Treatment and Causes of Acne

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States. It affects those in there teenage years to early 20s. Acne usually affects teenage girls on their face, while boys are usually infected on their backs. While there is no cure for acne, there are numerous skin care products and gentle herbal home made recipes to reduce the outbreaks of acne.

Acne is a skin disease that can cause psychological impairments as well as physical. In some instances of severe breakouts it can lead to the person becoming withdrawn and depressed. Severe acne can also leave deep scars and that can lead to the person becoming self-conscious or have lower self-esteem. Fortunately there are   many medications available today that can reduce the amount of scarring that acne can cause.

Below are common causes of acne:
1) Genetics, if one of your parents had acne, chances are you will too.
2) Hormones, during puberty oil glands become more active thus producing more oil to the skin. For some people, this excess oil will clog the pores on the face and produce pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. When these blemishes can not erupt, a bacterium sets in under the skin and thus causes redness and inflammatory acne.
3) Stress, although stress does not cause acne, like any skin disorder, it will aggravate the condition. In addition, food will aggravate your acne if you have food allergies.
4) Cleaning your face, use of harsh cleansing products or cleansing products that have ingredients that you may be allergic to may cause acne.
5) Poor facial cleansing, opposite of too much cleansing or wrong products that contain harsh chemical ingredients, not cleaning your skin properly to reduce the excess oil will clog pores and produce an outbreak of acne.
6) Medication, certain medications, including barbiturates, seizure medication and steroids are known to cause acne breakouts.

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Research into this type of skin disorder has proven to be quite productive. There are several types of treatment for both mild to severe cases, both over the counter and prescription medicine. Mild cases of acne have had excellent results with herbal home remedies and over the counter creams. However severe acne that shows signs of inflammation and possible scarring should seek a physician for treatment and possibly anti-inflammatory medicines.

Below is a simple toner recipe:
2 to 3 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 C. boiling water
Steep basil leaves in water for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool, then apply to face with a white cotton ball.
As with any new skin care product always do a skin patch test first.

Visit Complete Skin Care Therapy for skin care recipes and more skin care articles.

How to Care for Combination Skin

A combination skin type is a condition whereas part of the face is overly dry and other areas are oily. The oily condition usually occurs in the T zone, which encompasses the forehead, the nose and chin areas. These areas are prone to breakouts (blackhead, whiteheads, pimples) more often because of the higher percentage of sebaceous (oil producing) glands.

A skin care program for combination skin can be frustrating as you need to treat both oily skin and dry skin. However, there are simple skin care steps you can take which can reduce the oil in the T zone and still moisturize and hydrate the dry areas.

As with any good skin care routine cleansing with the correct product for your skin type is vital. For combination skin, consider a cleanser that has a pH balance of 7 or less.

Check out this cleansing which has a pH of 5 and has great reviews! Herbal Facial Wash

Those cleansers with a higher pH balance have a tendency to strip the skin of its natural oils thus further drying out the dry area and prompting the oily areas to produce more oil. While using two toners may seem like to much work, remember you are dealing with two different skin types. Another option is to purchase or make a balancing toner. Here are a couple of suggestions: Avalon Organic Botanicals Vitamin C Balancing Facial Toner and Obagi C-Balancing Toner.



Toner recipe for combination skin:
7 drops Witch hazel
3 drops Juniper berry oil
5 drops of Rosemary oil
1 oz. Dry peppermint
1 cup distilled water
Boil peppermint in water for 1/2 hour and strain into a bottle. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake well. Apply with a cotton ball or pad. This toner invigorates, cleanses, and rejuvenates and is good oily, normal and combination skin types.

After toning wait a few minutes and analyze your skin. Where is it dry? The dry areas should be treated with a cream moisturizer that is rich in emollients and antioxidants. The T zone should be treated with a lotion or gel moisturizer that is oil-free and noncomedogenic. All skin types need hydration; dry skin needs lubrication and hydration while oily skin needs hydration. Your moisturizers should contain an SPF of at least 15 if it is for daytime wear; no matter what skin type you have it still needs protection from free radicals during the day.

Exfoliation is good for all skin types, it sloughs off dead skin, promotes circulation and smoothes out the skin tone. Good homemade skin exfoliates are: sugars, salts, cornmeal, oatmeal and baking soda to name a few. Either one of these ingredients can be mixed with your cleansing cream to slough off dead skin.

