Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Care for Oily Skin

How to Care for Oily Skin

Care for Oily Skin
Care for Oily Skin
 
How to Care for Oily Skin
Do you have overproductive sebaceous glands, which are responsible for oily skin? The good news is this skin type is generally slower to show fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration. The downside can be more frequent breakouts, large pores and a greasy appearance. The following steps can minimize the negative effects


Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

  1. Stick with the basics: The experts suggest cleansing your face two or three times daily with good old soap and water. Pack a premoistened cleansing pad if you won't be around a water basin throughout the day.

  2. Understand that dermatologists and aestheticians often disagree on which types of soaps or cleansers to use'but all agree that once you find a product that works well for your skin, you should continue using it.

  3. Follow the recommendations of dermatologists and shower or bathe in tepid rather than steaming-hot water. Hot water can strip your skin of needed moisture, while cold water can shock your skin.

  4. Avoid using cleansers that tend to overdry skin. This paradoxically causes your skin to produce even more oil than usual.

  5. Use only noncomedogenic moisturizers and sunscreen products'this means they're oil-free and won't clog pores.

  6. Talk to your dermatologist about a class of drugs called retinoids, which reduce production in oil glands and shrink their size.

  7. Keep in mind that oil glands are very sensitive'stimuli such as hormones, heat and (some say) fatty food can trigger them.

  8. Remember that your efforts to keep your oily skin clear can only go so far, as some studies indicate that oily skin is hereditary.



Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Take Care of Your Face to Avoid Wrinkles

How to Take Care of Your Face to Avoid Wrinkles

Avoid facial wrinkles with good skin care.
Avoid facial wrinkles with good skin care.
 
face care #3 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
Over time, skin produces less collagen and elastin, both of which help keep it firm. Additionally, sun exposure plays an important role in skin health. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "how wrinkled your skin becomes depends largely on how much sun you have been exposed to in your lifetime." Take good care of your face to avoid, delay or minimize wrinkles as much as possible.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Wide-brimmed hat
  • Facial cleanser
  • Facial moisturizers containing anti-aging ingredients
  • Foods high in anti-oxidants, vitamins, essential fats and omegas
  1. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more prior to sun exposure--even in winter--to shield your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Use about 1 tsp. of sunscreen to cover your face and neck. Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when necessary for extra protection.

  2. Wash your face daily with a cleanser specially designed for facial skin, but don't over-wash. Tap water can actually remove some of the skin's natural protections.

  3. Apply facial moisturizer after cleansing. When selecting a moisturizer, look for ingredients that are specifically designed to fight wrinkles. The Cleveland Clinic describes retinol, l-ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C), hyaluronic acid, copper peptide, alpha-lipoic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids as ingredients with beneficial skin effects.

  4. Eat foods high in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, essential fats and omega-3s. Try beans, berries, citrus fruits, whole grains and salmon.

  5. Stop smoking, which accelerates aging. Stay away from secondhand smoke and other air pollutants, which can dry your skin.

  6. Lie on your back to fall asleep every night to avoid skin creasing and sleep lines on your face.

  7. Avoid making excessive or repetitive facial expressions. Habits like squinting or holding tension in your face can trace wrinkles on your skin over time.

Tips & Warnings

  • You can get antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients in supplements if your diet doesn't have enough of them.
     
  • If your sunscreen flakes off your skin, try reducing the SPF, but use at least SPF 15.
     
  • Cosmetics with sunscreen additives do not always provide enough coverage in the amount typically used for cosmetic purposes. If you're not sure, use a separate sunscreen under your makeup.
     
  • Some people experience skin sensitivity with certain skin care products. Follow all product advice on the packaging.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Apply an Acne Treatment Facial Mask

How to Apply an Acne Treatment Facial Mask

People who are prone to acne should plan to spend a lot of time taking care of their skin. A good skin regimen reduces the number of acne breakouts that you experience and keeps skin blemish free. One step in your acne treatment plan should consist of applying an acne treatment mask to your face as a way to exfoliate the skin.
 
 
Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

  1. Purchase an acne treatment mask. Two of the top choices for treatment masks include Zia's Natural Acne Treatment Mask and Neova Illuminating Mask.

