Archive for April, 2011

How To Find The Best Tanning Lotion

With so many self tanning products in the market, finding the best tanning lotion can seem like a difficult task. Though there are a number of tanning products, a few simple precautions will ensure that you choose the tanning lotion that best suits your individual requirements and preferences.

Now that the cold weather is almost at an end, it is time to start thinking about preparing for the summer months which lie ahead. A lovely tanned complexion is the perfect post-winter break look.

Unfortunately, many people lack both time and money to indulge themselves in a tropical vacation. With the right tanning product, you will be able to reproduce the perfect summer look at just a fraction of the cost of a winter vacation.

Tips For Identifying The Best Tanning Lotion

* Check the List of Ingredients: The key ingredient in most self tanner products is Dihydroxyacetone. Dihydroxyacetone or DHA is a simple carbohydrate which darkens the skin by reacting with the amino acids found naturally on the skin’s surface. The compound which is also known as glycerone is generally derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, or by the fermentation of glycerin and is considered the most effective self tanning stabilizer. DHA is also believed to have the added benefit of reducing skin flaking and helps restore its suppleness. The best tanning lotions also contain DHA refinements that produce a more natural looking color and better fading.

* Color, Texture and Aroma: Many first-generation tanning products have an unfortunate side effect of leaving an unpleasant smell and several poor quality self tanners can leave your skin tinted an unappealing shade of orange. Care should be taken to avoid such products by always conducting a patch test before starting to use any new tanning lotion, cream, gel or spray. The best tanning lotion will give your skin a gentle, natural golden glow without any kind of unpleasant odor. Many of these products are lightly scented for greater appeal though you can also opt for a non-fragrant tanning lotion. Additionally, a good self-tanner is light, non-greasy and easy to apply. In case of tanning sprays, check whether the aerosol can is light and easy-to-use so that there is no strain on the wrist or arms.

* Always Choose Area-Specific Products: Today, most tanning products are specifically formulated for specific parts of the body such as the face, back, limbs. Consequently, it is essential to ensure that the product you choose is indeed suited for its intended use. For example, a face tanning cream or lotion is much gentler on the skin of the face than one for the back or for the legs. A facial tanner will not be the best tanning lotion for the back, arms or legs and vice versa.

It is essential that you test any new products before applying them on your body. Never apply a tanning lotion on broken skin. In case you encounter any kind of skin discoloration or pimples or rough or scaly patches, avoid that particular area and ideally consult a dermatologist.

The Benefits That Hyaluronic Acid Can Offer

Hyaluronic acid is being touted as a true miracle in the science of skin care. The ingredient is getting major attention from doctors and spas around the world, and researchers are constantly finding new ways that the ingredient can benefit the skin. Hyaluronic acid is something that our bodies naturally produce when we are younger, but as we age, we stop producing it. This makes it easier for sun damage to occur, as well as dryness and loss of collagen and elastin. Replacing the acid with a pure and natural form of itself, however, can help reverse this.

Hyaluronic acid serum can offer a wide range of benefits. It is definitely effective in helping to produce healthier, younger looking skin. A low molecular weight HA serum can penetrate deep into your skin, hydrating cells, restoring collagen and elastin function, and even destroying the free radicals that form from sun, chemical, and pollutant exposure. HA is actually an excellent antioxidant, and when your serum is capable of reaching the deepest layers of your skin, it can be incredibly effective at reversing damage to your cells.

This isn’t all that hyaluronic acid can do, however. It is a superb moisturizer, which makes it wonderful for dry skin as well as for use after laser hair removal. What makes it especially unique is that even though it is nature’s perfect moisturizer, it is also ideal for people with excessively oily skin. Hyaluronic acid can help prevent excessive oil production, giving your skin the balance and moisture that it needs without that grime and shine. It is also excellent for helping to stop the inflammation caused by Retin-A treatments.

Whenever you want an ingredient that can truly do everything to keep your skin healthy, hyaluronic acid is the natural choice. It can help repair the damage caused by excessive sun exposure, eliminating redness, irritation, pain, and dryness. It can moisturize better than any lotion on the market. It can provide the same cosmetic result as Botox without the need for toxic injections. When you stop to think about it, there is really very little that you cannot accomplish if you take the time to find a pure, fresh, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid serum. We all want what is best for our skin and our appearance, and the simple fact is that using a naturally occurring ingredient in the skin just makes sense.

