Post Halloween Skin Detox

Trick or treating as ghoul or Dia de los Muertos, sugar rushing on corn syrup and candy makes up for a perfect adventure on all Hallows eve, but come next morning the cold blooded reality dawns on you —the spooky night inflicted carnage on your skin and body has turned you into real life puffy-the-vampire. Here’s a quick and simple weekend Detox that’d give you your day walker status back in a pinch and rejoice it doesn't involve fasting, purging, or a complete rearrangement of your life. Follow step-by-step routine and wake up Monday morning with a fresh, radiant complexion.

Channeling The Right Spirit: Clear all the clutter around you, simply straightening up the junk on your coffee table or doing a load of laundry will prepare you for the inner cleansing to come.

Eat Drink But Don’t Be Scary: Let the healing begin by eating right. Stock up the fridge for your weekend Detox, you want to fill your body with healthy foods such as lean protein (chicken, turkey, and tofu), fresh fruits (cranberries, apples, and grapes) and vegetables (look for broccoli, carrots, and sweet potatoes)—these antioxidant packed foods help repair, and prevent, damage to your skin. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and all refined and processed foods (that means no more sugar or carbs).

Purge Your Daily Skincare Routine: When your skin acts up, the last thing you want to do is slather on a plethora of lotions, potions and serums. The same goes for a detox —To give your skin time to rebalance, put away everything except your cleanser, day lotion with SPF, and night cream.

Relax And Sip Warm Tea: Look for blends that include nettle, ginger, or burdock, dandelion, or sarsaparilla root—herbs and flowers known to calm inflammation and improve liver and kidney function. These teas help eliminate puffiness around the eyes and decongest your skin. If you need a caffeine-hit, try green tea; it is less of a stimulant and is packed with lots of antioxidants.

Give Or Take A Massage: Encourage the elimination of waste by manually moving lymph through the lymphatic system. Concentrate on massaging the neck, armpits, stomach, groin, and behind the knees—areas where there are a lot of lymph nodes.

Let Your Pores Breathe: Pour hot water into a small bowl and add a few drops of citrus or any other calming and relaxing essential oil. Soak a hand towel in the water, then wring out and drape over your face. Lie down for ten minutes and let the steam open your pores, prepping your skin for the detoxifying mask that follows. Look for masks made with clay, which absorbs excess oil and pulls toxins and impurities out, while adding in necessary minerals.

Exfoliate And Rejuvenate: Wake up your senses with a sloughing session in the shower. Exfoliate with a product that contains coffee to remove dead, dulling skin cells, boost circulation, and pump toxins from the body.

Sweat It Out: Light exercise—a brisk walk, jumping rope, yoga—helps eliminate toxins from your body. The deep breathing of yoga stimulates the lymphatic system. It also brings cleansing oxygen into the body with each inhale, and expels waste on each exhale. Try sun salutations, which nurture as well as detoxify, or twisting poses to activate the digestive system.

Wrap Yourself In A Natural Mask: At the end of your detox, you'll want to nourish and calm your complexion. Spread a few tablespoons of raw honey over your face. Next, apply cucumber slices on top of the honey then lie down. Cover your face with a warm, damp washcloth to allow the honey, a natural humectant, to seal in moisture. Honey's anti–inflammatory properties also help reduce irritation and redness. Cucumbers, which act as diuretics, will further flush out excess fluid and relieve any remaining puffiness. 

Guess What Beauty Ritual These Glam Divas Have In Common?

Mornin’ cuppa lemon water — Yes all these svelte beauties start their day by sipping on a soothing warm drink of water energized with a slice of lemon. Confessions decree, make it two cups straight first thing in the morning and your digestive system becomes streamlined. Depending on the taste buds or the health guru’s advice, some of these beauties dose their morning brew with a dash of honey and some with ginger. Varied ingredients from green tea to mint leaves have also reportedly been used to enhance this “AM health libation” based on their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti bloating properties to help these lissome divas fight bloated bellies or puffy faces.