  2. Clean your face first. Before using an acne treatment mask, wash your face with a daily facial cleanser. Keep your face damp when you plan to apply the mask.

  3. Protect your eyes. You can use eye pads to make sure that the mask does not irritate the area.

  4. Apply the mask in a thin layer over your skin. Many people make the mistake of putting the mask on too thick.

  5. Leave the mask on for a minimum of 10 minutes. This should give it enough time to harden. Afterwards, rinse the mask off with warm water.

  6. Repeat the process once a week. Although you should use an acne treatment mask on a regular basis, you can adjust the schedule to every 2 weeks if you think the mask is irritating your skin.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Use Banana Peel For Skin Care

How to Use Banana Peel For Skin Care

Use Banana Peel For Skin Care
Use Banana Peel For Skin Care
 
Steve Woods ~sxc
Why it works is a bit of a mystery to the average lay person, but banana peels can be used for far more than just to "slip on" or compost in your garden. Banana peels contains lutein, an antioxidant and plenty of potassium, so maybe that is what makes the rubbing of the inside of a banana peel so healing? If you have warts, psoriasis or poison ivy, and have a banana on your kitchen counter top, you'll want to read more.
 
 
Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Banana
  • Banana peels
  • corn starch
  • egg white

    How to Use Banana Peel For Skin Care

  1. Use to help psoriasis. Rub the inside of a banana peel to the affected area and although it will be red at first, you should notice a difference in your skin within a few days.

  2. Use to heal acne. Again, simply rub the inside of the banana peel over your acne, whether it's on your face or body, and your acne should improve within a few uses. I recommend applying at night so you don't smell like a banana all day.

  3. Take the bite out of poison ivy. Rub the inside of a banana peel onto the poison ivy area and the itching should stop and the inflammation will go down. Reapply as needed. This is a great reason to pack a few banana's on that camping or hiking trip.

  4. Heal warts. Rub the inside of a banana peel on the wart every night for a week and you will see improvement. Plantar's warts have responded well to this, and other warts may as well. If you are in a hurry, try taping the peel to the affected area overnight and you should see dramatic improvement within a week or two.

  5. Make a Facial Cream

  6. Mash 1/4 of a banana into a small bowl.
  7. In a separate bowl, whisk one egg white until frothy.

  8. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch to the egg white and continue to whisk together.

  9. Add mashed banana and mix well.

  10. Apply a thin layer of the banana mixture to face and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

  11. Any leftover banana facial mixture can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - Skincare & Beauty Tips

Skincare & Beauty Tips

  1. Skincare and beauty tips that are practical can be used in conjunction with any product.

    Beauty on Beauty image by O!Creations from Fotolia.com 
    Skincare and beauty tips that are practical can be used in conjunction with any product.
    Skincare and beauty go hand in hand. Taking care of your skin is an important factor in maintaining an overall healthy appearance. There are a few practical beauty and skincare tips that, when followed, can help give your skin the healthy glow it should have. There are many techniques and individual products available to help aid in skincare and beauty regimens and the choice on exact products is a personal decision.

    Routine Cleansing

  2. The act of cleaning skin is something that is done to keep the skin healthy and give it the ability to breathe by keeping the pores open and free from dirt and oil. The main tip in cleaning skin is to be consistent and have a routine that you stick to. You should cleanse your skin, all of it, at least once per day using a gentle soap or cleanser. Additionally, you should cleanse your face a total of two times a day, and especially in the evening prior to going to sleep. The purpose of cleaning skin in the evening, primarily for women who wear makeup, is to remove all dirt and oils from the skin so that it has a chance to breathe during the night. Keeping skin free from dirt, grime and oil is the first step towards maintaining healthy skin. You should use a skin cleanser that is suited for your skin type.
  3. Avoid Smoking

  4. The smoking debate is rooted in a variety of health concerns and skin health is one of them. Avoiding smoking and being around areas of smoke helps to keep skin healthy. Smoking cigarettes has an adverse effect on skin, especially the face and neck area, as the smoke hovers and attaches to the skin and clogs the pores. The act of smoking causes small blood vessels in the skin of the face to contract and thus restrict blood flow to the skin. This decrease in blood flow causes less oxygen to be carried to the skin, and oxygen is important in keeping skin healthy and fortified. Additionally, the physical act of smoking contributes to facial wrinkles because of the facial movements associated with smoking. Quitting smoking is the best tip to avoid skin damage.
  5. Sun Protection