Various Tattoo Removal Options

Every year there are various people undergoing placement of permanent tattoo somewhere on their bodies. After the placement of tattoo, few people realize that they have made a bad choice and want to remove the tattoo. Till now there are several techniques developed that can be used for tattoo removal.

But, most of the older techniques are not in use because of the advent of laser technology. Methods for removing the tattoo include: laser treatment, intense pulsed light therapy, tattoo removal cream, abrasion, scarification, fading with saline and surgery. Off all these methods, laser removal is the most commonly used method nowadays.

The cost of body art removal can vary greatly depending on the type of method you select. Body art removal price is typically in the range of $150 up to as much as $20,000. Before undergoing any type of tattoo removal method, you need to find answers for:
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• The cost of tattoo removal
• Will the tattoo be totally removed?
• Will it hurt?
• Is there any chance of scarring or some blotchy marks on the skin?
• Is there any health risk involved?
• Is it necessary to consult a specialist for my tattoo design removal or are there any DIY techniques available?

Laser tattoo removal can remove most of the tattoo, some more easily and than others. Usually, laser removal needs several doctor visits over a period of weeks to months. There are innate benefits and risks associated with this method. Laser technology permits the decomposition of tattoo ink within the skin, jump starting your body’s immune system for ink removal that has been treated with the laser. Distinct laser types and wavelengths are used to target distinct colors. Generally laser removal option is less invasive than other options because it is a bloodless and incision free treatment. It can be considered as the safest and least painful choice. But few risks associated with this method include:

• Few people experience skin pigmentation like hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.
• People who want to remove their new tattoo; it needs more treatment sessions for removal.
• Few people may notice allergic reaction after laser removal because of the ink released from the tattoo.

The extent of these risks may vary for each person. First ensure that you need a thorough discussion with your specialist in order to completely understand how the method works and what can be expected from the treatment.

If you want to have your tattoo completely or partially removed then you should first check out your options and decide which of them will be best for you.

Do You Know How to Check Your Hair Porosity?

Porosity is the measure of the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. This is determined by the condition of the hair’s cuticle layer (the overlapping scales of the hair shaft), and is rated as low, normal, and high. A good analogy would be to consider your hair like a sponge. When the sponge is new it is very porous and absorbs water thus it has good porosity. On the other hand an old sponge where the tiny holes have been damaged does not absorb water as well as it used to.

The hair shaft is made up of cuticle layers which are actually overlapping scales. When the cuticle layer is tightly woven and compact it has low porosity as it inhibits moisture going in and going out.

Low porosity is resistant to hair coloring and perms and must be softened to open the cuticle layers prior to a treatment. The best remedies for low porosity hair are deep conditioning products and products rich in moisture and/or products that contain humectants which will attract moisture.

High porosity on the other hand has an open cuticle layers and absorbs moisture and color treatments more easily. However overly porous hair releases moisture and becomes dry and dull. The best products for high porosity are moisturizes containing natural plant based oils, and mildly acidic rinse. Additionally one should avoid sulfate-based surfactants.

Normal porosity is somewhere in the middle. This texture requires the least amount of maintenance, as it will allow moisture to pass in the hair shaft as needed. Additionally a high porosity will hold a hairstyle and allow chemical processes in the expected manner. However, note that repeated chemical processes can change the porosity by damaging the cuticle layer.

Below are a few tests you can do to figure out your hair’s porosity and help you select the right products.

Test 1: When washing your hair notice how long it takes for your hair to become saturated and fully wet. Hair that wets easily is porous, much like a new sponge. There is also a possibility that you hair could be covered with to many hair care products such as oils and conditioners. Additionally consider how long it takes your hair to dry, hair that dries quickly is porous as the cuticle layers are open and allow air flow.

Test 2: Wash and condition your hair as normal. Towel dry (do not add any other products). Gather one strand of hair and run your index finger and thumb along the shaft starting from the end of the hair strand to the root. Low porosity will feel slick, normal porosity will feel smooth, and high porosity you will feel catches as you move your fingers down the shaft.

Test 3: Take a few strands of hair (from comb or hair brush) and place in a bowl of water. If the hair sinks to the bottom of the bowl in less than a minute or two, it is porous. If only a part of the strand sinks your hair is porous in certain areas and this is quite common.

I hoped this article helped you to understand hair porosity and bring you that much closer to selecting the right hair products for your hair.

Hope For Those Who Suffer From Ugly Toenails!

