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Inaccurate information published in magazines leads us to misconceptions about certain products and skin care in general.

Some old views on skin care or beauty products have resulted in inaccurate information in the media, with beauticians or mostly various cosmetics companies which bombard us on a daily basis with advertisements and concealed PR articles, even research which mostly favour the products. We bring you a list of the biggest misconceptions.

Skin aging conditioned by genes

Believing that your skin will be the same as our mother`s is somewhat true. Genetics really determine the type of skin we will have, but other factors and our habits have great influence as well. Exposure to the Sun, alcohol intake, smoking, stress, poor diet and lack of sleep significantly affect our skin appearance. According to most medical experts, free radicals mostly cause diseases and aging. Not only do they cause wrinkles to appear, but acne as well, excessive sensitivity of the skin, stains the elderly have and loss of elasticity.

Less sleep, bigger circles under the eyes

Experts say that dark circles under the eyes are a result of the concentration of veins under the eyes, and this area is covered just by a thin layer of skin. Therefore, credits exclusively go to genetics and do not depend on how much you sleep. Even some studies have shown that if you often stay up late, this can cause liquid to build up in bags under your eyes, while the dark circles are slightly swollen.

Always the same skin care products

It is a great challenge to find a suiting cream, especially today when there is a wide range of various beauty products on the market. Even if we manage to find a cream for our skin type, it is necessary to change it with time. Our skin changes just like we do. As technology keeps advancing, perhaps a new product is more efficient. However, we will never discover this if we do not experiment. We will probably make mistakes, but in the long run, the search will surely pay off.

Melanoma

Exposure to the sun is often blamed for malignant melanoma, though it is wrong. A study conducted by the US Navy has found more melanoma in people who spend most time indoors. Least cases were recorded with people who work both indoors and outdoors, Therefore, excessive or insufficient Sun exposure is harmful, but moderate exposure is healthy.

The skin breathes

We often say our skin can finally breathe when we remove layers of powder or cream from it. However, the truth is that oxygen and nutrients come to skin cells through blood, not from the air. Still, the skin eliminates toxins, sweat and oil  and absorbs moisture from the air through the outer layer, thus, a thick cream or powder coat can disable normal skin function.

Rejuvenating products

Although any woman would want this, unfortunately, there are no products which can truly make the skin youthful. During the natural aging process, our skin becomes loose and looses fat which is under the surface. The consequence of this process are wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Even the most expensive creams which are advertised as youth elixirs cannot stop this process. However, some products can temporarily tighten it, make it firmer and moisturised, leaving the skin to look younger.

Acne are a result of poor diet

For a long time, it was believed that eliminating treats like chocolate or fast food would prevent the appearance of acne, but recent studies have shown that there is no link between the two. The main cause of acne is hormones. Acne are caused with excessive production of sebum, which causes the pores to clog up. It is regulated by hormones, not to food we eat. This does not mean that it is best to reduce such a diet for the wellbeing of the entire organism.

Expensive products are better

Expensive creams do not assume greater efficiency than cheaper creams. Established cosmetics companies can increase this perception by emphasising luxurious ingredients of their creams, for example, gold particles or caviar. This does not necessarily guarantee they are more effective.

Therefore, remember, the price is not important for quality, this is all just an issue of prestige and good advertising.

Hydratation slows down the appearance of wrinkles

Unfortunately, hydrating your face only acts on the surface, but there is no evidence that skin hydration affects wrinkles, because they are created deep down. Wrinkles are caused by many factors, which increase with aging. Anyway, faces always look more nourished and healthier after creams.

Hair grows faster after shaving

Hair grown approximately a centimetre per month, regardless of the fact if you shave it or pluck it, and shaving your hairs will not make them thicker, just sharper due to the blade. However, it is true that hairs become thinner and softer after plucking, because their follicles are destroyed in time. Although it is a bit painful, it is worth it in the long run. To each their own.

Amount of water helps to hydrate the skin

Although many women drink too much water to provide additional moisture, this is not connected at all. The skin is hydrated thanks to natural oils which are in its upper layers, not liquid intake. Even though liquid helps better vital organ functions. Instead of intaking vast amounts of liquid, rather spray your face or body with some water in a dispenser.

