Cleaner pores: My top 3 tips

Most of us suffer once in a while, from unpleasant and annoying blackheads, whiteheads or just clogged pores. Some may be easy to remove and respond well to gentle facial scrubs, while others tend to be more stubborn. For this common skin problem I have tried several methods, and wish to share today 3 that have worked for me.

❶ Exfoliating with a Scrub: As mentioned in a previous post, exfoliation is an important and vital step in any skin care routine. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells from the surface as well as dirt, oil and pore clogging debris. One facial scrub that has truly helped in keeping my pores cleaner, is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Having in consideration that my skin is oily and acne prone, this scrub hasn't caused any irritations or breakouts on my skin. I use this scrub 1-2 times a week, but it can be used up to 4 times a week according to the instructions. There are many facial scrubs on the market and finding one that suits your skin may be difficult but worth the results.

❷ Using a facial cloth or skin cleansing tool: In between facial exfoliations I like to use a facial cloth to cleanse my skin, doing so once a day, preferably at night, has helped in keeping my skin and pores cleaner. Another alternative to using a facial cloth, is using a silicone cleansing pad which is very gentle to the skin and can be used with any facial wash you choose. I have noticed that when I cleanse my skin with the help of a facial cleansing tool such as: cloth, silicone cleansing pad or scrubbie, my skin pores feel cleaner and are even less noticeable. 

❸ Using a blackhead/whitehead extraction tool: Sometimes clogged pores may still be present after trying several methods to cleanse them this is when the use of a pore extracting tool can be effective. The most common and affordable type is the double ended loop extractor made out of stainless steel. This small tool usually has two ends one with an angled loop to roll out whiteheads and the other a flat side with small opening to press out blackheads. When using this type of extraction tool it is very important to follow the instructions on the product packaging. Using a double loop extractor is very effective in removing the most stubborn blackheads and whiteheads that don't seem to respond to other skin treatments. 

Having a skin care routine that specifically targets clogged pores is important if that is a skin concern for you. Another important factor in order to obtain cleaner pores is, consistency when using any skin cleansing method or treatment. When you achieve the desired results you will notice how your skin feels and looks healthier.

10 skin soothing ingredients

Some skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema sensitive sin and others can cause the skin to feel irritated and uncomfortable. Whether you have a skin condition or not most people will experience irritated or dry skin sometime in their life. This is where mother nature comes in to save the day offering various remedies that can soothe troubled skin.

⓵ Aloe Vera : A plant believed to have healing properties useful in treating wounds and skin irritations. Very beneficial for skin suffering from acne or dryness. Believed to be suitable for all skin types. 

⓶ Calendula : Has both healing and analgesic properties and is beneficial for dry or damaged skin. According to yourhealth.com the topical application of Calendula has the ability to decrease inflammation and promote healing on the following : burns, eczema, wounds and other inflammatory skin conditions. Note of warning: Calendula may cause a skin rash if there is an existing allergy to either marigold or pot marigold. The use of Calendula is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

⓷ Chamomile : Contains calming and conditioning effects. Has antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties which aid skin suffering from burns, rashes and sunburn. Also suitable for acne and eczema due to it's anti inflammatory abilities.

image courtesy of dusky at: freedigitalphotos.net

⓸ Cucumber extract : Commonly used in facial products such as serums and astringents due to it's ability to cool and soothe the skin. Contains various vitamins and minerals as well as silicon. Two important components of cucumber are ascorbic acid and caffeic acid which help reduce water retention. 

⓹ Grape seed oil : Known to have antioxidant properties, therefore helping fight off free radicals without causing skin irritations. It is believed that flavonoids present in grape seed oil can help reduce skin allergies. Can be used as a skin moisturizer and makeup remover.

⓺ Green tea : Powerful antioxidant, contains potent anti inflammatory and anti irritant properties. Can be used as a skin moisturizer for it's soothing effects. Studies suggest topical formulations made with green tea help reduce sun damage and may enhance sun protection when used in combination with sunscreen.

image courtesy of dusky at www.freedigitalphotos.net

⓻ Honey : Known to have healing properties. Beneficial to use for various skin conditions such as the following: acne, eczema, hyperpigmentation, and sensitive skin. It is recommended to use raw honey as it is not processed with perservatives. A patch test is also recommended before using raw honey on the facial skin to make sure it won't cause an allergic reaction.

⓼ Oatmeal :  Has healing and soothing properties and is known to reduce inflammation. Oats are a wonderful form to exfoliate the skin due to it's beneficial properties. Oats have been scientifically proven to aid the process of healing on dry and itchy skin. People suffering from eczema have also found relief in the use of oatmeal, which is a natural and hypoallergenic ingredient.