If you consider yourself in this category, you are not alone. Most people, if they were being honest, would have to tell you that there hasn’t been much hope of having cosmetically pleasing nails, once you’ve suffered from a toenail fungus infection or injury to the toenail. Up to now, most treatments have taken months and up to years to show any results, and often come with the warning that results may not last. For those with hopelessly misshapen toenails, the thought of wearing open toed sandals is just not an option.

Well, I say up to now, because this is no longer the case. In the last year or so, products have come out that can change forever, the look of your toenails. The first product is marketed to podiatrists as KeryFlex Toenail Restoration. This product is a time released, anti-fungal, light cured, flexible resin that looks and feels like your natural nail. It comes in different shades that can camouflage even the most unsightly nails. If you are suffering from a toenail infection, I recommend being treated by your podiatrist with either an oral medication such as Lamisil, or with the new laser treatment called Pinpoint Laser. Even if you’ve tried one of these before, try it again. This time, pair this treatment with a toenail restoration via KeryFlex. The doctor will “debride” (grind down) the nail a bit, and then apply the KeryFlex, rebuilding the nail back to its original size and shape. Since most doctors are really not nail techs, you may have to do a little work at home to get the exact shape that you desire. If it doesn’t look right, go back and get him to redo it until you get the cosmetically desired results that you are looking for. Once done, with a little polish, you will be back in your sandals and looking beautiful! Now, this is the best part: because the KeryFlex is a time-released anti-fungal product, it is actually good for your nails! You don’t have to worry about damaging your nails with polish because your actual nail is being protected by a very natural feeling, anti-fungal, non-porous material, that I believe will make it less likely to become reinfected. You see, most people who suffer from toenail infections, do so because of a genetic predisposition to getting these infections. Those who suffer from soft, porous nails, or those you have suffered injuries to the toenail, are at risk of getting and harboring these kinds of infections. With KeryFlex, your nail is protected and with the time-released anti-fungal ingredient Piroctone Olimine, it is less likely to become reinfected. There don’t appear to be ANY negative side affects of this treatment and plenty of positive results. For the first time, sufferers of ugly toenails have a product that offers a lasting solution.
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Now, once having obtained your KeryFlex nail restoration, you will want to connect with a local spa to begin maintaining your new look. But you won’t want to go to just ANY spa or nail technician. You will need to find someone who is using a product made by LCN-USA called “Barefoot.” This product is produced by the same European manufacturer that produces KeryFlex, only it is marketed to professional nail technicians. I cannot stress to you enough, that you must find someone who uses this product. It is the only one I know of that is recommended and safe for your toes. Your professional nail technician can continue to maintain your nails by retouching them as your natural nail grows. Yes, with this product you natural nail will continue to grow, unimpeded, and may even grow out more normal looking. You can also request a French Pedicure using the light cured gels that are so popular now. Once this is done, your look is professional and lasts for a month or more without the need of a retouch. You’re simply going to love the results you get from these two products.

Save Your Sisters – From Toxic Cosmetics

Over the course of one year, through the application of cosmetics, the average North American woman absorbs the equivalent of 5 pounds of toxins. Everyday products such as shampoo, conditioners, hair gels, hair sprays, soaps, shower gels, body wash, face cleanser, toners, moisturizers, toothpaste, body lotions, hair removal products, deodorants, nail polish, eye liner, mascara, foundation, blush, lip balms and lipsticks all contribute to the toxic effect. Do the math: a 50 year old woman has over the course of her life absorbed approximately 200 pounds of toxins (I’m taking off 10 years, hopefully as a child she didn’t wear makeup.) The very thought of this should make everyone seriously look at what they are putting on their skin.

Just how toxic are these chemicals? Parabens found in makeup and moisturizers have developmental & reproductive toxicity and cause endocrine disruption, allergies and organ toxicity. Ethylene Oxide and 1, 4-Dioxane (found in moisturizing creams) cause organ system toxicity and are skin, eye and lung irritants. Retinol (vitamin A) found in anti-aging products causes biochemical or cellular level changes. Octinoxate, found in face powders and blush, causes endocrine disruption and allergies. The list goes on and on.

In the past decade, a crop of so called “natural” products have flooded the market. Are these any safer? Products containing the words “Natural”, “Essence of”, “Botanical” and even “Organic” do not mean that the product is safe. These are key words that marketing people use to legitimize the product. Don’t be fooled. As they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Read the labels and research the ingredients. I know you’ve heard this sermon before and I’ve heard all the excuses why this is impossible. Well, here’s some good news. Someone else has done all the work for you – all you need to do is log in. Health Canada offers alerts on cosmetic products that contain unacceptable levels of toxic chemicals, and the Environmental Working Group in the US sponsors two excellent sites: The Compact for Safe Cosmetics and Skin Deep – a data base that rates hundreds of products for safety. Another great resource is a book called No More Dirty Looks by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt. Kudos to those two girls for really digging deep to expose nasty chemicals in personal care products.