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The proper way to deal with and how to get rid of oily skin. The best foundation makeup for oily skin and the best skincare tips. Okay, so we all have sebaceous glands but seemingly your sebaceous glands (the oil glands of the skin) work harder than you want them to.  Oily skin might have its own advantages like aging slower than dry skins and looks more supple – but, hey, that’s too good to be true. Oily skin is most prone to attracting air borne dirt and bacteria that causes acne. Especially in the adolescent years in which a surge of sex hormones (called androgens) are most active making the sebaceous gland excrete more oil – making it a stringent time for oily skin care.

Sebum (oil) is not at all damaging, however, in fact they act as the skins defenses by lubricating the skin and shed out dead skin cells from the skin’s hair follicle walls. The oily skin care to have a smooth, blemish free skin is to keep the pores unclogged and from forming acne. You can start with inexpensive oily skin care (some commercial products actually do more damage than cure). Harsh measures such as the use of toners, cleansers, and scrubbing grains don’t usually do the trick. The point is not to dry up your oily skin as this stimulates the glands to produce more oil instead.

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The good news is that acne is usually a “transient” or temporary problem, meaning once you pass your teen years it is likely that you will never have to battle acne again. Admittedly however, sometimes severe acne can leave scaring or pockmarks, or continue into the adult years. Sometimes inflammation of pockmarks may result in permanent alterations in the skins hue as well.

What is Acne?

Acne comes in many different degrees of severity. Basic ‘acne’ referred to as pimples, are typically raised lesions on the skin that are usually not to painful. Sometimes a substance called sebum accumulates behind your first layer of skin overlying a pimple, this is typically referred to as a white head. The redness around a white head is due to inflammation that can be associated with pain.

What Causes Acne?

There are four primary factors that influence your susceptibility to acne.

Blocked hair follicles due to an overproduction of skin cells referred to as “keratinocytes.” These skin cells combine with a fatty material called sebum to form a plug in the follicle, resulting in acne.

Enlarged sebaceous glands, responsible for producing sebum. Enlarged glands are common during adolescence. These glands are concentrated in areas such as the face, upper back and chest.

Increase in bacterium growth.The increased sebum in the face, back and related areas promote the overgrowth of a type of bacteria referred to as “propionibacterium acnes” which results in acne.

Inflammation due to bacteria growth. Sometimes an eruption occurs as skin cells and follicles become inflamed due to bacterial growth.

Hormonal changes that typically occur during the teen years are often responsible for acne formation. Teens generally produce more sebum than adults, resulting in an increased incidence of acne. Other substances including oil-based cosmetics may contribute to a build up of fatty sebum in the skin, producing an environment that is more acne prone. Even excess humidity and moisture on the skin can contribute to acne.

Some oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can make acne worse. Women should ask their physician to prescribe a pill that typically has a low activity of androgens, such as demulen, ortho-cyclen, ortho-tricyclen, desogen, ortho-cept or yasmin.

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2 Useful Acne Skin Care Tips

Knowing the basics of skin care is a must not only to prevent acne and other skin problems but also to promote self-esteem in an individual. Let´s take a look on two of the acne-producing attributes and the basics we need to remember and do.

1. If You Have Oily Skin

Oil is good for the skin because it keeps it moisturized and younger looking. Oily skin may be an advantage because it inhibits the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and discolorations. It also tans gorgeously and is less likely to freckle. However, an oily skin may look shiny or dull. But too much oil spells A-C-N-E. Yes, excessively oily skin is actually prone to acne breakouts.

Here´s what we should do:

a. Wash your face two or three times a day. Washing it only once is not enough to wash away the dirt accumulated all in a day´s (or nights) work while over washing can make your skin dry.
b. Use products specifically made for oily skin. From cleansers, toners to cream you are sure to find the one that suits your skin. It is not always easy to find the best product. Experience tells me that it may take quite sometime and quite a few “experiments” on trying out these products before you find the one that is perfectly made for you. Ask your dermatologist for suggestions and possibly, prescriptions.
c. Use non-comedogenic make-up (water-based) to avoid acne aggravation. Comedogenic or oil-based make-up only adds to the oil that your skin is producing and traps more dirt on your face.

