Here’s how to keep those pesky pimples under control

It’s happened so many times: You’re raring to wear that tube top on a hot day or night out, but one glance at your full-length mirror stops you in your tracks. You realize: You can’t – you just can’t. The reason? You have back acne! You know – those unsightly, unflattering, and uncomfortable pimples and rashes on the back (and even on your buttocks) that seemed to have magically sprouted out of nowhere.

Face Acne vs. Back Acne

The cause of back acne is simple: When sebaceous glands produce excess oil, they clog pores, which in turn, attract bacteria. But unlike facial acne, back acne is not hereditary and is not caused by genetic disposition. So if your parents never suffered from back acne, it doesn’t mean you won’t.

Unfortunately, back acne is also a more stubborn kind of acne. This is because the skin on our back is thicker than facial skin (and skin anywhere else in the body) – making it more resistant to treatment. (more…)

So you’ve been dumped? So what? Get the best revenge: a fab makeover guaranteed to make him regret!

Work this “heartbreak” to your advantage. Move on. A makeover is a great start to rid yourself of the negatives and indulge in the positives. You’re a beautiful person who deserves only the best. Project that!

Start your makeover inside. Be more outgoing. Be more engaging in your conversations. If talks on the latest fashion trends are your forte, try digging up current events and philosophical books. This makes for a new cerebral you! Cast a no-nonsense attitude and you’ll attract the equivalent treatment from girls and guys alike.

Sport a new haircut. Go short. Chop for the bangs. Color your locks. (Heck, get hair transplants if you need them!) The hair is the crowning glory; why not make yours a symbol of your glorious comeback to the dating scene?

Try new styles of clothes. Go sexy. Pick bright colors if you’re normally on neutrals. Wear stilettos. Don something or anything that’s unusually you. Trust me, you’ll receive the most unusual reactions also. Whether negative or positive, your goal is to graduate from the drab. (more…)

Freshen up a boring boudoir with fruity shades and punchy patterns.

Kids’ Zone.
Never underestimate the kids section when you’re scouring shops for furniture! Kid-sized stuff comes in fresh palettes that can instantly lift the look of any room. A tiny bench and table set for tots can be used for extra lounge space in your room; fix it up as a sitting area for your pals. And who says toy chests are just for toys? Use them to stash in all your junk when your friends are coming over. Crisp colors and creative ideas ala George Lindemann Jr will brighten up any bedroom.

Don’t fall short on storage.
It’s easy to underestimate how much storage you need when giving your room a redo — but don’t discount the fact that all those books and notes do take up a lot of space. Storage doesn’t have to be boring and all the same. Put together different items: Wire racks you typically find in Dad’s basement can hold odd-shaped objects; shoe cabinets in punchy colors can hold all your files and print-outs. And closed-door cabinets can hide even the worst mess.

Basket Break.
Got stuff lying around that you have no idea what to do with? Like that mouse pad you have yet to use or that notebook you’re saving for a future writing class? Throw them all into a cute wire basket so they don’t fall into an abysmal black hole. Seeing them out there will remind you that you’ve got a wealth of stuff still in store! (more…)

Excess oil on skin can lead to those dreaded blemishes and breakouts. Here’s how to stay in control.

The Cause of Oily Skin
The oil is produced by oil glands known as sebaceous glands. These glands are bigger and more active in the region of the nose than any other areas of the face. Other areas on the body where sebaceous glands are most heavily concentrated are the neck, chest, and back areas, where body acne can be common.

Many people have the same level of hormones, but produce different amounts of oil, because their oil glands respond differently. During adolescence, a surge in the level of sex hormones, known as androgens, create a problem of oily skin where previously there was none. The reason for this is that androgens enlarge and stimulate he sebaceous glands, causing them to produce more sebum.

While this stimulation is not directly responsible produces more fatty acids when a comedo plug closes off a pore opening. The additional fatty acids increase the amount of inflammation, and more severe acne occurs. Despite all the trouble that sebum causes it is very important to the maintenance of the skin. When the system is working properly, sebum performs the important job of helping lubricate your skin. Sebum also carries with it dead cells shedding from your hair follicle walls. For someone with oily skin, the best to do is to take measures to keep pores from getting clogged and forming acne lesions.

Of course there is also the alternative which is getting your skin treated by professionals. The Houston plastic surgery experts are famous for their awesome jobs. Get to know more about them if you wish. But doing things naturally is obviously cheaper and safer so take note of these suggestions.

Moisturizers for Oily Skin
It is important to maintain a regular skin care routine to keep your skin from becoming too irritated or too dry during acne treatments. This can result in even more breakouts, as the skin overcompensates by producing more oil. We recommend lightweight oil-free moisturizers. During the day, an oil-control moisturizer may be desired in order to reduce shine – and thus reduce the need for powders (which can contain pore-clogging ingredients). Of course, for some people, the lighter weight the moisturizer, the better.

Skin Care for Oily Skin
Remember, there is no way to completely prevent oily skin from occurring, but hopefully these tips will help keep the oil under control: (more…)

Give your skin a new and healthy glow with these exfoliating-made-easy tips

In the beauty world, to exfoliate means to slough off old layers of skin to bring out a plumper, healthier layer with a more even skin tone. For your daily beauty regimen, the tried and tested cleanse-tone-moisturize works wonders for your face, and your regular bath gel and moisturizing lotion will keep your body looking great. However, a few times a week, take an extra fifteen minutes to scrub off dead skin cells. It softens the skin and makes it easier to absorb moisture.

The 2 Types of Exfoliants:

The first type is the physical exfoliant. These come in the form of scrubs containing polyethylene beads, which literally physically polish your skin. The second type is active or chemical. These exfoliants are creams or lotions that contain retinoid, fruit acids and enzymes. Anything that says it contains Alpha-hydroxy acids or Beta-hydroxy acids are considered active or chemical. Avoid these if you have sensitive skin, as they are usually synthetic and not made with real fruits.

What to look for?

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA’s): More often that not, the AHA’s found in skin care products are synthetic versions of their fruity counterparts. These AHA’s dissolve the “adhesive” that holds dead, flaking skin together so that new skin may emerge.

Beta-hydroxy acids (BHA’s): These acids work the same way as AHA’s in speeding up the sloughing off of dead skin cells. The best known BHA is Salicylic Acid.

Enzymes: Although enzymes are present in our skin, they work wonders in digesting dead skin cells when applied through a skincare product. They do not harm living cells, nor do they cause irritation.

What to look out for:

Retinoids: Retinoids are products with ingredients derive from Vitamin A rich sources. They are not exfoliants per se, but unlike AHA’s and BHA’s that affect the surface layer of your skin, retinoids affect the deeper layers. More often than not, this ingredient dries out the skin if used too much. To some extent, your skin may even become dry and flaky.

Why exfoliating is important:

Every few weeks, new skin cells push up from the lowest layer of the epidermis, or the top layer of your skin, to the surface. They then dry up and eventually fall off, leaving you with more radiant skin. Before it falls off, though, you are left with oily, flaky skin that looks dull. When you exfoliate once or twice a week, you are actually speeding up that process, so you are never without healthy, glowing skin!

Unless you’d rather have your face done, the Chicago face lift is known for being great in what they do. But if you want to do it the safer way, then exfoliating your skin naturally is the way to go. (more…)