These resources have reached thousands of women and helped them make healthy safe choices, but there are millions more who don’t know they are literally poisoning themselves. Become an advocate and spread the word. If every woman who reads this article tells 10 women, and they tell 10 women… maybe we can save our sisters.

Eyelash Extension Courses Can Kick-Start A New Career

If you are looking for something to supplement or change your career path, why not try one of the eyelash extensions courses that are available? There will always be a demand for eyelash technicians, as a lot of women are regularly on the lookout for ways to improve their looks, and the eyes are the number one feature for this. Although eyelash extensions are only one way to improve the look of your eyes, the products are improving all the time and are therefore becoming more popular.

You could put this new qualification to good use by either working in a salon or as a mobile eyelash technician. As people will pay good money for a beautician to come to their home and mobile technicians do not seem to advertise this service, you could easily be onto a winner as word gets around! You can of course offer this service from your own home if you wish. Working for yourself has advantages and disadvantages of course, and you will have to sort out your own insurances and taxes as well as finding your supplier and most importantly – clients. Some areas will have more competition than others, so keep this in mind if you go down the self-employed route.

So where can you find eyelash extension courses and how what will they cost? If you already work in a salon, ask them if they will fund you, if there is no one there who is qualified, they probably will be happy to help out.

It is always worth contacting the eyelash extension suppliers as they often run their own courses, although these may not be local. Naturalash for example run two of their own eyelash extension courses, Level 1 and Level 2. You can even get a course online, but obviously, you will need to practice on your friends to perfect your technique. If you need to stay local and want to see firsthand how to do things rather than watching videos, try your nearest beauty college.

The length and cost of your course will vary depending on the location and quality of the course in question. For instance, Naturalash courses begin at $325 and include everything you need, including a lash kit and a free refresher course. The courses can be completed at your own pace and will take a minimum of one full day while other online course can be completed in just half a day. Make sure your course is at least accredited by Associated Skincare Professionals (ASCP).

Above all, and as you may expect, to become a good eyelash technician and be recommended by your clients you will need plenty of practice! Do not just expect to get everything right straight away.

Whether you are looking for a new career or to supplement your current one, eyelash extension courses are a good idea. They are relatively fast, not that expensive if you do an online one, and can easily give your career a helping hand.

Causes of Dry Hair and How to Fix It

There are countless of reasons why people suffer from too much dryness and dullness in their mane. But then, the good thing about it is, there are also a heap of solutions to address such problem. So, do not be distressed if you happen to be suffering from the same hair maladies. Just make it a point that you know the various causes of dry hair and how to fix it by doing your share of the homework and researching. Or better yet, you may just simply consider the following information on how to remedy hair dryness in no time:

1. Feed Your Hair With The Moisture They Need
The sudden change in the weather condition is actually one of the most often causes of dry hair and how to fix it should be your utmost concern. Oftentimes when the air is cold or perhaps it is very hot, people with sensitive hairs quickly succumb into hair dryness. The minute dryness and dullness strike, take heed of the useful tips on moisturizing your mane. You may actually start by drinking more glasses of water, applying leave-on moisturizers, keeping away from the harmful UV rays of the sun; or perhaps opting for some home remedies to cure dry hair such as applying mayonnaise to the scalp and strands; or egg and beer to feed the scalp with lots of protein.

2. Cease Use Of Hair Products With Harsh Ingredients
Really, it is important to always check the ingredients of the shampoo you are using. In that way, you are actually avoiding putting your mane at risk. Opt for the ones that are hypoallergenic to avoid getting dandruffs due to harsh ingredients in shampoos and conditioners. Likewise, do not over shampoo your hair or it might just do more damage than good. After all; excessive use of shampoo is one of the most popular causes of dry hair and split-ends. This may be attributed to the fact that with too much shampooing, the hair is robbed of its natural oils. What you can do is find the natural or herbal shampoo that will work for you best.

3. Stop Ruthless Brushing Or Combing
Maybe you are brushing or combing your hair inconsiderately? These may be the causes of dry hair and how to fix it, you will need to treat your mane as if they have feelings. After all; hair gets hurt, too, with your ruthless brushing and combing; hence, the dryness and split-ends. To avoid hair dryness caused by excessively brushing or by using the wrong type of comb or brush, make sure you know what types of brush or comb you need.