2. If You Have Enlarged Pores

Pores are actually normal and essential. But some people hate them. If the skin is not being cared for appropriately and regularly, the pores of the skin will eventually become enlarged. And you surely do not want this to happen because larger pores can trap more dirt and have it clogged, causing the outbreaks of unsightly acne. There are numerous ways to cleanse, refine or minimize pores. Here are some of them:

a. Use pore minimizing lotions and creams. You may want to try any Pore Refining Cream or Pore Minimizer Refining Lotions.
b. Steam your face. This way, clogged pores will be forced to open in turn making it easy to remove the dirt. Apply face mask as soon as you´re done.
c. Deep pore cleansing. You can do this twice a month at the most to make sure your skin is free from trapped dirt. You can do this at home or with the help of your dermatologist. Products you can try are Clear Pore Cleansing Mask or Deep Pore Cleansing Mask.
d. Wash your face with lukewarm water. Hot water only enlarges your pores.
e. Wear sunscreen because too much sun exposure may cause enlarged pores.
f. Exfoliate regularly. It not only a cleansing regimen but it also improves your pore appearance. Some of exfoliating products are used simply for exfoliating while some are used for other skin care treatment such as moisturizing and cleansing.

With proper and regular skin care, you surely are on the right track to lessen your present acne conditions, or better yet, maintain an acne-free skin.

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Vitiligo or leukoderma is a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigment, resulting in irregular pale patches of skin. The precise cause of vitiligo is complex and not fully understood. There is some evidence suggesting it is caused by a combination of auto-immune, genetic, and environmental factors. The population incidence worldwide is considered to be between 1% and 2%.

According to Diseases Database: “A disorder consisting of areas of macular depigmentation, commonly on extensor aspects of extremities, on the face or neck, and in skin folds. Age of onset is often in young adulthood and the condition tends to progress gradually with lesions enlarging and extending until a quiescent state is reached.”

There are a number of ways to alter the appearance of vitiligo without addressing its underlying cause. In mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale-skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding sunlight and the sun tanning of unaffected skin. However, exposure to sunlight may also cause the melanocytes to regenerate to allow the pigmentation to come back to its original color.

The traditional treatment given by most dermatologists is corticosteroid cream.

Phototherapy may also beneficial using exposure to long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light from the sun or from UVA, together with Psoralen, called “PUVA”, Or with UVB Narrowband lamps (without Psoralen), can help in many cases. Psoralen can be taken in a pill 1-2 hours before the exposure or as a Psoralen soaking of the area 1/2 hour before the exposure. Lately, PUVA is being more and more replaced with exposure UVB Narrowband light at a wavelength of 311-313 nanometers. This treatment does not involve Psoralen since the effect of the lamp is strong enough. The source for the UVB Narrowband UVB light can be special fluorecent lamps that treat large area in few minutes, or high power fiber-optic devices in a fraction of a second.

Studies have also shown that immunomodulator creams such as Protopic and Elidel also cause repigmentation in some cases, when used with UVB Narrowband treatments.

In late October of 2004, doctors successfully transplanted melanocytes to vitiligo affected areas, effectively repigmenting the region. The procedure involved taking a thin layer of pigmented skin from the patient’s gluteal region. Melanocytes were then separated out and used to make a cellular suspension. The area to be treated was then ablated with a medical laser, and the melanocyte graft applied. Three weeks later, the area was exposed to UV light repeatedly for two months. Between 73 and 84 percent of patients experienced nearly complete repigmentation of their skin. The longevity of the repigmentation differed from person to person.

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As women age their skin changes and the makeup they wore when they were young is very different from the makeup for aging skin needed when they are older. There are no magic lotions to make them feel or look years younger but there are certainly ways to use skincare and makeup daily for aging skin that will make the people around them think they are younger than they are. .

To avoid putting makeup on that looks caked, use a large bristled brush to dust face powder over the forehead, chin, and the bridge of the nose. Cream blush is a better choice because it will not settle into the wrinkles or fine lines the way powder does. Never wear makeup for aging skin that shimmers or shines on your face or around your eyes because both will make wrinkles and lines stand out, making you appear older than you are.

If you are an older woman that requires makeup for aging skin and has a problem with bags under your eyes, keep your eye cream cool in the refrigerator and also either sleep with a pillow or raise the head of your bed a bit, which helps prevent or reduce bags under the eyes. To reduce the appearance of lip lines or plump up your lips appearance, use a gloss.

Along with makeup for aging skin, there is help for people with age spots and crow’s feet caused by years of sun worship when they were young. Although there are many products and makeup for aging skin on the market today that can help sun damaged skin, prevention is always the best medicine. It is never too late to use products or makeup that contains sunscreen. There are anti aging products and creams made specifically to add moisture back into dry, lifeless, dull skin that help fade age spots.