Fettle Benedictions Of Drinking Lemon Water

There are numerous health benefits of drinking lemon water. Lemon contains about 5% citric acid and is a rich source of vitamin C, pectin, naringenin, eriocitrin, multi-vitamins like vitamin B complex, riboflavin and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. You wanna know more? Here we go…

Gorgeously Glowing Skin — This citrus beverage is packed with vitamin C which helps to maintain glowing, moisturized healthy skin and boosts immunity.

Slim & Smooth Curves — The slimming actions of lemon aqua vitae on adipose tissue (fat) and cellulite are well documented. It helps assist weight loss, especially when taken first thing in the morning on empty stomach. Lemons are high in pectin fiber, a key component that can help reduce triglycerides and fats in our body.

Cholesterol Patrol — Research has also show that drinking lemon water first thing in the morning on long-term basis reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol in the body.

Curb Your Appetite — This thirst quencher also tones down your desire to eat unnecessarily, reducing sweet, carbohydrate, and gluten cravings. In a study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” authors reported that pectin found in lemon and other citric fruit helped the study recruits to feel full for longer periods after meals compared to the control group.

Liver Friendly — According to a study published in 2014 in "Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology," a compound found in lemons called naringenin helps calm liver inflammation. In 2003, "Life Sciences" reported results of a study indicating that eriocitrin, a flavonoid found in lemons, protects liver against exercise-induced oxidative stress. This citrus concoction also has positive effect on “fatty” liver.

Breath Of Fresh Air — Routine consumption of lemon water supports oral health by reducing bad breath odors and relieving pains associated with toothaches and gingivitis. However beware, the citric acid in lemon juice may erode tooth enamel, so be sure to rinse your mouth out with water after your daily cup.

Anti Bacterial — Lemons are an amazing way to keep bad bacteria at bay. Lemon juice also reportedly cuts through and reduces phlegm congesting the lungs and sinuses, and limits skin infections like acne, or folliculitis.

Blood Purifier — Lemon brew allegedly helps detoxify our body and helps improve many diseases e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, osteoporosis, obesity, gout, diabetes type II, multiple sclerosis, digestive disorders, allergies, chronic fatigue.

Energy Booster — A goblet full of lemon zinger can also serve as an effective weapon, in our daily battle for better energy.

Word Of Warning — If you suffer from strong acid reflux (heartburn) or ulcers (mouth, esophageal or stomach) drinking lemon water can make the condition worse. 

Now that you know that starting your day with lemon water on an empty stomach can impart you with such huge health benefits, join the cultus and replace your morning cuppa joe with a healthy cuppa citrusy water. Break free from bad indulgences, get rid of toxins, stay hydrated, and alert while enjoying beautiful, clear skin. If you don’t like the sour taste, add in a bag of green tea or honey, both have great anti-inflammatory properties and are full of antioxidants. To look extra svelte avoid foods that cause bloating, like salty foods, dairy, grains and soda. Diet soda is particularly bad if you're trying to avoid bloating.

Sip on and look stunning!

Blanc Beauty

Do you think fairy tale standards of beauty affect our daily life? Referencing Snow White, Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of ‘em all —How many of you think that fair depicts skin color here? Most balanced minds today will comprehend fairest of ‘em all, as the one who is most pleasing to the eye. Opposed to that a big populace of impressionable minds, especially in the East still believe that the literal meaning; the whitest of white holds true when it comes to defining beauty.

The Snow White Syndrome

Since the beginning of civilization beauty standards have been set and changed, mostly driven by the lifestyle and looks of nobility and the ruling classes. Throughout the pre-1950s world, fair and un-calloused skin was considered a sign of nobility and being free from the burden to do outdoor work or manual labor. That's most probably why in pre-modern times the word "fair" became a synonym for "beautiful." Great lengths were taken to maintain pale and dainty skin, including using lead and arsenic based makeup to fit the mold. Similarly colonial rule identified white skin as ruling class and dark skin as slaves.

Looking at the today’s standards of beauty, the world seems to stand divided when it comes to skin color; half of the world population in its quest to look tanned, healthy, just returned from vacation and living the high life is baking their skin under the sun risking skin cancer. Yet among the other half, especially the skin of color populace the pre-modern standard of alabaster beauty are still holding strong. Majority of people in Middle East, Asia and Africa still identify beauty with peaches and cream complexion.