Occasional facial masks are beneficial to all skin types. Clay and mud masks can draw out impurities and toxins in the skin and/or deeply hydrate. Select a mask for combination skin to get the best results. Another option is to apply French green clay (known for its ability to draw out excess oil) in the T zone and milder clay such as white kaolin clay in the dry areas. Get some clay recipes at Complete Skin Care Therapy

Here is a pumpkin mask with alpha hydroxy crystals that replenishes and renews for spa-quality skin rejuvenation!

Caring for combination skin can be very challenging because you are really dealing with two different skin types (dry and oily). However, there are many products on the market for combination skin which will eliminate having separate products for the dry areas and oily areas. Nonetheless, understanding that the T zone requires different care than the rest of your face will be to you advantage when selecting your skin care products.

Get your skin care products at Skin Energizer and get 15% off, plus there is an online assistant to answer any questions about the skin care products!

Or check out the beauty products at Amazon, a great selection and reasonable prices.

For more skin care recipes, and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Fall 2010 Leg Wear Fashions

Socks ranging from silk ribbed ankle socks, chunky knitted socks scrunched down to the ankle and over the knee socks are just a few of the fashions that have hit the runway this year. I personally like the over the knee socks. Team these up with a cute mini-dress or a pair of high-waist denim shorts for a really trendy look. Pamela Mann has created an Over the Knee Sock that is fashionable yet affordable. Only $7.13

Sparkle and Sheer are very popular in black and barely black, however the new trends are champagne, dove grey, navy, red, natural and olive. Look at these beautiful sheers in an array of colors, for only $7.92!

Delicate and pretty describe these. Lace and Lace Hold Up’s were huge for Fall 2010 fashion show. View these beautiful stockings in Shark Grey, these Antique Lace Hold Up's are guaranteed to look fabulous with almost any outfit this Autumn Winter!


 

Delicate net was seen in New York by the likes of Betsey Johnson, Alexandre Herchcovich, and Paul Smith Women. These fishnets are the perfect choice.


 

Set to be bestsellers these soft opaque’s are an essential part of every girls wardrobe this season. Beautiful colors in charcoal grey, dove grey were favorites of designers DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and Roccobarocco.
View all the colors only $7.92














These are just some of the great styles that hit the runway this fall season.  So spice up your wardrobe with some beatiful stockings! Tights, hose, over the knee socks or scruched up socks can really spruce up the outfit. 

For the best selction of hoisery, socks and tights, in every shape, style, and color click on the banner below!






Pictures from  catwalkpictures.com

Makeup 101

Makeup has so much to offer; it can cover imperfections, elongate the face, and enhance the natural beauty of your eyes. For those that wear makeup already and need a refresher course or for those that are just beginning to wear makeup, proper application is essential to fully utilize what it has to offer.

There are several factors to consider when using makeup. For instance, understanding the shape of your eyes (close set, wide set, hooded) is essential. As an example, close set eyes can be made to appear further apart with the proper application of eye shadow. Furthermore, understanding your skin tone and skin type is essential when selecting a foundation, blush and lipstick. Far too many times I have purchased cosmetics ignoring my skin type and skin tone and wondered why the product didn't perform as I expected. For example an oily complexion should consider powder blushes and oil free foundations. Finally, understanding that proper shaping and coloring of the eyebrows is part of the overall look. The eyebrows frame the eyes and do so much to enhance your eyes and face when properly shaped. Read more about eye brow shaping, fully illustrated too!

The next to thing to consider when applying your makeup is the event you are going to attend. For instance a night on the town may call for smoky eyes with a little shimmer. Daytime wear should be natural but still covers imperfections and enhance your overall appearance.

Eye makeup techniques

Smoky eyes - perfecting smoky eyes is just a matter of practice. To begin, apply a light shade of foundation or concealer on the upper lid, under the brow and under the eye. This gives you a nice canvas to create your smoky eyes. Next line the eyelid with eye pencil or liquid eyeliner staying close to the lashes. Now soften the line with a q-tip and then apply a dark eye shadow directly over the line and smudge. Continue with the dark shadow going up into the crease of the eye and outward, however do not go into the inner corners of the eye. Lastly apply a lighter color on the instead of the upper lids and the rest of the eye area (under the brow) and blend. For the bottom of the eye apply a thin line under the lashes, staying as close to the lashes as possible and smudge. Apply heavy coats of mascara to both the upper and lower lashes. Smoky eyes are versatile. Colors can range from dark browns to forest greens and dark plums. Additionally you can add a little shimmer if desired. Not all eye shapes can do smoky eyes; dark colors seem to make small eyes appear that much smaller. Additionally, there are a number of variations for the application of smoky eyes.