When searching for makeup for aging skin or wrinkle cream, look for ingredients that are effective, gentle, and will lighten or fade age spots such as vitamin C or kojic acid. Vitamins A and E are also great antioxidant ingredients, which add moisture and helps reduce wrinkles and creasing, without leaving your skin with a greasy or oily feeling.

When looking for makeup for aging skin, a mask can help moisturize, rejuvenate, and enliven your skin but stay away from clay based and peel off masks. Although these masks can dry up blemishes, remove impurities, and help exfoliate and refine your skin, a nourishing vitamin mask is better for older skin.

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A beautiful and healthy skin is a big confidence booster. Some people are naturally beautiful and hence don’t use any skin care cosmetic. Then there are others, who don’t use skin care cosmetic due to their laziness. Still some feel that skin care cosmetic can harm their skin, and hence abandon the use of any kind of skin care cosmetic. However, there are a large number of people who do use skin care cosmetic (that’s why the business of skin care cosmetic is prospering).

So, is skin care cosmetic useful, or is it harmful? Well, the opinions seem divided. However, one thing is for sure – Looking beautiful is surely nice and very desirable. Also, too much skin care cosmetic can surely be harmful (as such, excess of anything is harmful). So, what does one do?

The first thing is to formulate (and follow) a skin care routine that will help keep your skin healthy and disease-free. The general recommendation is to cleanse and moisturize everyday, and tone and exfoliate occasionally (as and when needed).

Next thing is the skin care cosmetics that you would be using additionally (as beauty enhancers). These skin care cosmetics could either be part of your skin care routine or be applied only on special occasions (e.g. when attending a party etc).

The most important thing with skin care cosmetic is its selection. Here is a set of rules that you should use when selecting any skin care cosmetic:

* The general rule is to use products that suit your skin type. This is true both for the routine products and for the skin care cosmetic. So check the label to see what it says e.g. ‘for dry skin only’ or ‘for all skin types’ etc.
* Test the skin care cosmetic before using it. This can be done by applying the skin care cosmetic on a small patch of skin e.g. ear lobes and checking the reaction of your skin to the product
* Check the ingredients of the skin care cosmetic for chemicals that you are allergic to. Do not use products that are very harsh on skin e.g. products with high alcohol concentrations; such cosmetics might work for once but cause a long-lasting damage to your skin.
* ‘More isn’t better’. Ensure that you apply the products in right quantity (neither less not more). Also, be gentle with your skin and follow the right procedures for application of skin care products. Rubbing too hard or trying to squeeze a pimple can lead to permanent damage to your skin.
* Finally, if you have a skin disorder e.g. acne etc, you should consult your dermatologist before using any skin care cosmetic.

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Every bride seeks to look her best on her wedding. Great wedding makeup starts with a great canvas. Learn how to put your best face forward on your wedding day.

People who wear makeup often seek to enhance one feature, like their eyes or their lips. In order to best play up that feature, however, the skin needs to be in its best form. This means proper skin care, makeup preparation, and finding the perfect foundation match.

Skin

If you don’t have a regular skin-care routine, start one three to five months before the wedding. This will give your skin time to adjust. Skin care doesn’t have to be expensive or confusing. Use a basic cleanser, such as Cetaphil, morning and night. Exfoliate once or twice per week, and use a moisturizer twice per day. Lip balm is also a good idea to keep lips hydrated and soft.

Seeing an esthetician at a salon or spa is also a great way to begin a personalized skin care routine. While it would be ideal to start getting facials 4-6 months before the wedding, you can start as late as three months. Do note, however, that you should not get a facial within two weeks of your wedding, so schedule accordingly.

Avoid the tanning bed. Not only is tanning bad for the health of your skin, brides who are normally light to moderate in color end up looking unnatural in their wedding photos years later. If you truly feel you need a touch of color for your wedding day, opt for a sunless tanner or spray on tan instead. They have developed significantly over the years and options for fair skin and dark skin are all available without the worry of turning bright orange.

Sunless tanning products are safe for your skin, temporary, and achieve the same results without the damaging effects of the sun. Your first coat of sunless tanner should be applied five days prior to the wedding, and if you desire a darker color, apply another coat three days prior to the big day.