The fascination with white skin in some cases becomes an obsession that’s when I call it the Snow White syndrome (an extension of body dysmorphic image). Under its influence most girls as well as guys believe that only white skin is the ultimate standard of beauty. Innocent youth gripped in its dark claws keep searching for magical products to lighten their skin tone. This syndrome has fueled legit as well as dangerous products to flood the markets that range from lotions, potions to pill and injectables. To manage this syndrome we need to treat minds rather than skin.

Looking At Skin Color Beyond Prejudice

Dermatologically speaking skin color is determined by the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. People with dark skin have more melanin. Apart from defining skin color and ethnicity, one of the main functions of melanin is to protect skin cells form harmful effects of sun, including skin cancers and aging.

How much melanin your skin has is mainly a matter of your genetic makeup. Sunlight exposure, hormones, skin damage, and exposure to certain chemicals can also affect melanin production.

Changes in skin color often resolve themselves. For instance, tans fade when the amount of direct exposure to sunlight is reduced. But over time, certain discolorations, such as "age" spots or "liver" spots, melasma and hormone triggered pigmentation can become more or less permanent.

Anatomy Of Skin Bleaching Creams

Skin bleaching creams can come under many names. They are known as skin whiteners, skin brighteners, or fading creams. They mainly work by stopping the body from producing melanin as well as stopping the spread of melanin in the epidermis. The result is a gradual lightening of the skin color.

There are many ingredients that cause the skin to lighten, but the most commonly ingredient used in the world has been hydroquinone. This drug should be strictly regulated by the health authorities, and dispensed only through a dermatologist’s office. Over the counter purchased bleaching cream should not have a concentration of more than 2% hydroquinone. A prescription for a bleaching cream can be written for up to a 4% concentration.

Many popular skin-bleaching creams contain mixtures of steroids or retinoic acid as one of their main ingredients. One should be aware of the side effects of long-term use of steroids.

Newer and safer creams use natural ingredients like vitamin C, phytic acid, arbutin, licorice extract, nicotinamide or kojic acid to achieve lighter skin.

In some countries, bleaching creams contain ingredients that are a derivative of mercury, a chemical that is harmful to the body. Use of a skin brightening cream with mercury can lead to mercury poisoning and other harmful side effects as well.

In the past few years, injectable and oral whitening solutions have been gaining popularity to lighten the skin color, mainly vitamin C and glutathione. These ingredients are powerful antioxidants, but they are by no means capable of changing skin color. Used in wrong hands IV injections can lead to serious side effects.

What A Skin Bleaching Cream Should Be Used For?

Bleaching creams are normally used for the treatment of age spots, acne scars, or discoloration of skin as a result of hormonal changes. Because of the constant exposure to the sun, some areas like the face and hands tend to suffer from discoloration. Usually age spots and other discolorations only occur on the upper layers of the skin so a skin bleaching cream may be a successful treatment for the removal of age spots. However, in some cases people choose to use bleaching creams to lighten the skin tone on their entire body, this is not advisable.

Possible Side Effects of a Skin Bleaching Creams

If you think using skin bleaching creams comes without side effects think again, here are some of the common side effects that can follow extended usage:

·      Premature aging due to steroid extended use

·      Increased risk of skin cancer due to sun exposure (without melanin, your skin loses its natural UV protection)

·      Steroids used in a bleaching cream can cause poor healing of skin, thinning skin, and even skin infections

·      Permanent skin discoloration (ochronosis) with hydroquinone.

·      Skin irritation or allergic reactions

Beauty Is Not Defined By The Color Of Your Skin

The dermatological definition of beautiful skin is: clear healthy skin with uniform tone and smooth texture. Black, brown or white it doesn’t matter, as long as your complexion is uniform and your skin is healthy, radiant and smooth you are beautiful. You need to embrace and love the skin color God bestowed you with and celebrate your healthy skin. 

Once & For All: Let’s Nail Good Skincare

How good your skin looks post-puberty depends on how well you understand and take care of your skin. Genetics, food, hormones and the your lifestyle surely have an affect on you skin, but good skin can still prevail if you practice smart skincare day in and day out. Most important thing to remember here is: the earlier the good skin care habits are adopted, the better your skin’s overall condition will be as you age.

