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.

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/

Acne advice: my top 3 tips

In a previous post I shared my experience with a few topical medications for acne, today I will share a few things that helped improve my troubled skin. It is very difficult indeed to deal with the emotional effects of having acne, as I passed thru the same process. I know you might feel desperate, because I know I did in one point of my life due to my severe acne, that's why today I will share with you my top 3 acne tips that made a difference in my life. 

➀ After reading in a health book that a daily intake of Zinc helps heal acne, I decided to give it a try. I bought a store brand supplement bottle of Zinc which came in the form of 50 mg capsules. I followed the instructions on the bottle which said to take one daily Zinc capsule after each meal. After a week and a half of taking the Zinc supplement, I had visibly less breakouts and some in the process of healing. After two weeks my breakouts had stopped emerging, I was incredibly pleased and happy. I continued taking the Zinc supplement. You might be asking yourself how can Zinc help heal acne? heres an explanation:

free image courtesy of: freedigitalphotos.net

Zinc is an element needed in order for the body to function properly, as it speeds up the healing process which I consider to be helpful in the healing of blemished skin. Zinc is also considered to help achieve clearer skin, for those suffering with acne or those who have rosacea. In a study conducted in 2006 rosacea patients were given 100 mg of Zinc sulfate to be taken three times a daily, the results patients showed were a 75% reduction in rosacea symptoms such as redness. It is considered that a combination of both topically applied Zinc and the antibiotic erythromycin can help reduce acne. The recommended daily dosage intake is 8-15 mg. (source:Skin benefits of Zinc )

➁ The weekly usage of Mint Julep mask. After endless trips to the drugstore, each time buying what I thought would heal my acne, I stumbled across Queen Helens Mint Julep Masque. I was intrigued by the Mint Julep Masque as it was one of the few products I had yet to try. The use of the Mint Julep Masque dried out my pimples, and made the healing process much shorter than usual. I noticed this masque also helped clean out my pores. I used this masque about twice a week and was amazed with the results.

One of the ingredients this Mint julep mask contains is Phenoxyethanol, which is an organic chemical compound found in various beauty products. Phenoxyethanol is considered a bactericide which means that it kills bacteria. I conclude that is a main reason why Mint julep mask is so beneficial for acne. (source:Wikipedia )

➂ Changed my eating habits. I decided to change my diet when I noticed eating extremely oily foods such as cheese were causing more breakouts on my skin. My diet didn't change to extreme measures I only stopped eating cheese and right away noticed an improvement in my skin. Even though studies conducted have not proven there to be a relationship between eating oily foods and acne, In my case I did notice there to be a connection among these two. 

Although this has not been proved some evidence does suggest that the fat we eat is used in our body to make skin oil(sebum). An additional study suggests that fatty diets do lead to a higher content in sebum. (source:Diet and Acne) 

These are my top three tips for acne sufferers. Every little change in your lifestyle can have an effect on your skin for better or for worse as I know it did for me. Whether it's a diet change, taking supplements such as zinc or using a special facial mask it's up to you which one you want to try. I truly suggest that in the search for a clearer complexion you try out different products and methods you might just find something that truly works for you.

sources: http://www.LIVESTRONG.com

Wikipedia.com

http://www.acne.org

Photos: google

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