the Right Shade of Concealer

Choosing the right shade of concealer can be easy when a woman keeps a few things in mind. One thing to remember is to pick a pigment that is one shade lighter than your skin tone is. Choosing a pigment shade that is too far off from your original skin tone, will work to bring out rather than hide the blemishes in the skin.

The best bet when it comes to the various colors in concealers is to go with a beige or brown shade for use all over the face. If there is a one particular issue on the face that needs concealing, look for a concealer that will best match that flaw to blend the remaining skin color to the issue rendering it un-noticeable.

Apricot or peach colors should be used with cool skin tones on a woman in order to make the skin appear brighter during the day. In the evening cool tones can use shades of silver for a spectacular effect. With a warm skin tone on a woman, yellow shades would be ideal especially when paired with a bluish pigmented base skin tone. If the skin has redness in the skin then the color green is a better choice. Other options would be shades of lavender and rose will bring out a brighter and healthier appearance to a woman with pale or yellow skin tones.

Hide Dark Circles with a Concealer

Dark circles occur either naturally due to genetics or from stress and/or lack of restful sleep. It can be a very hard skin condition to camouflage. First choose a neutral shaded concealer to balance the darker coloration in the skin under the eye. Next, use the concealer to cover the entire eye area lightening the dark circles to give your face a quick change for the better.

Eye discolorations can pose a difficult situation for even make-up experts. Finding the right shade to lighten the darkened eye areas make take some experimenting. Using a gel or cream for reducing dark circles may help to lighten the skin tone and make it easier to hide the problem areas. Eyevive is a product that works to reduce baggy eyes and dark circles around the eye areas. This product can at the same time reduce wrinkles especially effective around the eye area.

So many people suffer from the symptoms of eczema globally. It is such a common skin condition that either you or someone that you know battles the effects of eczema. At the same, some people ask, “What is eczema?” Eczema stated simply is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin. This inflammation type found in the skin most typically effects babies and young children but it can occur on people from any age group. Symptoms of eczema include dry, itchy skin that is red and swollen. This has caused many eczema sufferers to avoid treatment since they assume it is a form of rash on their skin and will go away. Eczema conditions rarely go away and could even get worse, so meeting with a dermatologist is imperative for an accurate diagnosis.

There different variations of eczema that occur from either a genetic skin condition or a reaction to irritations or allergies. The real causes of atopic eczema, xerotic eczema, contact dermatitis and seborrhoeic eczema continue to elude experts and researchers.

Eczema can effect any part of the body, but routinely it is bothersome to the head and neck areas primarily. In any age group, eczema also effects the areas of the elbows, ankles and knees quite often. Only a dermatologist can make the correct diagnosis of your skin condition through a series of tests and gaining further information from you the patient before agreeing it is in fact eczema. The information that your dermatologist may need to make a proper diagnosis may include family history, dietary intake, lifestyle habits such as smoking and sun exposure, allergy history and your occupation. Tests that may be conducted can range from allergy testing, blood tests, a skin patch test or in less frequent occasions, a biopsy of the skin may be taken.

What are the most recognized signs of eczema?

All people show the signs of eczema differently since our bodies all vary from each other, but there are some more common symptoms that signal eczema. Of all the many symptoms, the most common is redness and dryness of the irritated skin areas. After the dryness and redness, common conditions such as these can be present in most eczema sufferers: cracking, peeling, flaking and itching.

Itching alone is not a symptom of eczema, so if you have a moment of itching on your skin, do not be concerned. Itching as a symptom of eczema also comes with one or more of the other ailments and is done on an extreme level. Patients with eczema have such extreme itching, they often cause further irritation to the skin even to the point of breaking it open or becoming crusty with sores.

The sores can also bleed and ooze allowing germs and bacteria to set in the sores causing infection. Some eczema sufferers can be seen to have blisters filled with pus and these can become quite numerous in or surrounding the troubled areas.

What are the treatments available for eczema?

There is no known permanent elimination of eczema, but with treatment it can be reduced considerably. Changes to lifestyle in habits and actions can play an important role in easing the eczema problems. Excessive seating has shown to cause irritation and the creation of inflamed areas, so avoiding physical activity that activates sweating is a recommendation. Other areas for change may include certain clothing fabrics, cow’s milk, allergens, and products that may cause irritation to the skin like soaps, perfumes and lotions.