The first step in formulating your individual skin care routine is to identify what kind of skin you have. Is it dry or oily, light or dark, wrinkled or smooth, or somewhere in between? Ingredients in each skin care product should be tailored to meet the needs of your particular skin type. Using wrong skin products will result in breakouts, and skin damage and lot of heartache. If you are not sure what your skin type is visit a dermatologist and simply ask.

Baby Steps To The Basics Of Skincare

Skin complaints, ranging from visible scarring to acne to hypersensitivity, pigmentation and premature ageing, can all be addressed, controlled and eradicated with a regular practice of smart skincare regimen. Regardless of the skin’s condition, improvements in diet, lifestyle and routine skincare can all contribute to a healthier complexion. Lets get your skincare basics aligned.

No matter what your skin type, you most likely only need to wash your face in the morning and before bed. Since the skin loses its natural lubrication when it is over-washed, it’s best to keep extra washing to a minimum. People with oily skin might need one additional rinse during the day especially after school or work to get rid of any dust and pollutants that might later clog pores leading to acne.

Bar soap can be harsh and drying to the skin, so use a cleanser specifically formulated for the face. Look for products that are specifically designed for your skin type and then experiment to find the one that works best for you. Most skincare products are labeled according to the special skin type or skin need that they address, make a habit to read labels to make the right choices.

If you have dry skin, make sure that you aren’t using too harsh of a cleanser. Dry skin needs gentle cleansing with products “rich in fat” and containing emollients, like olive oil or lanolin, which make the skin softer and add lipids to the skin. Milky liquid cleansers and tissue-off cleansing creams are also good options for dry skin.

If you have oily skin, avoid “fat loaded” soaps and creamy cleansers, as these will only increase the amount of oil on the skin. Instead, use products designed for oily skin. Don’t give in to the temptation to wash your face every time it feels greasy. By doing so, you’ll kick the sebaceous gland into over production of oil, as the skin tries to replace the lubrication it loses when it is washed.

For combination/normal skin, look for products labeled specifically for your skin type. Most likely, you’ll have to experiment to find the right cleanser for your particular skin. The right cleanser will be one that doesn’t over-dry skin but still does a good job of cleaning off dirt and oil.

Moisturizer is must for all skin types. The drier the skin, the more moisturizing ingredients your moisturizer should contain. Some ingredients to look for are: glycerin, hyaluronic-acid, and dimethicone. Another ingredient that works well for dry skin is olive oil. It is a natural moisturizer because it contains oleic acid, a powerful emollient. If you don’t have acne, you can try applying olive oil to your face as a natural moisturizer.

Oily skin like any other skin type needs moisture too, there are oil-free moisturizers out there that replenish hydration in oily skin. While shopping for a moisturizer for your oily skin, look for “non-comedogenic” products that won’t clog pores containing humectants like glycerin, which lock moisture into the skin by attracting and retaining water.

For combination skin, use oil free moisturizers in the places where you need it, usually the driest areas are on the cheeks. For dry areas under your eyes, use a cream designed for the eye area since this delicate skin is thinner than the rest of the skin on the face.

To get the maximum benefit out of your moisturizer apply your moisturizer when the skin is still damp. This helps the skin to lock-in extra moisture. Only use as much moisturizer as you need, over-moisturizing can cause clogged pores and breakouts.

After cleansing and moisturizing, your skin care routine should tailor to the specific conditions that affect your skin.

For Wrinkles And Sagging, or to achieve an “instant lift” effect, look for products that contain antioxidants and DMAE. Antioxidants repair cells and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, while DMAE boosts production of acetylcholine, making skin firmer and tighter.

For Red Or Irritated Skin, use a product that contains vitamin C ester. Being an antioxidant, vitamin C ester is soothing and non-irritating to the skin. It can reduce redness and irritation, even from sunburn or psoriasis.

To Reduce The Appearance Of Pores, look for products that reduce the amount of bacteria on the face and calm the oil glands like, Avene Triacneal cream.