⓽ Olive oil : An excellent moisturizer for skin, containing antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins. Has the ability to protect skin from free radicals found in the environment. It is recommended to use cold pressed Olive oil as this is the best method of extraction that still mantains the vitamin and nutrient of the olive.

image courtesy of  dusky at www.freedigitalphotos.net

⓾ Rose hip oil : Known to have a high content of vitamin C as well as other essential fatty acids beneficial to the skin. Has healing properties beneficial for various skin conditions including acne scars, damaged and mature skin just to name a few.

There are definetly more ingredients in the form of herbs and plants that can be found to heal and soothe specific skin conditions this is just a brief list. If you suffer from a skin condition that that makes your skin irritated you may find relief in some of the ingredients mentioned above. If you choose to try some of them there are a few links below with more information regarding the ingredients.

Information sources: Aloe vera: www.naturalnews.com

Calendula: www.livestrong.com

Chamomile: blog.zenmed.com

Cucumber extract:www.rcuv.org

Grape seed oil : www.livestrong.com

Green tea : www.smartskincare.com
Honey www.beautyatskindeep.com:

Oatmeal: www.naturalnews.com
Olive Oil: www.dailyglow.com
Rose hip Oil: www.care2.com

Fashion inspiration: the 50's

The clothing pieces from the 50's have become classic and are still in fashion even though many years have passed. There are the cute dresses that accentuate the waistline making it look smaller. And also worthy of mentioning are the the fluffy skirts, and the small purses all unforgettable wardrobe pieces from the 50's.  

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These elegant and classy pieces of clothing from the 50's are truly an inspiration when it comes to dressing up. Accessories also play an important role when trying to combine an outfit.  It's always a good idea to look at fashion magazines old and new to get wardrobe ideas.

  

Korean beauty secrets

Korean women have truly the most beautiful, flawless complexions I have ever seen. Evened out skin tone, poreless skin, no age spots or blemishes. Not only do Korean women seem to have perfect skin but also a lasting youthful appearance which makes them look younger than their actual age. It's not only amazing but also makes one wonder what is the secret to such beautiful skin that radiates with glow even with out makeup?

Choi Ji woo ( 37 year old Korean Actress)

image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jingdianmeinv

☁ Skin care: The usual skin cleansing method most of us are familiarized with is the CMT ( cleanse,tone, moisturize) but korean women follow a different routine. This is a cleansing method consisting of 5 steps which are : double cleansing, massage & mask, tone, essence/serum, and finally moisturize. For an in depth explanation visit the following link :http://k-popped.com

☁ Oil cleansing method : In asian countries, including Korea some women don't use conventional facial cleansers instead they use oil to cleanse their skin But is oil beneficial to skin? Commonly regular facial cleansers contain sulfates that alter the natural ph on the skin which results in skin dryness that leads to wrikles. On the other hand oils help remove make up and dirt with out over drying the skin.

And for those who have acne prone skin you will be glad to know that not all oils are comedogenic I was able to find a chart that shows the level of comedogenecy of certain oils. I was surprised to find out mineral oil and safflower oil are both non comedogenic which means they won't clog pores. (source) Therefore all skin types can benefit from the oil cleansing method and there are various oils with different properties that can be useful to the skin depending on the needs of your skin.

Even though the oil cleansing method sounds fairly easy you may still have doubts on how it is done and how it works for a through explanation check the following link: theoilcleansingmethod.com/ 

☁ Layering skin products: Korean women use multiple products and take time massaging them into the skin. It is believed that the average korean woman applies 18 beauty products per day. This routine of applying various skin products also includes facial massage, and according to health.com massaging moisturizers and treatments onto the skin can make the products more effective. A benefit of massaging the skin is increased blood flow and better penetration of products.

Kim Tae Hee (32 year old Korean actress)

image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/lge

☁ Whitening Products: In asian countries a blemish free complexion along with a fair skin tone is considered beautiful. During the Koryo dynasty in Korea people with white skin, were considered of noble decent. Nowadays the process of acquiring such fair complexion is achieved thru the use of whitening products. The goal is to remove skin yellowness, freckles blemishes or scars which results in an evened out skin tone and brighter complexion.

Koreans believe a perfect complexion involves having fair skin and consider it more important in their beauty routine than wearing makeup. Most korean women include at least one or more whitening products to their daily skin beauty routine. It is no wonder that in Asia, Korea is leader in whitening products as it is a country that considers white skin as beautiful.

☁ BB creams: You might ask yourself ¿what are bb creams? First of all the letters bb stand for beauty balm or blemish balm. BB creams serve many functions such as make up, base, foundation, and even concealer. These famous cream was originally just used by surgery patients, in order to cover scars, it was later adapted into a beauty product in Korea, becoming a hit. BB creams can be found in almost any store now, in a variety of textures, tints and with distinct properties.