  6. The sun and sunshine provide essential vitamins such as vitamin D, but the sun itself contains both UVA and UVB rays that can have a detrimental effect on skin. The best way to help protect skin from the damaging rays of the sun is to keep all exposed skin protected. You can use a combination of methods to protect skin. You should keep the majority of skin covered under dark clothing or clothing designed to prevent sun from penetrating it. For skin that is left exposed, such as the face, arms, chest or legs, you should use sunscreen or sunblock. There are a variety of choices in sun protection, but you should make sure to wear sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 or higher. You should also avoid exposing your skin to the sun's rays when they are the strongest, which is typically between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Whiten Dark Skin

How to Whiten Dark Skin

Lighten up dark patches on your skin with a skin-lightening remedy.
Lighten up dark patches on your skin with a skin-lightening remedy.
Games of dark 5 image by Dmitry Suzdalev from Fotolia.com
No cream or treatment will change the color of the skin you are born with, but lightening it temporarily is possible. Dark spots on the skin may appear because of aging, poor hygiene or scarring. You can lighten your whole body or just a specific area with some home remedies and the proper skin care. Lighten up your dark skin, at least for a little while, safely and without damaging or injuring your skin.
Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

    Exfoliation


  1. 1
    Stand in the shower and wet your skin with cool/warm water. Wet your shower poof too. Squirt a quarter-sized amount of exfoliant on your shower poof.

  2. 2
    Scrub your body with the shower poof. Start at the bottom of the legs and work upward adding exfoliant as you need. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Dead skin cells make the skin look darker and dull.

  3. 3
    Rinse the exfoliant from your body using cool/warm water.

  4. 4
    Squirt a pea-sized amount of microdermabrasion cleanser onto a wet cloth.

  5. 5
    Scrub your face, avoiding your eye area with the microdermabrasion. Rinse it away with cool/warm water.

  6. 6
    Step out of the shower and pat your skin dry. Apply a skin lightening cream to your clean skin.

    Almond Honey Mask


  7. 1
    Mix 1 tsp. of milk powder, 1 tsp. of honey, 1 tsp. of lemon juice and ½ tsp. of almond oil in a small bowl with a spoon.

  8. 2
    Pull your hair back from your face using a headband. Rinse your face with a gentle cleanser removing all makeup and dirt. Pat your skin dry.

  9. 3
    Apply the honey mask to your face using your fingers. Rinse your fingers after the application is completely. Avoid getting the mask in your eyes or mouth.

  10. 4
    Sit comfortably for 15 minutes. Rinse the mask from your face with warm water. Apply a moisturizer with sunscreen to the skin to prevent further darkening. This home remedy is good to use on the body too.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - Skincare & Beauty Treatments

Skincare & Beauty Treatments

Beauty treatments are a way to pamper yourself and take care of your body.
Beauty treatments are a way to pamper yourself and take care of your body.
skin care image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
Caring for your skin is a process that lasts your whole lifetime. Always exposed to the elements, your skin needs regular TLC. To achieve soft, healthy, beautiful skin, make time for beauty treatments, whether at a salon or at home.

    Facials

  1. Spas offer facial treatments for indulgent skin care. Cost varies widely depending on where you go and what options you go for, but you can expect to pay upwards of $50 and as much as $250 for a treatment at a professional salon.



    For a DIY fix, you can do facials at home, with at-home facial mask cleansers, home microdermabrasion kits, or whip up your own treatments using natural ingredients like yogurt, essential oil, and nut butters. For extra pampering, try a DIY facial steam. Infuse boiling water with fresh herbs or herbal tea, pour into a basin, drape a towel over your head to create a tent, and let the steam bathe your face and neck for 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Body Care

  3. Exfoliating salt scrubs and seaweed wraps at salons can make you feel rejuvenated from head to toe, but these treatments do come with a price tag. For a professional treatment, which may include massage therapy as well, expect to pay $85 and up for a 45 minute to 1 hour treatment.