Aside from changes in one’s life that may effect one’s skin, there are medications or creams with steroid ingredients that reduce the function of the immune system. This seems to help with the irritations in the skin. More and more individuals are choosing more natural treatments for their medical conditions and this includes eczema. If you are interested in finding a natural approach to handling your eczema, find a dermatologist that is knowledgeable with natural or herbal remedies so he or she can make a good recommendation in relieving eczema symptoms.

There is a new sift in the cosmetic industry of late. The new marketing focus is on mineral make-up and appears to show them that great potential exists. People are turning toward more natural products and looking more natural in appearance as well as having an interest in treating the skin with care. Mineral make-ups fulfill these ideals on all accounts. Mineral make-up will not damage your skin with adverse ingredients like traditional make-ups can do. Mineral make-up products claim to be able to make the skin more attractive and aglow with healthy tones after a period of regular usage.

Wearing mineral make-up which contain exceptional characteristics that are natural is a simple process. The natural qualities in mineral make-up result in a product that is very tender and soft on the skin, so that it can provide full coverage but yet be light enough to feel as though you are not wearing any make-up at all. The ingredients found in mineral make-up do not cause blockages or clogging of the pores in the skin giving you beautiful skin. Other cosmetics just can not say this, even when formulated for oily skin types. Even the most sensitive of skin types are not bothered with allergies or rashes to the face since the mineral make-up allows for the skin to breathe. A major concern among many people including women is protection from UV rays. The ingredient list for mineral make-up include compounds that work effectively to keep UV rays at bay.

Mineral make-up is so light on the skin that even with all the other great features it provides, this one feature is almost always the favorite. Another great feature is its ability to blend in evenly and it goes so well with your skin tone as long as the choice in make-up shade is correct. With such a good match on your face, it highlights your natural elegance and makes it appear that you are wearing no make-up at all but still look great. While this is not the best of ideas, the make-up could be left on while you sleep and not even notice because it is so weightless and cooling. Even though your pores are open through the make-up, it is still recommended that it be washed off when done for the day so the skin can rejuvenate overnight. Since mineral make-up has the ability to act as a light reflector, tiny blemishes and wrinkles on your skin’s surface and be camouflaged.

People who suffer from acne, now can use a cosmetic product that is natural and does not clog up the pores in the skin and will not create more problems in the skin. Regular cosmetics, even when they have been formulated for oily or sensitive skin can still cause blemishes on the skin. Cosmetics that mix with water or sweat can cause bacteria to form in the skin. Mineral make-up does not mix with water or sweat and stays exactly where you have placed it and actually sheds the water. So this feature forms a great product that all skin types can enjoy and use. Mineral make-up is a naturally safe and works so very well for everyone. The mineral make-up is obtainable in many different shades, but also the shades can be combined and mixed for matching skin tones in the best possible way.

Mineral make-up has increased and is continuing to increase in popularity fast, so this makes it much easier to locate for purchasing. There are many companies that sell online and websites that supply mineral make-up for buying. Mineral make-up is really worth trying, it has the best properties that works the best for all skin types and tones and application, you won’t regret the purchase.

Whiteheads pose a problem for many age groups and are unsightly, unwanted and we desire to get rid of them for those reasons. Pharmacies, television and Internet access gives us endless products for sale through advertising that this product is the best or that product is the only one that works or this product is formulated differently, etc. There are many ways to treat skin blemishes such as warts, whiteheads, blackheads or acne to name some. One way to remove blemishes is a method that isn’t even thought of any more because of all the products available for sale today, but remedies can be made at home with little or no cost. That’s right many skin problems can be a thing of the past by simply treating at home, with no embarrassing trips to the pharmacy. The way to treat whiteheads is easy to and all that is needed are a few regular household items. Once these are gathered, we can start the process towards beautifying the face.

As a habit, washing the face with a mild, unscented and non-deodorant soap at least twice during the day should be routine for the least incidence of whitehead flare-ups. Whiteheads have a tendency to show up on skin that is not usually kept clean. Using benzoyl peroxide, found in most family homes for household use in minor wound care, may also be used as a solution added to the face to keep bacteria away. First wash the face as directed above and pat dry with a clean towel, then use a cotton ball or cotton swab depending on what you have on hand for application for the anti-bacterial solution. Apply the solution to the face by dabbing it on where the skin infection resides. The peroxide will dry the skin and the irritation up and then through washing regularly the dead layers of skin will be removed naturally. Use the anti-bacterial method until all whiteheads are gone or if some reappear, but there should be none that show up if continuing with the facial washing on a regular basis.