If You Have Acne, there are plenty of products to choose from, although you may have to experiment a little to find the best treatment that works for you. Look for cleansers that contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid. Ideal acne treatment should reduce breakouts while not over drying the skin.

Finding a product that is tailored to your skin care concerns can greatly improve the appearance of your skin and improve skin conditions considerably, so take time to experiment.

A good skin care routine isn’t just about looking good for the day. It’s also about setting yourself up for beautiful and healthy skin for life. Taking the proper steps to promote both short and long term skin health is just as important as washing your face.

Sunscreen is an important product that everyone should include in their daily skin care routines. To streamline your daily routine, look for moisturizers or products you would use anyway that also contain SPF 15. If you’re planning on being outside for any extended period of time use stronger SPF 50. Without proper protection, damage from years of unprotected time in the sun eventually shows up in the form of wrinkles, sun spots, and uneven pigmentation.

Another easy way to promote skin health is by using products that contain antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the cell by neutralizing free radicals, which are unstable cells that take electrons from healthy cells. By incorporating a skin care product with antioxidants into your everyday routine you help your skin fight off the free radicals that cause cell damage and unhealthy skin.

If you don’t have time to apply many different products, don’t worry. Many products address more concerns than you expect. For example, many moisturizers contain SPF, and many repairing products contain the same ingredients that will prevent future skin problems. Read labels to find out how many aspects of your routine you can address with each product.

However, even if you are able to combine some parts of your routine, make sure you are getting the best possible products for your individual concerns. Your skin will thank you later.

Sorry To Bust Your Bubble Darling, But That Double Scoop Of La Dolce Vita Gelato Is Aggravating Your ‪‎Acne

“Diet has a direct and strong link to acne despite what some physicians may tell you otherwise” is the shibboleth that I have been preaching since I got back to work after my summer break. Thanks to naughty food indulgences during the summer vacation, presently I am seeing gobs of acne patients in and out of my clinic. And along with writing acne-clearing prescriptions I have been urging teen and adult acne sufferers to watch what they eat. Taking my one-on-one diet counsels one step further plus to publically implicate food as a culprit in crimes against our complexion, I’d like to share with you some research that debunks the pseudo myth “Diet has no role in acne flares”.

The scientific community had been sitting on the fence in the past when it came to accepting the negative effects of junk food on acne-prone skin because of a few studies published back in the 60s, that cleared chocolate, peanuts, milk and cola for the acne prone population. Unfortunately those studies were poorly conducted with no proper controls and according to the newer standardizations of research they are no longer acceptable as valid references. From our personal experiences we all know that chocolate bars, soda and ice cream are not only unhealthy—but they act as weapons of mass destruction targeting our complexions. Now credible data is available that supports the fact that our diet has profound effect on our skin.  

Game Changing Inquest

Food theories of the 60s were first challenged in 2002 when a paper published in the Archives of Dermatology, showed that among indigenous cultures in Paraguay and Papua New Guinea; who ate their ancestral diets and consumed almost no processed foods or dairy products, acne was virtually unheard of. Further research also highlighted that when people from similar cultures adopted a Western diet, they developed acne. These studies sparked a new interest into investigating the diet and acne link and paved up the path for newer research digging deep into the effects of food on our skin.

High Glycemic Food Consumption = Acne Flare

In July of 2007, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a measurable link between high-glycemic diets and acne. The study followed two groups of acne-plagued males ages 15 to 25, who were told they were participating in a study on carbohydrates and protein. The first group continued to eat their usual diet, which included plenty of sugar and processed grains (foods that have a high glycemic index). The other group was given whole grains, lean meat and fish, fruits and vegetables (foods with a low glycemic index). After 12 weeks, a team of dermatologists determined that the subjects in the latter group had 51 percent fewer pimples than when they started.

Foods with a high glycemic index cause blood sugar to rise, forcing the body to bring it down with a surge of insulin. And insulin can lead to acne, both by accelerating cell growth in the pores and stimulating oil-producing hormones called androgens.

