Exploring Foods That Help to Cure Acne

When it comes to exploring foods that can help cure acne,  I’ll explore more about what foods to avoid, or cut back on, that help curb the appearance of acne.  There are a few pieces of advice that can be given when it comes to what foods help cure acne and part of it is about what foods to avoid and the other part is actually about what foods help cure acne.
Pay attention to what you eat when it comes to acne!  Also it’s important to remember that acne affects different people in different ways.  What works for you when it comes to what foods help cure acne may not work for someone else.  But here are some generalizations that can be made to give you some guidance.

Dairy Foods and Acne

It is a fact that some females are affected by dairy products and the presence of dairy products in the diet of a woman that cannot handle it can result in acne.  If you notice acne in a female then try cutting out the dairy in their diet, with consultation from a doctor of course and see if that helps.

Refined Sugar Foods and Acne

There is a long standing debate about whether or not refined sugars and almost all of the processed foods Americans eat are causing acne.  For a long time the answer seemed to be that these foods did not directly cause acne and it was difficult to determine whether or not they actually added to existing acne problems.  However, in the absence of hard medical data you can take observational data and come to some conclusions. 

In parts of the world that did not eat processed food acne almost did not exist.  Then when those parts of the world started to get processed foods, either through development of their civilization or as aid from other countries, acne would start to flourish.  Now many doctors are agreeing that processed foods and foods with excess sugar are contributing to acne.

Fruits and Veggies and Acne

Just like your mother told you, eating your fruits and vegetables are what foods help acne.  They are not the only foods that can help cure it but in a discussion about what foods help cure acne fruits and vegetables top the list.  The vitamins and minerals that are found in fruits and vegetables make them great treatments for acne and if you can eat them raw then that will help a lot because raw vegetables retain those important vitamins and minerals. 

While changing your diet may not cure your acne, you can help reduce the effects of acne on your skin by eating healthy foods.

I highy recommend reading Dr. Perricone’s book, The Wrinkle Cure. Dr. Perricone’s books guide us through a healthy diet towards better skin for a variety of skin problems.

Effective Neutrogena Products for Acne Treatment

Neutrogena is a trusted name in skin care. The company has been catering to the needs of many people with regards to Neutrogena products for acne treatment and other skin conditions. Neutrogena helps people maintain their beautiful skin and make it as radiant as ever. The popular brand has proven its mettle in the skin and hair care industry by providing quality products that are found to be highly effective and hypoallergenic as well as non-comedogenic.

Advanced Solutions from Neutrogena

Neutrogena products for acne treatment are just as consistent in the efficacy department as the other Neutrogena products. The company has recently introduced a set of Neutrogena products for acne treatment specifically produced for people suffering from acne. The line is packaged in such a way that you use each product in coordination with the other. The active ingredients of the package are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. One product I recommend to clients is Neutrogena Acne Rapid Clear Daily Treatment Pads Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment, Maximum Strength. It’s reasonably priced and helps to reduce breakouts.

 The Neutrogena products for acne treatment cover a three step system that includes a cleanser for unclogging pores, treating acne and keeping blackheads and whiteheads in check. The cleanser has salicylic acid to help maintain great looking skin. The morning regimen includes a sun protection lotion that helps to soothe the skin and at the same time encourages the growth of new skin. The third step for the three step system is a lotion that helps to control acne through the use of benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide helps treat inflammation and eliminates bacteria.The consistent use of the Neutrogena products for acne treatment will help you have clearer and fairer skin.The newly developed three step system for acne has been proven effective in controlling and managing this dreaded skin condition. These along with the other Neutrogena products for acne treatment can really help to improve the condition of your skin and help you cope with acne problems.

There are also other Neutrogena products that can help to maintain your skin and prevent spots from breaking out and helps to prevent blemishes from erupting. This company has been highly noted for their effective products and efficient development of Neutrogena products for acne treatment.In treating acne, it is best to rely on companies that have already built a steady reputation as being one of the best in skin care. The efficacy of Neutrogena products for acne treatment is based on the brand’s reputation of excellence and trustworthiness.

There are many ways to treat acne and different acne treatments work for different skin types. If you are looking for a natural way to treat your acne, read “Acne Free in 3 Days“. This book is packed with years of scientific research, helpful information on understanding your specific type of acne (yes, there is more than one type), and a simple, practical, and easy-to-do natural program that really works!”Acne Free in 3 Days” is available in hardcover, or, for convenience, you can download yours today!

