Tag: Excess Oils

Acne: 10 Most Common Myths

What we think we know about acne is steadily being replaced by what scientists are learning. Meanwhile, many myths continue to circulate and endure. Clearing up some of the misunderstandings about acne is what this article is about.

Myth #1: Acne only affects appearance. Acne can also cause deep psychological distress. Severe acne can lead to low self-image and feeling depressed. There is a strong link between severe acne and social withdrawal.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. While skin infections are associated with acne, lack of cleanliness is not the reason for acne outbreaks. The combination of oil and dead cells which produce acne is located beneath the skin’s surface where it is impossible to clean it away. Gentle cleansing with soap and water once or twice daily will keep your skin as healthy as possible. Scrubing too hard may worsen acne.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by specific foods. Chocolate has long had a reputation as a pimple producer. Studies have shown no scientific evidence that this is true. The same holds true for potato chips and sugar. There are some foods that do seem to aggravate (not cause) the condition: milk and foods high in iodine, such as seafood.

Myth #4: Acne has to run its course. There are many acne treatments available both over-the-counter and stronger medicines from a dermatologist.

Myth #5: The more acne medicine the better. Some people believe that if their acne gets worse they should just use more medicine. That’s a bad idea because medicines can be dangerous when taken in large quantities. Excess use of acne ointments may just irritate the skin further.

Myth #6: Sunbathing is good for acne. Exposure to the sun dries out excess oils, so it does improve acne short-term. However, long-term the skin adapts and the acne is unfazed. Worse, there is scientific evidence that sun exposure damages the skin and increases the chance of skin cancer.

Myth #7: Makeup causes acne. Some makeup products can clog the pores, which is bad for the health of your skin. Cosmetics that are labeled “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” are safe to use. Some brands are made with ingredients that actually treat acne.

Myth #8: Acne is only a teenage condition. While most teens have acne, so do many adults. Acne generally clears up by the early 20s. But some people experience acne for the first time as late as their 40s. And for the most unfortunate of all, some people endure acne flare-ups their entire lives.

Myth #9: Acne is related to sex. We’ve probably all heard that either celibacy or too much sex causes pimples. There is no evidence for this. There is a link between sexual activity and hormone production, but the relationship between sex and the production of sebum (the oily substance which combines with dead skin cells to cause acne) is not known. Stress and anger also affect hormone levels.

Myth #10: Popping pimples is the best way to get rid of them
The fact is popping pimples may worsen acne by spreading the bacteria that is causing it. Popping can also lead to eventual scarring, which in severe cases, can be permanent.

Recommended Skin Care Products For Men

With the birth of the metrosexuals, men are increasingly made aware of their appearances. In fact, some women even complain that their boyfriends now spend more time at the mirror than they do.

One of the booming industries brought on by the metrosexual phenomena is the skin care industry especially those that focus on men. The industry has become so big that cosmetic and skin care lines that only catered to women have started to also develop skin care products for men.

There are now astringents and lotions for men. Some companies have even developed facial wash for men, a skin care staple that men would not have bought a decade ago.

Below are some of the products that have captured the interest and fancy of the male population.

Mask it!

Who would have thought that women will see the day when men will go to sleep with clay or mud all over their face? This however is prevalent in these times, as men have finally realized the advantages of deep cleaning his pores to prevent pimples and acne from settling in. The Anthony Logistics Deep Pore Cleansing Clay, is one of the best in the line. It combines the properties of flowers with vitamins and purified clay to help the skin absorb excess oils, remove impurities and toxins as well as tighten the pores.

Moisturize it

Men also use moisturizers. As far-fetched as it seems, men also need moisturizers to help keep their skin supple and soft. Moisturizers, as women know, can prevent visible signs of aging by keeping the skins natural oils.

This is especially true with men who have dry skins. One of the products in the market that comes highly recommended is the Clinique Maximum Hydrator for Men. It can be pretty expensive but it sure does the job.

Scrub it

To take care of the skin, one needs to get rid of dead skin cells, which may clog the pores or combine with dirt and grime. One of the essentials of exfoliating, is the T-Pur Face Purifying Scrub for Men, which is manufactured by Biotherm. The scrub helps cleanse the skin.

Be careful though and make sure that the scrub is not so abrasive on your skin. Too much scrubbing can irritate the skin and worsen the problem.

Self Tanning Lotions-We Are An Inventive Society

Hey, what can we say, we are an inventive society! If we like the way our skin looks with a tan but getting a tan is dangerous we will just develop and use self tanning lotions instead!