Foundation

On an everyday basis, a foundation with SPF is recommended, but on your wedding day, you should use a foundation that does notcontain any sort of sunscreen ingredient. The ingredients that act as sunscreen will reflect the photographer’s flash, making your face look brighter than the rest of your body. The reflection also washes out your features. During formal portraits, the photographer can “bounce” the light, which neutralizes the SPF brightness, but candid shots, photos during the ceremony, and the reception are usually not staged, and therefore it is best to eliminate SPF in your foundation altogether.

Using a foundation primer after moisturizing and before your foundation will significantly increase the length of time between powder touch-ups. Additionally, foundation primers even out the skin tone and texture of the skin, and absorb oil, to keep shininess at bay.

Make sure that the foundation you select matches your skin tone perfectly. Choosing the right foundation texture is equally as important. The right texture will ensure that your makeup lasts throughout the day and into the evening.

Use concealor sparingly and just where needed. With concealor, less is more.

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Skin is not dry because it lacks oil, but because it lacks water. Symptoms most associated with Xeroderma (dry skin) are scaling, which is the visible peeling of the outer skin layer, itching and cracks in the skin. The good news is that today, there are several types of natural treatments to choose from for your dry skin.

Skin also harbors many nerve endings that provide the sense of touch and heat. Skin is considered one of the most important parts of the body. The skin is often known as “the largest organ of the human body”.

The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin.

The skin loses moisture and may crack and peel, or become irritated and inflamed. Forced-air furnaces make skin even drier. Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps, can cause dry skin. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins, can also contribute to dry skin.

Use as little soap as possible limiting its use to armpits and genitals. Drink plenty of water every day. Use a humidifier if the air is dry.

Eat at least one organic apple with the skin on every day. Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day. Concentrating on a diet of lots of fruits and vegetables (preferably uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement within 30 days. Good skin is often a reflection of a good digestive system. Fatty acids are particularly important to people with dry skin.

Use bath oils and moisturizers, especially coconut oil, which is the best natural product fr dry skin, at least daily. Also use a thin layer of coconut oil under your make-up to moisturize your skin all day. Apply a thin layer of coconut oil and massage it deep into the skin. Apply coconut oil anytime to heal and soothe your skin.

Sunlight, water and air play an important role in keeping the skin healthy. The skin must be regularly cleaned or it’ll become cracked or inflamed. The skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning.

Skin doctors are called dermatologists. Usually, these days, we can take care of dry skin without seeing our doctor, but sometimes we can’t avoid it. See your doctor or naturopathic doctor if your skin doesn’t improve in spite of your best efforts.

What can be done to treat dry skin?

The following are some tips that will complement your treatment of dry skin:

- Limit amount of soap you use.
- Limit the length of time you are exposed to hot water.
- Use a humidifier to keep adequate indoor levels of humidity.

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Pregnancy brings changes to your skin and skincare needs. Follow these beauty tips and look at your glowing best.

Do’s

* Use sun protection to fight UV damage and prevent pregnancy induced pigmentation.
* Use makeup labeled non comedogenic and non acnegenic to prevent acne outbreaks and pores from clogging.
* Use mild AHA based products to control oil and curb acne outbreaks
* Use green tinted make-up base to camouflage excessive redness, as skin gets easily flushed during pregnancy.

Don’ts

* Use retinoids, as these are derived from vitamin A. Studies have found that high doses of oral vitamin A can harm an unborn baby. To be safe, also avoid using topical retinoids
* Use products containing salicylic acid-high oral doses can cause birth defects and complication. Play it safe by avoiding its topical use as well.
* Use soy-based products. Soy can worsen the “mask of pregnancy as oil of bergamot, which is found in many organic products.

Did You Know?

From around 20 weeks of pregnancy, your heart beats an extra 10 times a minute. That’s around 14000 extra beats everyday.

Do you speak the Pregnancy Lingo? Here is a short Quiz.

Q1. What’s the linea nugra?

a. A new kind of Italian car.
b. The dark vertical line that may appear on your abdomen as a result of your skin and muscle stretching.

Q2. What are forceps?

a. A group of muscles in the arm.
b. An instrument gynaes sometimes use to help ease a baby out of the birth canal.

Q3. What are Braxton Hicks?

a. A country western band
b. Painless “practice” contractions, when your abdomen tightens for up to 30 seconds at a time, in preparation for the real thing.

If most of your answers are A’s then you need a serious chat with your gynae.

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