Total Skin Solutions

If I have oily skin, I don’t need to use a moisturizer!

Many people mistakenly equate oil with moisture. They think that if skin is oily, then it must have enough moisture — or maybe even too much.

Also, using the wrong moisturizer can make it seem like all moisturizers exacerbate oily skin. Choosing an ill-suited lotion “can be a skin care disaster: greasy feeling skin, blackheads and pimples,” writes skincare expert Angela Palmer for “About.” So many skip this step altogether, afraid of making their skin even greasier.

Comparing oil to moisture is like comparing apples to oranges. They’re not the same things.

Skin type and moisture level can change based on environmental conditions or fluids consumed, writes Lara Ceroni for Elle Canada. Even oily skin can become drier when humidity is low or you’re dehydrated.

In his book, “10 Minutes/10 Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and More Youthful Appearance,” dermatologist Frederic Brandt, M.D., explains that oily skin still needs moisturizer, because it defends skin from damage and signs of aging. He suggests using a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer. Check out AdvanSkin Ultimate Skin Treatment Serum.

You can also use a combination product containing an oil-free moisturizer and sunscreen, suggest Doris Pooser and Suki Duggan in their book, The Essential Guide to Hair, Makeup & Skin Care.

Excess facial or body hair appears on women of all backgrounds, so you’re certainly not alone. Multiple factors weigh in, including hormones, stress, heredity and ethnicity. It’s normal to find dark hairs on your face, neck and even your upper lip or cheeks. Hair can also grow in areas like your chest and back. Some women have just a few extra hairs, while others experience more dense growth.

From plucking, shaving and waxing to depilatories and bleach, there’s certainly an array of hair removal methods. Finding the best method will depend on factors like how much hair you have and how fast it grows back. Fortunately, most of these at-home treatments are low in price and offer good results.

Plucking or tweezing
Pros: One of the easiest methods, tweezing works best for stray hairs on the chin or eyebrows. When properly tweezed, hair is removed from the root. For the best results, invest in high-quality tools. When tweezing, grasp the hair and then pull it out slowly and carefully in the direction of hair growth.

Cons: Due to inefficient tweezers or rushing, sometimes only a portion of the hair is removed, leaving stubble and ingrown hairs. You also might have to deal with redness, a tingling sensation or white bumps where the hair was plucked. What’s more, tweezing takes time, since each hair must be removed individually. And the results don’t last as long as other methods.

Shaving
Pros: A good option when hair growth is thick and tweezing becomes too time-consuming.

Cons: Results only last a day or two, after which the tell-tale stubble will surface. Shaving can also cause bumps, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Because facial skin is much thinner and more delicate than the legs, irritation is more noticeable.

Bleaching
Pros: Considered the most painless option, bleaching is generally used for the upper lip.

Cons: Because bleaching doesn’t actually remove hair — it just makes hair lighter and less noticeable — it remains thick and visible, especially in the sunlight.

Soothing solutions
After any type of hair removal, irritation and redness are common. Be prepared with soothing products ahead of time. Try natural skin care products that contain hydrocortisone and whole-leaf aloe vera, which can minimize itching and redness and soothes sensitive skin.

Naturally, each method will have its pros and cons, so it boils down to personal preference. By choosing the hair removal method that best fits your needs, facial hair is one problem that doesn’t have to rule your life.

Triclosan is a solid chemical compound that’s powdery and naturally chlorinated with a slight odor. It blocks the activity of ENRs (enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase), which is a fatty acid enzyme in the synthesis of bacteria. Because triclosan is soluble in ethanol and other basic chemical solutions, it’s a popular ingredient in many products we use everyday.

Although triclosan is an effective ingredient in the battle against bacteria, some health advocates have urged that we avoid it. Concerns over its safety and effect on the environmental have shed negative light on triclosan.

This bacteria-fighting ingredient has been linked to dioxins, which are carcinogenic, potentially causing anything from a weakening of the immune system to serious birth defects.  That being said, you may want to switch over to natural skin care products, most of which will NOT carry synthetic chemicals and are no doubt safe for most people.

If you find yourself using a lot of make up for your daily activities, you may want to pay close attention to your skin care regimen.  Many times, excessive make up can cause more acne and facial blemishes.  At the end of the day, you’ll want to give your face a good, clean scrub.

AdvanSkin AHA Cleanser works best for this.  It’s a natural product and cleans the face nice and easy without harming the skin at all.  It’s a step up from just using water and a washcloth, as there are several vitamins and healthy elements for your skin.

Varicose veins are twisted, bulging veins, typically found in the legs and feet, and are the result of excess pressure on the veins from prolonged periods of standing. They are typically dark blue to purplish in color, and may itch or throb.

Occasionally, varicose veins can signal a more serious medical condition such as blood clots, ulcers or phlebitis therefore, the sudden appearance of varicose veins should be examined by a doctor immediately.