Skin + Dairy = Acne

Dairy products have also been put under new scrutiny to investigate their role in acne flares. In 2005 researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health published a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that showed an association between consumption of dairy products and acne. Using data from more than 47,000 women followed in the Harvard-administered Nurses’ Health Study II, researchers found that those who consumed more than three servings of milk per day were 22 percent more likely to have suffered from acne as teens. With skimmed milk, the numbers were even more pronounced. Those who drank two or more glasses per day were 44 percent more likely to have experienced acne bad enough to warrant a trip to the doctor.

Most dairy products aggravate acne because they contain an “insulin-like” growth factor; which exerts a pore clogging action by aggravating the cells lining the skin pores. Dairy consumption also produces a surge in insulin production by the pancreas, which in turn results in upsurge of cellular activity in skin leading to acne flare.

Diet has profound effects on acne, but there has been surprisingly little research done to establish the aggravating connection between diet and acne mainly because nutritional studies are notoriously difficult to run and very difficult to fund, as most pharmaceutical funding giants won’t stand behind them.

Bad Food Choices = Acne Pandemic

Researchers now hypothesize that our increasing consumption of sugar, processed grains and dairy products may be behind a worldwide rise in acne incidence in both teens and adults.

Seize The Moment: Low-Glycemic Diet = Clearer Younger Looking Skin

Fall depicts new beginnings, renewed spunk and a fresh start, come September life has resumed its daily rhythm—back to school and back to work routines have kicked in full swing. But before you jump back into your daily humdrum and habitual diets, take a moment and make a conscious decision to purge your life and daily eating habits of the complexion endangering elements. Avoid high-glycemic foods—indulge in whole grains, lean meat, fish, fruits and vegetables—this way you’d be signing up for a longer healthier life with younger & clearer looking skin.

Stand Up For Yourself - Literally

Back in June I read an article by Dr Mike Loosemore; a leading sport medicine consultant from University College of London, where he claimed that being on your feet for three hours, five days a week, is as effective as running ten marathons a year and can extend life by two years. No heavy duty exercise just plain and simple standing up on your feet - Now this is an amazing piece of information I thought. To get to the bottom of the truth and validate this shortcut to longer-healthier-life further scientific proof research was . My fascination for this easy-go-lucky way to enhance lifespan and health recently led me to another study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which clearly suggests that the easiest and best anti-ageing technique could be “standing up”.

Scientists Have Found Proof That Spending More Time On Two Feet Protects DNA

According to this study, too much sitting down shortens telomeres, the protective caps sitting at the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres have been linked to premature ageing, disease and early death. So spending less time on the sofa could potentially help people live longer by preventing their DNA from ageing.

The research from this new study concludes that people who were frequently on their feet had longer telomeres, which were keeping the genetic code safe from wear and tear. Telomeres stop chromosomes from fraying, clumping together and "scrambling" genetic code. Scientists liken their function to the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces, and say that lifespan is linked to their length.

The Nitty Gritty

The idea behind this study was to test and prove the idea behind a study, published in the British Medical Journal previously, which revealed that although people who did more exercise tended to be healthier, the most important factor was how much time they spent sitting down.

Researchers looked at 49 overweight sedentary adults in their late sixties and measured the length of the telomeres in their blood cells.

Half of them had been part of an exercise program that lasted six months, while the other half had not. Physical activity levels were assessed using a diary and pedometer to measure the amount of footsteps taken each day.

The amount of time spent sitting down was worked out through a questionnaire.

Scientists found that the less time a person spent sitting, the longer their telomeres, and the greater their chance of living longer.

Intriguingly research also shows that taking part in more exercise did not seem to have an impact on telomere length.

Scientific Consensus

There is growing concern among medical community that not only low physical activity but probably also sitting and sedentary behavior is an important and new health hazard of our time. The scientific evidence and research has led to the hypothesis that a reduction in sitting hours is of greater importance than an increase in exercise time for elderly risk individuals.

Take Home Message

Guess how many hours a day you spend sitting? - Fewer than eight, more than 10? A recent survey found that many of us spend up to 12 hours a day sitting on our bottoms looking at computers or watching television. If you throw in the seven hours we spend sleeping then that adds up to a remarkable 19 hours a day being sedentary. Apart from this study if you dig deeper into the standing up for a longer life concept, you’d find there is now enormous evidence that supports the logic that simply standing makes huge differences to your health.

