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Category Beautiful Skin
Check Out My Latest Appearance in FitnessX Magazine!
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Sexy At The Wheel – LHGFX Photography Image From August 2013
Silver Stunner Image From Chaz Photographics
Sexy Image Taken By Leigh Hagen Of LHGFX In August 2013
DIY Vitamin C Face Serum
I am a huge believer in the antioxidant benefits of Vitamin C and encourage its use systemically and topically. Vitamin C (also known as l-ascorbic acid), is fantastic for lightening up brown spots of all kinds, and also enhances the integrity of the skin, making it firmer by boosting collagen production. Vitamin C is also a great exfoliator and leaves skin with a healthy glow.
There are a myriad of cleansers, toners, serums and moisturizers available these days, but many of these products can be quite expensive. One example is Obagi-C Cleansing Gel which is fantastic but which costs about $34 for 6 ounces, so I use Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash which is about $7 for 8 ounces. I have been using the Eaarth Science brand for years and I absolutely love it!
The vitamin C serums tend to be the priciest of the vitamin C skincare products, so many people will omit this product when I honestly think it is the most important type of product for aging skin. In an effort to help people achieve great skin while on a budget, here is a do-it-yourself vitamin C serum formula you can mix up at home. Some people use glycerin when mixing up vitamin C serum at home, but I find this substance to be troublesome for oily skin, and I am not a big fan of essential oils because they can often cause irritation on sensitive skin. I personally like the formulation below because it is good for oilier and reactive skin types. If you have severely reactive skin, you can use distilled water instead of rose water.
Make sure to purchase a dark glass (either dark amber or cobalt blue) container, perhaps one with a dropper tip or a spray nozzle, to store your serum. The dark glass container is essential for preventing breakdown of the unstable vitamin C molecule. I also advise storing this in the fridge to maximize potency.
Dr. Naito’s DIY Vitamin C Serum:
1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C (aka l-ascorbic acid) powder or crystals (you can find this at most health food stores)
1 teaspoon hyaluronic acid
1 tablespoon rose water
If you use crystals instead of powder, make sure to pulverize the crystals well with a mortar and pestle before adding the other ingredients. Mix all ingredients well. This yields about a 6% strength serum. Apply to cleansed skin at night. This supply should last about ten to fourteen days.
If you want a stronger concentration, you can mix the following ratio of ingredients for a 10% concentration of vitamin C. If you experience stinging or burning, return to the lower potency.
Dr. Naito’s DIY High Potency Vitamin C Serum:
1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C powder or crystals
1 teaspoon hyaluronic acid
1-1/4 teaspoon rose water ***note that the amount of rose water used is smaller than in above formulation.
Benefits Of Threading
I had gotten my brows waxed for a number of years and enjoyed the fact that it was a quick process. I was lucky enough to find a handful of competent waxing professionals who knew how to do the job without butchering my natural brow line. However, about a year ago I noticed that I had some irritation and swelling right after waxing, and assumed that it was from the astringent which was used to clean off the oil. Then a few months after that, when I had switched over to a new place, I developed a reaction to the aloe vera which was applied. Finally, I broke out into a rash from the wax itself, which prompted me to seek out threading. Luckily, there was a threading place in the mall, so I decided to check it out a couple of months ago.
Threading is an excellent choice for people who develop skin irritation to waxing since there are no substances or chemicals applied to the skin. There is no risk of breakouts, burns or skin removal that can occur with waxing either. No uncomfortable “growing out” period is necessary because threading removes the shortest of hairs. However, it is pretty uncomfortable in some areas, and because it takes longer to do, the discomfort is prolonged. Threading appears to be more precise and large areas can be cleared quite easily (such as at the temples). The technique consists of using cotton or polyester thread which is doubled and twisted tight, then rolled over the treated areas to pluck out unwanted hairs. It is fascinating to watch these ladies move their hands with a twisting flourish, rolling over the skin and plucking out hairs quickly and efficiently. I also love the fact that there is no sticky residue left on the skin as with waxing.
If you haven’t checked out threading and are already able to tolerate the discomfort of waxing, I encourage you to check it out! Brows, cheeks, upper lips, chins, foreheads, necks, hands and fingers can be treated with this technique.
A Fungus Among Us
Tinea versicolor is a stubborn fungus which thrives on tanning beds due to the humidity and sweat which sit on their surfaces. If a bed is not cleaned properly, this fungus can multiply quickly once the tanning bed lights turn off. This fungal infection presents most commonly as small depigmented or white spots on the upper and mid back. Most people will complain that these white spots do not tan no matter how much they sit out in the sun or lie on the tanning bed. If they sweat a lot due to summer weather, this provides a perfect banquet for the fungus as it begins to feed off the sweat and multiply, worsening the condition.
Thankfully, there are a couple of over-the-counter agents which can be used to treat tinea versicolor. Several effective agents are clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine, all of which are found in a number of athlete’s foot remedies. Another effective remedy is selenium sulfide, which is an agent used in dandruff shampoos. If you choose to use the cream, apply to the affected area three times daily until the condition resolves. If you opt for the shampoo, allow the substance to sit on your skin for ten minutes before rinsing off, and make sure to apply to the affected area twice daily. If the condition does not resolve after two weeks, seek the care of your primary care physician to obtain a prescription strength medication.
White Bikini Image Shot In July 2013 by LHGFX
Aspirin Masks For Oily Skin
Most of you have baby aspirin somewhere in your medicine cabinet but have not considered using it on your skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin and are not allergic to salicylic acid, you can make a mask which will leave your skin soft and will also calm down acne eruptions. You can either use one teaspoon of water, or you can use lemon juice. Add 4 to 6 baby aspirin tablets or three 325-milligram asprin tablets. Make sure to AVOID coated (aka enteric) aspirin because it will NOT easily dissolve or crush. Next, add about a tablespoon of honey and mix.
This mixture is then applied to the skin in an even layer. If you prefer to get some exfoliation, you can rub it into the skin using a circular motion for a couple of minutes. Allow this mixture to sit on the skin for about ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse off and apply your regular moisturizer. Do not be alarmed if your skin tingles after removing the mask. You can safely apply this mask to your skin one to two times a week.
You can’t beat the economical price of this mask, and it is easy to mix and apply. Many people who suffer from excessively oily skin and acne breakouts swear by this miracle concoction, so it is worth a try if you have similar issues with your skin.
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