Of course, in life, few things are that easy. Self tanning lotions can work great but there is also usually a bit of a learning curve.

There can be a technique in applying them the right way and making them look good.

With so many different brands on the market, not to mention the various hues you can get, it may take a little trial and error until you have the practice down pat.

In this article I will provide you with some easy to follow tips that may make it a little easier for you to get that “sun kissed glow”… from a bottle.

Here we go:

1. First things first, like a painter you have to prepare your canvas which in this case is your skin.

Make sure you skin is clean and dry. Removing excess oils can help the tanner adhere to the skin better.

This is why you don’t want to use a moisturizer too soon before applying the tanner either, if you do it won’t soak into the skin as readily.

2. Exfoliate to remove as much excess dead skin as you possibly can. Again, this will make it easier for the tanner to absorb into the skin and provide a more even tone with less of a blotchy look.

3. Many people recommend you start at your feet and work your way up.

That way the tanner can dry completely without you bending over and possibly smearing it.

4. Either wear gloves or wash your hands frequently throughout the procedure. Otherwise you can end up with freakishly tanned looking hands.

5. Apply the tanner in several coats if you want a darker look as opposed to one thick coat.

This tends to look more natural and will usually prevent a “gloppy” look.

6. Tanners tend to dry pretty quickly so make sure you work fast. Don’t get distracted when applying your self tanner.

7. Wait a minimum of one half hour between layers or before sitting down on furniture or getting dressed or you might make a really big mess.

8. And last, but not least, to keep that sun kissed look for longer try to reapply the tanner every few days.

Do a light exfoliation before you reapply the tanner to maximize the absorption each time you reapply.

You can also minimize how much gets washed off in the shower by rubbing a little bit of baby oil on your skin right before your shower.

This may help eliminate some of the “run off” of your tanner while you are in the shower.

That’s pretty much it, not exactly rocket science is it? Still, there is a technique to it if you want it to look as natural as possible.

To make sure you get the result you want, take some time to experiment. The last thing you want to do is to try to apply a tanner for the first time right before a big event.

You sure don’t want to show up for your big day with an orange, blotchy looking tan.

Practice your technique first when using self tanning lotions for the best look possible.

Dry Shampoo-Shortcuts To Everyday Tasks

I guess that it’s no surprise that our lives are busier today and we need to find shortcuts to our everyday tasks as much as possible. One of those everyday tasks is washing our hair. Sometimes it becomes necessary to take shortcuts and when that time comes you can turn to dry shampoo to help save the day.

The concept is simple, you apply a little of this powder to your hair, allow it to reach your scalp where it can soak up any excess oils, then you brush it out. Quick and simple.

There are many scenarios in life where having, and using, dry shampoo can be worthwhile. In this article I will give you some ideas of the convenience of this product as well as some pros and cons in regards to using these types of products.

1. For many of us, our days our very long. It simply isn’t practical to run home after work, but before the gym, and then again before we meet our friends out for dinner and drinks. But that doesn’t mean your look may not need to be freshened up a bit.

That is where the non water method for hair cleaning can come in so handy. The products themselves are light weight and very transportable so you can keep some in a purse, briefcase or gym bag.

Since you don’t need water, all you need to do to make the most out of this product is to duck into the nearest rest room and spend a few minutes and suddenly, your look is fresh and clean.

2. One of the biggest pros, is what has been listed in the point above: convenience. You don’t have to invest time to washing your hair. Of course, most of us (women at least) know it’s not the washing that takes the time it’s the drying and styling afterwards that is so time consuming.

So, being able to get the “just washed hair” look without the investment of time is a really nice time saver during the day. That is the biggest pro about this product.

3. The biggest con is the fact that this is only a short term fix. It just isn’t the same as actually washing your hair. It is a great stop gap until you have more time, but it won’t replace your daily or twice daily shampoo’s.

There can also be the argument that your hair isn’t really clean after a dry shampoo even though it may look and smell clean.

Some people may have a problem with this. They may prefer to invest the time and know that their hair is actually clean as opposed to just “freshened”.

One other point in the “con” column is the fact that you need to be careful about allergies to a certain product that may result in a rash or sensitive area on the scalp.

Also, this product is a case of more may not be better. If you apply too much you may just look worse. It may leave a dusty residue on your hair or scalp that may make your hair look even dirtier than it did before you started!

Using dry shampoo can be a helpful time saver between shampoos but I would recommend that you try a few brands first to see which ones you like and make sure they don’t irritate your scalp. Also, knowing how much to use is important so you may want to give it a dry run at home where you can rinse it out if you need to.