Stand Up

It’s time you stood up for yourself - Be proactive make small adjustments - like standing while talking on the phone, going over to talk to a colleague rather than sending an email, or simply taking the stairs.

Fall Beauty Resolution — Cut A Dash With Your Perfect Skin

We live in a world full of beauty. For some girls it stares you directly in the face and other times it is not so easy to find. To each and everyone one of us beauty means something else, but experts agree flawless skin counts for at least fifty percent of our aesthetic image and the other fifty percent lies in the proportion of facial features & body contours. Now if you can control how your skin looks then you are practically in charge of 50% of your beauty. Let’s get to work and carve beauty out of your skin.

Know Thy Skin Type: All skin is not created equal, flawlessly beautiful skin can be a gift form God or it can be achieved with the help of practicing the science of good skincare. It’s vital to know what is your skin type before you can begin to take care of it.

Oily Skin: The hallmark of oily skin is open pores with greasy feel especially around the T-Zone. With hormonal imbalance acne, black heads and white heads result leaving behind pigmentation, scars and permanent skin damage. The trick to managing oily skin is using products especially formulated for oily skin as products made for other skin types can lead to clogging of pore and sebaceous gland irritation leading to acne along with uneven and blotchy skin. As a general rule buy gels, serums and oil-free products. Combination skin calls for a mix of products applied to each area — or you can opt to layer lighter-weight products over the drier areas. For breakouts and clogged pores, you can’t get results from a well-formulated, leave-on BHA (salicylic acid) exfoliant or a retinoic acid based product.

Dry Skin: Prone to ashy dry complexion and flaking dry skin always feels tight and uncomfortable without proper moisturization. Here wrinkles are the major problem to tackle instead of open pores. The trick to managing dry skin is double time moisturization and use of products that don’t dehydrate or strip the skin.

Sensitive Skin: Susceptible to irritation, redness and discomfort people with sensitive skin have to be very careful with what products they chose to take care of their skin. Mostly people with sensitive skin have other types of allergies too e.g. food, metal, different chemicals etc. The trick to managing sensitive skin is avoiding products loaded with harsh chemicals and active repair of the skin barrier function by using specialized moisturizers.

Pigmented Skin: Genetics have thrown you a curve ball if you easily develop patches of hyperpigmentation on your skin. Sun, hormones and friction are some of the common trigger factors that push pigmented skin into over drive resulting in melasma and discoloration issues. The trick to managing pigmented skin is active use of sunscreen and keeping the complexion balanced by natural plant based skin-lightening agents like vitamin C, arbutin, etc.

Normal Skin: You are lucky, beauty Gods were smiling as you were being conceived. Your skin is balanced and requires bare minimum care but that does not mean you neglect it. If you want to keep you skin beautiful and young you need to take care for the future. Product selection wise with normal skin there's a little more leeway, and you can choose the product textures you like most. The trick to managing normal skin is using plenty of antioxidants and diligent use of sunscreen to prevent future skin aging.

Use Skincare Judiciously & Like Clockwork: If your skin is not looking good there is a reason behind it, and the most obvious one is: you are not using your skincare products according to your skin type. For example, if you have combination skin and you’re using a product containing irritating ingredients such as alcohol, you may actually be exacerbating the oily areas. Because irritation stimulates nerve endings in skin, a subsequent hormonal surge leads to more oil and, potentially, breakouts. On the other hand, if you have dry skin and load up on moisturizers but don’t periodically use a good leave-on exfoliant, a buildup of dead, dry skin cells may result. And that really rich moisturizer you're using will seem to stop working. Basically, what you need is a routine that fits your skin type and manages your concerns. Read up, educate your self about your skin, see a dermatologist and understand your skin — sticking to a judicious skincare plan is vital to maintaining beautiful skin.

UV Protection: Daily sunscreen use is the single most important thing you can do to get and maintain near-perfect and certainly younger-looking skin.

To be able to find the confidence in your beauty is something that is within you. Important message here is you need to believe, put your best foot forward and never doubt.