For many people, removal of varicose veins is a cosmetic decision; the appearance of the veins is unappealing when wearing shorts or skirts. For others, medical conditions may necessitate their removal but in either case, follow these guidelines to delay the appearance of any new varicose veins. Refrain from standing or elevating the feet for prolonged periods of time, wearing support stockings and adopt a daily exercise routine to maintain healthy circulation.

Using concealer or an anti-aging cream with SPF, you can hide varicose veins and continue to have a youthful look to your legs.

There are multiple factors that contribute to acne: genetics, hormones, certain medications, stress and bacteria, to name a few. Acne results when bacteria, dead skin, dirt and oil become trapped in the pores. Typically, blemishes consist of whiteheads or blackheads, and can be accompanied by redness, peeling, changes in skin texture and an increase in oil production.

There are several solutions to getting rid of acne, such as all natural skin care products and a better diet.  There are also some commercially available acne medications, but many of them contain chemicals that can be harmful to sensitive skin.

Known universally as a bright and sunny bitter fruit, lemon is a member of the citrus family along with orange, lime, grapefruit and tangerine. Prized for its acidic quality, lemon has long been a household staple and the lemon’s fragrant essential oil (found in the rind) can be used for cooking, perfumery, cleaning, cosmetics and even healing.

Lemon has many cosmetic uses and can be found in a remarkably large number of skin care beauty products, especially glycolic acid treatments. Containing up to 8 % citric acid, lemon is a potent source of natural glycolic acid, along with apples, grapes, sugar cane and milk, making it an ideal chemical exfoliant and skin smoother.

Using natural anti-aging products offers up more pros than cons.  The synthetic chemicals used in most commercial products will often worsen skin problems.  Many of these products that you find at big box retailers and drug stores that are not organic will contain harsh chemicals, dyes and fragrances that will aggravate the skin.  Using natural products will not harm your skin like many other of their commercial counterparts.

Over the last few months, I’ve gone over several tips on how to keep your skin healthy-looking. Here are the best tips compiled from the last few months:

1. Adopt a routine. In order to maintain your beautiful complexion, you need a daily regimen of cleansing and moisturizing. Use a gentle cleanser that removes all traces of makeup and debris, such as AdvanSkin AHA Cleanser and follow with a moisturizer. Adding a toner after cleansing is an optional step that can help to balance oil production.

2. Restore moisture. A good moisturizer is paramount to your routine. When the skin doesn’t get enough moisture, it becomes puckered and leads to premature wrinkles. Imagine a wrinkly raisin — basically a dried-up grape. Moisturizers aren’t one-size fits all: Choose a moisturizer according to your skin type.

3. Hydrate from the inside out. Did you know that by the time you’re actually thirsty, your body is already dehydrated? Using a topical moisturizer alone isn’t enough to hydrate the skin, so make healthy choices such as drinking a glass of water instead of coffee or soda and help restore lost moisture to the skin and body.

4. Fight environmental enemies. On a daily basis, our skin is exposed to a number of environmental factors that damage the skin — pollution, chemicals and UV rays, to name a few. These factors cause an overall breakdown of the skin and the formation of premature wrinkles. An antioxidant serum is a great way to shield your skin from free radical damage and prevent cellular damage.

5. Stop smoking. Not only is smoking harmful to your body, but the effects will quickly become apparent on the skin. The physical act of smoking a cigarette leads to pursing of the lips and squinting of the eyes, which are repetitive wrinkle-causing actions. On top of that, the toxins in cigarettes lead to discolored skin and wrinkles.

6. Drink in moderation. Alcohol also robs your skin of moisture. Again with dryness arrive wrinkles. Limit yourself to one to two drinks in a given evening, and make sure to drink water in between cocktails to make up for lost hydration.

7. Cover up. Even those who don’t tan are victims of sun damage, as any type of unprotected sun exposure — like driving or sitting by a window — leads to photoaging (damage caused by the sun). Signs include fragile, thinning skin, wrinkles and creases, loss of elasticity and an increasingly rough skin texture. Wear sunscreen year-round, regardless of how long you’ll be outdoors.

8. Don’t neglect your neck. When it comes to healthy skin, it isn’t just about your face. In fact, the delicate skin of the neck is one of the first areas to show signs of aging. So, take great care of your neck by using serums, moisturizers and, most importantly, applying sunscreen every day.

9. Slough it off. Incorporate a gentle exfoliating product into your routine several times a week to remove dead skin cells and banish dull-looking skin. Exfoliating reveals a radiant complexion.

10. Eat right. An unbalanced diet can lead to skin problems such as inflammation and dehydration, contributing to premature aging.

Having skin, you’re susceptible to the elements and your skin may be more sensitive than others.  Using all natural skin care products is a great start, but you also may consider your diet and what you take in as well.  For one thing, by periodically drinking wheatgrass you can benefit from the antioxidants, which in turn will help with conditions like eczema. 

Wheatgrass is something that can be purchased at any healthy juice bar.  Ideally, you’ll want to take a shot and follow it with water as the taste of wheatgrass is something left to be desired.  Give it a try and, bitter taste aside, you’ll find that you’ll be in better health.