    At home, use exfoliating products, or make your own scrubs out of naturally exfoliating ingredients to slough off dead skin cells. A sliced orange works well because of its high acidity, and body scrubs made from coffee grounds are also an effective at-home treatment. Coffee scrubs are a traditional treatment at Thai and Balinese spas.
  4. Hands and Feet

  5. Professional manicures and pedicures are effective treatments for skin on the hands and feet. At a professional spa or salon, the average cost starts at $20 for a manicure and $35 for a pedicure, but you may find lower prices at smaller nail shops.



Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Trim Eyebrow Hair

How to Trim Eyebrow Hair

Brushing and trimming will help manage unruly eyebrows.
Brushing and trimming will help manage unruly eyebrows.
eyebrow image by Vanessa van Rensburg from Fotolia.com

If you have very long or unruly eyebrows, plucking and waxing may not be enough to keep your brows in control. Trimming eyebrows with a small pair of sharp manicure scissors can make for a cleaner look. Trim slowly and sparingly to keep from removing too much hair. Eyebrows normally take between four and eight weeks to regrow completely.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions


  1. 1
    Comb your eyebrows upward so that the longest hairs show above the rest of the eyebrow.

  2. 2
    Trim the exposed long hairs with sharp manicure scissors until they are level with the top of the eyebrow. Do not cut any shorter than this, as the hairs will become stubbly.

  3. 3
    Comb the eyebrows upward again. Trim any stray long hairs that remain.

  4. 4
    Brush the eyebrows downward to check for more stray hairs. Trim as needed, cutting the hairs so they do not extend passed the bottom of the eyebrow.

  5. 5
    Brush eyebrows back into their normal growth pattern.

  6. 6
    Fill in any gaps you accidentally create with an eyebrow pencil.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to Apply Makeup to Acne Prone Skin

How to Apply Makeup to Acne Prone Skin

Apply Makeup to Acne Prone Skin
Apply Makeup to Acne Prone Skin
www.123rf.com

While it's important to allow acne prone skin a chance to breathe at night, you can still wear makeup during the day that conceals pimples without inhibiting your skin's healing process. Follow these steps to achieve flawless looking makeup coverage for your acne prone skin.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Acne Medication
  • Makeup Primer
  • Moisturizer
  • Concealer
  • Foundation
  • Gentle Cleanser
  • Fresh Wash Rags

  1. 1
    Start with clean skin
     

    Start with clean skin
    START WITH CLEAN SKIN: Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser that won't strip skin of its natural moisturizers (many dermatologists recommend Cetaphil). Wash with lukewarm water (hot water will strip your skin of nutrients) and pat dry (don't rub) with a clean wash rag. Keep several wash rags nearby and use a clean one each day to prevent spreading pore-clogging bacteria.

  2. 2
    APPLY ACNE TREATMENTS: Now apply any acne treatments you use directly onto clean skin. Allow a minute or so for the medications to be absorbed.

  3. 3
    APPLY A SUN PROTECTANT MOISTURIZER: Next, add a good, all over moisturizer with at least SPF 15. What's that you say? With your oily skin moisturizer is the last thing you need! In fact, dry skin will trigger your glands to produce more oil in an effort to rehydrate the skin. So by keeping the skin properly hydrated in the first place, you allow your skin to spend more time glowing and less time making grease! The SPF will protect your skin from the sun's UV radiation, which can cause premature aging, dull looking skin and an increased risk of skin cancer.

  4. 4
    A Primer Can Help Give Makeup a Smoother Look
     

    A Primer Can Help Give Makeup a Smoother Look
    ADD PRIMER (Optional): If you have scars from previous pimples or struggle with dry or uneven skin, a makeup primer can increase skin's firmness and help foundation go on smoother. If using, place a small dollop on each side of your nose and smooth outwards.

  5. 5
    Cover Blemishes with Concealer
     

    Cover Blemishes with Concealer
    CONCEAL BLEMISHES: Now you can lightly apply concealer to your broken out areas. Ideally, try to use a concealer that you can apply using cleaned fingertips. However, if your concealer requires the use of an applicator sponge, use a clean one each time (you can buy extras at your local drug store). Leave the concealer on the blemish for 5-10 seconds before blending to allow time for it to adhere to its spot. Green hued concealers do a great job of offsetting aggravated pimples (Green offsets red). However, if you have dry, flaky blemishes, you may want to go with a traditional concealer that is one shade slightly darker than your normal skin tone. The green hue can get caught behind flaky skin and fail to blend in completely. (You don't want your pimple looking like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas!).