First, find a brush that is boar bristled. Or better yet, a comb that is wide-toothed to ensure that you are not brush or combing your hair insensitively. Also, look for the brush or comb whose bristles are not made from plastic or metal to once and for all put a stop to the pulling and tearing in your mane.

If you still can’t find the techniques about knowing the causes of dry hair and how to fix it, then look further. All you have to do is read on what are the causes of dry hair and how to fix it!

Choosing the Right Natural Looking Wigs

No matter what the reason is that you may need a wig, it can be really intimidating trying to by one that works for you. Natural looking wigs are only going to look so if the style, color, and fit are right for you. You may be nervous about picking the wrong real hair wigs and not looking your best, but choosing one isn’t so hard once you have an idea of what works.

First you want to focus on fit. Wigs are often sold in various sizes and so you’ll have to measure your head size to pick the right one. Take a measuring tape and wrap it around your head by the hairline, just above your ears. Take that measurement and see where it matches with size. If your head is 20 1/2 to 21 1/2 inches, your petite. 21 1/2 to 21 3/4 inches is average. 21 3/4 to 22 1/2 inches is average to large, and anything bigger is large.

Some wigs are one size fits most, with a stretchy net that can accommodate many. Of course, if you find that you fall into the very small or very large category, you can always see if custom made wigs would be a better option so everything fits well.

You need to take your face shape into consideration when picking the right cut and style of real hair wigs. If you have a round face, most styles will suit you. Hair brushed away from the face will make it look narrower and longer length wigs will elongate the face as well.

If you have an oval shaped face, consider yourself lucky. This is considered the perfect face shape and therefore you have the most versatility in your choice of quality wigs.

Heart shaped faces will look best in longer hair as incredibly short wigs may seem uneven with the balance of your face. Pear shaped are just the opposite shape and therefore want the opposite. Avoid long wigs but short styles will definitely compliment you and balance your forehead and jawline.

Square faces will want hair just past the chin or down the shoulder. Loose curls add a lot of volume and dimension so they are a great option. Triangular faces on the other hand, will want chin length or longer wigs and lots of volume so really widen the chin.

When it comes to color, the easiest choice is to pick what your natural hair color is, or something close to it. You can choose a color with highlights or low lights if you want something a bit different. But don’t be afraid to try on colors that may be the opposite of what you are, so a blonde wig for a natural brunette and vice versa. Now is the time to really experiment with those other colors.

Skin Creams – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!

Skin creams are used on a daily basis by millions of people to keep their skin looking beautiful and healthy. Women are the most avid users of skin care cream products. However men and boys use skin creams as well for acne and other skin conditions. Our face is visible to everyone, so it is important to keep it radiant, clean and young. Many of the products on the market claim to be the best and attract many people with their health and beauty benefits.

There are skin creams for almost all conditions nowadays. Acne treatments, anti-wrinkle creams, bleaching for skin spots, cellulite, eye and body creams are the most popular assortment of health products on the market. There are also natural skin care products that have healthy ingredients. Some people do not want to put artificial ingredients on their face, so they either purchase or make their own natural skin care products. The important things about a skin care cream is that it treats, protects and moisturizes.

Treatment

  • Acne is something that many people, young and some old, deal with. Products with retinoid and benzyl peroxide are the most effective products for treating acne.
  • Cellulite is another condition that some creams can reduce, making the skin look smoother and healthier. The lumpy skin on some women’s stomach and buttocks area is generally regarded as unattractive. Thousands of women use cellulite creams to reduce or eliminate cellulite.
  • Baggy eyes can be concealed or smoothed through the use of many eye creams.
  • Skin discoloration and liver spots can be improved with bleaching creams.

Protection

The best skin creams are those that also protect the skin. SPF lotions help protect the skin against the sun’s harmful rays and prevent melanoma, a skin cancer. The skin on our body gets very dry at times. Vitamin enriched lotions, creams and ointments add moisture to dry skin helping to keep it nourished and healthy.

Moisturizing

Many people use daily moisturizers on their face to keep their skin protected from dryness. Moisturizers provide the body with water. Oil in the moisturizer helps to keep water in the body, which in turn helps the skin to stay soft and refreshed.

Ex-foliating creams are also used on the skin to prevent further dryness. All these creams work on the body to keep it healthy and young.

Whether to treat, protect or moisture the skin, skin care products have been used for many years because they provide excellent benefits for people of all ages.