Natural (minimalist) - this look hit the runway this year to capture the natural beauty of women. The minimalist look strives for a flawless complexion, with the help of concealers and foundation, nude lips that match your skin tone and light soft colors for eye makeup. Consider nude shadows for the lids and maybe a taupe for the crease and blend. Blush should be light and easily blends with your skin tone. Apply brown mascara for a final finish.

Daytime makeup is similar to the minimalist look however a little bit more color may be in order. For the eyes start with two shades, a light and dark shade of your choice. Apply the dark shadow over the lid and up into the crease, apply the lighter shadow to the brow area and blend. If desired you can line the bottom of the eye with an eye pencil or apply a light shadow under the eyes to brighten them up.

Foundation techniques

Foundation comes in an array of formulas. There are cream, cream to powder, mineral makeup, and liquid to name a few. First and foremost is selecting the right foundation for your skin type; this will ensure a flawless finish. Your foundation should be close to the skin color on your neck to avoid any dramatic differences in color. Additionally, if blemishes or skin discolorations are a problem consider a concealer. Note, there is also an array of concealers, some are designed cover blemishes while some are designed to cover under eye circles. It is important to understand the type of concealer you need.  There are different applications of foundation which is dependent upon the type of foundation you use. For instance, mineral makeup is usually applied with a Kabuki brush, while liquid makeup is applied with your fingertips or sponge. Basically the key is covering and blending to an even finish.

Get the best prices on mineral makeup - right here!

Blush techniques

As with foundation, there are various types of blush formulas such as cream and powder. Additionally, blush techniques can elongate a round face or just bring a rosy glow to your complexion. For a rosy glow, smile and apply the blush to the fullest part of the cheeks, commonly known as the apple, and blend.  Read this article on how to contour your face with blush.

Eye brow techniques

As indicated above properly shaped eyebrows are essential in framing the eyes and enhancing your overall look. Here is a great post and illustration to help you shape your eye brows. If you have the money, have your eyebrows properly shaped at the salon and then you can maintain the shape.

Lipstick techniques

To properly apply lipsticks make one swipe of the lipstick across the top lip and one across the bottom lip. Apply more lipstick to fill in or create a darker effect. Once you are happy with the color, blot with tissue. Other tips are: use a lip liner or your foundation as a base, this technique will make your lipstick or lip gloss last so much longer. Line your lips with the same color as your lipstick, never use a dark lip liner with a light lipstick. To make your lips look fuller, line the bottom lip and add a little gloss to the middle of the bottom lip. Another important fact is that not all lipstick shades look good on everyone, understanding your skin tone will determine what shades will look best on you. If you like bold red, here is a good article on how to select the right red for your skin tone and application tips.  Also read DIY lip plumpers.

Above are the basics in the proper application of makeup and while it may seem like a lot to comprehend, it is really just a matter of understanding your face shape, skin type and skin tone to really create that perfect and individual look. Additionally, I find that practice makes perfect and so do not be afraid to experiment with different colors and application methods.
 
I do hope you stop by and read my many posts.  There is a wealth of information about skin care and skin care recipes.  Also, stop by and visit Complete Skin Care Therapy
 
For a great facial check out this Herbal Facial Kit - 5 facials for under $25!!
A luxurious and fun gift idea! Each kit contains:

Herbal Steam - To cleanse and open pores.
Cleansing Grains - A soap free way to remove dead skin & unclog pores.
Green Clay Mask - For deep cleansing, removal of toxins, and to stimulate circulation.
Facial Oil Blend - To lightly moisturize and balance all skin types.
Flowerwater Toner - Gently refreshing and mildy astringent.
Get your herbal facial kit! Makes a great gift too!

Countdown to Halloween – Time to Get Your Costume

Halloween is enjoyed by young and old across the country. I have heard it said that Halloween is the most celebrated event enjoyed by adults. The houses are decorated with skeletons, ghouls and pumpkins, and in my hometown there are numerous costume parties and costume competitions.

The ideas for costumes are endless, there are decade style (50s, 60s, etc.) costumes, fantasy, singers, television personalities, ghoulish and more. Here are but a few ideas to get you started.

How about dressing in a group Halloween costume with friends? If you plan on entering a Halloween costume competition, a group Halloween costume is a sure win. Just like a running gag, the more you have of one costume the funnier it becomes. One banana costume is fairly humorous, but a whole bunch? One cheerleader costume is good, but how about the whole team? Well, you get the picture.

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So hurry up and get your Halloween decorations and costumes at Spirit Halloween





Morticia



Gomez

cave man

cave woman

Gothic Priest

Lady Gaga

Magical Miss