Tea Therapy for the Skin

A nice cup of hot tea has been a long time home remedy for soothing belly aches and relaxing the body, mind and soul. These days, tea has proven itself to be a true source of therapy for many other health and beauty related issues. Read more

Homemade Tea Skincare Recipes

Here is a list of fantastic homemade tea recipes for skincare use. The shopping list of ingredients is small and inexpensive and the directions for use are super simple. Enjoy a hot cup of tea while treating your skin to a healthy and relaxing snack!Green Tea Masques:

- Dry Skin

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 egg yolk

- Dehydrated Skin

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon honey

- Oily Skin

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon witch hazel

- Sensitive Skin

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon rose water

- Mature Skin

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 egg white

Directions: Mix all three ingredients to form a paste. Apply to damp skin with fingertips and leave on for ten minutes. Remove with lukewarm water. Follow with green tea toner. Recipe is as follows:

Green Tea Toner:

• 4 teaspoons of loose green tea leaf
• 1 cup boiling mineral water

Directions: Steep the tea for 10 minutes in boiling mineral water. Then pour the tea into a small spritzer bottle and refrigerate until cool. Spray toner while skin is still moist from rinsing off mask. Follow with a moisturizer and sunscreen. Great for all skin types.

Chamomile Gel Masque:

• 1 package unflavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup chamomile tea

Directions: Steep one chamomile tea bag in 1/2 cup of boiling water for five minutes. Add gelatin to tea and stir until completely dissolved. Chill until almost set, about 30 minutes. Spread on face, avoiding eye area, and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. This a great skin softening, healing and hydrating masque for all skin types.

Chamomile Tea Toner:

• 4 teaspoons of chamomile loose tea leaf
• 1 cup boiling mineral water

Yarrow Tea Toner:

• 4 teaspoons of yarrow tea leaf
• 1 cup boiling mineral water

Directions: Steep the tea for 10 minutes in boiling mineral water. Then pour the tea into a small spritzer bottle and refrigerate until cool. Spray toner while skin is still moist from rinsing off mask. Follow with a moisturizer and sunscreen. Great for all skin types.

 

Sunday’s Sensational Skincare Deal!

You’ve been preparing your skin and hair to hopefully capture the perfect holiday memories on camera. But what’s the use of a good hair day and flawless skin and makeup if your smile is dull and dingy? There’s still time to get your pearly whites to shine before Christmas arrives. Pick up a box of Crest Whitestrips Dental Whitening System Strips, Premium to ensure your smile is as bright as can be!

Drugstore.com is offering $5 off of all Crest Whitestrips Whitening Systems!

If you don’t take advantage of drugstore.com’s special price, be sure to grab your Crest Whitening Strips System from your local drugstore.

Can I get some Holiday Spirit?

Lowes Home Improvement store must hire customer service grinches for the holidays!

For as long as I can remember, my family has always had a real tree on Christmas. Since getting married and starting a family of my own, we have continued on with that tradition. Although putting up a real Christmas tree means added daily tasks of watering the tree and vacuuming up pine needles, we simply cannot resist the scent of a freshly cut pine tree. In addition to setting out Christmas decorations and enjoying the aroma of baked apple pie and mulled cider candles, the scent of a real Christmas tree really puts us in the Christmas spirit.

This year, we waited a little longer than usual to get our tree. Normally, we have our Christmas tree up by the weekend following Thanksgiving. This time around, however, we got our tree on the 2nd of December. My husband and I decided to check out the trees at Lowe’s Home Improvement. We found a great Douglas Fir that we thought would fit perfectly in our home. After paying a very reasonable price of $25, we headed straight home to get our tree in some water. We then proceeded to trim the tree, which is one of my favorite things to do. Everything was great, for the first couple of days. But, by day three, I noticed the tree had already began to dry out. I also realized that the water level had remained full since the first time I filled it. It appeared that the tree was not absorbing any water. I definitely found this to be unusual, but I continued to watch the tree’s condition for several more days. By day seven, the tree had dried out so much, that the branches drooped so low, causing all of my ornaments to be completely out of place. At this point, I knew there was no way that this tree was going to make it through to Christmas. After rationalizing it in my head, I decided to call Lowe’s and ask if there were any way that I could get a new tree. Much to my surprise, the man on the other end of the line was very understanding and informed me that it would be no problem at all to bring the tree back, either for a refund or exchange. Great! Or so I thought..