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Korean women prefer a more natural look when it comes to makeup, instead of heavy foundation they prefer light tinted moisturizers or bb creams. Before bb creams were available in the U.S.A there were plenty of varieties of such product in Korea. What is truly amazing about bb creams is that they are a combination of makeup and skin care put together in one product. BB creams contain ingredients that help improve the appearance of skin such as, SPF protection, antioxidants and vitamins.

 ☁ Sun protection: Korean women know that in order to have beautiful skin it is very important to limit their sun exposure. Therefore they try to cover up as much as possible when doing outdoor activities, and avoid tanning at all cost. For Korean women protecting the skin from the sun in winter is equally as important as doing it in the summer.

Umbrellas, wide brim hats and protective clothing are some of the objects Korean women recur to in order to protect their skin from he sun. A top all these preventive measures wearing sunscreen is an essential step that can't be missed. This is one of the most important things a woman can do to maintain a youthful appearance, as mentioned in a previous post according to skincancer.org: 90% of visible signs of aging are caused by sun exposure.  

Han Hyo Joo (25 year old, korean actress)

 image: flickr.com/photos/apdy              

Western countries are now adopting the same point of view of Asian countries  when it comes to sun tanning, and sun protection. A study conducted by Mintel beauty and personal care revealed that in The U.S.A in 2011 the percentage of new products offering sun protection rose to 19%. A high difference if it compared to the percentage of 2008 which was 13%.

In Eastern countries there is definetly more awareness on the damage the sun can cause on skin. Staying away from the suns harmful UV rays can with out doubt benefit the skin in great measure. This may be one of the best kept beauty secrets Korean woman share in common. The best part is that protecting the skin from the sun is easy and affordable in general, and can provide positive results in the long run.

Having beautiful skin like korean women might seem complicated specially if scars, spots, visible pores  and wrinkles are present. It is important to maintain a daily beauty regime that targets specific skin problems. Staying away from the sun will surely benefit, as it will delay the aging process, and prevent age spots to appear. Equally important and optional is to use whitening products, which help maintain an evened out skin tone, a characteristic of youthful skin.

There are without doubt many more Korean beauty secrets that western countries have no knowledge of yet. With Korean being one of the most advanced countries in skin care, we can surely expect to see more innovative products that will be made to battle aging skin in the future. When it comes to Korean beauty it is all about nourishing the skin and being gentle with it.

                                                                 

 sources:www.health.com 

                          www.modernmom.com                                      

http://en.korea.com
http://articles.nydailynews.com
http://www.joseibi.com
http://www.skin-lightening-tips.com

http://www.marieclaire.com

Longer lashes: my top 3 tips

It's a given fact, longer, thicker, abundant eyelashes make the eyes look bigger and more attractive. And there are thousands of eyelash serums or tonics in the market claiming to give such results to it's consumers. Some of these may be as cheap as  $5.00 or as expensive as $90.00 U.S dollars. In my personal case instead of spending a fortune on these miracle potions I prefer to stick to more natural alternatives. Here are my top three tips to obtain longer lashes, which I have personally tried.

① Taking a Silica supplement - First of all Silica is a mineral essential in the body which helps hair nails and skin's health and proper functioning. Recently I started taking a Silica supplement in the form of liquid called Silica formula. This product when taken internally, nourishes hair, nails, and skin providing essential . After one and a half weeks of taking this I noticed my lashes considerably longer and abundant I must confess it surprised me as I had never tried this type of supplement before. There are many Silica supplements in the market today in various forms such as: tablet, gel and liquid. I personally recommend the liquid formulas as they can be better absorbed by the body.

② Apply Olive oil every night - Olive oil is packed with antioxidants such as polyphenols and phytosterols as well as other nutrients and vitamins such as vitamin A, E. Olive oil also contains trace amounts of chlorophyll and a moisturizing agent called Squalene. By applying Olive oil each night to the lashes these get fortified which results in less breakage. Cold pressed Olive oil is the most beneficial as this process of extraction maintains all the nutrients and vitamins of the olive. Source: http://www.dailyglow.com

③ Use less mascara - Removing thick layers of mascara on a regular basis, tends to make lashes prone to falling and breaking. To reduce these negative effects the use of less mascara is a great option. The second reason to use less mascara is for its ingredients/chemicals which instead of nourishing lashes could be harming them. In some cases the significant loss of lashes could be due to an allergy to some ingredient in the mascara being used. Many mascaras contain an ingredient called Gum which helps stiffen lashes, in result making them more brittle and breakable. Therefore less eyelash breakage and falling gives them additional life time to grow resulting in longer lashes. source:http://www.truthinaging.com/body/mascara-ingredients  

 

Getting longer lashes doesn't have to be a complicated task as you can see with these easy to follow tips. In order to achieve the desired results it is of vital importance to be consistent in any beauty routine or treatment. It is important to be patient too as some treatments may no show results instantaneously.

Image source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/