Category Beauty

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

The Team Universe Spell Has Finally Been Broken

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Team UEvery year the NPC Team Universe awards IFBB Pro Cards to a large group of deserving athletes, so it is an extremely enticing National level bodybuilding contest for competitors who qualify at that level. I was certainly enticed and ended up competing at Team U four years in a row, with this year’s showing culminating in attaining the IFBB Pro Status I had coveted for many years. But I will admit that I almost did not enter the contest this year as a result of a lackluster performance in the three previous years. I used to refer to the “Team U Curse” when discussing Team Universe as a result of some very odd and disconcerting coincidences. Thank goodness the spell was broken this year!

When I competed at Team U in 2010 I was not “on the map” with respect to competing at the national level and as a result I was hardly given a glance by the judges. I competed against one of my dear friends who ended up winning her Pro card that year. Then in 2011 I once again found myself competing against a dear friend and watched as she won her Pro card while I had a decent but less than stellar performance. Not easily deterred, I competed at Team U in 2012 and found myself once again competing against a dear friend who got her Pro card. I was thrilled for every one of my friends, but it was a bit distressing to feel like the bridesmaid but never the bride for three consecutive years. Added to this was my intense dislike of driving around south New Jersey, the threat of rain looming over my freshly applied spray tan, and numerous other stressors and mishaps. It is no surprise that I began to think that it wasn’t a good idea for me to ever compete again at Team U.

Then this year I just decided that I had to get up onstage in New Jersey despite the pattern which had defined the last three years. Thank goodness I did! In the weeks leading up to this year’s competition, I FELT different. I was no longer concerned about who was going to beat me in New Jersey. I focused on my training, kept my nose to the grindstone and trained harder than I ever have. When I flew to Newark, there were no flight delays or mishaps, and I didn’t get lost when I drove to the hotel. There were a couple of glitches during my trip, but they were minor, and I didn’t get rattled. When I was deciding on what suit to wear, the one I chose just GLOWED and I knew it was the winning suit. My tan, my conditioning, my makeup and my hair were just right, and it was truly as if the planets aligned.

I ended up taking two First Place finishes when I only needed one to win my Pro card, plus I took an Overall win.

Don’t EVER give up on your goals. You never know when the Universe will grant you that precious wish.