Category Beautiful Skin

Mineral Oil Sensitivity

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mineral oilMineral oil is a petroleum product which is used in many cosmetics (including foundations and face powder) as well as ointments to soothe allergic reactions. Ironically, mineral oil can incite allergic reactions which can be severe enough to send one to the emergency room. I always find it alarming how the oil typically used to moisturize babies’ skin is mineral oil, but since it is cheap and hypoallergenic, it continues to be used on infants who may develop reactions to it.

I was compelled to write about mineral oil after I had to use it on my midsection yesterday at a photo shoot. Despite a long history of severe reactions to mineral oil, I reluctantly applied the oil and just hoped that I would not react this time. By the time I got home from the photo shoot I was itchy EVERYWHERE, especially on my arms and legs where I had NOT applied oil. This was a deep, unrelenting itch, one that was not relieved by scratching, and I broke out in a rash on both arms. I was so uncomfortable that I took a shower to soothe my skin. Even with the shower I hardly slept last night because of the itching. I could have calmed the reaction down with Benadryl but did not want to be groggy so I opted not to take it.

Please be aware of mineral oil sensitivity and if you suspect that you might be susceptible, make sure to avoid any products that contain mineral oil. Women who have had regular skin reactions to foundations or face powders should be especially aware of this potential reaction. I NEVER recommend mineral oil to any of my patients and am especially against the use of mineral oil on babies.

As an alternative, you can use almond oil, olive oil, or sesame oil, unless you have allergies to any of those substances.

DIY Sugar Scrub

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turbinado_sugarThose of us who compete must undergo intense exfoliation for several days before competition spray tan is applied. This is easily done at home with a sugar scrub which can be purchased at many drugstores. However, sugar scrubs do not travel well and have a tendency to leak everywhere, leaving an oily, grainy mess in checked bags. My solution has always been to purchase a sugar scrub at my destination.

I recently traveled to New Jersey and assumed that I could easily purchase a sugar scrub at Trader Joe’s. Much to my chagrin, there was no sugar scrub product to be found at the Trader Joe’s in Paramus, so I improvised. Since I wanted to avoid leaving an oily film on my skin, I avoided using almond or olive oil and instead purchased a liquid body wash and a bag of turbinado sugar. When I returned to my hotel room, I employed a system in which I would pour a dollop of body wash into the palm of my hand and then scooped up some of the sugar. If you prefer, you could mix the sugar and the body wash together in equal amounts right before you step into the shower, but I went the lazy route. What surprised me was how well this makeshift scrub worked at exfoliating my skin without irritating it or leaving a greasy film on my skin.

So if you find yourself in need of a sugar scrub and cannot get a hold of a pre-made version (by the way, Liquid Sun Rayz has a fantastic sugar scrub), you can purchase sugar and body wash and make one yourself. Just make sure to get a large grain sugar like turbinado for more exfoliative power. moisturizing shower gels

Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder

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philosophy-turbo-booster-c-powder

I am a big believer in the power of ascorbic acid (better known as vitamin C) for bringing out the best in skin. Vitamin C is excellent for smoothing out skin tone and for lightening dark spots which are formed from sun exposure or acne scars. It is also effective for reducing the frequency and severity of acne breakouts. However, make sure you get high quality forms which are bottled in dark glass so that the potency of vitamin C is maintained. Though most vitamin C treatments are formulated as serums, my absolute favorite vitamin C product is Turbo Booster C Powder by Philosophy. It is reasonably priced and is the most versatile vitamin C product out there. Turbo Booster C Powder comes with a tiny spoon which you use to scoop up the granules, then mix with a moisturizer of your choice. The key to ensuring potency is to mix the powder into the moisturizer each time you use it, rather than dumping the entire bottle of powder into a jar of moisturizer.

If the idea of a powder is not appealing to you, there are many excellent serums on the market. You can even mix up your own homemade version:

http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/09/skin-care-tip-of-week-diy-vitmain-c.html

Some individuals may experience redness, stinging or burning when they first begin using any vitamin C product. If this is the case, use the vitamin C product every other night until your skin acclimates.

I am especially enthusiastic about promoting the usage of vitamin C on facial skin in individuals over the age of 30 because it can brighten and rejuvenate the complexion beautifully without causing the flaking and dryness that is often seen with retinol and glycolic acid based products.

Clarisonic Brushes For Clean Skin

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clarisonic-brush

I am very skeptical of any gadgets which emerge in the world of skincare and do quite a bit of research before applying my stamp of approval to them. However, I have used a medical-grade Clarisonic Pro brush for over two years on my own skin and wholeheartedly stand by this device. The Clarisonic uses sonic energy to loosen oil, dirt and makeup and only takes 60 seconds to use. When skin is well cleansed, moisturizers and serums which are applied afterwards are absorbed much more efficiently, and the texture and tone of the skin will improve with continued use. In fact, I recently visited with a friend who had begun using the Clarisonic brush system at the beginning of the year, and her skin was glowing from regular usage. She looked younger and more rested than I had ever seen her.

There is no question that the Clarisonic brush cleanses the skin much more thoroughly than when you just use your hands, and since the brush heads are very gentle, there is little to no risk of stripping or overcleansing the skin. Each time you use the Clarisonic brush you will be rewarded with glowing, clean skin. I say this without any vested interest in the company and do not have anything to gain financially or otherwise by encouraging the use of the Clarisonic brush.

Here is a Google link which will lead you to several sites where you can purchase the Clarisonic Pro. The investment is well worth it!

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11311579382169748493?q=buy%20clarisonic%20pro&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=667&sa=X&ei=LK6SUeanCqXxigLZpIGgBA&ved=0CFQQ8wIwAA