Another way to remove whiteheads is through the use of a warm and wet compress. The warm moisture in the compress works on the skin to open pores and allow the release of toxins held in the skin layers. Try an exfoliation method on the face two to three times during the week to remove dead skin, open pores and remove dirt and toxins. Exfoliation can be done with a simple washcloth or a bath scrubby to work in the warm water and gentle soap for best cleaning results on the skin. Naturally removing whiteheads is cost effective, can be done in privacy and eliminate recurrence with non-chemicals objects from around the house that you already have. Other skin conditions can also be treated at home with a little knowledge. Search the Internet for quality suggestions that are safe for eliminating many skin blemishes. I’m sure it will amaze you to see all the various options that can be performed.

Dandruff: It is a common problem for many people and only worsens during the colder months. It is embarrassing to have your head flake everywhere, it shows on your shirt, on your jacket and on your comb or hair brush. People notice it whoever your with, whether they mention it or not. It is itchy, annoying and cause sores on the head if not treated. A person with dandruff would never consider wearing black clothing since black only highlights the problem.

Dandruff requires careful treatment remedies when it occurs. There are two reasons why we have a dandruff issue and they are caused by internal and external factors. The internal factors are a result of emotional stresses, sleep deprivation, an excess of fats or sugars in the diet and also poor hygienic care of oneself. External factors include overuse of hairspray or other hair care products, dry indoor heating or only occasional shampooing. There are chemical based hair and scalp products on the market shelves for purchasing, but wouldn’t it be better if there were natural options to treating dandruff concerns? Some natural methods to eliminating or at least reducing dandruff are listed below for you to try.

Here are six treatments for dandruff worth trying:

1.) Hazel with lemon – Mix together one hundred grams of witch hazel with one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. To that mixture, add 200 milliliters of water and once combine use to wash the hair thoroughly. Use this method for future washes until the hair and scalp become free of dandruff.

2.) Pain killer with shampoo – Crush two aspirins into a powder and mix with a gentle shampoo like a baby shampoo. Rub the mixture onto the scalp and allow it to set for two minutes. Rinse completely making sure to remove any small particles of aspirin remaining on the head.

3.) Glycerin with coconut oil – Add together one tablespoon of vinegar, one tablespoon of glycerin, one egg and one tablespoon of coconut oil. Mix the ingredients until they form a paste-like consistency. Place this paste-like mixture all over the scalp and allow it to stay for one hour. (Place a plastic grocery bag over the head while going about duties around the house while the mixture works on the scalp. After one hour, use a gentle shampoo to wash out the remaining mixture. This should be done once a week.

4.) Camphor with coconut oil – Mix equal parts camphor and coconut oil together, enough to massage the scalp with. Massage into the scalp. Neem oil may be used instead of coconut oil. This is a very efficient remedy for dandruff.

5.) Olive oil and almond oil – Also another great dandruff cure, is a massage to the scalp using equal parts olive oil and almond oil. Let the oils remain on the scalp for five minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

6.) Tamarind and sugarcane – Use water to dampen the tamarind and then add to enough molasses to cover the scalp. Apply the mixture to the scalp and leave it there for one hour. When time is up, clean the hair and scalp with a gentle shampoo. The treatment should be used once a week.

These natural remedies should work well in treating dandruff. Try alternating the methods for best results on the scalp and hair. Dandruff will not be embarrassing to you any longer.

In the warm months we spend time outdoors to enjoy the weather and sun. A children some of us never had concerns about the effect on the skin. Today we now know differently as skin cancer, premature aging and skin conditions scare us away from time in the sun. In the winter we long for the beautiful color and glow we once had during warmer months.

Others are not so much in fear of the harmful effects of the sun but prefer the faster result that sunless tanning can provide. Sunless tanning, for those who are not familiar with it is exactly what the name implies that it is – a process of tanning the skin without the sun’s rays. Sunless tanning can be applied in many ways and the effectiveness and how well it works will also vary. Tanning booths, tanning beds, lotions, sprays, powders and pills are all forms of sunless tanning. finding out how the skin tans will help us to understand how sunless tanners may work.