After removing all of the ornaments and lights from our half-dead tree, we hauled it back to Lowe’s in hopes of going home with a fresh and new Christmas tree. Instead, we ended up going home empty-handed. After browsing the selection of trees remaining on the lot, we decide against an exchange because 90% of the trees were already starting to turn brown. The other 10% were not what we were looking for. We head to customer service to get our money back so that we could purchase a fresh tree from somewhere else. Unfortunately, we were “helped” by a “grinch” of a woman who held the role of store Supervisor. She agreed that our tree was in very poor condition, but refused to offer us anything other than a store credit because we failed to retain our receipt. I reluctantly agreed, thinking how crazy it is to expect anyone to hold on to their Christmas tree receipt. Anyway, I was then told that my credit balance would be $12.04, the current price of their 6-7′ Douglas Fir trees. When my shock wore off, I argued that I should be entitled to the full amount I had paid only nine days ago. The Grinch told me that there was absolutely nothing she could do to credit me the full amount because the prices had changed since I had made my purchase. I found this to be ludicrous and here’s why. During my prior telephone call with the man from the tree department, I had been informed that the previous shipment of Douglas Fir’s (the same batch that my tree was in) had actually been shipped to this Lowe’s location (AL) from another store (FL) because they were not selling. In addition, after we arrived at Lowe’s and were greeted by the same man, he told us about how there were several other returns of Douglas Fir trees. I asked him why the trees were dying so quickly and he informed me that their trees were cut down back in October! That’s right folks, the trees were two months old and had been bounced around between stores, who knows how many times. Unbelievable, right?! Ms. Grinch denied this story and continued to remind me that she couldn’t do anything else for me. I then asked her to consider crediting me for the current price of an 8-9′ Douglas Fir tree, which was $20. Again, she refused. So, after almost two hours of trying to negotiate with this scrooge, I could not get her to budge. My husband, 21 month old son and I were forced to leave Lowe’s without a Christmas tree and only a $12 store credit.

Am I alone in saying that this was an absolutely ridiculous experience that no one should ever be subjected to? For goodness sakes, it is the holidays and I am just trying to have a Christmas tree that will be alive on Christmas Day. Not only that, I would like to have a tree that is not a fire hazard in my home! This woman, or so-called “store supervisor” assumed zero responsibility for selling us an obviously old tree and had absolutely no interest at all in helping to make the situation right for her customer. I feel she could have easily rectified the problem by honoring me a store credit for the full $25 that I had paid. I purchased a tree from them believing that it was fresh, based on their advertisement. I am dissapointed and downright angry at how terrible we were treated, especially during the holidays. I realize that customer service is not what it used to be, but you would think that people would try to be more empathetic and inclined to perform their job of providing customer satisfaction. I guess my expectations are just too high – even for a well-established retailer such as Lowe’s Home Improvement.

Skin Care Travel Essentials

Christmas day is rapidly approaching. Everyone is in a frenzy to get their Christmas shopping done. In addition, many are also preparing for that long awaited Christmas vacation, or simply ready to travel back “home” to spend the holidays with friends and family. That means, not only is there stress in having to bring along all of your holiday gifts, but there’s also your own personal belongings to pack up. As someone who travels a lot, I’ve learned what skincare and beauty items are essential to have while traveling, without going overboard or leaving anything behind. Here are my tips to packing light, while keeping your skin happy.

First and foremost, prepare your skin for the long trip by drinking lots of water. Several days before you intend to travel, drink even more water than the recommended daily consumption of 64 ounces. I know, that’s a lot of water, but the benefits are so worthwhile! Exposure to the very dry cabin air while traveling via airplane is extremely dehydrating. You will not only feel the effects of dehydration in your skin, but also throughout your body. Have you ever wondered why you tend to experience bloating, puffy eyes, chapped lips, and swelling of wrists and ankles after a flight? These are all symptoms of dehydration! The body will actually retain extra water in those particular areas in an effort to prevent total loss of hydration. The best way to avoid dealing with these discomforts while traveling, is to start hydrating your body beforehand.

Be prepared for possible travel delays or detours. Put together a travel size (3 oz or less) skincare kit which you can take along in your hand carry bag to include your facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunblock and lip balm. If you don’t have time to venture out and find travel size containers for your skincare kit, consider a travel kit such as the MD Formulations Travel Essentials Kit.

Carry your toner in a small spritzer bottle. During your travels, a quick mist of your toner will help to revive tired and dehydrated skin.

Your hands will also need some TLC. Include a small instant hand sanitizer gel and a travel size of your favorite hand cream. While traveling, I find myself washing my hands more than usual. So when a sink is not available, I take comfort in knowing that I have my handy hand sanitizer. With all the hand washing and drenching in hand sanitizer, it is important to have a good and heavy hand cream to keep your skin moisturized.