  6. 6
    TIME FOR FOUNDATION: If you wear foundation, apply it now. (You can skip foundation altogether if using mineral face powder). Gently smooth on foundation using light layers to allow your skin to breathe.

  7. 7
    FINISH UP WITH FACE POWDER AND YOUR COLORS OF CHOICE: Add a dusting of facial powder and finish up with your blush, eye shadow or lipstick of choice.

  8. 8
    Get Your Beauty Rest
     

    Get Your Beauty Rest
    REMOVE MAKEUP BEFORE SLEEPING: Your beauty rest will stay true to it's name if you remember to remove your makeup and remoisturize before heading to bed. Follow the same washing tips listed in step one. Then follow up with your acne medication and a moisturizing night cream. Not just for wrinkles, night cream will help your face heal from blemishes and provide you with smoother, healthier skin come morning time.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to control frizz for beautiful Curly Hair

How to control frizz for beautiful Curly Hair

 


Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Your hands
  • Hair Mousse
  • a little pratice and patience

  1. 1
    Wash your hair using a moisterizing shampoo. Condition your hair using your fingers to "comb" through your hair covering every strand,let stand around 3 mins then rinse.

  2. 2
    Before stepping out of the shower wrap your hair moderately loosely in your towel. Never rub or squeeze the water out of your hair. You need to keep it slightly wet to fight the frizz while styling it. Keep the towel on your hair until right before you are ready to add the mousse.

  3. 3
    Now for the mousse. The best drugstore/supermarket type of mousse for us on a budget are ones made specifically for curly hair, if you cannot find that then use extra hold mousse. I have tried them all and my favorite brand that costs a little is Suave Healthy Curls scrunching mousse. The mousse should feel more creamy than airy when you rub it in your hands to work properly.

  4. 4
    Apply the mousse in atleast 3 sections no matter what the length. Just pay attention to how much you apply to each section depending on the thickness and length of your hair so you don't end up with crackling stiff curls. First part your hair from the middle of your forehead all the way down the back of your hair (just use your fingers for all the parting). Apply the mousse working it through that section with your fingers. Next push all the front of your hair back and cover your bangs and the sides of your hair with the mousse. Lastly flip your head over and start at the nap of your neck working your way all the way down and work mousse covering every strand of your hair.

  5. 5
    Make sure all your hair is covered with the product. While applying the last section try to group up the hair with your fingers making thicker curls. Thicker curls look much better than curls that are totally seperated. Wetting your hands a little and then running then through the curls works great for this too.

  6. 6
    Once all your hair is covered and the curls are in nice bunches style as usual. I never blow dry my hair, after years of practice i have found that air drying looks much better for me.

Fashion,Style & Personal Care - How to GROW YOUR HAIR SUPER LONG!!

How to GROW YOUR HAIR SUPER LONG!!

GROW YOUR HAIR SUPER LONG
GROW YOUR HAIR SUPER LONG
How to GROW YOUR HAIR SUPER LONG
User-Submitted Article
By practicing these simple steps, your hair will grow super fast, super quickly! Not only will it grow really long, but it will be healthy and shiny.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • a boar bristle brush
  • a prong brush

  1. 1

     
    First, start by limiting the frequency of your hair washing to every 3 days. During the last couple days it can be helpful to keep your hair in braids. Over washing your hair will cause it to be dry and brittle. By only washing your hair every 3 days, you will retain the natural oils which nourish your hair, making it healthy and strong.

  2. 2

     
    Next, massage your scalp every night with your prong hairbrush. Really rub your scalp with it in circular motions. This gets the blood circulating in your hair follicles, necessary for hair growth.

  3. 3

     
    Finally, brush your hair every night with a boar bristle hairbrush. Start at the roots and brush with long strokes all the way down to the ends of your hair. this will pull that natural oil throughout your hair, nourishing it and strengthening the tips of the hair shaft.

    Pretty soon, your hair will be long and strong!!