The sun’s rays come in three forms of ultraviolet light or radiation. These three are UVA, UVB and UVC rays. The UVA and UVB rays are the one that are most harmful to the skin emitting between 290 to 400 nm(measure of the wave length). While both UVA and UVB rays can both cause serious damage to our skin and our bodies, it is the UVB rays that are easier to protect ourselves from.

The body does have minimal defenses to fight against UV radiation. Our body protects our skin from UV damage through a substance called melanin. Melanin works by absorbing the hazardous rays in an action to protect our DNA. The when the skin absorbs the UV rays from the melanin production or skin turns darker thus producing the tanned look.

Unlike the damage caused by the sun’s UV radiation, sunless tanning product are not harmful. Sunless tanning will not prevent further damage and tanning from the sun’s rays when outdoors. There has been some debate as to whether tanning beds and tanning pills may pose a danger, but the results have been inconclusive. Because of the possibility, the FDA will not approve the use of most tanning pills.

Having the skin color of a vampire is not necessary from trying to stay out of the sun either. We can tan without posing a damage to our skin or body from many other ways. Sunless tanning is the answer. Sunless tanning products will vary greatly in price depending on the product or service used. Creams may run in the single dollars and can run upwards to over one hundred dollars for sessions in a tanning salon. The best sunless tanning result comes from looking great and what meets your budget. Choosing the right one for you and your needs will be up to you and your wallet. Sunless tanning will provide you with the relief of knowing that you have great skin color with not harming your skin or possibly damaging your health later in life.

For thousands of years, people have gone to great length to make sure their hair reflects who they are either through fashion or making a statement. The hair of a person is often seen as a tool for topping off the look that they are trying to achieve. It is no wonder that people will spend so much in time and money on their hair.

Enhancing the hair comes in many forms. There are people who curl their hair and just as many that will straighten. There are others who will use hair dye to change the coloring while others are trying to repair their hair. Chemicals, scissors and combs make the ease of styling a person’s hair in many ways.

Hair styling appliances opened an open door even larger to the world of hairstyles. They also have made styling the hair much easier, convenient and faster to accomplish. They have made it possible for many more people to have a choice in hair styling as well.

Hair blow dryers have become the most commonly used hair styling tool to use. How hair dryers work is by fanning air through a nickel-chromium resistance wire that heats the air before blowing it out to make wet hair dry.

To get the best results from your hair blow dryer, you should know a few tips.

1.) It is important to remember that when drying your hair with a blow dryer, if the process is performed improperly damage to the hair will result. The first thing to know is to never place your setting at high on the blow dryer. This is to prevent intense heat from removing the natural moisture in the hair which will also remove the shine, having a cuticle effect on the hair’s cuticle and also making the hair weak and breakable.

2.) Pre-drying the hair will allow for faster blow drying. After washing the hair is complete, do not rub the hair dry but squeeze and pat out the excess water with a towel before choosing to blow dry the hair.

3.) Keeping in mind that high heat damages the hair, set the blow dryer to either low or medium heat. Since you are lowering the heat setting, you will want to increase the speed on your hair dryer to high.

4.) The next thing to know is to keep the hair appliance at a safe distance from the hair follicles. Damage can still occur to the hair even at a low heat setting when the concentration of warm air is placed too close to the hair. If the hair dryer is placed too close to the hair during the drying process, it can produce the same damaging effects.

Knowing the ideal distance to hold your appliance is essential for preventing damage. Keep the hair dryer from six to eight inches away for this purpose.

5.) Where and how you blow dry the hair is also important. Efficient blow drying will come from sectioning the hair. Start with blow drying the underside of the hair.

6.) Blowing drying should be done starting at the bottom of the head in the back and working the way up to the top of the head moving towards the sides of the head.

7.) The air flow from the blow dryer should be pointed down towards the ends of the hair rather than towards the head. Many people make this mistake.

8.) A further step that can be taken against damaging the hair can be by using a thermal protector.

9.) The nozzle attachment that comes with the hair dryer should always be used in the drying process.

10.) While constantly moving the warm air over the hair, continually brush the hair through at a quick pace.

11.) A blowing drying lotion can be applied to the hair before using the hair dryer. This will allow for a faster drying time.

12.) Styling the hair can take place after the hair is at least eighty percent dry. Using combs, curlers, brushes, curling irons, etc. can be used for styling the hair.

13.) Once the style is achieved to how a person desires for it to look, the style will need a product to hold it in place. A soft coat of light-hold hair spray applied to the hair will accomplish that.