If you are like me, then you cannot travel without your makeup. Here are a few suggestions for condensing your makeup bag. Consider a tinted moisturizer with SPF, such as the Juice Organics SPF 30 Light Tint Moisturizer to take on the job of your moisturizer, sunblock and foundation! A creme blush like the DuWop Blush Therapy For Cheeks, Elixir (natural taupe pink) or NARS The Multiple Multi-Purpose Stick, South Beach is great for your cheeks, lips and even eyes! Be sure to choose a fairly neutral color with just a hint of pink. Lastly, don’t forget your brow brush to keep those brows tamed and mascara to complete your look.

For those of you who can’t leave the house without wearing makeup, then a portable makeup remover like the Revlon Makeup Eraser Pen is a must-have. This convenient beauty tool works great for making small corrections to smudged or running eyeliner or mascara without having to wash off all of your makeup.

There are just so many things to worry about when traveling, especially during the holidays. Ease the burden by using my tips above to keep yourself looking and feeling great, while on the run.

Why Not Bar Soap?

It is interesting to me how many people in today’s world of beauty and wealth, still use bar soap for cleansing the skin on their face. Even after eight years of working in the skin care industry and sharing my knowledge with everyone I know and love, I still have a number of friends and family members who cannot seem to part ways with their beloved bar soap.

So I’ve decided to uncover the ugly truth about bar soap and it’s negative effects on the skin, once and for all! Bar soap may pose to be the most comforting and convenient way to cleanse your skin, but it is definitely the least favorable. Although you may have been using bar soap for years and have no skin issues to report of, it doesn’t mean that your skin is actually in good health. Let me give you some of the reasons why bar soap is the enemy:

1. Bar soap is extremely high in alkaline. Alkalinity = Dry and Dehydrated Skin.
2. Dryness and dehydration of the skin leads to sensitivity, fine lines and flakiness.
3. Excessive dryness and dehydration causes the skin to overcompensate for loss of moisture by producing too much sebum, which in turn, provokes the onset oiliness and breakout.
4. Moisturizing lotion or cream in conjunction with bar soap becomes useless. There is no way for your skin to achieve moisture balance when you continue to strip it with bar soap. It is a vicious cycle.
5. Fragrances and other harsh ingredients in bar soap will cause irritation to skin conditions such as eczema, acne and rosacea.
6. Due to it’s high content of comodegenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, bar soap will result in very congested skin.

There are some great alternatives to bar soap to consider. For instance, if what you desire is to experience that “squeaky clean” feeling after cleansing your face, then a gel or foam-based cleanser is perfect for you. These cleansers benefit all skin types, are pH-balanced and help your skin to retain moisture. Best of all, you will be able continue enjoying that good old “sudsy” cleanse that you are so used to having with your bar soap. When you are ready to jump on the beauty band wagon and finally make the switch to a facial cleanser, first determine what your skin type is, and then you can find the cleanser that is right for you. I am sure that after just a few times of using your new facial cleanser, you’ll drop that old bar soap like a hot potato and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!

All About Skin Exfoliation

Most of us know that skin exfoliation is an important step in skin care. But not everyone knows exactly how it works or why. Many people remain confused as to the frequency in which they should be exfoliating their skin. How often is enough or too much? Here is a quick explanation on the process of skin exfoliation and how it benefits your skin.

What is Skin Exfoliation?

Skin exfoliation is a process in which the upper most layer of your skin, consisting of dead skin cells and debris, is removed through mechanical, chemical or enzyme treatment.

Why Exfoliate?

The removal of dead skin cells, oil, dirt and debris will instantly leave your skin looking fresh and feeling clean. Regular exfoliation will give your skin a smooth texture, clear complexion, healthy tone and beautiful glow. By incorporating exfoliation into your skincare regimen, you will not only be preventing skin congestion and break out, but you will also be fighting against premature aging by assisting in accelerating regeneration of healthy skin cells.

Types of Skin Exfoliaton:

As mentioned above, there are three main types of skin exfoliants – mechanical, chemical and enzyme. Each type offers various methods of exfoliation that work for different skin types. If you are familiar with your skin type, you can decide on which form and method of exfoliation will work best for your skin.

Mechanical Skin Exfoliants -

• Facial Sponges, Buff-Puffs and Washcloths: These manual exfoliating tools are used on the skin to remove surface dead skin cells through physical friction. They should always be used on damp skin, avoiding blemished areas to prevent irritation.
• Facial Scrub: Facial scrubs offer moderate skin exfoliation and are gentle enough to be used once a day, everyday. Most facial scrubs will use finely ground rice, nuts (usually almond) or fruit seed (apricot) to polish the skin, revealing a more clean and clear surface. There are also some scrubs that utilize jojoba micro beads, which have a smoother texture and are less abrasive on the skin. Facial scrubs are suitable for all skin types, except very fragile skin. A scrub should never be applied to acne skin, as it can spread infection and cause painful irritation.
• Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion can be performed both at home and at a spa. The at-home versions of microdermabrasion come in a cream form and work much like a facial scrub. The granules present in a microdermabrasion cream are much smaller than that of a scrub, made from aluminum or magnesium oxide crystals. Microdermabrasion creams are recommended for all skin types except sensitive and acneic and can be used two to three times a week. Regular use will keep the skin looking healthy, youthful and radiant. There are two microdermabrasion treatments offered at the spa. The original microdermabrasion treatment utilizes a machine which propels a high-speed flow of aluminum oxide crystals onto the skin, while the machine’s vacuum system sucks away dirt, dead skin cells and used crystals. The newer and now more popular microdermabrasion treatment is known as the “diamond peel”. The diamond microdermabrasion system replaces the micro-crystal flow with a disposable or reusable diamond tip wand. This allows areas closer to the eyes and mouth to be treated more precisely, without the risk of stray crystals causing damage or being ingested. Spa grade microdermabrasion is appropriate for all skin types and are performed in multiple sessions for best results.

Chemical Skin Exfoliants -

• AHA/BHA Peels: AHA, aka Alpha-Hydroxy Acid and BHA, or Beta-Hydroxy Acid, are the most commonly known chemical skin exfoliants, which can be used at home. Glycolic, lactic and fruit acids are AHA’s that produce a light to mild exfoliation by removing the outermost surface layer of your skin through the loosening of the glue-like substance that holds the dead skin cells together, while speeding up cell renewal. AHA’s will help to control skin congestion, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, balance your skin tone and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Although AHA peels are easily done from home, they are still offered at spas at a professional strength of over 30%, which are not available over the counter. AHA peels can be used on all skin types, with caution toward sensitive skin. BHA acids, such as salicylic acid, work just as AHA’s, but are used primarily on problematic and acneic skin, due to it’s healing properties. AHA/BHA’s, depending on strength, can be used several times a week or on a daily basis.
• Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) and Phenol Peels: The TCA and phenol peels are only offered through a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. These chemical peels are highly potent and require down time for recovery. The results of a TCA or phenol peel are smoother texture, brightened tone, and tighter, younger looking skin. This method of exfoliation is extreme and costly. These high-grade peels are recommended for more serious skin treatments like the removal of scarring or severe hyperpigmentation.

Enzyme Skin Exfoliants -

• Papain (papaya enzyme) and Bromelin (pineapple enzyme) are the most widely used enzyme skin exfoliation treatments. Exfoliation with the use of enzyme therapy works to dissolve the dead skin cells sitting on the surface of the skin. This method of exfoliation is the least aggressive and rarely produces a negative reaction on the skin. All skin types will benefit from daily use of enzyme treatments.
• Protease enzymes are the newest form of enzymatic exfoliation. Proteolytic enzymes mimic the role of your body’s own natural protease enzymes to promote decay of protein impurities, dissolution of dead skin cells and acceleration of cell renewal. This type of skin exfoliation works best when used daily and is suitable to all skin types, including sensitive. As with other methods of exfoliation, protease enzymes will give your skin enhanced clarity and suppleness, but without the risk of any irritation.

As you can see, exfoliation is crucial to the health and overall appearance of the skin. With so many forms and methods of exfoliation available, you are bound to find the one that best suits your skin type. Just be sure to always try new skin care treatments with caution and ease. Over exfoliation will cause your skin to dry out and possibly break out, while not exfoliating often enough could lead to congestion and dullness of your skin. Proper and consistent skin exfoliation is an easy way to keep your skin healthy and looking beautiful.

Sunday’s Sensational Skincare Deal!

Calling all of The Body Shop lovers! This week’s super hot skincare deal is from Amazon.com, offering a $20 gift card with the purchase of only $75 or more from The Body Shop. This purchase will also qualify you for free shipping!

Who doesn’t love The Body Shop? There are tons of great gift ideas, like the The Body Shop Feet Treat Petite Gift and The Body Shop Tropical Shower Sensations Gift, which are both 50% off at only $9 each right now! With awesome prices like that, you can easily get several separate gifts, plus a treat for yourself!

Amazon is only offering this great deal until December 18th, so don’t miss out on it! 

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